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THE MINISTER THE LEADER

IN PRAYER.

It is related of the late John Breckenridge, whilst the chaplain to Congress, that, observing that several members of that body kept their seats, and continued reading whilst he was offering prayer, he one morning arose in his place, and said, "Let us pray.' Waiting some minutes for them to arise, he repeated the expression, "Let us pray;" emphasizing, in his peculiar way, the word "us," and then added, "I did not say, Let me pray,' but 'Let us pray'-all of us.' The rebuke had its desired effect. All the members, from that time until the end of the session, invariably arose and stood in a respectful attitude, whilst he led in their morning devotions.

The rebuke might, with great pro. priety, be administered to most of our congregations. Many of them regard the prayers that are offered as the duty peculiarly of the ministry, just as preaching is, and their own duty is to listen to them respectfully. We have rejected the practice adopted by some churches, of audible responses, expressing our adoption of the petition offered by the ministry; and in doing so, it is feared that but too many have, with this rejection, given up also the mental concurrence which is the main thing in all true prayer.

FILIAL LOVE.

Filial love should be cherished. It has especially a softening and ennobling effect on the masculine heart. It has been remarked, that almost all illustrious men have been distinguished by love for their mother. It is mentioned by Miss Pardoe that a "beautiful feature in the character of the Turks is reverence for the mother. Their wives may advise or reprimand unheeded, but their mother is an oracle, consulted, confided in, listened to with respect and deference, honoured to the latest hour, and remembered with affection and regret even beyond the grave." "Wives may die," say they, "and we can replace them; children

perish, and others may be born to us; but who shall restore the mother when she passes away, and is seen no more?" GRATITUDE.

Be careful to teach your children gratitude. Lead them to acknowledge every favour that they receive, to speak of their benefactors, and to remember them in their prayers. Accustom them to distinguish with a marked regard their instructors, and those who have aided them in the attainment of goodness or piety. It is an interesting circumstance in the life of Ann, Countess of Pembroke, who was distinguished, more than two centuries since, by her learning, her decision of character, the languages she acquired, and the honours she enjoyed, that she erected a monument to the memory of her tutor, and always spoke of him with the most affectionate veneration, as her guide in the rudiments of knowledge.

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Poetry.

HYMNS FOR CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP MEETINGS.

No. I.

DIVINE APPROVAL OF PIOUS

CONVERSE.

MAL. iii. 16-18.

Or old, in most degenerate times,

A faithful few remain'd,
Who still, amidst prevailing crimes,
The fear of God maintain'd.

These with each other oft conferr'd,
Their mutual faith to aid;

And God, who all their converse heard,
Of this a record made.

For these, who fear'd the Lord indeed,

And thought upon his name,

Peculiar honours are decreed,
Surpassing earthly fame.

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"They shall be mine," saith God, "when I One Lord, one faith we all avow;

Collect my jewels rare;

While at my frown the wicked fly,
My servants I will spare.

"Then will I own them as my sons,

And earth and heaven shall know These were the chosen, faithful' ones, That served the Lord below." Essex.

No. II.

J. B.

CHRISTIAN CONCORD.
PLEASANT it is when friends agree
By love to serve each other;
When each is glad at heart to see
The gladness of his brother.
Pleasant it is when such unite
In Christian conversation,
Receiving and imparting light,

And strength, and consolation.

He who hath friends, the wise man says,
Must show a friendly feeling,
And seek a kind response to raise,
By kind and generous dealing.
It is not right to seek our own,
And have no care for others;
We live not for ourselves alone,
But for our friends and brothers.
Differ we may, yet well agree,

If not too much requiring;
To make but fuller harmony,
Our varying views conspiring.
One Father have we all above,
One Jesus died to save us;
Sweet to fulfil, by mutual love,

The new command he gave us.
In Christian concord let us live,
By peace and truth attended;

One family are we;

And if in aught we differ now,

In Christ we all agree.

By his most precious blood redeem'd,
Brethren in Christ are we;

And all as brethren are esteem'd
In whom his grace we see.
Let Christ's disciples, evermore,

As brethren, live in love,-
Brethren who the same Lord adore,
And have one home above.
Essex.

No. IV.

J. B.

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP.

