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Hebrews xii. 5--7.-My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him. For whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom his father chasteneth not?

Lamentations iii. 32, 33.—Though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For he doth not afflict wil'lingly, nor grieve the children of men.

(See Hymn 489, Martineau's Hymn Book.)

HYMN.

My times are in Thy hand :

Why should I doubt or fear!
My Father's hand will never cause
His child a needless tear.

Go not far from me, O my God,
Whom all my times obey;

Take from me anything Thou wilt,

But go not Thou away,

And let the storm that does Thy work,

Deal with me as it may.

On Thy compassion I repose

In weakness and distress:
I will not ask for greater ease,
Lest I should love Thee less :
Oh, 'tis a blessed thing for me
To need Thy tenderness.

When I am feeble as a child,
And flesh and heart give way,
Then on Thy everlasting strength
With passive trust I stay,

And the rough wind becomes a song,
The darkness shines like day.

O blessed are the eyes that see,
Though silent anguish show
The love that, in the hour of sleep,
Unthanked may come and go,

And blessed are the ears that hear,
Though kept awake by woe.

Happy are they that learn, in Thee,
Though patient suffering teach,
The secret of enduring strength,
And praise too deep for speech-
Peace, that no pressure from without,
Nor strife within, can reach.

My heart is fixed, O God, my strength! My heart is strong to bear:

I will be joyful in Thy love,

And peaceful in Thy care:

Deal with me, in my Saviour's namie,
According to his prayer.

No suffering while it lasts is joy,
How blest soe'er it be,—
Yet may the chastened child be glad
His father's face to see;

And oh, it is not hard to bear

What must be borne in Thee.

Safe in Thy sanctifying grace,
Almighty to restore-

Borne onward, sin and death behind,

And love and life before

Oh, let my soul abound in hope,

And praise Thee evermore!

I

LESSON XX.

GOD'S LOVING KINDNESS IN SENDING TRIALS-(CONTINUED!. PART II., "BLIND SAMUEL."

From Abbott's "Caleb in the Country."

THE next Sunday evening, when Walter's lesson time came, his mother took down from the book-shelves a little book, called "Caleb in the Country."* Walter was always glad when he saw her take down that book, for he liked it so very much, and he and his mother almost always had nice talks together when she had that book in her hand. She read to him. that evening the fifth chapter :—

"Madam Rachel went into the house, and sat down in her large rocking-chair, by a window, in a back parlour, that looked out upon a little garden, and began to sew. Caleb played around a little while, rather languidly, and at last came up to his grandmother, and, leaning upon her lap, asked her if she would not take him up, and rock him a little. She could not help pitying him, he looked so feeble and

*The teacher will find the whole volume excellent, and most interesting to his class.

sad; and she accordingly laid down her work, and lifted him up he was not heavy.

"Well, Caleb, you have not asked me to take you up, and tell you a story so, for a long time. This is the way I used to do when you were quite a little boy; only then you used to kneel in my lap, and lay your head upon my shoulder, so that my mouth was close to your ear. But you are too big

now.'

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'Caleb smiled a little, for he was glad to find that he was growing big; but it was rather a faint and sad smile.

"But I don't grow any stronger, grandmother,' said he, 'I wish I was well and strong, like the other boys.'

"You don't know what would be best for you, my little Caleb. God leads you along in His own way, through life, and you must go patiently and pleasantly on, just where He thinks best. You are like blind Samuel, going through the woods with his father.'

"How was that, grandmother?' said he, sitting up, and turning round to look at her.

"You sit still,' said she, gently laying him back again, and I will tell you.'

"Samuel was a blind boy. He had been away, and was now going home with his father. His father led him, and he walked along by his side. Presently they came to a large brook, and, before they got near it, they heard it roaring. His father said, "Samuel,

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