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break over the vessel, and shroud all in surfy mist. Had the sea been calm, a few vigorous strokes would have placed a good swimmer by the vessel's side; but now the hardiest among the sailors and fishermen drew back, not daring to face the fearful surge. At length a student of divinity volunteered. Tying a rope round his waist, and struggling through the surf, he threw himself among the waves. Forcing his way, though slowly, he was nearing the vessel's side, when his friends on shore, alarmed at the length of time which had elapsed, began to pull him towards the land. Seizing a knife, which he was carrying between his teeth, he cut the rope, and at length reached the stranded sloop. He then drew a fresh rope from the vessel to the shore. The crew, however, weak and wearied through four days' tossing amid the tempest, without food, had not strength to avail themselves of the rope. The young man again forced his way through the waves, and eventually succeeded in bringing all the crew, six men and a lad, to shore. The brave student eventually sank into fatal disease, in consequence of his exertions and exposure on that occasion. But, although his stay on earth was thus short

ened, he has left a noble example of generous courage. (No. II. January 26)

Peter Links.

A NATIVE Christian teacher, named Jacob Links, was murdered when accompanying the Rev. W. Threlfall, Wesleyan Missionary. Jacob Links had a brother named Peter, who survived him. Peter was heard one day to say, "I wish I could find the murderer who took away my brother's life. I would not care what distance I had to travel, nor any exposure, fatigue, or expense, or danger, if I could only lay hold of that man.' The Missionary had believed Peter to be a truly good man, and was astonished to hear him speak in this manner. The Namaqua tribe, to which the brothers belonged, had been noted for daring and fierceness; but Peter was regarded as a true Christian. "Well," the Missionary said, "supposing you found the guilty man, what would you do to him?" "Do to him," said Peter, "I would bring him to this station, Mynheer, [or Sir,] that he might hear the Gospel, and that his soul might be converted to God." (No. II. February 2.)

BIBLE-LESSONS FOR INFANT-CLASSES.

January 5.-The Child Saved. EXOD. ii. 7: "Shall I go and call to thee a nurse?"

1. The child in danger.-Moses was born in Egypt, where his parents and all the Hebrews were slaves. Pharaoh, the King, feared lest they should become so many in number as to rise against their masters; so he ordered that every little boy should be put to death as soon as born! But Moses' parents could not obey this cruel and wicked order; and his mother "hid him three months." Then she feared that the King would hear of it, and would put him to death. Still she hoped to save him, and made a little cradle of bulrushes, put the child in it, and laid it among the flags by the riverside. She then trusted in God to come to their help.

2. The watcher.-While the babe lay there, a little girl of twelve years old stood "afar off" upon the river bank. This was his sister, whom their mother had set there to watch what would become of Moses. She waited there, wondering what would happen, and

what news she should have to take home to her anxious mother. But did no one else see the child? Yes; the eye of God was on the helpless babe. He sees us at all times; no child is too young or too feeble to be unnoticed by Him. Do you know what little boy it was whose voice God heard as he lay perishing in the wilderness ? and to whose help an angel came? It is a blessed thing to know that in the day of trouble He will hear your voice, if you cry to Him.

3. The child in safety.-As the King's daughter walked by the river - side, "she saw the ark among the flags, and sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, she saw the child; and, behold, the babe wept." Then she had pity on the helpless little one, and said she would care for it, and keep it as her own. Just then his sister, who had come near, said, "Shall I go and call to thee a nurse?" she was sent, and fetched the child's mother. Here was a joyful end to the trouble! Who had brought all this about? Moses was cared for by the love of his mother, and the power of

And

Pharaoh's daughter, and better still by the favour of God, and became a great and good man. What good lessons may we learn from the mother, and the sister, and the child?

REVISION.-How came Moses to be in danger? How was he saved? What should we do in time of trouble? How do we know that God will hear us?

Jan. 12.-How to keep from Sin.
Ps. iv. 4: "Stand in awe, and sin not."

1. We easily fall into sin.-There are many ways of doing this. Our thoughts and tempers are often wrong. How quickly evil tempers rise! anger, disobedience, envy; even little children may have these. These make the words and actions evil. Why is this? Because we are born with sinful hearts, and it is from the heart that all sin comes. But why is sin an evil thing? Because,

2. Sin brings punishment.-It does so while we live. Punishment to ourselves, trouble and sorrow of many kinds. Punishment to others. The sin of children brings shame and sorrow to parents; so does the sin of parents to their children. Are you told in the Bible of any sins which did this? What was the sorrow brought by the first sin? But sin brings punishment after death. "The wicked shall be turned into hell." These words of truth are very awful. God has said, "The soul that sinneth it shall die." How may we escape this? Our verse tells us one way of keeping from sin.

3. Fear keeps from sin.-But what should we fear? We should fear the punishment which sin brings. This is why the Bible speaks of it, that we "stand in awe.' Noah, moved may by fear, "prepared an ark."

