and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? or if he ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

-me

CONVERSATION IX.

THE CONDUCT OF CHRIST A PATTERN FOR OUR IMITATION.

F. Supposing you were acquainted with the children of two different families, and that both of them were to say to you, that they loved their parents most affectionately; and that you knew that the children of the one family were very dutiful, and the other would not do what they were desired, or did it with

a grudge, which do you think had the greatest love?

E. Oh, the children that were obedient to their parents, unquestionably. As for the other children, it might be doubted whether they had any real love to their parents.

F. You are right; the children that do not obey their parents, or obey them unwillingly, give us very little ground to believe that their professions of love to their parents are sincere. We may say the same of those who profess to love God, and do not the things which he requires : "This is the love of God," the Apostle John says, "that we keep his commandments." If his commandments are not kept by his professing people, the question may well be put, How dwells the love of God in them?

E. But do all those that love God keep his commandments perfectly?

F. I do not say that they perfectly keep them; but this I must say, that if they had perfect love to God, they would "do always those things that please him." Do you read of any one that ever perfectly kept the commandments of God?

E. I have read of none except the Lord Jesus Christ; but you know that he was God as well as man; and it cannot be thought that any of his people should ever be like him.

F. None of his people, it is true, can ever

be like him in the exercise of his glorious powers, as the eternal God; but in those virtues which were manifested by him as the man Christ Jesus, he has left " us an example that we should follow his steps." Besides, we are assured that God did predestinate those "who are called according to his purpose, to be conformed to the image of his Son." It ought, then, to be the great aim of all the disciples of Christ, to walk as he also walked -to be influenced by the same great principle-cherishing the same gracious dispositions -and, like him, devoting themselves to the promotion of the divine glory in this world.

E. What was the great principle that influenced the Lord Jesus?

F. In one word, it was love. Supreme love to God operated most powerfully and uninterruptedly in his heart; and all that he said and did were the fruits of this all-powerful and perfect principle..

H. You have often told us, that without love we could not do any thing pleasing to God.

M. Yes, Henry; and it is not merely love, but supreme, fervent love, which God requires ; but this he never found perfect in any one except in his dearly beloved Son, who said, "I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart."

E. What law was it that Christ had in his

heart? is it the same which is called the ten commandments?

M. It certainly is the same. Can you recite, Henry, what is called the sum of the divine law?

H. It is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbour as thyself."

F. By this law our Lord was wholly governed. His supreme love to his God was manifested in early life: when, at twelve years of age, he was found in the temple among the 'doctors, by Mary his mother, and Joseph, he said, "How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" We have no account of his infancy and childhood; but we may rest assured that he was a holy child, delighting in the knowledge and service of God.

M. I have often thought, that the heart of Mary must have been greatly surprised and delighted in listening to the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. If God have perfected praise out of the mouth of other babes, through the sanctifying influence of his Spirit, what must have proceeded from him, who was "holy, harmless, undefiled, and separated from sinners!"

C. Did ever Jesus Christ, when he was young, keep company with other children?

M. Nothing is said about this in scripture; but if he did, we may be sure that he would endeavour to do them good, both by his conversation and example.

F. From his earliest years, till he entered upon his public ministry, when he was about thirty years of age, his conduct was in every thing well pleasing and acceptable to God; for it is said, "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." During the time of his short but laborious ministry, he showed that he delighted himself in God, by embracing every leisure moment of his most active and most useful life to retire and pour out his soul to his "Holy Father." Even whole nights were devoted by him to the blessed intercourse which he had with him; and we have no doubt that the happiness he then enjoyed, dispelled the sorrow produced by the unreasonable and malignant conduct of his enemies. Upon all occasions he showed that he esteemed "the law of God's mouth better to him than thousands of gold and silver." The divine promises cheered him under his great and severe trials; and the prospects which they opened up to him gladdened his heart, and inspired him with the greatest fortitude and patience: "For the joy set before him he endured the cross, despising the shame." He was most attentive in observing the divine institutions. The Sabbath