steal a great number of times, we should say he was in the habit of thieving; if you regularly attend church or chapel, you are in the habit of doing so; if any one is always telling untruths, we say he is in the habit of lying. You see there are both bad and good habits. We may do both good actions and bad ones, until they become easy to us.

Do you not often wonder why men are so wicked as to steal, and not feel the slightest sorrow for it? And do you know how the evil habit was formed? I will try and tell you. The first time a boy commits the sin of taking what does not belong to him, he feels greatly troubled by thinking of it. God has given him a conscience, which tells him he has done wrong. Do not you remember, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, how miserable they felt when they had sinned, and wanted to hide themselves? Now conscience is given to us all, and it tells us we have done wrong, and we know God sees us. Let me put the question to you. Do you not find, when you sin, something within which tells you, you have done wrong? I am sure you do; and the oftener you sin, the less you will feel. The man who breaks the Sabbath day continually, does not feel the power of conscience; he is hardened. But watch the boy as he first breaks that

holy day: does he not look guilty; and does he not remember what he has heard about the sin he commits; and does he not feel troubled? I am sure you know he does. I am sure you always felt so yourself, and do feel so when you begin a sin; and you know that as you repeat the sin you get hardened in it, and begin to like the sin.

This is the greatest punishment God ever gives the man who refuses to hear his voice and obey his Bible. We learn from the Bible, that they who will not hear God when he calls them to repentance, will not be heard by him when they cry to him for help. You know God calls you to serve him by his Bible, by what you hear at his house of prayer, and by the instruction you hear at school. If you are in the habit of neglecting these, you will find your heart get harder and harder. Although God is always so good, that he invites you to repent, to trust him, and love him; yet, if you get into the habit of neglecting his word, you will find it very difficult to leave it off. You must trust entirely to God's grace, and endeavour with all your strength, or you will never overcome it. Remember, you are inexcusable for not leaving off your bad habits; for God is ever willing to hear you, and to give you strength to break them off. You have habits which are wrong. Your teachers and parents tell

you so; and you will either leave them off and serve God, or you will go on further in them, till they lead you to ruin.

You must begin at once. Pray for the pardon of your past sins, and for the Holy Spirit to change your hearts. Watch and pray against evil habits, and God will enable you to overcome them.

C. F. H.

"Now, Edmund, we have watched the rainbow long enough: it is time to go home; for I want to give you a simple rule how to proceed when you have

learned to converse; a rule that will enable you always to turn your attainment to advantage."

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I should like to know it very much; for I mean to go on practising what you have told me to do, until I am able to talk, at least, with those who are younger than I am, and to do them good."

Edmund and his uncle now hastened home; and when they were comfortably seated, the uncle thus proceeded :

The way, then, to proceed in conversation with those you wish to benefit is this first, win their attention; next, inform their understanding; and then, impress their hearts. I will give you the rule in three words, Allure! inform! impress!" Well, that is very plain, and I think that I shall not forget it."

"To print it deeper on your memory, I will give it you in verse.

With modest mien and manner kind,
Act well a Christian part;
Allure the ear, inform the mind,

And then impress the heart.

Having heard the rule in both prose and verse, you are likely enough to remember it."

"I shall never forget it, uncle, I do think."

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"If you will consider a moment, you

will see that this was the very way in which the kind-hearted gentleman of whom I told you, acted. He allured the young man by his remarks on creation; next, he gave him information in pointing out the uses of the things around them; and, lastly, impressed his mind by his serious observations."

"So he did; that was exactly the way: but he went to work in a different manner with the old man."

"Yes; but the principle was the same : he allured him by kind conduct, in lending him his great coat; he informed him, by telling him something useful, which he did not know; and made an impression on his heart, by his serious comments."

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Very true; I am glad that you pointed it out to me."

"Some time ago, I was present when a minister of the gospel carried out the same principle in delivering his sermon. At first, he made a few striking remarks, that fixed the attention of all around him ; and, in dwelling on the love of God, he brought forward the most comforting passages of holy writ. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him,' Psa. ciii. 8, 13. The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to