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Poetry.

THE PENDING BATTLE.

A SONNET,

bring, from all sides, the materials for the con- | happiness of this otherwise-dark and stormy being. But to prayer, besides the inducement of momentary gratificastruction of a new nest, which they placed over the entrance of the old one. In about two hours tion, the very self-love implanted in our bosoms would this was completed; and the swallows imme-lead us to resort, as the chief good; for our Lord hath said, “Ask, and it shall be given unto thee; knock, and diately took up their abode in it. The poor it shall be opened"; and not a supplication, made in sparrows must have died of suffocation; and, the true spirit of faith and humility, but shall be answered; though they richly deserved to be punished for not a request which is urged with unfeigned submission taking possession of a nest which they knew and lowliness of spirit, but shall be granted, if it be condid not belong to them, one cannot help feeling sistent with our happiness, either temporal or eternal. sorry they should have suffered such a lingering Of this happiness, however, the Lord God is the only death. The swallows remained in undisturbed judge; but this we do know, that, whether our requests possession of their new nest; and for some days be granted, or whether they be refused, all is working the hen rarely quitted it, for she had several together for our ultimate benefit.-H. K. White. eggs. The cock during that time supplied her with food, and in about a fortnight the young swallows were hatched, and their growth and education proved a constant source of amusement to Cuvier, who watched them, until, as autumn came on, they prepared for their departure to the sunny south. The following spring they reappeared, and immediately set about re-pairing their old nest, which had, of course, been much injured by the winter's frost and rain. The morning after the swallows had finally taken up their abode in it, they were gaily pursuing their prey, when one of them was pounced upon by a hawk, which was carrying him off, when he fell mortally wounded, pierced by the shot from Cuvier's gun. He hastened to the assistance of the poor little swallow, and, having extricated him from the talons of the hawk, dressed his wounds and replaced him in the nest. There he was carefully watched and tended by his mate, who never left him, save to procure the necessary food. Notwithstanding all her care, his strength visibly declined, and soon he breathed his last. From that day the other swallow drooped, and pined away, surviving her beloved companion but a few days.

This little episode in the lives of two swallows made such an impression upon Cuvier that he determined still further to devote himself to the study of natural history, and finally became the most eminent naturalist of modern times.

BY THE REV. J. D. HULL.

(For the Church of England Magazine).

REV. xii. 7, 12.

How wonderful a scene must be presented
To the celestials, on this lower stage!

They mark the powers of darkness warfare wage
Against the church, with wrath unprecedented;
Her large defections from their realm resented.
Tremendous are their efforts to retain

Their tyranny on this distress'd domain;
Their stratagems the subtlest yet invented.
But they observe, withal, her conquering King
To her deliverance come; and, following him,
His marshalled hosts of mighty seraphim*,
With the infernal forces combating ;

Till these be signally and soon defeated,
And he with gratulations, world-wide, greeted.
*Rev. xix. 14.
+ Rev. xvii. 14, xix. 1-7.

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The Cabinet.

THE SEASON

1867. November December

Inches.

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PRAYER.-There is such an exalted delight to a regenerate being in the act of prayer, and he anticipates with so much pleasure, amid the toils of business, and the crowds of the world, the moment when he shall be able to pour out his soul without interruption into the bosom of his Maker, that I am persuaded that the degree of desire or repugnance which a man feels to the performance of this amiable duty is an infallible criterion of his acceptance with God. Let the unhappy child of dissipation-let the impure voluptuary boast of his short hours of exquisite enjoyment: even in the degree of bliss they are infinitely inferior to the delight of which a righteous man participates in his private devotions; while, in their opposite consequences, they lead to a no less wide extreme than heaven, and hell, a state of positive happiness, and a state of positive misery. If there were no other induce- London: Published for the Proprietors, by S. D. EWINS ment to prayer than the gratification it imparts to the and SON, 9, Ave Maria Lane, St. Paul's; ROGERSON soul, it deserves to be regarded as the most important and TUXFORD, 265, Strand; and to be procured, by order object of a Christian; for nowhere else could he purchase of all Booksellers in Town and Country. so much calmness, so much resignation, and so much of that peace and repose of spirit in which consists the chief

Jerusalem, Sept. 1st, 1868.

The rainfall of the season is greatly above the average.

PRINTED BY ROGERSON AND TUXFORD,
265, STRAND, LONDON.

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"I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly, in unbelief." -1 TIM. i. 13.

"And pray tell me what may be your rea

sons ?"

