and feeble, and cold. He cast upon them a reproving look or two, and kept driving on. Soon after these boys were called up before the teacher, whom they loved, to answer for their conduct. This was very trying. He had not indeed told them not to treat aged people, or any body else, in this way, but he had felt that they of themselves ought to know better. They had not, however, reflected. The master drew a moving picture of the case of the old man, feeble from age, chilly with cold, and also fatigued, and asked them how they should have liked under such circumstances to be thus abused. They saw at once that they had done wrong. But addressing himself to one of them, he continued:-" You have a father?" Yes," was the reply. "And where does he live?" He was told. "Can you describe your father?" "And suppose," said he, "that this old man had been your father?" All were silent, but evidently thoughtful. But how were they covered with shame, when he added: "This old man, whom you have so much abused, was my father." Now, if these boys had only applied the rule of the Saviour before us, they would have not only done right, but have avoided all the disagreeable feelings which, by neglecting it, they were obliged to experience.

And then, as to the other world!-The rich man who lifted up his eyes, being in torments, had not, while in life, done to Lazarus as he would like to be done by.

Treasure up, then, this rule of the Saviour, and show yourselves at all times kind and obliging to others; remembering that you love to have others kind and obliging to you. If it is in your power to warn any one of injury he is about to receive, or to give him good counsel, do it with the utmost willingness and pleasure. You will derive the greatest benefit from doing so; for everybody

will love to assist and serve you in like manner in return. All will highly esteem you for it, and delight to associate with you; and besides, to assist and serve others will fill your hearts with real joy,—that joy which springs from the consciousness that you have done good, and been of use to others; and above all things you will find yourself in a way, through Jesus Christ, to obtain the blessings of eternal life, to enjoy the favour of God for ever.

III. You must show meekness and love to your enemies.

Let me remind you also of the exhortation of Jesus to our practising these virtues. They must in his view have been deemed of great importance, and deserving of the utmost attention. For he has often taught them, and in the most express manner recommended them to our observance. The following words of his are remarkable : "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

If then you would have God forgive the many sins of your youth, and remain your gracious Father, (and this should be the object of your daily prayers,) you must never avenge yourselves upon those who injure you. You must not seek, or even think, to do anything to them either at present or in time to come, that may be painful to them, or cause them any injury, out of a spirit of revenge.

"For

Would you have God hear you when you pray, give us our debts as we forgive our debtors," you must, as I have already told you, from your heart forgive all the evil that has been done to you; you must help your enemies and serve them whenever it is in your power.

LOVE TO ENEMIES. A FORGIVING SPIRIT.

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For instance, if your brothers, sisters, schoolmates, or playmates, should strike and insult you, or speak evil of you behind your back, of which you have not been guilty, you must not strike or insult them, or speak false and wicked things against them in return; but you must pray for them that they may not be punished for their improper conduct, and seek to do them all the good in your power. If you do so, you will fulfil the command of Jesus Christ, and enjoy the grace of God.

IV. You must never show yourselves implacable. What I here mean is, that you must never show yourselves destitute of a forgiving spirit towards those who, after having done evil to you, come and ask your forgiveness. It is quite possible that such a person might die, when you would be unable any longer to draw pleasure from doing him good; and then, in the other world he would complain of you as a hard and unmerciful man, who would not forgive him, and be reconciled to him; and such a complaint would draw down upon you severe punishment from the just and holy God, by whom you know, as I have already told you, that we are to be treated as we have treated our fellow men. To those who are merciful, he is merciful; and to those who are unmerciful, he, too, is unmerciful.

PRAYER AND RESOLVE.

Blessed Father in heaven, I desire nothing so much as to be thy good and well-pleasing child, here and hereafter. My soul thirsts for thee; my flesh longs for thee. Thy grace and spirit assisting me, therefore, I resolve, according to the teachings of my Saviour, to love my enemies, to bless those that curse me, to do good to those that

hate me, and to pray for those who offend and persecute me. Thus towards me thou hast ever conducted. In the ignorance and folly of youth, I have often done thee great injustice, and broken thy commands; but thou still remainest my kind and benevolent Father. This too, is thy mode of dealing with mankind in general. Thou causest thy sun to rise upon the evil and the good, and sendest thy fertilizing rain upon the just and the unjust. I resolve, therefore, relying on thy aid, to become a child agreeable to thy feelings and example,—to delight in doing good, even to those who do not do good to me.

HYMN.

The mighty God who rules on high,
And rolls the thunder through the sky,
Declares, and will maintain his sway;
"Vengeance is mine, I will repay."

This would I ever bear in mind,
When others show themselves unkind
And, 'mid reproaches, calm and still,
Await my Father's sovereign will.

O teach me, Lord, enthroned above,
Like thee, my enemy to love;
To aid him, plunged in deep distress,
And, when he curses, meekly bless.

Within my heart I fain would bear
Thine image; kindly paint it there.
Help me to show the love of heaven,
Who have so much to be forgiven.

WATCHFULNESS AND PRAYER.

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SECTION XX.

WATCHFULNESS, TEMPERANCE, AND SINFUL MAN-PLEASING.

THERE is perhaps no one duty in which young people are so apt to fail as in watchfulness and prayer, or what may be called a prayerful watchfulness,—a serious guarding of one's thoughts and actions, against every thing that is sinful. They uniformly give themselves up far too much to their passions and wishes for pleasure. Reason and religious truth have little or no influence over them; and if they had not parents to govern them, and a great many laws and restraints to bind them down to duty, I fear they would in most cases give themselves up to the current of their own feelings, and go on in the pursuit of pleasure until their way ended in everlasting pain. At least it is certain, that all children give themselves up, without any consideration, to their own feelings, as far as they can; and that those who are left without any or much restraint to their own passions and inclinations, almost always lead miserable lives, and bring themselves to untimely and awful deaths; or, in the language of the Bible, they do not live out half their days. I could give you a great many instances of this, if it were necessary; and I should immediately point you to Byron, of whom you will learn more when you get older, as one. Now, my young friends, I want you should remember that if you would be happy, you must subject all your passions and inclinations to the control of reason and the word of God; and to get such a control over yourselves, you must watch your own hearts continually, guarding yourselves against every thing sinful, and pray God to enable you to do what is good.