Dr. Barnardo, of London, the great philanthropist, tells of a little boy coming to him on a bitter cold day in the midst of winter. His clothes were ragged, and what he had were scanty at the best. He applied for admission to one of the “homes.” “Have you any friends to speak for you?” said Dr. Barnardo. “No, I ain’t got no friends,” said the child, “but if these ’ere clothes won’t speak for me, nothin’ else will.” It is in some such spirit that we should come before God. Our needs, our very sins, speak for us, or would speak if we were but conscious of them. When we see ourselves in all our abject want, and then remember who God is, we shall begin to realize how unnecessary is the supposed mediation of any priest. After all, it is our needs rather than our deeds, our wants rather than our virtues, that appeal to the heart of God and God in Christ. That is a true prayer which says, in the language of Charlotte Elliott’s hymn, “Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind.” —Selected.