the performance. It is not, like the practice of many other virtues, difficult and painful, but attended with so much pleasure | that were there no positive command I which enjoined it, nor any recompense laid up for it hereafter, a generous mind would indúlge in it, for the natural gratification it affords.

If gratitude is due from man to man, how much more from man to his Maker! The Supreme Being does not only confer upon us those bounties which proceed more immediately from his hand, but even those benefits which are conveyed to us by others. Every blessing we enjoy, by what means soever it may be derived upon us, is the gift of him who is the great Author of good, and the Father of mercies.

If gratitude, when exerted towards one another, naturally produces a very pleasing sensation in the mind of a grateful mán, it exalts the soul into ràpture, when it is employed on this great object of gratitude: on this beneficent Being, who has given us every thing we already possess, and from whom we expect every thing we yet hope for.

3. CHARITY.-Hugh Blair. B. 1718, d. 1800.

True charity attempts not to shut our eyes to the distinction between good and bad men; nor to warm our hearts équally to those who befriend, and to those who injure us. It reserves our esteem for good mén, and our complacency for our friends. Towards our enemies it inspires forgiveness, humánity, and a solicitude for their welfare. It breathes universal candor, and liberálity of sentiment. It forms gen

tleness of témper, and dictates affability of manners. It prompts corresponding sympathies with them who rejoice, and them who weep. It teaches us to slight and despise nò man. Charity is the comforter of the afflicted, the protector of the oppressed, the reconciler of differences, the intercessor for offenders. It is faithfulness in the friend, public spírit in the mágistrate, equity and patience in the judge, moderation in the sovereign, and loyalty in the subject. In parents, it is care and attention; in children, it is rèverence and submission. In a word, it is the soul of social life. It is the sun that enlivens and chéers the abodes of men. It is "like the dew of Hermon," says the Psalmist, "and the dew that descended on the mountains of Zion, where the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."

4. THE GOOD GREAT MAN.-Coleridge. B. 1770, d. 1834. "How seldom, friend, a good great man inherits | I Honor and wealth, with all his worth and pains! It seems a story from the world of spirits |

When any man obtains | that which he merits,
Or any mérits that which he obtains."
I

For shame, my friend !-renounce this idle strain! What would'st thou have a good great man obtain ? Wealth, title, dignity, a golden chain,

Or heap of córses which his sword hath slaín ?

Goodness and greatness are not meáns, but ènds.

Hath he not always treasures, always ' frìends,

The good great man? Three treasures,-love, and light,

And calm thoughts, èquable as infant's breath;

And three fast friends, mòre sure than day or

night,

Himself, his Maker, and the Angel Death.

5. LAD AND HIS NEIGHBOR.

"I had," said William Lad, the apostle of peace, "a fine field of grain, growing upon an out-farm, at some distance from the homestead. Whenever I rode by I saw my neighbor Pulcifer's sheep in the lot, destroying my hopes of a harvest. These sheep were of the gaunt, long-legged kind, active as spaniels; they would spring over the highest fence, and no partition wall could keep them out. I I complained to neighbor Pulcifer about thém, sent him frequent méssages, but all without avail. Perhaps they would be kept out for a day or twó; but the legs of his sheep were long, and my grain more tempting than the adjoining pasture. I rode by again-the sheep were still there; I became angry, and told my men to set the dogs on them; and, if that would not do, I would pay them if they would shoot the sheep.

I rode away much agitated; for I was not so much of a peace man then as I am now, and I felt literally full of fight. All at once a light flashed in upon me. I asked myself, 'Would it not be well for you to try in your own conduct the peace principle you are teaching to others?' I thought it allóver, and settled down in my mind as to the best course to be pursued. The next day I rode over to see neighbor Pulcifer. I found him chopping wood at his door.

Good mòrn

'Good morning, neighbor!' No answer. ing! I repeated. He gave a kind of grunt without looking up. I came,' continued I, 'to see about the sheep.' At this, he threw down his axe and exclaimed, in an angry manner: Now aren't you a pretty neighbor, to tell your men to kill my sheep? I heard I of it; a rích màn, like you, to shoot ' a poor mán's sheep!'

"I was wrong, neighbor,' said I; but it won't do I to let your sheep eat up all that gràin; so I came over to say that I would take your sheep to my homestead pasture and put them in with mìne; and in the fall you shall take them back, and if any one is missing you may take your pick out of my whole flock.'

"Pulcifer looked confounded; he did not know how to take me. At last he stammered oút: 'Now, 'Squire, are you in earnest ?' 'Certainly I am,' I answered; 'it is better for me to feed your sheep in my pasture I on gráss, than to feed them here on gràin; and I see the fence can't keep them out.'

"After a moment's silence, 'The sheep shan't trouble you any more,' exclaimed Pulcifer. 1 'I will fètter them all. But I'll let you know that, when any man talks of shooting, I can shoot, too; and when they are kind and neighborly | I ' can be kind too.'

"The sheep never again trespassed on my lot. And, my friends, he would continue, addressing the audience, remember that when you talk of injuring your neighbors, they will talk of injuring you. When nations threaten to fight, òther nations will be ready, too.

Love will bèget love; a wish to be at peace will keep you in peace. You can overcome evil with good. There is no other way."

6. MERCY.-Shakspeare. B. 1564, d. 1616.

The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven |
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed;
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes :
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes |
The throned monarch better than his crown:
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway,

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

And earthly power doth then show likest God's,
When mercy seasons justice.

LESSON XXX.

1. CLEARNESS.

Mr. Jones says of Henchcliffe, bishop of Peterborough, that in the pulpit he spoke with the accent of a man of sense, such as he really was, in a superior degree; but it was remarkable, and, to those who did not know the cause, mysterious, that there was not a corner of the church in which he could not be heard distinctly. The reason which Mr. Jones assigned was, that he made it an invariable rule to do justice to every