The Power of a Holy Life.
THE beauty of a holy life constitutes the most eloquent and effective persuasive to religion, which one human being can address to another. We have many ways of doing good to our fellow creatures; but none so good, so efficacious, as leading a virtuous, upright, and well-ordered life. There is an energy of moral suasion in a good man's life, passing the highest efforts of the orator's genius. The seen but silent beauty of holiness speaks more eloquently of God and duty, than the tongues of men and angels. Let parents remember this. The best inheritance a parent can bequeath to a child is a virtuous example, a legacy of hallowed remembrances and associations. The beauty of holiness beaming through the life of a loved relative or friend, is more effectual to strengthen such as do stand in virtue's ways, and raise up those that are bowed down, than precept, command, entreaty, or warning. Christianity itself, I believe, owes by far the greatest part of its moral power, not to the precepts or parables of Christ, but to his own character. The beauty of that holiness which is enshrined in the four brief biographies of the Man of Nazareth, has done more and will do more to regenerate the world and bring it to an everlasting righteousness, than all other agencies put together. It has done more to spread his religion in the world than all that has ever been preached or written on evidences of Christianity.—Dr. Chalmers. Look After the Little Ones.
JUDGE SUTHERLAND was undoubtedly right when he acquiesced recently in a verdict of acquittal of a boy aged nine years, charged with felony in placing obstacles on the Elevated Railway. At Brighton, England, a boy of seven years was fined, the other day, for placing obstructions on the Brighton railway; of course the offence was technically construed, for it is made felony by law. The boy's youth saved him. The same week that this happened, a tragedy occurred at Victoria Park. A passionate boy of five years of age, who was left by his mother in charge of an infant, struck the child with a large nail, causing its death. A verdict of "Death from misadventure" was returned. By the Institutes of Justinian no child under ten and a half years was liable to punishment. English law, however, measures the crime by the supposed strength of the offender's judgment. A boy was once hanged in England at the age of eight years, for setting fire to two barns, and another aged nine was reprieved after having been sentenced to execution for killing a companion. Sir Matthew Hale—rather arbitrarily, it must be confessed—held an infant under seven years to be incapable of felony, but that his capacity might begin at eight. Be this all as it may, there can be no doubt that, in the words of the great Blackstone, the charge of malice against children should be "strong beyond doubt, and clear beyond contradiction." And there is one other thought that comes up: that parents cannot begin the moral instruction of their children too early. As soon as the child can understand the difference between right and wrong, he should be instructed in the right path. The road to crime does not always take its start from the school house or college, but can often be traced back to the path pressed by little feet in infancy.—Sel.