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them together, and practically show that you have feelings and sympathies for them, and let them share with you your comforts; and Jesus will reward you at the glorious resurrection.

Reader, as you stand at the judgment seat of Christ, your treatment of your fellow beings will be exactly meted out to yourself, and your mouth will be shut if condemned. If you show no mercy, none will be shown to you; if you forgive not, you will not be forgiven thus says the blessed Jesus. "For with what measure you mete, it shall be meted to you again." You that scorn a fellow creature because he is poor and unfortunate-you that oppress your fellow beings-and you that persecute or slander your fellow beings-and you that leave the poor to suffer when in your power to alleviate them, are picking a stick for your own back; for the same measure that you mete it will be measured to you again.

A FABLE.

We intimated last week that we should again refer to the lecture delivered last week before the Institute, by Theodore Parker. We now propose to give a fable which Mr. Parker used to illustrate, one part of his lecture. It is needless to add, by way of explana

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tion, anything further than that he was speaking of the present religious commotions and controversies of all civilized countries-the cutting up into sects, parties, and cliques; and endeavoring to illustrate the absurdity of the whole thing. If he did not hit the nail on the head, we are no judge. But now for the

fable:

"The distant, but extensive island of Neekoo, was inhabited by a large civilized population, divided into two classes, the people and the priests. The priests for many generations had taught the people that everlasting life and death depended entirely on the following ceremonies, viz: each one must go to the temple, kneel down before the priest, who would proceed solemnly to tie a red silk string around the last joint of the little finger of the left hand, at the same time saying over words that meant nothing; the subject must then arise, and openly avow his belief that all squares are circles; and all circles are squares. So long as he rigidly maintained this belief as to the circles, and the efficacy of the red string, he was safe; if his reason or conscience chided him for such absurdity, he was told by the priests to have faith-his doubts were nothing but rank heresy. At length, some one bolder than the others, dared to raise the question why a white silk string might not be just as efficacious as a red one; and why tied around any other

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joint might not do as well as the little one of the left hand. Others differed as to the length of the string to be used-some believing in using just enough to reach around the finger, and no more--others wanted a yard or two for knots and bows, so that they could cut a dash' at the corners of the streets, where they might be seen of men. Some began, in process of time, to doubt that ALL circles were squares-but a part only; and these 'by faith, and not sight.'

"In consequence of these things, the inhabitants of the island became divided into sects, denominations, parties, cliques, and clans each waging war upon the other, and each declaring eternal salvation depended solely upon his own construction of the extent and efficacy of the red string, and squareness of the circle. The Neekoo islanders, there fore, spent most of their time and talents in calumniating and fighting their neighbors on these points, to the great and almost total neglect of every useful employment and good work."-Lowell Vox Populi.

BEAUTIFUL EXTRACT.

"How beautiful, how sublime the precept, 'forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.' But who would

willingly be thus adjudged? Who is there that does not hope for more mercy at the hand of his Maker, than he has shown to his fellow men? And yet how positive is the sentence that if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses.

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EFFECTS OF KINDNESS.

I am almost convinced, that there never yet was an instance in which kindness has been fairly exercised, but that it has subdued the enmity opposed to it. Its first effort may not succeed, any more than one shower of rain can reclaim the burning desert; but let it repeatedly shed the dew of its holy influence upon the revengeful soul, and it will soon become beautiful with every flower of tenderness. Let any person put the question to his soul, whether, under any circumstances, he can deliberately resist continued kindness ? And a voice of affection will answer, that good is omnipotent in overcoming evil. If the angry and revengeful person would only govern his passions, and light the lamp of affection in his heart, that it might stream out in his features and actions, he would soon discover a wide difference in his communion with the world. The gentle would no longer avoid

him; friends would not approach him with dread; children would no longer shrink from him with frowns; he would find that his kindness wins all by its smile, giving them confidence, and securing their friendship.-Prisoncrs' Friend.

TRUE AND BEAUTIFUL.

ELOQUENT EXTRACT.-A spirit of fault-finding; an unsatisfied temper; a constant irritability; little inequalities in the look, the temper, or the manner; a brow cloudy and dissatisfiedyour husband or your wife cannot tell whywill more than neutralize all the good you can do, and render life anything but a blessing. It is in such gentle and quiet virtues as meekness and forbearance, that the happiness and usefulness of life consists, far more than brilliant eloquence, in splendid, or illustrious deeds that shall send the name to future times.

It is the bubbling spring which flows gently; the little rivulet which glides through the meadow, and which runs along day and night by the farm house, that is useful, rather than the swollen flood or the roaring cataract. Niagara excites our wonder-and we stand amazed at the power and greatness of God there, as he "pours it from his hollow hand.' But one Niagara is enough for the continent

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