22. "Forgiving one another is such an important part of our duty," said his mother, "that I think it will be well for me to read you a little more about it."

23. She accordingly turned to the 18th chapter, and read from the 21st verse to the end.

24. "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

25. "Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.

26.Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

27. "And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him which owed him ten thousand talents.

28. "But, forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

29. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

31. "But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, which owed him a hundred pence; and he laid hands on

him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

32. "And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

33. "And he would not; but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

34. "So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

35. "Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me.

36. "Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee?

37. "And his lord lord was was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

38. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

39. "So you see, my son," said Mrs. Walton, "how important it is that we should forgive one another; and we ought to practise this when we are young, or I am afraid we never shall when we are old. It is very difficult for grown-up people to change their habits."

40. "I hope I shall never forget this lesson," said Philip; "I will, at least, try hard to remember it, and to practise it."

41. "Do so, my son," said his mother. "You will find it will make you much happier. You will never be sorry for it, either in this world or the next."

Repeat the substance of this lesson. How often did Christ tell Peter he ought to forgive his brother? Who is the earthly father of all mankind? Are we all brothers, then? Who is our heavenly Father? Are we not all doubly brothers, then; having one earthly parent, Adam, and one heavenly parent, God? Can any one offend us, as often as we offend God? What does Christ say about God forgiving us? he will forgive us, if we do what? When does Christ say that God will not forgive us? If we were all to practise this rule, of forgiving one another, would the world be more or less happy? What kind of a world would it be if every one were to revenge his wrongs? If every one was to strike his brother when he thought he was wronged, and be struck back, would not the world be one great battle-field? How does Christ tell us to treat our enemies? "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father, which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise.on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matt. v. 43–48.

LESSON XVII.

Intemperance and Murder.

1.. "OH, father," cried Isabella Hunter, as she came in from school with her little brothers, "have you heard the dreadful news ?"

2. "I have not," said her father. "What is the matter ?"

3. "John Renton killed his wife last night."

4. “Killed his wife, do you say? How did that happen?"

5. 66 They say he has been drunk for a week past," said Isabella, "and threatened his wife, several times, that he would kill her, if she did not get him some more rum. Poor creature! she did not know where to get it, and at last he took up an axe, and split her skull open at one blow." 6. "Dreadful! dreadful!"

father.

cried her

7. "And the poor little children," said John, "when they waked up in the morning, found their mother dead, the floor covered with blood, and their father, all bloody, lying quite stupid by her side, with the axe still in his hand."

8. "What has become of the poor creatures?" said Mr. Hunter.

9. "The father has been sent to jail, and

one of the neighbors has taken the two children for the present," said Isabella.

10. "You see, my dear children," said Mr. Hunter, "the dreadful effect of drink ing intoxicating liquors. A few years ago, Mr. Renton was a respectable man, in excellent health, and with a good farm of his own. Now he is miserably poor, his health is ruined, and he has been carried to jail for the murder of his own wife, the mother of his children. And all this is done by his drinking rum. Let this be a warning to you all, never to taste these abominable liquors. Six years ago Renton would not have believed it possible he could ever have come to this."

11. "Are wine and cider as bad as rum and brandy ?" asked John.

12. There is not much difference," said his father. "Many people begin with the one, and end with the other. Nobody likes strong liquors at first, unless they are mixed with water and sugar. But the longer we use them, the stronger we want them, until, like poor Renton, we cannot be satisfied with any thing weaker than pure spirit."

13. "Are all murders caused by drinking?" said little George.

14. No, my dear," said his father. "Drinking is the cause of an immense number of crimes, but not of all. The first murder was committed before intoxi