the sure mark of a noble mind is to improve by every hint which is afforded to guide it through life; and be assured, the time will come when experience will alter your present opinions, and convince you of those errors of which you now refuse to be corrected.

But even admitting that your friends should be to blame, allowing that they should treat you with severity, or mistake your motive, and blame you with ill-nature; in such a case you must console yourself with the reflection, that however others may provoke you, you will be calm, and govern your temper; and that such a conduct will insure to you the approbation of that God, whom no outward appearance can deceive, and no weakness mislead; but that his goodness will recompense every attempt which is made, and assist every endeavour to excel in virtue. From the faults of others, you should endeavour to correct your own; and while you suffer unmerited ill-humour, remember the same bad qualities will produce equal abhorrence in yourself.

Every individual, be his rank in life ever so obscure, can at the most early age contribute, by his good behaviour, to the feli

city of those about him; and to ease the burthen of care, and give assistance to each other, is to promote that wise and benevolent design which our Maker designed in the creation of man.

As this is a state of trial, you will meet with no character without imperfection; and therefore, when you discover any failings in those who have the care of your education, you are not to retort with insolence upon them, and say, "they require those virtues from you, which they themselves fail to practise;" for though undoubtedly, in every instance, the teacher ought to set an exam. ple of excellence to the pupil, yet such is human weakness, that those whose better knowledge calls for superior virtue, those whom we may expect to act nobly upon every occasion, will sometimes unhappily disappoint our expectations, and behave in such a manner as to forfeit, in that instance, the esteem of their friends, and incur their own reproach.

But in such a situation, if you are convinced that those whom you are bound to obey, have not kept in mind the precepts which they have taught you, remember,

that perhaps there may be many reasons to plead in their excuse. That it may be, when young, they were not blessed with those high advantages of instruction and improvement which you enjoy; or that, if they were so favoured, they might then disregard what they now find to their cost they have reason to lament their neglect of.

Make use, therefore, of their experience to act more wisely; but never regard it as any excuse for errors in yourself, much less that it gives you a right to be saucy and irreverent in your behaviour. What, upon serious reflection, they advise you to observe, however you may fancy they deviate from it themselves, you may be certain it is for your good; and you should consider that, as they are older, and do not, it is most probable, tell you all the motives for their actions; so those instances, which to you may appear blameable, would, perhaps, were it proper to acquaint you with the reasons of their conduct, fully clear them from

your censure.

27

SUNDAY V.

ON BROTHERLY LOVE.

THE near connexion which subsists be. tween children of the same family, should incite them to mutual kindness; and yet it is too often observed in life, that those who are most nearly united by interest and duty, are the least engaged by, friendship and affection. The most trifling circumstances often produce events of high importance; and if you would perform your social duties aright, if you mean to act up to the high character of a Christian, you must remember, that it is necessary to keep a constant guard over your temper, and to be strictly attentive to every occurrence of domestic life. If your relations are kind and oblig. ing, it will be highly ungrateful to impose upon their goodness, or take any unfair advantage of their tenderness. For surely nothing can be more ungenerous, than to behave ill to those who are meek, because you know they will not resent it.

Let not those who, through tenderness, bear with your faults, have, for that reason

the more faults to bear with. That is a mean disposition, which will only be governed by fear or by resentment. A noble mind will endeavour to promote the happiness of all around it; and why should you suffer the captiousness of ill-humour to destroy your own serenity, and disturb the peace of your nearest and best friends? If God has done so much to promote the good of mankind, surely he will punish those who oppose his benevolent design by their perverse dispositions.

"Let brotherly love, then, continue undisturbed ;" and never do or say any thing with a design of giving pain to those with whom you are. A word, or a look of unkindness, may cause much uneasiness to a brother or sister; remember, therefore, the charitable rule by which our Saviour enjoins his disciples to proceed, and do to them as you, in the like situation, would wish they should act by you.

In this life numberless troubles will unavoidably arise; but he who is willing to take offence at trifles, or inconsiderately give pain to others, will add greatly to the burthen of sorrow, and must expect to