June 30

11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

12 Now when he came high to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and much people of the city was with her.

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not 14 And he came and touched the bier; and they that bare kow stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Anse.

15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother

16 And there came a fear on all; and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Jeden, and throughout all the region round about.

18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things

What a precious lesson is this for widowed and bereaved mothers! This woman was mourning for the death of her only son—and that was sorrow enough. But before this she had parted with her husband. When her son died the last stay of her life had been taken away from her—the last light extinguished in her dwelling. Her home now would be entirely empty when she returned. Poor heart!—how little she dreamed that there could be consolation for desolation so utter—that for her there could be "the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness!"

"I have learned more of experimental religion since my little boy died than in all my life before."—Selected.

Such were the works of our Saviour's earthly ministry; and it is of no little moment that we enter fully into their significance.

"He meets us bearing forth our dead hopes through the city's gate; He meets us when our hearts are faint and weary; when we feel the emptiness of all with which this world has sought to cheat our earnest longings for the great, the real, and the true. He stands beside the bier, He bids us weep no more, He stops our mourning steps; the dead hear Him; hopes of youth, aspirations of heart, dreams of purity, of reality, of high service, with which once our spirits kept glad company, but which had withered, and sunk, and died, as the hot and scorching sun of common life arose upon us—these revive; they sit up; they begin to speak, they find a voice; they turn to Him, and He gives them back to us, and bids us cherish them for Him. On Him, then, may our affections fix. On Him, the Healer, the Restorer of humanity, may our hearts learn to lean the secret burden of their being."—Bishop Samuel Wilberforce.

Closet Promise.—Who giveth songs in the night.—Job xxxv. 10.

The Rev. M. D. Hoge, D. D., relates the following incident:

"Once I made a visit to a young person in this city who had long been a sufferer from a disease which caused her unspeakable pain. Her kind physician stood by her with tears in his eyes, but could give her only temporary relief. After he left I tried to say a few soothing, comforting words to her, and she said:

"'Yes, I suffer great pain. I often lay awake all night, unable to sleep because of it, but I have one compensation.'

"'One compensation?' I asked. 'What is that?'

"Said she: 'It is this: Often, when I cannot close my eyes in sleep, I have such a sense of God's loving and reconciling presence all about me that I have learned what Job means when he talks about songs in the night.'"

THE CHILDREN'S CORNER.

Breakfast Motto.—Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.—Psalm xxiii. 5.

Weekly Proverb.—The darkest hour is that before the dawn.—English.

DAILY BIBLE READING.—WHAT THE BIBLE IS LIKE.

Sunday.—A Lamp, a Light.—Psalm cxix. 105-112.

Monday.—A Fire, a Hammer.—Jer. xxiii. 23-40.

Tuesday.—A Sword.—Eph vi. 1-24.

Wednesday.—A Graft.—James i. 1-21.

Thursday.—A Glass Mirror.—James i. 22-27.

Friday.—Pure Milk.—1 Pet. ii. 1-10.

Saturday.—Food for the Soul.—Jer. xv. 15-21.

HE KISSES HIS MOTHER.

That boy will do to depend on, I hold that this is true— From lads to love with their mothers Our bravest heroes grew.

Earth's grandest hearts have been loving hearts Since time the earth began, And the boy who kisses his mother Is every inch a man Selected.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.—Ex. xx. 8.

Do you know what the word Sabbath means? It means rest. The Sabbath day is the day of rest. And we are commanded "to keep it holy." What does that mean? First, it means, We must stop working. All stores should be closed; all factories stopped; all labor cease. But is it not right to do some kinds of work on Sunday? Certainly; it is right to do good on the Sabbath day. Works of mercy and works of necessity may be done. But all other works must be stopped. It is not enough, however, merely to stop working. Suppose a man stops working, but spends the day in visiting among his friends; is that keeping the Sabbath? No. Suppose he stays at home, and reads newspapers; is that keeping the Sabbath? No. If a company of boys go out and romp in the woods, or fly their kites, or play marbles; or, if a company of girls get their dolls out, and dress, and undress them, they are not working; but are they keeping the Sabbath? Not at all. It is not enough simply to stop work. In the second place, We must spend the day in worshipping God, and learning and thinking about Him. It is His day. It is set apart for Him. He gives us six days to play and work; and we ought not to take the seventh day also, which is the Lord's.

"WHERE THEY CRUCIFIED HIM."

You will remember that the place where they crucified Jesus was named Calvary, which was outside the walls of Jerusalem. When they came to Calvary the soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross. All He said while they were thus nailing Him were the words, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do!" That was the great pain he bore to save us. In the picture you can see the city of Jerusalem, with its great wall around it. In the foreground is the little hill Calvary. They have taken down the cross on which Jesus died. Two little children are examining the cruel nail with which they pierced His feet. A man is rolling up the tablet, which was nailed over the head of the blessed Lord, on which were the words, "JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS."

I hope all who read these words and look upon this sad picture will learn that wonderful hymn of Isaac Watts:

When I survey the wondrous cross Or, which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ, my God, All the vain things that charm me most I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did ever such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature nuns, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.

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TWENTY-SEVENTH WEEK.

PEARL TEXT. I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.—John ix. 4.

Slow pass our days in childhood—every day Seems like a century; rapidly they glide

In manhood; and in life's decline they fly. —W. C. Bryant.

Always be in haste, but never in a hurry.—Wesley's Maxim.

Hurry is the mark of a weak mind: despatch, of a strong one.—Selected.

The late Emperor William said in his last days: "I have no time to be tired." Since time for all of us is so short, Christians should be energetic with holy haste.—Selected.

HELPS FOR THE DEVOTIONAL HOUR.