think about. Now I shall read the pretty hymn I told you of." HYMN. ASLEEP in Jesus! blessed sleep! Asleep in Jesus! oh, how sweet Asleep in Jesus! peaceful rest, Asleep in Jesus! oh, for me Securely shall my ashes lie, Waiting the summons from on high! Asleep in Jesus! time nor space, Asleep in Jesus! far from thee, From which none ever wakes to weep PRAYER. O heavenly Father, we know that we must one day die, that our soul must leave the body, and go away into another world. O help us often to remember this, and do thou make us ready for death, and take all our fears away. It is sin that makes us afraid, for we know that nothing that is unholy shall enter heaven, and our hearts are very sinful. O Holy Spirit, come and renew our hearts, wash them in the blood of Jesus. Let us often think of his great love in dying for us, to take all the sting and curse away. And, O Lord, when thou takest from us any that we love, let us not sorrow as those that have no hope, but think more and more of the happy place where we hope they are gone, and seek to be ready, that we too may fall asleep in Jesus, and awake with joy in the morning of the resurrection. Hear us Amen. for Jesus' sake. THE WALK ON THE WATERS. ELLEN and Harry were very affectionate children. When they came to their mamma next morning, they were still saying, "Oh, mamma, we are so happy you have come back! we have missed you so very much!" แ My dear children," said their mamma, "I am sure you are not more happy to have me back than I am to come. But I am sorry to hear you missed me so much. Was not papa with you, and nurse ?" "Yes, but dear papa you know has to be often away, and though nurse is very kind, she was busy with Johnnie, and she is not like you. Nobody is like you, mamma." Mrs. Ross kissed them both fondly. "My dear children, we must not love each other too much. We cannot be K always together in this world, and you know there is a time coming when we must part.' "Oh, mamma, do not speak about that, it will not be for a long, long time." "We may hope so, my love, but we cannot be sure, God only knows, and we must never forget that his will is always the best for us all. I would like you and Harry to understand the meaning of that sweet verse: 'When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.' I would like you to feel that while the Lord is your friend you could be happy even though both papa and mamma were taken away. A true Christian should never be really unhappy, unless when he does not feel that Jesus is near him." "But, mamma," said Harry, "Jesus is always near us." "That is true, but we do not always feel this, or get the comfort of it. Why is it so dark this morning, so that we must sit near the window, and we are glad to mend the fire too, why is it so different from yesterday?" "Because there is no sun, mamma." "No sun, Harry, that would be a dreadful thing!" Oh, mamma," said Ellen, "Harry means that there is no sunshine, the sky is all cloudy, and rain coming on.' "But what has become of the sun?" Ellen thought a little, and then said, "I suppose it is up in the sky still, but behind the clouds." "Just so, the sun is in its old place, as near us as ever, but there are thick clouds which keep away the light and heat. And so, my dear, Jesus will never leave nor forsake his people, but sometimes in times of great trouble, or above all, when they have been sinful and careless, he lets the clouds come, and seems to have gone away, and then they have no comfort, all is cold, and dark, and sad. Then they must confess their sin, and pray very earnestly, and wait patiently, till the sun appears again. When you are older, you will know |