THE LAW.

THE ancient Jews used to call their sons, when they attained the age of five years, "sons of the law." At thirteen, the Roman boys, who were trained in habits of strict obedience, by the mother, passed under the sterner discipline of the father, to be prepared for the duties of a citizen.

Parental authority, thus carefully enforced, on children, led them when they became men, to submit peacefully, to the law of the land. Have you ever considered what a blessing it is, to be governed by just laws? Without them, there is no protection, either to property, or to life.

Look at the countries which are ruled by a despot. Think of the people, who of old built the pyramids, or of those who still labour on the canals, and public works of Egypt, driven from their homes, subjected to unpitied toil, with scarce a stipend sufficient to support existence : yet to whom could they appeal? since he who caused their misery, would be their judge.

The Greeks, when under the Turkish yoke, strove to conceal the little pittance they had

earned, or the slender harvest of their vine and olive, lest it should excite the avarice of their oppressors, and the bread be snatched from their starving households. You will recollect the Turks themselves are liable to the bastinado, the bow-string, or the scimitar, at the will of a tyrant.

Even our own ancestors, the people of England, were subject to many encroachments and wrongs, before Magna-Charta, the foundation of their liberty, was obtained from King John, somewhat more than six hundred years ago; which guards every individual, in the enjoyment of his property, and life, unless either or both, should be declared forfeit, by the laws of the land.

How thankful should we be, that the happiness of our nation, is protected by those just and equal laws, without which, there is no true liberty. These should be obeyed, and the magistrates who administer them, respected. In order to become a good citizen, principles of submission to just authority, should be carried through the whole of education.

Sometimes, boys imagine, that to appear to be their own masters, is manly, and to speak lightly of their superiors, gives them consequence. They are mistaken. Insubordination shows either an erring judgment, or a wayward heart. History will show, that the greatest and

best men, were obedient in their childhood. Reverence for those in authority, is always beautiful in youth.

A good scholar will be dutiful to his teachers. He will learn the rules of the school, and keep them. He will never repay those who labour for his instruction, by subverting their regulations. By his orderly, dignified deportment, and his care to keep the law of knowledge, he proves that he will become a worthy citizen, perhaps, a wise magistrate.

The virtues of a good member of the community, have their root in family-order, and filial duty. The first law laid upon every child, is obedience to his parents. Love, submission, and respect, are their due. If he is unfaithful in these earliest, simplest requisitions, will he not fearfully fail amid the more complex and difficult duties of life?

Is it possible that any of you, can deem of slight importance, your conduct to your parents? Strangers and travellers in an unexplored country, will you disobey your guides? Untaught by experience, will you rush into temptation, and disregard the voice of your counsellors? Subject to sorrow and affliction, will you be indifferent to your comforters,―ungrateful to the guardians of your helpless infancy?

Beware of the vanity which whispers, you are competent to direct yourselves. Beware of the

unimpressible temper which despises parental admonition, and of the obstinacy that breaks through its restraints. Nor yet be satisfied with the passive part of your duty, for you are bound to do all in your power to promote the happiness of your parents.

Reflect on their cares and anxieties,-their watchings and labours for you; how they have had patience with your ignorance, and loved you amid all your faults, with a changeless love. Can you ever receive favours like these, from any other created being?

Next to your Father in Heaven, love and obey your parents. Conform your wishes to theirs. By your smiling brow, and respectful manners, show them that you find happiness in the exercise of filial affections. For if you carelessly afflict those, whom you can never fully repay, Hope must sigh over the fading promise of your future years.

When our Saviour, at the age of twelve, reasoned with the Jewish doctors, who boasted of their learning, and skill in argument, he was subject to the commands of his mother, even while she, astonished at his wisdom, "kept all his sayings, and pondered them in her heart."

Amid the lightnings that wrapped Mount Sinai, in robes of flame, and the thunders that shook it to its base, when the people were afraid to come

near, and even Moses, the man of God, trembled, the voice of the Eternal, giving the Law, in terror and in majesty, was heard to proclaim "Honour thy father and thy mother."

Still, He, who "in wrath ever delights to remember mercy, paused with unspeakable condescension, to add the cheering promise, "that thy days may be long upon the land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee."

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Let these words of the Almighty, encourage to perseverance, those who keep reverently the law of their parents, and arrest those who the right, and yet the wrong pursue." whoever, in this respect, stiffles the voice of conscience, should remember, that at last, a course of disobedience, will be found to "bite as the serpent, and sting as the adder."

While we insist on filial duty, as not only binding in itself, but the foundation of other virtues, we feel that not the young alone, are "under tutors and governors." We all owe the obedience of children, to the Former of our bodies,the Father of our spirits. The wisest, and the mightiest to whom he has given his Holy Word, are bound to be governed by it.

He has placed us in this world, as in a great school. We are all pupils. The Divine Law, is our schoolmaster. It takes cognizance of thoughts, words, and actions. Death announces when our school is over. But he does so, only