The clothing is of the simplest kind, and all are dressed alike, the greatest economy being studied. The same with the food also, which is plain and ordinary, and the same to all.

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There are many of these institutions abroad, not only in Paris, but in several other towns in France, Germany, and Switzerland; and one of the pastors writes, May we not hope, that as Christianity shall receive a more practical direction, similar establishments will be multiplied, till there shall be no more a single town in our land without its small infirmary, served by a deaconess, and ready to receive those sick persons who could not be moved to a greater distance without danger?" E.

THE MOST IMPORTANT TRUTHS AND DUTIES OF

CHRISTIANITY

PLAINLY STATED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO CAN READ OR CAN GET ANY TO READ TO THEM.

FIRST. You are to believe that there is a God infinitely great and glorious, that He is a Spirit who fills heaven and earth, that He created you, that He preserves you, that He provides for you daily, that He sees you every where though you cannot see Him, that He remembers all your behaviour, and that He is holy and just as well as good.

Secondly. You are to believe in Jesus Christ.-That He is the Son of God, the only Son of God, in a manner which we, who are not capable of understanding the nature of God, cannot explain any more than the union by which He is one with God; but both which we must believe, because it is plainly told us in the word of God: that He came down from heaven, that He was made in the likeness of man, that He was a Teacher sent from God, that He lived a life of perfect holiness, that He suffered death on the cross that He might make an atonement for sin, and reconcile sinners to God; that now Christ lives in heaven, pleading for mercy for all penitent sinners; that all your hope of salvation must be placed in Him, and that He is the Author of salvation to all who obey Him.

Thirdly. You are to believe in the Holy Spirit.-You are not to grieve Him by any sin. You are to believe that you may be made holy and fit for heaven by his influences on your heart, if you sincerely seek them; and that you may not be deceived in this consideration, what are the fruits of the Spirit? Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. You are to believe that you yourself are immortal, a creature that must live for ever, and be happy or miserable for ever; that you are a sinful creature exposed to the righteous judgment of God for your sins; that you must repent, be converted, and become sincerely holy, or you will die in your sins. You are to believe that God will accept all sincere penitents, will love you if you obey Him, and that He will be angry with you if you disobey Him. You are to believe that there is another state and world after this; that the soul does not die with the body, that God will raise the body at last; that there is to be a day of judgment; that the good shall go into heaven-a place of happiness, and the wicked into hell-a place of misery; that your body and soul will be joined together again at that day, and dwell for ever in one or other of those states, according to your behaviour in this life. These are the things Christians must believe.

What they must do, is first, their duty to God.-You are to worship God in spirit and in truth, you are daily to pray to Him in secret for what you want, you are to praise God and give Him thanks for his mercies, such as your health, food, and raiment, and friends, and especially for the Bible and all the divine ordinances; you are to love Him, to fear Him, to obey Him, to trust in Him, to be patient and submissive to his will.

Secondly. Your Duties to Christ.-You are to have faith in Him as the Saviour of the world, the great Mediator, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, to whom all power is given in heaven and in earth. You are to reverence Him as a divine Teacher; you are to love Him, to trust in Him, and to rejoice in Him as your atoning sacrifice; to obey Him, to imitate his example. The same mind should be in you which was in Christ Jesus.

Thirdly. Your Duties to your Fellow-creatures.— You are to speak truth always, to be diligent in your proper business, doing justice and showing mercy; to be honest, friendly, and kind to all; you are to obey your rulers, parents, and masters, and other superiors, in all their lawful commands.

Fourthly. Duties to your Families.-You are to provide and lay up for your family, to take care of your children's bodies, to render them healthful, and breed them up so as to support themselves, and have a regard to their souls; to pray for them and with them daily, and to have them taught to read and pray, and to be catechized and instructed in religion; you are to be sure to reprove every thing sinful or unbecoming in them.

Fifthly. Duties to Yourselves. To set a constant guard on all your passions, especially anger, and avoid all the sinful lusts of the flesh. Be sober, chaste, and diligent. Bridle your tongue, and strive to grow wiser and better every day.

