Philistines found out that he was come, and were determined to kill him. So they "compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night; saying, in the morning when it is day we shall kill him." (Judges xvi. 2.)

But see how the Lord watches over his people; and though perhaps Samson had ventured too much in going to Gaza, still God who is "rich in mercy," was pleased "to work for his own name's sake;" and by this help, Samson, not minding the guards who watched round the gate, seized on it with the posts, which he violently dragged out of the ground, and the bar also, and carried them several miles to the top of a hill, no one venturing to interrupt or seize him.

Here then, my children, is encouragement to us. We are not called upon in these days to perform such actions as Samson. But we have enemies without -an evil world-enemies within-our besetting sins-and above all-an enemy who never sleeps-Satan. How can grown-up people stand against such enemies as these? much more will children fall! Why Samson's God will be our's too: for he is "the same, yesterday, today, and for ever;" (Hebrews xiii. 8.) and he says, "fear not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy

God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah xli. 10.)

Go on then, my dears, fighting against all these enemies who would hinder you in your road to heaven; look to Samson's God for strength (for you have none of your own) and say with David, "though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear.” (Psalm xxvii. 3.)

UNKINDNESS TO BROTHERS

AND SISTERS.

I dare say when Cain and Abel were little boys, Cain was very unkind to his bro ther Abel; and when they were out of sight of their parents, would take away his playthings, and tell tales about him, to try and get him anger if he could; and as he grew older he became more and more cruel towards him, till at length, as you read in the 3d chapter of Genesis, when he was by himself in the field with him, he killed his brother. Now, my children, I want you to see, and believe, that this dreadful wickedness in Cain, began when Abel and he were little boys, and first began in little things, and so went on from bad to worse, until he committed the awful sin of murder.

Oh, my little children, I would affectionately warn you against indulging in this naughty temper that made Cain so wicked, and carefully remember that it began to discover itself when they were very young. And do also particularly mind, that it was about little childish trifles that this sad wicked boy began to be angry with his little brother. And do you not sometimes indulge in a disposition towards younger brothers and sisters, something like this, when you illnaturedly refuse to do some little thing they ask you to do, and speak cross to them? or are unkind to them when they do any thing that offends you? and you feel pleasure when you can tell some fault that they may have committed, and enjoy seeing them corrected? This is a sad naughty temper indeed, especially when manifested towards the younger children, and will lead you (unless you pray to God for his grace to put it away) to be what I have often seen and been grieved about, very unkind and cruel brothers and sisters. When you grow up to be men and women, instead of helping and comforting each other, you will do every thing you can to hurt and vex.

Now we should seriously consider what God has been so kind as to give us such near and dear relatives for; and one principal reason is, that when you grow up, you

may help one another; and if your brother or sister is in trouble that you should com. fort them, and do every thing you can to relieve them. If any of them are very poor, and you are better to do than they, that you should cheerfully give them part of your money, or clothes, or any thing else that they want and if they are sick, that you should nurse them, remembering you are the children of the same dear parents, and they loved you all with the same parental affection; and if your parents were pious, they often prayed for you, that you might live in love and affection, and help and comfort one another. And, my dear child, I hope you will not wilfully grieve and distress your affectionate parents, you will not let them pray in vain; but will, 1 trust, join your little hearts with theirs, and beg of Jesus, the Saviour, to give you a new heart, that you may live in love and affection. And let me very particularly remind you, that your own happiness is so united with the happiness of your brothers and sisters, that you cannot be really happy if they are not so. Let me intreat you to remember this, that just as much as you try to make others happy, just so happy will you be yourself; for those naughty tempers that lead persons to be revengeful and unkind one to another, are sure to make those who

indulge them very wretched; for you must always mind that it is God who makes little children, and men and women, to be happy. But you must not expect that God will make you happy, if you are living in disobe dience to his holy commands. Do you not remember how many times Jesus says in the Gospel of St. John, "Love one another." If any child who may read this little book, has been living in the indulgence of such sad tempers as 1 have been speaking of, I do hope, my dear little one, you will begin to see and believe that you never can be happy unless you do all you can to make others so, and particularly your dear brothers and sisters. Let us then in this pleasing hope unite together in singing the following little hymn, written on purpose for those brothers and sisters to learn, and to sing,

Who love one another.

How happy the children who live
In tender affection and love;
They sweetly resemble the blest,
Who dwell in the mansions above.

When each little brother is kind,

And smiles when his sister is pleas'd,' Wipes away the sad tear when she weeps, And grieves with her when she is teaz'd;