those in their time wished to appropriate it, but what, a become of them? It warns us that it was designed for us, but just as much as it was for all those departed tribes; and we may consider what they have of it now. It signifies to us, that equally to all it will yield one matter of permanence-just one, and uo more, and that is, a grave. If that enduring possession of the earth will content us, that is secure. In all other senses of possession it will eject us. Men in their earnest adhesion to it, may raise mighty works of enduring stability-towers, palaces, strongly built houses, as if they absolutely would connect themselves with the world's own prolonged duration. Well, they may do so; and the earth will retain these, but will expel them. They may construct what the. please that shall stay; it is their own absence that will be enforced. It is their concern whether they can beguile themselves to fancy, that in the permanence of such proud representatives of themselves, they can actually hold, when gone, any real and gratifying possession of the earth. But should not the final Iseson be, that the only essential good that can be gained from the world is that which can be carried away from it? Alas! that mere sojourners-beings of transition-travellers rapidly passing away-s ould be mainly intent on obtaming that which they must leave, doom themselves to depart in utter deprivation-when their inquisit ve glance over the scene should be after any Jood that may go with them-something that is not ixed in the soil, the rocks, or the walls. Let us look on the earth in the spirit of this inquiry," What has the bounteous Creator placed here? what has the glorious Redeemer left here, that I nay, by his grace, seize and take with me, and find t invaluable in another world ?" It will then be lelightful to look back with the reflection, "I could ot stay on that earth. I saw but a little while its nduring objects, its grand solidities; I saw them but o be admonished that I should remove. I have left nem maintaining their unchanging aspects; but in ny passage, I descried, by the aid of the Divine spirit, something better than all that they signified me was no possession for me-I seized the pearl f great price, and have brought it away." PROVIDENTIAL SHOWERS. A YOUNG lady, the daughter of a tradesman in the city (London), fell into ill health, and in consequence of this a lodging was taken for her in Wells Street, Hackney. Her parents were very much averse to earnest religion; and finding that the people with whom she lodged were dissenters, cautioned her against their sentiments, fearing that in the weak state of her health they would render her gloomy. The good people invited her to their family worship, but she steadily refused, saying she belonged to the Church of England. She occasionally, however, overheard the good man in prayer through the wainscot, and could not help thinking he was a good man, though mistaken in forming such precise notions as she conceived him to entertain. hausted in consequence of her weakness, and would have sunk, had not the pew-opener, who was sitting near the door, caught hold of her, and placed her on a seat which was within the chapel. She felt unwilling to remain when the shower should have ceased, but after the kindness of the pew-opener she did not like to rise in the face of the congregation and leave the place; and by the time the shower has well ended, she had begun to feel interested in the sermon, which appeared, so far as she could judge, to have just commenced when she entered. She returned to her lodging with her mind deeply affected. The result, under the Divine blessing, was her conversion. Her parents, who were at first greatly distressed at what had occurred, finding that her new religion, instead of rendering her gloomy, promoted her cheerfulness, were induced to accompany her to the place where she had received this spiritual good, and they also became decidedly pious. She very soon became active in the school for Jewish females, supported by the London Missionary Society. afterwards married Mr Elliot, a missionary to the East, where she became a widow, and after her return became an inmate in the Retreat for ministers widows at Hackney, where she died about seven years ago. It is often regretted when a shower comes on just before the commencement of public worship; but even this may subserve the merciful purposes of Hin. whose wisdom is inscrutable, by occasioning the attendance of some, if it impede the attendance of others.-Baptist Magazine. BY SAMUEL G. GREEN, B.A.* ARE there any good reasons why little children should remember him? Yes; there are many. Think of what I have said. He does not forget the young any more than the old; therefore, in return, the young as well as the old should remember him. Jesus was willing to show his kindness to all men; but he said "Suffer the little children to come unto me." And, now he is upon his throne in heaven, I think he feel: the sweetest delight as he bows to listen to the prayer of a little one on earth, ber your Creator in youth. A life spent in the serBesides, you will grow up happier if you rememvice of God, be sure, is the happiest life. I know some dear children do not think so. "How miserable you must be, now you have become religious!" said one little girl in the Sunday-school to another. panion; "I am the happiest child, I think, alive. Miserable! no, dear," was the answer of her comFor God is my Father, Jesus is my Saviour, the Holy Ghost is my Comforter, heaven is my home." The dear child was right. Oh, I often look around the gallery where sit the dear children of my own Sun young people may grow up in after days to be useful addresses, and say to myself, Some