bond of iniquity. Guide us, indulgent Father, that we may be directed in the paths of peace; feed us with the bread of heaven, that we may have everlasting life; give us the waters of salvation, that we may thirst no more; inspire us with hope, that we may have comfort in the day of trial, and be sustained in the hour of death.

Preserve our children from the deceptions of earth, and may they never fall into its snares, or be so deceived as to suppose that happiness is found in the ways of sin.

O God, give us the dews of thy grace, and satisfy us with thy mercy; and unto thee shall be given all the praise. Amen.

THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST.

REFLECTIONS adapted to 1 Peter ii. Heb. v. Philip. ii.-The Lord Jesus is styled in the Scriptures, the light of the world. And this is true of him in two senses. He is the light of the world by the instructions he gave and the examples he set. His doctrines are vastly superior to all others ever taught. They are a perfect revelation of God, his plan of grace, and the destiny of mankind. Thus Jesus is the light of the world. But it is not enough to have a correct teacher. The Gospel must be exemplified practically, or man would not be able to understand, fully, its principles, or the virtues which it requires. Jesus, therefore, came, that he might exemplify in his life the religion of God, and be an example to man in all things. His moral character was perfect; he was the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of his person; no sin stained his character; no wrong tarnished his glory He returned love for hatred, kindness for cruelty, blessing for cursing. He loved his ene

mies, and was good to the evil and unthankful. He manifested no vindictive spirit; not an angry curse dropped from his lips. He prayed even for his murderers. How different was his course from that pursued by man. How common are the denunciations of wrath! How frequently is the brow clouded with anger! How many go about defaming and wronging their neighbors! But the Saviour performed no such acts. He con

demned these things, and told his followers to seek a redress of wrongs in a spirit of love and mercy. When reviled, he reviled not again; when persecuted, he threatened not.

Again; Jesus went about doing good. He sought to be useful to the rich and poor, the learned and ignorant, the healthy and sick. What an example is here! How many are the ways in which we can do good! We can feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the afflicted, comfort the dejected, warn the careless, counsel the young, and reclaim the wandering. But, alas! how little have we of the Master's spirit.

Again; Jesus was humble. Though he was the Son of God, and clothed with all power, and had at his control all the elements of nature, he took the condition of the poorest and humblest; he mingled with those despised by the rich, and oppressed by tyrants. What a lesson is here for the proud and haughty. How vain is the heart of man. He looks upon his wealth, and asks," Are not these the possessions which I control?" He passes the humble in cold scorn, and turns from the poor with haughty contempt! O, pride! how canst thou blind the mind of man! He that humbleth himself shall be exalted; and he that exalteth himself shall be abased.

Blessed Jesus! how pure is thy example! Enable us to follow thee, and imitate thy character.

When Jesus, our great Master, came
To teach us in his Father's name;
In every act, in every thought,

He lived the precepts which he taught.

PRAYER

ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, we adore thee as our Father, and the Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And most devoutly do we bless thy name, that when we were lost in sin, and had strayed far from thee, thou didst send him to suffer and die, that we might be redeemed, and made heirs of light and glory. Thanks to thy name for his gracious condescension; for his life of purity; for his untiring love; for his death of agony, and for his resurrection from the grave! O holy Father, we bless thee, that for us he endured injuries and sufferings, the scourge and the cross; and that though rich, for our sakes he became poor, that we, through his poverty, might become rich. O God, may we receive him as our kind and gentle Master; as our King, Shepherd and Teacher; as our most ready and effectual Helper; as our Light, our Defence, and our Guide to heaven. May his unbounded mercy encourage us to trust in thee; his great love, wherewith he loved us, when dead in sin, kindle a flame of love on the altar of our hearts; his triumphant death and resurrection inspire our souls with a hope which looks beyond this fleeting earth to the glories of heaven; his perfect example incite us to every good word and work. Infinite Father, give us, O give us the spirit of thy Son. May we be meek and humble and forgiving like him. May the same mind be in us which was in him. Give us his ardent love, his strong faith, his patience under wrongs, his willingness to suffer for the promotion of truth. May his unexhausted light spring forth into our souls, and scatter their darkness, that the brightness of

thy love may shine within us. O enable us to be like him in all his imitable perfections, and be his true and faithful followers. O let the gifts of

his spirit warm and animate our sluggish hearts, that we may rise above the corruptions that hold us to earth, and mount upward in soul, be inflamed with thy divine fire, and burn with holy zeal for the manifestation of thy glory. Teach us to move under the guidance of his grace, and repose in assured hope under the shadow of his wings. May we consecrate ourselves entirely to his service, and be changed from glory to glory by his perfect character.

O Father, may our beloved children be the followers of thy Son, ever admire his character, and seek to have his meek, loving and forgiving spirit.

Smile, O God, on all the means of grace, and may the time soon come when all shall acknowledge Jesus as their Master and Guide; and unto thy name shall be given all the praise. Amen.

THE EVIL OF SIN.

REFLECTIONS adapted to Rom. iii. Prov. i. Prov. v. The Bible speaks of various kinds of sin. They may, however, be divided into three classes, viz., sins of the heart-sins of the tongue-sins of the body. Those of the heart are hatred, envy, jealousy, cruelty, and revenge. Those of the tongue are lying, slander, swearing and filthy communication. Those of the body are sensual in their nature.

The dreadful evil of sin may be seen by its effects upon the mind, heart, constitution, and society. How many among the most gifted of men, who might

have shone in the senate, at the bar, or in the pulpit; who had talents equal to the highest stations of honor and influence, have been destroyed by sin! How many, who have filled these stations, have been degraded from their high eminences, and prostrated to the very earth by sin! How many too, with hearts naturally kind and amiable, filled with the purest sentiments of humanity, have been so changed by sin, as to become heartless and vile! Upon the body sin works the same fearful changes; it paralyzes the vigorous, makes strong men the victims of disease, and hurries the young down to the grave of infamy! Its effect upon society is equally as great. It renders neighbors deceitful, treacherous and unjust; leads them to the commission of acts of violence and oppression; involves them in contentions and litigations, and converts a peaceful town into a scene of perpetual strife and disorder!

Thus sin is an evil greater than poverty; for with poverty there may be happiness; but with sin there is misery only. It is an evil greater than the loss of friends; for to the mourner there is the consolation arising from the hope of a reunion in heaven.

There is then no father or mother who would not say, "Send upon my children poverty, sickness, and the calamities of life, rather than sin. Only let them be virtuous, let them love and serve God, and I can bow in submission to all other trials which they may be appointed to bear." How indescribably wretched must be those, called to see their children the degraded victims of sin. How bitter, too, is the portion of those wives, who, unprovided for by profligate husbands, are left, with their helpless offspring, to perish with cold and hunger, or to go forth and beg of an unfeeling world. And how wretched are all those in whose hearts rankle vile passions, and who are bound by those passions to the pursuit of all that is degrading and ruinous.

Look abroad upon the earth, and see the war and desolation caused by sin! How many millions have