Page:Selection of religious anecdotes.pdf/7

7 This observation is very exeellent so far as it goes ; for as it relates to this world, in our intercourse with men, honesty is necessary and important.

" An honest man's the noblest work of God."

Let us remember, however, that mere morality will not carry us to heaven. With honesty must be joined tho possession of the grace of God, the true principle of religion, without which all is vain.

FATAL EFFECTS OF PASSION.

A schoolmaster at Macclesfield, having heard that a person had insulted his daughter, went to the house of a neighbour where he lodged, in order to expostulate with him. While he was waiting, he got into a most violent passion, which increased to so great an extent on the appearance of the offender, that he sunk back in a chair and expired !

It is astonishing that persons do not attend diligently and resolutely to the government of the temper. " He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty ; and he that ruleth his spirit," says Solomon, " hath more glory than he that taketh a city." It is an awful fact that anger is not only a short madness, but even murder. Its first risings, therefore, should be suppressed, and parents should commenco with their children at an early age, and endeavour, as far as they are capable, to restrain and correct their bad tempers, and enforce their corrections and instructions by their own example, for " Example is better than precept."

SALADIN

It was a humbling lesson that the great Saladin, when dying, gave to his soldiers. Calling for his standard-bearer, he ordered him to take his winding-sheet upon his pike, and go out to tho camp with it and tell the army, " That of all his conquests, victories, and triumphs, he had nothing now left him, but that piece of linen to wrap his body in for burial !"

As we brought nothing into this world, so it is eertain we can carry nothing but. All that will remain to us at last will be our coffin and our grave-clothes !

BENEFIT OF EARLY RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.

Rev. J. Newton. When he lost his mother and went out into the world, the light he had received beeame dim. Associating with ungodly companions, he proceeded to extraordinary lengths in wickedness. Still, the seed sown in his infaney, though buried, was not destroyed. The instructions