also of being converted, and no one will be truly humble until he has been converted to God for pride is a reigning sin in the heart of man by nature; from this sin God alone can turn us. Of all things under heaven, nothing is more unbecoming to poor perishing sinners than pride; and yet there is not any thing to which we are more prone; and since the Redeemer has told us we must be humble, it becomes us to be found pleading much with him, to take away the lofty spirit which is in us, and to clothe us with humility, for "He resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." (James iv. 6.)

Christ improved every object around him for the good of his followers; he had given them much instruction from surrounding things, and now, taking a child from among them, he gives him a lesson of humility;

to imitate the child, who is harmless, simple-minded, lowly, devoid of malice, bitterness, and strife.

It was such a character as this that David loved to imitate; see Psalm cxxxi., where he says, "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me; surely I have behaved and quieted myself as a child that is weaned of his mother; my soul is even as a weaned child." Thus a king learned the spirit and temper of a child, and thus may we learn also; for humility will screen us from many sorrows that pride invariably occasions.

MATTHEW XVIII

Since by God's pardning grace I live. Well may I all my foes forgive, And as Christ's word and pallern showd Conquer their evil by my good.

THE DUTY OF FORGIVENESS.

"Teach me to feel another's woe,

To hide the faults I see!-
That mercy I to others show,
That mercy show to me!"

THE blessed Jesus having taught his disciples the importance of humility, also instructed them how necessary it was for them to exercise a forgiving spirit towards others. He says in Matthew xviii. 15, "If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother." How distressing a thing it is that quarrels so much abound in the world; this gives rise to such dreadful wars and bloodshed; this deluges lands with blood, and makes mankind hate. one another; and how painful above all things it is when brethren cannot agree!