134 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS.

** J can do all things, or can bear
All sufferings, if my Lord be there ;
Sweet pleasures mingle with the pains,
While his own hand my head sustains.

“ But if the Lord be once withdrawn,
And we attempt the work alone;
When new temptations spring and rise,
We find how great our weakness is.

“© So Samson, when his hair was lost,
Met the Philistines to his cost ;—
Shook his vain limbs with sad surprise,—
Made feeble fight, and lost his eyes.”

Watts.

The next evening found George, Johnnie, and I
seated in our usual places waiting for our story. As
soon as grandfather had taken his seat he began as fol-

lows :—

Grandfather. The people to whom next was given
power to scourge the Israelites were the children of
Ammon. For eighteen years they vexed and oppressed
the chosen people. Then the sons of Jacob cried to
the Lord; they humbly confessed that they had sinned ;