that can be rendered them, is administered by His wise provision through your hand; and in the same way He ordains your duty to administer what He supplies to you for their souls. They need the tenderest care, watchfulness, dili. gence; they want the daily bread for the soul, and the cultivation of a spiritual mind, as well as the charges, and restraints, and reproofs, and counsels of authority; and it is essentially necessary that it be in the Lord. Let them know, and see, and hear, whence you derive all you give; that all is from and of the Lord, and their confidence, and dependence, and obedience will more readily follow.

But I fear to weary you with what must appear rather a formal lecture; excuse me if my earnestness has led me to trespass on your patience.

Oh, do not apologize, said Mrs. Aston; my heart is too much bent on the subject to be soon tired.

We will, if you please, change the scene a little by joining our young friends.

They all rose to accompany me, and we were soon in the midst of the interesting circle. We found them listening with much attention to the details my sister's children and Mary were giving, of the various incidents which they had witnessed since their last meeting.

13

CHAPTER XI.

You look so happy, and so well engaged, my young friends, that I almost fear to be felt an intruder.

O no; Louisa has been giving us most interesting accounts; but we should not have felt them so, perhaps, if we had not had your instruction before, and we shall all be quite happy if you will do the same again.

I was pleased to find this remark proceeding with some animation from the boy who had expressed so much surprise at my invitation.

Henry, I am glad to hear you feel an interest in the subject: then you can think these parties for religious instruction are capable of giving pleasure?

I do, indeed; but we are all quite anxious to see old Thomas, for Louisa has described him so interestingly, that I wish we might be permitted to have him in the room.

Charles came to me with quickness, and receiving my directions, went out to bring him in. In the mean time I asked George if he knew any Scripture that would teach the young people how to receive the old man?

Yes, uncle; I know what you mean, "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor

the face of the old man, and fear thy God." Lev. xix. 32.

Thank you, George; this reverence for the old man, remember, is a part of the duty of the fifth commandment; and it is remarkable how the Lord strengthens the command by adding, and "fear thy God," reminding us that it is one testimony of our regard to His word. And if you show him this token of respect, let me enjoin you to do it with attention, and quietly, for fear of agitating the old man, who has not been used to such a party.

If you please, uncle, said Louisa, as I hear him near, we will rise in readiness that he may be less discomposed?

Do so, my dear girl. She rose, and they all followed her example, every eye being turned to the door to see him enter.

Fearful it might alarm him to have the view of them all at once, I placed myself so to receive him as to intercept the sight of half the room, and placed him in a chair near the entrance, which was ready for him.

My fears were, however, groundless; for except the palsied motion of his limbs, he was calm and unmoved, looking round him with the benignity of an aged saint, engaged in desiring blessings for the dear young people. Jane kept close beside him, rather frightened; but I made her easy, by reminding her of her duty to take charge of her grandfather. And when old Thomas was comfortably seated, the whole party was soon settled.

I immediately began conversation, to prevent any awkward embarrassment arising, and said, We welcome you, Thomas, as a pilgrim on the way to heaven, an example we would desire to follow.

Sir, he answered, it has been of special mercy that I cannot say, as old Jacob said, "Few and evil have been the days of my pilgrimage," I have had so many blessings granted to me; but still, if the way through this world was not the pathway to the kingdom of God and His dear Son, I should think it a dreary way.

Yes, Thomas; sin is a burden, and a corruptible body is a clog to the soul.

Ah, Sir, but we shall put off corruption, and there shall be no more sin.

Then, turning to my young friends, I said,I think our last conversation ran chiefly upon the Love of God, which rendered his commandments sweet to the soul, and made the duty of honoring father and mother a privilege in the Lord.

We also spoke a little on the distinction between a condition and a promise; I think, therefore, this evening we will follow the doctrine of Love, with that of the Promise, two things combined, which we might almost say in David's language, are "as honey and the honeycomb." George, will you repeat the text in Eph. vi. 1, 2.

"Honor thy father and thy mother, which is the first commandment with promise."

Now I wish you may be able, my young friends, to place before us as many texts as you

can recollect, which bear upon this subject, connected with a promise or encouragement.

There was a pause of a minute or more, some being totally unable, from their ignorance of the word of God, and others backward from modesty or bashfulness.

I looked to Louisa, and she said,

Col. iii. 20, "Children, obey your parents in all things: this is well-pleasing unto the Lord." Then Charles said, The principal promise is that which is connected with the commandment, "Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."

Prov. i. 8, 9, "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother; for they shall be as ornaments of grace upon thine head, and chains about thy neck."

When Louisa had repeated this text, I looked to Anna, and said, See, my dear Anna, what a way this is to attain ornaments and chains, "The instruction of thy father, and the law of thy mother."

Do you remember the text to the same point in Prov. vi. 20-22?

Charles, after a moment's recollection, said, "My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother; bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck when thou goest it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest it shall talk with thee."