Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you; (the reward is worthy the task;) that ye may be the children of your Father in heaven." (Matt. v. 44, 45.) And every time our hearts are exercised by forgiving enemies, every triumph that we gain over a disposition to retaliation, and purify our minds of even secretly wishing ill to those who dislike us, we make a rapid stride towards that Christian perfection, which the great Searcher of hearts beholdeth with benignant approbation, and which He will himself reward openly. (Matt. vi. 18.) The Christian dispensation solely consists in love. The first and great command enjoined by our kind Master is, that we devote our hearts, our minds, our souls, unto their gracious Giver, with faithful, fervent love; and that this love produce legitimate descendants, a long train of virtuous and benevolent actions, evincing ardent love by that true test which perfect love marks out. If If ye do love me, keep my commands; if ye do love me, feed my much-loved sheep; with kind solicitude watch over their everlasting welfare, alleviate their afflictions, and relieve their wants; if ye do love me, feed my much-loved lambs.

"O rear their tender thoughts in love to God!

O teach their young idea how to shoot

Towards heaven!

Pour daily fresh instruction o'er their ductile minds,

And fix each Christian virtue in their glowing breasts."

THOMSON.

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! (Isa. lii. 7.) How beautiful on our shrub-skirted lawns are the feet of manly youths and polished daughters, whose minds intent on the minutest precept of their indulgent Lord, enliven and improve their daily walks by seeking out instruction even from plants and flowers, pondering among their are conserves, the bright array of amaryllis tribes, and are, by these beauteous samples of creative power, led on through nature up to nature's God. Their grateful and obedient hearts still guiding on their willing footsteps through winding woodlands to the lowly cot, there to unfold unto the humble peasant, that on the short word, 'love,' hangs all the law and the prophets, (Matt. xxii. 40,) and by explaining of the great command, fulfil both first and second--blest with the firm belief that God does care for them, (1 Pet. v. 7,) pursue with anxious care the work of love, mildly inspecting, in the rural school, the little rustic's progress in that sacred knowledge which lights mankind to heaven. (Psalm cxix. 105.) With what serene delight will such retrace their homeward path, enfold their graceful forms in elegant attire, reserving precious minutes to adorn their minds, observe their growth in virtue, and curb each wayward passion!

"For wisdom's self

Oft seeks to sweet retired solitude,

Where, with her best nurse, contemplation,

She plumes her feathers, and lets grow her wings,
'That in the various bustle of resort,

Might be too ruffled, and sometimes impaired."

MILTON'S COMUS.

Imploring that protective aid that can alone preserve them, behold them now, with playful innocence, unbend around the festive board, join in the sprightly dance, or charm the social circle with the combined delights of their melodious voices and harmonious lyres; the happy even ending as the morn began, with praise and fervent prayer.

Thus gently does the gracious Shepherd oft-times lead his much-loved flock to sweet repose, 'midst verdant meads and flowery paths to calm, pellucid waters. But when the great Refiner views some latent dross which needs purification; or in his boundless wisdom sees fit to glorify himself and them, by proving of their love by heavy, keen affliction-when He putteth forth his own sheep to meet the varied evils of this mortal life, He still is ever with them, He marches on before them; no sorrow can be by them encountered which He has not borne, no misery which He has not endured. He suffers not the wolf to catch his feeble flock, but sheds his own blood in defence of theirs. They therefore in each trouble that befalls, fix fast their stedfast eyes upon his cross, beholding there a complication of all woes, a constellation of all virtues, lean on his staff and follow him in patient resignation, pious hope, for they know his voice recorded in his word. Early instructed by

religious parents to obey its sacred dictates, and long accustomed to its blest consolations, all the attempts of visible or invisible enemies to disturb their faith, or alienate their hearts from their beloved Shepherd, are wholly unavailing; a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of strangers. (John x. 4, 5.) With what calm delight will the maternal guide of such descendants retrace years that are past, not lost; look joyful onward in the blest prospect that her meek virtues will long survive herself, and generations yet unborn rise up and speak her praise! Her radiant path will, like the shining light, shine more and more resplendent to that perfect day, (Prov. iv. 18,) which frees her ripened spirit, wings its flight unto that just tribunal where, though she should not meet the bright award of sparkling like to brilliant stars in the etherial firmament, through the success of her most holy efforts, (Dan. xii. 3,) yet she will find her treasure has been laid up in a place where it is kept in safe, secure deposit. Her mild and gracious Judge, who long has viewed her conduct with benignant aspect and approving eye, will faithfully fulfil his sure and certain promise, with open arms receive her to that everlasting favour which surpasses life, (Psalm lxiii. 3,) and introduce her to new associates, with this glorious testimonial, she has done what she could. (Mark xiv. 8.) The most strenuous exertions of maternal tenderness will, however, lack their due and proper weight, if unsupported by the patronage and co-operation of paternal love. It is that

to complete the work, these lovely labourers have begun.

Should adverse storms arise, and beat against the happy partners who are thus united in affection and good works, the rock on which they have built will ever prove an anchor safe and stedfast. The afflicted soul, who, like to Noah's dove, flies to and fro in quest of consolation throughout this world of sorrows, and cannot find whereon to rest its foot, will here meet sure repose, and solace every grief by some kind promise of the revealed word, till the blest hour which lifts aloft the everlasting portals, and admits them to that rest which remaineth for the people of God. (Heb. iv. 9.) Should they serenely glide along the stream of life, they may indulge the pleasing hope, that gentle satisfactions and peaceful paths will, by an easy, mild transition, be exchanged for nobler scenes above. above. Their pure and pious thoughts may then enliven their solitary hours and walks, by the most delightful contemplations; for when they here behold shells, insects, worms, birds, flowers, depict such matchless proofs of the celestial Artist's skill, and cast their admiring eyes around the rich variety spread over our terrestrial paradise by nature's bounteous hand, the verdant mead and winding stream, woods, mountains, rocks, vales, waters-how far may they conclude these beauties and these scenes of grandeur are surpassed by the sublime magnificence of heaven! If now they find delight by living in close amity with those who most excel in virtue, what will be their felicity