First scholar.-I think you mean that He sees something in Jesus.

Teacher. Yes, I do. Read the 3rd chap. of Matthew, 17th ver.

First scholar.-"And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Teacher. And Romans, 3rd chap. 24th ver.

Second scholar. - "Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ."

Teacher. It is because He died and bled, that God will hear you and forgive your sins. It is because he stands interceding for the lost, that the Holy Spirit seeks them out and saves them. And if you go in Jesus' name you will get the blessing, and though it tarry, wait for it--it will surely come. The father had to come himself before the doctor would go: the friend had to knock more than once before he got the bread which he required; and so, though you find the answer to your prayers delayed, and the burden of sin becoming heavier, yet persevere, and you will presently be able to repeat, from your own experience, the 10th verse, which I will get you to read.

Third scholar.-"For every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

GOD THE GIVER OF WISDOM.

JAMES i. 5-7.

Teacher.-I once heard it said of a gentleman, "He does not say much, but when you get it, it is gold." So I would say of these three verses -they are short, but all gold. May each of us feel towards the word of God as David felt when he wrote the 19th Psalm. Turn to it, and read the 10th verse.

First scholar.-"More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."

Teacher.

Now, let us see what the first verse

of our lesson says.

First scholar, ver. 5.- "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him."

Teacher. It has struck me that you, and I, need wisdom in four particular respects. Now, see if you can tell me for what we first and chiefly need wisdom?

The scholars make no reply.

Teacher. Just read the 7th chap. of Matthew, 14th ver., and I think you can tell me.

Second scholar.-" Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

Teacher.-Now, what do you chiefly need wisdom for?

Second scholar.-To teach us the narrow way.
Third scholar.-To lead us to heaven.

Teacher.-I remember when I was about seven years old being in a phaeton with some relations, about a hundred and forty miles from home, in a strange country, at night. We came to a place where the road branched off in different directions. We waited a little time, doubting whether to go on or not. It was cheerless to remain still, so we went on. By and by we passed a house on the road-side, and, in order to be quite sure that we were right, my father got out of the chaise and inquired where we were. When he came back I remember his saying, "We should have got into a very uncertain road," and we turned back. These words had a fearful sound in my ears, though I scarce knew why: I never forgot them. Perhaps the idea of robbers might have flashed across my mind, or, more likely, the thought of being benighted,-losing ourselves, without a friend or a home or a shelter. But the people of the house put us right, and we got safely out of our difficulty. You see we got wrong because we were ignorant, and you see how we got right.

Second scholar.-By asking the road. Teacher. And if it was painful to get wrong on an earthly journey, oh, how fearful to wander blindly on the broad road to destruction! But,

now,

I think what we did that night will teach you what to do with regard to the heavenly journey.

Fourth scholar.—To ask wisdom of God.

Teacher.-Yes! To get him to shew us the way to heaven, the city of living waters, and golden pavements, and immortal harps; for, oh, how awful is the mere chance of losing our way! Third scholar.-Teacher, does not the bible teach the way to heaven?

Teacher.-Yes.

Third scholar.-Then what do we ask God to show us the way for?

Teacher. Suppose I were to put a map of England before you, and ask you to point me out the way to the Isle of Wight, could you? Third scholar.-No.

Teacher. And why?

Third scholar.-Because I don't understand maps.

Teacher.-Just so; many there are who read the word of God, but few understand it. They do not ask for wisdom, they never ask the way to heaven, and the bible is of no saving use without

this wisdom. Look what David prayed in the 119th Psalm, 18th ver.

Fourth scholar.-"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."

Teacher.—Yes; now, just to show you how useless the bible is without this heavenly wisdom from God to instruct us in its truths, I will tell you what I heard a preacher say lately in the pulpit. Said he, "I lately met a man in the country and the moment I mentioned the bible, it raised the enmity of his heart. It was just as if he could not bear to hear it mentioned, as though the bible had done him some harm ;" and, on the other hand, I remember hearing it said of a lady, "that the word of God was ever on her lips." I saw her bible, and it bore the marks of diligent, attentive, and frequent perusal. Now, both of these had the bible. One saw nothing to love in the bible-rather the contrary; to the other it was meat and drink. To one it was like a map which he did not understand-to the other it was indeed a guide to heaven. How was this? First scholar.-Because the lady had her eyes opened.

Second scholar.-Because one had asked wisdom.

Teacher. You see, then, that though we have the bible, we are all so ignorant and foolish that