Spirit made him understand, that he should not leave this world before he had seen the Messiah. Now read again."

"And he came by the Spirit into the temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”—Luke ii. 27–32.

"God made him sure, we are not told how, that this child was the Lord Jesus. And then how sweetly he speaks, 'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.' This is one of my favourite verses, Ellen. What a sweet way to

speak of a believer dying."

"Mamma, I wonder Simeon did not rather wish to live, now that Jesus was come.'

"My dear, Simeon was an old man,

he had lived many years in this world, and had seen a great deal of sin and of sorrow, and now he was feeble and weary, and he wished to go home to God and be at rest. All he had desired to live on for was to see God's promise fulfilled, and the Saviour come down from heaven; and now that was granted, and he had nothing more to wish for on earth. We are told that 'the Holy Ghost was upon him;' he was made to speak, like the old prophets, of things to come; of how Jesus was to be not only a glory to Israel, but a light to all the other dark nations of the world. And then in the next verses he speaks of what He was to suffer as the Messiah, and what sad grief poor Mary would feel then."

"And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword

chall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."—Luke ii. 33-35.

Ellen had become very grave, and now she said, "Mamma, ought we to wish to die as Simeon did? I do not feel that at all just now. I would not like to leave you, and papa, and Harry, and Johnnie."

"My dear, I do not think it necessary that you should. I do not myself wish to die now. Papa and I would both desire, if it please God, that we might live some years longer, and see our children grow up to be holy and useful men and women. And you would like to live and be comforts to us when we are old. I think there is nothing wrong in that. But if God saw it better to take us away from you soon, or you from us, I hope and believe that when the time comes, he would make us quite willing and happy to go. You remember Cousin Mary, who died last year, whom you and Harry used to visit when she was ill ?"

"Oh yes, dear Cousin Mary! we will never forget her. How pretty she looked as she lay on the sofa, and how happy too! How sweetly she used to speak to us! How much Harry and I cried when we were told she was gone away to heaven!

แ

Well, you know, she had a dear father and mother, and sisters, whom she loved very much; and she told me that when she first became ill, and thought she would not get better, she felt very sad. She was not at all afraid to die, for she trusted in Jesus, and believed that her sins were forgiven for his sake, but she was sorry to think of leaving all she loved on earth. But she prayed to have this feeling taken away, and God heard her, and before she died she was able even to rejoice, and said she would be sorry now to think of returning to the world, for she could say with St. Paul, 'to depart and to be with Christ is far better.' She knew that her dear family were all the children of God, and that they would be

parted from each other only for a little time. But remember, my dear children, there is only one thing which can make either an old person or a child feel safe and happy when they come to die. It is only when we can say with Simeon, 'mine eyes have seen thy salvation,' when we can feel that Jesus is our own Saviour. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to make us sure of this, and then leave all the rest to our Father in heaven."

"Now, Harry, do you know who the old woman is, who is standing behind Simeon ?"

"She was called Anna. She was a very holy woman, of a great age, at least a hundred years old; she lived near the temple, and went very often there to pray, and to praise God among his people. She came in when Simeon was speaking, and heard his prophecy, and knew that this was the Saviour she too had been looking and hoping for. Read this verse:"