pleased to place them. O my friends, if all women would follow the example of Naomi and Ruth, how much mischief and sorrow would they be spared in this world, and what a blessed portion would they enjoy in the world to come! I dare say you all think what a good thing it was for these poor women that they found such a friend as Boaz; yes, it was a great mercy for them that God put it into his heart to be so kind, and made him willing to do the kinsman's part, to redeem the land and to take Ruth to be his wife. But I can tell you that God has graciously provided a better Friend for you, one who has already done the kinsman's part for you. What would the people of Bethlehem have thought of Ruth if she had refused to accept Boaz as the redeemer? Would they not have said that she was very ungrateful, and not worthy of his kindness and love? And what must God think of you, dear friends, if you despise that Redeemer whom He has sent for you? As sinners, you are under the curse of God's broken law; but "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every

one that hangeth on a tree." (Gal. iii. 13.) As sinners you have lost all right and title to the heavenly inheritance; but Jesus has purchased for you "an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." (1 Peter i. 4.)

.

As sinners you are the slaves of Satan and the world; but you are "not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation, But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Peter i. 18, 19.) How then shall you escape if you "neglect so great salvation ?" O flee unto Jesus, dear friends, while yet the door of mercy is open! Do not wait until death comes to call you away. You know how very suddenly some die. A poor woman, who was accustomed every week to attend a mothers' meeting, went to bed, as she thought, quite well, but was found dead in the morning. "Death came apparently without the slightest intimation, for her features and position were as calm and composed as though she had been in a sound sleep." Do not wait until the trumpet sounds, and the Lord comes,

I

"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thess. i. 8.) Come to Jesus, your Redeemer, now. "He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Heb. vii. 25.)

Jesus will not send away any who come to Him, for He has said, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." (John vi. 37.)

66

BEHOLD, the Redeemer is come!

He came with unspeakable love :
Performing the wonderful plan
Devis'd in God's wisdom above.

Compassion and pity are join'd

In Jesus, the sinner's best friend;
The cripple, the deaf, and the blind,

The helpless, He deigns to attend.
"The widow is made to rejoice;

He speaks, and all creatures obey;
The dead hear His powerful voice,
And Satan's bereft of his prey.

"The cities and villages hear

The gospel He came to proclaim,
The fruits of His labour appear,
And thousands rejoice in His name.

"Then why do not sinners now flee

To Jesus for pardon and grace?
There is mercy for you and for me,
For all who in truth seek His face.'

CHAPTER VIII.

THE PIOUS MOTHER.

1 Samuel i., ii.

I AM going to tell you to-day of one of the most interesting women we read of anywhere, namely, Hannah, the mother of the good little Samuel. She is the next mother whose history is given us after that of Naomi, and you will find it begins with the first chapter of the first book of Samuel. There we are told that a certain man named Elkanah "had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children."

Elkanah was a religious man, for "he went

up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of Hosts in Shiloh." The

people of Israel were commanded to keep three

religious feasts to the Lord, and at these feasts all the men were obliged to leave their homes, and to go to the place which God had appointed, as it is written in Deuteronomy (xvi. 16, 17): "Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose, in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty: every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God, which he hath given thee." Two of these feasts were to be times of rejoicing, for it is said. of the feast of weeks: "And thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God;" and of the feast of tabernacles: "And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast." Then every one was to bestow gifts according as the Lord had prospered them, and to make the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow rejoice with them.

It seems also that husbands chose these times for giving portions to their wives and children, for we are told: "And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions.