may hide myself from my parents and teachers, I cannot hide myself any where from God. He knows every thought which now is, or which ever was, in my heart.

Yes,-God has always seen me, and he sees me in the dark night as well as in the bright day. He has seen all that has been wrong in my heart and life. And he always recollects what he sees and knows. How sorry ought I to be for my sins!

I will not forget that his eye is upon me. I will pray to him. I will say, O my Father, who art in heaven! Bless me, --for Jesus' sake, pardon me! Let all my sins be forgiven!

I will not forget that his eye is upon me. I will fear to offend him. I will ask for the aids of his Spirit, that I may think, and speak, and act, so as to please him.

me.

I will not forget that his eye is upon I will look up to him. I will adore him for his greatness and goodness, I will tell him that I love his holy name. I will say, Make me a child of thine! Make me happy and useful here on earth, and happy with thee hereafter in heaven.

I will not forget that his eye is upon me, and that he knows me altogether. I will think that my food and clothing,

JACOB'S WONDERFUL DREAM.

19 and kind parents, and teachers, and every thing good, are from him. I will every day praise him for his mercies. Though he is the Lord of Angels, he bows his ear, well-pleased, when the little child lisps forth his infant prayer.

STORY VIII.

JACOB'S WONDERFUL DREAM.

WHEN Jacob was grown up to be a young man, he went away from his father's house, to a distant land where his uncle lived.

At the close of the first day of his journey, as the sun was set, and it began to grow dark, he laid down on the ground to sleep.

And he gathered some of the stones which were around him, and put them together; and he placed his head on them, as on a pillow.

However dark it is, we need not be afraid, if we put our trust in God. He

is in every place to take care of us; in the field, and in the desert, where there are none of our fellow creatures, as well as in the large town, which is full of people.

Ja

And though Jacob was far away from his father's house, and in the wilderness, yet God was near him, and he made himself known to him whilst he was asleep. I will tell you how it was. cob had a dream. He thought he saw a very long ladder; the bottom of it was on the ground, but the top of it reached so high, that it entered into heaven. On this ladder, there were many angels, constantly going up into the sky, and coming down into our world.

This vision was to assure Jacob, that though his father could not now preserve or bless him, yet that God had given a command to his holy angels to do him good. The great God is a tender Father; he is infinitely kind.

But this was not the whole of his dream. He thought he saw God himself looking down on him from heaven; and that he heard him say, "I am the Lord God of Abraham, thy father, and the God of Isaac; the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it. And behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest,

JACOB'S WONDERFUL DREAM.

21

and will bring thee again into this land. I will not leave thee till I have done all that I have said.

This was just what Jacob wanted. His mind had been troubled about what might happen to him.

When he awoke he was afraid-and he said, "How solemn is this place! This is none other but the house of God, -and this is the gate of heaven!"

And there he praised God, who had shewn him this pleasant vision, and who had given him these gracious promises. And he determined that he would be his servant, and love him, and thank him for ever.

We too may hear the voice of God. He has revealed his will in his holy word. Hark! for he speaks to us, and he says, That nothing really evil shall happen to us, if we follow after that which is good.-That however numerous their trials may be, it shall go well with the righteous. And that there shall be no want to those who fear him.

Children! "Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto you." So shall Jacob's God be your God.

STORY IX.

JACOB BLESSING JOSEPH AND HIS SONS.

WHEN Jacob was one hundred and forty-seven years old, the time drew near in which he should die. He was taken very ill. And some one told Joseph of it: and he came with his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to visit his afflicted father.

And Jacob strengthened himself and sat up in his bed to receive him; and he mentioned many events which had happened to him and talked of God's great goodness to him through the whole of his life.

But his eyes were very dim with age, -he did not know his grand-children, and he asked who they were? And when Joseph told him, he said, "Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them. And he brought them near unto him, and he kissed them and embraced them."

And Jacob said unto Joseph, "I had not thought to see thy face,-and lo! God hath shewed me also thy children."