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joined in the scripture; and when the former is neglected, the atter is suspended. May all such drowsy souls be roused from their lethargy, and recollect the admonition given to Jonah by a Heathen tongue," What meanest thou, O sleeper? - arise and call upon thy God!" Piccadilly.

H. D.

THE TURNPIKE-GATE

ON A SUNDAY.

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But when the public services of the day were over, my thoughts again recurred to the recollection of the unpleasant scenes of the morning. What is become of the multitude (I said to myself as I returned from the house of God) which I beheld going forth "to sport themselves (as Scripture strongly expresses it) with their own deceivings?" Perhaps, some of them are no more! Awful consideration! Perhaps others, with broken limbs, or sad disasters, are lamenting over their own felly; and, no doubt, a great mass in such a state of drunkenness, as to be incapable of thinking at all.

Is it not astonishing that serious considerations on the sin and ruin of such pursuits, should never cross the minds of men of this description! It is indeed easy to conceive that, during the heyday of folly, and while the delirium remains, there can be but little time for reflection; but one might be led to hope that, when the effervescence of the pleasurable moment had subsided, men could not be prompted to prosecute the same everlasting chace from one Sabbath to another. It is difficult to believe that any, even of the most abandoned Sabbath-breakers, can have his mind so hardened, through the deceitfulness of sin, as cordially to approve what he is nevertheless perpetually pursuing. Suppose the question were proposed to him at the cool of the evening, and he were asked, Whether the day had been spent by him in such a manner as, upon due reflection, he could wish it to have been?--whether it meets his perfect approbation? and whether he supposeth that God approves of it also?

As these thoughts occupied my mind, the turnpike - gate, which I had seen in the morning, opened again to my view, and the multitude were as numerous as ever. I felt a disposition to go towards it. Perhaps an opportunity may present itself of being useful. It is possible that one or another of the thoughtless throng may have a mind open to conviction. The idea pleased me, and I determined to make the experiment. With is view, I turned aside from the street which led to my home, and crossed to the gate. To a mind unaccustomed to what passeth in the world on a Sabbath when the day is fine, what

astonishment would be excited were he to come forth amidst the busy pleasure-pursuing multitude! The imagination indeed is not sufficiently capacious to form an adequate conception of the various scenes which present themselves in every direction. As I passed on, mine eyes and ears were made continued purveyors of evil. Apple-stalls in the open road, children of all ages, and young men and girls of stouter years, of all descriptions, as much engaged in their pastimes as on the common days of the week. Shops here and there half shut, as if to put a little blash upon it but in reality to say, We admit of no restraint to our traffic. Troops of servants, of both sexes, in the enjoyment of what is called their Sunday out; and multitudes of higher rank, by way of example, in proof that they kept no Sunday in. The mind sickens in the prospect. Like the patriarch at Gerar, every looker-on, not totally lost to feeling, must make the same reflection as he did: "Surely, the fear of God is not in this place!"

And who shall calculate, in the aggregate, the sum total of Sunday profanation on the more retired paths of it, when we behold with what unblushing confidence men come forward, in open day-light, as if to teil the world they despise all laws respecting it, both human and divine? Surely, if the Jew we read of, was counted worthy of stoning, because he had gathered sticks on the Sabbath-day, the character calling himself Christian, can hardly flatter himself that he shall escape with impunity, under a more daring violation of the Lord's Day! Indeed, is not the general disregard of the Sabbath, which the present period abounds with, among the crying sins of the nation, eminently alarming? Doth not this species of transgression erect itself into a more daring form of defiance, as peculiarly directed towards God? — and may we not hear a voice walking through the land in the public calamities of the awful war in which we have been long involved, -"Shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord? shall not my soul be avenged of such a nation as this?"

I pause one moment, to congratulate the people at large that there is yet a seed which serve God. And I pause another, to remind the people of God themselves of their happy privileges. Your mercies, in this respect, are incalculable, in whose hearts and in whose houses the fear of God is. To be kept even from beholding the whirlpool in which the mass are engulphed on those sacred days; to stand in a place of safety, where the high water-mark of their sin, and destruction cannot reach, and to be exempt from the very circle of temptation, is an unspeakable blessing, of the extent of which you are not fully aware. I know indeed that many gracious souls complain of the leanness of ordinances, and of their own barrenness under them; but I know also, that those very complaints do, in a great measure, refute themselves; for they actually prove, that the desire of the soul is for greater and closer communion with the Lord; and it will be well for

such to enquire of their own minds, Whether the Lord doth not sometimes throw a damp upon the sweetest ordinances, on purpose to teach that it is the Lord of ordinances, and not the ordinance itself, which can truly satisfy the soul? And if means become less profitable, in order to endear him the more to the heart, surely what seemed a loss, becomes ultimately a gain; and that man is truly taught of God who knows how to spin comfort, even from the entangled and thready fragments of life; which, though they yield not in themselves profit, become the means of leading to it. In this sense, the least solemn periods of this holy day, though not engaged in divine exercises, minister to good; for they keep from the world, into which it is impossible to go forth without meeting at every step we take, like Jacob's daughter, circumstances to offer violence to the chastity of the soul.

