prosper you, for his name sake. My dear children, he is very merciful; and if you are sorry for your sins, and afraid you shall be cast into the wicked place for them, you must tell him your fears, and he will be gracious to you, and teach you so to believe on our Lord Jesus Christ, that your sins will certainly be all forgiven; and then, oh, how must you love him! When you are tempted to be naughty, and disobedient, or ill-tempered, or idle, pray to him to give you a new heart and a right spirit; and do not give over praying for it till you find a better mind in yourselves; for he will give you the Holy Spirit, if you ask for it. Praise him also for all his mercies to you, especially for raising up such good friends to teach you the way of salvation.

10. Take a cheerful part in the praises of God. You learn hymns, in order to sing those praises. What beautiful hymns they are! I hope you will not merely please yourselves with the tunes, but study the meaning of the words, that your hearts may make melody to the Lord. How sweetly Moses, and the children of Israel, sang upon the banks of the Red Sea, when God had delivered them from the wicked Egyptians! Exodus, xv. How sweetly David sang to his harp and other instruments of music, as you read in the Book of Psalms! Our blessed Saviour sang a hymn with his disciples before he suffered; Matt. xxvi. 30. and Paul and Silas sang the praises of God when they were in prison, at dark midnight, and their feet were made fast in the stocks. Acts, xvi. 25. Oh, may you, dear children, sing his praises in the same blessed spirit, and it will be as sweet incense before his throne.

11. Abhor Swearing. What! a Sunday School child swear! Awful thought! And yet there are some who do! Such wicked children are taking the broad road which leads to hell. And what will [Pg 13]
[Pg 14] be your feelings, if you are cast into that dreadful place, after all the pains which have been taken to lead you to heaven! Your case will be far more dreadful than that of others, who are left to perish in ignorance and sin. Never take the sacred name of God in vain! Never use it but with fear and reverence, and when it is necessary to use it. When careless children call upon the name of God in their common conversation, as many do, exclaiming, Oh, Lord! Oh, God! Lord, have mercy! and the like, it proves that they are very wicked, or at least very thoughtless. Reverence his name, and tremble at the thought of mentioning it lightly.

12. Avoid bad company. Remember the Bible says, "A companion of fools shall be destroyed." "Therefore, come out from among them, and be separate, and I will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." Shun all places of public amusement, particularly taverns and play-houses. Many people call them harmless, and their diversions innocent; but do not believe them; all sorts of wickedness and folly are practised there—gluttony, drunkenness, indecency, swearing, and sins of almost every kind; if you go to them, you will soon become as bad as the rest of those who frequent them; do not mind the scorn of those who may despise you, because you will not run to the same excess of riot as they. If they are your relations, or your acquaintance, endeavour to persuade them to go to the house of God on the Lord's day, and on every other day to keep out of the path of temptation. If they will not be persuaded to do so, at least go not with them into any sinful course. They may endeavour to persuade you, but withstand their entreaties; call to mind the words of Solomon, "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou