phar bestowed some honour on Joseph after he had put him in prison?

71. Where was John at the time he saw the visions described in the Book of Revelation ?

72. What New Testament writer refers to the sin of Balaam?

H.

SCHOOL

BESSIE S.

BESSIE was not my child, or rather not my scholar, for we Sabbath-school teachers sometimes call the little ones put under our care "our children." Perhaps we may be excused in this, for are we not sometimes their spiritual parents-honoured instruments of bringing their souls into new life? This is the aim of every true Sunday-school teacher. Would anything less than this prompt some of us to leave comfortable homes and quiet hours of rest, week after week, to toil in crowded school-rooms? Yet we go many months with few signs of success; and, if it were not for encouraging texts of Scripture, such as "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days;" "They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him;""Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord," we should " grow weary," and cease our work. But, here and there, buds of promise open, bloom, and encourage us. So was it in the instance I am about to relate.

Bessie S-- was a child of tender feelings and gentle spirit, and of an amiable disposition. She belonged to one of the families constituting the majority of the population of this great city, namely, the middle classes. She had the advantage of a good plain education; but, alas! her

parents, like too many others, made no provision for the training of her soul. They prepared her for womanhood, the world, and life; but not for God, death, and eternity; little thinking she was destined for an early grave. I say that they made no provision for her future life: I cannot tell whether they had any convictions as to the necessity of such a preparation; but, at a very early age, they sent her to the Sunday-school, and there she became acquainted with those truths which alone can save the soul. For a long time the seed dropped showed no sign of taking root. Then it began to manifest itself very gradually first, there was a growing attachment to the school and her teacher; then, she often read her Bible, and, at the age of fourteen, a new one, presented to her by a pious aunt, was prized as her greatest treasure. Just before this, her illness commenced, and, although not in great pain, suffering more from weakness than anything else, she had a firm conviction that she should not recover. school and her Bible became more precious to her; and she was thoughtful and studious. For nearly two years death was slowly, but surely, approaching. Her anxious parents, meanwhile, applied to one physician and another, but in vain. It was not until Christmas-day, 1865, they thought it necessary to tell the dear girl that there was no hope of her recovery.

Her

In the evening of that day her aunt, before alluded to, having spent the day

with the family, felt she could not leave without knowing something about the state of her soul, and her prospects for the future. Before bidding her good-bye, she took her into a little room alone, and said, "You are very, very ill, dear; and I begin to fear you will never get better."

Bessie looked at her steadfastly for a moment, then fell on her bosom, and burst into tears. It was a touching scene. After a little, her aunt raised her, and, throwing her arm round her neck, she said, "Do not weep, dear child, Christ will give you strength to bear all your pains: I have been suffering for the last twenty years; but I feel so much of the love of Jesus, that I can bear all He thinks fit to send me."

She then dried her tears, and said, "Yes, dear aunt, and, though I know so little of Him, I would not part with Him for anything in this world. I don't want to get well; there is not much to live for here; I would rather go to heaven."

Her aunt said, "You must read your Bible, and pray. There is a beautiful chapter in St. John's Gospel."

Bessie interrupted her, saying, "Do you mean about the mansions?" She then recited a great part of the chapter, and added, "Don't think I do not read my Bible: I often feel vexed to see those about me so careless and so thoughtless."

"Don't be vexed, dear," said her aunt; "remember we were like that once. You must pray for them, and try to speak to them; and, when you are dying, say something to them; that, perhaps, will make the deeper impression upon their minds: they will remember it when you are gone."

"Yes, aunt," she answered, "so I will. I will try to think of it then, if I can.' Thus the conversation ended. They parted. A few more days elapsed, and on Thursday, the 11th of January, having had some of her young friends to tea, while going upstairs, she ruptured a blood-vessel, was taken to bed, and lay there until the following Tuesday, when she died. During these few days her friends had some pleasing interviews with her. She had been in the habit of corresponding with her teacher, who now visited her, and had some affecting

conversation with her, which the writer greatly regrets she cannot give in detail. Overwhelmed with joy to find her teaching had been made useful, she buried her face in the pillow, while she expressed her gratitude in silent tears; and then said to her scholar, "Good-bye, dear Bessie! I will give your message to the class next Sunday; I am sure they will listen to every word."