"Claude," said the good old Highlander, "I know nothing about what learned men call the evidences of revelation; but I will tell you why A YOUNG man, a native of the Highlands of I believe it to be from God. I have a most deScotland, was one day walking in one of the praved and sinful nature; and, do what I will, great London thoroughfares. By one of those I find I cannot make myself holy. My friends providential coincidences which are commonly cannot do it for me, nor do I think all the ancalled accidents, he met an aged fellow-country-gels in heaven could. One thing alone does it: man, whom he recognized as having been an intimate acquaintance of his father's.

The young man had been trained from childhood in the knowledge of the Christian religion, and in the practice of its external duties; but having travelled on the continent as attendant and companion of a young gentleman of fortune, he had become imbued with infidel sentiments, which prepared him only too well, on his subsequent settlement in London as an attorney's apprentice, to plunge into the dissipating follies of metropolitan life. It was at this critical stage of his journey through life that he met his aged friend.

For conversation's sake they retired to a house of refreshment; and there the young man gave his countryman a very animated description of his tour, and of the wonders he had seen upon the continent. The old man listened with attention to his narrative, and then eagerly inquired whether his religious principles had not been materially injured by mixing among such a variety of characters and religions. "Do you know what an infidel is ?" said the

young man.

"Yes," was the reply.

"Then," said he "I am an infidel, and have seen the absurdity of all those nostrums my good old father used to teach me in the north; and can you," added he," seriously believe that the bible is a revelation from the Supreme Being "

"I do." No. 1946.

the reading and believing what I read in that blessed book-that does it. Now, as I know that God must be holy and a lover of holiness, and as I believe that book is the only thing in creation that produces and promotes holiness, I conclude that it is from God, and that he is the Author of it."

The young man affected to laugh at this; but the argument reached his heart; and though he would not confess it to his companion, he could not get rid of it. He purchased a bible, therefore, and determined to read it again for himself. The perusal excited fearful apprehensions of his state as a sinner against God, and most gladly would he have enjoyed another conversation with the pious Highlander; but he could not find him; and at that period he had not one serious acquaintance in England to whom he could unbosom his mind. While thus ruminating on his situation, he recollected his father's having mentioned a Mr. Newton, an excellent clergyman, who resided in London. He made inquiry among all his acquaintances where Mr. Newton preached; and at length found a young man who conducted him to St. Mary Woolnoth.

In hearing John Newton preach, the young man was deeply affected; but his soul found no rest. He accordingly adopted the plan of stating his case on the back of a letter, with a request that Mr. Newton would preach on it the following Lord's-day evening; and he gave this note to the pew-opener to be conveyed into the vestry.

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The worthy author of the Olney hymns was not the man to neglect compliance with such a request. Next sabbath evening, accordingly, he did preach to his anonymous correspondents' base, and not only this, but after sermon, publicly mentioned the circumstance, and requested the unknown writer of the note to breakfast with him next morning. This was the commencement of an acquaintance which issued in the happiest results for the young man and for the cause of Christ. For not only was he in due time relieved from his despondency through a believing view of the atonement of Christ; but constrained to admire the grace of God which had rescued him from infidelity and vice, he resolved to devote himself to the preaching of that faith which he had once attempted to destroy.

The young man's name was Claudius Buchanan, afterwards so well known as the devoted missionary and learned author, whose "Christian Researches in India" contributed so much in their day to extend and deepen the interest of our home churches in the Christianization of that great and glorious land. So important in its results was an unlettered old Christian's simple testimony to the bible, as the means by which he had received into his heart that holiness which his life proved to be a reality. We rejoice that God has many such witnesses. Reader, are you one of them?

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"We mistake, if we think that the bible is to be read like any common book. It is God's storehouse of truth, provided to restore the heart of man to himself. But some men might read the bible for ever, and find it still 'a sealed book' to them. The bible is understood, not by critical acumen, nor by extensive literary attainments, nor by the best Hebraist, &c., but by him to whom the Holy Spirit the most abundantly reveals it. He whose heart is most tuned to the spirit of the bible understands it best. Some of the difficult passages are only difficult on this account, because our Christian

experience is slight and feeble. And the reason that so few understand the scriptures is, because so few have grace in their hearts; so that the truths of scripture are sheer nonsense to them, like astronomy or mathematics to a child. My belief is, that if a man, however holy, were to live a thousand years, and were to grow in grace daily, there would still be a fund of knowledge in the bible, which would be revealed to him by the Spirit; so that his graces might still continue to grow, however long he might live. We must be content to die with a very partial knowledge of the bible; though, like Mr. Romaine, we should, for the greater part of our lives, read no other book. And if you consider that the bible contains subjects of an infinite nature, how is it supposed that a finite creature should comprehend them? The wonder would be if he did. Let us, therefore, be fervent in prayer, that the Spirit would reveal the secret things of God to us, as he has been pleased to reveal them in his word. Let this be your encouragement: 'What thou knowest not now, thou shalt know hereafter' (Rev. H. Budd).

