want, and would rather suffer themselves, than see you suffer. Now you should think of this, and then your love will be thoughtful, and will be ready to show itself, in a proper manner. And how will it show itself in a proper manner? By leading you to obedience. The best way to show your parents that you love them, is to do the things that they wish you to do, and to do them willingly and cheerfully. You should obey them, not because they are stronger than you, and have power to oblige you to obey; but because you love them, and like to show your love by pleasing them. And parents are better pleased by the obedience of their children, than by anything else. Of course I do not mean that you should do what is wicked, even in obedience to your parents; because that would be to disobey God; but I do not believe that you will be exposed to any such trial; and you may be assured, that as your parents are wiser than you are, they will know what is right, better than yourselves, and will only expect you to do what is really good.

The second rule of goodness is, to speak the truth always. There is a most excellent beauty in truth. No child, and no man can be good, without being honest and true. When a child is in the habit of speaking what is false, the beauty of his soul

is

gone, and there is no knowing how deformed it may grow. The ways of falsehood are crooked, and dark, and foul, and dangerous, and if you begin to walk in them, you will soon meet with shame, and soon after with misery. But the ways of truth are straight, and open, and full of sunshine and honor. Shall I tell you what a child is like who loves the truth, and always speaks the truth? He is like a pure fountain of water, which exactly reflects the image of every flower which stands near it, and every bird which flies over it, and which is so clear, that one can look down into it and see every little pebble at the bottom. But a child who does not love the truth, nor speak it, is like a fountain which has been sadly disturbed and mixed with impurities; it is turbid and muddy, and no one can see into it, and there is no refreshment in looking at it. I beseech you, my children, to hold fast to the truth, and never be afraid of speaking it, and to shun the crooked paths of deception, and to keep your souls clean and pure, like fountains of healthy and crystal water, into which the flowers and the stars and all men love to look.

The third rule of goodness is, to be just and kind to all persons. To be just to all persons, commonly means, to deal with them and behave towards

them, in precisely such a way as they have a right to mark out; to give them every thing which is their due, and keep from them nothing which is theirs. To be kind to all persons, is, to be ready to oblige all persons as far as you can; and to forgive those who have injured you; and to feel a sincere desire for the happiness of all persons. Justice and kindness ought always to go together; for justice is but a rough virtue without kindness, and kindness is but a weak virtue without justice; and people will despise one who is not just, and dislike one who is not kind. You cannot be completely and consistently kind, unless you are just; and you cannot be largely and nobly just, unless you are kind. Imagine yourselves going along in a road, with justice and kindness for your constant travelling companions and guides. Justice always speaks to you plainly, and prevents your injuring any body or anything that you meet in the way, and sees that you pay exactly all the expenses of your journey; and kindness softly asks you to pardon those who may injure you, and now and then urges you, with a tender smile on her face, to step a little out of your way to help those who may need your assistance. And justice never frowns on kindness; and kindness never interferes with justice. I think that

if you observe what justice and kindness both say to you in the journey of life, other people will be glad to walk with you, and be sorry to part with you; and that when you get to the end, you will look back on your course with satisfaction and joy.

I have now explained to you the three rules of being good; which are, to love and obey your parents; to speak the truth always; and to be just and kind to all persons. To be good, is to obey and please your Creator, who made you to be good and happy; and to try to please and obey your Creator, is one method of remembering him, and the best way of showing that you do remember him truly. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, and then it will be easy and delightful for you to remember and serve him, in the days of your manhood, and of your old age, if it should please him to spare your lives. And, O my children, let me assure you, that it is but of little consequence, how long or how short a time. you are permitted to live on the earth, if, while you live here, you remember your Creator, and do the things which please him.

I will close this sermon by repeating to you a hymn, which is on the same subject, that of re

membering our Creator in the days of youth. If you are not already acquainted with it, you had better commit it to memory.

"In the soft season of thy youth,

In nature's smiling bloom,
Ere age arrive, and trembling wait
Its summons to the tomb;

"Remember thy Creator, God;
For him thy powers employ ;
Make him thy fear, thy love, thy hope,
Thy confidence, thy joy.

"He shall defend and guide thy course
Through life's uncertain sea,

Till thou art landed on the shore
Of blessed eternity.

"Then seek the Lord betimes, and choose

The path of heavenly truth;

The earth affords no lovelier sight

Than a religious youth."