whether I go or stay, conscience is silent, since there is no right or wrong in the question. But if my friend is sick, and needs me, and I promised to go at a certain time, I am in duty bound to go. Conscience whispers, "to go is right, to neglect the duty is wrong: therefore go." Conscience not only tells us, but urges us to do right, and its voice should never be slighted.

What are right and wrong?-As persons are differently formed in face and figure, so they are differently endowed with mental and moral powers. There is a dissimilarity in education, in habits of thought, in circumstances of life, in business and social relations, which often makes a vast difference in men's estimates of right and wrong. Men are often unable to see things in the same light, and consequently do not agree in their conclusions. Each believes conscientiously in the correctness of his opinions, and disagrees with the other. What then is the duty of each? It is the duty of every man to follow his own conscientious convictions of right.

Obedience to law.-As God has given each man faculties to perceive, to reason, to judge, and to will, He will hold him, as a moral and intelligent being, accountable for the violation of his laws. We are responsible to God for the use and the abuse of all our powers of mind and body. To arrive at correct conclusions concerning the truth, it is our duty to obtain all the instruction which will enable us to understand our relations to God and man, striving to discover and practice the right. If we violate the laws of health by intemperate eating or drinking, disease, which is the admonition and the penalty, will soon overtake us. If

What does conscience say concerning good or bad actions? Are there any two people entirely alike? Do all men agree exactly in their notions of right? What, then, must each man do? Why are we accountable to God for our actions? If we do right what will God do? If wrong? To whom are we responsible for the use of our powers? How shall we learn God's will concerning us?

we transgress the laws of mind, idiocy or insanit

our punishment; and if we disobey God's moral

will as certainly avenge it as He does the infraction or mis physical laws.

The penalty for violated law.-If a man drop a lighted match into a keg of gunpowder, the effect of his imprudence is quickly made known by the explosion that follows. If he stick a pin into his flesh, his wounded nerves quickly send his brain a report of the injury. These are the certain and sudden results of violated physical law. But if a boy is passionate, or deceitful, or dishonest, the punishment for these violations of God's moral law may not, and generally do not, immediately follow; but that they will follow at some time is as certain as that the law of right has been violated. It is written that, "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." Because we do not see the execution of God's penalties at once, we are inclined to think that He may not carry out the sentence at all.

The moral law vindicated.-And yet God does sometimes execute the laws of morality in this world, and exact a terrible penalty from those who slight them. The boy who touches, tastes, and handles, when the moral law says, "Look not upon the wine when it is red," gives way to that which may be fearfully punished, as it frequently is, by loss of character, health, friends, and fortune, and finally by the horrors of delirium and a drunkard's grave. He who lies once may become a confirmed liar; he who steals once

If we violate natural laws how are we punished? Give an illustration of the penalty of a violated law. Do God's punishments follow immediately? Why are men careless of God's law? What is written in the moral law about the sentence against evil doers? Are the laws of morality ever vindicated in this world? Give an illustration. What may become of him who violates the law which says, "Look not," etc.? What may occur to him who lies once? To him who steals once? Repeat the text.

L

may become an abandoned thief. This is terrible punishment even in this world.

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My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: for length of days, and long life, and peace shall they add to thee."

CHAPTER V.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

DUTIES TO GOD FROM THE SCRIPTURES.

Revealed religion.—The light of nature, aided by conscience, was not able to reveal to mankind all that should be known and done with reference to God and human society. God, in his wisdom and love, gave us a written law, that we may know more fully what we are to believe concerning Him and what duties we owe to Him and each other. This code of the moral law is found in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and so beautifully and plainly is it stated, even in a few lines, that no one who fails to learn and practice its precepts can be guiltless. It teaches, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

What is the subject of Chapter Fifth? Repeat the text. What is necessary besides the natural law to teach man his duty? Why has God given man the scriptures? What constitutes the moral law? Give a condensed view of man's duty as it is written. What do heart, soul, and mind mean? Why was that made the first and great law? What is the second law?

These commandments are the grand fundamental precepts of the moral law. They are put thus into the fewest words, that they may be more firmly fixed in our minds. From them as primary principles, all knowledge of our duties to God and man may be learned; all that "is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." We need to be taught, reproved, corrected, and instructed in what is right, that habits of love, purity, and goodness may be exhibited in our lives.

The great commandment.-What is meant by this "first and great commandment"? God demands that we shall love Him with all our powers of affection and reason, judg ment and will, and prescribes a method by which we may make our love known. He says, " If ye love me, keep my commandments." Groping darkly by the dim light of nature, we are not left to infer what these commandments are, but God has furnished them to us; and to avoid all errors we are directed to “search the Scriptures,” that we may more fully discover his will. He not only asks that we shall love Him, but as an inducement for us to study his word and practice the precepts of his law, He says, "I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find

me."

Worship. From the earliest ages to the present, and among all nations, the existence of a Supreme Being has been acknowledged. He has been and is worshiped as an intelligent First Cause, by whom all things exist, and through whose wise supervision they fulfill the designs of their creation. No object in nature has been considered too vast, and none too minute to escape his providential care.

Why are these great laws so condensed? If we follow these rules is it enough? What is it written that the Scriptures contain? Do we need reproof, correction, etc.? Why? What does God demand of us first? How shall it be known that we try to love God? Where shall we find his commandments? How will He repay us for our love? What does He promise? Has God always been worshiped by man?

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Mankind have feared Him for his judgments and revered Him for his wisdom and mercy. They have called upon Him as helpless, dependent children, soliciting his paternal guidance. These were the teachings of reason derived from the operation of natural causes, but the Scriptures impart more rational views of praise and prayer. It is written, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." We are told to fear and love; to trust and acknowledge; to call on and praise the Lord. These are the exercises of worship which He has prescribed, and which, if performed aright, He has promised to bless.

Profanity. We may exhibit our love to God by the constant remembrance of the precept which declares "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." The habitual use of God's name and attributes in trivial conversation tends to weaken feelings of veneration toward Him, and to destroy the spirit of devotion which. all should cherish. No man of delicate feelings, who loves his wife, will permit her name to be used familiarly and disrespectfully on occasions when there is no necessity for or propriety in alluding to it; so, for a stronger reason, if we love God we should not use his name with improper freedom and levity, nor countenance such a use of it by others.

Profanity is one of the grossest forms of vice, for which there can not be the least apology or excuse. It is not only a perversion of language, but a direct violation of God's special command that nothing can justify. It be

Why have men feared God? Why may they love Him? Repeat the command to trust in the Lord. What does He tell us to do? What is written in the moral law concerning profanity? What effect has it to hear God's name used without veneration? Why can there be no apology for swearing? What is gained by swearing? Is it manly? Is it honorable? Is it necessary? Do the good use profane language?