how God hates sin; but, now, is it not very wonderful to you to hear that, much as He hates sin, God loves the poor sinner? —yes, so loves him-you know that sweet text, "God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John iii. 16.) And again, "God commendeth his love to us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." (Romans v. 8.)

Yes, Christ died that we might not die. Do you say, "This is wonderful; and now all will be saved-none will die that dreadful death"?

Just repeat that part of the text, "that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish; and in another passage Jesus says, "Him that cometh to me I will in nowise cast out." Now, dear children, have you come " to Jesus? Have you

prayed earnestly to Him that his precious blood may wash away not only the

sins you are always committing, but the sin of your nature too? And have you "believed" in Jesus-that is, have you felt that He will really do this in answer to your earnest prayer? Ah! if you have, it will soon be seen, Do you say, "How can what passes inside my heart be seen by people around me?" Dear children, if you really believe that Jesus has saved you from hell, you love Him; and if you love Him, you will do what He commands you. You will become meek and gentle, instead of passionate and hasty; you will strive to be obedient and submissive, and in all things you will desire to be made like Christ. I say you will desire, for this will not come all at once. But if once the Holy Spirit begins to work in your heart, you will, by little and little, cast off all naughty ways, and every year you will grow in grace, and become more fit to live with Jesus in heaven.

You will ask me when I am going to begin the wonderful history I promised

you. I will begin it at once; and I am sure you have long before this found out that it is the history of the life and death of our dear Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. While you hear it, may you learn to love Him more and more, to long for his coming again, and to say, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly."

CHAPTER I.

JESUS IN THE MANGER AT BETHLEHEM.

I DARE say you think that Adam and Eve were very unhappy after they had sinned; and no doubt they were. All was sadly changed with them. They were no longer in the beautiful Garden of Eden. They had to work hard, for thorns and weeds had begun to grow. Their bodies, too, were changed; they suffered pain and weakness, and they knew that they must die. (Gen. iii. 19.) But, in the midst of all their sorrow and trouble, God was very gracious to them. He gave them a sweet promise. (Gen. iii. 15.) You will understand the words of that promise when you are older. It meant that Jesus would one day come into the world to destroy the

wicked tempter, Satan, and to save sinful man. Hundreds and hundreds of years rolled away. Almost the whole world was living in sin; but God had always a few people who loved and served Him. To comfort them, God repeated his promise of a Saviour from time to time. At last, four thousand years after Adam had sinned, the fulness of the time was come when God would send forth his dear Son. (Gal. iv. 4.) No doubt many people were looking and waiting for Him; but they little thought how He would come.

In the city of Nazareth lived a good and humble woman, named Mary. One day when she was alone in her house an angel came to her. Mary was much frightened when she saw him. "Fear not, Mary," said the angel, "the Lord is with thee." He then told her that she should have a son, who should be called "the Son of God." (Luke i. 35.) Gabriel (that was the angel's name) then left Mary, and she understood that she was