ment, that through our opportunity and care this child may be faithfully nurtured. Into our persons thine own gracious providence would descend, that the frail body may be preserved from harm, that the faculties may be trained for usefulness here, and that the immortal soul may be prepared for an ever-blessed hereafter.

We now earnestly pray that we may truly appreciate our sacred office, and feel our solemn responsibility. May we most deeply realize that upon us, more than upon any others, the welfare of this little one both for time and eternity will depend. But, O how weak we are of ourselves! Father Almighty and most merciful, we utterly rely upon thee; all our strength and success must come from thee. Dispose us therefore to frequent prayer, that in our ignorance, and sinfulness, and helplessness, thou mayest be near with thy Divine compassions. Assist us to guard this priceless trust from the temptations of the world; and may we be especially watchful against those tendencies within, which are ready to start forth into sin and lead to misery. May we be wise and diligent to repress every depraved appetite and passion, and early to fill the soul with love for God. O save us from the folly, from the great wickedness, of ever becoming ourselves the foremost and most dangerous tempters to evil. Suffer not that affection, which thou hast implanted in our bosoms to insure fidelity, to degenerate into debasing indulgence.

Rather may we turn the opening soul toward thee, that thine own Holy Spirit may flow in with purifying power. Especially may we set the face of this little child, from the earliest capacity, to look unto Jesus, and in due time bear to the Saviour's arms an offering which he will bless. Dispose us to fulfil all righteousness, and to lead our loved one into the way of perfect discipleship to the Divine Master. Thus bring a new-created spirit into the fullest communion with Christ, and to the reception of his salvation.

Now, O Father of Light, to these ends wilt thou open our understandings to thy word; dispose us to embrace all its holy truths. God of all grace, pour into our hearts thy regenerating and sanctifying Spirit. We would not cease to cry unto thee to make us perfect even as thou art perfect. Thus in self-distrust and humility, but in faith and hope, we consecrate ourselves to the sacred duties of parentage. To thy service, anew and more than ever, we now dedicate our home.

"Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heayen. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

24*

X.

Death of a Child.

And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said to them, Suffer little children to come to me, and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of God.

Verily I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God, as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones: for 1 say to you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.

O GOD, who art thyself a Father, who knowest every feeling thou hast wrought into the parental heart, we appear before thee now bowed down with sorrow. The child that thou gavest us, the delight of our eyes, the joy of our hearts, thou hast taken away, and this infant blossom hath withered at early morn. O thou Comforter of the afflicted, be nigh unto us, and let faith and hope, the blessed token of thy presence, fill our hearts.

In faith would we follow this departed child in its ascending flight. The tie which bound it to us is broken, but it never can be separated from thee. We called it ours, but it was thine, and to thee it is

It was sent

May we rejoice, with

united far more intimately than to us. hither with the will of him who doeth nothing in vain, and by the same wise will it is summoned hence. Help us to recognize it as the sacred property of God, as it were an angel alighting among us for a little while, upon a mission of love. a joy deep beyond utterance, at the thought of that goodness which lent us that precious treasure to gladden our hearts, although but for a brief space. A messenger from heaven has been here. May the heavenly tidings which it brought be graven on our inmost souls, not to be erased by the grief of the present hour, but deepened by the tears which we shed. Sanctify the memory of this dear child, and may it prove a fountain of blessed and saving thoughts. May that other world which thy Gospel hath unveiled rise before our faith in new brightness, as the home of the beloved. May we be drawn unto him who took children in his arms and said, Suffer them to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. O may we henceforth be more in earnest in the great work of life. May we strive more diligently to prepare ourselves for communion and fellowship with the pure and the blessed in thine everlasting kingdom.

Almighty God, what shadows we are! What is our life? It is vapor, which appeareth for a little while, and then vanisheth away. We take a few steps in life. We suffer and we enjoy, and then we

disappear from the face of the earth forever.

But, blessed be God, we are not wholly dust. There is a spirit within us which can never taste death, and which, by all the changes of life, thou art calling, as by so many voices from heaven, to glory, honor, and immortality. Thou art speaking to us now by this event which hath filled our souls with sadness. Speak on, O Lord; for thy servants hear. Hearkening to the warning voice, let us not indulge in idle sorrow, but may we arise and gird up our loins, and resolve to use diligently every moment of our sojourn on earth, seeing that we know not what an hour may bring forth, and that now is the accepted time, now the gates of salvation stand open before us, and we may enter into life eternal.

O thou God of parents and children, since we may be so soon and suddenly separated, quicken us in the discharge of our duties one towards another. When we are called to part, save us then from the anguish of bitter remembrances, from the painful recollection of unkind words, and unfeeling neglects. Let the thought of the parting hour rise before us to check every evil disposition, to allay our rising anger, to quench all unhallowed heats. May every day bind us more and more closely together. And when we

go, one after another, to the narrow house appointed for all the living, O, may immortal hopes sanctify our departure. Thou wilt watch over our slumbering dust, and not one of us shall be forgotten before