unseemly jest or mockery. The world mocked the agonies of the dying Redeemer. When He put on the sackcloth of sorrow they "jested" upon Him.

In the present case, however, the bystanders did not understand the meaning of the LORD's words when He spoke of the damsel as sleeping. They appeared untrue, unmeaning, and absurd to them. At least one would have thought that His past miracles would have caused them to suspend their judgment. But they either knew not or did not care to think of His Power. Not so however the father and mother of the damsel-they also knew that their daughter was dead, but for all that they followed JESUS into the "chamber where the damsel was lying." JESUS paid no attention to the mockers and jesters, but simply caused them to go out. He put them forth, and He finished His work.

Yes, GoD's work will always go on, in spite of the sneers and jests of unbelievers. It is for Him to kill and to make alive, according to His good pleasure. He alone created, and He alone can destroy, and He alone can re-create. He foreknows the exact moment of our departure out of this world. In spite of ourselves

we shall die; in spite of ourselves we shall be raised again; in spite of us a new world will be formed; in spite of ourselves we shall obtain that place in it which He shall judge fit, according to our works; in spite of ourselves, in that world, sinners will be punished and saints rewarded; in spite of ourselves His word will be accomplished in all things. We have no choice in the matter.

Help me to die, O Divine LORD! Teach me never to neglect anything which will make for my eternal happiness! Grant, O LORD JESUS, that whether I live or whether I die, I may be always Thine! Grant that the last breath of my life may be a sighing after Thy Love, which may lead me to the Bosom of Thy Divine Glory, which may turn my sleep into that awaking after Thy likeness with which I shall be satisfied, and in which I may rejoice for ever and ever. Amen.

ON THE DEATH OF THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS.

"While JESUS yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as JESUS heard the

word that was spoken, He saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe:" ("and she shall be made whole.")—S. Mark v. 35, 36; S. Luke viii. 50.

IF

F the faith of Jairus had been strengthened by the miracle which he had just seen, yet at the same time it had undergone a severe shock. JESUS was still speaking to the woman whom He had healed, when certain persons came to tell the ruler of the synagogue that his daughter was dead, and that therefore there was now no further need to "trouble the Master."

What a blow for the poor father! What a seemingly heartless message ! He was walking with JESUS, Whom he had just seen performing a miracle, and while he was making sure of the cure of his daughter they come to tell him she is dead. Dead! O death, how many fond hopes hast thou destroyed! how many plans and prospects hast thou frustrated! There is but one hope that thou canst never shake, and that is the hope in JESUS, for that alone is "steadfast and sure as an anchor of the soul."

What a lesson there is for the young in this little daughter's death! She died just

She

at her entrance into womanhood. was an only child. She was rich and well born. But neither her youth, nor her birth, nor her riches, nor her beauty saved her from death. Hardly had she entered into the world before she was called to quit it for ever. Alas! for her if she had loved the world, if the desire of pleasing the world was greater than her desire of pleasing GOD, if the care of her body caused her to neglect that of her soul, if her beauty had been a source of vanity, if her ornaments had been a cause of falling, or a stumbling-block to the innocence of others, if her intellect had been employed to lay snares for others, if her advantages of position opened her heart to pride! Alas! for her if these things had been so with her, how unhappy, how miserable for her, for death at one blow had deprived her of all, and left her with no hope. Still GOD is the Judge, He putteth down one and setteth up another. In God's merciful Hands we must leave her. Nevertheless would that the young, and those who have charge of them, would at least sometimes bear in mind this thought of a certain, it may be of a near approaching, or a sudden death, even in youth.

What a lesson too for parents in the death of a dearly-loved child, as was this "little daughter!" How touchingly the father speaks of her as "my little daughter!" She had been at the point of death. Is she dead? How hard to realize it. She, who had been the object of all their tenderness and love, the happiness of their lives, the stay of their hopes-dead! If they had received her as a gift from the Hand of GOD, as a sacred trust confided to them, as one which GOD had a right to require from us, and take back again whenever it was His good pleasure, if they had brought her up religiously, had formed her heart to receive virtues, had removed her from all that was likely to sully her innocence,—well, then they have lost nothing! Her happiness is perfected, and that thought is their consolation, she is safe, no torment shall touch her, for her soul is in the Hand of GOD-there is no danger of her ever falling, she is safe for

ever.

But on the other hand, to transfer the picture to ourselves under similar circumstances, if we have looked upon her as our own private property, have brought her up in worldliness and ambition, if to