"There is not so much need of learning as of grace, to apprehend those things which concern our everlasting peace; neither is it our brain that must be set on work here, but our heart; for true happiness doth not consist in a mere speculation, but a fruition of good: however, therefore, there is excellent use of scholarship in all the sacred employments of divinity, yet in the main act, which imparts salvation, skill must give place to affection. Happy is the soul that is possessed of Christ, how poor soever in all inferior endowments. Ye are wide awake, O ye great wits, while you spend yourselves in curious questions and learned extravagances: ye shall find one touch of Christ more worth to your souls than all your deep and laboursome disquisitions, one drachm of faith more precious than a pound of knowledge: in vain shall ye seek for this in your books, if you miss it in your bosoms: if you know all things, and cannot truly say, 'I know whom I have believed' (2 Tim. i. 12), you have but knowledge enough to know yourselves truly miserable" (Bishop Hall: Christ Mystical," sect. i.).

66

"Be thou my guide into all truth divine:

Give me increasing knowledge of my God: Show me the glories that in Jesus shine, And make my heart the place of his abode" (C. F.). H. S.

EARLY DEATH:

A Sermon*,

BY THE REV. B. SLIPPER,

Rector of Coston and Vicar of Runhall, Norfolk.
PSALM lxxxix. 49.

“Thou hast shortened the days of his youth.” THERE is something in death which, on whatever household his heavy hand may fall, excites our sympathies and arouses our

* Preached on occasion of the death of a young chorister.

better feelings, for we are conscious that, whatever degree of sorrow or affliction it may bring, we are all subject to it; but still there are certain circumstances in which it takes place, which, although they do not wring the heart so deeply nor cause such permanent sorrow, yet do nevertheless affect us much at the time with sensations of pity and of grief. When the aged and infirm are called away, although the stern necessity may draw forth the tears of unfeigned affection, we are resigned to it, for we know that death is their portion; and, as none can expect to be immortal, or to live beyond a good old age, and to fall as a ripe sheaf into the garner, we are ready to say, "All is well:" "the will of the Lord be done." But, when death strikes down the young, and one fast verging towards manhood, then we feel the truth of that sentence in the burial-service, "Man cometh up and is cut down like a flower, he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay." A young lad has been taken away from us in his fifteenth or sixteenth year. Some perhaps might deem the event scarcely worthy of notice, for young people die in every place, and might think it sufficient to say he is dead, and that without further thought upon the matter. But, as we are a body of Christians, meeting together one Lord's-day after another, believing in the same God, trusting in the same Lord Jesus Christ, praying for the blessed influence of the same Holy Spirit, and looking forwards to the same end, the departure of one of our number from this transitory world ought to be a matter of the deepest interest to us.

In the first place, there is a positive truth to be learned from it. The death of this young person makes known to us that, although the old must die, the young may. To those who are of the same age as himself, or a few years older or younger, especially to his companions, such an event conveys a more solemn admonition than any sermon can it cries aloud, with a plain and forcible voice, however young or strong you may be, "Prepare to meet thy God." Then, again, it shows us that, strong as the love of life is, and natural as the dread of death is, yet faith in Christ can triumph over both the one and the other. The love of life is natural to man; and most young people wish to live; and, when deadly disease attacks them, they have not only to prepare for heaven but to overcome this love of life-a hard sharp struggle, in which only faith in Christ can enable them to triumph. And, when we hear such a one say that he is willing to die if it be the

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Lord's will, it shows us how powerful is the grace of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Spirit of Christ, and forms a practical inducement for us to seek it more earnestly and more continually. Let us learn to seek it in due season, that when we need it we may not faint through want of it. Let us remember that our Saviour saith, "Men ought always to pray," not only in age but in youth; and "blessed shall that servant be whom his Lord when he cometh shall find watching."

A young lad has died. Some one will say, "What then?" Why, more perhaps is to be said upon the occasion than such an inquirer might imagine. Great events of a mournful tendency excite our fear and wonder; small events, our sympathy and commiseration. A city in flames would create in us horror and terror and astonishment; for we could not compass in our minds the misery which would therein exist: a house on fire would awaken in us pity and compassion for its inmates; for we could imagine their confusion and distress; so, when a great man dies, we acknowledge readily enough that his death may be a national loss, and that there may be much to be said and written about him, and we may fear that his place may not be easily or beneficially filled up; but, when a young person dies who has lived amongst us, and whose suffering we have witnessed, whose tearful eyes we have seen, and whose enfeebled voice we have heard, we miss his presence. Let us reflect. All that belongs to youth has gone down with him to the grave; the love of life, of which I have spoken; the hope of many days-five-and-fifty years before him, according to the natural course of man-and yet he is not. Large bright eyes have been closed in death: hair black as the raven's wing and luxuriant as the foliage of the young tree shrouded his pale features. Childhood and youth, however fair and beautiful, are vanity; yet, to say the least, he was a comely youth, and one upon whom a father's eye might light with something of pride, and a mother's with much of love. He had at times undoubtedly the same feelings as other young persons of his age, the same joyous and merry laugh, the same mirthful speech, the same careless heart: death was as unlooked for by him as by others, until it became a stern reality, for, his good and our warning, that we should not trust to length of years, how many soever may seem to be before us.

