4. INQUISITIVENESS.

The inordinate desire which some children have to pry into everything they see, and to listen to everything they hear, if not checked, makes them eventually SPIES-who are proverbially the meanest, most treacherous, and the basest of mankind, and are universally despised and shunned, as if they were the wretched objects of a loathsome disorder.

Be very careful not to incur even the suspicion of such an ignominious habit as that of prowling about the house, with the stealthy step of the cat, watching, with feline cunning, and greedy eyes and ears, for an opportunity to pounce upon any delicious morsel of forbidden information which can, by any means, be ferreted up to appease the cravings of this depraved appetite.

5.-OF PROFANING THE SABBATH.

Sabbath-breaking is another sin to which children are too prone. The fourth commandment is, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." But how contrary to this is the practice of many children, as well as older persons! O, then, be careful not to play

upon the Lord's day! My young readers, spend the whole of this sacred day as the Scriptures

teach you.

The famous judge, Sir Matthew Hale, in a letter to his children, gives them directions for the sanctification of the Lord's day, in which he says, "That he often found that the due observation of the duties of this day had ever joined to it a blessing on the rest of his time, and that the week so begun was blessed and prosperous to him: but if, on the other hand, he had been negligent in the duties of that day, the rest of the week was unfortunate. So that he could easily make an estimate of his successes by his manner of passing it. And this," says he, "I do not write lightly or inconsiderately, but upon sound observation and long experience."

A late writer tells us, that a friend of his, observing a woman exposing fruit for sale on the Lord's day, advised her to give up that practice, attend public worship, and serve God on His day. The woman replied, that she took more money on that day than on any other day of the week, and that she could not live if she did not do so. To which he replied," If you

leave off this practice, and keep the Sabbath day holy, by attending public worship, and, when you go home, employing the time in reading the Scriptures, praying to God, and praising Him for his mercies, He will send a blessing on your labours of the six days of the week, which you cannot expect so long as you make a marketday of His sabbath." The woman complied with his advice, and some time afterwards thanked him for it, saying, "she found his words true; for, ever since she kept the Sabbath day, she sold more on Mondays and Tuesdays than she used to do during the whole week formerly." But greater good than temporal blessings are promised, and shall be obtained by keeping this day holy — namely, spiritual and eternal blessings.

6. OF STEALING.

This is a heinous sin, to which some children are viciously inclined, although it is forbidden in the eighth commandment, which is, "Thou shalt not steal." To steal, is to take that which is another's without his consent. Oh, children! let me caution you against this wickedness. Steal not the value of a marble from any one.

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To steal from your parents or teachers is a still greater crime; a breach of confidence to those who love you being added to the guilt of theft.

7.-OF DISOBEDIENCE TO PARENTS

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Disobedience to parents is another great offence too common in children. Obedience to parents is expressly enjoined and required of children in the fifth commandment, which is, "Honour thy father and thy mother." But, alas! how many children violate this great commandment. Disobedience to parents is so wicked a sin, that it is put into that black catalogue, Rom. i. 29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, covenant breakers, without natural affection. implacable, unmerciful. " Many criminals who have been put to death, either by the laws of their own country, or those of that in which they sojourned, both in our own and in former times, have, when the terrors of death were upon them, and they about being launched into

an awful eternity, bitterly lamented and bewailed this sin, which was the first and leading one in their black catalogue of crimes. Let children then take earnest heed that they be not found numbered among such. Always remember the Divine precept, "Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right."

XXXIX.

TEN SHORT ADMONITIONS.

1. Let your manners be frank, courteous, and conciliatory.

2. Let your conversation be truthful.

3. Let your habits be cleanly, orderly, industrious, and economical.

4. Let your recreations be innocent and healthful.

5. Let your actions be just, generous, kind, disinterested, and honourable.

6. Let your affections be confiding and sincere. 7. Let your disposition be placable and forgiving.

8. Let your thoughts be pure and unsuspicious.

9. Let your prayers be devout and fervent. 10 Let your meditations be of life, death, judgment, time, and eternity.