Who vainly make proud man their stay,
Will feel their confidence decay;

But who, in faith, on God depend,
Shall find an everlasting Friend.

Long after Mr. Railton had withdrawn, dependence was the subject of the young people's conversation; and Susan and Fanny heard over again, in simpler language from their mother, much that had fallen from the lips of Mr. Railton.

"LET us see," said Mr. Railton, as he looked round the room before he took his seat among his children, to help them on in learning to feel; "let us see that Miss Pussy is not here, otherwise we may have just such another disturbance as we had when we spoke of meekness."

Susan thought that Pompey had no business to shake poor pussy so very hard as he did at that time: he must have hurt her much, for he had such great long teeth.

very

William thought it was all pussy's own fault; and that Pompey acted quite right in defending himself. If puss had not begun

to quarrel, Pompey would not have touched her. Both Susan and William appealed to their papa. Mr. Railton explained to them that it was a very difficult thing to decide when brute creatures were in fault, seeing that they only followed out the impulses of their nature, and had not reason to direct them. Necessary it certainly was to have them under discipline and control, otherwise they would be to mankind an anoyance, rather than an advantage. "Had you, Susan," said he, "acted as pussy did, it would have been wrong; for you would have shown a quarrelsome temper. And had you, William, acted as Pompey did, it would have been wrong too; for it would have shown a want of meekness and forbearance. It is well that we should know and feel our own faults; and, sometimes, even brute creatures may teach us an important lesson, of which the following is an instance:

The ox knoweth his owner,

And the ass his master's crib:
But Israel doth not know,

My people doth not consider.'-Isa. i. 3.

Come, then, give your attention, all of you; for the subject we have to consider is that of penitence."

Here a degree of greater order, and a more marked attention, took place among the children. Little Fanny, as usual, had crept to her mamma; and all eyes were fixed on Mr. Railton, while he thus addressed them.

"Our present subject, my dear children, is

6

a very important one, and it makes me feel a little more serious than usual. Penitence, or contrition, is heartfelt sorrow for having done wrong, united with a desire to amend. Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of,' 2 Cor. vii. 10. It mourns over sins against God, or against our fellow creatures. It is true, that we cannot sin against one another without sinning against God, and he is sure to know of it; but we may commit many sins against God, of which those around us are altogether ignorant. The prophet Zechariah thus describes penitence as arising from faith in a crucified Saviour: "They shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and mourn, ch. xii. 10; John xix. 37.

"With penitence other feelings are closely connected, such as shame, lowliness of mind, feelings of devotion, hatred of sin, and a longing to be free from all evil, and holy as the angels in heaven. It is of great moment to us that we do not mistake the nature of penitence.

"A child who has played with fire, and been badly burned; a boy who has provoked a dog, and been bitten by him; a thief who has robbed a house, and been taken to prison: all these may be very sorry for what they have done, without being truly penitent: they may be sorry only because they have to suffer, and not sorry for the sin they have committed. This sorrow is very different

from that unfeigned grief and hatred of sin which marks true penitence. The Holy Spirit softens and humbles the heart under a sense of sin. Thus you may know the difference between ungodly sorrow and true penitence.

'Where penitence is felt within,
And true contrition sent;

The heart will sorrow for the sin,
More than the punishment.'

"The truly penitent will ever be anxious to acknowledge their errors, to make amends according to their ability for any injury done by them, and to seek the forgiveness of those they have offended. And if the fault be com mitted against God, they will feel godly sor row, and humble themselves before him.

'With mingled shame and sorrow fall
Before the mighty Lord of all;

Mourn o'er the sins which they have done,
And seek for pardon through his Son.'

"We cannot reasonably hope for pardon and peace without true penitence. To acknowledge our sins to God is necessary to their being forgiven. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,' 1 John i. 8, 9.

"To be truly penitent is the right way, the readiest way, and, in short, the only way to change shadow into sunshine, and gloom into gladness. You will never have a calm heart while you have a burdened conscience.