hardly with Hagar, who could bear this ill usage no longer, and at last fed from her face.

Now there were faults on both sides. Sarah wanted humility and meekness; and Hagar wanted patience and submission. Sin always brings trouble into families.

But mark the goodness of God. The angel of the Lord found Hagar by a fountain in the way to Shur; and entering into conversation with her, told her to return to her mistress, and to submit herself under her hands.

Thus God often checks us by his providence, when we wander out of the

way:

The angel told Hagar that she should bear a son, whose name should be called Ishmael, because “the Lord hath heard thy affliction." The character of the child was foretold ; that he should be a wild man; that is, should have no fixed place of abode, but be bold and untamed-dwelling in the presence of his brethren, being unsubdued by them.

“Was not Hagar frightened, papa, when she saw this glorious angel?”

“ Hagar, my dear Charles, was so surprised and awed by what she saw and heard, that she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, “thou God seest me.” Oh! that you may never forget this name. Our heavenly Father is an all-seeing God. He knows every thought, he hears every word-he sees every action. May you then, my dear child, live at all times as seeing him, whose eye is always fixed upon you. This sense of God's presence will keep you from telling lies-from secretly taking what is not your own and from doing when alone, what you would be ashamed to do before others.

In process of time Ishmael was born, and Sarah also had a son, who was promised to Abraham, and whom he called Isaac. Now it came to pass, that when Isaac was weaned, Abraham made a great feast.

No enjoyment in this world is free from trouble. Sarah saw the son of the Egyptian mocking. This both grieved and angered Sarah. She said to Abraham “cast out this bond-woman and her son.”Abraham, who had a kind, tender spirit, was much pained, and knew not what to do, till God himself told hiin to do as Sarah had said. He rose early in the morning and took bread and a bottle of water and gave it unto Hagar (putting it on her shoulder) and the child, and sent her away, and she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersbeba. You see, my dear child, how readily Abraham obeyed the command of God. What a pattern is this

to us, to give up every thing for his sake. Abraham was indeed a believer, ...

“I remember in my catechism he is called a pattern of believers and the friend of God."

“ He is, my dear,” said his papa. “ Poor Hagar was now a wanderer in a wide wilderness, the water was spent in the bottle and her child was dying as she thought. In her deep distress she sat down and wept. But mark again the loving-kindness of God. He heard the voice of the lad-spake comfortably to her; and then opened her eyes, that is, gave her to see a well of water near at hand, at which she filled her bottle, and gave her child to drink, who revived, and was spared to her.

Now, my dear boy, you and I are wandering in a wilderness world; we are perishing for want of spiritual support; but oh ! how good our gracious God is he opens our eyes to see the well of life which is in Christ Jesus full of eternal blessings.

You must pray for grace to draw water daily out of this well of salvation.

The blessed Bible will tell you all about this fountain of life.--Jesus is the fountain, his Holy Spirit can give yon faith to receive out of his fulness, and grace for grace.

May you then always remember these two parts of Hagar's history :-the name

which she gave the Lord" Thou God seest me"--and the goodness of God in providing for her a well of water that her son might live.

He sees you at all times--and he has opened for you the well of life that you may drink thereof and live for ever. Let us then daily praise him, who is the God of our life and of our salvation.”

JOHN HARVEY. John Harvey was born in London, in 1654, his father being a Dutch merchant. He was brought up under his pious mo. ther, who took great delight in instructe ing him in religion and the Scriptures.

He was a very forward child, being able to speak as well before he was three years old, as most others do at five; and read distinctly before most children are able to tell their letters. Between six and seven years old, he was afflicted with sore eyes; which was a great grief to him, because it kept him from school, and from his book, to which he was very much attached ; and he could hardly be kept from it.

The most eminent trait in this boy's character was his charity; which was such, that he could not bear to wear any piece of finery, because he thought many poor children might want the money to

be laid out in necessaries. The followe ing instance is most remarkable :

A certain Turk, being cast by the providence of God where he lived, he was much affected with his case, and studied how he might do him good. At last, finding a man that understood the Turke ish language, he persuaded him to come to him, and asked hiin several questious: as, Whether he believed there was a God ?-and Whether he knew any thing of Jesus Christ? But the Turk evaded these questions, complaining he was both dry and hungry. Upon which John went to a brewer's, near at hand, to beg some beer, and to another house to ask for food; pleading, that this was a poor stranger far from home-that none of us knew where we may be cast before