Thus for instance; skaiting, or sliding on the ice. I know not a nicer amusement than this on a cold winter's day. It is the finest exercise that can be had, and cheers and enlivens the mind, while it strengthens and benefits the body. But if Sunday is chosen for this sport, then, though innocent in itself, it becomes exceeding sinful. And oh ! how awful it is to think of the many who are drowned every winter, while skaiting on the ice in and near London on Sundays ! It seems as if God intended to set signal marks of his anger on Sunday skaiters, Sunday bathers, and Sunday water-parties. And again: if young persons go upon the ice when their parents warn them not to do it and forbid it, they do what is sinful. An awful instance of this kind happened only last December, near Shrewsbury. Three poor children, the eldest only nine years old, had been warned again and again by their friends not to go upon the ice. But they would have their own way, and they went. The ice broke, and they were all plunged into the water. And awful to state, though every means were used to save them, they were all drowned ! , If children are on the ice at proper times, it is a lawful pleasure: but if they are on the ice at a time when they should be obeying the command of a parent, or be engaged in their work, or be sanctifying the sabbath, then their pleasure becomes a sin. Think of these things, my dear readır; and try to maintain a proper knowledge of your duty in these matters. The only satisfying joy is to be found in communion with Goil, and in divine things; but you see there are pleasures of an earthly nature, which when thrown in your way, your religion does not require you to shun. Only take care that they keep their proper place, and do not become occasions of sin. DEATH OF A LITTLE GIRL. Little Sarah was an afflicted child from her birth. Those who did not know her well, thought her scarcely a degree removed from being an idiot. Her intellect was in some respects sharp; but there were vanderings of mind, which could neither be corrected, accounted for, nor even understood. She was also the subject of the most fearful and affecting fits of passion; which often burst forth without the smallest exciting cause. After she had been with me sometime, it pleased God of his goodness, to give me a surprising power over her mind, and B? chiefly over her affections; so that the charge of her was one of peculiar interest to me, though of a very trying nature. It was a comfort that little Sarah, in her last illness, did not suffer much from sharp pain. Indeed, it seemed to me, that she was not allowed to suffer more than was needful to prove her ready and pious submission to the will of her God. For, if she at any time complained of pain, the complaint. soori changed into the language of entire and cheerful resignation, expressed in such terms as these: "never mind, Jesus will soon make it better.” “ Jesus will help me to bear it, and I will not mind it much.” “Jesus suffered a great deal, when he died upon the cross for our sins.” “It is very distressing sometimes, but it will soon be better." &c. &c. And often she would seem to forget allsense of pain in the pleasure with which she repeated the verse of a hymn 1 taught her, when she spoke of the pain in her heart and side: “O come thou wounded Lamb of God; At one time she said, “ my head aches sada ly; but Jesus Christ's head was a great deal worse, when the cruel Jews put the crown of thorns upon it. Poor Jesus! How could they serve him so, 'when he came to die for them, and save them from their sins !" It was not easy to judge of the measure of her sufferings, as she never was in the habit of complaining of pain; though, I believe, scarcely ever entirely free from it: but it seemed as if a believing view of her suffering Saviour, so soothed and comforted her mind, that she was satisfied to endure all her pains. It was through the last fortnight of her life, that so remarkable a display of divine grace was seen in little Sarah ; nor can I record half of what occurred in that interesting period. I must, however, state, that I had seen a striking difference in the dear child for three months before her illness. Her love of the Holy Scriptures had been great for three or four years past ; but it plainly increased about that time; and became so intense, that she would be quite distressed, if any thing interfered with her stated season for reading the Bible after breakfast. The moment she had returned thanks for her breakfast, her Bible, Prayer-book, and hymn-book, were taken up, having been laid near her; and she eagerly waited for the moment, when the table was cleared, that she might proceed to her loved employ. ment. The psalms and lessons for the day were mostly ber first reading. When well, sie was fond of all her lessons ; but chiefly her Scripture lessons; and the ease and pleasure with which she usually learned and repeated it, often surprised us. The general state of her mind also greatly improved. The natural violence of her temper was much subdued; and she shewed deep distress, whenever her natural hastiness got the better of her. It was several months ago, that I first observed the length of time she spent in her private morning and evening devotions; and on watching her upper. ceived, I found she was seldom less than half an hour on her knees in fervent prayer. But I proceed to some particulars, which will shew that the word of Christ dwelt in her richly-and that the Gospel which she so loved, was made to her soul “the power of God unto salvation." On the evening of Friday, October 8th, I asked her, as she lay on the sofa beside me, if I should read to her. She gladly assented. I enquired hat book she would prefer. She said, “ the Bible ;" and her choice rested upon St. Peter's first sermon. She made many sweet, though simple remarks upon the chapter as I paus. ed; and with deep feeling enquired, "why those cruel people used Christ so ill, as to buffet, and spit upon, and crucify him ;" observing, “it was so very good of him, to |