LESSON XXIV.

TO SERVE GOD OUR DUTY.

Matt. vii. 24-27.-" Endeavours after the Christian Life:" Discourse 9.-Also, "The Two Roads," from Agathos; and Ware's Sermons, Vol. III., page 199.

FOR Some days it was nothing but a pleasure to Bertha and Walter to watch what were the wishes of their mother, and to comply with them, but it was hardly to be expected that it would be always quite easy and pleasant, and they found before long that it was sometimes difficult to give

up their own pleasures for the sake of pleasing her. One morning at breakfast, she said she wanted to send a parcel to aunt Mary, and she did not know how to contrive about it, unless Peter Wood's boy could go with it. "I think you two might go to Peter's cottage after lessons, and ask John to take it. I do not feel well enough to-day to go with

you, but you will not

mind going alone, shall you?" They said "No;" and their mother showed them the parcel lying on the side-table. While Walter was finishing his lessons, Bertha was busy making little paper trays for some shells she had brought home with her from school: and when Walter had done, instead of getting on their things at once to go to Peter's cottage, they continued to work together at the paper trays. They did not forget the parcel, but it looked so cold out of doors, and it was so pleasant making the paper trays. After some time their mother happened to see the parcel still lying on the side-table: they looked so happy at their work that she felt unwilling to disturb them; perhaps it would have been more true kindness if she had; but it would have been hard to do it, and hearing the clock strike twelve she thought they would not have time now, before dinner, to put by their things and go, so she put on her bonnet and cloak, and, without saying anything to them, went quickly to Peter's cottage herself with the parcel. You may fancy how they felt when they saw her from the window, already at the bottom of the hill, with the parcel in her hand! There was no longer any pleasure in working at the paper trays!

They stood silently together at the window, watching for her return, and met her at the door with downcast eyes, full of grief to have so soon failed in their resolution of shewing their love by their obedience to her wishes. She saw that they were truly, deeply sorry; and she tried to cheer and encourage them. After dinner she put an arm round each of them, and drew them to her, saying, "You grieve, my dear ones, that your resolution has given way :-I grieve too; but we will not let our grief be fruitless. We may often learn a useful lesson even from our unfaithfulness. As it has been with you to-day, so must we expect it to be sometimes with us all. All God's children are tempted, I mean, occasionally, to neglect the wishes of their Great Parent, for the sake of gratifying their own desires. Let to-day's trouble teach us that we must do what is pleasing in God's sight, not only when it is pleasant, but always. I remember, Bertha, once long ago, when you were not much older than Walter is now, your saying how you wished you were grown up, that you might do just what you liked. Now tell me-or Walter can tell me does the time ever come when we do just whatever we like? just what we feel it would at the time be pleasantest to do?

may

No! we must learn to feel that what pleases God is what we must do, not only what we may do. We must learn to feel that, to act according to His will, not our own, is what is required of us. His will must be our Master, not our own will. The time may come (may it indeed be so), when it shall be almost always pleasantest to you to do what is right; that is, what pleases God: but the time can never come when you may allow yourself to do anything displeasing to Him, however pleasant it may seem to yourself to do it."

Bertha.-"Mother, I cannot think how we could do as we did this morning about the parcel! If any one had told me yesterday, the story of what happened to-day, and had said,'You and Walter will do it,' I am sure I should not have believed them."

Mother." Perhaps if you had been so warned you might not have failed. And now, do not you think you can make the experience of to-day be a warning for the future?"

Bertha.-"I hope it may be, mother. I hope it will sometimes make me say to myself, when I am doing what is very pleasant, Remember the paper trays, and aunt Mary's parcel! Is what I am doing what I ought to be doing?"

Mother." I do not think it surprising that you and Walter yielded to the evil temptation to-day. You were not aware how strongly the love of ease and selfish pleasure can tempt; and you each partly depended on the other to lead the way in the path of duty. But now you know what power the love of selfish indulgence has, and you have felt that each one must act promptly for himself, where duty is concerned. I think you will be more watchful for the future for this lesson-painful though it has been; and every time you overcome a temptation you will gain strength and courage for the next occasion. The love of selfish pleasure will have less and less will feel it more power over you, and you easy and pleasant to please only Him who should ever be your Master. 'No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other: ye cannot serve God and mammon.' "—Matt. vi. 24.

Eph. vi. 10.-Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

Romans xv. 1, 3.-We, then, that are strong,

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