either of want of love, or humility; for from within, out of the heart, proceed our outward actions. If, in our hearts, we esteem others better than ourselves, and feel ourselves to be "least of all, and servants of all," this feeling will shew itself in the sweetness and lowliness and deference of our whole conduct. There will be nothing in the look or manner, that shews pride, or selfishness, or sullenness. V. 4. "Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree," &c. In those ancient times, shoes, such as ours, were not in use; and the foot was protected only by sandals or soles, which were fastened round the foot with straps. It was therefore a great refreshment, in so hot a country, to get the feet washed, at the end of a day's journey. V. 5. Therefore are ye come to your servant." God in his Providence has brought you hither, to afford me an opportunity of proving my love to him, by shewing kindness to you. How happy would it be, if we were to seize every opportunity of doing good to each other, and thus to shew our thankfulness to God for the blessings that he is constantly bestowing on us! V. 6, 7, 8." By love serve one another."Though Abraham and Sarah were old, and had many servants, yet, to shew their zeal and desire to oblige, they were not themselves above waiting on their guests. Sarah's conduct, on this occasion, reminds us of the description of the virtuous woman in Proverbs xxxi.; and in the respect she pays to her husband, verse 12, is mentioned as a pattern by St. Peter, when discoursing on the duties of wives, in 1 Pet. iii. 1-6. He is speaking of the duty of Christian wives, who are so unhappy as to be united to husbands who not only "have not obeyed the word," -are not believers, but even refuse to attend upon the preaching of it. And he supposes that even such P men," beholding the chaste conversation," the modest behaviour of their wives, coupled with fear, and adorned with the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit"-"may, without the word, be won by the conversation of the wives;" though they have hitherto refused to hear the preaching of the word, they may, by the good example, and heavenly disposition of a Christian wife, be won over to the love of God. Most men have their moments of reflection; and there are few, one would hope, who, from witnessing such a line of conduct,-readiness to oblige, joined with long suffering, self denial, joined with activity, would not at length be struck with it, and led to inquire into the principle that produced tempers and conduct so lovely. There are few who would not, by such behaviour, sometimes be brought to listen to the word of life at home, and even to attend the public worship of God. But if, instead of this, women give way to a hasty, sly, pettish, suspicious, or contradicting temper, if, instead of bearing their husbands ill-humours with patience, giving up to them, and studying to please them, they resist their wills, brave them out, and set them at defiance, they need never expect any thing that they can say about religion to have any weight. "Physician, heal thyself," will be the feelings of their husbands minds. V. 9-10. The Lord now discovered himself to Abraham, by renewing the promise that Sarah should bear him a son. V. 12. "Sarah laughed," not from delighted gratitude, like her husband, but from unbelief, as conceiving the thing to be utterly improbable. ! V. 14. "Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" In these words, spoken to strengthen the faith of Sarah, we have a truth conveyed to us, which all would do well to consider more frequently and more seriously than they do. The omnipotence, or almighty power, of God, is that ability, or strength, by which he can bring to pass whatever he pleases, without difficulty or resistance. It is a truth which all nature proclaims to us, and which all Scripture confirms. This is an awful consideration to those who are determined to proceed in their evil ways; for the Flood, Babel, Sodom, all proclaim, "Who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?" The rebellious spirit of man may desire to oppose and resist the will of God, and may, for a time, seem to prosper; but though immediate judgments are seldom now sent down on the contemptuous sinner's head, yet, "do ye not know that the wicked is reserved unto the day of wrath?" We tremble more for that child whom his father sets aside for punishment, than if the stripes had followed close on the heels of the transgression. V. 15. "Nay, but thou didst laugh.” “A lying tongue is but for a moment." "Shall not he search it out, for he knoweth the very secrets of the heart?" O vain attempt in Sarah to hide her faults from Omniscience! But how must her heart have smitten her at this gentle rebuke! V. 17. To Abraham is given the glorious title of the Friend of God. (2 Chron. xx. 7. Isa. xli. 8.) Here we see the Lord dealing with him under that character: and how wonderful does the condescension appear! But how much more delightful is it, when we reflect that his dealings with Abraham, are but a pattern of his dealings with those who walk in the steps of his faith. "Ye are my friends," says the same Lord, "if ye do whatsoever I command you. T. B. P. (To be continued. A MORNING HYMN. When morning comes, the birds arise, Shall I then from my chamber go, Before I've sought the God of Heav'n, Lest every bird's harmonious song, Thoughtless of Him whose guardian pow'r Come then, my soul, awake and pray, Heathens, who never knew the Lord, To deities themselves had made. These shall in judgment rise, and shame. AN EVENING HYMN, MANY parents are in the habit of hearing their children repeat a psalm or hymn just before their prayers in the morning and evening. The following evening hymn may not be known to all our readers: 1. Lord, I have passed another day, And come to thank thee for thy care, 2. Thy favour gives me daily bread, And friends, who all my wants supply; And safely now I rest my head, Preserved and guarded by thine eye. 3. Look down in pity, and forgive, 4. Now while I speak, be pleas'd to take REMARKS 1 On the proper Disposition for Prayer, and for repeating Psalms and Hymns. CHILDREN are generally fond of learning verses: and, therefore, religious instruction, in a Psalm or a Hymn, will often take much stronger hold of the memory, than the same precepts in simple prose. And, to keep these instructions in the mind, and to make them the subject of a child's thoughts, it is an excellent method for parents to require their children to repeat one of these little sacred songs when they begin or close the day with prayer. At these times, a Christian parent will endeavour to direct a child's attention to what is good, and to fix its thoughts on the subject before it. If the thoughts wander, nothing can be done as it ought to be: and it is useless to repeat hymns or prayers, if the mind is all the while thinking upon something else. It is true that the best of people cannot always fix their minds on their prayers, with that devotion which they could wish; but this is a great grief to them, and they earnestly strive against it. But it is a thing so much to be discouraged, that parents should do all they can to prevent a wandering disposition from growing upon their children, and especially that false sort of religion, which, whilst it is outwardly engaged in sacred exercises, has no |