morally sick; and it was necessary to apply the lancet of fear to them.

But this retaliatory principle was not instituted as a universal rule of action. For when the world was properly fitted and prepared, then a nobler law was given in a system which is superior to all other systems in its doctrines and morality. That system is CHRISTIANITY. While the ablest philosophers, at the period of its establishment, were advocating some of the worst features of revenge, CHRISTIANITY, the child of heaven, and the friend of man, proclaimed in tones of the sweetest accents, the divine law, "Overcome evil with good." Our Saviour's life was a practical comment of this law. He ever met his foes with benevolence and kindness and when his murderers, mocking his agonies, and adding insult to insult, he prays, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." What a glorious comment upon the law, "Love your enemies."

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But, alas, this heavenly law is set aside by even the greater part of the professed followers of Christ, who substitute the Mosaic law, "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth!"

The philanthropist Howard made the law of kindness his great rule of life. He left his comfortable home to visit and console the outcasts of society shut up in dark gloomy prisons. The hearts of the poor prisoners were awfully hardened by blows, chains, starvation and neglect.

but no sooner was the angel voice of Howard heard, and his kindness felt, than the longsealed feelings were opened, the dried-up sources of tears were filled, the waters of sorrow flowed, and the heart of sin became radiated with deep and undying love for his benevolent visitor.

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Fenelon, Archbishop of Cambrai, uniformly practised the law, overcome evil with good." Thus he won all hearts. The peasantry loved him as their father-and long after his death, their tears would flow, when they said, "There is the chair on which our good Archbishop used to sit in the midst of us; we shall see him no more." His uniform mildness gained him respect and protection even from the foes of his country. His diocese was often the theatre of war-but the English, Germans and Dutch even surpassed the inhabitant of Cambrai in their veneration for him. At such times, he gathered the wretched in his palace, and entertained them, for his dwellings were safe, even when armies were burning towns around him. All loved him-and the reason was, he carried out this noble principle, "Overcome evil with good."

Another striking instance of overcoming evil with good, we have in the case of John Frederic Oberlin, who was born in the city of Strasburgh, near the frontiers of France and Germany. At the age of twenty-six, and in the year 1767, he became pastor of a parish in a region of country about twenty miles from Strasburgh, whose

inhabitants were semi-barbarians; their schools were nominal; many of their teachers could not read; the different villages could not communicate with each other from want of bridges and roads; their agriculture was of the rudest kind, while their language was almost unintelligible to refined ears. These evils were doubly entailed upon them by their invincible ignorance, the mother of superstition. When he manifested a desire to make improvements among them, the people of his charge became enraged, and even waylaid him for his destruction. But, by throwing himself among them unarmed and with a kind, yet firm and collected manner, he disarmed their resented. By uniformly pursuing a course of mild instruction, he obtained their confidence, until, by his influence and example, they opened roads in succession, betwen their villages and Strasburgh; they reared more comfortable buildings; they adopted a better mode of cultivation; they built good school-houses, and obtained more experienced teachers.. Very soon, by the directions of this good man, the barren wilderness began to smile with wellcultivated fields, neat and convenient dwellings, while happiness entered every dwelling, and religion was found on every family altar.

All this change was accomplished by the law of kindness. He died in 1826, and the love for him was so universal and strong, that the inhabitants of the remotest village in his parish,

though it rained in torrents, did not fail to come and take the last look of their "dear father." His funeral procession was two miles long; and so strongly had his benevolence and kindness penetrated all hearts, that tears flowed from both Catholic and Protestant eyes.

During the last war, a Quaker lived among the inhabitants of a small settlement on our western frontier. When the savages commenced their desolating out-breaks, every inhabitant fled to the interior settlements, with the exception of the Quaker and his family. He determined to remain, and rely wholly upon the simple rule of disarming his enemies with entire confidence and kindness. One morning, he observed through the window a file of savages issuing from the forest in the direction of his house. He immediately went out and met them, and put out his hand to the leader of the party. But neither he or any of the party gave him any notice,-they entered his house, and searched for arms, and had they found any, most probably would have murdered every member of the family. There were none, however, and they quietly partook of the provisions set before them, and left him in peace. At the entrance of the forest, he noticed that they stopped, and appeared to be holding a council. Soon one of their number left the rest, and ran towards his dwelling. He reached the door, and fastened a simple white feather above it, and

returned to his band, when they all disappeared. Ever after, that white feather saved him from the savages; for whenever a party came by and observed it, it was a sign of peace to them. In this instance, we perceive that the law of kind. ness disarmed savage foes, whose white feather told their red brethren, that the Quaker was a follower of Penn, and the friend of their race.

Two captains in the American army, during the last war, had each strict discipline in their respective companies-but one produced it by excessive flogging-the other by kindness and firmness. The soldiers of the severe captain hated him, and could they have obtained a favorable opportunity in battle, would have shot him without hesitation. The soldiers of the other captain loved him, and if necessary, would have waded through seas of blood to follow their beloved leader.

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EFFECTS OF KINDNESS ON THE INSANE.

There is a Lunatic Asylum for paupers at Hanwell, England. This asylum was formerly conducted on the old principle of violence, confinement, chains, strait jacket, whips and threats, until Dr. Ellis and his wife took charge of the establishment. They went into it with the broade 't benevolence-their only governing power was "good sense and kindness;" for these