of these beloved One evening when taking her walk, a shower sud-day-school, or think of others who may read these denly came on for which she was not prepared, and she ran for shelter to the porch of the chapel of which the late excellent Mr Collison was the minister; but she determined not to go beyond it. In hastening, however, to the porch, she became ex *From a little volume entitled, Addresses to Children with Introductory Sugg sions to Ministers and Teachers, which we have much pleasure in recommending to the attention of parents and Sabbath-School teachers. TOO LATE-TOO LATE! 177 and happy in the service of God. Ministers may be among them, and missionaries, and many Christian men and women, who will above all things love to obey their Saviour, and to do his work. It will be a glorious life! I pray that you may all have grace to choose it. But why not begin it now? Many good people have been sorry all their days that before beginning to serve God they lost so much time, preciousness and mercy. The poor man, as well as he could, time, which they could never have again. Now, then, remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth. But some of you may not live to grow up. Little children often die. God may soon call you away. I shall not speak much about this now; only think how sad it would be to have to say when lying on the bed of death. "I have forgotten God, I am not his child; I must die, and where he is I can never, never be." But how joyful then to think, "I remembered God in life, and I love to think of him now. He is my father, and I do not fear to die, for he is going to take me to his home above." There is yet one reason more. Though you were to live many years, if you forget God in the days of your youth, you would find it very hard to seek him in the days of your age. I know young people sometimes fancy that another day it will be easier for them to repent-when they are older ana wiser they think they will be better able to turn to God than they are now. So they wait, and though they know they ought to do it, put it off. Perhaps some of you, my children, may have sometimes had a thought like this. Be sure it is a great mistake. When older, you would love sin more than now, and it would be harder to give it up. Your hearts would have become more careless. Very likely you might find yourselves too busy to attend to the truths of God's word. Or perhaps you might be where you would be unable any more to hear of the Saviour's love. Let me tell you something that I once saw and heard. A large meeting was gathered together. Almost all there were young people. All were sitting very still and solemn; for many ministers had been speaking to them of the salvation of their souls, and of the way to heaven. The time had almost come for the meeting to end. Suddenly there came a minister into the crowded chapel. He went straight to the platform, stood up, and said, "My dear young friends, before you go, listen to me. I wish to tell you where I have just been." They were very attentive, and he went on. "I have been to see two old men. They are both very near death. Neither of them can live, I think, to the end of this week. The first I found lying very weak and pale upon his bed. Yet there was a happy light in his eyes, and a cheerful smile upon his lips. I could see that he was not afraid to die. He told me that Jesus was his Saviour, and that he was ready to go and be with him. The thought filled him with joy amidst his pain, and made that poor cottage room seem like the very gate of heaven. I asked him if he had known the Saviour long. 'O yes,' he said, it was when I was quite a boy that I first sought the pardon of my sins. All my life long I have found him my friend. He has never forsaken me or been unkind. O, sir, I have many mercies to be thankful for! I lie here, and love to remember them. But most of all do I praise my God for this, that I was led to know and serve him in my younger days. A good deal longer I stayed with him; he was full of thankfulness and peace, but of all his recollections the happiest seemed this, that he had learned to remember his Creator in the days of his youth. "I went then to see the second old man. He was sitting in a great arm-chair by the fireside, for he was too ill to lie down. My friend,' I said, 'you seem to be very bad. Yes, sir,' he answered, I suppose I cannot live long.' And when you die, do 6 you expect to be happy for ever?' He slowly, but quietly, shook his head! What, do not you think you shall go to heaven?' 'No, sir, no.' But surely you do not wish your soul to be lost ?' 'I cannot help it, sir, I suppose.' 'O yes! my friend, there is a way by which you may be saved. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. God is full of goodslowly put up his hand as if to stop me. 'Yes,' he said, I know all about it; you need not tell me, I have heard it long ago. But do you not think it is true, then.' 'O yes! it is quite true, I dare say, but it is of no use to me.' Do not say so, for Christ came to save you. He will cast out none.' 