rich and the poor, who has borne with your ingratitude and rebellion, and who has notwithstanding, given you another and an abundant crop:-Yes, he is your God whom you profess to obey, and whose authority you wish to regard.

All obedience which depends on the conduct of others must be precarious and unworthy; nor does a more dangerous opinion exist in relative life, than that the misconduct of another will justify our failure in duty. The law which regulates the temper and deportment of children to their parents, and which is properly received as inculcating "the "duties of all relations, superior, inferior, or equal," is not conditional as it respects man; nor are any at liberty to add, Obey your parents, " if they act "well." Among other evils of this most pernicious system, it makes the inferior relation the judge of the superior, and contrary to every wise sentiment in society, embodies in one person, the accuser, the evidence, the judge,-and that in his own cause.

Finally. Recollect that to obedience is the reward annexed. "When thou cuttest down thine "harvest in the field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the “field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall “be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the "widow; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in

"all the work of thine hands."*

But it is time to

proceed to what was secondly promised,

Advice to such as are gleaners.

per

Remember that God who has ordained this mission, and guarded it by his command, must be honored by you in the enjoyment.

1. Unless you were poor you neither might nor would glean, let me then guard you against those snares which always attend poverty. It is a temptation, when afar from human notice to defraud, "lest I be poor and steal.”

Pilfering from the sheaves or waggon is a sin in the sight of God, will pave the way for greater acts of injustice, and thereby occasion disgrace and ruin to yourselves and families. Forget not the old proverb, "He that will steal a pin, will steal a greater thing." When opportunity and importunity press, the hand that loosed the band of a sheaf, will not forbear to break through the barn and steal.

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If any who read this, are conscious that they are guilty in this matter, take the friendly warning

* Deuteronomy, xxiv. 19,

that is given; to you it is said, "let him that stole, "steal no more." Seek forgiveness from God through our Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood cleanseth from all sin, and who freely pardoned the penitent and praying thief on the cross.

2. You go into the fields to glean; then do not idle away your time, or what was intended for your good, will be an injury to you.

The lazy and loitering behaviour of some gleaners, while it makes them envious that others get a larger bundle, furnishes the chief argument against gleaning; that it unfits people to set to their regular work. Besides, the idle are tempted to make up deficiences, by taking what is not their own. And will not the indolent gleaner disappoint the hard-working father or mother, who have been reaping in the heat all day for their benefit? With what painful feelings have some worthy and aged persons, who through infirmity could not even crawl to the fields, and have sat alone through a long day, seen their own family come home with little, while others pass their door with a plenteous load! How great is their disappointment ard your shame, if the time for gleaning is spent in idle gossip with some foolish neighbors!

3. Persons generally glean in numbers; then pray

avoid bad company, and they will soon avoid you. Like always associates with its like-lions with lions, sheep with sheep a man may be known by the company he keeps." Being let go they went "to their own company." Choose society in your work who will do you good rather than harm ; better conversation will cheer you under the heat of the sun, and the toil of out-door work, to which you may perhaps not be accustomed.

I have often been much grieved to hear bad words and loose language among gleaners; and I know that I address many whose righteous souls have been vexed from day to day by the ungodly speeches of the wicked on those occasions; and have been contented with fewer ears of corn and to collect the more scattered straws, than let their dear little ones-the lovely attendants of their la bor, hear or their own minds be poisoned, by such improper language. And at the end of the days when you beat out what you have gleaned, it will be found that you have no lack; or if otherwise, better will your little be, with God's blessing and a clear conscience, than a larger quantity, with his curse and the upbraidings of your own minds.

4. Let me caution you also, against what is too common on these occasions-immodest behaviour. Persons thus disposed, are to be found in every pa

rish-avoid them as you would those who had the plague or the small-pox. Indecent language and coarse manners are disgraceful and dangerous. Use your authority to prevent your children seeing or hearing what is so wrong and easily learnt, and but seldom forgotten.

The beginning of this evil is like the letting out of water-the breaking down the bank of a great river-vast and lasting is the misery that follows.

"Immodest words admit of no defence,

"For want of decency, is want of sense."

He is a fool and madman, who throws about fire-brands, arrows and death, and says, Am I not in sport? If on your guard against evil words and rude manners, God will preserve you from those deeds of darkness of which it is a shame even to speak.

5. It is mentioned to the praise of a most excellent daughter and industrious but poor female, that she came home early from gleaning. Be not the last to leave the fields; late hours in every station of life are injurious; works of darkness are always suspicious, often criminal. 'Many love darkness " rather than light, because their deeds are evil."

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Finally, I wish you to notice that the Scriptures