they were favoured with health and strength; and if they were visited by sickness, enable them to bear it with patience, and then they would learn many useful lessons from such afflictions, and know what solid peace is given to them who patiently submit to their heavenly Father's will; for the apostle Paul says, "All things work together for good to them who love God." (Romans viii. 28th.) I know that they who have large families to provide for, have often many cares, but I know also that our heavenly Father encourages us to cast our cares upon him, for "He careth for us."

I hope there is not one amongst those I now address, who is so ignorant as not to know" that God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not pcrish, but have everlasting life." "Know ye not the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes

he became poor, that you, through his poverty, might be made rich." Rich in those treasures which are laid up for all his obedient followers, where neither rust nor moth doth corrupt, nor thieves break through and steal. The history of this gracious Saviour of the world, and the account of his wondrous acts of love towards poor perishing souls, with the doctrines he and his apostles taught, expressive of the nature of the Christian religion, are contained in that part of the scripture called the New Testament, which, my dear friends, if you have any love for your dearest and best interests, I do most earnestly recommend to your perusal. But if you would read it to profit, do so with your hearts raised to God, beseeching him to enable you so to read that you may understand the sacred truths which it contains.

In one of the sermons our Lord Jesus Christ preached to the people, he told them to "seek first the kingdom of God

and his righteousness," assuring them that all things needful should be added. (Matt. 6th chap.) He directed them to consider the fowls of the air, and the lilies of the field, adding, "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, &c. shall he not much more clothe you." This then ought to convince us, that the want of true religion, is the cause of the miseries of which we complain. Religion will indeed prove as a sovereign balsam to sweeten every bitter cup, and strengthen us to pass with patience the days of our mortal course. It will discover to us many comforts in every situation, and we shall know that religion is the true pearl of great price, more precious than silver or gold.

I know some of you may think, "What have I to do with religion, I who am so much taken up with my family, I have scarcely time to take a little rest. They who have nothing to do, may indeed think of religion, but as for me, I am obliged

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to work like a slave to earn a little bread." If any of you who read this, are inclined to think something of this kind, let me answer, you have a very wrong notion of religion if you suppose none can attend to its dictates but they who have much leisure. Neither the wisdom of this world, nor much leisure, are absolutely necessary for the exercise of true religion. more time we have, the more indeed we ought singly to devote to the worship and service of our greatest and best Friend, for such the Almighty is to us :-but religion consists in a state of heart which loves God above all things, and looks up to him as our Father, our Friend, the Teacher of man, who waits to be gracious, who invites us to learn of himself. Let us consider this and we shall know, that in the midst of unavoidable business, we can lift up our thoughts to him, and he will accept prayers of the heart: these will arise

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before him when our lips cannot utter a

petition. But, alas! it is for want of desiring to know God, that so many are strangers unto him, and to the state of their own heart. And O! what a pity it is that any should miss of the happiness of knowing this great and good, this holy and glorious Being! for "this (said the Saviour of mankind) this is life eternal to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." (John, 17th chap.)

What a comfort, what a consolation it is to know him as the God of love, and such the scriptures declare him to be, "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (John's Epistle, 4th chap.) This is the reason why he requires us to seek and serve, to honour and obey him. And O! there is every reason to love him above all. He crowns our days with tender mercies, with abundant loving kindness; he is a kind and compassionate Father, the fountain of Light, of Life and Love. You who are mothers,.