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that God made the world.

If fifteen pieces of wood

cannot be found to fit by chance, how impossible is it for this world to be made to fit by chance!

"If the universe were a confused mixture; if night and day, Summer and Winter, seed-time and harvest were quite irregular, coming and going suddenly, and visiting us by fits and starts, then indeed we might justly imagine the world made by chance; but, the universe is such a connected system, that it proclaims at once its Maker to be Almighty. The endless variety, order, beauty, symmetry, and fitness of the works of the creation most abundantly prove this. No one can survey the various orders of animal life, in such a variety of different species, yet all preserved distinct, and each fitted to its own element, provided with its appropriate food, and with organs, and instinct, suited to its destined place on this varied scene, without admitting the world to have been made by an Almighty Being. See also the sun and moon, how regular and orderly they are, each keeps in its allotted path; and performs its allotted task; and each little star also has its appointed place in the heavens, and forces us to exclaim with the poet Addison :

"The spacious firmament on high,

With all the blue ethereal sky,

And spangled heavens, a shining frame,

Their great Original proclaim.

The unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator's power display;

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And publishes to every land,
The work of an Almighty hand.

Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale;
And nightly, to the listening earth,
Repeats the story of her birth.

While all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,

Confirm the tidings as they roll,

And spread the truth from pole to pole."

"Is there but one God?" asked Jane.

"There is only one God, who is almighty; one Mediator, who is equal to God in power and goodness and one Holy Ghost, whose office it is to sanctify the faithful."

"What is revealed religion?" asked Willy.

"Revealed religion, is the express declaration of God, by the mouth of his prophets, relative to certain points of faith and duty."

"And what is Christianity?"

"Christianity is a divine revelation also, and teaches that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour of the world. He proclaimed the divine will, established the certainty of a future state, proposed everlasting happiness to mankind on condition of faith in his name, and obedience to his commands; and made atonement by his death for the sins of the human race."

"Was not the moral character of Christ perfect?"

"So pure and perfect was the whole tenour of his conduct, as to defy calumny, though it excited jealousy, and inflamed malice. Of all the virtues which adorned his character, and gave a resistless grace and loveliness to every action of his life, humility, patience, and the most ardent and universal love of mankind, were always predominant. Indeed, the perfect benevolence of his character is fully evinced by the tendency of his miracles, which were all directed to beneficial purposes. We are fully convinced, that no human being could read attentively the history of the blessed Saviour, without being penetrated with love, admiration, and adoration for his holy name.

"Take your books now," said Agnes, "and each of you read one of the three following lessons."

CHAPTER IX.

"Do not, if one but lightly thee offend,
The punishment beyond the crime extend;
Or after warning the offence forget;
So God himself our failings doth remit."

STORY OF HUGH HOWARD.

HUGH HOWARD, when a child about seven years of age, was sent by his mother to a grocer's shop to buy sugar, and on his return home, he fell, dirtied

his clothes, and spilled the sugar: for which accident the poor child was unmercifully beat by his ignorant mother.

Some time after, the mother herself fell, and broke her leg. A surgeon was sent for to examine the broken limb, and while he was in the act of doing so, little Hugh entered with a stick, which he put into the surgeon's hand, saying, "Beat mother well, doctor, to prevent her falling again. She always beats me when I fall." The surgeon was so amused with the simplicity of the child's ideas of a remedy, that he determined to keep an eye upon him, and if there was any talent in him, to cultivate, and draw it out. The mother herself was so struck with the justness of the child's rebuke, that she determined to act differently from what she had hitherto done, and never again to beat her children for an accident.

During the surgeon's attendance on the mother, he had an opportunity of witnessing many traits of character in little Hugh, and he took care to read the mother a long lecture on the folly of her conduct with regard to the way she brought up her children. "No person," said he, "should be punished for what he cannot help. stance, is an accident. No one could help it, and therefore, no one should be punished for what he cannot help."

To fall, for inwould fall if he

It is much to be lamented, that the working classes in England bring up their children very im

properly. They treat them harshly, and punish them injudiciously; and this treatment hardens the hearts of the children, so that when they have children of their own, they in their turn exercise the same tyranny on their offspring, which had been exercised on themselves: and thus, the bad principle is perpetuated. All this proceeds from ignorance, and want of due consideration for the welfare of their children.

We will venture to assert, that seldom, or never, did a lad that was harshly treated when young, grow up a good man; and as seldom, one properly brought up, has been known to turn out ill. Two or three years after the event of the broken leg, the surgeon asked Hugh, "whether his mother continued to beat him for falling?"

"No, sir," replied Hugh, "the rod, I believe, was broken with mother's leg, for it has never been put into active service since."

"Do you lament its inactivity?"

"No, sir, but rejoice at it, and hope, for the benefit of my younger brothers, that it will never again be seen in father's house."

"Tell me, my lad, do you intend to be a carpenter like your father?"

"No, sir, my father's trade is too inactive to please me."

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Inactive, my lad! why I should say it was the very reverse of inactive, for your father is always on his legs, and continually moving about."

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