hid Elijah, and Obadiah had hid a hundred others in a cave, and fed them with bread and water. You see he was not afraid of the wicked king's displeasure, but did what was right; for he feared the Lord greatly.

Was it very easy to get bread and water for so many at that time?—(No, because of the famine.) Then how do you think Obadiah was able to do it without being found out? (Did God show him how, teacher?)-Most probably He did; for the Lord always takes care of His people. God no doubt took care of His servant Obadiah, who must have been often in great danger, being in the king's wicked household as he was; for wicked people cannot bear those that try to serve God. It seems that the Lord had blessed His servant just as He had Joseph long before; and perhaps Ahab felt that Obadiah served him so faithfully that he could not do without him.

We do not read any more about this "servant of the Lord," but we may be sure that since he had feared the Lord from his youth, as he told Elijah, God would never forsake him, and that he is now in heaven with Him to whom he had given himself on earth, and who had inclined his heart to fear Him when a child.

Would you not like to meet Obadiah in the better world? Then if you would you must be a servant of the Lord as he was; when you were baptized it was promised for you that you should be so. Oh that it might be said of you all, if spared to grow up, "They have feared the Lord from their youth."

Do you know what is meant by "fearing the Lord"? It means being afraid of grieving Him by sin because we love Him and feel how He loves us. Perhaps a story which I read a short time ago may help you to understand what I mean. A boy had been told by his father not to touch a tree in the garden on which there were some beautiful ripe cherries. Some of his companions tried to persuade him to pick some, and told him he need not be afraid, for if his father should find it out he would not hurt him, for he was too kind. "That

is the very reason why I should not touch them," he said; "my father might not hurt me, but my disobedience I know would hurt him, and that would be a worse punishment to me than anything else."

That is just how we ought to feel when tempted to do what is wrong; and the thought of how it would grieve our loving Father will keep us from it if we really love Him. Those who do not love the Lord have reason to fear His anger; but those who are washed in the blood of Jesus need not be afraid of Him in that way, for they know that Jesus died instead of them, and God will not punish their sin twice over.

TERESA.

THE NEARNESS OF THE LORD. "Thou art near, O Lord."-Ps. cxix. 151. THIS is a very short text, with very simple words in it; so I hope the smallest of you, as well as the biggest, will try to remember it from to-day, and never forget it as long as you live. Although it is so short it means a great deal, and it contains enough to talk about for several lessons and yet not have told half its wonders.

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Now I want you to try and think what it is to have the Lord near you always. A little boy said not long ago that if he was to see an angel he should not be at all afraid; he would be glad, and would run up to him and say but the little fellow stopped suddenly: he did not know what he would say: he felt that it would be a solemn thing to be in the presence of an angel from God. How much more solemn, little ones, must it be to be in the presence of God Himself! See how Adam felt it (Gen. iii. 8); Jacob (Gen. xxviii. 16, 17); Moses (Exod. iii. 6).

But God's love is so great and wonderful that He is ever near to poor, unworthy sinners if they try to serve Him and obey His holy law. He abides with those who love and honour His holy name. And what a beautiful thought it is that if we do these things, God will be our best Friend. He will always be at

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the reply; "I am going downstairs." "Will Jesus stay with me?" asked the child; "will He take care of me all night? When she had been assured that He would, the little one was satisfied, and slept peacefully in the presence and under the care of Jesus our Lord. Dear children, let your thought be like

that little child's, "Jesus st me;" and may it be a con blessing to you as it was to he 2. The Lord is near us in need. God is ever at hand t His people when dangers and set them. Look at St. Pa (Acts xxiii. 11; 2 Tim. iv. that of the three young men Daniel wrote (Dan. iii. 25).

is so very good and kind too does not even forsake those w Him. If you were far away a a storm came on, and there hope that you would reach la how you would cry to God the think you would feel that He at hand. Do not wait for an need like this to arrive; but con now, and show that you love His care. In sorrow and in gla Lord is ever near to His pe at all times we should turn as little while to express our gra Him and say, 66 Father, I than

