the name of zeal. He who does thus becomes established in God, and immoveable as Mount Zion.

Our trust, with regard to our salvation, ought to be still more elevated and strong. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. When I thought I could do all, I could do nothing; but now that I seem weak, I begin to gain strength. Blessed impotence, which causes me to find in thee, O my God, all that is wanting in myself! I glory in my infirmities, and in the evils of life, since they set in a true light the whole world and myself. I ought to esteem myself happy to be cast down by so merciful a hand, since it is by being thus overthrown that I shall be clad with thy strength, hidden under thy wings, and surrounded by that special protection thou extendest to thy humble children, who expect nothing but from thee.

Fenelon's Meditations.

PEOPLE rejoice, like sick men who rave, or like those who are amused with pleasant dreams. The cause of their mirth has nothing solid in it, they are attached to a vain picture, an empty image, a shadow that flies from them, a figure that passes away. They would not rejoice, but because they deceive themselves, they think they possess a great deal, when in reality they possess nothing; when death awakens them, they will find their hands empty, and be ashamed of their mirth. Woe unto those, who in this world enjoy a false consolation, which robs them of the true. Let us always say to the vain and empty mirth which this world in

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spires,-what doth it? Why dost thou so grossly deceive me? Nothing but our blessed hope is worthy to inspire us with joy. All that is not founded on this, is madness.

Whosoever drinketh of this water, shall thirst again. The more we drink of the corrupted waters of this world, the more we are athirst; the more we plunge ourselves into what is bad, the more do uneasy desires spring up in our hearts; the possession of riches only increases our thirst for them,-avarice and ambition are more discontented about what they have not, than they are satisfied with what they already possess. The enjoyment of pleasures enervate the soul, they corrupt it, and render it insatiable; the more we are diverted, the more we would be so; it is easier to preserve our hearts in a state of fervour and penitence, than to bring them back or restrain them, when they have once got a bias towards pleasure and diversion. Let us then be watchful over ourselves,-let us avoid drinking a water that will increase our thirst,-let us diligently guard our hearts, lest the world should seduce them with its vain consolations, and leave them in the end, nothing but the despair of being deceived.

Fenelon's Meditations.

God knows how to adapt instruction to the human mind, we must imitate his example, and we must present heaven to our children, as God has presented it to us, crowded with images of delight. The purest and noblest joys we experience on earth, will be found again

in that world, only infinitely elevated and refined, and he must adopt singular principles of interpretation, who does not read in the Bible, that in heaven we shall find splendour of scenery, harmony of music, congeniality of companions, ardour of love, delight of active motion, mansions of glory, and homes of never-failing bliss. Let us urge these views upon our children, till their hearts are warmed by them; nothing can have a stronger tendency to convince them of the folly of laying up treasures on earth, and this will lead them to listen with interest, to learn how salvation is to be obtained. Dwell particularly on the Saviour; the scriptures declare, that the preaching of Christ crucified is the power of God unto salvation, convincing of sin, and leading to penitence and gratitude; and the history of the church in all ages has shown, that the history of a Saviour's love and death will awaken contrition, and melt the heart, when all other appeals are in vain. Your child will listen with tearful eye, while you tel of the Saviour's elevation to heaven, of his becoming man, of the sufferings and persecutions of his life, and of his cruel death upon the cross; and when you tell your child that it was God who thus became manifest in the flesh, and suffered these indignities, that he might redeem his sinful creatures from woe, you will convey to the tender mind such an idea of God's kindness, and the ingratitude of sinners, as nothing else can produce. The philosopher may admire the noble conception of the eternal, incomprehensible, invisible Spirit, but it is God, as manifested in the compassionate,

gentle, and suffering Saviour, who attracts the sympathies of the heart. A definite idea is introduced to the youthful mind, when you speak of him who took little children in his arms and blessed them; every Christian can judge from the effect produced upon his own heart, by the recital of a Saviour's love, of the tendency it has to awaken in the bosom of a child the deepest emotions of contrition and gratitude. It is very observable in all the accounts of youthful piety, that the Saviour is the prominent object of affection.

Mother at Home.

HYMN.

LORD, hear my prayer, though I am young,

Thou listens to an infant's tongue!

And Jesus said when he was here,

That little children might draw near.

I know not what I ought to say,

But all who love thee, love to pray; And I would love thee, Lord, for I

Have heard how Jesus came to die.

Though now he reigns in heaven above,
Yet all who serve him, he will love ;
Then take away each wicked thought,
That I may serve thee as I ought.

And when thou hast each sin forgiven,
And made my spirit fit for heaven,

Oh, take me to that happy place,

That I may see my Saviour's face.

Then hear my prayer, though I am young,
Thou listens to an infant's tongue ;
And Jesus said, when he was here,
That little children might draw near.

LORD, WHAT WILT THOU HAVE ME TO DO?

THIS was what St. Paul said, when he was miraculously cast down, and converted by the grace of that Saviour whom he persecuted. Alas! how many of us have persecuted him by our infidelities, our humours, and our passions, which have disturbed the work of his mercy in our hearts. In the end he has cast us down by tribulation, he has crushed our pride, confounded our worldly wisdom, and dismayed our self-love; let us say to him, with perfect acquiescence, Lord, what wouldst thou have me to do? hitherto I have but imperfectly turned to thee; I have a thousand times delayed, and endeavoured to save and carry off as much as possible of the wreck of my conversion; but now I am ready for everything thou commandest, and thou shalt be the absolute master of my heart and conduct.

It is not sufficient that this offer should be in general: to make it in a vague and uncertain manner, would be doing nothing, we must descend to particulars and actual performance. We have a long while, says St. Austin, dragged on a vague and languishing will for what is good; the mere desire of being perfect