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had said to him, " Thy son liveth."

And he was so struck with this astonishing cure, which was performed without our Saviour even seeing, or being near the sick person, that he and all his family became Christians.

Thus did our merciful Saviour give joy to many sorrowing hearts, by his Almighty word, and it is a great comfort to us to know, that there is not a single instance in the history of His life of His having refused to hear the intercessions of those who prayed to Him in behalf of their friends. We, too, are allowed to pray to God for our dear friends, not only for their good in this world, but for their eternal happiness in the next, and we may be sure He will no more turn away from our prayer, than He did from those whose prayers were addressed to Him

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while He was on earth. He never changes. He is as compassionate, as merciful now, as he was then, -"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever."- He looks down with tender love and approbation on the dutiful child, who daily prays to a Heavenly Father to watch over and bless an earthly parent. He loves to hear the

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prayer affection for a beloved brother or sister. -And the humble petition for an earthly friend will reach the heart of Him who so loved mankind that He died for them.

But you must remember this, that the times of miracles are past, and that therefore you must not always expect God to restore your friends to health and happiness at your entreaty; for He knows what is best for them, and if

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He does not grant your prayer, it is for some wise and gracious purpose, not known to us. In every prayer for any earthly blessing, we should, therefore, always say, Thy will, not

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"mine, be done :" but there are some things which we are sure we may always entreat for them, that God would be pleased to teach them to love and serve Him here, that He would mercifully lead them through every trial and sorrow of this world, and at last bring them to everlasting joy in the world to come.

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"Pray one for another."-James, v. 16.

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X.

THE DRAUGHT OF FISHES.

WHILE Our Saviour was in Galilee, He came one day to the lake of Gennesaret, where he was followed as usual by an immense number of people, who, in their anxiety to hear His instructions, pressed so closely round Him, that the crowd became very inconvenient, and it was quite impossible to make them all hear.

Now there were two fishing-boats on the lake, one of which belonged to a man of the name of Simon, but neither he nor the other fishermen were in their boats, having left them to go on shore to wash and dry their nets. Our Saviour, however, who had known Si

mon before, got into his boat, where He should be free from the crowd, and be able to instruct the people with more ease. On seeing our Lord enter his boat, Simon immediately returned to it, and, at our Lord's request, pushed it a little farther from the shore, though not so far but that the people could hear distinctly His holy word.

When He had finished His discourse, He desired Simon to launch out into the deep water, and to let down his net to catch fish; but Simon said,

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Master, we have toiled all the night, " and have taken nothing: nevertheless "at thy word I will let down the net.” With these words he cast the net into the sea; and after waiting the usual time, attempted to draw it out again, but it was so heavy with the quantity of fishes which had now been caught, that, in trying to do so, it broke with

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