when wearied with the same thing they asked him why he repeated this so often, he said, "Because it is the precept of the LORD, and if you comply with it, you do enough."

So purely religious and forgiving was he, that he went out into the wilderness after a young man, once his pupil, who had taken to evil courses and become a robber. Aged as he was, he obtained a horse and guide, and made his way to the mountain where the robber and his gang lived. He was taken prisoner, but did not offer to escape. He said,

It is for this that I am come: lead me to your Captain." When the Captain, who stood armed to receive him, saw who it was, he rushed away in haste and shame, but the Saint hurried after him, and, stretching his arms towards him, said,

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Child, why do you thus fly from me your father, unarmed, and an old man? My son, have compassion on me. There is time for repentance. Stay, believe me, I am sent by CHRIST."

The young man burst into tears.

S. John kissed him, prayed with him, and brought him back to Ephesus.

Well might he be the "beloved disciple." Well may a good man of our own day, writing of him, say,

"This is he whom GOD approves,
This is he whom JESUS loves."

At Ephesus, at a great age, not less, as it is said, than one hundred years, this beloved disciple died; or as we may truly say of him, as the inspired writer did of the Martyr S. Stephen, he "fell asleep."

"For angels watch beside the bed

Where aged Christians rest their head;
And as their watchful vigils cease,
Parting, they whisper-whisper-PEACE."

S. John the Evangelist was buried on a mountain-side, without the walls of the city; and for a long time the dust from his tomb was treasured up and carried away by devout persons.

THE HOLY INNOCENTS.

DECEMBER 28.

"On the King of Martyrs wait
Three chosen bands in royal state,
And all earth owns, of good and great,
Is gathered in that Choir,

"And some, the darlings of their LORD,
Play smiling with the flame and sword,
And, ere they speak, to His sure word
Unconscious witness give."

THIS has been called "The Children's Saints' Day," and it is one in which all young people can hardly fail to take interest, and to think about it. In many country places children are called childer: so this used to be called "Childermas Day," or the day on which there was Divine Service in memory of the Holy Innocents.

It is very interesting to read of holy children in the Bible: many of the greatest and most holy men that ever lived have been marked out as GOD's especial favourites when they were young. You remember the beau

tiful history of Samuel, who was dedicated to GOD even before he was born: that is, his mother made a solemn vow that if she were so happy as to have a little son, she would at once place him in the Temple, to serve the LORD as a priest all his life. And she did so as soon as ever he could be left; and how young he was you may guess, because we read that she made him " a little coat every year, and took it to him.

So good and holy was this little child, that the LORD Almighty spoke to him, and told him His will.

Joseph you know was very good and gentle, when he was quite a young boy, and his wicked elder brothers cast him into the well, and then sold him for a slave; and GOD Almighty saved him from these and other terrible dangers, and raised him to be a helper and refuge to all his own family, as well as to the whole land of Egypt. In his early years he was very modest, truthful, and good.

Moses was only a babe, three months old, when he was laid in a little cradle of rushes on the banks of the river, where it was most likely he would be drowned or die of hunger: but God Almighty saw and loved this babe, and sent the princess of Egypt that way. And Moses became a very learned man, and he was the deliverer of his people out of Egypt, and was their ruler and guide for

forty years. He was then the greatest man upon earth; but, remember, he was also the meekest.

David was but a rosy-cheeked boy, tending sheep, but very obedient to Jesse his father, and very loving and helpful to his brothers; quite ready to carry them parched corn and loaves for food to the camp (1 Sam. xvii. 17) as his father desired, when GOD Almighty had him anointed as future King of Israel, and sent him to slay Goliath the giant. You know what a great and good man he became 66 a man after GOD's own heart.” And you know who wrote all those beautiful Psalms which now we could not do without. have been none such ever produced since, nor ever will; for God Almighty, Who had loved the good and rosy shepherd-boy, was with "His servant David," when in afteryears they were written; and the Church has made them a chief part of her service and worship.

There

S. John the Baptist was taken into the wilderness by his mother, (who feared his life was in danger from Herod,) when but a little child; but God Almighty saw him there, loved him there, and took care of him. You will read soon what he became when he was a man.

You all remember how fond our LORD was of little children;-how He "took them in His arms, and blessed them ;"-how He said,