To her aunt, who went into the room, some time after, her younger sister said, "Aunt! Bessie says she shall wear a crown by and by." "Yes," Bessie added, "and a robe of righteousness, bought with the precious blood of Christ." Her teacher had been telling her it was God's way to draw His children to Himself by affliction, sometimes; and to a friend, speaking on the same subject, Bessie said, "Yes! 'before I was afflicted I went astray.' I was a wicked, sinful child once; I was proud and vain, and very fond of dress; I did not always feel as I do now." To her elder sister, a Christian, of whom she was very fond, she spoke confidently and happily of her approaching death.

On Monday she was much worse; and during the night, her pain being very sharp, her father, standing by, said, “I wish, my dear child, I could bear some of your pain for you." She looked at him, and said, in a strong voice, "You can't bear it, father; I have Christ to help me. I can bear it."

A little later, when some members of the family had gone to rest, she, having made a movement, was asked whether she was worse. She said, "Call father; I am going home!" The family soon assembled round her bed. She prayed long and earnestly for her parents, and then said, "Dear father! meet me in heaven." Then, after a little more struggling, she prayed for her brother, who had lately married, and said to his wife, who was standing near her, "Good-bye, dear M

Come to heaven to

me, and bring Willie with you." She then asked for her sister S--, who was absent, and prayed for her, and said, "Tell her I shall be sure to see her there." She seemed a little exhausted, and closed her eyes. Her father whispered in her

the attention of young readers. The numerous illustrations are specially excellent representations of scenes in Bible-lands.

Helena's Household: a Tale of Rome in the First Century. Pp. 438. London: T. Nelson and Sons.-This is no ordinary book. In a very pleasant way it gives the reader the benefit of great literary labour and skill on the part of the writer. He has made himself well acquainted with the leading events and personages of the time of which he writes, and also with its modes of thought and life; he has, in imagination, put himself back among these; and, with much graphic power and truthfulness, has so reproduced and vivified them as to make his book a highly interesting and instructive panorama of the period.

Our Class-Meetings: An Inquiry into their Scriptural Authority and Practical Working. By the REV. GEORGE ALLEY. Pp. 136. Dublin: Moffat. London: Hamilton and Co.-One of the most comprehensive treatises upon the Class-meeting of which we know. In its

modest preface Mr. Alley tells us that the substance of his book was first prepared as a "paper," to be read at the monthly meeting of Wesleyan Ministers in Dublin, and to their request we owe its publication. In its successive chapters, the Class-meeting is spoken of in relation to Methodism; the Word of God; subsidiary ends; Churchmembership; the Leader; the Minister; the congregation; Church-finance; and the children of Methodists. Some good suggestions are also given for its more profitable use. It is a judicious and useful book, and ought to command a wide circulation. Teachers of senior classes in our Sunday-schools would do well to read and digest it, with the view of instructing their scholars in the scripturalness and value of this important feature of Methodism.

Jesus the Way; or, the Child's Guide to Heaven. By the REV. E. PAYSON HAMMOND, M.A. London: SundaySchool Union.-The thread of narrative in this book is supplied by scenes and occurrences met with during a visit to the Holy Land. It is written with effective simplicity and earnestness, and cannot fail to be useful and welcome to little readers.

Of what Use are Wasps ? MANY will, no doubt, be startled on learning that a disagreeable insect, provided with a very sharp sting, and which comes buzzing about our heads in summer and autumn, when our tables are decked out with ripe fruit, in a word, the wasp,-is a most useful member of society. We have the word of two medical men for it; one a Dr. Thompson, of Philadelphia, and another a physician of Bordeaux, who withholds his name. The wasp is stated to be a declared enemy to all poisonous flies, the sting of which causes carbuncle; it also destroys an immense quantity of minute worms that get into fruit, and when introduced into the stomach may cause great inconvenience and even disease. Lastly, our Bordeaux physician asserts that the sting of the wasp is a Sovereign remedy for gout, sciatica, and

GLEANINGS.

rheumatism. This may, no doubt, be explained by the principle of counter-irritation; but how does he apply this remedy? It seems that this is his secret, which he is unwilling to divulge.

