BIBLE-LESSONS

January 4.-Ruth's Choice. RUTH i. 16: "Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."

1. Seeking a new home. It came to pass when the Judges ruled in the land of Israel, that a certain man, with his wife and two sons, left his home, and went to dwell in the land of Moab, which lay near. It was not often that the Israelites left their own country to live in another. They were fond of the land which God had given them, and in which their fathers had dwelt. Why, then, did this family leave? Because God had sent a famine upon the land. Do you know what that means? God has mercifully kept this land in our time from famine, so that we only know of it from what we hear in other countries. But in Canaan it often came: sometimes through God's anger. Then many people left in sorrow, driven to find another home, for a time at least, till the famine had passed.

2. Naomi's sorrow.-For a while it seems that all went well. But sorrow came again. And so it now is, and ever has been. No home continues always without it. No change can keep it away for ever. Now it was, indeed, a sad distress. Elimelech, the husband and the father, died. But the sons were left, and "they took them wives of the women of Moab;..and they dwelled there about ten years." This seemed a long time, yet how quickly it passed away. Sorrow came again into this family; this time the two young men died also, and so Naomi "was left of her two sons and her husband." She could dwell in the land of Moab no longer. It had been a place of grief to her; and now, with a sad heart, she set forth with her daughters-in-law to return to her own

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they would not be happy in a land of strangers. "And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth clave unto her." Again Naomi urged Ruth to return, as her sister-in-law had done, but she would not. It may be that she had learned the folly and the sin of worshipping idols as the Moabites did, for she said, “Intreat me not to leave thee:..thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."

It

4. A choice for us.-This was a wise choice of Ruth, and God blessed her in it. To each of us there comes a time when we must choose as Ruth did. We may not have to leave our country, but we must leave the love of the world and of sin, and the service of Satan, if we would reach the better land above. may be, too, that we must give up friends, as Ruth did. Is the love of God and His service worth all this? O yes! for "what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" It is the only way of life everlasting. Choose as Ruth chose, and speak as she spoke, and you shall be blessed, as she was, in time, and for ever.

REVISION.-Why did Naomi leave the land of Israel? Who went with her? Why did she return again? Who returned with her? What did Ruth say? Why would she not go back to Moab? Why was her choice a good one? What have we to choose? What must we give up? What shall we gain?

January 11.-Fitness for Work. ACTS iv. 33: "Great grace was upon them all."

1. The Apostles' work.-It was a new and wonderful life which the Apostles lived after the Lord Jesus had gone up to heaven. They had left their former homes, and all that they had been used to do, and were now to give themselves to the great work to which Jesus had called them. What was that work? It was to preach the Gospel: to make known in all places Who Jesus was, and why He had come into the world, and what men must do to be saved. But how could these men do this? By the power and the wisdom which God had given them. He gave them means by which they could make all know that they were sent by Him: so they had power to cure diseases and to work miracles in many wonderful ways.

2. The Apostles' gifts.-Peter and John were one day going into the temple to pray. A poor lame-man lay at the gate, begging for alms from those who passed in. He had been a cripple all his life, and was brought there day by day, and so was well known to many. As he begged from the two disciples, Peter looked upon him, and said that he had no money to give, but that he would give him such as he had; and taking him by the hand and lifting him up, he said, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." The man tried, God gave him strength, and he leaped up and walked, and went into the temple with them, quite healed, "walking and leaping" in his new-found strength, "and praising God."

3. Preaching the Gospel.-Very many saw this, and "all the people ran together..greatly wondering." They

had seen nothing like this before, and could not understand it; but Peter made known to them that it was done by the power of Jesus, Whom they had put to death, though He was the Son of God. He bade them repent of their sins, and turn' to the Lord for salvation. As they spake in this way, the priests and the rulers came. They were grieved that this should be said of Christ Whom they had crucified; but Peter preached the same Jesus also to them, telling them that God had raised Him from the dead, and that by Him only could salvation be had.

