proved into a religious intention. Reader, make a catalogue of all your more distant relatives. Consider them one by one; and make each of them the subject of your "good devices." Ask this question: "How may I pursue the good of such a relative? By what means may I render such a relative the better for me?" It is possible that you may do something for your relatives which may afford them cause to bless God for your relation to them. Have they no calamity under which you may give them relief? Is there no temptation against which you may give them some caution? Is there no article of their prosperity to which you may be subservient? At least, with your affectionate prayers, you may go over your catalogue; you may pray for each of them successively by name; and why may you not put proper books of piety into their hands, to be durable memorials of their duties to God, and of your desires for their good?

THIS excellent zeal should be extended to the NEIGHBOURHOOD. Neighbours! you stand related to each other; and you should contrive how others should have reason to rejoice in your neighbourhood. "The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour;" but we shall scarcely allow him to be so, unless he be more excellent as a neighbour: he must excel in the duties of good neighbourhood. Let that man be better than his neighbour, who labours most to be a better neighbour-to do most good to his neighbour.

And here, first, the poor people that lie wounded must have oil and wine poured into their wounds. It was a charming trait in the character of a modern prince-"To be in distress, is to deserve his favour." O good neighbour! put on that princely, that more than royal quality. See who in the neighbourhood may thus deserve thy favour. We are told that" pure religion and undefiled (a jewel not counterfeited, and without a flaw,) is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction." The orphans and the widows, and all the children of affliction in the neighbourhood, must be visited and relieved with all suitable kindnesses.

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Neighbours! be concerned that the orphans and the widows may be well provided for. They meet with grievous difficulties, with unknown temptations. When their nearest relatives were living, they were, perhaps, but meanly provided for: what then must be their present solitary condition? That condition should be well considered; and the result of the consideration should be-" I delivered the orphan who had no helper, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy."

By the same rule-All the afflicted in the neighbourhood are to be considered. Would it be too much for you, once in a week at least, to think "What neighbour is reduced to pinching and painful poverty, or impoverished with heavy losses?

What neighbour is languishing with sickness, especially with severe disease, and of long continuance?What neighbour is broken-hearted with the loss of a dear and desirable relative ?-What neighbour has a soul violently assaulted by the enemy of souls?" and then, consider," What can be done for such neighbours?"

In the first place, You will pity them. The evangelical precept is, "Have compassion one of another-be pitiful." It was of old and ever will be a just expectation, " To him that is afflicted, pity should be shewn ;" and let our pity to the distressed, be expressed by our prayer for them. It would be a very lovely practice for you in the daily prayer of your closet every evening to think, "What miserable object have I seen to-day, for whom I may do well now to entreat the mercies of the Lord?" But this is not all; it is possible, nay probable, that you may do well to visit them; and when you visit them, comfort them; carry them some good word, which may raise gladness in a heart stooping with heaviness.

And, lastly: Render them all the assistance which their necessities may require. Assist them by your advice; assist them by obtaining the help of other persons on their behalf; and, if it be needful, bestow your ALMS upon them; "Deal thy bread to the hungry; bring to thy house the poor that are cast out; when thou seest the naked, cover him" at least, exercise Nazianzen's charity;"Si nihil habes, da lacrymulam ;"-" If you have nothing else to bestow upon the miserable, bestow a tear or two upon their miseries." This little is better than nothing.

Would it be amiss for you, always to have lying by you, a list of the poor in your neighbourhood,

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of those whose calamities may call for the assistance of the neighbourhood? Such a list would often furnish you with matter for useful conversation, when you are conversing with your friends, whom you may hereby "provoke to love and to good works."

I will go on to say, Be glad of opportunities to do good in your neighbourhood: yea, look out for them! lay hold on them with a rapturous assiduity. Be sorry for all the sad circumstances of your neighbour which render your exertions neces sary; yet, be glad, if any one tell you of them. Thank him who gives you the information, as having therein done you a very great kindness. Let him know that he could not, by any means, have obliged you more. Cheerfully embrace every opportunity of shewing civility to your neighbours, whether by lending, by watching, or by any other method in your power. And let the pleasantness of your countenance prove that you do this willingly; "Cum munere vultum." "Let your wisdom cause your face to shine." Look upon your neighbours, not with a cloudy, but with a serene and shining face! and shed the rays of your kindness upon them, with such affability, that they may see they are welcome to all you can do for them. Yea, stay not until you are told of opportunities to do good, but inquire after them and let the inquiry be solicitous and unwearied. The incomparable pleasure which attends the performance of acts of benevolence, is worth a diligent inquiry.

There was a generous Pagan, who counted a day lost, in which he had not obliged some one." Amici, diem perdidi!"* O Christian, let us try whether we cannot contrive to do something for one or other of our neighbours, every day that passes over our heads. Some do so; and with a better spirit than ever actuated Titus Vespasian. Thrice, in the scriptures we find the good angels rejoicing;

* Friends, I have lost a day!

it is always at the good of others: to rejoice in the good of others, and especially in doing good to them, is angelical goodness.

In promoting the good of the neighbourhood, I wish above all, that you will consult their spiritual good. Be concerned lest" the deceitfulness of sin" should destroy any of your neighbours. If there be any idle people among them, take pains to cure them of their idleness: do not nourish and harden them in it, but find employment for them; set them to work, and keep them to work; and then be as bountiful to them as you please.

If any poor children in the neighbourhood are totally destitute of education, do not suffer them to remain in that state. Let care be taken that they may be taught to read, to learn their catechism, and the truths and ways of their only Saviour.

Once more. If any persons in the neighbourhood are taking to bad courses, affectionately and faithfully admonish them; if any act as enemies to their own welfare, or that of their families, prudently dispense your admonitions to them; if there be any prayerless families, cease not to entreat and exhort them, till you have persuaded them to commence domestic worship. If there be any service of God or his people, to which any one is backward, tenderly excite him to it. Whatever snare you perceive a neighbour exposed to, be so kind as to warn him against it. By furnishing your neighbours with good books or traets, and obtaining their promise to read them, who can tell how much good may be done! It is possible, that in this way, you may administer with ingenuity and efficacy, such reproofs as your neighbours