'So my minister and teachers used to tell me, years ago. Then,' I said, 'you had teachers to speak to you of the love of God." Yes, sir, when I was young. I used then often to think of what they said, and to resolve that I would seek the Saviour; but I forgot it again, and now it is too late. No, no; it can never be too late for his love. Seek and you shall find. I tell you I do not wish to seek him. What! do you feel no desire to be saved? I do not feel at all about it, any way; only I know I shall be lost. I hardly knew what to say to him; yet it seemed terrible to see him sitting there, an aged dying man. and to hear him talk so quietly about being lost. asked him, full of pity, Will you let me pray to God to have mercy upon you? Yes, sir, if you like. I knelt and prayed as earnestly as I could; but when I rose from my knees, he only said, Thank you, sir, my teachers used once to pray with me in that way. It might have done some good then, only I was careless and forgetful; but it can do no good now.' 1 talked with him some time longer, but nothing could make him feel. His heart seemed as hard as a rock. He still kept to the same thing: When I was a boy I heard of Jesus, and used to think of his leve, and might have sought him as my Saviour; but that time has gone by, I cannot seek him now. It is too late. I know I am dying, and I know I shall be lost.""" Such was the minister's tale. A few days after, both these old men died, one hopeful and rejoicing. the other cold and sullen. What made the difference? One had remembered his Creator in the days of his youth; the other had forgotten him. O my beloved children! could you bear the thought of having to say at last, like that miserable man, I cannot turn to God, I cannot repent? Do not then wait for another day before you seek the Saviour. He asks you now to give him your hearts. If you stay till you have grown older, you may not then be able. This is the day of salvation. Your heavenly Father is full of love to every one of you. Often have you forgotten him, but he has always remembered you. Do not any longer cast away his mercy, but this day tur from your sins, beseech his forgiveness, and resolve all your lives long to serve him for the Saviour's sake Farewell. "TOO LATE TOO LATE!"-THE DYING UNIVERSALIST. (A leaf from the Journal of a Home Missionary.) I VISITED him lying on a sick-bed, from time to time, but his heart was hard and unrelenting. With his deluded wife, he trusted in universalist principles. Thus, apparently with perfect indifference, he continued several months upon his sick-bed. But death was now drawing near. The physician informed him that he could live but a very short time. As I was thinking upon his situation one evening in my study, at a very late hour, I heard a rap at my door. I found a messenger from the dying man, desiring me to come immediately and see him. Although his family had endeavoured to persuade him to wait till morning, yet he must see me without delay. I went immediately to the house of death; all was still and solemn as I entered the apartment where the dying man lay. As I approached the bed, his languid eye rested upon me. Oh!" said he, calling me by name, 66 you see that I am going fast. I have sent for you that I may attend to the interests of my soul. What I do, must be done quickly. I have often heard them say that a dying bed was a poor place for repentance; I find it to be true. O what shall I do?" 1 endeavoured, as I had previously done, to direct his mind to behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." After a moment's pause, "Oh!" said he, "it is too late; is it not? I have long slighted the offers of mercy. The time was, some five years ago, when I felt mercy was very near (alluding to a revival season when he was almost persuaded to be a Christian); but," said he, "1 grieved away the Spirit, and now he has gone from me." Now, in great agony of mind, he endeavoured to pray, calling for mercy. He now turned to his weeping wife and said, "Ah! we have tried to believe in universal salvation; but it will not satisfy us in a dying hour." He now expressed his sorrow for maintaining such principles, and exerting the influence he had over others. Again he cried, "O, what she'l I do? What shall I do?" An anxious sister replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." "O, how shall I believe? Ah! it is too late; I have delayed this matter too long; it is too late." His lips now closed in silence; he said no more to encourage the least hope that he died in peace. I retired from the scene, reflecting upon the folly of the sinner in putting off repentance to a dying hour. "It is too late," said the dying man; " It is too late!" and he gave no evidence but that it was indeed too late. God had frequently called, but he had refused. Now he was given up, in this hour of calamity, to feel it was too late. Thus closed the scene with one who had been living very near the means of grace, but for many years was scarcely seen in the house of God. SCOTLAND'S DANGER-TOKENS OF THE LORD'S WRATH. (From a Sermon delivered two hundred years ago.) WE are set upon the Lord's watch-tower, we must sound an alarm, and tell you, "There is wrath coming. there is wrath coming." As the Lord lives, and as I am speaking to you that see and hear me this day, if you take not warning, if you search not out, and put not away the accursed thing, there is wrath coming, there is vengeance abiding you. I warn you, and I beseech you, take warning, as you would not have your blood upon your own heads. There is wrath coming, there is wrath coming. Out of the way of God's wrath, by fleeing to his mercy through Christ! Perhaps you will say, "Minister, these are sad tidings indeed. But what is your ground for such a message?" "My beloved, I speak not without ground, and I hope some of you will be convinced of it ere we part. 1. The Lord is packing up his jewels, and some of them in the midst of their strength. You know, when a man is putting up his plenishing, it says, he is going to fit. My friends, I am afraid-and woe's me for it-that God hath a mind to depart from us. Why? He has been packing up many of his jewels within these few years. "The righteous perish (i. e. from among the living in this world) and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come."