1 COR. i. 2, 3; 2 PET. i. 1, 2.
As Christian brethren now we meet,
As brethren may we love;
Then shall our fellowship be sweet,
Like that of saints above.

We meet in our Redeemer's name,
In whom we all are one,
That with one voice we may proclaim
The wonders he hath done.

He loved us, gave himself for us,
He died and rose again,

That we, whom he hath ransom'd thus,
With him in heaven might reign.

Partakers of one glorious hope,
United may we be;
And give a wider, freer scope
To Christian charity.

To all who in the faith abide,
And Christ our Lord adore,
Grace, mercy, peace be multiplied,
Henceforth, for evermore.

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The Children's Gallery.

MEMOIR OF MARIA MOORE.

MARIA MOORE, the subject of this memoir, was born in Liverpool. At the early age of five years she became a scholar in the Cleveland-square, now the Campbell-street Sunday-school, which had only recently been commenced. There was nothing particular about her to attract notice. She was quiet and orderly at school. At learning, slow, rather than otherwise; select in the choice of her playmates, and was never known to tell an untruth. She had been sick more than a week, when her teacher was requested to visit her. The following is chiefly supplied by her teacher:--

On Sunday, the 25th January, I was requested to visit Maria Moore, who was sick. Immediately after going into the room, and having expressed my sorrow at her being so sick, she said, "You would never let me come to your little prayer-meeting, but I shall get to one in heaven.' After conversing with her for some time, she asked me if I would pray with her, which I did. On leaving for school, she desired me to ask the superintendent to pray for her, that God would either lighten her affliction, or take her to heaven. She also asked me to come, and see her again in the evening. I did so. As soon as she knew I was in the house, she called out," Teacher, I am going home." "Going where?" I inquired. "I am going to heaven, she replied. But I said, "Ak, Maria, do you know that you are a sinner?" "Yes," she said; but Jesus died for my sins, and now God is my Father, Jesus is my Saviour, and heaven is my home; and I am not afraid to meet God, for he is my Heavenly Father" She said she was anxious about her mother and sisters. She was only anxious for their conversion to God.

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On the Monday evening I went to see her again, and found her suffering intensely. She could scarcely speak two words without screaming out, "Oh, my poor head! What shall I do?" I

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tried to console her by saying I was sorry to see her suffering so. "Ah," she said, "my head is not nailed to the pillow, but Jesus was nailed to the cross for me.' She had heard of the death of little Ann, a fellow-scholar, who had died very happy some time before. A memoir of her death had been printed, and she now wished I would read to her the account of her death. I did so. She said. "Now pray with me;" after which she said, "Oh, teacher, I am going to heaven, and when I get there, I shall look for little Ann and Emma Jane Sykes; an acquaintance who had died a few days before. She asked me to pray with her again, and afterwards again. She then asked that the superintendent would come and see her; but she was persuaded from that, as it was so late. When I was about to leave her, she grasped my hand, and, with a look I shall never forget, said, "Teacher, are you happy? Are you resting on Christ." I said I was; but inquired why she asked me "the question. prayed with her again. She then desired I would stay with her all night. I promised to do so; but her kind father, who was doing all for her that could be done, said, he thought as she had not slept for four nights, perhaps she might sleep a little as she was inclined to dose. She again asked for the superintendent, as she wanted to see him. I told her it was very late, and we wanted her to get a little rest, and then she would perhaps be better. But she did not seem to like that. then wished her good night, and went quietly out of the room. After I was gone,

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she said to her mother, "Ah, mother, teacher has run away and left me." "Oh, yes," said the mother; "but she will come and see you again." "Yes, mother," she said, "when I am gone to heaven."

I went to see her the next morning. She had had a little sleep during the night, and was sleeping then. I did not disturb her. Another of the teach

After lingering for some hours, her happy spirit took its flight to the paradise of God, about four o'clock on the morning of the 28th January, 1852, aged ten years and two months.

ers went to see her during the fore- | your sufferings are very great." "Sufnoon, but she was still sleeping. Her ferings!" she exclaimed, "My sufferstrength was being recruited, as she ings are nothing compared with my had not yet finished her work. When Saviour's, for he was nailed to the she awoke, she called her mother to cross for me." her bedside, and gave her Bible and Prayer-book to her, and told her she must read her Bible, and come to Jesus, for there was no other way to heaven but through him She then called her sisters, and gave them all her books and tracts, and told them they must be very good, and obey their father and mother, and come to Jesus and love God, and meet her in heaven. There were several persons in the room who had come to see her. She told every one of them to come to Christ; for if they did not, they could never come to heaven.

