same city with the highest expectation of connubial felicity, I have lived unmarried; and with unalterable resolutions of contemplative retirement, I am going to die within the walls of Bagdad.”

The Supreme Ruler of the World.

1. MANY kingdoms and countries full of people, and islands, and large continents, and different climes, make up this whole world: God governs it. The people swarm upon the face of it, like ants upon a hillock. Some are black with the hot sun; some cover themselves with furs against the sharp cold; some drink of the fruit of the vine; some the pleasant milk of the cocoa-nut; and others quench their thirst with the running stream. All are God's family: he knows every one of them, as a shepherd knows his flock. They pray to him in different languages, but he understands them all; he hears them all: he takes care of all: none are so great, that he cannot punish them; none are so mean, that he will not protect them.

2. Negro woman, who sittest pining in captivity, and weepest over thy sick child; though no one sees thee, God sees thee; though no one pities thee, God pities thee. Raise thy voice, forlorn and abandoned one: call upon him from amidst thy bonds; for assuredly he will hear thee. Monarch, that rulest over a hundred states; whose frown is terrible as death, and whose armies cover the land, boast not thyself as though there were none above thee. God is above thee; his powerful arm is always over thee; and if thou dōest ill, assuredly he will punish thee.

3. Nations of the earth, fear the Lord; families of men, call upon the name of your God. Is there any one whom he hath not blessed? Let him not praise him.

Abraham and Lot.

1. DOMESTIC altercations began to perplex families in the very childhood of time; the blood even of a brother was shed at an early period. But with how much tenderness and good sense does Abraham prevent the disagreement which had nearly arisen, as is but too frequently the case, from the quarrels of servants! He said unto Lot," I pray thee, let there be no strife betwixt me and thee, nor between my herdmen and thine. And why? For the tenderest reason that can be; because we are brethren."

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2. The very image of the patriarch in the attitude of entreaty, the fraternal tear just starting from his eye, is this moment before me; and thus, methinks, I catch instruction from the lip of the venerable man as he addresses Lot. Away, my dear brother, away with strife: we were born to be the servants of God, and the companions of each other. as we sprang from the same parents, so we naturally partake of the same affections. We are brethren, sons of the same father; we are friends: for surely kindredship should be the most exalted friendship. Let us not then disagree, because our herdmen have disagreed; since that were to encourage every idle pique, and senseless animosity. Great, indeed, has been our success since our migration into this fair country; we have much substance, and much cattle.

3. "But what! shall brothers quarrel, because it has pleased heaven to prosper them? This would be ingratitude, impiety! But if, notwithstanding these persuasives, thy spirit is still troubled, let us separate: rather than contend with a brother, I would, hard as it is, even part with him for a time. Perhaps the occasion of dispute (which I have already forgotten) will soon be no more remembered by thee. Is not the whole land before thee? Take then my blessing and my embrace, and separate thyself from me. To thee

is submitted the advantage of choice. If thou wilt take the jeft hand, then, that I may not appear to thwart thee unbrotherly, I will take the right; or, if thou art more inclined to the country which lies upon the right, then will I go the left. Be it as thou wilt, and whithersoever thou goest, happy mayest thou be!”

4. Lot listened to his brother, and departed. He cast his eyes on the well watered plains of Jordan. When he separated, it appears to have been with the hope of increasing his wealth; whilst Abraham, actuated by the kindest motives, often, no doubt, pressed his brother's hand, and often bade him adieu; and even followed him to repeat his farewell wishes before he could suffer him to depart.

A Persecuting Spirit Reproved.

1. ARAM was sitting at the door of his tent, under the shade of his fig-tree, when it came to pass, that a man, advanced in years, bearing a staff in his hand, journeyed that way. And it was noonday. And Aram said unto the stranger,

"Pass not by, I pray thee, but come in and wash thy feet, and tarry here until the evening, for thou art gray with years, and the heat overcometh thee " And the stranger left his staff at the door, and entered into the tent of Aram. And he rested himself; and Aram set before him bread and cakes of fine meal baked upon the hearth. And Aram blessed the bread, calling upon the name of the Lord. But the stranger did eat, and refused to pray unto the Most High, saying, "Thy Lord is not the God of my fathers; why, therefore, should I present my vows unto him?" And Aram's wrath was kindled; and he called his servants, and they beat the stranger, and drove him into the wilderness.

2. Now, in the evening, Aram lifted up his voice unto the Lord, and prayed unto him. And the Lord said, “Aram, where is the stranger that sojourned this day with thee?" And Aram answered, and said, "Behold, O Lord! he eat of thy bread, and would not offer unto thee his prayers and thanksgivings. Therefore did I chastise him, and drive him from before me into the wilderness." And the Lord said unto Aram, "Who hath made thee a judge between me and him? Have I not borne with thine iniquities, and winked at thy backslidings? and shalt thou be severe with thy bro ther, to mark his errors, and to punish his perverseness Arise, and follow the stranger, and carry with thee oil and wine, and anoint his bruises, and speak kindly unto him. For I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, and judgement belongeth only unto me. Vain is thine oblation of thanksgiving without a lowly heart.