-Isa. Ivii. 1. They are taken home to their rest, and that is a token there is a storm coming. My friends, God hath taken away many a godly minister, and Christian men and women, who were standard-bearers, within these few years, and yet few have been seriously laying it to heart, few looking upon this as a token of the Lord's anger. But, 2. Another sad token of wrath from God is, His withdrawing of his presence. When God will not be spoken to, that is an ill token. What saith the Lord, Hos. v. 15? "I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence; I will turn my back upon you." It was a sad token of a storm to the Spouse, when her Beloved had withdrawn himself.-Song v. 6. It was a sad token when the Lord said unto Moses (Exod. xxxii. 9, 10), " And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and behold it is a stiff-necked people; now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them." When God withdraws from his people that would stand in the gap, when he will not hear their prayers, when there is a restraint upon their spirits in pleading for a sinful generation, it is a sad prognostic of a storm coming. O how lamentable is the case of a people, when ministers and Christians cry, and the Lord will not hear them, nay, when he will not be entreated for a people! What says the Lord, Jer. vii. 16? “Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me; Jer. xiv. 11, 12? for I will not hear thee." What saith the Lord, Pray not for this people for their good; when they fast, I will not hear their cry, and when they offer burn-offerings and an oblation, I will not accept them; but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence." A sad token the Lord is angry when he thus withdraws. My friends, we are afraid that the Lord is about to visit Scotland with dreadful judgments; we fear the fire of his wrath be kindled; and we are so much the more afraid of this, that, alas! many are nowise concerned about it at all. Alas! my friends, God is withdrawn; he is far off from ministers and ordinances. Where is that life and power that sometimes accompanied the ordinances, and especially fast-days and communion days? Alas! "we are fallen from our first love."-Rev. ii. 2. Alas! we are become like stocks and stones--a sad token of the Lord's withdrawing, and of wrath coming. 3. Another sign from God of wrath coming is the Lord's gradual procedure in his judgments. This says, worse are a-coming; and that these gentle rods are but forerunners of more heavy and dreadful visitations. What says Christ, Matt. xxiv. 6, 7, 8? "Ye shall hear of wars, and rumours of wars; . nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places." Well, these are judgments terrible enough; but what says the Lord, verse 8?"All these are the beginnings of sorrows;" for worse than these follow in the next verses, "They shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you," &c. There is a beginning of sorrows, and a procedure therein, till these sorrows at length issue What says Habakkuk, chap. ii. 1, 2? "I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I will answer when I am reproved. And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that, readeth it." What means all this, say ye? That is, | Minister, take this message to the people from me. tell them plainly there is a stroke coming; make it so plain that he may run that readeth it. My friends, we have all ground to warn you of judgments coming, and I am persuaded you have not wanted warning. There is not an honest minister in Scotland but hath been setting the trumpet to his mouth, and sounding the alarm. And think you all this is for nought? No; though desolating judgments may be for some time delayed, they will come, if we be not reformed by other means; and you will think them soon enough, come when they will. Hab. ii. 3-"The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie; though it tarry, wait for it. because it will surely come, it will not tarry." Alas ! people will not see God's hand that is lifted up, bu they shall see it.-Isa. xxvi. 11. My friends, I must discharge my conscience this day, and give you plain and fair warning, that I may be free of your blood. I'll tell you all that hear me this day, this plain word. I am persuaded that God's wrath and judgments shall not be quite removed from Scotland till we be either reformed or ruined! The Lord grant we may be reformed, and that ruin may be prevented. Re member, my dear friends, such warnings from God's heralds will not fall to the ground. O that we may in time consider our ways, and return unto the Lord! in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. And I me." 4. Another token of wrath coming from God is the joint cry of his heralds. When the trumpet soundeth, it is a call to the battle. God's ministers have been sent out these several years, not with an olive branch, a sign of peace. No, these are not the words of God's mouth. Ezek. iii. 17-What says the Lord there? "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel, therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from A RELIGIOUS LIFE. THE Rev. Mr Carter, one of the most learned and pious ministers of a former age, on calling to see a religious acquaintance, learned that he was at work in his shop. Not wishing to interrupt his industry, he repaired thither. The man was busily employed on some part of the process of tanning a hide. Mr Carter came up softly behind him, and gave him a pleasant tap on the shoulder. The man turned sud denly, and seeing who it was, blushed deeply, and said, "Sir, I am ast.amed that you should find me thus." "Let Christ, when he cometh, find me so doing," said Mr Carter. "What do you mean, sir; do you wish to be found in this employment?" "Yes, I wish to be found faithfully performing the