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world's goods-have to look forward, as your fathers before you, to a life of labour in this time present; but in being taught, and in pursuing the way to eternal life, you are raised by God, "that he may set you with princes, even with the princes of his people." The wisest philosopher can arrive at no more profitable knowledge than you have the richest and the noblest of the land can reach no higher glory or dignity than that which is so equally opened to you.

Now the acquirement of this knowledge, the being made acquainted with these privileges, forms the duty and occupation of a Sunday school. Yes, my dear children, let that place be one of delight to you go thither with no unwilling step: in your cases it is more especially the place of instruction. God's house with you is almost entirely the house of prayer, whither you come to utter praise and thanksgiving to that almighty Being of whose nature and goodness you have been hearing at school. Never, if you can avoid it, omit attending school: you never can stay away without losing something, and that of great value.

Doubtless, on your way from home, you often meet with those who would tempt you to accompany them to wicked carelessness and disregard of the Sabbath day-idlers, swearers, liars: others again may jeer you, and call you ill names. When you are thus tempted, flee away from such companions. When you are thus reviled, revile not again, only be ye not shaken: if they do not repent they will have their portion in the unquenchable fire. Yours is the wise, and manly, and safe part theirs is the foolish, the cowardly, and soulruinous one. Feel assured that your Sunday school and its consequent step-attendance at the

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house of God-both give you refreshment after the labour of the week that is past, and strengthen you for the week that is to come.

Yet do not forget that the most regular attendance at school and church will be worse than unprofitable, if you do not carry out in the week time the lessons imparted to you on the Sunday. The eternal life of which I have been speaking, the knowledge of which is so great wisdom, and the obtainment of which will be so great riches— this eternal life cannot be available to us unless we live a godly life now. Rather, if we know God's will and do it not, we are in a worse condition than the wildest savage who worships stocks and stones, or than the most ignorant and depraved among ourselves. Hence, then, in the week time, be diligent: make a point of never being idle; for idleness is the root of every evil. You can always find something to do: but, before you set about the work of any day, fail not to ask the blessing and guidance of your Father which is in heaven. How it should exalt and gladden you to know that the almighty Lord of heaven will be your father, and is more ready to answer your earnest prayers than you can possibly be to make them! Ask him to make you good, and strive hard to be what you ask to be. Not only be diligent in that you have to do, but be faithful, be honest, be affectionate one to another:guard your very words; speak no evil; and especially be obedient to your parents. Recollect God says, "Honour thy father and thy mother;" and you must obey and honour them, excepting when they would have you do something which the word of God tells you not to do (and this seldom occurs), or you cannot please God. cleanly as far as you can: cleanliness is a certain

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property of a good child, and to be clean it is not requisite to be clad in the finest garments: in any dress you can be respectable.

I need scarcely say to you, that, if Christian love for you brings Christian instructors to you at your school, you owe them all attention, all respect. Through the grace of God they are conferring upon you the greatest of all blessedness; and though, in so doing, they discharge only an imperative duty laid on themselves, yet it is for you to be grateful: it is for you to love them, and to make their labours light by diligent attention, and their hearts glad by letting them see the benefits of their instruction. Let those who teach you have the reward of witnessing your improvement and decent deportment. In like manner as to the gifts which your richer neighbours bestow upon you. While it is avowedly their duty to give, you have no right to expect: as far as you are concerned, every bestowal is free and not to be expected to give is a matter of conscience between God and those that have the ability. For you to receive should be at once to acknowledge the goodness of God, whose grace so disposes the hearts of your benefactors; and to the benefactors themselves to exhibit all respectful acknowledgment. This day kind friends give unto you a slight testimony that you are not forgotten in the Lord. To-day should be with you a happy day: let it be so. You have prayed to God: you have listened to the words of one who speaks to you as a messenger from God, and who will esteem it a bright day of rejoicing if his words are instrumental in inclining your hearts to righteousness: you will have received something to remind you that the rich forget you not; that they feel there is no respect of persons with God;

that we are all brethren. There is much glad excitement awaiting you outside these walls, from the period of the year which gives you a holiday from your usual employments: go and be gladonly let your gladness be manifested in such conduct and things as your duty to God admits of.I have told you before that your richer brethren have a regard for you. I now tell you far more : Jesus the Son of God, himself God for evermore, loves you more than my words can express; love him then in return, and serve him. He says, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." "And he laid his hands on them, and blessed them."

To you, my kind fellow labourers who instruct these children, a few words. To those that water, it shall be watered unto. My own experience tells me that no one can teach without also learning; so that, while you impart to these children, you will be yourselves acquiring. I need not tell you that they on whom the light hath shone are bound by a responsive love to God to communicate the glad tidings to others. There are many points upon which I could desire to speak to you; but for propriety of time I shall select only two, after a few words of loving and earnest direction. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." Do it in the warmth of Christian love, and do it with the regularity of reasoning Christians. It is an old saying, that whatever is worth doing at all is worth well doing. Well, I entreat you be regular in your attendance, and not only regular in your attendance every Sunday, but at the first moment of meeting. One hour per week is not over much to consecrate to your semi-missionary labour; and if that hour be tres

passed upon, it is sadly curtailing the labour of love. One point of my animadversion is, that yours is no slight work of dignity, to be fellowworkers with God. It is yours to unfold treasures which neither alchymist nor magician of old could picture to their deluded followers. It is yours to unfold the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. You have to direct to glory inexpressible

-to love unequalled-to hopes beyond compare. You have to continue, subordinately to those who are his especial servants, the very work for the accomplishment of which the Son of God became incarnate, and died and rose again. You may not always see the fruit, but such is the object of labour.

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So far then from being slow to the performance of this faithful labour, esteem it an exalting privilege, a companionship in enterprise with the Saviour, with saints and martyrs, and with the spirits of just men made perfect. They have led the way before you; not only follow in their track, but diligently." He who giveth unto the poor, lendeth unto the Lord; and look, what he layeth out, it shall be paid him again." I know of no point of self-congratulation at the last day which will equal that of having communicated to the ignorant and destitute the wisdom and riches of the blessed gospel of Jesus Christ. O the salvation of a human soul! To be instrumental in it, kow glorious-how heart-stirring! "He, which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." The jewels in the crown of such a one will be bright indeed: the brightness of seraphim will almost be surpassed.

If you want motive to a work so delightful, listen to one which will make the very heart

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