4. Hindered, but not stopped.-On the next day, the priests and rulers commanded Peter and John to be brought before them, for they had "laid hands on them, and put them in hold," as though they had done some wicked deed. They bade them speak no more in the name of Jesus, even threatening them with sore punishment if they did so. Still, they could not deny the great miracle which had been wrought. Then they let them go. What did Peter and John do now? They went to the rest of the Apostles; their friends gathered round them, and when they had told all that was done, they prayed earnestly together to God, and asked for help still to do His will. God quickly answered their prayer: "the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost;" and with more wisdom

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and power than ever, they set about their great work of spreading the knowledge of the Lord Jesus.

REVISION. What was the great work of the Apostles? How were they fitted for it? How did they show their fitness? What did this bring upon them? Who tried to stop them? What did the Apostles do? What kind of answer came?

January 18.-A Warning to Liars. ACTS v. 4: "Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."

1. Christian love.-We read about "the multitude of them that believed" in Jesus, through the teaching of the Apostles, that they were of one heart and of one soul." They were all of one mind in their love to Jesus, and that made them of one heart in their love to each other. They showed this love by kindness one to another, so great that "they had all things common." The rich gave freely to the poor, parting even with lands and houses, and bringing the money to the Apostles that they might give to "every man according as he had need." By this each did good to the rest, and it was well-pleasing in the sight of God.

2. The sin of deceit. Even the wicked like to be thought good, and to do this, many try falsely to seem to be what they really are not. It was so in these early Christian days. A certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, seeing what was done, sold some land of theirs, and keeping back part of the price, brought the rest to the Apostles, saying this was the price of the land. How foolish this was, as well as sinful. The land was their own, and they might have kept all, or part of the price, without wrong. Peter knew their falseness, and asked Ananias why Satan had filled his heart "to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price?" He said, too, "Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." How little is this thought of! The liar thinks only of deceiving his fellow man. How dreadful to think of lying unto God!

3. How sin was punished.-But had Peter not mistaken this? Did God really know and care for the falseness of Ananias? Yes, for as Ananias heard these words of Peter, he fell down and died! God had shown His anger at the sin, and taken the life of

the sinner. All knew this, for "great fear came on all them that heard these things." But this was not all, for soon after they had buried Ananias, his wife Sapphira, "not knowing what was done, came in." Peter asked her whether the price of the land was what her husband had said, and she said that it was. Then Peter asked why they had agreed together thus to sin against God? And he said that those who Ihad buried her husband would also carry her to her burial. And in a moment she, too, fell down and died, and was carried forth to be buried by her husband. God in His great mercy does not always thus quickly visit for sin. But He does not hate sin less now than He did then. Does Satan ever tempt you thus to lie? Think of this great warning. Let the fear which came upon all who heard these things, lead you to pray for help and grace that you may resist this and every kind of sin.

REVISION.-How did the early Christians show love one to another? What did Ananias do? Why did he keep part of the price? What sin did he commit? Who agreed with him in this sin? What did Peter say about it? How did God show His anger? Why is this account given to us?

January 25.-A Noble Answer. ACTS v. 29: "We ought to obey God rather than men."

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1. Success in preaching.-We heard in a former Lesson how God fitted the Apostles for His work, and how men hindered and tried to stop them. was not pleasant to the priests and rulers who had put Jesus to death, to see His followers still carrying on His work. Their pride and their malice rose against it. But God was stronger than they, and He made His servants stronger too. Many signs and wonders were done by them; the people talked of this, and multitudes brought their sick, and those that were vexed with unclean spirits, and the Apostles healed them all. The people could see that this was power which came from God, and they believed the word spoken, and many were "added to the Lord."