But, more than this, we should “fear God." By the fear of God men "depart from evil.” He hates sin, and has forbidden it. Let us "stand in awe " of His word, and of His power, "and sin not."

REVISION.-What is it to "stand in awe?" Of whom should we stand in awe? why ? Why is sin an evil thing? How may we escape sin?

Jan. 19.-The Leper's Prayer. MARK i. 40: "If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean."

1. The leper's need.-This poor man's

disease was one of the worst from which a man can suffer. No medicine could make him well, no doctor could cure him. It was so much feared, that lepers were often obliged to leave home and friends, and dwell apart from every comfort of life. In this sickness there was no rest, the body was full of pain, and the mind of grief and fear. While in this state the leper came to Jesus.

2. The leper's prayer.-See, first, how

he prayed. "Beseeching Him," asking very earnestly. Why? Because he felt his need, and knew this was his only hope. "Kneeling down to Him." Why? Because he was humble; he knew the power of Christ, and that he himself could offer nothing, but was only poor and needy. Hear, now, his prayer. "If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean." How short and earnest! saying just what he wanted, and no more. He was sure, too, that Jesus could cure him, if He would.

3. The Saviour's answer.-As Jesus looked at the poor, wretched man kneeling at His feet, He was "moved with compassion"-full of sorrowand tender pity at his sad state. Others would have spurned him away in fear and anger. Not so Jesus. He put forth His hand, and touched him." This was, perhaps, the first kind look and touch the man had had since his leprosy came upon him. Then Jesus said, "I will, be thou clean!" How kind! how full of power! how exactly what the leper wanted! And "immediately" he was "cleansed."

4. How we should pray.―Just as the leper did, as earnestly, and as humbly. None pray thus who do not feel their need as he did. But have we such a need? Yes! What is that fearful thing, worse than leprosy, which clings to us all? Sin is as vile in the soul, in the sight of God, as this disease is loathsome in the body. This lesson teaches us how sin is cleansed. Not by hearing or learning only about Jesus, but by going to Him in earnest prayer, asking to be cleansed from sin, sure of Christ's willingness and power to

save.

REVISION.-What was the leprosy? How was the leper healed? How did he pray?

What words did he use? What was Christ's answer? What does this teach us about sin? about prayer? about Jesus?

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1. The burning bush.-Moses had left Egypt, and was living where few dwelt, in the wilderness; but God was still with him. He had neither forgotten nor left him. As he was one day alone, keeping his sheep, a strange thing happened. A bush not far off suddenly began to burn; but, though the flame came up from the midst of the bush, it was not consumed. This was so wonderful, that Moses said, "I will now turn aside, and see this great sight."

2. The presence of God.-As Moses came near, a Voice called to him from the bush. Whose was the Voice ? Here, then, was something more wonderful than the burning bush. God was there. And He told Moses not to draw near, but to put off his shoes, for the place on which he stood was "holy ground." Why was the ground holy? Because God was there. When Moses knew that he was in the presence of God, he "hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God." None should speak or think of God, or draw nigh

to Him in any way, but in reverence and fear. Do we always think of this? In His house, and on His day?

3. Why God had come.-The Israelites were in sad bondage in Egypt. They had for a long time been under hard and cruel masters, and it seemed as though God had forgotten them. Does God ever do this? He sees and knows about each one of us at all times. He now told Moses that He had "heard the cry" of His people, and "knew their sorrows," and had "come down to deliver them;" and that He had chosen him to bring them out of Egypt. He also gave him wisdom and strength for his work.

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THE BIBLE-CLASS.
BIBLE-QUESTIONS FOR BIBLE-READERS.

49. WHAT law was Peter obeying when he refused to eat the food mentioned in Acts x. 12?

50. What heir to a throne foresaw his exclusion from it with pleasure?

51. Paul spoke favourably of John Mark after his dispute with Barnabas respecting him. (Acts xv. 38.) Where do we find the reference?

52. How much older was Ishmael than Isaac ?

53. Esau married one of his cousins; what was her name ?

54. Which of Paul's friends was dangerously ill through his ministerial labours?

SCRIPTURE ENIGMA.-No. XIII.

WITH letters twenty-eight a question you may find,
That was proposed to one who afterwards was blind.

13 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 1| 3 | 5

1 v. Where did some people meet, and long and loudly shout,
Although they could not say what it was all about?

H.

24 11 | 27 | 2 | 15

2 v. Who heard the word of God, but still its force withstood,
And others tried to keep from learning what was good?

8 11 21 | 19 | 14 | 6

3 v. Where did a heathen priest a sacrifice prepare,
Because the people said his deity was there?

28 | 7 | 22 | 11 | 17 | 24 | 18 | 15

4 v. Who sat above the rest, and had a fearful fall,
When preacher, text, and sermon were forgotten all ?
12 2 12 | 24 | 25 | 21

5 v. Where did a deputy desire to learn the truth,
And was instructed by two preachers and a youth ?
23 6 14 1 | 26 | 5

6 v. Where was a preacher sent, to save him from his foes,
When they his arguments with truth could not oppose ?
96 | 14

7 v. What is that costly art which men will learn no more,
When Gospel grace o'er-spreads the world from shore to shore?

