Envy not the appearance of happiness in any man; for you know not his secret griefs.

Murmur not at the afflictions you suffer; for afflictions may be blessings in disguise.

Of a COLON.

This point requires a pause, something longer than a semicolon; but not so complete a one as a period. Pronounce the words immediately before it steadily and firmly; and, as it were, suspend your voice for a moment, in such a manner, as to give the hearer a proper intimation, that the sentence is not completed.

Sentences divided by a COLON.

LESSON XXIII.

Apply thyself to learning: it will redound much to thy

honour.

Read the Scriptures: they are the dictates of divine wisdom.

Fear God: he is thy creator and preserver.

Keep close to thy business: it will keep thee from wickedness, poverty, and shame.

Harbour no malice in thy heart: it will be a viper in thy bosom.

Do not despise human life: it is the gift of God.

Do not insult a poor man: his misery entitles him to pity. All mankind want assistance: all therefore ought to assist. Cherish a spirit of benevolence: it is a god-like virtue.

A tear is sometimes the indication of a noble mind: Jesus wept.

Of a PERIOD.

Here let the reader make a full stop, and take his breath with ease and freedom.

LESSON XXIV.

son.

Truth is the basis of every virtue. It is the voice of reaLet its precepts be religiously obeyed. Never transgress its limits. Every deviation from truth is criminal. Abhor a falsehood. Let your words be ingenuous. Sincerity possess

es the most powerful charm. It acquires the veneration of mankind. Its path is security and peace. It is acceptable to the Deity. Blessed are the pure in heart.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS;

Which God, above three thousand years ago, delivered to Moses upon Mount Sinai, the people of Israel standing round about the mountain, and the mountain quaking and burning with fire, and a thick cloud resting upon the mountain, and the voice of a trumpet being heard exceeding loud, so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.-Exod. xix. 16.

I.

Thou shalt have none other gods but me.

II.

Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them: for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and show mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

III.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

IV.

Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day: six days shalt thou labour, and do all that thou hast to do but the seventh is the sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt do no manner of work, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy cattle, and the stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it.

V.

Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee,

Thou shalt do no murder.

VI.

VII.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

VIII.

Thou shalt not steal.

IX.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

X.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his.

A short History of our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ.

Eighteen hundred and seven years ago, Jesus Christ was born into the world at Bethlehem, a city of Judea. His birth was attended with several wonderful circumstances: his mother was a pure virgin: an angel appearing to a company of shepherds, declared to them that on that day was born a Saviour who was Christ the Lord: an extraordinary star was seen by certain wise men in the east, which guided them to the place where he was laid. He lived with his parents as a private person until he was thirty years of age: at which time he showed himself to his countrymen the Jews, and declared himself to be that extraordinary person of whom the prophets spake, and whom they had been long expecting; that he was sent amongst them by God; that he was the person appointed to judge the quick and the dead at the end of the world: that all mankind shall come forth again after their death, they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation; that there will be no respect of persons: that men will be rewarded and punished in different degrees, every one according to the deeds done in the flesh.

He proved that God was with him, that what he said was true, and would actually come to pass, and that he was really the person he declared himself to be, by working various astonishing miracles, by healing all manner of diseases with a word, by making the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak, the lame to walk, by restoring sight to persons born blind, by walking on the sea, by quieting a storm, by feeding five thousand with a few loaves and fishes, and on three occasions by raising dead people to life again.-Wherever he went great multitudes gathered about him, and many became his disciples, amongst whom he chose twelve, who were to be his chief ministers, and whom he called Apostles. He taught the people every where that they should follow after substantial holiness of heart and conversation, as that which alone could bring them to heaven: he himself also affording, in his own behaviour, a perfect pattern of purity, innocence, devotion, charity, patience, resignation, humility, of entire obedience to the will of God, and of never-ceasing endeavours to do good.

After having thus publicly preached and taught for the space of three years, he was seized by the rulers of the Jews, and carried before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governour, as a malefactor. Pontius Pilate, at the desire of the Jews, sentenced him to death; according to which sentence he was crucified: and after he was dead, his body was taken down from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea, and laid in a new sepulchre. On the third day, that is, the next day but one after his death, and upon the day answering to our Sunday, he arose again from the dead; was seen by, and conversed with, many of his disciples; his body was touched, handled, and examined by some of them, to show that he was not a spirit which they saw. This continued for the space of forty days after his resurrection; at the end of which, he was, in the presence of his apostles, lifted up to heaven, where he sits for ever at the right hand of God in power and glory.

After his ascension, his apostles went forth into all countries, teaching and preaching every where, that by believing in him, that is, by believing that he was sent from God; and by keeping his word, that is, by leading innocent, honest, and virtuous lives, and by cultivating pious, humane, and charitable dispositions, men should save their souls, when Christ cometh again to judge the world.

Some who attended upon our Saviour, wrote an account of

what they had seen him do, and heard him speak; others recorded what they had heard related by those who were eyewitnesses of the fact, and had been present at his discourses. These accounts compose our Gospels. The apostles wrote letters of comfort and instruction to the churches or assemblies of Christians which they had converted, or which were formed in different parts of the country.-These letters are the Epistles in the New Testament.

The Prayer which our Lord Jesus Christ taught his disciples, commonly called the Lord's Prayer.

Our Father which art in heaven: hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Parable of the ungrateful Servant.

MATT. XVIII. 23-35.

The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, which would take an account of his servants.

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

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.

The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants which owed him a hundred pence: and he laid hands upon him, and took him by the throat, saying, pay me that thou owest.

And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

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