speed and escape from their enemies. The birds that cannot fight can fly the swiftest. But the chicken cannot even fly, and it cannot fight. It is very helpless. It needs protection.

We are just as helpless. We need protection. Do you ever think about the protection of God. You lie down at night in bed. The wind is blowing

Crash! there

outside. It roars in the chimney, and moans in the trees. goes a chimney-pot from the house. It has fallen into the street and is broken to a hundred pieces. A slate goes next, and is shivered to fragments on the pavement. The proud oak writhes and twists in the storm as if it were in pain, and its branches are broken and torn. You are in danger, but you remember that God "holdeth the winds in His fist." He controls their

fury, and checks them when they are angry. If He allowed them to do their worst, they would not be content with scattering chimney-pots and slates; they would throw down houses, and bury us in the ruins. He that keepeth us never slumbers. He interferes when they are putting us in danger. At His command they sink to rest, and spare our lives. What could we do? How could we live a moment without God's protection? We are helpless.

This brings us to our second lesson:

II. We are helpless.

I have shown you that we need protection. Now let us turn again to the chickens, and see what more we need.

The chickens feed on the same kind of food as the hen, but their feet are not strong enough to scratch and dig for their own food. Either the hen must provide the food, or some kind friend must feed them. If left to themselves they would starve. Their little bodies are so lightly covered with thin feathers that they need to be covered with the hen's wings to keep them warm. Poor little, naked, hungry chickens! they need provision.

We are just as helpless. How many things has God given for your daily comfort? Look at the breakfast-table. God sent you coffee from Arabia, tea from China, sugar from the West Indies. He gave you salt from Cheshire, and butter from Ireland, and wheat for bread from America. He has fertilised a great part of the world for you. He has been blessing the plants, and herbs, and fruits for your benefit. He has obtained food for you from the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms. He makes the ground under your feet, the air over your head, and the waters around you all contribute to your happiness and comfort. He is performing miracles every day to supply your wants. You could not live a day without Him. You need His provision.

Chickens are inexperienced and ignorant. They do not know when they are safe or where they will be comfortable. They are a great deal of trouble to the hen while they are young. It requires all her care to prevent them

We need guidance. In our

falling into the water, or going too near the cat, or running away from home and getting lost. If the hen is on one side of the hedge, there is sure to be a perverse chicken on the other side. They have a peculiar talent for running into danger and taking wrong turns. They need guidance. In this respect they are like ourselves. journey through life we often find right and wrong so much alike that we hardly know them. Wrong is dressed up to resemble right, and if older and wiser people did not help us to decide, we should often make mistakes and lose our way. It is easy enough to take a wrong turn and lose the path of duty. The way to heaven is beset with temptations and hindrances. We have not all the wisdom in the world. We are liable to make mistakes and lose our way. We need guidance.

I have shown you that we need protection, provision, and guidance. I have shown you that God is love, and that He is able and willing to help us, and give us every blessing we need.

But He does all this only on one condition. What is it?

Did you ever see a number of chickens at play in a field when the hen called them? Yes. Well, now tell me what the chickens do? They obey. Yes, the chickens set us an example of obedience. Whatever they are doing, no matter how they are enjoying themselves, the moment the hen calls they run to her. Suppose they were heedless, and a hawk seized them, their disobedience would cost them their lives. Their only safety lies in obedience. And this brings me to our third lesson-the condition on which God will help us.

The obedience of the chickens is prompt and unhesitating. The moment they hear the call of the hen they run. They don't stop to consider or think -they obey.

I saw a boy the other day enjoying a game at marbles with one of his playfellows. In the middle of the game his sister came to say that his

mother wanted him home at once. He said, "Wait till I finish this game.' It took him a long time to win, and when he went home his mother was grieved he had wasted her time and disappointed her so long. He obeyed, you see, but it was a very poor kind of obedience. I should have liked that boy a great deal better if he had picked up his marbles and said to his playfellow, "We will finish the game some other time."

Our obedience should also be cheerful. Some children ask questions when they are told to do a thing. Others grumble and put on a sulky look, as if they would disobey if they were not afraid of punishment. The obedience that springs from fear and is not cheerful is one I do not like. When your parents and teachers and best friends tell you to do a thing, never question their wisdom or love by hesitating, but obey at once, and do it cheerfully. Obedience is one of the first lessons of life, and the sooner you learn it and practise it, the better for yourselves and all who have any authority over you.

This lesson of obedience will help you through life if you will learn it. A man once made his fortune by obedience.

It was a cold, chilly morning, when the master of a large factory was going to see what his work-people were doing. Outside his gate there stood a young man shivering with the cold. As the master passed the young man touched his hat and said, "Please, sir, can you give me a job?" The poor fellow's teeth chattered so that he could scarcely speak, and the master thought he was begging.

"I never give money to beggars," he said. "Go and work."

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Please, sir, I was not begging money; I asked you for work.”

"Are you lazy?"

"Try me, sir."

This answer pleased him, so he took the man into the factory-yard and showed him a heap of stones and mortar and broken bricks.

"Now," said he, "take these stones from the middle of the yard and put them in a heap in the north corner of the yard, and ask no questions; and when you have finished come and tell me."

The man took a barrow and a spade, pulled off his coat, and began to work very cheerfully. In about an hour he went to the office and said, "Please, sir, I have done as you told me."

His master went to see that the work was neatly done, and after he had examined it he turned to the man and said, “You have done that very nicely indeed. You can wheel them all back again to the same place, and then come and tell me."

The man remembered the advice he had received about asking no questions, and wheeled the stones back to the place where he found them at first.

When he had finished the second time his work was examined as before, and he was told to wheel the stones into the south corner of the yard.

He again did as he was told, without asking any questions or making any complaint. This work went on all day, till the stone-heap had been removed from the middle of the yard to each corner and back again several times.

When the mill stopped the master sent for the man and said, “I have been doing this all day to try your obedience. I want a man who will do whatever I tell him exactly, without asking any questions, or making any remarks. I have tried you to-day, and you have moved that stone-heap out of its place and into it again several times without grumbling. I know that you have learned to obey. If you will come to-morrow morning, I will find you work as long as you will obey, and here are your wages for what you have done to-day."

The man thanked his master, and promised to serve him. An engagement and friendship began that day, that lasted till death separated the two. The man's prompt, unhesitating obedience gained him first a situation, then a partnership in the factory, and, lastly, a prosperous and successful life. He lived to be an old man, and often told the story of his first start in life. Learn this lesson of obedience.

But the lesson would not be complete if I did not urge you to obey God. He is your best and wisest friend. Every command He gives is