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it, signifies that we are perfectly satisfied that he should have every possible praise, and that we desire to render it. Consider a little what reason there is for praising God. He made those wonderful bodies which we have, from whence so many enjoyments spring. Our active limbs which carry us from place to place. Our eyes to see the beautiful things around us, and our kind friends and companions; our ears to enjoy their company; and our tongues to make us agreeable to them in conversing together! then he has placed us in a part of the world, which is more highly favoured in its climate than many other parts. You have heard of earthquakes and tempests, and such intense heat and cold, as can hardly be borne by the inhabitants, how thankful should we be that we only hear of those things! But especially should we praise God for giving us souls to live for ever in happiness, if we do not neglect the care of them, and for giving us his holy word to instruct us how to take care of them. Then we are constantly indebted to his providence in keeping us from accidents and sicknesses; and when he sees fit to afflict us with any, he supports us under them, and blesses the means used for our recovery. Or he removes his people from their trials by taking them out of this world, and placing them in a better, where their praises begun here, will be perfected and last for ever.

"Now I trust you feel in your hearts a desire to

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praise God, but perhaps you may think he will not deign to accept praises from such little children as you. But you may read in his word, how children cried hosanna to their Lord and Saviour in the temple; and when the unbelieving priests and scribes. were displeased with them for doing so, he rebuked them by asking them if they had never read in the psalms of David, out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise. Be sure then you can never be too young to sing the praises of God; and while you praise him with your lips, and try to feel and understand the words you say, remember there is a still better way of praising him, and that is by obeying his commandments, and doing your duty as your catechism expresses it, in that state of life into which it shall please God to place you."

While I addressed my young hearers in the foregoing terms, I attentively marked their countenances, to discover whether my words were intelligible to their understandings. I entertained little doubt of their being so, and they seemed to listen with pleasure. This observation induced me to pen down this simple address, as a specimen of the improvement which may be drawn from trifling

occurrences.

Let the Sunday-School instructor then be encou raged to address his young charge as reasonable

beings, since it has pleased their Creator to form their intellects capable of the earliest improvement, and to allot no inferiority of mind to their inferiority of station, and after he has done his best, and committed his labour of love to the divine blessing, let him indulge in the delightful anticipation, that the Lord who hearkeneth to those his servants who speak often one to another, and think upon his name, will write them in the book of his remembrance, number them in the day when he maketh up his jewels, "and spare them as a man spareth his own son who serveth him."

CHAP. XII.

Memoir of a Friend.

Ox paying a visit lately to a lady of my acquain

tance, I found her in tears, apparently occasioned by a letter which lay open on her table. She informed me it contained the intelligence of the death of a very dear friend, "Yet," added she, "when time has mollified the pang it has cost me, the fond remembrance which will remain, will be soothing, and I trust may be cherished without the smallest encroachment on the duty of resignation." "Most certainly," returned I, "and if your departed friend was of Christian principles, the feeling of nature is sanctioned by the word of God himself." "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints," and the righteous, says the same word, shall be had in everlasting remembrance. 'My friend," resumed the lady, "was truly beloved, respected and admired by all who knew her; though moving in a humble sphere of life, few persons ever obtained more influcace." "In per- ·

sons capable of exciting such sentiments," returned I, "there may be supposed to reside qualities of peculiar virtue, and 'tis worth our while to enquire what they were, and how they were attained, since much of our usefulness in life depends upon the estimation in which we are held by those with whom we are immediately connected. It is of little consequence what rank such a person holds in society, the good of the whole being promoted by the virtue of a part, and every class influences its own circle. As you say your friend moved in a humble sphere, I, who am aiming to encourage my poor neighbours by pious examples, cannot but wish you would favour me with a memoir of her life, which I may communicate for their benefit." "Your proposal delights me," replied the lady, "it seems to soothe my own sorrow on the occasion, to know the memory of her departed excellence may be thus perpetuated, I will lose no time in gratifying your wish and my own feelings." In a few days the memoir was sent me which I shall present my reader in the lady's own words.

"My friend was the daughter of a respectable baker of the city of Bristol, and born in the year 1744. He died when she was very young, leaving one son and two daughters to the care of his widow, who by carrying on the business supported herself and children with equal respectability. She placed them at good day-schools, where the subject of this memoir possessing much quickness

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