As creatures, God has a right to govern us as he pleases: it is our duty to submit, and it is both useless and sinful to rebel and repine. But we are permitted to view the matter in a more inviting and endearing aspect. If we are Christians, God is our Father; and as a wise, and kind, and tender parent, he orders all things for the welfare of his children. We are ignorant, inexperienced, and unfit to manage our own concerns; our greatest satisfaction must arise from knowing that our Father will manage-our Father will provide. We have only to obey, and submit, and follow. He knows best what to bestow, or refuse, or withhold, or inflict; and He has our welfare so much at heart, that He will be sure to administer the right dispensation at the right time. We cannot alter our condition by fretting and perplexing ourselves; still less can we gain tranquillity and peace. These belong only to the child-like spirit that casts all its care upon Him who careth for us; and carries every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, to a Father's disposal, and reposes on a Father's love and care: then the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keeps the heart and mind, through Christ Jesus. Oh, then, if we would learn to govern our tempers aright, let us cultivate this sweet spirit of submission :--

"I charge my thoughts-Be humble still,
And all my carriage mild;

Content, my Father, with thy will,
And quiet as a child."

The want of this humble, submissive spirit always deprives worldly men of real enjoyment in the midst of all their possessions; and the opposite of

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it often drives them, when worldly losses and crosses come upon them, to turbulence and desperation. In the expressive language of Scripture, "they fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward." Even true believers, for want of cultivating these holy habits of mind, often act very inconsistently with their profession, and bring upon themselves and those around them much needless misery. If the prophet Jonah had cultivated a spirit of humble submission to God, he would have spared himself much sin and misery, of which his history is the painful record. In particular, he would not have yielded to that fretful, irritated, rebellious state of mind, that led him to say, on the withering of a gourd, "I do well to be angry, even unto death."

But there is also a spirit of contentment, which we shall do well habitually to cherish and cultivate; not merely a spirit of submissive yielding to things as they are, but of cheerful satisfaction in them; a spirit that loves to look at the bright side of things, and makes the best of them; that is so taken up in counting the mercies, that some of the little troubles pass unnoticed, and even the great ones look smaller; and if they are not really lighter, the spirit is strengthened to bear them. In going along the streets of London, I have sometimes thought a spirit of Christian contentment was like a porter's knot; it enables the possessor to carry a great load with ease and cheerfulness; while a fretful, murmuring spirit is wearied out with a burden half the weight. David was under the happy influence of a contented spirit when he uttered such sentiments

as these "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth." “How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand." "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies." Oh it is a happy thing to have the soul in such a cheerful, thankful frame; and a bounden duty to cultivate it; and to learn, like the holy apostle, "in whatsoever state we are, therewith to be content ;" to be instructed and habituated both how to be abased and how to abound, both to be full and to suffer need; and to find that we 66 can do all things," and bear all things, and be happy in the midst of all things, "through Christ, which strengtheneth us:"-Phil. iv. 13.

Father, whate'er of earthly bliss

Thy sovereign will denies,
Accepted at thy throne of grace,
Let this petition rise.

Give me a calm and thankful heart,
From every murmur free;
The blessings of thy grace impart,
And make me live to thee.

Let the sweet hope that Thou art mine,
My life and death attend;

Thy presence through my journey shine,
And crown my journey's end.

In order to the proper government of our tempers towards our fellow-creatures, we should carefully cherish and cultivate a spirit of benevolence-a disposition to take pleasure in the happiness of every living thing. This disposition will manifest itself in various ways, according to the several relations we sustain to others. To those above us it will inspire suitable feelings of respect, deference, and good-will; we shall render "honour to whom honour is due." To those in any way beneath us it will inspire condescension and kindness; we shall learn not to mind high things, but to condescend to men of low estate. It will inspire compassion to the afflicted and destitute, philanthropy to all mankind, whether friends, strangers, or enemies; and, what is, perhaps, most difficult of all to learn, it will teach us consideration to those around us. A proper regard to the feelings, wishes, expectations, and claims of those with whom we come in contact, is one of the highest attainments of Christian benevolence; and it is, perhaps, one of the most unequivocal evidences that the fountain of the heart is purified by Divine grace. This is the disposition that must and will do good; that will be alive to every opportunity and call to do good; and it will wonderfully quicken the invention and exertion to devise and carry out plans and means for effecting its benevolent purposes. It will seek and it will find happiness in witnessing and promoting the happiness of others. Genuine benevolence is one of the most effectual sweeteners and regulators of temper; for "love suffereth long and is kind, love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own:" yes, benevolence is the very antipodes of selfishness, and selfishness is the most fruitful source of evil tempers.

Another disposition to be cultivated is meekness. This comprehends candour, or a disposition to put the best construction on the words and actions of others; opposed to that bitterness of spirit which would magnify every trifle into a cause of offence. "Love thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; believeth all things, hopeth all things." It includes forbearance, or a disposition to overlook and pass by offences rather than to resent them. This is opposed to a hasty spirit-a spirit of burning wrath. "Be slow to wrath." "Love suffereth long, and is kind; beareth all things, endureth all things." It will guard us also from giving utterance to hasty and bitter expressions, whatever provocations may arise. It will lead us to give up a right rather than contend for it; to maintain quietness in the midst of strife; not to return railing for railing, but, contrariwise, blessing; and to answer the rashness of folly and impetuosity with the meekness of wisdom. A meek and quiet spirit in the sight of God is of great price; it is one of the brightest ornaments that can adorn a young female; it should be constantly sought by prayer, and is well worth all the labour and self-denial she can bestow in attaining it. Many really pious persons have had bitterly to lament over their want of this Christian meekness and self-possession: though possessing a spirit of general benevolence, they have been the