2. Imprisonment and deliverance.The High-Priest and those that were with him, rose up against them, filled with anger and indignation. Had they not tried to stop these Apostles, and punished them, and commanded

them to cease from preaching Jesus? Yet the work still went on; and "the people magnified them." So the officers were sent to take the Apostles, and put them all into "the common prison." This surely must stop them, for how could they get out to preach? The guard was put round the prison, the doors were fastened, and there seemed no help for them now. But help was near, and easily given. For "the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth," and bade them "stand and speak in the temple..all the words of this life." They did this with great joy, and were early in the temple teaching the people.

3. The rulers disturbed.-On the same morning the priest and those with him called the Council together, and sent to the prison to fetch the Apostles before them. But when the officers came there, and found that they were not in the prison, they hastened back to the Council, and said that, though the prison was shut safely and the keepers all on guard without before the doors, yet that when the doors were opened no man was within! The High-Priest and the captain and the Council were all puzzled at this, and doubted to what it would grow. As they were talking and wondering at it, some one came and told them that the men they wanted were "standing in the temple, and teaching the people.' So the officers went there, and fetched them before the Council.

4. The highest service.-The HighPriest spoke with great anger, asking if they had not strictly commanded them not to teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and the rest of the Apostles said, "We ought to obey God rather than men." This was answer enough. These men knew that that was right, and that only, which God commanded. No matter what it brought, this was their duty; and though bond and imprisonment, and sore trial and death itself, should follow, yet to obey God is the thing first and chiefest to be done. They held to this all life through, and their reward is in heaven. "We ought to obey God." How shall we know His will? How shall we get strength to do it?

REVISION. Why did the people believe the Apostles' word? What signs of its truth

had they? What did the High-Priest do? Why did he cast them into prison? How did they get out? Where did they go? What did the Council do? How did Peter answer the High-Priest? Why should we "obey God rather than men"?

February 1.-The Apostles' Deter

mination.

ACTS v. 42: "They ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

1. Rulers taking counsel.-Our last Lesson told us the answer which Peter gave to the High-Priest and Council. Can you repeat it? Besides this, Peter again declared before these men that Jesus Whom they had slain was indeed exalted by God to be a Prince and a Saviour, "to give repentance and forgiveness of sins. This was the truth, but these men hated the truth, and even "took counsel to slay" the Apostles. The time for this was not yet come. God had much work for these men to do. He could have saved them in many different ways, but to do so now, He made use of,—

2. One wiser than the rest.-There was on the Council a man of much learning, and whose wisdom had made him of great repute among the people. He caused the Apostles to be put forth for a little while, that the Council might talk more calmly and freely than in their presence. He then told the rulers to take heed what they did to these men, lest they should be found fighting against God. For if the work the Apostles did were of men, it would soon cease, and come to naught; but if it were of God, they could not overthrow it. They felt that this was wise, and "to him they agreed."

3. Shame which brings honour.-But did they let the Apostles go? Not at once, nor without punishment; for

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they called them again before them, and beat them, and commanded that they should no more speak in the name of Jesus, and then let them go. Why were they beaten? Was it for doing evil or for doing good? And what did the Apostles afterwards do? Their teaching and preaching had brought them again and again into trouble, and was sure to do so again. Would they not give up this work, then? No; they knew Whom they served, and Who had said, "Go, and teach all nations," and they went forth from the Council "rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name." Shame in a good cause, is

better far than honour in a bad cause. To suffer shame for the name of Jesus is, indeed, to be worthy the highest honour and glory. And so the Apostles knew; for " daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." Did they ever suffer again for this? Yes; every one of them, and some died rather than give up this good work. Was it worth all this toil and suffering? They thought then, the suffering as nothing in comparison of it. And could we see them now, they would triumph still in the name of Jesus; for are they not with Him where He is ? We may share the blessed work of teaching Jesus. We, too, may hope to share the bliss of being with Him, and with all who love Him, for ever in heaven.

REVISION.-Why were the Apostles brought before the Council? What did Peter say to them about Jesus? What did the Council wish to do? How were they stopped? What did they then do to the Apostles? How did the Apostles act after this? When is shame better than honour? How may we get the honour of such shame?

