'And all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them.'

What must have been the delight of all to see her alive! No doubt Dorcas made many more clothes for poor widows before she died again. It was sad for her to die twice, but then her being made alive caused many sinners to turn to the Lord.

Peter did not return to Jerusalem for a long time afterwards, but he took a lodging in Joppa. It was by the sea-side, at the house of a man called Simon. This Simon was a tanner. His trade was to make skins into leather.

Tabitha must have been glad that Peter stayed in Joppa to teach her more about Jesus and His salvation.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. She stretcheth out her hand

to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.'-Prov. xxxi. 10, 20.

XVIII.

THE VISION ON THE HOUSETOP.

Acts, x. 8-23.

WHILE Peter was living at Joppa he lodged, you know, with Simon the tanner. He went up one day to the top of the house, which was flat. He wanted to be alone. There was often a little tent in the corner of the housetop, where a man could be shaded from the sun and hidden from all.

Peter went up about twelve o'clock to pray to God. He had taken no breakfast that morning, for he wished to fast as well as to pray. After some time he became very hungry, so he asked the servants to get his dinner ready immediately. While they were getting it ready, he fell into a sort of sleep upon the house-top.

He had a very strange dream in his sleep. He thought that the sky

was opened, and that there was let down out of it a great sheet, with the four corners fastened, so that the sheet could hold things. Inside there were all kinds of four-footed beasts, and some of them were wild; and all kinds of birds, and all kinds of creeping things. What a strange heap they must all have looked in the sheet!

Then Peter heard a voice, saying, Rise, Peter, kill and eat.' Peter was surprised at hearing this command, for God had given the Jews very strict rules about eating. He had forbidden them to eat of beasts called unclean, such as pigs, hares, horses, and asses. Among birds He had forbidden the Jews to eat of eagles, owls, swans, storks, and many others; and also He had forbidden them to eat of creeping things, lizards, snails, and moles.

So when Peter had looked well at these unclean animals, he answered the voice, 'Not so, Lord; for I have