Second scholar. They cannot hurt the soul. Teacher. No; they cannot touch the soul. "Hid with Christ in God." (3rd chap. Colossians, 3rd verse.) Oh! what a place is that to be hid in. You remember the account of poor Zwingle, which I read to you the other day.

Fifth Scholar.-No, Teacher, I don't, I was not here.

Teacher.-Well, I will tell you it. Zwingle, one of the reformers, was in battle, at the post of danger, his helmet on his head, his sword hanging at his side, and his battle-axe in his hand. Scarcely had the battle began, when as he was stooping down to comfort a dying man, a stone, hurled by a strong arm, struck him on the head, and closed his lips; he rose, when two other blows struck him on the legs, and threw him down again; twice more he stood up; a fourth time he received a blow from a lance. He staggered, and sinking beneath so many wounds, he fell upon his knees. Once more he uplifted his head, which had been so bold, and gazing with a calm eye . upon the trickling blood, he exclaimed, "What evil is this? They can, indeed, kill the body, but they cannot kill the soul!" These were his last words. He had scarcely uttered them ere he fell backwards, and there, under a pear-tree, he remained lying on his back, with clasped hands,

and eyes upturned to heaven. Two soldiers, who had been prowling about the battle field, came near, and seeing him alive, and without knowing who he was, told him to think about the Virgin Mary, and call upon the saints. He shook his head, and still kept his eyes fixed upon heaven, when the soldiers began to curse him. One of them, wishing to know who it was, turned Zwingle's head in the direction of the fire that had been lighted near the spot. The soldier immediately let it fall to the ground. “I think (said he amazed) I think it is Zwingle!" "Zwingle!" said a captain, who drew near, and who caught the soldier's last words, "Zwingle! that rascal! that heretic!" and then, raising his sword, he struck the dying christian on the throat in a violent manner, exclaiming, "Die, obstinate heretic!" and under this last blow the reformer died. Oh! mark his last words; "they can, indeed, kill the body, but they cannot kill the soul." Now read on.

First scholar, ver. 16.-"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men."

Teacher.-Now do you see what made Herod so anxious about the star?

First scholar.-Yes, to know how old the young child was.

Teacher. Do you think that this slaughter of these children made Herod's heart the happier? Second scholar.-No.

Teacher.-No, indeed: sin and sorrow go hand in hand; and though we may follow our heart's devices to their full extent, and seem to thrive in doing evil, yet "the way of transgressors is hard.” (13th chapter of Proverbs, 15th verse.) Now, James, what great lesson may you and I draw from the passage we have been considering this morning, for our instruction and improvement?

Fifth scholar. That if we belong to God nothing will hurt us.

Teacher.-And this truth we have seen exemplified in how many instances?

Fifth scholar.-Three: Jesus, Peter, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Fourth scholar.-No, four; you forgot Zwingle. Teacher.-Yes; and the same lesson seems to be comprised in the 8th chapter of Romans, 28th verse. Will you turn to it?

Fourth scholar.-" And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Teacher. And in one sense you and I may certainly join the apostle Paul, who wrote that verse, and say, "And we know." But there is

something more needful than merely to be taught this great truth from the example of others. There is another kind of knowledge; there isSecond scholar.-There is the knowing it in the heart.

Teacher.-Yes; or the actual experience of its truth and excellence. What a blessed matter is it for a christian to walk in the midst of dangers, with the conviction that all will be well with him,

-that whether the sword in unsheathed to strike him, or the prison prepared to receive him, they can do him no lasting harm; because the word of the Lord is pledged to deliver him. Will you take the Lord as your God? Will you seek for grace to serve him, even when He calls upon you to follow him through the rough paths of tribulation and adversity? In the deepest trial you will be able to remember that that very trial is among the "all things" which are to work together for your good. You will be able even to glory in your cross, and in the end of your trials will join with the Psalmist, in the triumphant language which he uses in the 27th Psalm, 6th verse:

"And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea I will sing praises unto the Lord."

K

THE CHOICE OF MOSES.

HEBREWS xi. 23—27.

Teacher.-Now, we are to take for this morning's lesson, part of the 11th chapter Hebrews. We begin at the 23rd ver. Let us, while we read, remember that He whose eye is as a flame of fire is here. We cannot see him-we cannot hear him; but Jesus Christ is as truly here, as if we gazed upon his countenance, and trembled at his majesty. If we are careless, he marks it. If we slight his warnings, he remembers the slight. Many visits were paid to the barren fig-tree, but it still continued a cumberer of the ground. He remembers how many Sunday mornings you and I have met at this school-room, and He looks for the fruit of our meetings. If we are really anxious after our souls, he is here to help us; he knows the prayers that go up to him from the heart, and will not fail to answer them. If any boy feels inclined to love and serve him, but greatly fears that he shall fail, He is here to undertake himself the work of carrying that boy through all the dangers and temptations of this