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crumbs to be wasted. Property will feed and clothe the poor, and send the Bible to those who have none.

2. That it is wrong to waste our lives,because life is too valuable to be thrown away. 3. That it is wrong to waste our happiness,— it is too precious.

4. That it is wrong to waste our limbs, such as hands and feet.

5. That it would be wrong to waste and throw away the Bible, or any part of it.

6. That it would be very wrong to destroy the mind, even of a child, because the mind is too valuable to be wasted.

And now, dear children, what shall I say to you of the SOUL-the SOUL-which will never die? If it be wrong to waste other things, is it not much more so to throw away your thoughts, your feelings, and, at last, your soul itself? Oh, you may be careful of property, and of life, and happiness, and limbs, and the Bible, and the mind; but if you neglect the soul, and do not see to that, you are miserable for ever. All other things are nothing, of no value, when laid by the side of the soul. I beg you, then, as you gather up the fragments about the soul, not to forget and neglect the soul itself. That must live for ever.

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"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." EXODUS XX. 8.

CHILDREN, your little books are full of pictures. One has in it the picture of a horse; another a house, trees, rivers, birds, and hills. Suppose I wanted to make a little boy understand about a lion, how he looks, how he acts, and the like. What would be the best way? The best way would be to lead him out, and let him see a lion. But if I could not do it, the next best way would be to show him the picture of a lion. This picture would give him a better idea of it than anything I could tell him about a lion.

Just so Jesus Christ used to preach. He

used to teach in parables, which are a kind of picture-preaching. In this way, He used to make things plain and very interesting to those who heard Him. Now, I am going to give you a parable. Try and see if you can understand it and remember it.

There was once a good man who was very rich. I cannot stop to tell you all the good things which he did, but will mention only one. He built a large and beautiful ship all at his own expense. He fitted up the ship with a pilot who knew the coast, and a helm by which to steer her, and a compass to point out the way they were sailing. She had everything ready. He then called his friends together, and said, "See, here is a beautiful ship, filled with costly goods, and all fitted and ready to sail. Everything is ready. You may have her, and have everything on board. You may go and trade where you please, on one condition. Not one of you may carry or drink a drop of ardent spirit. This is the only condition I make; and I make this, because, otherwise, you will get the ship on the rocks, and will all be lost." The men take the ship on this condition, and set sail for a distant country. They had been out on the water but a little while, before one of them brought forward some ardent spirit, which he said he had taken. for sickness, and to make him feel better, though he had no wish to disobey him who gave them

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the ship. So he drank; and, one by one, they all drank, till they knew not how to manage the ship. They were intoxicated by the drink. Then came on the dark night. The cold, wet winds blew, and the whole ocean foamed and rolled up its great waves most fearfully. The ship was carried onward and onward, till she struck upon a great flat rock. Here she turned on one side, and lay, every moment creaking, as if going to pieces. The people on board were too much intoxicated to do anything.

The morning comes, and it is cold, and the spray of the water, upon the poor ship, freezes in a moment, and the men are chilled, and cold, and hardly able to hold themselves where they are. They have got over their intoxication just enough to know where they are. The shore is near, but no one can get to it. The high waves roll and dash, and a boat cannot go from the shore to the ship. It would be turned over and sunk in a moment. The people all gather down on the shore, and see the ship, and the freezing people on board, but cannot help them.

But, look! who is that man who hastens down to the water's side? It is the good man who fitted up the ship, and gave her to these people. He sees they have disobeyed him, and ruined the ship, but he feels deeply for them. What is he going to do? See there! He has built a little boat of costly materials, and made

it to hold air, and filled it with his own breath. That little boat cannot be sunk. It will live and swim anywhere. It is called the LIFE-BOAT, because it can go out on the stormy water, and save the lives of perishing men who are shipwrecked. It is now launched out on the waters! But who is in it? It is the only son of that good man! See! it bounds and drives from wave to wave like a feather-straight to the ship! The poor people on board gaze upon it. They are perishing! There, now, one has dropped over into the waves, and is lost! No,-the life-boat has picked him up! One and another gets in, and the little boat shoots off over the stormy water for the shore. Again and again it comes, and will hasten backwards and forwards all day, till dark, so that all may have the opportunity of getting on shore, if they please. But some are ashamed to see the face of that good man on shore; so they hesitate, and do not get into the life-boat. They had rather perish where they are.

Now, tell me, is not that a very kind and good man? You all say, Yes. And is not that lifeboat an admirable contrivance? You all say, Yes. And are not those who will not get into very foolish ? Yes. Well, then, you have my parable. understand it? The world is the ship,

it

it was who made it, and gave it to us.

Do you

and God

We have

become intoxicated with sin, are ruined, and lost.

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