it certain, from your father's promise, that you would get every thing you should ask for, even though it should be something which he had not forbidden you to have?"

"No, mother; if it was any thing that he had told me he wished me to have, I should feel certain of getting it. But, if it was something that I thought I needed, but did not know his mind about it, I should say, "Father, I want this very much; but I do not know whether you will think it best for me to have it; and you know better than I do;" and I should keep asking him, till he gave me an answer. But, if he said, “No, Susan; this is not best for you;" I should be satisfied, and should not think he had broken his promise."

"Well, my dear, just so you are to understand the promises of God; and just so you must ask him for what you want. If it is any thing which he has told you in the Bible

that he wished you to have, you may be sure of receiving it, if you ask aright; and if you do not receive it, you may conclude that you have asked amiss. But, if it is any thing that you are not certain it is best for you to have, or any thing that God has not told you he is willing to give, you must ask with the same spirit of submission, that you would ask your father, in the case I just supposed. You may keep asking, and you may ask very earnestly, till you see cause to believe that it is not the will of God that you should have what you desire; but then you must submit, and be satisfied that the will of God should be done."

"Mother, can you tell me about any good people mentioned in the Bible, who asked for things that they did not receive ?"

"Yes, my dear, I can tell you of several. Moses was one of the best men that ever lived; and a great

many times, the Lord heard his prayers, in a most wonderful manner. But, after the children of Israel got within sight of the promised land, Moses prayed and said: ‘O Lord God, thou hast began to show thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand for what God is there in Heaven or in earth that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might? I pray thee let me go over and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.' But the Lord had told him before, that he should not go into the land of Canaan, because, at one time, when the children of Israel murmured against God, he had shown a bad spirit. And now, He would not do as Moses desired. But He told Moses that he might go up into a high mountain and see the land."

"And was Moses satisfied with that?"

"Yes, he submitted, and said no more about it, after he knew the Lord's will. And there was good King David, too, who was a prophet, and who wrote most of the Psalms. His little child was taken very sick, and was likely to die; and he prayed that God would save the child's life. He fasted too, and went and lay all night upon the ground. And his friends went to him and tried to persuade him to get up; but he would not; and they could not get him to eat any thing. And this he did from day to day."

"And did the child die, mother?"

"On the seventh day, the child died; and his people were afraid to tell him of it; for they said, 'Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice; how will he then vex himself if we tell him the child is dead?' But when David saw them whispering to one another,

he asked them if the child was dead. And when they told him that it was dead, he rose up and washed himself, and changed his clothes, and went into the house of the Lord, and worshipped. Then he went to his own house, and called for something to eat."

"Why, I should think he would have been still more sorry, when he knew the child was dead."

"So his people thought; and they said to him, 'What is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.' But he answered and said, 'While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.' Here is