turn it with injury and insult: for we look for our "exceeding great reward”* from our Father in heaven. But still more, the Samaritan did this great kindness, at a time particularly inconvenient to himself: is there no lesson to be learnt from this?

--

Mary. Yes, Mamma; that we should not only do good when it gives us no trouble, but even when it is very disagreeable to us.

Mrs. B.-Disagreeable is not a word to be applied to doing good. But we are taught to do good to all men, at all times, under all circumstances, even where it may require a sacrifice of our own wishes, inclinations, or time, or any thing else which we should have liked to have disposed of otherwise. One more lesson I will point out to you, from the conduct of the Priest. He passed on the other side, pretending not to see the wounded man. Do you understand

*Gen. xv. 1.

any thing which may be drawn from this?

Mary.-I do not think I do very particularly.

Mrs. B.-Does it not imply this, that God will not excuse us if we look carelessly upon, or shut our eyes to the distress of others? That rather than pass by, or not enquire into a case which may come before us, we should go out of our way to enquire, to seek out, to learn where we can be useful; where we can prove, by our kindness to our distressed neighbours, our sense of God's infinite goodness to us. And this is a fault, my loves, which we are too apt to fall into, more especially the rich, and those who have no cares and anxieties for their own support and bodily comforts.

Mary.-I hope, Mamma, if ever we are rich, we shall remember this parable, and all that you have told us about it.

Mrs. B.-My love, you must recollect, that it is not necessary to be rich, in order to shew in the sight of God a

kind and charitable spirit. He who well employed his five talents, attained the favour of his master, equally with him who well employed his ten: the good disposition may equally be shewn with small means as with great. But whether you should be rich or poor, I trust you will remember and study, not only this parable, but all the Word of God, that it may dwell in your hearts and minds; and that by God's Holy Spirit assisting you, you may "come behind in no good gift;" but be "not hearers only, but doers of the word."* And that every holy precept and example may incite you, and God give you grace to "go and do likewise!"

*James i. 22.

EIGHTH DAY.

Parable of the rich Man and Lazarus.

Luke xvi. 19.

Mrs. B.-JUST before we finished yesterday, we were talking of what were the duties, especially of the rich, in seeking out, rather than waiting to be told, and even than listening carelessly to the afflictions of their fellow-creatures. This will bring us to-day to another part of that extensive virtue of Christian charity, which goes most commonly by that name, that of relieving the bodily distresses of others.

Henry. You mean giving money to poor people, don't you, Mamma?

Mrs. B.-I mean not giving money only, but food, clothing, medical assistance, and all those comforts which the rich can always procure, but of which the poor often stand in need, and with which it is more especially the duty of the rich to furnish those who are in want.

Henry.-Yes, Mamma, I believe I meant all that, when I said money-I meant what people call "giving charity." And now will you tell us the parable?

Mrs. B.-Yes, my love, but before I do so, I must tell you that it was spoken more particularly to the 66 who," the Evangelist says,

Pharisees;

were cove

tous, and derided Him," on account of His poverty and humility. But Jesus, desirous to shew them that all the advantages of this world, on which they prided themselves, such as wealth, learning, rank, and all " that is highly esteemed among men," so far from being important towards a man's eternal welfare, increase his punishment; and are, in His own words, "abomination in the sight of God,"