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CHAPTER III.

INDUSTRY-ORDER-CLEANLINESS-ECONOMY.

Another interesting feature in the christian character of this good woman appeared one day, when she was found mending some very old and torn clothes; she was asked if they were her own, and other kind questions were put to her about her poverty; when at last it was discovered that she was constantly in the habit of filling up all her spare time in knitting stockings, or patching and arranging the ragged dresses of some children of a poor neighbour. When she was pressed on this point, she confessed that she considered it a bounden duty to be usefully employed; indeed her strong expressions shewed that she felt idleness to be a very great sin.

Any one who knows the Bible well, will immediately think of that excellent person named Dorcas, at whose death there was so much sorrow, while "the widows stood by weeping and showing the coats and garments which she made while she was with them. ACTS ix, 30. Dorcas was indeed raised by the power of God entrusted to St. Peter. We hope that she, with one who. followed her example, will obtain "a better resurrection," in that day when such good and faithful works will be remembered: for though here "they were not recompensed, they shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. LUKE xiv, 14. We must not however suppose, that these willing labours were done merely for hope of reward. No! a Christian feels constrained (the word of the Apostle) that is as it were, forcibly compelled "to work while it is day, knowing that the night cometh, when no man can work." Moreover, "true charity, that most excellent gift had been poured into her heart by God," and she could not be happy and useless; and so when she finished what was right and needful for herself she turned her hand to do what good she was able

for her poor neighbour. Perhaps some one may be surprised that she should think this necessary; but let it be remembered, this woman learned her religion from the Bible. There she would read, PROV. xiv, 23. "In all labour there is profit; but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury: and xxviii, 19. "He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread, but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough." She obeyed these words in their plain meaning. She did not spend her time in talking and keeping company with, and running after idle, foolish, gossiping people; and what time she saved in this manner, she spent in useful employment. But, if again it should appear to any one, too much to require one very poor person to work for another, after she had hardly earned her own bread; again we go to the Scriptures, and there we read this precept, given to every one "who had learned Christ, and been renewed in the spirit of his mind:" "Let him labour working with his hands the things that is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth." EPH. iv, 28. It is thus we find there is no morality like that which

comes from the word of God; and all who do learn their religion there, become "not slothful in business but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." ROM. XII, 11.

There are other virtues also, which are genenerally found as the companions of industry, namely-order, cleanliness, and economy: these four are the happy guests which true religion brings into the houses of the poor. What dirt and confusion and waste we see in some cottages! every right minded person would wish to correct such evils. Now how shall we do this most effectually? Certainly by putting the minds and the hearts of the inhabitants into a proper and orderly state. Religion can do this. An ungodly man's feelings, thoughts, and actions, are all wrong and out of course: one day he may seem to do better than another day; but it is all uncertain-you never know how or where you may find him. Different passions are striving for the mastery within-now one, now another prevails, and when he can and dares, he will indulge himself. He cannot always be idle or he

would starve; and many other bad things he fears to do for his credit's sake, but there is no sure, safe principle in him, on which you can rely, until he becomes religious.

When the good woman, whose case we are now considering was a servant, she often used to see her fellow-servants wasting, and even throwing away pieces of fish, or any thing else not very dear: she could not bear it, and she often said to them, the time would come, when they who wasted would want what they wasted. And the reason why she was now not forced to go to the parish for relief, but could live in a state of honest independence, was, that she had always been economical. And where did she learn this? Why does not the wisdom of God tell any of us, who will read it, "He that is slothful in his work, is brother to him that is a great waster." PROV. xviii, 9. Idleness and waste constantly go together, when poor people will not follow the advice of their best friend.

Let us

also think again of that striking

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