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But to school I've been before,
And that's of all the greatest bore."
"And, George, is this the gratitude
Which you to those kind friends award?
Who give their time and money too,
To benefit both me and you;

Who Sabbath after Sabbath come

To school, and leave their friends and home,
To teach us how to read God's word,
That we may be both wise and good."

"Now George, I hope you'll change your mind;
And since you were so very kind
In asking me to walk with you,
But which you see I shall not do,
Pray come with me, and you will find,
For reasons which I have assign'd,
That you will spend this blessed day
Far better than in sinful play."

"Nay, John, and that I'll not, I'm sure,
I've had enough of school before;
If that's your aim, then off I go,
And leave you and your schooling too,
To seek another, who will be
To me far better company;

Who will not mind about the day,
If they have any time to play."

They parted thus, each went his way,
John went to school, George went to play,
John to seek knowledge and be wise,
While George true wisdom does despise;
John loves his book, and often reads;
George in the path of sin he treads :
Each does a different way pursue,
T'obtain the things they have in view.

W. S.

THE SUNDAY SCHOLARS'

MAGAZINE.

JULY, 1845.

THE GIVING OF THE LAW.

As the Israelites journeyed from Egypt to the Land of Canaan, they came to a large mountain that had two peaks; the name of one was Horeb, and that of the other Sinai: and they set up their camp before this mountain. The thick cloud from which God had spoken rested on the top of it; and God called Moses up to converse with him. This was a great honour, and it is one which God gives to all his servants; for all may speak to him, when they please, by prayer.

And now, at this solemn moment, God gave his holy law unto the people. "He spake to them all these words; I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." When a master or a parent speaks, how carefully we ought to hear; and how much more so when God himself deigns to speak to us; and how ought we to lay up his words in our memory.

God told the people, that he was Jehovah, the only living and true God, the Creator of all things; and that, therefore, he had a right to command them what they should do, and what they should avoid. He also said, that he was "their God.". VOL. XXI.

H

All will be well, and for ever well, with those who have God for their God. And if we look up to him in prayer, and ask him, for Christ's sake, to be

[graphic]

our God, he will be sure to hear us. And then we shall be more rich than a man who could say of a great mountain of gold, It is mine! For He would be our friend, who made all the gold and silver in the world, and even the world itself!

God said, that he had brought them "out of the hand of Egypt," a land full of idols, and wickedness; and out "of the house of bondage." He had suffered them to be tried, to humble them, to bring them to call upon him, to make them willing to leave Egypt; and to display his power and glory to the nations as their God. Troubles do not "come by chance, or spring out of the ground,”

To live in sin is to live in the house of bondage. Sin rules as a dreadful task-master, over the body and soul. And his servants we are whom we obey. The slaves of sin are the worst of slaves; for all who serve sin and Satan now will be wretched both in this world, and in that which is to come, and that too for ever. But the servants of the Lord are all brought by his grace and spirit out of “the house of bondage." "Being made free from sin, they have their fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." Rom, vi, 22.

WAR AT SCHOOL;

OR, "HE HIT ME FIRST.

THIS is an

No. II.

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and wicked boys to their teachers, when asked the evasive answer often given by rude cause of disturbances which frequently occur amongst them. In discharging his duties, the teacher has often to act as umpire in matters of dispute among his scholars; but how often does it puzzle his ingenuity to find out the real aggressor. Turning to the one, he interrogates him on the

subject, and the only answer he can elicit is, "He hit me first:" then questioning the other, he meets with the similar reply, "It was he that began first." These opposite statements, as the reader may have witnessed, produce a spirit of contradiction and falsehood, which is often carried on between the parties until they are compelled to desist. Now, whichever of the two may be most culpable, they are doubtless both in fault; the one for giving rise to the offence, and the other for carrying it on. When matters of dispute arise between scholars, they should either entirely overlook them or communicate the circumstance to their teacher, who is always more capable to decide on the course that should be pursued than they. Where the case is not an exceedingly bad one it should not be noticed by the scholar; and, indeed, where it is a bad one, it should always be forgiven and forgotten, because God has commanded children, saying, "Love your enemies." And Jesus Christ has said, "If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses," which, though you may be very young, are both numerous and grievous. There are many boys, however, who will not obey this command, but will be governed by their own evil inclinations; and notwithstanding the kind interference and counsel of their friends, they gratify their revengeful feelings by retaliating upon the boy who has offended them. This is very wicked and disgraceful conduct for any child, but especially for children educated in a Sabbath school, who are continually reading about the loving and forgiving Jesus, who are continu

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