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some great command to give his people, and he has chosen to give it to them by that little child. And so Eli says to him, "Go, lie down; and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, 'Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth." And Eli was right. It was God who called the child. And soon the same voice was heard again in that solemn night, saying, "Samuel, Samuel." Then Samuel arose, and humbly answered, as he had been taught, Speak, for thy servant heareth."

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Dear children, do you not love this little servant of God? and should not you like to be, as he was, obedient, and self-denying, and patient, and humble? And should you not think it an honour

and a blessing indeed, if God would come to your beds when you are asleep, and speak to you, as he did to little Samuel ? And he does

call you; not by your names, not by a voice which you can hear with your bodily ears, but by his word, by his ministers, by his Spirit. He bids you come to him, and love him, and serve him: and he promises to bless you, and to make you his children. Will you, then, like little Samuel, attend to these gracious calls, and say, as he did, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth." (1 Sam. iii. 9.)

HYMN.

Lord, teach a little child to pray,
Thy grace betimes impart ;
And grant thy Holy Spirit may
Renew my youthful heart.

May Jesus all my sins forgive,
And wash away their stain,
And fit my soul with him to live,
And in his kingdom reign.

To him let little children come,
For he has said they may;
He'll lead them to his heavenly home,
And wipe their tears away.

For all who early seek his face
Shall surely taste his love;
Jesus shall guide them by his grace,
To dwell with him above.

QUESTIONS.

What other nation frequently oppressed

the Israelites ?

What idol did they worship?

Who was raised up to fight against them?

What can you tell me of Samson's history?

What was his death?

Where was Samuel brought up?

What was the name of the priest?

When did God call Samuel?

How many times?

What did Samuel show in his conduct at that time?

What were the words Eli taught Samuel to say when God called him?

Does God now call you ?

How does he call you ?

What does he say to you?

What should your answer be to his call?

THE

LAND OF THE PHILISTINES

(CONTINUED).

WE had so much to say in our last lesson about little Samuel, that we almost forgot the Philistines, and their country; so I must tell you more about them to-day. And now, you must suppose that many years have passed away since al that I told you in the last story happened. Eli, the aged priest, has left this world of sorrow, and his happy soul is with God in heaven. Little Samuel has grown up to be a man; he has become

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