self, I think, who discovered that Peggy must go to the village, wet evening though it was, to buy bread, because we had not enough in the house to serve till next day."

"Yes, grandfather," said George, "but that is a different thing-we must have bread you know—we cannot do without food."

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"True, my boy," grandfather replied, we must have food; but we need food for our minds as much as we need food for our bodies. Daily instruction is as necessary to strengthen our minds as daily bread is to support our bodies. It is an evil, and a very common one I fear, to starve the most important part of ourselves without the least compunction."

What grandfather had said was strange to me, and I was not sure that I rightly understood him yet, so I asked him if we could not get food for our minds on Sabbath without going to church, and how we get it on the days when we did not go there.

"The mental food that we daily need, Marianne, is the teaching of the Word and the teaching of the Spirit, and wherever we may be, or however busily we may be occupied, there never is a day that we may be excused in neglecting to take a little of His word into our hearts, and to pray to God for His sanctifying grace."

"But," said George, "we might read the Bible, and think about it, and say our prayers at home; we do not need to go to church for that."

"If we really thought ourselves, George, what in our

S

prayers we say we do, weak, erring creatures, prone to that which is evil and backward to that which is good; if we really thought ourselves so, we would gladly and eagerly embrace every means of improvement which a merciful God has put within our power."

Then I asked grandfather if he thought it was very wrong in anybody to stay away from church?

"Unless they have a good reason for doing so, Marianne," he replied.

"And what would you think a good reason, grandfather ?" I asked, for I really wished to know.

"If we were bedridden, or lame, or blind, and had no one to lead us, or if the roads were impassable, or the church at too great a distance, or if we were so unwell that we could not join in the services if we were there,— all these would be good reasons for our absence. There may be others which I have not mentioned. Some may stay away from church occasionally from a praiseworthy motive; they may deny themselves that pleasure that others may enjoy it. I cannot tell you all the circumstances in which people may be to blame or may not. When they absent themselves from the church of God, the decision of the matter must rest between their conscience and their God. But this I will say, Marianne, that if people stay away from church for a reason which they would not think sufficient to prevent them from attending to their worldly occupations, they act sinfully."

We were silent for a little time. I did not like to ask

anything else, and George did not seem to have anything more to say; but in a minute or two grandfather spoke again, and the words he said I have often thought of since; they impressed me as much I think as any words I ever heard from grandfather.

"We live not for ourselves. By going to church we express that we seek the good of others, and frequent the house of prayer that we may pray for them. We are very apt to err; in going to church we say that we cannot do what is right of ourselves, and desire the prayers of our fellow christians. By choosing to absent ourselves from church, we say by our actions that we do not care for the good of others, and do not desire their prayers."

Nothing more was said at that time on the subject of going to church. The remainder of the day passed as usual. It cleared up, I remember, about mid-day; the sun was shining brightly as we walked home in the after

noon.

In the evening when we had taken our usual seats grandfather began thus:

Grandfather. I told you that a foreign enemy came against Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and a very formidable enemy it was. The Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Edomites assembled their united forces, and marched to attack him. A great multitude they were. When Jehoshaphat heard of their coming he gave himself up to prayer, and proclaimed a fast throughout the land of Judah. The people heartily joined with him; they gathered themselves together to ask help of the Lord,—

teaching us by their example that we ought to unite in prayer when we wish assistance from God, and we have always need of help from him. From all the cities of Judah the people journeyed to Jerusalem, there to pray to God in the temple. Jehoshaphat led their devotions; and his prayer on that occasion was a very beautiful one. He acknowledged the sovereignty of Jehovah,-that he was ruler over all parts of the world. He pleaded that he had given that land to the children of Israel, and had driven out the inhabitants of it before them ;—they had not been suffered to invade the children of Lot and the children of Esau: now, when these very people so ungratefully were coming up against them, would not their God defend his chosen people.

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Oh, our God," said “wilt thou not judge

the King of Judah in his prayer, them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee." Nor did these words come from the king's heart alone, but all the men, women, and children of Judah felt the same.

George. But was the king not getting his troops ready? The enemy would be taking them by surprise. Grandfather. Without doubt he would be making all needful preparations; he who prays well is not likely to neglect any part of his duty. Nor did he pray in vain : An answer speedily arrived. The Spirit of the Lord came upon a Levite of the name of Jahaziel, who was standing amongst the people. He spoke, telling them not to fear, for the battle was not theirs, but God's.

He gave them directions about the motions of the enemy, and told them where they would find them, but that they would not need to fight. "Stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, oh Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to-morrow go out against them, for the Lord will be with you." On hearing the words of Jehaziel, Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground to shew the reverence with which he received a message sent from the Lord by his servant. The people all bowed down, following the example of their king; and when they stood up, they praised the Lord with loud voices. Early the next morning the people of Judah rose, and as they were going forth, Jehoshaphat called to them," Hear me, oh Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem: believe in the Lord your God, so shall you be established: believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." This was the address the pious king of Judah made to his soldiers; and a more suitable speech he could not have made, for the heart that trusts in God is fixed and fearless. In the van of the army singers were placed; and this was the burden of their song," Praise the Lord, for his mercy endureth for ever."

Marianne. Their enemies must have thought it very strange when they saw them coming singing to them.

Grandfather. Their enemies were too much taken up with themselves to cast a thought on those they had come so far to fight against. The swords which they had prepared for slaying the Israelites they turned against