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pieces, or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

71. One observation only shall be made upon this part of the story. That which most deserves our attention, is not the miracle which was #rought for Daniel, but the faithfulness which he manifested, in the hour of trial.

72. The miracle, indeed, shows the notice God takes of the conduct of his servants, and the approbation with which he beholds their faithfulness; but if no miracle had been wrought, and the lions had been suffered to devour this holy man, his faithfulness would have shone with equal lustre, and his God would have been as truly honoured by him: for we are to judge of the true characters of men, and of the glory they bring to God, not by any events which may befall them, but by their dispositions and conduct.

73. We have ordinarily, no right to expect a miracle to be wrought in our favour, but we may all be placed in such circumstances, as to have an opportunity to manifest the same kind of attachment to God and religion, which Daniel did.

74. Nay, there is no man living, who is not frequently placed in such a situation, as that he may shew plainly, whether he is influenced by a regard for God, and whether he is willing to make any sacrifices for his sake, and for the sake of religion,

75. While we admire the excellency of Danfel, may this story teach us to imitate him. both in that constancy of prayer, by which he

attained such excellence, and in that reverence for God, which will incline us, in like manner, to part with every thing for his sake, when we are called to it.

76. And may we take notice, that though Daniel was advanced in life, when he was honoured by being so wonderfully preserved in the den of lions, yet when he first began to fear and serve God, he was young; and was, therefore, an amiable example of early piety, which young people would do well to reflect upon, and to mitate.

THE LYING BOY.

1. Mendax was a youth of good parts, and of many amiable accomplishments: but by keeping bad company, he had contracted the odious pracice of lying. His word was scarcely ever beieved by his friends; and he was often suspected of faults, and punished for them, only because he denied them.

2. The experience of every day might have convinced him of the disadvantages of being thought a liar. He had a garden filled with the choicest flowers, which he had cultivated with a great deal of care. It happened one day, that the cattle of a neighbouring pasture had broken down the fence; and he found them trampling upon, and destroying a bed of fine marigolds.

3. He could not drive these ravagers away, without injuring other parts of his garden,

which were still more valuable so he ran to procure the assistance of the gardener. You intend to make a fool of me," said the man, who refused to go, as he gave no credit to the relation of Mendax. The consequence was, that his garden was almost wholly destroyed.

4. One frosty day, his father had the misfortune to be thrown from his horse, and to break one of his legs. Mendax was present, and was very much affected with the accident, but was not able to afford him the necessary help.

5. He was therefore obliged to leave him, in this painful condition, on the ground, which was then covered with snow; and with all speed, he rode to the next village, to ask for the assistance of the first benevolent person he should meet with: but his character, as a liar, was so well known, that few to whom he applied paid any attention to his story; and no one believed it.

6. After losing much time in fruitless entreaties, he returned with a sorrowful heart, and with his eyes bathed in tears, to the place where the accident happened. But his father had been removed by a coach, which fortunately passed that way, and which conveyed him to his own house, whither Mendax soon followed him.

7. A lusty boy, about whom Mendax had told some falsehoods, often way-laid him, as he went to school, and beat him with great severity. For some time, Mendax bore this chastisement in silence, knowing that he deserved it. At last, however, he complained to his father of the ill usage which he met with.

8. His father applied to the parents of the boy who abused him: But he could obtain no redress from them, and only received the following painful answer: "Your son is a notorious liar, and we pay no regard to his assertions." Mendax was therefore obliged to submit to the wonted correction, until the other boy judged that he had punished him sufficiently for his lies.

9. Such were the evils, in which this unfortunate youth almost daily involved himself, by the habit of lying. At length, he became sensible of his misconduct, and began to reflect upon it with seriousness and sorrow. He soon

resolved to amend: he set a guard upon his words; spoke but little, and always with caution and reserve: and he soon found, by sweet experience, that truth is infinitely better than falsehood.

10 By degrees, the love of truth prevailed in his mind to such a degree, that nothing would tempt him to violate it. This happy change restored him to the esteem of his friends, to the confidence of the public, and to the peace of his own conscience.

THE FOOLISH MAN.

1. A countryman, who once wanted to pass a river, stood loitering on the banks of it, with the foolish expectation, that so rapid a current would soon discharge all its waters.

2. But the stream still flowed, and increased by fresh torrents from the mountains: and it must forever flow, because the sources from which it is derived are inexhaustible.

3. Thus does the idle and irresolute youth trifle over his books, or waste in play his precious moments; putting off the task of improvement, which at first is easy, but which will become more and more difficult, the longer it is neglected.

4. How much wiser is he, who immediately sets about improving his time, and spends the golden season of youth in treasuring up know. ledge, and in preparing to act his part upon the stage of life, with honour and advantage.

THE CRYING GIRL.

1. A little girl, who used to weep bitterly for the most trifling hurt, was one day attacked by a furious dog. Her cries reached the servants of the family; but they paid little attention to what they were so much accustomed to hear.

2. In consequence of which, the poor girl might have been torn to pieces, had not a countryman happened to pass by, who was so kind as to rescue her from the devouring teeth of the dog.

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