3. Then the Lord is nea hour of death. Most people when the time comes. Even t forget God in life remember fear when the hour arrives for die. But oh, dear children, do till then to know that the Lord seek to know Him as your Fr Saviour now, and when you a to leave this world the feeling Lord is near will be an uns comfort to you. I will tell young girl who found it so. dying; so near death that she to be quite unconscious of passing around. But, when s said to her, "I hope you can Lord Jesus near you now," s her feeble hand, and exclaime cious, precious Jesus!" The that Jesus was near was her comfort in the hour of death; a she is near to Him for ever and

4. The nearness of God in e Dear children, what is it to be God for ever and ever? How w to be in the company of dear frie earth; how gladly we walk besid or take the seat next to them

happy we feel when we are near them; and how sorry we are when they go away. Well then, if the Lord Jesus is our best Friend, whom we should love better than any on earth, just listen to what He says in John xvii. 24. What friendship and love! He wishes us to share in His heavenly glory; He will not leave His glorious home in heaven to dwell with us, but He is ever near us for all that, and in the end will take us to dwell with Him; and then we shall see Him as He is (1 John iii. 2), and know even as also we are known (1 Cor. xiii. 12).

But do you think that God our Saviour will take to His heavenly home those who have never loved and served Him

on earth? Oh no, and alas how few of us can say that we have sought and found the Saviour, and love Him better than all beside. How few of us are glad to think that the Lord is near! How terrible will it be to die in this state! What will Jesus say to those who have thus rejected Him?--That awful word, "Depart" (Matt. xxv. 41); "Lo, they that are far from Thee shall perish" (Ps. lxxiii. 27). O my children, seek earnestly to know Jesus as your Saviour now, that you may rejoice in His nearness upon earth, and dwell for ever in His immediate presence in heaven, where "is fulness of joy" (Ps. xvi. 11). ISABEL.

LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF NEHEMIAH.-III.

Nehemiah v.

WE have still much to learn from the example of Nehemiah; and in this and the following chapters we shall find many things worthy of our imitation.

Difficulties of all kinds were around him; poverty pressed on the land, and to such a state had the dearth reduced the poor that in order to buy corn they mortgaged their lands and houses. [Describe and explain the state of the land among the Jews, the questions brought before Nehemiah (ver. 1-5), and the troubles and bad effects likely to ensue from the conduct of the richer Jews: Lev. xxv. 35, 36, 37.]

Nehemiah was not one who feared the face of man. What does the fear of man do?-(Prov. xxix. 25.) He knew that the nobles and rulers were doing what the Lord had forbidden (Lev. xxv. 35-39; Ps. xv. 1-5; Exod. xxii. 25; Prov. xxviii. 8), so he points out to them the efforts he and others had made to redeem their brethren from slavery (ver. 8), and how vain their work would prove if covetousness and love of money and usury prevailed in the land.

The God of the poor had given the Jews many instructions how to behave towards the poor; and while His laws give no sanction to idleness (2 Thess. iii. 10-12), nor to the neglect of the due payment of debts (Ps. xxxvii. 21), still they command us to show pity and kindness to those who are in distress (Deut. xv. 7-11; Isa. lviii. 7,8,10; 1 John iii. 17; Acts xx. 35 [mention different ways by which all can show kindness and give help]; 2 Cor. viii. 1-12); and He pronounces blessings on those who fulfil these commands (Ps. xli. 1-3; Prov. xix. 17; xxii. 9), and threatenings against those who disobey them (Isa. iii. 14, 15; Amos ii. 6; Matt. xxv. 4146; Prov. xxi. 13; xxii. 16). Can you tell me of any one who cared for the poor? (Job xxix. 11–16; xxx. 25.)

