Sometimes I'm tired of minding Which track I ought to keep; Sometimes the road is lonely, Or foes are near my side; But I am safe if only I listen to my Guide. Whene'er I feel affrighted, He soothes my wild alarms, I travel on with gladness, With such a tender guide: Home, home, sweet home! no sorrow, No partings on the morrow, To that sweet home above. WO servants of God were once thrown into prison. But they were not unhappy. Although they were surrounded by walls of stone, and all prospect of escape cut off, they were so filled with joy, that at night, instead of sleeping, they prayed and sang praises unto God. No. 221. MAY, 1863. F Their heavenly Father, whom they thus worshipped, heard them and answered them. At midnight the earth rocked; the foundations of the prison were shaken, the strong walls tottered, the great heavy doors were thrown open, and, what was more wonderful than all, every prisoner's chains fell off from his limbs. The jailer being aroused from his sleep, when he saw the condition of things, and supposing that the prisoners had taken advantage of the open doors and had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But one of these good men cried aloud to him, "Do thyself no harm, for we are all here." The jailer then called for a light, sprang hastily into the cell where he had fastened these two Christian men strongly in the stocks, fell down at their feet, and with trembling lips asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved ?" The holy men answered him, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." And thus they taught him that in order to secure the salvation of his soul, he must have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The faith which is necessary to salvation is something more than mere believing. You must not only believe that there was such a person as Jesus Christ, that he was the Son of God, and came int this world to be the Saviour of men, but you must believe that he will pardon and save all who come unto him that he will save you if you come You must be willing to give up everything for his sake, and throw yourself upon God's mercy. You must take him for your Lord and Master, to love him and serve him all your days. Perhaps the following story will help to make this plainer. A young man enlisted as a sailor in the navy. He was sent on board a man-of-war, and made several voyages; but after some time he got ashore and ran away. He was now a deserter. When this was discovered, a reward was offered to any one who would catch him and bring him back. He was aware of his danger, and kept himself so closely secreted that he could not be taken. But in the course of time there was a great want of men in the navy; so the government published offers of pardon to all deserters, and told them if they would return and enlist again nothing should be said to them about their having deserted. That is, instead of being punished as they deserved for deserting, they would be forgiven. When the sailor saw these proposals he believed them, and went to the proper office and delivered himself up. By so doing he showed that he had faith in the sincerity of the proclamation. He was not deceived. His desertion was pardoned, and he was received again into the service of the navy. Your conduct towards Christ should be similar to this man's. You should come to Jesus confessing your sins, deliver yourself up to him, submit to his will, and engage sincerely in his service: that is faith. Then you will be pardoned and received into the friendship of the Saviour. A LESSON TO LEARN. "OH dear! it is a rainy morning again; I am so sorry! I cannot bear the rain," cried Annie Dale, as she turned from the window at which she had been sitting for some minutes, looking out on the dull sky and the wet garden walks. "It has been raining nearly all this week, and this is Saturday. Now I cannot go to read to old Mrs. Brown, as I promised her, nor ask Susan Allen to come to the Sunday school, but must stay in the house all day. How vexing it is, that even when one is trying to do right, something always happens to prevent it." 66 I think, dear, you have a lesson to learn today," said Annie's sister, Mary, who was several years older than herself. "I learned all my lessons yesterday, and have left to-day at leisure, and laid my plans for it. Is it not disappointing ?" replied Annie. as for "Yes, indeed it is; I am sorry for you, as well poor old Mrs. Brown, who will miss the Bible reading she loves so well. But still I think you have a lesson to learn, Annie." 66 66 Well, Mary, what is it ?" 'Do you not think, Annie, our heavenly Father sends us every day some lesson to learn, either from himself, from ourselves, or from those around us? Now, though it would be quite right, if the weather were fine, for you to visit your poor old friend, and to ask Susan Allen to attend the Sunday school, yet I think the lesson God wishes you |