be in danger of being punished in Hell, and of being miserable for ever.

But when pain and illness come, and that they are obliged to lie for days and days on a sick-bed, then they find that the things of this world can no longer give them any pleasure, that religion alone is able to comfort and support them; then it is that they in earnest turn to that Saviour whom in the days of health they had forgotten; and, frightened lest they should die before He has forgiven them, then it is that they really pray to Him, and really make resolutions of loving and serving Him for the time to come. Perhaps God, in answer to that prayer, may restore them again to health and joy, and then, if they remember their resolutions, it will have indeed been "good for them "that they have been afflicted." There

fore you see God in mercy often makes us ill, in order to make us good.

to come.

But when you have recovered from any illness, do not forget your Saviour's words, which He says to you also, "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come "unto thee." That worse thing is not pain for a few hours here, but everlasting pain, eternal misery in the world But I hope you will not oblige your Heavenly Father to use this painful way to bring your hearts to Him. Now, my dear children, now in your day of health, in the sunshine of joy and happiness, seek that Gracious Being, who does not "afflict willingly nor "grieve the children of men."

"Whom the Lord loveth He chas"teneth, and scourgeth every son whom "He receiveth."-Hebrews, xii. 6.

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XII.

THE WIDOW OF NAIN. |

As our Saviour was one day journeying in Galilee, He arrived at a city called Nain. Many of His disciples went with Him, and a multitude of people, and as He came near the city gate, He met a funeral procession.

The funerals in those countries were not like those which you may have seen: here, the dead person is nailed up in a coffin, which is sometimes put into a hearse; but there, they merely placed the body on a bier, or wooden bed, and covered it over with a sheet.

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The funeral which our Lord met at the gates of Nain was that of a young man, who, in the prime of life, had been taken from his mother; and what made the case still more distressing was, that the poor mother was a widow, and this was her only son.

How much of the comfort and happiness of her life was gone! Her only child, her beloved son, was now no longer near to soothe and cheer her declining years, she was following

his funeral! and desolate and miserable, with an aching heart and streaming eyes, she perhaps thought she had not a friend left in the world.

But she was mistaken.

She had one Friend still, whom she knew not, but whose eye was fixed on her in tender pity. In the midst of

her distress, the poor widow was not alone!-The Saviour was near!

He gently approached her, and said, in a tone of affectionate interest, "Weep "not ;" and then turning towards the bier, He said to the dead body, "Young 66 man, I say unto thee, Arise," at the same time touching the bier.

The men who carried the bier stood still on the approach of Christ; and, to the amazement and terror of the assembled crowd, the young man, at the bidding of our Lord, rose from it, and, sitting upright, began to speak.

But how can I tell you the joy, the happiness of his poor mother, when our Saviour restored him to her-when she could clasp him to her heart once. more, and feel that she was no longer childless; that her dear, dear son was indeed alive again! And who was the.