rent with agony. She wipes the cold sweat of death from his face, gazes with exquisite anxiety till the last dreadful struggle is over, and breathes to the throne of mercy the prayer of affection for the repose of his spirit. And so feels the kind husband over his companion, indulgent parents over their dying children, and dutiful children over their parents.

But it is a lamentable circumstance, a painful consideration, that there are too many unhappy divisions in the domestic circle. Yes, it is a painful consideration, indeed, that those, who are so nearly allied to each other, should, even for one moment, indulge in feelings of acrimony. It is but a short time, at longest, that we can be together, and such unhappy divisions must render the parting scene, at the bed of death, doubly painful. Thoughtless, giddy, or oppressive as we may be to those, who are near to us in life, while blooming health is their lot, yet righteous heaven has so constituted our natures, that the most painful reminiscences will force themselves upon the mind when the injured object, to whom we have given distress, is upon a dying bed. Every unkind word, every harsh treatment, the whole dark picture of our ungenerous conduct, will present itself to the imagination, in all its naked woes. And be that dying one a parent, a companion, a child, their very silence, as they turn upon us a

languid eye fading in death, will harrow up every painful recollection. O! if we wish to tread upon their graves with an unsullied conscience before heaven, let us be of one mind, live in peace, and discharge to them those sacred duties of kindness and affection, which the ties that bind them to us enjoin.

This world is too much made up of appearances. Many a family, which we suppose to be the abode of union, peace, and joy, is distracted with the voice of discord, and is dragging out anʼexistence in secret, concealed grief. Many a husband and wife, who, we suppose, are of one heart and mind and passing their days in the sunshine of peace and love, are torn by secret broils, and whose mansion stands overcast with the dark shadows of discontent and misery. Little do we dream of the secret woes, that rend many a worthy heart concealed behind a smiling countenance. The husband is perhaps stern and unrelenting, and will, in no case, yield to the wishes of his companion. Discouragement and anger may perhaps at times take possession of the heart. In such a case, instead of treating her kindly, he rouses into a passion himself, and a private contention ensues. instead of extinguishing the flame, it adds fuel to the fire, and consumes all that is fair and lovely in matrimonial and domestic life. Much misery

This is a wretched practice for

might be avoided by observing the following rule. When the one is melancholy, let the other be rationally cheerful, and endeavour to divert the attention from the subject that causes gloom. When the one is angry, let the other keep a perfect equanimity and a benign composure of countenance. Then watch the opportunity, and in some future day, when the offended one is most cheerful and kind, then bring forward the subject, and expostulate most feelingly on the impropriety of indulging a wrathful spirit to a bosom friend. Speak of the shortness of life, and point each other to the silent grave and to the parting scene, and vengeance, anger, and discontent will soon be strangers in your habitation. Your dear children, from the very dawnings of intellect, will take the example, grow up in harmony and affection, with perfect rule over their spirit, and thus you will not only secure your own domestic peace, but will bequeath those sacred enjoyments to your posterity; enjoyments that infinitely outweigh a thousand fortunes in gold! Let others toil to leave their offspring wealth, be ours the joy to bequeath them this. We ask no more.

We are not only to be of the same mind one towards another in our families, but in our religious societies. Here all selfishness ought to be discarded, all private interests sacrificed, all hostile feelings subdued, and the whole offered on the

altar of general good, and thus the harmony, peace, and prosperity of the whole body consulted. The permanent security of these depend on the individual conduct of the members. By uniting ourselves in a religious body, we express the necessity of living a sober life, maintaining a union of heart, and a respectful conversation towards all with whom we associate in life. Let us not dream, that heaven will prosper us above others, if we also blaspheme the name of Him, who gave us life and sustains us in being. Let us lay aside every evil, that has a tendency to disunion, and live soberly and righteously in the world, doing good unto all as we have opportunity.

SERMON XIII.

MIND NOT HIGH THINGS.

[Continued.]

HAVING from the commencement of these sermons confined myself to prescribed limits, I had no room in my last to pursue the first division of my subject so far as I intended. I will therefore here resume it.

"Be of the same mind, one towards another." We have thus far confined our attention to family union, and have just glanced at the necessity of union in religious societies. This is a day of inquiry and light, when the most keen and searching glances are sent into every creed. Many denominations, that have walked together heart and hand for many years, each repelling the assaults of those, who attempted to extinguish their ism, have at length been separated by internal divisions, and formed two opposing parties, even though they once believed the same creed, and advocated the same church government. present is a trying period, and it stands us in hand to endeavour to "keep the unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace." Let us not dream of religious union and prosperity, unless we allow each one to think for himself in matters of Scripture

The