And still I am a sinful child. O how grateful I ought to be to thee, blessed Jesus, that thou didst condescend to become a poor child, to save me from my sins!

Blessed Lord, I do indeed believe that thou wast sent by our Father in heaven, to teach us true wisdom, and make us good and happy. I do indeed believe that thou wast sent by God, out of the greatest love and benevolence to mankind; and that by thy coming into the world thou hast worked out for us a great and eternal salvation. Thou art truly the Son of God, full of divine glory and power. I will praise thee from my very youth. I will honour and love thee as my Lord and Saviour as long as I live. I will obey thee, and put confidence in thee, until death. Give me grace, kind and merciful Saviour, to do according to these resolutions."

SECTION III.

THE PERSECUTION OF JESUS WHEN A CHILD.

In the earliest years of his childhood, Jesus had a persecutor in Herod. This wicked king, being afraid, from what he had heard, that this innocent child would at some future day rule over the Jewish nation and drive him from his throne, sought to kill it; and employed all his cunning and power to accomplish his cruel purpose. He even sent forth and slew all the children, at least all the male children, who were under two years of age, throughout Bethlehem and the regions around it. He did not, however, succeed. You recollect that God took care of the child, and, warning Joseph and Mary of the evil that was intended against it, told them to arise secretly

ON HIS EARLY PERSECUTION.

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and flee into Egypt; so that the parents of Jesus were obliged to go into a foreign country, in order to secure him from danger.

Think here too, my young friends, how differently it has fared with you from what it did with Jesus, and from what it has with a great many other children. You have been exposed to no cruel Pharaohs or Herods. God has

by his grace made every thing go well with you. He has secured you from all such cruel men as would seek your life. On the other hand, you have had kind and obliging people ready to take care, the greatest care of you, from your very infancy, to guard your life from danger, and your health from injury. You have grown up thus far in perfect quietness and peace, and have never been obliged to flee for safety from the house of your parents. You should think of this kindness of God towards you with gratitude, and let his goodness excite you to become pious children; in order that when you die you may, through what your Redeemer has done for you, be permitted to live with him in heaven, where there are a great many pious children, worshipping him all the time, and singing his praise. Think how much God has done for you, how well he has provided for you, what a precious home you have, and you will be inclined, I think, to say:

For life which thou hast given,

I thank thee, Lord of heaven,
And drop a grateful tear;
Thy goodness, all decreeing,
From nothing drew my being,

And kindly brought me here.

My soul's exalted Lover
Was doom'd on earth to suffer,

In childhood's tender age;

First sleeping in a manger,

Then driven from home a stranger,
By Herod's cruel rage.

Thou hast for me provided,
And like a Father guided,

And bless'd me evermore;
Hast given me days of gladness,
With scarce an hour of sadness,
And every needed store.

Should e'er the tempest lower,
I'll trust thy guardian power,
And still thy goodness own,
Till, high on Zion's mountain,
I taste the crystal fountain,
Fast flowing from thy throne.

SECTION IV.

THE YOUTH OF JESUS.

THERE are some circumstances connected with the youth of Jesus which you ought to think of, and from which you may draw instruction. It early became evident that he had extraordinary gifts of mind, great wisdom, and strong desires of soul after the word of God. When he was no more than twelve years of age, he took his seat in the school of the temple among learned and experienced men, heard them with attention, and asked them questions respecting the most important doctrines of religion. Not only by his questions, but also by his answers, he obtained the high regard of the teachers, and

all who were present. He asked his mother, who had been for some time looking for him, when she found him there, how she could have sought for him in any other place, since she must have supposed that he would tarry nowhere with so much pleasure as in the house of his heavenly Father. Here also, dear children and youth, take your Saviour for an example, and form the following resolutions:

"From my dear Saviour I will learn to go with pleasure to church and to school. I will apply myself with all diligence to acquire useful knowledge, and particularly a true knowledge of the Christian religion. For this purpose I will hold the Bible in the greatest esteem. I will never be guilty of quoting it in a light and trifling way, for the sake of jest, or drawing any expressions from it to use as by-words. On the other hand, I will gladly listen to instruction respecting its doctrines, and read pious writings, and such other books as may be beneficial to me. I will always be attentive to instruction from my teachers. I will answer them with reflection and respect, and modestly ask them to explain to me what I do not sufficiently understand. If I do all this, then will my teachers, and all good people who hear this of me, love me and hold me in esteem; and God will grant me his blessing."

Jesus spent his youth in the house of his parents. To them he always showed the obedience of a pious child. He increased in true wisdom and virtue. His good conduct in this respect, his growth in wisdom and piety, obtained for him the grace of God, and the love of his parents and other good people. He remained in the family of his father, even after he became of age, because the solitary life he was able to lead in the quiet of Naza

reth gave him just such an opportunity as he wanted, by means of daily intercourse with God in prayer, and constant, serious, holy contemplation, to prepare for the great business which, as the teacher and Saviour of men, he was soon to undertake and carry into execution. In the mean time he also faithfully assisted his father in working at his trade, until, as the messenger of God, he began to teach and work miracles in public. In all these respects, Jesus is a good example for those children and youth who would be loved, would grow up wise and happy, and go to heaven and live with him there at last.

HYMN.

On the world's wild bosom growing,
Dear Redeemer, thee I find,
With religion's savour glowing,
And a spirit meek and kind.

In thy father's humble station,
Watching his approving eye;
'Mid the teachers of thy nation,
Listening to the sage reply.

And though dark thy way and gory,
Lovelier still and more divine,

On it brighten'd into glory,

Till th' immortal crown was thine.

Every stage of life adorning,

Growing tob, may I be seen,
Fragrant as the summer-morning,
Lovely as the blooming green.

Grant me grace and wisdom ample,

Kind, obedient, meek, and true,

E'er to follow thine example,

Till heaven open on my view.