right, I would pray Thee to take away this sickness, and to make me well again. But whether I get well or not, let me be a better and purer and more loving child than I have been ; for JESUS CHRIST's sake. Amen.' You will try (will you not ?) to feel that you are resting quietly and safely in His loving arms. Think of the Good Shepherd, and how it is written of Him, “ He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom." Does not that sound very peaceful and happy ? Yes, dear child, it is indeed very peaceful and happy to lie still in His arms, and to be watched over by His loving eye. “ The Lord is my Shepherd : therefore can I lack nothing."

II.

I WANT to tell you, my dear child, something which you have heard a great many times before, but which many people, even old people, often hear a great many times without heeding. The thing I want to tell you is only this—that JESUS CHRIST, God's own dear Son, came down from heaven and died upon the Cross to save you from your sins. This is an old story, you think. Ah! but is it not wonderful? How He must have loved us! When He looked down from heaven upon the world, He saw the people in the world so wicked that they could not be saved without Him. They were so wicked that it is hard to see how God could love them. Yet He did love them. And so the Son of God, who had lived always with God in heaven, came down, and was born as a little helpless Child in the world, that, He might suffer and die to save us. And I will

tell you what you may say—“He loved me, and

_ gave Himself for me.

Is not that a good thing to be able to say? And now, dear child, you know

, what you must do in return; you must love JESUS, and try to be like Him. If some one came to your bedside, and covered your bed with all manner of beautiful presents, would you not love him ? Yes, but JESUS has given you a present a thousand times better than all the world would be; for He has given you Himself. “ He loved

me,
and

gave Himself for me." Oh! if you think what that means,

think of Him, the holy and spotless LAMB OF GOD, hanging nailed to the Cross in the bitterest of agony, to save your soul from sin and from death, you could not help loving Him a little in return. Try and picture Him to yourself on that Cross, looking down on you with tender love, and saying—“Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto My sorrow.” And then speak to Him in your heart, and say—'0 my Saviour, and didst Thou bear all this for me ? And yet can I forget Thee, and go on sinning against Thee ? Oh no! I will love Thee : I will follow Thee: I will try to be like Thee. I know I am a poor, weak, sinful child, and can do nothing for Thee. But Thou hast done everything for me. And I ask Thee now to do one thing more—to make me love Thee in return for Thy wonderful love. Amen.'

Thymns.

I.

"The time is short."

A FEW more years shall roll,

A few more seasons wane,
And we shall be with those that rest

Till CHRIST shall come again.
Then, O my LORD, prepare

My soul for that great day;
Oh! wash me in Thy precious Blood,

And take my sins away.
A few more suns shall set

O'er these dark hills of time,
And we shall be where God Himself

Lights all the glorious clime.
Then, O my LORD, prepare

My soul for that bright day;
Oh! wash me in Thy precious Blood,

And take my sins away.
A few more storms shall beat

On this stern rocky shore,
And we shall be where tempests cease,

And surges swell no more.
Then, O my LORD, prepare

My soul for that calm day;
Oh! wash me in Thy precious Blood,

And take my sins away.
A few more struggles here,

A few more partings o'er,
A few more toils, a few more tears,

And we shall weep no more.
Then, O my LORD, prepare

My soul for that blest day;
Oh! wash me in Thy precious Blood,

And take my sins away.
'Tis but a little while,

And He shall come again,
Who died that we might live, who lives
That we with Him may reign :

a

Then, O my LORD, prepare

My soul for that glad day;
Oh! wash me in Thy precious Blood,
And take my sins away. Amen.

H. Bonar.

IL.

" Abide with us."

ABIDE with me! fast falls the eventide ;
The darkness deepens ; LORD, with me abide !
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day ;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away ;
Change and decay in all around I see:
O Thou, who changest not, abide with me!
Thou on my head in early youth didst smile ;
And, tho' rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee :
On to the close, LORD, abide with me!
I need Thy presence every passing hour:
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like Thyself, ny guide and stay can be ?
Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me!
I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy Cross before my closing eyes ;
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows
In life, in death, O LORD, abide with me! Amen.

Lyte.

flee :

III.
" Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I

will give you rest.”
ART thou weary, art thou languid,

Art thou sore distrest?
‘Come to me,' saith One, 'and coming,

Be at rest.'

Hath He marks to lead me to Him,

If He be my Guide ? 'In His Feet and Hands are wound-prints,

And His Side.'

6

If I find Him, if I follow,

What His guerdon here?
* Many a sorrow, many a labour,

Many a tear.'
If I still hold closely to Him,

What hath He at last?
“Sorrow vanquish'd, labour ended,

Jordan past!'
If I ask Him to receive me,

Will He say me nay?
Not till earth, and not till heaven,

Pass away!'
Finding, following, keeping, struggling,

Is he sure to bless ?
Angels, martyrs, prophets, virgins,
Answer Yes!! Amen.

Greek, tr. Neale.