H. Yes, mother: King David, who was the man after God's own heart, and raised from a shepherd to be a king. Shall I begin? 39th Psalm 4th verse: "Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am."

M. Do not you think it strange that David should wish to know "the measure of his days," that is, how long he should live here?

H. Yes, mother; I have heard you say, that people like to forget their death, and only to think of living a long while here.

M. You are right, Hannah; most people like to put the thoughts of death far from them; but this is very foolish, for death must come to us all sooner or later; and the more we think of our latter end, the more likely we are to make ready for it,

and not to be taken by surprise, 'when it does come.

H. But, mother, David must have been a very good man, to think and pray that he might consider his end.

M. What makes people put away the thoughts of death, is, because their consciences tell them they are not fit to die; for their sins are not forgiven; their hearts not changed; and they have no friend in Jesus.

H. But was David different to these people?

M. Yes, dear; David knew that though he was a king on earth, he had a better kingdom waiting for him in heaven. In one of his Psalms he says, "when heart and flesh fail, God shall be the strength of my heart and my portion for ever."

II. Do you think, mother, there are any grown-up people, or boys and girls now-adays, who love, like David, to think of their death?

M. Yes, Hanrah; many, a great many who have been taught by God's good Spirit their own weakness and sinfulness, and need of a Saviour. They have prayed to him, and he has in return comforted their hearts with a sense of his love; and they read in the Bible of such glorious things in the world to come, that they long to go

.

But what else do

away and enjoy them. you think, Hannah, the constant thought of the shortness of our lives should make us do?

H. Why, I suppose, mother, to live very carefully, as if we thought every day might be our last

M. And now then can you tell me what David means, when he says, "Let me know how frail I am ?"

H. Frail means weak, mother.

M. Well then, David prays that he may feel what a poor, weak, helpless creature he is in himself, and then he prays and seeks continually to God for help; and if once my dear Hannah feels she is frail, she will not come and tell me, "mother, I am sorry I was naughty, for I prayed to be good;" but she will pray, when she feels the naughty temper rising, for God's help, and then he will not let it get the better of her. But frail means not only weak in body, but weak in resolutions and in good desires.

H. Is not a flower frail?

M. Yes, love; a flower is often called frail, because it so soon dies: and so man is compared to a flower, (1 Peter i. 24.) Also to a vapour which vanisheth away; and to the smoke which is soon gone.

say the next verse.

H.

But

"Behold thou hast made my days as

an handbreadth, and mine age is as nothing

before thee: verily, every man at his best state is altogether vanity."

M. "Hand-breadth" is to shew how short a man's life is here, even should he live to what we call an old age;

66

and you

know that it is said, a thousand years are with the Lord as one day, and one day as a thousand years." What does David in another place say, is the greatest age of man? H. Three score years and ten.

M. David may well say then, that "his age is as nothing before God." Oh what a wonderful being God is!

H. Yes, mother; I often think I should be quite afraid of God, if it was not for Jesus Christ.

M. True, Hannah; Christ is our friend for whose sake the God of glory and of pow. er and of holiness will still own himself the Father, even of such an ignorant, sinful child as you are. But say the next verse.

H. "Surely, every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them."

M. Now "walking in a vain shew" is a picture to teach us how foolishly we are all passing our time; and when we come to our death-beds, Hannah, we shall then feel the full force of this text. How many peopel 'walk in a vain shew' by seeking the

praise of man more than the praise of God! Do you not often feel a wish, that people should admire what you do and say?

H. Yes, mother; though I know it is wrong, I like to be well thought of, and feel pleased when people praise me.

M. Now when you do this, you walk n a vain shew, just as much as the gay lady,

whose heart and thoughts are taken up with her dress, and carriages, and servants, &c. And then how we heap up riches here; not only real misers do so, but many who have a good name in the world for being generous. In short, if we would consider that striking text about riches we should act differently. Can you tell me which I mean?

H. I do think I can guess the text: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust do corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal,"