3. As a bulrush thou mayest bow down thy head, and lift up thy voice like a trumpet; but thou obeyest not the ordinance of thy God, if thy worship be for strife and debate. Behold the sacrifice that I have chosen; is it not to undo the heavy burdens; to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke; to deal thy bread to the hungry, and to bring the poor, that are cast out, to thy house?" And Aram trembled before the presence of God. And he arose, and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the wilderness, to do as the Lord had commanded.

Sisterly Unity and Love.

1. "OBSERVE those two hounds that are coupled toge ther," said Euphronius to Lucia and Emilia, who were look

ing through the window. "How they torment each other by a disagreement in their pursuits! One is for moving slowly, and the other vainly urges onward. The larger dog now sees some object that tempts him on this side; and mark how he drags his companion along, who is exerting all his efforts to pursue a different route! Thus they will continue all day at variance, pulling each other in opposite directions, when they might, by kind and mutual compliances, pass on easily, merrily, and happily.

2. Lucy and Emilia concurred in censuring the folly and ill nature of these dogs; and Euphronius expressed a tender wish, that he might never see any thing similar in their behaviour. "Nature," said he, " has linked you together by the near equality of age; by your common relation to the most indulgent parents; by the endearing ties of sisterhood; and by all those generous sympathies which have been fostered in your bosoms, from the earliest infancy. Let these silken cords of mutual love continue to unite you in the same pursuits. Suffer no allurements to draw you different ways; no contradictory passions to distract your friendship; no any selfish views, or sordid jealousies, to render those bonds uneasy and oppressive, which are now your ornament, your strength, and your happiness.

Ibrahim the Hermit and a Youth.

1. THE sun had sunk behind the adjacent mountains, and the sage Ibrahim was retiring to rest, when a knocking at the door of his hermitage drew him thither; he opened it. and there stood before him a youth, whose care-marked visage bespoke him to be the child of grief. "Sire," said the youth, permit a stranger to pass the night beneath your friendly roof, till the returning morn enables him to pursue his way with safety." The hermit bid him welcome to his cot, and spread his homely board before him. Roots supplied the place of costly viands, and water from a neighbouring spring, the place of blood-inflaming wine. The sigh, the starting tear, and all the behaviour of his guest,, filled the sage with emotions of compassion; and desiring, if possible, to alleviate the pains of the stranger, he thus addressed him :

2. "In a face so young, in a breast so untutored in the world's cares, it seems to me a wonder that sorrow is a guest and might it not be thought a bold intrusion, I would kno

the spring of these your cares: perhaps you mourn the pangs of disappointed love, the loss of some dear friend, or earthly joy. Say, if your grief be of the common course, perhaps my riper years may speak the wished-for comfort.' Sire," said the youth," your kind intentions demand at once my thanks and my compliance.

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3. "My father was a merchant; in point of wealth, Bagdad held not his equal; early he left me to possess his fortune: the loss of my father was soon forgotten amidst the riches, flatteries, and friends, which then surrounded me: but when reflection took place, happiness became my desire, and I vainly thought that to be rich was to be happy. I enlarged my merchandise, I traded to all parts of the globe, and not a wind blew into port, but that it brought an increase to my store; but yet I was not happy; my desires increased with my possession, and I was yet miserable.

4. "I then determined to apply to honour, and there seek the happiness which riches would not afford me. I sold off 35. my wares, and by dint of friends and wealth, I soon obtained a commission, and, on several occasions, gave proofs of my ralour, till I was sent by the sovereign to oppose a rebellion that had broken out in a distant province. I went, was successful, and returned in triumph, laden with honours; and So much was the Sultan prepossessed in my favour, that he offered me his daughter in marriage.

5. "Awhile I thought myself happy; but the envy of some, and the artifice of others, soon convinced me of my error. I now resolved to quit public life, and seek in pleasure the happiness hitherto unknown. My palace now became the scene of continued delights; the richest viands were daily on my table, the most costly liquors sparkled in my bowl, and the beauties of all nations adorned my habitation; in short, my life was a continued round of pleasure. But, alas! frequent excesses impaired my health, and the diversions of the night imbittered the reflections of the morning.

6. "I was now determined to quit my home, and seek in solitude and retirement that happiness I had hitherto sought n vain, and which I am at times inclined to believe is no iore than an object of created fancy. For this purpose, I onsigned to the care of a friend all my possessions, and vas on the search after a proper place of retirement, when