THE PENITENT CAPTAIN.

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to whom the "fifties" of these presumptuous captains are as a grain of sand to the desert, or a drop to the ocean, refuse to believe and repent, and perish miserably at our side.

But how few, how very few, like this penitent commander, turn unto the Lord, and beg the life, the eternal life, of their immortal souls! And yet, as surely as this fearful suppliant went back to his king unhurt, will every humble and sincere petitioner for Christ's unbounded salvation go down to his house, not only "justified," but "rejoicing."

MORNING THIRTEENTH.

LESSON.-2 Kings, chapter ii.

MAMA. Few things in Scripture, my dear Mary, are more striking and impressive than the account we here have of the translation of an eminent servant of God directly to his glorious Presence, without, like the rest of mankind, passing through that dark valley which all, except two of the sons of Adam, have, in consequence of their first parents' transgression, been doomed to encounter. Can you tell me the name of the other favoured individual who, for retaining, like Elijah, “his integrity" amid prevailing wickedness, also ascended at once to the Presence of his Maker?

MARY. Enoch, Mama, who "walked with God, and was not, for God took him."

MAMA. Very well. Remember they were both preachers of righteousness, as well as prophets. We have the authority of the Apostle Jude for knowing that Enoch, "the seventh from Adam," foretold the coming of our Lord to judge the world as an argument for present reformation. Who was the witness of Elijah's wonderful translation?

MARY. Elisha, Mama.
MAMA. And who was he?

count of him?

Where have we any ac

MARY. Some chapters ago, Mama, it told about him; but you made me pass it over till another time.

MAMA. Yes, because it was then quite detached, and consequently less likely to be remembered than we shall find it now. Turn back to 1 Kings, 19th chapter, and see what it says of Elisha.

ELISHA'S FAREWELL TO HIS PARENTS.

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MARY. Mama, Elijah was desired by God to anoint him for his successor.

MAMA. A great distinction, Mary; and did he owe it to his rank, or station, or learning?

MARY. Oh, no; he could hardly have been either rich, or great, or learned; for he was ploughing in the field when the prophet found him.

MAMA. A fresh proof, my dear (could any be wanting, besides the Apostles and early disciples of our Lord), that there are qualities of the heart and mind that God values in his servants, which the humblest, as well as the most highly gifted, may possess. Which of these, should you say, from what happened here, characterised Elisha?

MARY. I don't know.

MAMA. What have I often told you that God prized above costly sacrifices, or any thing else in the world? Faith and sincerity. How did Elisha show his faith?

MARY. By leaving his oxen, I suppose, and running after Elijah, when he came to call him to God's service.

MAMA. Very right. And how did he prove he was in earnest?

MARY. By at once taking farewell of his father and mother, and then following Elijah.

MAMA. Right again. What does the Gospel say on this head? "He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me." And again, "Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in the present time, and in the world to come life everlasting." Bless God, my dear, that in our day such heart-rending sacrifices are not exacted from us; but remember, that the disposition to resign all, if needful, for religion, is as precious in God's sight now as in the days of Elisha. Do you not think the honour and

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THE PROPHET'S TRIAL.

advantage of attending and learning from Elijah richly repaid him for his "twelve yoke of oxen"? But this was the least of his reward, as we shall see by and by. To return to our chapter. To what fresh trial did it please God, through his prophet, to put the new disciple's faith and zeal?

MARY. Mama, Elijah three times begged Elisha to stay where he was, and not to go with him, and spoke as if God had bid him. Was that quite right, when it was only to try him?

MAMA. My dear, if it were as you suppose, your remark would be just; but you have taken it up hastily. The prophet does not say, or even imply, that God did not wish his servant to go with him, but only dispensed with his services as from himself. Did Elisha profit by this permission?

MARY. No; he said, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee."

MAMA. Strong language; its tenor reminds me (I wonder if it does you?) of another young convert, who, when pressed by her mother-in-law to stay behind in her own country, protested with equal sincerity that she would go with her, and received a like rich reward. Do you know whom I mean?

MARY. NO, Mama.

MAMA. Who clave to her mother-in-law when her sister only kissed her? Who went out to glean after the reapers of Boaz ?

MARY. Oh, Mama, you mean Ruth. How could I forget such a pretty story! She was rewarded indeed, by marrying so good and rich a man after she and her mother had been starving.

MAMA. Ah, but, Mary, that was the least of it. Do you not know wherein her chief reward lay? The cir cumstance but for which we should hardly have known her name or history to this day?

MARY. No, Mama.

THE WATERS OF JORDAN DIVIDED.

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MAMA. I will tell you. She became the mother of Obed, the grandfather of David; and she had thus the honour of being ancestress to that pious monarch, and the whole royal family of Judah-but to whom besides, Mary?

MARY. I never remember hearing.

MAMA. Mary, who is called the "Son of David" many times in the New Testament?

MARY. Christ, Mama. I know now. The blind man said, "Have mercy on me, thou Son of David."

MAMA. Very well. You see now that if Ruth had staid behind in Moab, amid plenty of food and the society of her countrymen, instead of following poor forlorn Naomi for the sake of the true God, she would never have held a distinguished place in the genealogy of Christ, or the history of the Bible. What happened, my dear, when Elijah and his faithful servant came to the river Jordan ?

MARY. Elijah wrapped his mantle together, and the waters divided and let them pass.

MAMA. Did this ever happen before?

MARY. Oh, yes; at the Red Sea.

MAMA. Right; but it is not of that I am speaking. Do you remember what I told you lately of the taking of Jericho?

MARY. Yes; the walls fell down when the priests blew the trumpets.

MAMA. Very well. Now this wonderful miracle was ushered in by another. The waters of this very river Jordan were divided as now into two heaps, and the priests, bearing the Ark of the Lord, passed over dryshod. I dare say Elijah thought of it when he smote the waters. Indeed no good Israelite could forget it; for God made them take up twelve stones out of the very bottom of the river to build an altar, which remained for centuries after. And why was this done. think you? Just that the Jews might explain to t