ELIZA JANE BLUNT.

IN the spring of 1872, a gracious revival of religion visited the Cradley Sabbath-school. It came "not with observation," nor as the result of special effort on the part of teachers and friends, but in connection with the ordinary routine of Sunday-school work. The Superintendent and teachers believed

that the old-fashioned plan of securing blessing on Christian effort had not been altogether abandoned, but where Paul planted and Apollos watered, God would still give "the increase;" and working on inspired by this faith, they laboured not in vain. Quietly the influence came, but it was none the less mighty, for about forty of the elder scholars found

peace through believing in Jesus. Of this number the majority remain members of the Cradley Church. The world has claimed and won back a few to the ranks of the careless and foolish, and heaven has reaped its firstfruits. The grim reaper came, and found one young convert rapidly ripening for heaven under the warmth of that love which beams from the face of the Sun of Righteousness and the influence of godly examples about her, and finding all was ready, took her home to Jesus, on March 19th, 1873. Her name was ELIZA JANE BLUNT. She was born October 23rd, 1855. From her earliest years she was a scholar in the Sunday-school, and through her short life displayed her love for it by constant and punctual attendance and deep interest in her lessons. Blessed with an amiable disposition, her gentle spirit seemed peculiarly susceptible of religious impressions, but she struggled with strong and deep convictions for a considerable time before obtaining peace with God. This peace came on February 11th, 1872, during the time of revival; the light broke in upon her mind, and the prayer

"Lift up Thy countenance serene,

And let Thy happy child

Behold, without a cloud between,
The Godhead reconciled,"

answer.

received an immediate and satisfactory Her first act after this change was to join herself to one of the new classes then formed. Her love for this means of grace was shown in a constant attendance, being absent only four times in six months. Her Leader (a kind, judicious man, to whom she was warmly attached,) led her in the right way, and testifies that her experience was marked by a humble but constant trust in Christ her Saviour. She did not intend her life to be useless, but felt :

"Be they many or few, my days are His duc, And they all are devoted to Him."

There was a natural reserve in her disposition which her religion penetrated, and through which it glowed, a healthy, cheerful, sacred power; a power seen first in quiet goodness, and then in patient

resignation, rather than in large circles or prominent ways. But she was not ashamed to confess her Saviour, nor afraid to try and draw others to Him. Writing to a friend about religion, she exhorts her "so to live that they may meet again in heaven." In other ways as well she strove to "adorn the doctrine of God her Saviour." A short lapse of time, however, revealed to her and her friends that she must be one of those of whom it is said,

run.

"They also serve who only stand and wait.” For sickness came, and though consumption (ever false) held out hopes of speedy restoration, the unwonted brightness of her eye and the hectic flush told all others that her course was nearly There was the youthful love of life asserting its supremacy, and lending a little strength to the suffering frame; but there soon struggled into existence and into sovereignty a resignation which made every wish and purpose blend into submissive harmony with the feeling which says, "Not my will, but Thine be done."

As her heart and flesh were failing, she felt that God was the strength of her heart and her portion for ever. In reply to her Leader, "Does Satan ever try to shake your confidence in Christ ?" she said "No!" and added, "I am quite sure Christ has forgiven my sins." As she neared the valley, her mother said, "are you quite sure of going to heaven ?" "O yes, mother!" was the reply" I-shall go to heaven." On the Tuesday morning she became so much worse that her relatives and friends gathered round her bed, expecting every moment to be her last, and beheld a pleasing and remarkable sight. The struggle was not yet over, and yet it seemed as if the victory was already won. An unearthly glory came upon the pale, thin face, as if the beams of heaven's own brightness, reflected from the forms of the angelic convoy, were playing upon her features, and transforming them into a beauty akin to that which she now wears

"As a fair maiden in her Father's mansion, Clothed with celestial grace."