mandments which God gave to his ancient people, the Jews, and which, we are told, were written on two tables of stone? I trust you do remember them, and some of you may have committed them to memory, so that if desired, you could repeat them. But I want to ask you, if you remember which of the ten commandments is said to be the "first commandment with promise?" If you do not remember I will tell you; it is the fifth commandment. But it was the first one on the second table, and it has a special promise annexed to it. St. Paul has quoted it, as you may read in the sixth chapter of his Epistle to the Ephesians, first three verses, where he says: "Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honour thy father and mother, (which is the first commandment with promise,) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."

This command, especially, little children, you should never forget, and never violate. Duty, interest, and gratitude, all unite to bind its observance upon you, and to urge you to its constant fulfilment. Your parents love you exceedingly; and they undergo many labours and hardships, and are subjected to many cares, and to much anxiety on your account. If you are sick, or in any trouble or danger, they grieve and lament, and deprive themselves of rest for your sakes; they watch over you with the tenderest affection, and they earnestly desire and long for your happiness and prosperity. And shall their great kindness be disregarded, and unrewarded by their offspring, the children whom God hath given them? We hope not. Will you not rather love and honour them according to the command of your Maker, and your heavenly Father? Will you not endeavour to lighten their cares and their anxiety, and by your ready obedience, and your fond and grateful

attentions, fill their hearts with joy and gladness? If you are good children you certainly will; and this is what we truly hope of you.

To brothers and sisters, if you your have any, and to your schoolmates, and all with whom you associate, you should always show yourselves kind, affectionate, and obliging. You must not indulge angry feelings, nor evil wishes toward any one; nor speak bad words, nor be eager to tell of the faults of others, nor ever say what you know is not true, in order to conceal or excuse your own faults. Especially you should be careful never to mention the holy name of God lightly, in your amusements or play, for this is very wicked, and none but naughty children do so; and good children will not choose such for their associates, but will shun their company, because they are so wicked.

We hope, and all your teachers here hope, that all of you who attend this Sunday School to receive instruction, will be good children; that you will be diligent in your studies; increase in knowledge and understanding, and grow wiser and better every week and every day; because this is the way to be happy yourselves, and to be a comfort and joy to your parents and friends. And whether your lives shall be longer or shorter, it is the best way to prosperity, contentment, and usefulness.

When you go to the house or place of public worship, which we hope you are glad to do as often as you have opportunity, your should remember that "holiness becometh God's house for ever." You must not be whispering to those that sit near you, nor be looking round on the congregation; but be serious, and attentive to the services; unite silently in your hearts, in the prayers and praises that are offered up to our heavenly Father; and listen carefully to the word of God, as read and explained

by the minister; that you may be instructed and edified.

When at home, especially on Sundays, you should often read the Bible, and such other good books as will tend to store your minds with useful knowledge; and you should often pray earnestly to God to give you grace, that you may know and do his holy will, and may glorify him in your bodies, and in your spirits which are his. You should constantly remember that God is always present with you, wherever you are, and whatever you do. The apostle says of God, that "He is not far from every one of us for in him we live, and move, and have our being-and we are also his offspring." You should therefore delight to think upon God as your great and good Creator, and your heavenly Father; who continually watches over you in love and tender compassion, who is the giver of all the good things you enjoy in this world: who is now, and always will be, your greatest and best Friend: who so loved you and all the human race, that he gave his only begotten Son, the chosen Messiah, to suffer and die for them, and who also raised him from the dead, that through him we might all be saved from sin, raised from the grave, and be made holy and happy for ever in another world. Thus the Scriptures say: "The

Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world:" "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved."

Little children, I fear I shall detain you too long, in talking to you at this time; but I wish to repeat to you one more passage of Scripture, and I want you to read it often yourselves, and meditate upon it. It is in the 1st Epistle of John, 4th chapter, from the 7th to the 12th verse. They are the words of the beloved apostle St. John: the disciple of

whom it is said that, at supper, he leaned on the breast of Jesus; and he was called "the disciple whom Jesus loved." He says in the place I have mentioned, "Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one' that loveth, is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for GOD IS LOVE." In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved,

if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."

What excellent advice is here given by this beloved disciple, and how happy would it be if all, both young and old would follow it. And then, only think what he states as the foundation of his advice and exhortation! It is the great love of our heavenly Father for us, and for all mankind, manifested in sending his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him; and he sums up the whole subject in a declaration which I hope you will always keep in mind as the most glorious truth that ever was uttered-GOD IS LOVE.

But, dear children, I must stop: yet before leaving you at this time, I will request you to unite with me, a few moments, in devout prayer and thanksgiving to our Almighty Creator, and most merciful Father in heaven. I shall begin with what is called the Lord's Prayer, [and I shall be glad if all present who have that prayer committed to memory, will repeat it audibly with me.*]

This is merely suggested.

Let us pray.

OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name: thy kingdom come: thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven: give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. AMEN.

Almighty and most merciful God; we adore thee as the author of our being, the preserver of our lives, and the giver of all the good things we enjoy. We thank and praise thee for all thy past favours, and for all our present enjoyments; and we hope in thee for our future existence and well-being, in time and eternity. We rejoice that we are the subjects of thy wise and gracious government, and the children of thy constant affection and care. Bless the Lord, O our souls, and all that is within us bless his holy name!

We pray, O Lord, that the children in this school may always be in thy holy keeping. May they be preserved from the evils that are in the world, and from the many dangers to which they are exposed; and as they love life, and desire to see good days, may they, as thy word directs, refrain their tongues from evil, and their lips that they speak no guile: may they eschew evil, and do good; may they seek peace and ensue it. May they always remember that the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears open unto their prayers; but that the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. May they, therefore, sanctify the Lord God in their hearts; so that, as they advance in age, and in knowledge, they may be ready always to give an answer to every one that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them, with meekness and fear.