The portions of Scripture and hymns which she had learned at school were a constant source of consolation to her, and which she was constantly singing or repeating during the intervals when her pains were allayed; such as "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved";""Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name given under heaven among men whereby we must be saved;""God so loved the world, that he gave his only begot ten Son, that whosoever believeth on him might not perish, but have eternal life;" "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth from all sin; " "He is the propitiation for sin, through faith in his blood, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world; "Whosoever cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out; " and the hymns beginning, "Rock of ages, cleft for me," and "Beneficent Hearer of prayer; " but especially the two verses taught her by another teacher, which are as follows,

"Jesus, lover of mankind,

Shine upon my infant mird,
Teach me wisdom from al ove,
soul with purest love.

Fill my

"In the slippery paths of youth
Guide me in the ways of truth;
And if bless'd with length of days,
May I spend my life in praise.'

Maria was now drawing near the entrance into the valley. She was suffering intensely; and as her father stood by her bedside, he said, “Maria,

THE HEART AND TONGUE.
ONE Mr. TONGUE,

Of much renown,
Who lived at large

In Tattle Town,
Was mischief full,
And wicked, too,
As all could tell,

If Tongue they knew.
The statute brought,

The charge was plain,
That Tongue was full
Of deadly bane.*
Tongue then was seized,
And brought to Court,
Pleading himself

The impending suit.

"'Tis neighbour HEART,"
Pled Mr. Tongue,
"Who leads me into
So much wrong:t
I should be good

As neighbours are;
As Mr. Nose,

Or Eye, or Ear,
"If neighbour Heart,
Who lives below,
Were changed by grace,
Or made anew;
'Tis very hard

To bear the wrong
Of neighbour Heart,"
Said Mr. Tongue.
The plea was sound,
Of Mr. Tongue;
Jurors and judge
Said, all as one,
"While neighbour Heart
Is also wrong,
No good," they said,

"Could come from Tongue.

"The Court decide,

As the best good

To renovate

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The Cabinet.

REVIVAL OF RELIGION.

"Wilt thou not revive us again?"—Psa. lxxxv. 6.

SEVERAL things worthy of notice are involved in the intelligent and acceptable presentation of this petition.

"Wilt

The conviction that a revival of religion Is God's work. thou not revive us?" This fact is seldom denied in theory. But is it always a matter of deep conviction? Do not many who offer it feel and act very much as though revivals could be "got up" by extraordinary measures, or special efforts of man? Do Christians plead, wrestle, agonize at the throne of grace for the descent of the Holy Ghost, as though they really believed and deeply felt that help could come from no other source, and that failing here, all is lost that man can do?-that not one blind eye will be opened, not one deaf ear unstopped, not one hard heart softened, not one distant soul made nigh by the blood of Christ, not one lively stone placed in the living temple, and that even the blessed Gospel of the Son of God, with all its appliances for good, will prove only the savour of death unto death? Will God give his work and glory to another? No! Others may work instrumentally and dependently, but never efficiently. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the

Lord."

The conviction that a revival is NEEDED. "Wilt thou not revive us?" This involves the belief that religious feeling has declinedthat the standard of piety is low, and also a feeling of distress on account of it. It is opposed to a state of indifference or insensibility, and to a disposition to resolve it into the Divine sovereignty, and to wait "God's time," as though means had no place and prayer no efficacy. It takes God at his word, and pleads as though the suppliant believed that he would not despise the prayer of the destitute. The willingness TO BE REVIVED. "Wilt thou not revive us?" There is no disposition here to conceal one's own faults, and to cast | the blame of Zion's declension and barrenness upon others; no waiting till others return to duty, till offenders are restored, or difficulties healed; no waiting for others to step first into the healing pool at the troubling of the waters. There is an urgent, personal necessity-a determination to seek the reviving influence, whether others do or not. Christians, there is ground to fear, are not sufficiently pained in view of their own delinquencies. They do not

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