it is the Lord!" Here he stopt, and wept very much.

Well, honest friend," said I, "thou hast a sure comforter, if thou hast brought thyself to be resigned to the will of God: He is dealing with us all in judgment."

"Oh, sir," says he, "it is infinite mercy, if any of us are spared; and who am I to repine ?"

I turned a little way from the man, for indeed, I could no more refrain from tears than he.

At length the poor woman opened the door and called "Robert! Robert!" He answered, and fetched up a sack from his boat in which were the provisions he had brought from the ships, and went to the great stone which he had showed me, and emptied the sack, and then retired, and his wife came with a little boy to fetch them away, and he said, "God has sent it all--give thanks to him!"

When the poor woman had taken up all, "Well but," said I," did you leave her the four shillings too?" "Yes, yes," says he, "you shall hear her own it." So he calls again—“ "Rachel Rachel! did you take up the money?" Yes," said she. "How much was it ?" said he.

away.

"Four shillings and a groat," said she. "Well, well," said he, “the Lord keep you all;" and he turned to go "Here," says I, "Go and call thy Rachel once more, and give her a little more comfort from me-God will never forsake a family that trusts in him as thou dost." So I gave him four other shillings and bade him go lay them on the stone and call his wife."

ALPHA.

THOUGHTS

ON THE MIRACLE RECORDED IN THE 5TH CHAPTER OF ST. JOHN'S GOSPEL.

An impotent man, who had been infirm for thirty and eight years, went to the pool of Bethesda. This place had five porches, and was called the house of mercy. He

went there to be cured, but was several times prevented entering the pool by others stepping in. Jesus, however, when he saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, said unto him, Wilt thou be made whole ? Upon an answer in the affirmative Jesus desisired him to rise, take up his bed and walk. The cure was then completed, and on the same day was the Sabbath. The Jews, observing these things, were greatly displeased, and declared it was unlawful thus to act on the Sabbath. Jesus had conveyed himself away immediately after he had wrought the miracle, because of the multitude. Afterwards Jesus visited the temple, and finding him that was made whole, exhorted him to sin no more lest a worse thing come unto him! The Jews, in their blind zeal for the law, were now more eager to slay Jesus, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day.-This brief history will suggest a few thoughts for our instruction. First-there were five houses round the pool, in which lay all sick and diseased persons. It was, as I said before, called the house of mercy. Have we not likewise a fountain of mercy open to all penitent and contrite sinners? Second-we observe the omnipresence of Christ. He knew that the man had been ill some time. How well does this agree with the words of the Psalmist, "Whither shall I go from thy spirit, or whither shall I flee from thy presence ?” Well has St. Paul said, "How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" Happy is that man who sees a God in all he does, and feels his presence in every thing. Even now there are angels ministering to us, waiting about our path, and acting as God's messengers of mercy. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation ?" And our Saviour said, "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones, for I say unto you that in heaven the angels do always behold the

face of my father which is in heaven!"

Third-On the

impotent man being asked whether he would be made whole, he complained that he was prevented going into the pool by the rapidity of others. Jesus immediately cured him, and he rose, and walked, carrying his bed with him. And what will hinder our cause if we look by faith to him who is ever ready to pardon and sanctify us? Fourth-Jesus, after the miracle had been wrought, visited the temple, and there he saw the man, who had gone thither with thankfulness and rejoicing, abounding with praises towards God. This should teach us to be equally thankful for all the benefits we are daily and hourly receiving from Almighty beneficence! Lastly--he exhorted him that as he was made whole, "to sin no more lest a worse thing happen;" which may show us that all our sufferings and trials come through sin, and that through suffering we are made perfect. As the Jews persecuted Jesus daily, so have we to contend with temptation and injury. Christ endured all with patience, and he has left us an example to follow his steps. "The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son;" how careful we ought, therefore, to be in judging of others. And if we have been pardoned only once, as we certainly have by the atonement of Christ, let us take care to sin no more, lest, as our Saviour said, a worse thing come upon us.'

66

Chelmsford.

A. M. W.

ON THE LORD'S

PRAYER.

(From an old writer in 1710.)

When you go to pray "Thy will be done," consider what the prayer will cost thee! It is our Saviour's rule. When thou makest war, consider first whether thy thousands be able to encounter thine enemy and his thou

G

sands. When thou goest to pray, thou goest to make war with thine own will. Thou art going to prayer to subdue thy own will, and to set up the will of God. Say to thyself, "Suppose it should be the will of God to take away my estate, child, wife, life, his own presence; to expose me to ruin and desertion at the same time: have I such a treasury of charity and love, that I could finish this building of the will of God upon the ruins of my own will?" If prayer be the life of any work, it must be the whole work of thy life. See, then, the performance of your prayer in every providence, the will of God done; discern in every occurrence the effect of supreme goodness, of sweetness--wisdom-power at their height; these putting a glory upon each event, and making out thy blessedness by it. This will fill thee, not with patience only, but with praises.

That which we are to pray for, next to the glory of God himself, is the manifestation of the glory of God in us, which is our holiness. This is the will of God concerning you, even your sanctification. Pray for patience. Sometimes this life is as a day which is covered with one great black cloud, big with a storm. Sometimes troubles are in it, like many little clouds coming continually before the face of the sun. However it be, pray that your Sun, your Saviour, would ever shine within, warmly and sweetly, that you may enjoy yourselves in him; that a cross may not divide you from yourself, because it doth not divide you from your Saviour. Especially pray that God would not forsake you in your old age; that Jesus Christ withdraw not the sap of his strength and sweetness, when the strength and comforts of nature fail you. Pray that in this winter of old age to your outward man, you may flourish upon high, and bring forth more abundant fruits of love and joy in the spirit. Pray for such a prevailing of grace over your corruptions that you may not creep into heaven by the little wicket-door, so to

speak-scarcely and with pain; but may have the great gates set open to you, to enter into the joys of the Lord with freedom, honour and confidence.

Caution. Pray for outward things subordinately. St. John prays that his body may prosper as his soul prospered when he wrote to Gaius. The prosperity of your natural man is to be ruled by the prosperity of your better part-the new man. You are to pray for so much health as will stand with the life of grace in you. David says, "It was good for me that I was afflicted." You must pray for good things only, and you must measure the good of your body by the good of your soul.

THE CHRISTIAN SERVANT.

"Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." Col. iii. 22-24.

The doctrine of Christ is suited to all ranks and conditions of men, that all may learn their proper and immediate duties in the words of him who made and redeemed them. Here the servant learns to be obedient and faithful, and the master to be considerate and humane. The Christian servant knows, that if he should wilfully neglect his proper work, it would be in him an act of dishonesty ; because his labour is due to those who give him wages and a maintenance for it. The bread of idleness would in his case be the bread of injustice. The Christian servant will do the best for his employers, but not with eye-service as a man-pleaser. He performs his work not merely to gain the approbation and reward of men, or because his master's eye is upon him. He is quite as careful in his absence as when he is present; perhaps he