him. Thus you see we should need the mercy of God if we could become christians of ourselves at this moment;-but this we cannot do. His mercy must turn us into the right path; his mercy must keep us from going astray again into the paths of sin; and his mercy must blot out, and forgive all our past transgression. Think of this, and as you wish to obtain the mercy and forgiveness of your Heavenly Father, be merciful and forgiving yourself.

"Blessed are the pure in heart." You understand, no doubt, that the heart is the seat of the affections. Love and hatred come from the heart; and the emotions of the heart influence the conduct. Just as the heart feels we shall speak and act. Now if our hearts are pure, that is, if they are free from wicked thoughts and feelings, Jesus says we "shall see God." We shall enjoy his favor, and feel that he is very near to us. We shall love to think of him, and shall observe him in all his works around us. The sun, and moon, and stars, the green earth and moving waters, will speak to us of God; and we shall love to examine the things he has made, and admire his skill, and power, and goodness. We shall see his hand in all the events of our lives. If we enjoy prosperity we shall feel that it comes from God, and be grateful to him. If our friends die, and we suffer other afflictions, we shall see a kind Father behind the cloud that hangs over us, and still rejoice in him. Above all we shall see God in his work of redemption. We shall feel how lost we were when he came to save us, and our gratitude will awake, and we shall long to be like God, and dwell with him for ever.

And, finally, if we are pure in heart we shall see God our Saviour in heaven, and rejoice in his love in the ages of eternity. Will you examine your own heart, and see if you are among the number who shall see God?

In the next verse Jesus says, “Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of God." Peace-makers are those who strive to make every body happy around them by keeping all in peace. I have known but few peace-makers among children. They are apt to take a great deal of care of their little companions, and inform other children what they say and do, not so often for the sake of making peace, as for the sake of making contention. Think how much good may be done, by striving to keep all your young friends in love with each other, and if you see any difficulties between them, do all in your power to restore peace. Your home or your school cannot be like heaven if you have any contentions there; and you cannot be the children of God if you do not seek to make peace. Peace-makers shall be called the children of God, because they are like him. God is the author of peace. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace; and wherever his spirit is felt it banishes war and strife, and brings peace.

Jesus next speaks of those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake; which means such as are sneered at and injured, because they are righteous. At this time in our country, christians are not often persecuted in the way they were in ancient times. Perhaps you have read of the Quakers or Friends who were hung in New England many years ago, because they chose to worship God in the way

that they thought was right; or of Roger Williams, who was banished from his home, and driven into the wilderness, on account of his peculiar religious views. Baptist ministers were whipped and shut up in jail in Virginia for preaching the gospel. These people were persecuted. Perhaps at this time very young persons, who make a profession of religion, are sometimes persecuted by their former companions. This is because it is not common for such youth to join the church, and perhaps the wicked ones think they cannot be true christians. I once sat down to commemorate the death of our Saviour with a church where there were several lads among the communicants, one of whom was not more than eleven years old. My thoughts were soon interrupted by a noise in the gallery of the house, and looking up I saw some very wicked boys who had once been the companions of those who had joined the church, creeping around, and trying to see the little church members; and when they got where they could see them sitting with the pious men and women; and with a meek and thoughtful countenance, taking the bread and wine which the deacon handed them, I saw these very wicked boys point at them, and make a sneering laugh. These boys felt the spirit of persecution; the same spirit which caused the wicked people to stone to death the first christian martyr, Stephen, of which you can read in the seventh chapter of Acts. "For theirs is the kingdom of heaven." They shall enjoy the happiness of the righteous. It would not be right to seek persecution, but if our christian profession and pious life bring upon us the ill-will of those who hate religion, it is an evi

dence that we are the followers of Christ; and we may therefore take for our own the promises he gives his children, and hope to enjoy heaven with him hereafter.

"Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for my sake." Observe the word "falsely" in this passage. When people speak against us without cause, but for the sake of reviling us, and injuring the cause of religion, they do it falsely; and though we should pity them, we need not be distressed on our own account. Nay, so far from being distressed, Jesus says in the next verse we should "rejoice, and be exceeding glad." That is, rejoice that we are considered worthy to be treated thus for his sake, because he will not allow his friends to suffer anything on earth for which he will not reward them in heaven. In this manner he says wicked people once persecuted the prophets who lived many years before;-and they, no doubt, are now reaping their reward in heaven.

Now we have looked carefully through these twelve verses. They are the words of the Saviour who knew the hearts of men. Think again who are the persons that he says are happy. Are they the same that you have looked upon as the happiest ones around you? Have you thought when you saw people meek, quiet, and benevolent; seeking to make others happy; and seeming to think very little of themselves that such persons were the blessed? If you have called the rich and powerful the blessed, remember these words of our Saviour, and call them so no more. Again, will you look

into your own heart, and see if you find these pious exercises there. Remember, that the same person who is poor in spirit will mourn for sin, and be meek, forgiving, merciful, and peaceful; and he will long to be pure in heart, and will hunger and thirst after righteousness; and then he will be very likely to be reviled, and if he bears it patiently his reward will be great in heaven. These twelve verses describe the feelings of a christian. these excellent dispositions are found in some degree in the heart of every true follower of Jesus, though it is often the case that one of them is seen more plainly than the others. Do you find these dispositions in your own heart?

All

CHAPTER VI.

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

MATT. vi. 9-13.

9. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11. Give us this day our daily bread.

12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

PRAYER is speaking to God. In the verses above we have a prayer which our Saviour gave his disciples as an example for them to copy. He says, "After this manner pray ye." Not that we should always use these words; but this is the substance,