Sixthly. All Christians must be Baptized.-This is to be done with water, in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; this is to signify that you give yourself up to God as his servant, that you acknowledge Christ as your Saviour and Lord, and that Baptism is a sign and representation of that purity of heart, as well as of life, which you must endeavour to obtain by the help of the Holy Spirit. In these ways often think of your Baptism, and endeavour to improve it.

Seventhly. You are to receive the Lord's Supper, at which Bread and Wine are to be eaten and drunk, in Christian Churches, by all the faithful followers of Christ to the end of the world.-This is to be done in remembrance of Him who died as a Saviour, to obtain pardon of sin, the assistance of the Holy Spirit, and eternal life for all true penitents. By this ordinance they may cheerfully hope to obtain greater measures of divine assistance and comfort, and by this their faith may be strengthened, and they may be made meet for Christ's second coming. It is likewise an engagement to serve and obey Him, and to love their fellow-Christians. To neglect any of the above-mentioned duties to God,

to Christ, to your families, to other men, or to yourselves, is sinful, and God will punish you for it. This is the sum and substance of the Christian religion: further instruction may be learned from time to time, as you have any opportunity for it, especially by a careful and serious attendance on public worship.-Slightly abridged from Dr. Stonhouse, by a Correspondent.

"THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND."

"WATCH and pray," saith our Lord, "for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come, at midnight or at cockcrowing: lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping." Again He saith, "Be ye ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh."

In many parts of Scripture we are told that there shall be signs in heaven and earth, before that great and terrible day. On the latter, distress of nations, men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things that are coming on the earth-pestilence, famine, and earthquake. Frequently in the Epistles the last day is foretold as being preceded by strong religious controversies. Refer to 2 Thess. ii. 3; 1 Tim. iv. 1-3; 2 Tim. iii. Note well these prophecies, and consider the following remarks. Are there not now many things answering to them? Famine, distress of nations, earthquakes; and, above all, how terrible is the spirit of religious dissension! How many sad instances have there been lately of the conversion of multitudes to doctrines contrary to the true and only faith! How can any one of us tell that these are not a fulfilment of the prophecies? Can any one dare to defer preparing for the world to come, knowing that it may at the doors. Jesus, our blessed Saviour and Judge, may appear this night, and what will become of those who have neglected their great salvation? Cursed will he be whom that day may overtake in his sins! He will have his portion in the lake that burneth for ever; while those who have heeded their salvation, doing the Lord's will, and are found watching, will be caught up to meet their blessed and only Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.-Sent by "Mary A.”

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NEW ZEALAND CUSTOMS.

WHEN a little New Zealand child first comes into the world, if it is summer time, it is carried to the sea-shore and bathed. There is much more joy and love shown on the birth of a boy than on that of a girl. The friends are called together, and he is shown and admired. If he is the son of a chief, the name chosen for him is sometimes that of the chief of some friendly tribe; and then the chief, whose name he bears, will send him many gifts in return for the compliment. But a poor little girl would be despised, and is sometimes even put to death. Her mother might think, "If she grows up, she will be ill-used, and it is better for her to die now, while so young, than grow up to learn what it is to live among savage men." But this can only happen where the men are very fierce and tyrannical. There are many kind and gentle in their own families, and among such the little girls are allowed to live and grow up; but, even among these better sort of families, there is more pride in the birth of a son, because his father looks forward to the time when he will go out with him to fight against his enemies; and fighting is one of the great employments of savage life. Shortly after the birth of a child its nose is flattened, and a hole is made in the tender lobe of its ear with a sharp-pointed instrument, and then a piece of stick is put through the hole. Day by day the hole is widened, that, when the child grows up, he may have a gap in his ears wide enough to fix such ornaments as it is customary to wear.

But the New Zealander has something more painful still to bear. It is thought to beautify him more than the flat nose and misshapen ear. It is an operation begun in childhood, and carried on in after-life. This is tattooing. The young New Zealanders are brought up to bear pain, and they are hardened in many ways. They run about naked, and so get used to cold and heat, that they may be ready for the kind of life they will have to lead as men for fishing parties, where they may long without shelter; for piercing into the depths of the thick forests, and being often all night in the open air, with only a rough shed put up for shelter. One would

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