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young, is commonly regarded by the old as the haven where they desire to be. But still the feebleness and infirmities of their advanced years make them dependent for many of their comforts on those who are yet in the youth and vigour of their days.

It is probable that most, if not every one of you, has some aged relative, to whose happiness you can contribute by your love and your respect, and by all those little services which it is your duty, and which it ought to be also a pleasure to you, to render to them. I speak not here of the obedience which you well know that it is your bounden duty to show to your parents. I speak now with particular reference to those who are not your parents, but who still are your elders, and your superiors in experience and wisdom.

I need not enumerate all the many ways by which even the youngest child amongst you may show pleasing attentions to the many persons around you, who have this claim to your regard. Your own observation and your own hearts, will show you a thousand ways by which you may add to their

happiness; and particularly to that of your nearer and more intimate friends and connec

tions. If you neglect this duty to them during their lives, painful will your reflections be when they shall be taken away from you. It is a bitter grief to lose those whom we love, and from whom we have received kindnesses or indulgences. But you will find it a grief still bitterer if you shall have to accuse yourselves, after you have lost them, of any omission of duty, of any neglect of those kind attentions which were their due. Worst of all, if you shall have embittered their latter days by any bad conduct of your own, and have so brought, or helped to bring, their grey heads in sorrow to the grave. How much would you then wish, but how unavailingly, to recall them, if it were possible, once more into life, that you might endeavour to make amends for your past behaviour towards them?

O then, my dear children, while you have yet the blessing of retaining your friends, while they are yet spared to you, do not be forgetful of what you owe to them. Remember that respect towards the old is an

act of piety to God. Do not by any forgetfulness of this truth in these your early days, lay up a store of sorrow and self-reproach for your latter days. Conduct yourselves with such constant duty, obedience, and attentive kindness, to every one of your relations and friends, let their age and condition be what it may, that your own hearts may never reproach you. In the performance of this general duty, do not forget that "a hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of godliness!" Consider this truth, both in your behaviour to those whom you now see old, while are young; and, also, as a hope or consolation with which God furnishes you for your own old age, if it be his pleasure that you live to reach it, and if you live also in the practice of his commands.

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SERMON XXIV.

ON SICKNESS.

"The Lord comfort him when he lieth sick upon his bed: make thou all his bed in his sickness.-Psalm xli. 3.

THOSE Who are young, and strong, and active, and who enjoy the blessing of health, do not often think of the time when they shall be ill, and weak, and in pain. Nevertheless, we all know that our health, and bodily ease hang but by a thread; and that a slight accident, or the most trifling derangement of any part of our frame, may consign us to the bed of sickness. "In the midst of life we are in death!" Children are not exempted from the evils of sickness. Indeed some children are of a constitutional tenderness or delicacy of frame, which subjects them both to more frequent and more serious illnesses than grown-up people are subject to. For these reasons it may be useful that I should point out to you the conduct which is best and

wisest for you, when you are ill, and also the benefits which may be derived from illness itself.

I must begin by impressing on your minds that the time of illness is not to be a time of idleness, or a time in which you may allow yourselves to give your minds up to your own murmurs, and the sense of your sufferings. On the contrary, it is a time when the spirit ought to be more than ever under control, that it may be the more equal to the important duties which you have to perform. For illness, as well as health, has its own duties. The first of these duties is resignation to the will of God. In whatever way we are afflicted, we know that we are not afflicted but by his permission, and that he would not give that permission if it were not for our good. This reflection ought in all reason to make us endeavour to bear all our pains with an entire submission to his will. We know that since they are sent as trials of our patience, we are serving and pleasing God by bearing them patiently. Thus though religion cannot remove the sharpness of suffering, it will give

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