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shaken and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm, for we are all here."

Then the jailor's hard heart was touched, and falling down before Paul and Silas, he cried, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They told him to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Faith makes me anything, or all

That I believe is in the sacred story;
And where sin placeth me in Adam's fall,
Faith sets me higher in his glory.

If I go lower in the Book,

What can be lower than the common manger?
Faith puts me there with Him who sweetly took
Our flesh and frailty, death and danger.

PETER'S MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which
is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings.
I. Peter, iv. 12, 13.

HEROD the king was a wicked, cruel man. He persecuted the followers of the Lord Jesus, and caused the apostle James to be put to death. This pleased the unbelieving Jews; and therefore Herod proceeded to take Peter prisoner also, and caused him to be shut up in prison, and guarded by soldiers.

The Christians were very much grieved at this imprisonment of Peter, and incessantly prayed for his deliverance. Herod intended to bring him forth on a certain day to the people; but on the night before this day a bright light suddenly shone in Peter's dark prison, and the angel of the Lord stood before him, and touched Peter on the side, saying, "Arise up quickly." And as Peter rose, the chains fell off his hands. Then the angel of the Lord commanded him to gird himself, and to put on his sandals. And when Peter had done so,

the angel said, "Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me." Thereupon he led Peter forth. The apostle followed, thinking that this was all a vision, for he could not realize to himself that he was really quitting the prison. After they had left the prison, they came to an iron gate leading to the city. This gate opened to them of its own accord, so that they passed through into the city; and here the angel quitted Peter.

Thus left alone, the apostle understood what had happened to him, and said, "Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews." For the Jews were expecting to gratify their malice and revenge by the spectacle of Peter in chains. Peter determined to go to the house of Mary, the mother of Mark, one of the apostles. Accordingly, he went thither, and knocked at the door. A damsel named Rhoda came out to open it; but when she heard Peter's voice at the gate, she was so surprised and overjoyed, that, without stopping to let him in, she ran at once to the company of Christians who were assembled together in the house praying, and told them who it was that stood at the door knocking for admittance. They could not believe her tidings, and thought Rhoda must be mad. But

she persisted that she spoke the truth; whereupon they went out, and opening the door, were beyond measure astonished to find how directly their prayers had been answered by the restoration to them of their beloved teacher. Peter told them how the angel of the Lord had brought him forth out of the prison, and desired them to let the rest of the brethren hear of this wonderful event. Thereupon he departed to another place. Great was the astonishment of the wicked Herod when he found that the prisoner was gone. He sought for him in vain; and when he could not find him, he sent for the keepers of the prison, and as they could give no account of their prisoner, Herod commanded that they should be put to death.

You may, perhaps, wish to hear what was the end of this wicked Herod. I will tell you. The citizens of Tyre and Sidon had offended him greatly. Anxious to make their peace, they made a friend of Herod's chamberlain, Blastus, and made submission to him, desiring peace. On a certain day, Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man." But in the midst of this wretched man's pride and arrogance, while he was listening to the flatteries which were thus offered

to him, and really considering himself a god, the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the

glory;

ghost.

But while the career of this wicked ruler was thus cut short, Peter, the faithful and zealous servant of the Lord Jesus, went on performing the work which had been given him to do. He went about from place to place, preaching the Gospel, and teaching what was good and true. Hardships he had to endure like the rest of the apostles, and frequent persecutions for the sake of the Lord Jesus; but he endured them gladly, remembering how his divine Master had also suffered. And when, many years afterwards, wicked men took him and nailed him on a cross, so that he died, he laid down his life gladly, knowing that a crown of glory had been laid up for him. Like his brethren, the other apostles, he was cheerful alike amid kind friends or cruel enemies, for he knew that the Lord never forsakes those who trust in Him, and that God is everywhere.

Oh, look up to the soft blue sky,
Arching above thee bright and fair;
Cold is the heart, and dull the eye,

Which feels not, sees not God is there.

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