where they are, and amongst others one of the hardnesses will be, that you must overcome this just and reasonable grief; and indeed though the grief hath but too reasonable a cause, yet it is much more reasonable that you master it. Sir, now you have an opportunity of serving God by passive graces: strive to be an example and a comfort to your lady, and by your wise counsel and comfort, stand in the breaches of your own family, and make it appear that you are more to her than ten sons. Sir, by the assistance of Almighty God, I purpose to wait on you some time next week, that I may be a witness of your Christian courage and bravery; and that I may see that God never displeases you, as long as the main stake is preserved, I mean, your hopes of heaven.

PRAYER

ON THE LOSS OF INFANT CHILDREN.

Almighty God, who lovest those whom Thou chastenest, enable me to bear Thy chastisement with patience. Make me to remember, that like the Holy Innocents that suffered for Thy Son's sake, mine and all infant children shall be for ever faultless before thy throne. Grant me, O heavenly Father, the grace of thankfulness, and do Thou give me strength so to serve Thee as a child in this life, that in the world to come

I may again join them in Thy presence, and with them for ever sing Thy praises, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Brethren, in malice be ye children.-1 Cor.

xiv.

THE MIND OF LITTLE CHILDREN.

Extract.-Sermons for the Festivals.

The longer we live in the world, and the further removed we are from the feelings and remembrances of childhood (and especially if removed from the sight of children) the more reason we have to recollect our Lord's impressive action and word, when he called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of His disciples, and said, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven." And in order to remind us of this our Saviour's judgment, the Church, like a careful teacher, calls us back year by year, upon this day from the bustle and fever of the world. She takes advantage of the Massacre of the Innocents, to bring before us a truth, which else we might think little of; to sober our wishes and hopes of this world, our high ambitious thoughts, or our anxious fears, jealousies and cares, by the picture of the

purity, peace, and contentment of little children.- -There is in most men's minds a secret instinct of reverence and affection toward the days of their childhood. They cannot help sighing with regret and tenderness when they think of it; and it is graciously done by our Lord and Saviour, to avail himself (so to say) of this principle of our nature, and, as He employs all that belongs to it, so to turn this also to the real health of the soul.

And it is

dutifully done on the part of the Church, to follow the intimation given her by her Redeemer and to hallow one day every year, as if for the contemplation of His word and deed.

If we wish to affect a person, and (if so be) humble him, what can we do better than appeal to the memory of times past, and above all to his childhood? Then it was that he came out of the hands of God, with all lessons and thoughts of Heaven freshly marked upon him.

Never must we forget that, in spite of his new birth evil is within him, though in its seed only; but he has this one great gift, that he seems to have lately come from God's presence, and not to understand the language of this visible scene, or how it is a temptation, how it is a veil interposing itself between the soul and God. The simplicity of a child's

ways and notions, his ready belief of every thing he is told, his artless love, his frank confidence, his confession of helplessness, his ignorance of evil, his inability to conceal his thoughts, his admiring without coveting; and above all his reverential spirit, looking at all things about him as wonderful, as tokens and types of the One Invisible, are all evidence of his being lately as it were a visitant in a higher state of things.- -The distinctness with which the conscience of a child tells him the difference between right and wrong, should also be mentioned. As persons advance in life, and yield to the temptations which come upon them, they lose this original endowment, and are obliged to grope about by the mere reason. -There is on the other hand a difference, between the state of a child and that of a matured Christian.-St. John says, "He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous;" and again, "Every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him." Now it is plain, a child's innocence has no share in this higher blessedness. He is but a type of what is at length to be fulfilled in him. The chief beauty of his mind is on its mere surface; and when as time goes on, he attempts to act, (as is his duty to do,) instantly it disappears. It is

only while he is still, that he is like a tranquil water, reflecting Heaven. Therefore we must

not lament that our youthful days are gone, or sigh over the remembrances of pure pleasures and contemplations which we cannot recall; rather, what we were when children, is a blessed intimation, given for our comfort, of what God will make us, if we surrender our hearts to the guidance of His Holy Spirit,—a prophecy of good to come,-a foretaste of what will be fulfilled in Heaven. And thus it is that a child is a pledge of immortality, for he bears upon him in figure those high and eternal excellencies, in which the joy of Heaven consists; and which would not be thus shadowed forth by the All-gracious Creator, were they not one day to be realized. Accordingly, our Church, for the Epistle of this Festival, selects St. John's description of the Saints in glory.

As then we would one day reign with them, let us in this world learn the mind of little children, as the same Apostle describes it; "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and every one that loveth, is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love."