THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT. Thou shalt not commit adultery. The flesh lusteth contrary to the spirit. The works of the flesh are manifest. Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, Gal. v. This Commandment forbids intemperance, dissipation, gluttony, selfishness, indecency of language, demeanour, and dress, with vanity. Most of these constitute what are styled the pleasures of life, but which only lead to discontent and disease. They are unsatisfying in their nature and doleful in effect: for, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and when sin is finished, it bringeth forth death. These are inherent in our nature, and are only to be hated and put away in the strength of the Lord. "When the conscience and the flesh fight, the flesh conquers; when the spirit and the flesh fight, the spirit conquers. What bitter grief David experienced when he sinned against this Commandment. The indulgence of these sins of intemperance is the crying sin of our country;_ would that people thought and acted as Bishop Taylor, "He that tempts me to drink beyond my pleasure, civilly invites me to a fever, and to lay aside my reason. It is better for me to grieve thee, O man, than to be tormented by thy kindness the next day and the morrow after." Certain it is that no man ever repented that he rose from the table sober, healthful, and with his wits about him, but many have repented they sat so long that their health, their virtue, and their God departed from them. By faring deliciously every day, men become senseless of the evils of mankind, selfish, the indulgence of their appetite is all they care for. Mothers, be sure in this respect you have much to answer for; the indulgence of a child's appetite for dainties they cry for, for food not suitable to them, by sups and bits which they must have because they are passionate, or fretful, or delicate; this is to foster greediness and selfishness. Teach them to be content with suitable things, and the way is to establish it as a rule to yourself and steadily to pursue it. Love of dress, and vanity, though not peculiar, are most frequent amongst women. "Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of plaiting the hair and putting on of apparel, but let it be the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price." Let this be impressed on the minds of youthful females; hold up these virtues as the only adorning which excite your admiration. Time will frequently correct this weakness, and do not imagine pride and vanity are only to be discerned by dress, both may reside under rags and rudeness. The desire of pleasing is not unfrequently the cause of a love of dress, then let it be seen neatness and modesty of attire and demeanour are the means of gaining your favour. Point out the distresses and misery of them who sacrifice their parents' hard-earned money to their selfishness, in obtaining unsuitable attire. Never praise or favour a child on account of beauty; it is the sure means of planting vanity in the heart. Let young women read the opinion of a great and good man. "Diamonds cannot make a woman virtuous nor him to value her who sees her put them off, when chastity and modesty are her brightest ornament. Indeed, the outward ornament is fit to take fools, but they are not worth the taking. But she that hath a wise husband must entice him to an eternal dearness by the veil of modesty; and the grave robes of chastity, the ornament of meekness, and the jewels of faith and charity; her brightness must be purity, and she must shine round about with sweetness and friendship; and she shall be pleasant while she lives, and desired when she die."-Taylor. MAND THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT. Thou shalt not steal. Keep thy hands from picking and stealing. The sin of stealing and pilfering is, perhaps, more anxiously avoided than others. The English may be termed an honest people; but there is another view of this law, called conscientiousness, which signifies freedom from deceit; an upright mode of acting, which, though more attended to here than in many other countries, is far from being universal. Some will defraud when they can, without being detected; this is not honesty. There is another virtue here included, sincerity, not saying one thing and meaning another; not exaggerating. Perhaps single-hearted sincerity is one of the rarest virtues met with;" although we are accounted a sincere people, we are apt to yield to the opinions of superiors; we are apt to become modest when we ought boldly to declare the truth. 66 We find Jacob guilty of deceit, of fraud; he deceived his father, he defrauded his brother. He was punished justly by being himself deceived and defrauded by Laban his uncle. So we find, on all occasions, that God will not clear the guilty, though they be numbered among his servants. Children should then be encouraged always to act with conscientiousness, sincerity, and |