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ed upside down, the clothes all torn and bloody, and his dog lying near it, besmeared also with blood. Immediately conceiving that the dog had destroyed his child, he instantly dashed out his brains with the hatchet in his hand; when, turning up the cradle, he found his child unhurt, and an enormous serpent lying dead on the floor, killed by that faithful dog, whose courage and fidelity, in preserving the life of his son, deserved a very different return!-How unworthy is it to give way to the impulse of sudden passion, and to proceed to acts of violence without inquiry and consideration! It is always foolish, generally mischievous, and often attended with evils which may be deeply regretted, but can never be fully repaired.

ORPHAN'S HYMN,

UPON my father's new-clos'd grave
Deep lay the winter's snow;
Green, now, the grass waves o'er his head,
And tall the tomb-weeds grow.

Along life's road no parent's hand
My homeless footsteps led;
No mother's arm in sickness sooth'd,
And rais'd my throbbing head.

But other hearts, Lord! thou hast warm'd,

With tenderness benign;

And in the stranger's eyes I mark

The tear of pity shine.

The stranger's hand by thee is mov'd
To be the orphan's stay;
And, better far, the stranger's voice
Hath taught us how to pray.

Thou putt'st a new song in our mouth,
A song of praise and joy;

O may we not our lips alone,
But hearts, in praise employ !

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RULE OF CONDUCT.

To Him who little children took,

And in his bosom held,

And, blessing them with looks of love,
Their rising fears dispell'd;

To Him, while flow'rs bloom on the bank,
Or lambs sport on the lea;

While larks with morning hymns ascend,
Or birds chant on the tree;

To him let every creature join
In prayer, and thanks, and praise :
Infants, their little anthems lisp;
Age, hallelujah's raise !

RULE OF CONDUCT.

It is a great mistake amongst many people, that reputation is to be the rule of action; which is as much as to affirm, that an uncertain and variable thing is to be a certain and fixed direction; that a heap of sand, which will be scattered by the first wind, is a sufficient land-mark for travellers for ever to know their way by; that a thing which is capable of as many forms and sudden changes, as the clouds in the air, is a constant and settled rule of behaviour and action. In short, if we have no rule of action but reputation, I must affirm, that we have none at all. But I think we have another, which we may securely follow, and depend upon; such a one as will keep us always in the right way, it we can but be happy enough to keep our eyes ever fixed upon it: which rule is, the united principles of right reason and religion, or rather, of true Christianity, which is right reason. Here, we have a rational rule; there, we have only the wavering shadow of one. Here, we have something that will last as long as right reason lasts; there, we have something that will change as often as the stream of men's fancies and opinions change, which is as often as the weather-cock; and hose who resolve to be directed by it, must be as in

DUTY OF CHILDREN TO CHRIST.

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constant as the wind. Were a man always to be governed by reputation, he must change the fashion of his virtues as often as the fashion of his clothes; otherwise he will run the hazard of being laughed at for an, old-fashioned virtue as well as for an old-fashioned coat. A foundation that is unfixed, is a foundation upon sand, fit only for fools to build on. Wise men, therefore, will find another, and choose a foundation, that has itself a foundation to rest upon; and then they know they may build securely. The true foundation of action is the truth and rectitude of action; and the foundation of that truth and rectitude is the eternal perfection and will of the divine nature. We are to do things because they are right, not because they are commendable; but they are commendable because they are right. Wisdom, not vanity, ought to move us to virtue. We are to act for the sake of truth, in order to please God, not for the sake of praise, in order to please men: neither are we to please ourselves with the trifling bauble of vain reputation, but with the substantial benefit of having done our duty, and of having pleased that adorable Being, whom we are obliged to make it the whole business of our lives to please.

CHRIST'S AFFECTION TO CHILDREN SHOULD MAKE THEM GRATEFUL, PIOUS, AND HOLY.

My dear young friends,-You have seen the affection which Christ manifested to little children. You have seen what he did to them; you have read what he said of them; you have, I doubt not, admired the kindness and condescension with which he treated them. It is true, this took place while he sojourned upon earth; and you know that after he died and rose again, he ascended up on high, and is now seated at the right hand of God. But think not that because he is thus exalted in the heavens, such little ones as you are, have ceased to be the objects of his care. Though he has a name that is above every name, and is worshipped by angels, and has the government of the world in his hands, yet

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DUTY OF CHILDREN TO CHRIST.

he does not overlook the very least of you; his eye is ever upon you for good; his arm, though unseen, is guiding and protecting you; and, as he shed his blood upon the cross, to accomplish your salvation, so he is at this moment praying the Father that all the blessings of that salvation may be yours.-Now, what effect should all this produce upon your mind and conduct? Surely it should make your heart warm with gratitude to the Saviour. You cannot love him too ardently; you cannot praise him too fervently; you cannot serve him too zealously. Cherish for him all the affection you can possibly feel; render to him all the obedience you can possibly pay;-you shall never be able to requite the loving kindness and tender mercy with which he has treated you. It will only be in heaven and in eternity that your song of praise will bear any proportion to the extent of obligation which his unmerited good. ness has laid upon you. But while you are upon earth, neglect not to show in every part of your behaviour, that you are truly and deeply sensible of the Saviour's love. Remember that he died to save you from your sins and to reconcile you unto God, and to prepare you for the heavenly world. Never, then, give yourselves up to sinful indulgence, lest 66 you crucify him afresh.' Beware of offending God, lest your peace with him be broken. Walk in the paths of righteousness, lest you fail of entering into rest. Numerous and important are the religious advantages which you enjoy, compared with those that are enjoyed by many others. While thousands and tens of thousands of children in the world are destitute of almost all the means of knowledge and of grace, you are so highly favoured as to possess every one of them. Possessing superior privileges, see that you be distinguished by superior piety and virtue. Your parents devoted you by baptism to your God and Redeemer. Study, therefore, to "glorify him in your bodies and in your spirits which are his." Read his word, believing what it declares, and doing what it commands. Sanctify his Sabbaths. Wait upon him in his sanctuary. Pray to him, morning and evening, for the various blessings which you need. › careful never to associate with those who profane

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God's holy name, and who act as if they had never heard of a Saviour, and as if there were no judgment to come. Let your chosen companions be such as fear the Lord and keep his commandments-such as can give you a salutary advice, and will set before you a good example. Never forget that in your most secret retirements, and in your best concealed doings, the eye of God beholds you, and that, for every action, every word, every thought, he will require you to answer at the last day. At all times, and in all circumstances, cultivate that regard to truth, that purity of speech and behaviour, that benevolence to all around you, which you know to be pleasing in his sight. If you have been addicted to any thing which you know to be displeasing to God, renounce it; renounce it immediately; renounce it altogether; and renounce it for ever. And while you beseech God to forgive your offences for the sake of that gracious Redeemer, who said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me," beseech him also to keep you by his grace and Spirit from offending him any more, and to guide you in that holy way in which you ought to walk. And as you advance in days and years, let it be your ambition to improve in every thing that is honourable, and lovely, and of good report, so that you may give full proof of your attachment to Christ, and be prepared, whenever he shall call you away, for going into the kingdom of heaven.

ON PRAYER.

PRAY'R is the soul's sincere desire,

Utter'd or unexprest;

The motion of a hidden fire,

That trembles in the breast.

Pray'r is the burthen of a sigh;
The falling of a tear;

The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.

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