Did Nehemiah receive any answer at first? (Ver. 8.) Why not? What great motive did he then put before them? (Ver. 9.) What does the Bible tell us of those who fear God?-They hate evil (Prov. viii. 13); they walk in God's ways (Ps. cxxxviii. 1); they depart from evil and from the snares of death (Job xxviii. 28; Prov. iii. 7; xiv. 2). What are their blessings ? It is well with them (Deut. v. 29; Eccles. viii. 12); the secret of the Lord is with them (Ps.

XXV. 12-14); they shall be delivered from trouble (Ps. xxxiii. 18, 19; xxxiv. 7-9; ciii. 13, 17); they shall be blessed (Ps. cxv. 13); their names shall be written in the Lord's book of remembrance (Mal. iv. 2). Then may we, like Nehemiah, be in the fear of the Lord all the day long-what does that mean?-and obtain the blessings He has promised to all who fear Him.

Who would think little of the Jews' religion if their conduct did not accord with what they professed?-(Ver. 9.) What does St. Peter tell us in 1 Pet. iii. 16, and in 1 Pet. iv. 15? Many ignorant and careless people will look at your conduct, and judge whether Bible reading and schools are good things by the effect they see that they have on you. How careful you should be then of your words and actions! Look at Phil. ii. 14-16; Matt. v. 16: Nehemiah did not only give advice, he set a good example himself (ver. 10, 11).

Now was his request granted?-(Ver. 12.) Yes, joyfully and fully, even more than he had asked. Pity and compassion were showed, and praise went up to God (ver. 13; Ps. cxi. 1).

The rest of the chapter contains a history of Nehemiah's behaviour towards the people he governed. What was it ?(Ver. 14-18.) What was his rule of conduct?-(Ver. 18.) Yet his only wish and trust was that his God might think upon him (Ps. xl. 17); and He who knoweth the names of all His people did not, we are sure, forget the prayer of His humble servant.

Nehemiah vi.

At last Nehemiah's perseverance had its reward (ver. 1); the broken down wall of which he had grieved to hear was rebuilt but the hatred of his enemies was not at an end. What did they do next? (Ver. 2; Ps. xxxvii. 12, 32.) Nehemiah's faithfulness to his work saved him from their snares. Why would not he go to meet them ?-(Ver. 3, 4.) Oh learn from his example to continue in well-doing. Steadfastness and industry will keep you from many sins and dangers. What does the hymn say about "idle hands"?

Mockery and insult, force a having all been tried in vain, now endeavoured to serve hi by using false witness. Wh say in his letter ?-(Ver. 6, much was true of it? Wh open ? What did he ask to do? Can you tell me Lord says about false witness xix. 16-20; Prov. vi. 16-1 care to spread no false repor xxiii. 1 [illustrate by exam harm done by them]; Lev. 1 Tim. v. 13.)

Nehemiah's answer was a and wise one. He denies the port, but indulges in no angry ings (1 Pet. iii. 9); and when he the harm likely to be done wickedness, he simply prays mighty to strengthen his hand

The next trial was a still r gerous one, for it came under of friendship and religion. it? [Describe Shemaiah and posal, ver. 10.] God's work w to Nehemiah than his own felt like Paul when he said to tl who tried to persuade him not Jerusalem," What mean ye to to break mine heart? for I a not to be bound only, but also Jerusalem for the name of t Jesus 29 (Acts xxi. 13); and life itself might be lost, he k life which cannot be taken away he feared not them who migh to kill the body.

Who had hired Shemaiah ( and why had they done so ?-() This part of Nehemiah's hist cludes with the description of cess which crowned his labours 16), so that even his enemie forced to confess that the God had wrought mightily for them.

Can you tell me again some many lessons we have already from what we have read? May t make us as unselfish, prayerf devoted as Nehemiah was; may be not weary in well-doing (Gal remembering that "he that is in that which is least is faithful much."

MERCY