them, and help them, so that I may have a peaceful, happy family around me, and that will be doing something for me, a great deal for me.

In a way similar to this, you can do something for your Maker. One of the methods which God has chosen in making his human children happy, is by so placing them together in the world, that they may make each other happy. And when they make each other happy, by doing real and lasting good to each other, they are doing something for God. If you are kind, and benevolent, and gentle, and accommodating to those who are around you, no matter whether they are rich or poor, of this country or that country, you are doing something for God, for they are all his children, and he desires to see them all dwelling peacefully and happily together.

Yes, my children, though God is so powerful, that he does whatever pleases him in heaven and on earth, and keeps all the stars in their stations, and guides all the planets in their mighty courses, and sends the lightnings, and rules over the minds of men and angels, yet you, by your virtues, by your simple obedience, can do something for him. Think of this; and the thought will encourage and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you from disobedience and sin.

Remember, I say again, that even you can do something for the mighty Creator. You can bring him the offerings of your love and your duty. And if you bring them humbly, he will graciously accept them, and count them as of more value than the sacrifices on a thousand altars.

SERMON IV.

YOU SHOULD PRAY TO GOD.

PRAY TO THY FATHER.

CHILDREN, I believe that you like to hear me speak to you of the excellent things of religion; and it gives me great pleasure to teach you what I think will be useful to you. I ask you to listen to me again.

It was the wise King Solomon, who said, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." It was a greater than Solomon, who said, "Pray to thy Father." It was Jesus Christ who spoke those words to his disciples, or scholars, when he was teaching them how they should pray; as you may find by turning to the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, and the sixth verse. By "Father,"

he meant your heavenly Father, or God; and God is called your Father, because he made you, and takes care of you, and is kind to you, and loves you. I have already spoken to you about remembering your Creator; I will now speak to you about praying to your Father.

Praying to your Father, is speaking to him, and asking of him whatever is needful and good, for yourselves and for others. And it is right that you should speak to him. It is right that a child should speak to his father. Does not a child take pleasure in speaking to his earthly father, asking him for gifts, and thanking him for daily kindness? Why then should you not speak to your heavenly Father, and ask him for his good and perfect gifts, and thank him for the loving kindness which he shows to you every day and every hour? It is true that you cannot see your heavenly Father; but that is no reason why you should not speak to him. It is not necessary that you should see him. If he sees you, and hears you, then you can speak to him, and ought to speak to him. And does he not hear you? Certainly he does. I told you in my last sermon, that God always sees you, and now I tell you that he always hears you. Who made your ears, and caused you to hear? It was God. And

"he who made the ear, shall he not hear?" That is a question which is asked in the Bible; and every child can answer, yes; he who could make the ear, must certainly be able to hear. He does hear all you say, if it is with ever so low a voice, and in ever so lonely a place. You cannot say a word that he does not hear. And yet more than this, you cannot think a thought that he does not hear; for he knows what it is, and that is the same as hearing it. He who made all things is every where. He who takes care of all things, never sleeps. He sees all, hears all, knows all. So you will perceive, that so far from its being difficult to make God hear you, you cannot help his hearing you. He always hears you.

And now I want to ask, whether it is not proper that your heavenly Father should sometimes hear you speak to him? Is it right that he should hear you speak to every body but him, and hear you think of every thing but him? Shall he be near to you all the time; shall he be watching over you by day while you are waking, and by night while you are sleeping; shall he guard you from danger, and hold you in life, and surround you with blessings, and be listening to you all the while, and yet not hear you say one word to him with your lips or