again; there, possess in peace the joys of everlasting love and friendship,-on earth, imperfect and imbittered. R. B. SHERIDAN. LESSON CXXII. FRIENDSHIP IN SCRIPTURE. Two very remarkable instances of friendship occur in the history of our Savior's life. It may not, perhaps, be altogether uninteresting to state them in all their striking circumstances. The Evangelist, in relating the miracles which Christ performed at Bethany, by restoring a person to life, who had lain some days in the grave, introduces his narrative by emphatically observing, that "Jesus loved Lazarus;" intimating, it would seem, that the sentiments which Christ entertained of Lazarus, were a distinct and peculiar species of that general benevolence, by which he was actuated towards all mankind. Agreeably to this application of the sacred historian's meaning, when the sisters of Lazarus sent to acquaint Jesus of the state in which their brother lay, they did not even mention his name, but pointed him out by a more honorable and equally notorious designation. The words of this message were, "Behold, he whom thou lovest is sick!" Accordingly, when he informs the disciples of the notice he had thus received, his expression is, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth." Now that Christ did not, upon this occasion, use the word friend, in its loose, undistinguished acceptation, but in a restrained and strictly appropriated sense, is not only manifest from this plain account of the fact itself, but appears further evident from the sequel. For, as he was advancing to the grave, accompanied by the relations of the deceased, he evinced emotion like that which swelled in their bosoms, and sympathizing with their common sorrow, he melted into tears. "Jesus wept." This circumstance was too remarkable to escape particular observation; and it drew from the spectators, what we think it must necessarily draw from every reader, this natural and obvious reflection, “Behold how he loved him." In the concluding catastrophe of our Savior's life, he gave a still more decisive proof, that sentiments of the strongest personal attachment and friendship, were not unworthy of being admitted into his sacred bosom. They were too deeply impressed, indeed, to be extinguished even by the most excruciating torments. In that dreadful moment, observing among the afflicted witnesses of his painful and ignominious sufferings, the faithful follower, who is described by the historian as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," he distinguished him by the most convincing instance of superior confidence, esteem, and affection, that ever was exhibited to the admiration of mankind. For, under circumstances of the most agonizing torment, when it might be thought impossible for human nature to retain any other sensibility but that of its own inexpressible suffering, he recommended to the care and protection of this, his tried and approved friend, in terms of peculiar regard and endearment, the most tender and sacred object of his private affections. But no language can represent this pathetic and affecting scene, with a force and energy equal to the sublime simplicity of the Evangelist's own narrative: "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved; he saith unto his mother, 'Behold thy son!' Then he saith to the disciple, Behold thy mother!' And from that hour, that disciple took her unto his own home." MELMOTH. LESSON CXXIII. (Elliptical.) NAOMI AND RUTH. Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the ( ) of his wife, Naomi, and the ( ) of his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem-judah. And they came into the ( . of Moab, and continued there. And Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died: and she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth; and they And Mahlon and Chi lion died also, both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. Then she ( ), with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab; for she had heard in the country of Moab, how that the Lord had visited his people, in ( ) them bread. Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to (.. ) unto the land of Judah. And Naomi said unto her two daughters-inlaw, Go, return each to her mother's house; the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The Lord grant you that ye may find rést, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice and wept. And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters, why will ye go with me? It ( ) me much, for your sakes, that the hand of the Lord is gone out ( ) me. And they lifted up their voice, and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clave unto her. And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her ), and unto her gods; return thou after thy sister ( in-law. ); And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I (. and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God; where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more ) part thee and me. When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left ( ) unto her. also, if aught but ( So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was ( . . ) about them; and they said, is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara; for the Almighty hath dealt very ( ) with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again ( ): why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? So Naomi returned, and Ruth, the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her. RUTH. 24 LESSON CXXIV. FRIENDSHIP. We have been friends together, Since first beneath the chestnut trees But coldness dwells within thy heart, We have been friends together; We have been gay together; We have laughed at little jests; Shall a light word part us now? We have been sad together; We have wept with bitter tears O'er the grass-grown graves, where slumbered The voices which were silent there MRS. NORTON. LESSON CXXV. THE NEGLECTED CHILD. I NEVER was a favorite; My mother never smiled And yet I strove to please, with all How blessed are the beautiful! I learned to know thy worth; Forsaken and forlorn, And wished-for others wished it too I never had been born. I'm sure I was affectionate, But in my sister's face There was a look of love, that claimed A smile or an embrace; But when I raised my lip to meet The pressure children prize, None knew the feelings of my heart; They spoke not in my eyes. But, oh! that heart too keenly felt I saw my sister's lovely form With gems and roses decked; |