Let us think too of that trial, in its various parts, which he had to bear-that love of life, which I have mentioned once and again, crossed day by day with the strong convic

tion that life itself was ebbing fast away; | God: "He that is not with me is against

the weakening frame and increasing faint-
ness; the loss of appetite, the harassing and
distressing cough; the inability to walk, and
then to sit; and lastly the being confined
entirely to the sick-bed, to count the hours
through the weary night and feverish day,
and find no rest, and yet to know that
others, who had been his companions, were
well, strong, and healthy, while he was lying
there alone; until at last he could only
raise his poor thin hands in prayer to the
God who made him, the Saviour who re-
deemed him, and the sanctifying Spirit, and
pray, "O holy, blessed, and glorious Tri-
nity, three Persons and one God, have
mercy upon me a miserable sinner." Let us
hope; for we may justly hope that he is with
his Saviour; and, hoping it, as we have good
reason, do we not learn something more
than the bare fact that a village lad has
died? Does it not impress upon us the
truth that, whether young or old, it is
"through much tribulation that we must
enter into heaven"? It hath indeed pleased
God to shorten the days of his youth; but,
when we remember the glorious change
that hath taken place in him, we may
give God thanks, and say with those who
sorrowed at the departure of St. Paul, "The
will of the Lord be done."

me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." It is better to gather a little with Christ than it is to be with those who do harm, however great or admired or distinguished in the world they may be it is better to be a village lad singing in a village choir, with a cheerful voice and a believing heart, than to be fraught with all the "oppositions of science falsely so called," and to reject the wisdom and counsel of God in Christ Jesus; although it may seem to us to be but little that we can do, yet it may be much in the sight of a merciful God: "If thou hast but little (saith an apocryphal writer) give thy di ligence gladly to give of that little." Never let us be deterred from doing any good that we might do because it may be but little: we can never tell how much God, in his wisdom, may bring out of it. We are told of a certain poor widow who cast into the treasury two mites, which make one farthing, while many that were rich cast in much. Many of the Jews were very liberal in their offerings-it was a part and par cel of their religion to make very costly ones well-many_rich men (said our Lord) cast in much. Probably on that very day many thousands of pounds were poured into the treasury-and yet this one farthing had become of more value than those many thousands. God had swollen it into a value of great amount; so it may be with anything else that we may do in faith. It may seem a small matter to be a singer in a village church; but, if undertaken and conducted in a right spirit, this may be of great benefit to the person who sings, and to others, and may meet with a great blessing; but, if it be carried out in a careless and unholy spirit-if a singer be an idle, profane, ungodly person at other times-he does but shame the church of God, and does an immense deal of harm amongst those especially of his own age, rank, and condition of life, who, when they know that a young man or woman of bad character takes part in it, are led to think less of the service of God and to neg lect it. It is but just that those who give up their time and attention to the duties of a chorister should meet with some kindness and consideration; but, at the same time, it is highly requisite for the welfare of the parish that they should be, whether young or old, in possession of a good character and a fair name; that they turn not that which is so holy as the praise of God into mockery and scorn, and give not occasion to the enemies of the faith to blaspheme. When life is over then comes the reckoning: then shall we be recompensed for the good

There is another reason for speaking of the death of this young person, beyond the usual warning which it conveys to all of the same age, and indeed not to them only but to all, and that is that he was one of our village choristers. However little use any one may have been in the church of God, whatever we may think of it, it is much to have been of some use there. "I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of ungodliness." We cannot tell, indeed we have no idea how grateful to God are the praises of his saints; for, as prayer is our especial duty and privilege, so is praise his especial portion: "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord." The last Sunday morning that he was here, death had all but set its seal upon his brow he stood amongst those young men who now form the village choir, not indeed one of the most prominent, but still one. Surely we may hope that the hymns he sung were not of the voice only, but sometimes of the heart: people can scarcely join, whether they be young or old, in good without taking some good: if he joined in the spirit in which he ought to have done, and we may trust he did, he was the better for it then, and he is the better for it now. What appears to be a small and insignificant matter with men is a great one with

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