perversion of it goes to nullify the Lord's command, "Do good hoping for nothing again." Now we ought to wish others to act upon this command to ourselves, not for our selfish benefit, but for their sakes, because it is heavenly to do so, and will bring them eternal happiness.

Q. Can you state any other misapplication of the Golden Rule?

A. There is another in the case of those who try to evade it by suppressing their own wishes and demands, in order to avoid compliance with the wishes of others, thinking that by exacting nothing from others, others will have no right to expect anything from them. Thus a rich man may say, "I want no one to give to me, why then should I give to others?" The unsocial person may say, "I want no one to visit me for social intercourse, why then should any one expect a visit from me." The selfish student may say, "I want nobody's conversation, what right then has any one to expect to get information from me?" The vindictive man may say, "I never act so as to require forbearance, why then should any one demand forbearance from me?" These persons understand the Rule to say, "Whatsoever ye do not wish from others, do not yield to others." The Rule was given to counteract selfishness, but such persons turn it into a warrant for indulging it.

Q. Can you state a still grosser perversion of this Rule?

A. It exists with some who are too careless about religion to give it, or anything belonging to it, a serious thought. They do not deliberately pervert it, but, from an unrestrained selfishness, they so act as to make it say, "Whatever others do to you, do ye so to them;" thus making a cold calculating return of gratitude the height of Christian virtue, and fancying that nevertheless they are observers of the Golden Rule.

Q. What is your conclusion from the existence of these liabilities to mistake in carrying the Rule into practice?

A. That it is intended for the use of those chiefly, who, in seeking regeneration "follow after charity," in order to assist them in carrying out the command given to them to "love one another." All the Divine laws are laws of charity; for charity, or "love, is the fulfilling of the law;" and by means of the Golden Rule we are enabled to judge more accurately whether our actions are according to the laws of charity, or not. But those who are not seeking regeneration by following after charity, and thus are not seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness in the first place," and are not in a state of mind to apply the Rule either accurately or faithfully. [To be continued.]

SHORT ADDRESSES TO CHILDREN.-No. 1.

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS,

In the introduction to the first question in your Catechism, it is remarked, that having been baptized, you are considered as belonging to the Lord's Church. Now you must take notice, that as there are good and bad servants, and good and bad children, often in the same house, who all belong to one family, so there are sometimes good and bad members of the same church, and of the same society; but it is the good members of the church only that will be rewarded, whilst the bad will be punished. Therefore when the Lord Jesus Christ commanded His disciples to baptize into His name, it was in order that the persons baptized should become good members of His church, and receive from Him those spiritual gifts which would fit them for the kingdom of heaven; for to be baptized into His name, is to receive His nature and qualities, which you will all do if you fulfil the baptismal covenants. Remember, therefore, that your having been baptized into the Lord's church will be of no advantage to you as you grow up, unless you obey the commands and follow the example of Jesus Christ, your God and Saviour; for baptism in itself neither gives faith nor salvation, but is only a sign that the Lord is willing to give both to, you

if you will prepare to receive them. So, that, my dear children, if you wish to become good members of the church, you must begin by being obedient to your parents, overcoming your bad passions and evil tempers, and by being kind and affectionate to your brothers, sisters, and playmates ;-behaving properly, and doing all the good you can to every body about you.

THE WAY TO BE HAPPY.

DEAR LITTLE CHILD, You know there are angels, that they live in heaven, and are always happy, and you say to yourself, I will be an angel-will live in heaven for ever, where every thing is so beautiful and good; but do you know, darling one, how to become an angel? do you know what has to be done before you can live in heaven? can you understand, that sometimes, nay, often, it will be very hard to do all that is required of you? do you know that, the way to be happy is to put away, far out of your little heart, all naughty, unkind, selfish thoughts and feelings? for these are in the way when they are in your heart;-they fill it all up, and keep growing larger and larger till by and by there will be no room for all those lovely, kind angel-thoughts and feelings, which will make you happy, and after a while fit you for heaven.

But as fast as you put away naughty wishes or thoughts, good ones will take their place, and they will keep growing larger, till there will be no place for naughty things any more, and though it will be hard sometimes, yet the more you try, the easier it will become, and perhaps if you listen, you may, as it were, hear angel-voices encouraging you. As the leaves wave to and fro they will seem to speak comfort and hope to you, and as you look at the flowers and all that God has so bountifully given you, you will say to yourself, Our Father is very kind to give me these charming things; I will resist and put away evil so as to be enabled to use them. And you will think that your mind is like a garden where the good thoughts and feelings are the lovely flowers and useful shrubs, and the kind, good acts, which you do, are like their perfume, and you will say again-Weeds are bad, naughty thoughts; I cannot have them in the garden of my heart, for they will grow so fast that they will choke all the good and true feelings which the angels plant there.

And then you will pray for assistance from heaven to fall like the summer rain and dew upon your heart-garden, that the flowers may grow fast and strong.

Thus, dear child, you will find out the way to be happy.

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