"I should certainly; for a more spiteful remark than that could hardly be made."

And, lastly, should one openly declare that Sunday schools were doing no good, that they never did good, and never would do any good; you would, without hesitation, put down his assertion as a falsehood." Yes, I could put it down for nothing else; for there would not be a word of truth in such a remark."

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"You see then, by these instances, how useless, or worse than useless, conversation becomes, when it consists of fine and difficult words, thoughtless and foolish remarks, highly coloured facts, vulgar language, ill natured, unjust opinions, or wilful falsehoods." "Nothing can be plainer."

"When we consider how easily many young people are led astray, we may, in some degree, imagine the impression such conversation would make on their minds, and the mischief it would be likely to occasion. Sunday schools would either be despised by them, or too highly estimated."

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That, no doubt, would be the case."

Whereas, if one sober-minded, well-informed young man, in an agreeable manner, were to speak well and wisely on the same subject, in a voice neither too high nor too low, too quick nor too slow, showing that though Sunday schools were not always conducted as they ought to be, and though

Sunday school teachers were often sadly deficient in their duties, yet still that great good had been done by them in teaching thousands of thoughtless young people to read the Holy Scriptures, in leading them to the house of God, in disposing them to keep holy the sabbath day, and in drawing their attention to Divine things; such converse might leave a profitable impression, that would never be destroyed."

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"You are certainly right, uncle; and I wish very much to be able to converse well." Having said thus much on the folly and bad effects of conversing ill, and the wisdom and good effects of conversing well, we will break off for the present, but very soon we will resume our conversation."

GREAT JOY.

"And there was great joy in that city," Acts viii. 8. AND what was the occasion of this joy? Had a monarch, surrounded with all the pomp and majesty of royalty, entered that city, and conferred great honours and rewards on its inhabitants? No. Had, then, some distinguished general, returning from a great victory, entered the city in triumph, and brought into it the spoils and the captives that he had taken ? No. We are told of only one individual who had come into

that city, and he was a persecuted wanderer. But let us read the account of the sacred writer. "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them and many taken with palsies, and that were Jame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city," Acts viii. 5-8.

You see, that the reason why these people were joyful, was because they had received the gospel. Philip, in obedience to the command of his ascending Lord, to "go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,” had proclaimed to these Samaritans the glad tidings of salvation. Having shown them that they were sinners, that they had offended against God's holy and righteous law, and were in danger of everlasting condemnation; he told them the wondrous story of Jehovah's mercy, and the Saviour's love; how He, who was the brightness of the Father's glory, had left the realms of infinite bliss, and had become the babe of Bethlehem; how, as he sojourned upon earth, he had been the "man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;" and he told

them of his mysterious agony in the garden, and of that hour when on Calvary he

yielded up himself unto death, as a sacrifice for sin. And his hearers, convinced by the miracles, which Philip wrought, that he was sent from God, believed his message. Made sensible of their danger, they fled for refuge to the hope which was thus set before them. Conscious that they were guilty and sinful in the sight of Him who is of "purer eyes than to behold iniquity," they placed their sole reliance for forgiveness on the atoning blood of the Redeemer. And now they experienced that happiness which an assurance of reconciliation with God alone can impart.

Hitherto they had been in darkness; but now "the day-spring from on high had visited them." Hitherto they had been in bondage to Satan; but now they were brought into the "glorious liberty of the children of God." Hitherto, as they thought of death and the grave, and of that eternity on which no ray of light rested, they trembled; but now they looked upon the grave only as the portal of immortality, and regarded death only as the messenger who should be sent to conduct them to the presence of Him who had redeemed them by his blood. They were happy, for their hearts were full of that peace which passeth all understanding." "There was great joy in that city."

Oh, how great and glorious are the blessings which religion confers on its possessor! It adds brightness to the happiest hours of his earthly existence, and affords sublime and heavenly consolations in those seasons when all other comforts fail.

And oh, if you are thus enabled to become a child of God, what joy will it occasion! There will be joy in your own heart. You will feel as the Samaritans did when they received the gospel. You will experience a peace, a happiness, which no wealth could purchase, and which all the pleasures of the world could not impart.

And there will be joy among the people