bly beseeching him to wash you from it in the blood of his Son. There is, besides, one day in the seven on which you go to the house of God, and on that day, and in that house, you join with the people of God in calling yourself a miserable sinner. Before that day comes, or at least before the hour of service arrives, I would advise you to get by yourself, and examine yourself a little more particularly, that you may join in the confession of your sins with a true heart. And still further, I would beg of you whenever you find out that you have sinned against God, whatever business you are about, or in whatever company you may be, that you lift up your heart to God, and tell him, in your secret thoughts, that you have fallen into sin, and ask for his pardon and grace.

Thus, my beloved children, you will learn to know quickly when you are going wrong, and your consciences will become tender. You will learn to mourn with godly sorrow for your sins. You will be plants of the Lord's planting, watered daily by his Spirit, and the sunshine of God's countenance will shine upon you, and cheer and refresh you;

and mourning according to God's will, you will have much less worldly sorrow.

For it is pride, and discontent, and selfishness, which cause our real misery, and from these you will gradually be delivered. O my children, let me entreat you to mourn in sincerity for your sins, and then shall you be comforted, abundantly comforted, as I shall now proceed, in the second place, to shew you.

Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Holy children, who are humbled for their sins, and truly mourn for them, will in many ways be comforted. They will naturally have much comfort that other children know not of. We will suppose a family, or a nursery, or a school-room of children, who are poor in spirit, and who mourn for their sins. How ready they will be to forgive each other! because they know they have much to be forgiven themselves; they will be cheerful and thankful at all times, because their hearts are right with God. When the rain falls fast, and they are deprived of some pleasant scheme abroad, when there are no new playthings within doors, and every thing

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seems very dull; yet they will be comforted, because they are in good humour with each other, and many a sweet token of love will those children be receiving from their parents who are always fearing to offend them. Naughty children are often driven from their parents' company, while good children are permitted to enjoy it. Many a pleasant game of play will the gentle and humble en. joy; while the worldly-minded are too discontented, and too proud, to agree together in what way they will spend their time. Besides, humble children are always glad to help each other; while the proud and selfish often find pleasure in taking each others' playthings away, and in vexing and teasing one another in a thousand ways. These are but a small part of the comforts which humble children who fear sin enjoy; and many others, I trust, you will find out by your own experience. But there is a higher and better way in which they will be comforted by God himself. Great peace have they who love thy law, is said in the Bible, and there are many, many verses in the Bible, which I would have you look

for and learn by heart, which tell of the blessedness those children know who are lit

tle in their own eyes, and tremble at God's word. To such as these will God look. Though we may have lived many years in the world, we cannot know all the comforts which God's children enjoy even in this life; but some of them I will tell you. When holy children are sick, they are not impatient, they do not fret, and God is very present with them, to comfort them. When they have any duty to do which they do not like, any difficult task or business appointed them, they set about it cheerfully, because they are humble, and they have learned to conquer their self-will: they look up to God for help, and wisdom, and direction, and they are supported and strengthened, and, when need be, comforted; while idle and wilful children lay up for themselves a multitude of sorrows. If they are laughed at for walking in the ways of God, and taking it patiently, without giving way to wicked shame; then He will be with them to comfort them. Even when they are mourning for their sins, and casting themselves at their

Saviour's feet as sinners, he is more especially with them to comfort them.

But how shall I explain to you the different ways in which the God of love comforts his children? Can I tell you how the wind blows? whence it cometh, and whither it goeth? but I know it blows, because I am refreshed by sweet gales over banks of flowers, over mountains, over seas. So is the Spirit of God: we know not whence he cometh; but we know that he breathes upon us the airs of Paradise, because we are strengthened with heavenly strength, we are made able to do God's work, and are comforted with his peace. But it is not only in this world, that those who mourn shall be comforted; it is most especially in heaven: there God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes; there we shall be comforted, even as one whom his mother comforteth. O happy children! who, having walked a while in God's ways here, are admitted to his presence for ever; for in his presence there is fulness of joy, and at his right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm xvi. 11.)

Let me now ask you, my beloved children,