imitation. There is nothing on earth to be desired in comparison with God; there is nothing sure and certain to your hope in all the favour of the world; there is nothing here that moth and rust will not corrupt; nothing here that can satisfy your high desires.

Look off from these delusions to those sacred scenes which will fix your mind upon God, your portion and your friend, upon heaven the abode of his glory, and the eternal home of all his people.

But there are other lands where sin and Satan maintain a full control. There, generation after generation has arisen and passed away, amidst the vile and polluting scenes of idolatry. And now, behold! what crowds of young immortals are coming up to life, fixing their eyes with eager interest, and earnest inquiry upon the scenes of pagan homes!

At home, the household idol, the pictures on the wall, the daily worship, the family preparation for festal days, for near or distant pilgrimage, engage the eye, and attract the attention of the little family. And while they ask the story and the meaning of all they see

around them, how eagerly do they receive the mischief which sin and Satan, have given them as their accursed birthright.

Abroad, as soon as they go forth into the streets, and as they go further and further from their birthplace, how thick are the scenes of idolatry around them! What frequent idols "made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things;" what, frequent temples, where enshrined these helpless gods receive the worship of the people! On the hill-top and in the valley, and in all the plains, in the grove, and in the city, the tall spires, and the waving flags mark out the presence places of the gods.

What splendid festivals! where idolatry comes forth to the eye in all its glory; where procession follows procession; and hour after hour the stream of a mighty population is seen flowing towards some sacred spot, where the parents and children meet to gaze upon the splendour of idol worship! Yes, from age to age, parents are the helpers of sin and Satan, and by parental error the scene of idolatry is fresh and permanent amidst the wreck of generations.

But I forbear to dwell upon the scenery which I have myself seen spreading itself out before the millions of children in Hindoosthan; and rather urge you to remember that Christian scenes have not always blessed our happy country. Cast back your thoughts to other times. Was it always thus as now? When the sun arose serenely from the eastern ocean, did he look forth upon these cultivated and fertile lands as the abode of Christian families, the seat of Christian temples; and glorious with Christian scenes ? Did the hills and valleys smile under the hand of Christian cultivation? Were fathers seen leading their sons in useful and healthy toil, and heard explaining over the plough, and the sickle, and the scythe, the scenes of Christianity?

No; there was a time when the whole land was a wilderness, the abode of savage men. Then it was not as now. Parents did not so sanctify their homes; nay, homes the wanderers had not; nor blessings and comforts for their children: their toil was in the chase of wild beasts, and in warfare with each other; the scalps of vanquished

enemies, and the war-dance were their scenes. Your happy village, the sacred spot where you go with your parents and your neighbours to worship the true God, may have often been the resting place of wandering Indians, as they paused from hunting or from war. There may have been practised their savage worship; there the midnight fires have glared upon the war-dance, and made their savage faces shine out with all the inward vengeance of the war-whoop. Such once was the scenery of our country, and here from age to age, each rising generation were tutored to revenge and blood.

BAPTISMAL OBLIGATION.

1 CHRONICLES xxviii. 9.

Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind. -If thou seek him, he will be found of thee: but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

I HAVE held up the scenes of religion, and in former volumes, its direct and solemn lessons, that you might set your hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments. These lessons and scenes are the birthright of the children of Christian families. They were before our humble volumes had existence; they are where we have not yet the opportunity of speech, and they will always be the birthright of the children of pious families. We claim nothing more than to be the humble helpers of those, who, with a parent's tenderness and a parent's