duties of my calling." The remark of Mr Carter suggests the true idea of a religious life. There are those who seem to think that a religious life consists mainly if not entirely in formal acts of devotion, of self-denial, and of specific efforts for the salvation of souls. They do not seem to be aware of the truth that they can serve God in their daily employments as truly as in the sanctuary, and ought to do so. They come far short of apprehending the idea contained in the injunction of the apostle: "Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." The consequence is, the lack of a steady and symmetrical growth in Christian character. Their path is not "as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day." The true idea of a religious life embraces all the actions of our lives. It requires us to employ every moment of our time in a manner acceptable to God. It teaches us that we have but one thing to do, viz., the will of God. It assures us, that when, at a proper season, we are diligently labouring in our calling, whatever that calling may be, we are as really doing his will as when we are listening to his truth in the sanctuary, or praying in our closets. FASHIONABLE MANNERS. THERE is a set of people whom I cannot bear-the pinks of fashionable propriety--whose every word is precise, and whose every movement is unexceptionable; but who, though versed in all the categories of polite behaviour, have not a particle of soul or of cordiality about them. We allow that their manners may be abundantly correct. There may be elegance in every gesture, and gracefulness in every position; not a smile out of place, and not a step that would not bear the measurement of the severest scrutiny. This is all very fine; but what I want is the heart and the gaiety of social intercourse-the frankness that spreads ease and animation around it -the eye that speaks affability to all, that chases timidity from every bosom, and tells every man in the company to be confident and happy. This is what I conceive to be the virtue of the text (“ Be courteous "), and not the sickening formality of those who walk by rule, and would reduce the whole of human life to a wire-bound system of misery and constraint.-Dr Chalmers' Ser nons in Posthumous Works. DARKNESS IS NOT DEPTH. THE following suggestive anecdote, which we do not remember having seen in print, has been told of Coleridge. In his school-boy days, the poet once went to bathe with another lad in quite a shallow stream. His comrade, vexed at being able only to wade where he wanted to swim, and noticing at a short distance a spot thickly overshadowed by the foliage of a large tree, cried out, "Ah, there's a deep place yonder, let's go there!"" "No, no," replied Coleridge, after glancing first at the water and then at the tree," it isn't deep, it's only dark!" Darkness is too often mistaken for depth. Many an infidel, whose shallow mind is overcast by the gloom of doubt, is considered "a very deep fellow by his unthinking acquaintances. Not a few writers have received undue credit for profound ideas, on account of an obscure style. More than one system of philosophical or of theological opinions is admired merely because it is incomprehensible: superficial observers are ignorantly tempted to plunge into it, because its surface, reflecting some huge and dish al error, seems to be deep when it is only dark.- Watch man and Reflector. ANECDOTE OF DR JOHNSON. MRS HANNAH MORE, speaking of Dr Johnson, says, "I now recollect, with melancholy pleasure, two little anecdotes of this departed genius, indicating a zeal for religion which one cannot but admire, however characteristically rough. When the Abbé Raynal was introduced to him, upon the Abbé's advancing to take his hand Dr Johnson drew back, and put his hands behind him, and afterwards replied to the expostulation of a friend, Sir, I will not shake hands with an infidel.' At another time, I remember asking him if he did not think the Dean of Derry a very agreeable man, to which he made no answer, and, on my repeating my question, Child,' said he,' I will not speak any thing in favour of a Sabbath-breaker, to please you or any one else."" THE DAY OF PAYMENT. A WEALTHY but niggardly gentleman was waited on by the advocates of a charitable institution, for which they solicited his aid, reminding him of the divine declaration," He that hath pity on the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that what he hath given will he pay him again." To this he replied, "The security no doubt is good, and the interest liberal; but I cannot give such long credit." Poor rich man! the day of payment was much nearer than he anticipated. Not a ortnight had elapsed from his refusing to honour this claim of God upon his substance, before he received a summons with which he could not refuse to comply. It was, "This night thy soul shall be required of thee, then whose shall those things be which thou hast withheld ?" fragments. THERE are two ways in which iniquities may prevail against the Christian-the first is in the growing sense of his guilt, the second is in the power of their acting. This prevalence cannot be entire, for sin shall not have dominion over them; but it may be occasional and partial. There are two ways, according to Scripture, in which God purges our transgressions; and they always go together. The one is by pardoning mercy. Thus David prays: "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean." Thus the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. The other is by sanctifying grace: "I will sprinkle clean water And this is as upon you, and ye shall be clean." much the work of God as the former. He subdues our iniquities, as well as forgives them.-Jay. |