rayer," said one writer, "we have taken an
oath to do it." Mr. Zeller remained quiet, taking no notice of these
threats, but quietly trusted in the Lord. Though other anonymous letters
came frequently, yet the threats were never carried out.

It will he seen from this that, blessed as was the work of faith, still
the spirit of persecution was permitted by the Lord only to make his own
children rely more confidently on Him, and that he might fulfill more
positively his promise, "_No evil shall befall thee, no harm come nigh
thy dwelling_."

THE BANK OF FAITH. GOD THE GUARDIAN OF THE POOR.

Perhaps the providence of God in supplying the wants of the poor never
was more closely watched and better described than has been done by the
late William Huntington, formerly a minister in London, England, who, in
a book with the quaint title of the "Bank of Faith," tells how, in his
course of life, day by day the Lord guarded him, helped him, and
provided for every need, even the most trifling. It is a precious record
of faith and full of true encouragement. He answers as follows this
question: "_Should we fray for temporal blessings?_"

"Some have affirmed that we have no warrant to pray for temporal
blessings, but, blessed be God, he has given us '_the promise of the
life that now is, and of that which is to come_.' Yea, the promise of
all things pertaining to life and Godliness, and whatever God has
promised we may warrantably pray for.

"Those that came to our Saviour in the days of his flesh, prayed chiefly
for temporal mercies. The blind prayed for sight, the lepers for a cure,
the lame far the use of their limbs, and the deaf for the use of their
ears, and surely had they prayed unwarrantably, their prayers would not
have been so miraculously answered.

"Elijah prayed for a temporal mercy when he prayed for rain, and it is
clear that God answered him. Elisha works a miracle to produce a
temporal mercy when he healed the barren plains of Jericho."

Is my reader a poor Christian? Take it patiently. God maketh the poor as
well as the rich. Envy not the rich. Riches are often seen to be a
canker-worm at the root of a good man's comfort, a snare in his life, an
iron pillar at the back of his pride. A gar prayed to be fed with food
convenient for him, and you may pray for the same, and what God gives
you in answer to your prayer you will be thankful for.

That state is surely best which keeps you dependent on God and th