waters of Jericho are healed. Soon after, being mocked by some little children, a number of wild beasts rush upon them, and destroy them; as if to show plainly that we cannot despise God's people without despising Him, and we cannot slight them without incurring His anger.

He next relieves a poor distressed widow who applies to him. She has but a little pot of oil by her; but he so increases it that she is enabled to pay her debts, to save her son from bondage, and to support her family.

On one of his journeys he was kindly received by a pious woman at Shunem. So thankful was she to be honoured with such a guest, that she gave up a room in her house for his especial use. And God blessed her according to that word of promise, "He that receiveth a righteous man, in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward." But with the blessing which God sent to this woman He added a heavy trial. In the midst of her joy, her son, her only son, was suddenly taken from her. But in this her hour of

sorrow she was enabled to feel that all was rightly ordered. Amidst her tears she could exclaim, "It is well." She had profited, indeed, by Elisha's teaching and example. She had learnt too that "although sorrow may endure for a night, joy cometh in the morning." Yes, and joy did come to her. Once more she had cause to rejoice, and to bless God for restoring a gift which He for a while saw fit to take away. He restored to her again her beloved son.

One of the most striking events in Elisha's life was his interview with Naaman. This Naaman was a celebrated captain in the Syrian army. He was a great man, as far as this world's greatness is concerned; but he was an afflicted man, suffering from the dreadful, and almost incurable, disease of leprosy. He determines to lay his case before the great Prophet of Israel; and having sent a message to him, he sets out with much pomp and outward show, and proceeds to the prophet's house. Elisha, without even seeing him, desires him to go and wash in the river Jordan. The proud man is offended. The remedy seems

so simple, that he despises it. He looked for more respect to be shown him. And he turns away in a rage. His servants however calmly reason with him, and he is persuaded to go back, and try the remedy. And forthwith he is cured.

"Wash and be clean," was indeed a simple remedy for Naaman. And such too is our remedy. We have no leprosy, you will say. Yes, we have; there is a leprosy within us. Happy those who are conscious of it. It is a blessed discovery, when we find out there is indeed no health in us. And still more blessed is it, if we are led to apply to Him, who is able to wash us in His blood, and to remove every stain that defiles our souls. We need not go to Jordan. The fountain is near us. Christ is at hand, and is daily saying to each one of us, "Wilt thou be made whole?"

Elisha's end was not like Elijah's. No, he must die; he must pay the debt of fallen nature. He must be weakened by sickness, and his body must sink, and lie in the grave. On his dying bed Joash the King comes to visit him. He had been a bad king; but

now in the prophet's closing hours he desires to pay him honour.

And now both Elijah and Elisha are in a happier world. There the friends have met, never again to be parted. There the master and the servant are together. It is indeed a most blessed thought, that those who love the same Saviour here, will serve Him side by side in His heavenly kingdom. All who are Christ's will dwell in the same peaceful abode. They will join that "one family in heaven," for whom the " many mansions" of their Father's house have been graciously prepared.

May you and I be faithful to our Lord now; and may we be numbered among those blest ones, who shall be for ever with Him in His home above!

JONAH;

OR, THE WITHERED GOURD.

JONAH's history, like Balaam's and Samson's, is one of those which puzzle us a little. Was he a good man, who was "overtaken in a fault"; or, was he altogether a bad man? He is spoken of in the Book of Kings as "God's servant"; but so too is Nebuchadnezzar. And this may merely mean that he was employed by God for a special purpose. We judge of a tree by the fruit it bears; and we must judge of Jonah's character by his outward conduct, for we cannot look into his heart. Let us see what

the Bible tells us about him.

Jonah was a Jewish prophet, living in the land of Israel. He was summoned by the Lord to take a journey to the city of Nineveh. The people in that city had greatly displeased Him. "Their wickedness," He says, "is come up before me."