subjects of great irascibility of temper; and on a sudden, though, perhaps, trifling provocation, have expressed themselves with very unbecoming warmth, have wounded the feelings of others, and made themselves work for bitter repentance. Dear young people, cultivate a meek and lowly spirit, if you would be happy in yourselves, beloved by those around you, and an ornament to your Christian profession.

Then we must cultivate, also, a spirit of forgiveness. In this world of sin, where we carry about so much imperfection in ourselves, and meet so much in others, it is impossible but that offences will come. Well, then, we must accustom ourselves to the delightful habit of forgiving and forgetting all the injuries we sustain. Why should we fret our minds and embitter our spirits by brooding over them? It will never repair them. The best way is, with Christian magnanimity and benevolence, to obliterate them all from the book of our remembrance. It is easy to forgive injuries, if we realize the motive and the model-" even as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven us ;" and it is easy to forget them too, if we heartily set about returning good for evil. If our hearts are really set upon doing good, we shall not have much time or feeling to waste upon resenting the injuries we may suffer; but, in spite of all offences, we shall be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another. One idea suggests itself which must not be overlooked. In recommending to young persons the cultivation of these dispositions and habits of mind, it is possible for them to imagine that their circumstances do not call for the exercise

of all this benevolence, meekness, and forgiveness : they have not as yet any great evils to encounter, any great injuries to sustain. They should, however, be reminded, that the little vexations and petty provocations of every-day life call for the exercise of these graces no less in reality, though not equally in degree, than the more serious offences and formidable troubles of the great world: and as the child who has not yet learned warily to turn aside, or surmount the little obstacles that obstruct his path in the carpeted nursery, is utterly unfit to make his way over the rough pebbles of the street, so if young persons have never learned that self-discipline which will enable them to bear with patience their own little trials, it is vain to suppose that when greater ills assail them, they will at once start to the possession and exercise of those graces which the occasion requires. Depend upon it, the earlier you study the grammar of patience, forbearance, self-denial, and forgiveness, the more thoroughly will its great principles be inwrought into your very frame, and the more easy will be its exemplifications when occasions arise.

But now, supposing that these holy principles are inwrought into the heart, (and the supposition implies that it is under the renewing, softening, and sanctifying influences of Divine grace, for benevolence, meekness, and forgiveness are not the natural growth of the human heart,) and that we wish to encourage their stability and growth, we must guard against the very first tendency to the workings of an evil temper, whether sullen, morose, or passionate; check the first angry thought; reason with the

heart, "Do I well to be angry?" We must recollect the precepts of Scripture, the example of the Saviour; and send up a prayer for strength and grace to resist the devil. "The discretion of a "He that is slow to

man deferreth his anger." anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city." If conscious of the risings of evil temper, at least let the expressions of it be resolutely controlled. In such a case, how suitable is the psalmist's prayer, "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips!" If we can sufficiently command ourselves to give utterance to the “soft answer which turneth away wrath," it may be well to endeavour to throw the oil of peace upon the waves of passion; at least, let us forbear the "grievous words which stir up strife," and which would add fuel to the flame of our own irritation, as well as provoke an angry reply from another. We should also duly consider the dispositions and tempers of those with whom we have to do. We have our own peculiarities, and we wish them to be borne with: let us learn to bear with those of others, "and consider one another, to provoke," not to wrath, but " to love and to good works." Study to ascertain what may be calculated to soothe and please, and practise it; and avoid what would have a tendency to disturb and annoy. Thus "seek and peace, it :" the repetipursue tion, if such it be, is excusable.

The application of these principles is suitable to the minute circumstances of every-day life; indeed we are more apt to be off our guard in trifles than in greater matters. Mr. Newton used to

say, "It requires as much grace to bear well the breaking of a china plate, as the loss of an only child." The peace and comfort of domestic life are broken up, not so much by violent quarrels upon important matters, as by a succession of petty irritations, altercations, and disputes about the veriest trifles, so insignificant in themselves, that their very origin can hardly be remembered. If we would cultivate a peaceable disposition in ourselves, and enjoy and diffuse harmony with those around us, we must, even in these small matters, constantly endeavour "to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." If conscious of having given offence, we should be humble and prompt in our acknowledgments; if no offence was intended, a kind and candid explanation may set all to rights. It would be better to bear a little undeserved blame, than to hazard further irritation by self-justification. But, if conscious that the fault really is with us, we ought to confess and apologize, and shall honour rather than disgrace ourselves by doing so. It is a proud and malevolent spirit that would be unwilling thus to yield; but " yielding pacifieth great offences." Then let there be no approach to an implacable and unforgiving spirit. If injured, let it be our glory to pass by a transgression, heartily to forgive the offender, and to hail, or to originate the first motion towards reconciliation; and "let not the sun go down upon your wrath;" and "when ye pray, forgive, if ye have a quarrel against any." Surely we must practise these commands, or we can never venture to say, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us.

Self-examination is an important means for guiding us in the regulation of temper. Even five minutes spent every evening in reviewing the state of our mind and feelings through the day, would be of essential use, in leading us to recollect our sins and failings, and tracing them to their source. It would humble us before God, under a sense of our imperfections; it would make us aware of our weak points, and lead us to set a special guard against them for the future; and it would give us a growing conviction of our need of Divine grace and strength to quicken our vigilance and fortify our resolutions.

Then there is a mirror which we should constantly contemplate, in order to show us the deformity of our own evil tempers, and to lead us more and more to admire and imitate the sweet lines of benevolence, meekness, patience and forgiveness, which we there behold. It is the perfect and glorious example of our blessed Lord. "I beseech you," said the apostle, "by the meekness and gentleness of Christ." "Let the same mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke.' "If, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God." "For even hereunto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps;

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