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ROBERT REDFERN. ROBERT REDFERN, when a lad of eleven or twelve years of age, came to my class in the King-street Wesleyan Sundayschool, Derby, while I was a teacher there, about seventeen years ago. He was not remarkable for anything but his dulness. He could read the New Testament but very imperfectly, and had no desire to improve. For some time he was the dullest boy in the class.

I took some pains to teach my new scholar, but he seemed almost incapable of improvement; too idle to learn, and proof against all my attempts to do him good. Of all the boys in my class, Robert Redfern was the one I should have singled out, I think, as the least likely to receive benefit from my labours.

At length I began to observe that there was a little improvement in my unpromising pupil. He legan to take pains to spell out the words of the reading-lesson; became more attentive to what was said, and more respectful in his behaviour. After this he began to make progress, and could soon read as well as any boy in the class. The change was so rapid and so marked, as to excite the astonish

H.

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I was frequently much struck with the great propriety of emphasis and intonation with which he read the more touching and beautiful portions of the Scriptures, and with the manifest impression they made on his mind. Observing that his little Bible contained a number of papermarks, I asked him to let me look at it; and, on examining the places, I found that the Book was well read, and that many precious portions had been marked by the youthful student. These passages were soon committed to memory with apparent facility and great correct

ness.

About the same time Robert began to make his appearance at the Saturdayevening prayer - meeting. I took an early opportunity of detaining him after one of these meetings, when something like the following conversation took place between us :

Teacher.-"Well, Robert, my boy, I am very glad indeed to see you coming to

these meetings. I hope you are now making up your mind to love and serve God, and to get to heaven."

Robert. (His face lighting up with a beautiful expression.)-"Yes, Sir, I am trying to serve God; and I do love Him."

This was the first fruit I had then seen of my labour in the Sabbath-school, and it was very sweet to my taste. I invited him to come and meet in my class; and there, on the following week, in the simplest language, he stated what he had felt, and feared, and resolved; and how he had come to Jesus, and found peace by believing on His name, and the joy he had since felt in loving and serving God. The mystery of his so suddenly learning to read needed no further explanation.

I had read accounts of great depth of experience and wonderful acquaintance with Scripture on the part of very young persons, which hitherto I had been disposed to think were somewhat overdrawn; but in this case I saw a remarkable instance of the fulfilment of the word: "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise." Seldom have I ever listened to experience more rich, and expressed in language so appropriate and scriptural, yet with the utmost simplicity and humility of manner. His prayers in the class were marked by simplicity, spirituality, and power; and in the cottage prayer-meetings, to which he was taken by some of the leaders, his simple, earnest, touching intercessions were made a blessing even to persons of age and experience.

Such unusual maturity of spiritual life in very young persons, it has been noticed, seems frequently to foreshadow an early removal from earth. It was, perhaps, about eighteen months, or two years, after his conversion, that I began to observe that Robert Redfern looked pale and thin. As winter came on, he seemed to suffer from the cold; was troubled with a distressing cough; and soon I saw in his cheek the ominous hectic flush, and the unearthly brightness in the eye, which too plainly told me that my beloved little friend would not go in and out among us much longer.

Not long after he was absent from

school. I knew the reason, and, on calling, found he was confined to the house, and pronounced to be suffering from pulmonary consumption. Soon he was confined to his bed, and the insidious disease made rapid progress.

Now came the testing of his religion. It was tried in the fire of disease and pain, and in the prospect of speedy dissolution. All was peace, assurance, and joy. No cloud seemed ever to arise. As his body became weaker, and his face thinner, and the cough more distressing, and it was plain that his last hour was fast approaching, his peace was as a river; his hope brighter and more full until the end.

"If thou, O man of death, art bound in dread, Come to this chamber,-sit beside this bed; Mark how the name of Christ, breath'd o'er the heart,

Makes the soul smile at death's uplifted dart."

The humble chamber where the little dying Christian lay was a holy place. The Master was there. It seemed very near to the portals of heaven; and those Christian friends who visited the bedside, felt like the disciples on the Mount, and were ready to say, "It is good for us to be here."

The end speedily approached. It was on this wise. Robert sent for his father, who was a worthy, Christian man, to come to his bedside. He came. The poor boy exclaimed, "Father, clasp me; I shall die directly!" and the minute after expired in his arms.

Does this account meet the eye of a Sunday scholar? You may die soon. Very many persons die young.

"Youth is not rich in time; it may be poor. Part with it as with money,-sparing. Pay no moment but in purchase of its worth. And what it's worth, ask death-beds,-they can tell."

You, my young friend, would like, I am sure, to die as did this dear lad. Then begin to read, mark, and learn the precious Book, as he did. Begin, as he began, to pray for wisdom, light, grace, forgiveness. Unite yourself to the people of God, as he did. Give God your heart, as He entreats you to do, Prov. xxiii. 26.

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