day is equally strong. It occurs in Proverbs xxx. 17,-"The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pluck it out, and the young eagles shall eat it." See also chap. xx. ver. 20. If these pages should meet the eye of a disobedient child, may God in his infinite mercy, ere it be too late, bring such a one back-the prodigal to his father's house. (Luke xv. 21.)

Some children are very fond of money, and love to get little boxes, and hoard it up; and many grown-up children have the same propensity: but the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim. vi. 10); and covetousness is called idolatry (Eph. v. 5.) How striking is the word of Solomon, "Labour not to be rich; cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make to themselves wings, they fly away, as an eagle towards heaven.”—This moment in possession, the next gone. The rich man is a steward; and if faithful to his trust, he feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, and sends portions to them for whom nothing is prepared. His riches are a blessing to himself and to others. Learn, then, my beloved children, to compassionate the poor,-help them with the little you have; and show mercy with cheerfulness: and never speak unkindly to the poorest person. A penny given with cheerfulness and compassion is more welcome to the heart, than a much larger sum given with chilling coldness.

In the terrible judgments on Edom, in the last days, all the most

forbidding of the birds of prey are introduced as building their nests in its ruins: :- "But the cormorant and the bittern shall it; possess the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing. And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be a habitation of dragons, and a court for owls. The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest. There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow; there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them." (Isaiah xxxiv.11—16.)

How awful is this description; and one turns from it with delight to the next chapter: for the same hour that brings judgment on Edom is full of blessing to Israel. "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing." But read the chapter throughout: it is full of triumph, full of blessing.

I might, my beloved children, enlarge yet more; but you can search

out yourselves other passages, where the creatures of this day's creation are used in illustration. Indeed, to the mind seeking for instruction, everything around ministers to it. May you be found among the Israel of God; and then, when the Lord shall come in his glory, you shall be caught up to meet him in the air, and so be ever with the Lord. (1 Thess. iv. 17.) This is the earnest prayer of

Your affectionate Father.