"You do not Know!"

ONE of our English princesses, when her tutor, a Bishop of the Church of England, said to her, "I find that my instructions have made you but little better," replied, "Ah, but, my lord, you do not know how much worse I should have been without them!" When tempted to think, Sabbath-school teacher, that the children in your class are not any better through your instructions, ask yourself the question, "How much worse would they have been without them?"

SUMMARY.-The Passover being near, the chief Jews and Judas conspire against Jesus to put Him to death. woman enters the house of Simon, and anoints the head of Jesus with costly ointment, at which some murmur; but Jesus, approving what the woman had done, rebukes them, and declares that this kindly act shall be published wherever the Gospel is preached. Two of the disciples inquiring about the Passover, He sends them into the city to make it ready.

I. PREPARATION BY THE JEWS, AND JUDAS.-V. 1, 2; 10, 11. Two days,according to the Jewish mode of speaking: "on the following day," according to ours. Passover,-kept in memory of the deliverance of Israel, when all the firstborn of Egypt were slain, Exod. xii. 12, 13. Unleavened bread,

- because no bread leavened with barm or yeast was allowed to be used during this feast, Exod. xii. 8, 15, 18 -20, 34. And, at the same time the Jews were plotting His death, Matt. xxvi. 3. By craft,-"by some secret plan that would secure possession of Him without exciting the opposition of the people." V. 2. Not-during the feast, which lasted seven days. An uproar, -a violent attempt to rescue Christ, who had the sympathy of large numbers of the people; Jerusalem was very crowded at this festival. V. 10. Iscariot.-Probably he was 66 a man of Kerioth," born there, and so named after his birthplace, Josh. xv. 25. Went,-immediately after the reproof given, v. 6-9; for this was directed chiefly against Judas, John xii. 4-6. To betray, in that sly, deceitful manner they desired, v. 1. Were glad,that they had found a man so likely to help them. Promised,-in answer to his request, Matt. xxvi. 15. Conveniently, -without provoking the opposition of the people, Luke xxii. 6.

II. PREPARATION BY THE ANOINTING OF THE WOMAN.-V. 3-9. The leper, -a surname, probably, given to him VOL. III. NEW SERIES.-August, 1868.

woman.

because he had been cured of leprosy by Christ. A woman,-Mary, the sister of Lazarus, John xii. 3. Alabaster box, &c.-See Illustration. On His head,and His feet, John xii. 3. V. 4. Indignation within,-surprise that Jesus should suffer it, and anger at Mary for doing it. And said,-probably to the V. 5. Three hundred pence.About nine pounds of our money; so it was very precious, or costly. Given to the poor, this was sincerely meant by some, but not by Judas. Murmured,as though she had really wasted or thrown it away. V. 6. A good work,— out of pure, fervent love, and deepest respect for Me. V. 7. Whensoever ye will,-if the concern you now manifest be real, the poor will not suffer. Not always, a warning that He was about to leave them; made very impressive by v. 8. To anoint.-It was an ancient custom to anoint victims for sacrifice, and also the dead, 2 Chron. xvi. 14; ch. xvi. 1. V. 9. This Gospel,- this history of My life, and the doctrines I have taught. A memorial, as an honourable instance of her devout attachment to Me.

III. PREPARATION FOR THE SYMBOLICAL PASSOVER. V. 12-16. The first day,-in the morning of it. Passover, - the Paschal lamb, Exod. xii. 3-5. Where. They had no doubt Jesus would keep the feast. V. 13. The city,-Jerusalem. A man, &c.--No one but Christ could have foreknown this. V. 14. The goodman,-the master of him whom you follow. The Master saith,signifying that the man would know who was meant. Guest-chamber where, &c.-The one which I choose out of all those open to Me. V. 15. Large upper room, the one "devoted to purposes of prayer, repose, and [often] eating." Furnished, &c.-literally, spread and ready. V. 16. Found as He had said.Another evidence that He foreknew what would happen. They made ready, -purchasing a lamb approved by the