As I prosecuted my path amidst these scenes of general dissipation, distresssed with all I saw, and not a gleam of hope from the countenances of any I met of being useful, one object, of more than common attraction, caught mine eye, which seemed to wage war with all the sanctity of the Sabbath: it was one of those modern hotels where the invitation to jollity, that it might not be mistaken, was placed over the door in the most conspicuous characters, "An Ordinary here every Sunday." Admirable expedient, I exclaimed, to ensure success! Sunday, forsooth, must be the day, and every Sunday too! Had such entertainments been in repute when Bunyan wrote his Pilgrim, they would have made a striking figure in the scenes of his Vanity Fair!

. I paused as I read it. Would the gentleness of expostulation (I said to myself) operate upon such minds, were it to be called forth? Would any of this description listen to reproof? Alas! would not the glow-worm of resentment rather redden through the whole countenance? Most likely, lenient measures would lose all efficacy; and to rouse from such a state of conduct, can only be the result of caustic applications; but, had I the power and opportunity, like the herald of Philip, though on a commission of higher moment than his, I would, morning by morn ing, cry aloud, through all the chambers of the heart, "What is a man profited if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"

The evening was now far advanced. It was high time to return from my fruitless expedition; besides, the sacred employments of the day had suffered much by the interruption. I hastened kome, under the impressions of the happiness of those who have God for their portion, and the enjoyment of his Sabbaths, the blessed privilege of his people here below. I recol lected what David had said, and I felt the full sweetness of it. "Blessed are they that dwell in God's house; they will be stal praising him!"--and, if there be a Heaven upon earth, it must

be in such employments! Reader, what are your sentiments on this subject? Can you, and do you, join issue in it? Surely, Charity herself, with all the energies she possesseth, cannot hope that a heart deadened to divine impressions upon earth, can be alive to their enjoyment in Heaven! And certain it is, if we do not relish the sweet pleasures of devotion God hath appointed for men here below, never shall we attain, or even if attained, truly relish, the felicities of that rest which remaineth for the people of God. R. HAWKER. Plymouth

FREE THOUGHTS

ON THE PROPRIETY, IMPORTANCE, AND ADVANTAGES, OF

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FAMILY-MEETINGS.

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IN the morning of this world's existence, it was declared by Infinite Wisdom, who is perfectly acquainted with the constitution of human nature, "It is not good that man should be alone," the divine benevolence provided him with a help-meet; and, in proportion as the family of our primitive parents increased, in that degree there was wider scope given for the exercise of the social affections. Man multiplied, new families were established, they spread, seperated, and peopled the eastern continent. In process of time, when the maintenance of a large family became arduous, the younger branches arriving at years of discretion, went forth to procure their own livelihood. To shew, however, that they gladly embraced opportunities of a general family-meeting, I exhibit a particular model. Job had three sons and seven daughters; and the sacred historian tells us, that "they went and feasted in their houses, every one in their day." The expediency of such associations, not only appears from their occasionally collecting the scattered members of dispersed households together, but also from the opportunities they give of mutual congratulations on auspicious events. There was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; the domestic circle assembled at a festival, and Jesus graced it with his presence. In a parabolic represen tation of the conversion of a younger son, such was the joy of the father and the rest of the relations, that they killed the fatted calf; they ate and were merry: no member of the family, who could conveniently attend, was allowed to be absent; for the elder son was upbraided, on account of his delay in not appearing among the guests at the appointed time. The best robe and ring adorned the restored relative; the paternal roof resounded with "dulcet music ;" and to the harmonies of the tabret and the pipe, was added the vocal song of "This my son was dead, but is alive again; was lost, but now is found."

Interviews of this kind, sanctioned by the high authority of

Scripture, and by the legitimate rules of expediency, have their peculiar advantages; for,

1st, Distance engenders coolness, even between loving friends; and more particularly when it is authorized by an act of the will. On the contrary, communion strengthens the ties of affectionate union; whether between man and wife, parent and child, sisters and brethren: and,

2dly, An occasional family - meeting shews to all around, that its members are firmly bound together by the endearments of domestic charity. I love to hear it said by others, - Behold, how good, and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!-Pagans exclaim,-See how these Christians love one another!

Sdly, These meetings furnish those who attend them, and who are engaged in active life, with a favourable opportunity for free and unreserved discussion on plans of private comfort and public usefulness.

4thly, They may be termed "Heaven's Remembrancers.”— In that house where there are many mansions, a most numerous, noble, and final family meeting will take plaee; the elder brother who, like Joseph, has been absent for a season, and is exalted to regal honours in the court of the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, shall then publicly declare his alliance.

There will be a banquet, whence the guests shall never rise; a desert fresh gathered from the Tree of Life, the wine of the kingdom to regale the joyful kindred, and this jubilant anthem shall be sung to the Saviour's praise: "Thou hast redeemed us, out of all kindreds and nations, and tongues, and people, under Heaven."

I only add, that symptoms of holiness, and acts of worship, should accompany and follow such social interviews as I have described. In Job's, which was real, in the prodigal's father, which was figurative, there was an offering of humility and praise. "Let us go and do likewise."

(See a Hymn suited to this occasion in the Poetry.)

C.

Sir,

ON THE SLAVE TRADE.

To the Editor.

THAT period has now arrived which has been so long and devoutly wished for in vain, by the friends of justice, and the rights of mankind, when Britain renounces, and will no longer allow, the degrading and iniquitous traffick in the slavery and blood of the sons of Africa, so long carried on under the influence of sordid gain, to the everlasting reproach of the country! The

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