are. Perfection of understanding in mankind is impossible: he makes the nearest approaches to it, who has the sense to discern, and the humility to acknowledge, its imperfections. Modesty always sits gracefully upon youth; it covers a multitude of faults, and doubles the lustre of every virtue which it seems to hide the perfections of men being like those flowers which appear more beautiful when their leaves are a little contracted and folded up, than when they are fully blown, and display themselves without any reserve to the view.

Some of us are very fond of knowledge, and are apt to value ourselves upon any proficiency in the sciences. One science, however, of more worth than all the rest, is, the science of living well; which shall remain when" tongues shall cease," and "knowledge shall vanish away." As to new notions, and new doctrines, of which this age is very fruitful, the time will come when we shall have no pleasure in them: nay, the time will come when they shall be exploded, and would have been forgotten, if they had not been preserved in those excellent books which contain a confutation of them; like insects which, preserved for ages in amber, would otherwise soon have returned to the common mass of things. But a firm belief of Christianity, and a practice suitable to it, will support and invigorate the mind to the last; and most of all, at that important hour, which must decide our hopes and apprehensions. The wisdom, which, like our Saviour, cometh from above, will, through his merits, bring us thither. All our other studies and pursuits, however different, ought to be subservient to this grand point, and centre in the pursuit of eternal happiness, by being good in ourselves, and useful to the world.

Excellence of the Christian Religion.

Is it bigotry to believe the sublime truths of the Gospel, with full assurance of faith? I glory in such bigotry. I would not part with it for a thousand worlds. I congratulate the man who is possessed of it: for amidst all the vicissitudes and calamities of the present state, that man enjoys an inexhaustible fund of consolation, of which it is not in the power of fortune to deprive him.

There is not a book on earth so favourable to all the kind and all the sublime affections; or so unfriendly to hatred and persecution, to tyranny, injustice, and every sort of malevolence, as the Gospel. It breathes nothing throughout, but mercy, benevolence, and peace.

The

Poetry is sublime, when it awakens in the mind any great and good affection, as piety or patriotism. This is one of the noblest effects of the art. Psalms are remarkable, beyond all other writings, for their power of inspiring devout emotions. But it is not in this respect only that they are sublime. Of the divine nature they contain the most magnificent descriptions that the soul of man can comprehend. The 104th Psalm, in particular, displays the power and goodness of Providence in creating and preserving the world, and the various tribes of animals in it, with such majestic brevity and beauty as it is in vain to look for in any human composition.

Such of the doctrines of the Gospel as are level to human capacity, appear to be agreeable to the purest truth, and the soundest morality. All the genius and learning of the heathen world; all the penetration of Pythagoras, Socrates, and Aristotle, had never been able to produce such a system of moral duty, and so rational an account of Providence and of man, as are to be found in the New Testament.

Compared, indeed, with this, all other moral and theological wisdom

Loses, discountenanced, and like folly shows.

Of Christ's Sermon on the Mount.

WHAT abundant reason have we to thank God, that this large and instructive discourse of our blessed Redeemer, is so particularly recorded by the sacred historian! Let every one that "hath ears to hear" attend to it for surely no man ever spoke as our Lord did on this occasion. Let us fix our minds in a posture of humble attention, that we may "receive the law from his mouth."

He opened it with blessings, repeated and most important blessings. But on whom are they pronounced? and whom are we taught to think the happiest of mankind? The meek and the humble; the penitent and the merciful; the peaceful and the pure; those that hunger and thirst after righteousness; those that labour, but faint not, under persecution. Lord! how different are thy maxims from those of the children of this world! They call the proud happy; and admire the gay, the rich, the powerful, and the victorious. But let a vain world take its gaudy trifles, and dress up the foolish creatures that pursue them. May our souls share in that happiness which the Son of God came to recommend and to procure! May we obtain mercy of the Lord: may we be owned as his children; enjoy his presence; and inherit his kingdom! With these enjoyments, and these hopes, we will cheerfully welcome the lowest, or the most painful circumstances.

Let us be animated to cultivate those amiable virtues which are here recommended to us; this hillly and meekness; this penitent sense of sin, inis ardent desire after righteousness; this passion and purity; this peacefulness and fortitude of soul: and, in

a word, this universal goodness which becomes us, as we sustain the character of "the salt of the earth," and "the light of the world."

Is there not reason to lament, that we answer the character no better? Is there not reason to exclaim with a good man in former times," Blessed Lord! either these are not thy words, or we are not Christians?" Oh, season our hearts more effectually with thy grace! Pour forth that divine oil on our lamps! Then shall the flame brighten; then shall the ancient honours of thy religion be revived; and multitudes be awakened and animated by the lustre of it, "to glorify our Father in heaven."

The Blind Man and the Lame.

A BLIND man, being stopped in a bad piece of road, met with a lame man, and entreated him to guide him through the difficulty into which he had fallen. How can I do that, replied the lame man, since I am scarcely able to drag myself along? but as you appear to be very strong, if you will carry me, we will seek our fortunes together. It will then be my interest to warn you of any thing which may obstruct your way; your feet shall be my feet, and my eyes yours. With all my heart, returned the blind man; let us render each other our mutual services. So, taking his lame companion on his back, they, by means of their union, travelled on with safety and pleasure.

Of Things to be Learned.

Kitty. PRAY, mamma, may I leave off working? I am tired.

Mamma. You have done very little, my dear; you know you were to finish all that hem.

K. But I had rather write now, mamma, or read, or get my French grammar.

M. I know very well what that means, Kitty; you had rather do any thing than what I set you about.

K. No, mamma; but you know I can work very well already, and I have a great many more things to learn. There's Miss Rich, that cannot sew half so well as I, and she is learning music and drawing already, besides dancing, and I don't know how many other things. She tells me that they hardly work at all in their school.

dear;

M. Your tongue runs at a great rate, my but, in the first place, you cannot sew very well; for if you could, you would not have been so long in doing this little piece. Then I hope you will allow, that mammas know better what is proper for their little girls to learn, than they do themselves.

K. To be sure, mamma; but as I suppose I must learn all these things some time or other, I thought you would like to have me begin them soon; for I have often heard you say, that children cannot be set too early about what is necessary for them to do.

M. That's very true; but all things are not equally necessary to every one; some that are very fit for one, are scarcely proper at all for others.

K. Why, mamma?

M. Because, my dear, it is the purpose of all education to fit persons for the station in which they are hereafter to live; and you know there are very great differences in that respect, both among men and wo

men.

K. Are there? I thought all ladies lived alike.

M. It is usual to call all well-educated women, who have no occasion to work for their livelihood, ladies; but if you will think a little, you must see that they live very differently from each other; for their fathers and husbands are in very different ranks and situations in the world, you know.

K. Yes, I know that some are lords, and some are 'squires, and some are clergymen, and some are mer