GOOD ADVICE OF BISHOP KENNETT.

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habitation. It then sends forth a loud cry, upon which the whole insect tribe are thrown into confusion, and run hither and thither seeking for safety; while the invader luxuriously feasts upon them at leisure, darting in its long tongue, and devouring the whole brood.

The Woodpecker, however, does not confine its depredations solely to trees, but sometimes alights upon the ground, to try its fortune at an ant-hill. It first goes to their hills, which it pecks, in order to call them abroad; it then thrusts out its long red tongue, which being like a worm, and resembling their usual prey, the ants come out to settle upon it in great numbers; however, the bird, watching the proper opportunity, withdraws its tongue at a jerk, and devours the devourers. This stratagem it continues till it has alarmed their fears, or till it is quite satisfied.

Who after reading this description, can fail to reflect upon the wonderful skill and contrivance of the Creator, who has endowed even one of the humblest of birds, with faculties so curious, and habits so much allied to those of intelligent beings.

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GOOD ADVICE OF BISHOP KENNETT.

My dear child, says the good Bishop Kennett in his 'CHRISTIAN SCHOLAR,' as I have given thee some good advice and directions what to do; so I would give thee strict

charge and caution what thou shouldest not do. There be vices to avoid, as well as virtues to pursue, some vices to which thou art the more subject by the infirmities of thy age so that by nature or by custom thou mayest be soon addicted to them; but take timely warning. When St. Paul advised young Timothy to 'flee youthful lusts,' it does imply, that there are some particular temptations to which the youngest people are the most exposed. This was confessed by holy David, when he prayed thus unto God, 'O remember not the sins and offences of my youth.' We see the devil, like his servant Herod, does persecute our very infants, and seek diligently to destroy their innocent souls; but be not ignorant, my child, of his devices.

The devil's devices to betray thee, my dear boy, are chiefly to draw thee into these snares, LYING, STEALING, IDLENESS, AND ILL COMPANY.

First, LYING. This is commonly the first vice in children; and alas! it is the foundation of all other vices. For so it is, the devil tempts our innocent children, as he did our innocent parents. He tempts them to begin with a LIE, and so go on to rob God, to cheat one another and at last to deceive their own souls.

If thou dost hearken, my child, unto the devil, the father of lies, he will soon make thee one of his own children, a LIAR and DECEIVER. He will teach thee all the little arts and tricks of falsehood and wrong. He will teach thee how to feign a false excuse: how to pretend a different reason; how to evade the truth, and dissemble thy own mean

ing; how to insinuate and wheedle, and tell a story in jest, till thou art drawn into it in earnest; how by degrees to deny the plainest truth; and how at last to invent the most notorious lies, and then stand it out with an obstinate heart and an impudent look.

Thy parents will have much to answer for, if they encourage or connive at thee in a lie; without rebuke or correction, they are partakers of thy sin, and by suffering it on thy head, they bring the guilt upon their own.

To lie is the beginning of all evil. If thou art once settled in a habit of lying, thy tongue is made ready for swearing and cursing; thy hands are prepared for picking and stealing, thy head and heart will be disposed to all manner of mischief: so that in St. James's words, 'thy tongue being but a little member, will be a world of iniquity, and will defile the whole body, and set on fire the course of nature, being itself set on fire of hell.'

Therefore, my child, if by any unhappy means thou hast already contracted the custom of lying, break off that custom with all thy strength. Set a watch before thy mouth, and keep the door of thy lips, and hold thy tongue, as it were with a bridle. Speak the truth, though it be to confess thy own faults; for there is no fault so great as that of denying thy own fault. God and man will forgive the confessing sinner; but the liar deserves no pity, no pardon.

Never hope to conceal the blot; thy own countenance will betray thee, or thy confederate will discover thee, or

even a 'bird of the air will tell the matter.' Truth will come to light, and then shalt thou have shame and terror. My dear child, when thou hast searched the Scriptures, thou wilt learn, how lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,' and how it is every good man's wish and prayer remove far from me vanity and lies:' how none can be a true Christian or an honest man, without putting away lying, and speaking every man truth with his neighbor.' Now, lying has the devil for inventor, and hell for reward: 'What shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue, even mighty and sharp arrows with hot burning coals?'

Secondly, STEALING, This, my child, is such an abominable sin, that I cannot suspect thee guilty of it. A thief and a robber is such a perfect villain, that it requires time and age to be so ripe for hell. And yet, my child, the tempter may begin with thee betimes, and early entice thee to this great wickedness; especially if he has brought thee into a habit of lying, he finds it easy to draw thee a little farther into stealing And for this he will set traps in thy way.

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He, the devil, will perhaps raise thy curiosity, and tempt thee to lay hold on somewhat, because it is a fine thing; or he will work thee up into a covetous and greedy humor, and so make thee snatch or slide away another's goods; or perhaps, he will deceive thee into a wretched fancy, that 'stolen waters are sweet,' and so wheedle thee into filching and pilfering, as if there were a pleasure in it.

But remember, my child, 'thou shalt not steal;' that is, thou shalt be content with that which is thine own, and not