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formed the vast expanse of heaven, filled as it is with worlds, all probably covered as ours is with creatures enjoying his bounty? Who but he is able to sustain all these worlds in their proper places? Who but God causes the sun to shine over us, or the food to grow by which we are maintained? Who but he could have so arranged all organised beings, that they can live, move, and enjoy themselves, each in its appointed way? In contemplating these things, we ought to feel disposed to adore a being so perfect and so beneficent, and to yield him that obedience which, in his word, he has called on us to render to him.

THE MORAL LAW.

The books of the Old and New Testaments furnish us with the most perfect system of moral duty ever promulgated. The sum of the earliest delivered moral law is comprehended in the Ten Commandments, which are as follow :

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is,

and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath-day, and hallowed it.

Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Thou shalt not kill.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Such was the sum of the moral law, until Christ added to it a number of most excellent rules and admonitions, which are found scattered throughout the history of his ministrations in the four gospels. The chief moral which he inculcated was, "Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do unto them; for this is the law and the prophets." The whole of his sayings breathe a similar spirit of benevolence and gentleness. He preached, for the first time, the doctrine of " peace and good-will towards men;" that is, universal love and peace among all mankind. "Ye have heard," said he, "that thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; but I say unto you, Love thine enemies: bless them that curse you: do good unto them that hate you: pray for them which hurt you and persecute you." Again, he said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven: blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted: blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth: blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled: blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God: blessed are they which suffer

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persecution for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." In this manner, he taught the great necessity for being humble and lowly in spirit as the basis of all virtue and social happiness.

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He likewise inculcated, at different times, the necessity of avoiding every thing like ostentation in doing good actions. He tells us not to give our alms before men, but to bestow them in secret; not to pray ostentatiously in public, but in a private place. No one, until he appeared, ever pointed out that there was no difference between actual transgression and the wish to transgress. He tells us that sins of the heart are equally punishable with the commission of an offence. He likewise taught that men two masters," that is, do evil actions, however apparently trivial, and at the same time be good men. To break "the least of the commandments" is to be reckoned equivalent to breaking the whole; and it is further said, it is impossible that our oblations to God can be accepted of, so long as we live at enmity with a brother, that is, having a quarrel with any one- "Leave thine offering before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly whilst you are in the way with him.”

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He further says that we are to avoid hypocrisy, and not to impute faults to our neighbours, before we have put away the same or other faults from ourselves. Hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou shalt see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. Judge not, that ye be not judged." Continuing to admonish us of the danger of hypocrisy, he says that we shall know men by their fruits, that is, we shall know them by their actions, not their words. good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit: therefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth my Father's will that is in heaven." We are likewise told that there must be no limit to our forgiveness of injuries. Being asked if we should forgive an injury for seven times, he said to those about him, "I

say not unto thee, until seven times, but until seventy times seven."

Three things, we are told by St Paul, are essential— Faith, Hope, and Charity, but that the greatest of these is Charity, or a disposition to love or think well of our neighbours, whatever may be their actions. It is also variously inculcated that Charity is the first of the Christian virtues. Personifying it, it is said, "Charity suffereth long and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things."

NINETEENTH PSALM.

PART I.

PRAISE OF GOD AND HIS WORKS.

The heavens declare thy glory, Lord,
Which that alone can fill;
The firmament and stars express
Their great Creator's skill.

The dawn of each returning day
Fresh beams of knowledge brings;
And from the dark returns of night
Divine instruction springs.

Their powerful language to no realm
Or region is confined;

"Tis nature's voice, and understood
Alike by all mankind.

Their doctrine does its sacred sense
Through earth's extent display;
Whose bright contents the circling sun
Does round the world convey.

EXCELLENCE OF DIVINE INSTRUCTION.

No bridegroom on his nuptial day
Has such a cheerful face;

No giant does like him rejoice
To run his glorious race.

From east to west, from west to east,
His restless course he goes;

And through his progress cheerful light
And vital warmth bestows.

PART II.

EXCELLENCE OF DIVINE INSTRUCTION.

God's perfect law converts the soul,
Reclaims from false desires;
With sacred wisdom his wise word
The ignorant inspires.

The statutes of the Lord are just,
And bring sincere delight;
His pure commands in search of truth,
Assist the feeblest sight.

His perfect worship here is fix'd,
On sure foundations laid;
His equal laws are in the scales
Of truth and justice weigh'd.

Of more esteem than golden mines,
Or gold refined with skill;
More sweet than honey, or the drops
That from the comb distil.

My trusty counsellors they are,
And friendly warnings give;
Divine rewards attend on those
Who by thy precepts live.

But what frail man observes how oft
He does from virtue fall?

Oh cleanse me from my secret faults,
Thou God that know'st them all!

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