pain from either of the blows, than if the men had touched me
with a straw."

Boys and girls, is not this a wonderful story? Get your Bibles, and look
in the sixth chapter of the book of Daniel and the twenty-second verse.

Wicked men had laid a trap for King Darius, and because they were
envious of Daniel, they caused the king to order Daniel to be thrown
into the lions' den. This made King Darius very unhappy, for he loved
Daniel. But though he was a heathen king, he had such faith in Daniel's
God, that he felt sure the lions would not be allowed to hurt him.

King Darius could not sleep all night, for thinking of Daniel all alone
in the den of those wild beasts; so he got up very early in the morning,
and went to the den and called to Daniel to know if he were alive. And
from inside that dismal den with hungry beasts prowling round and round,
came the bright, cheering voice of the God-protected man: "My God hath
sent His angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt
me."

John Wesley was as much among wild beasts at Wednesbury, as ever Daniel
was in the den of lions, for when men's passions are roused they are no
better than the beasts. But the arm that was raised to strike, gently
stroked his hair; the blow that was meant to kill, fell upon an
invisible head; the leaders of all that was cruel and wicked, were
struck tender and quiet, and became personal protectors.

Truly Mr. Wesley could have said with Daniel: "My God hath sent His
angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me."

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CHAPTER XXVIII.

The lion-hearted Wesleys.--And their brave,
long-suffering followers.--What Munchin thought of
John Wesley.--Hymn 276 and how it came to be
written.--The mischievous schoolboy becomes the
sweet singer of Methodism.--The wall that sat
down.--And the people who sat down with it.

THE troubles in Wednesbury were not yet ended. The very magistrates who
had refused to see Mr. Wesley that night when the mob dragged him to the
door, a few days later gave orders for the police to search everywhere
for "those Methodist preachers who go about raising riots."

Even this failed to frighten the brave-hearted Wesleys, for when John
left Wednesbury his brother Charles took his place. He found the poor
Methodists still suffering terrible persecutions, but patient and
forgiving to t