worldly people, may lead to our fall through pride of heart,-or like Peter, even to a denial of our Lord and Master. So true it is, "without Christ we can do nothing."

Let this then ever be our prayer, that God will not leave us to ourselves, that God will uphold us, that our footsteps slip not. That we may know without such painful experience as Hezekiah's, or David's, or Peter's, what weakness is in us, what pride is natural to us, and will surely show itself, if it has opportunity, and if God do not graciously restrain it, and remove temptation. Thus let our safety be in the Lord's strength. Let our prayer be, "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe."

PRAYER.

O LORD GOD! who art often pleased to send afflictions to Thy people to do them good, and to make them partakers of Thy holiness; I beseech Thee to bless and sanctify to me all my troubles and sorrows. May they humble me, and make me go softly all my days. And when Thou art pleased to send me prosperity, may my heart never be lifted up, but may I render again unto Thee for all Thy mercies, for Jesus' sake. AMEN.

MANASSEH.

"So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.

"And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.

"Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. "And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,

"And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God." 2 CHRON. XXxiii. 9-13.

It is certain that we find both in Scripture history and in our own observation, instances of the children of pious parents turning out badly, and dishonouring God by their lives. as much as it had been the aim of their parents to honour Him. Eli had such sons. Samuel also. Yet we cannot doubt that such parents had been in the habit of pray

ing for their children: have dedicated them to God, and have desired and asked of God that their children might know Him and serve Him. For in this way, among others, true piety would show itself.

Surely this is very instructive to us. It may indeed be said by some, Is not this very discouraging to persons of piety? May they not be tempted to say, It is of little use my offering up prayers for my childrens' souls. It may be God will not hear, and at the least I cannot be sure of it.

But before we thus gather any discouragement from this fact, let us mark one thing. God teaches us that it is not enough that a parent pray for a child. Nor is it enough to commend the child to God, or to dedicate the child at baptism, praying it may receive the Holy Ghost.

We are, besides this, to do our utmost to lead a child to God and in God's ways. And if we do not this, prayers become presumption. And this is sometimes neglected, and sometimes done very imperfectly by those who yet would not for the world omit to pray for their children. This was the case with Eli. A foolish, over-indulgent fondness for his sons made him think but lightly of the most grievous failings in them. And

hence, instead of acting vigorously to restrain them, he contented himself with speaking mildly.

So, too, it may often be the case, while prayer is not neglected for a child, right means for keeping from evil and bringing it to Christ are, from some failing in the parent, not adopted.

At any rate there is much to encourage parents, and to comfort those who do their duty in this respect. Let them remember the cases of parents who took their children to Jesus, and how He blessed them and healed them. Let them remember how all things are promised to those who ask in faith. And though we know, and learn specially from such cases, that the grace of God is not hereditary, not transmitted from parent to child, as is our evil nature; and although not the best example, or influence, or education, will of themselves work a work which must be God's work in the soul, yet this which every true Christian parent so earnestly desires, is one of those things we must wait upon God for, and we may be sure, faith, leading to persevering prayer, cannot be without its blessing in God's time and God's way.

Mark another source of encouragement.

How often those who go astray at first are afterwards brought back to God, even though not in their parents' life-time, yet in answer to their parents' prayers. The seed is cast upon waters and seems to disappear, but when the waters subside, the seed is seen to be springing up.

Now this was the case with Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, the good king of Judah. No doubt Manasseh was a child prayed for and taught the right way by his father. But he was young when his father died and left him to succeed him on the throne. He was only twelve years old. The father was spared an aching heart in not living to see his son grow up to manhood, for never did. son turn out worse than this one did. Yet in his latter days he was brought back to God, and became quite a different character.

His history is therefore very remarkable. There is not the like to it in all the history of the kings of Israel and Judah. Nor is it often we meet with such cases of decided conversion to God after so many years of desperate wickedness.

The case of Manasseh is therefore encouraging both to praying parents, and to all who are themselves feeling the kindlings of repentance, even after years of gross iniquity.