whole nation over to the Church. Whereever they built a new church they soon found a new congregation; and so it was wanted enough of churches to bring over universally it seemed that they only the whole population to the Church of England, for he was satisfied the popular feeling was in favour of that Church." Men and brethren, are these things so among you? The fact was attested by another speaker on the occasion, Acton Tindal, Esq., who thus declared himself: "He could fully corroborate the statetrinal reason for their dissent, for in most ment that Dissenters could not give a docinstances, when the question was asked, the reply was, Oh, we have nothing to say against the Church.' a man of powers incomparably greater than his, to maintain the thesis here laid down among a body of candid, well-informed men, not to command assent, but to escape ridicule. To speak the truth, it required no small measure of courage and superiority to the laws of moral propriety to utter such language in such a region. The diocese of Oxford is the very last in England that would have been selected by a discreet pleader for discussing the merits of the Established Church; for assuredly in none is the evil working of the Establishment principle more notorious, more incontestable, more fatal to the interests of true religion, and more destructive of the souls of men. In proof of our allegation, we appeal to your every-day experience, and to the faithful records of the home missionaries. How would those laborious and well-informed men have been amazed had they listened to his lordship's panegyric in the councilchamber! Had two or three of those devoted evangelists been permitted to address the noble chairman, and to testify at length concerning "the best article," with what confusion they would have covered the mitred orator. How glad should we be would he consent to discuss the question of "the best article" with honest William Ferguson, of Bicester, in the columns of the pub-fices of earthly interest? but no emolic press! The bishop, however, knew his company, and felt himself surrounded by a "fit audience." One of the speakers, C. Sawyer, Esq., sustained the views of the bishop by some very important revelations concerning yourselves. This gentleman testified as follows: According to these two witnesses, the prospects of the Establishment are very bright. Dissent is but a whim, a freak, a vision, a thin mist, which speedily vanishes wherever the light of the Law-Church appears. Surely the discovery of Messrs. Sawyer and Tindal, if a truth, should have moved them and the assembly to pity. Is it not to be lamented that this idle dream should delude millions of men, by leading them to uphold it at the expense of millions of money and countless sacri tions of this order seem to have reached the ears of the reporters. The assembly seem to have viewed Dissent as something composed of half fault, half folly-half crime, half calamity; while they united to prophesy that a happy era awaits the nation, when Dissent shall expire, and the Church of England shall be all in all! "With regard to that part of the popu- Christian brethren,-The matter is lation that went under the name of Dis- full of solemnity, and the facts relative senters, he had inquired on what principle they went, and he generally found that to this meeting are largely fraught there was no principle at all in the matter. with practical considerations, on which, If he said to them, Will you send your however, we have not now space to children to our National School?' the re-enter. Nor is it needful. You are ply generally was, Oh yes; we have no objection at all.' There seemed to be no principle in Dissent, then; it was a mere nominal thing in a great degree: and in proportion as they were able to build churches, they would in time bring the fully competent to deal with the subject, and will, we doubt not, do so in a manner worthy of your principles, and suited to your peculiar circumstances. The Fragment Basket. MOTIVES TO HOLINESS.-What an assemblage of motives to holiness does the gospel present. I AM A CHRISTIAN.-What then? I am a redeemed sinner, a pardoned rebel-all through grace, and by the most wonderful means that infinite Wisdom could devise! I AM A CHRISTIAN.-What then? I am a temple of God; and surely I ought to be pure and holy. I AM A CHRISTIAN.-What then? I am a child of God, and I ought to be filled with filial reverence, love, joy, and gratitude. I AM A CHRISTIAN.-What then? I am a disciple of Christ, and must imitate him who was meek and lowly in heart, and pleased not himself. I AM A CHRISTIAN.-What then? I am an heir of heaven, and hastening on to the abodes of the blessed, to join the full choir of the glorified ones in singing the song of Moses and the Lamb; and surely I ought to learn that song on earth.-Payson. EARLY IMPRESSIONS. - -The "Pilgrim's Progress" never seems so beautiful, so fascinating a book to those who read it first in later life as to those who, having read it in childhood, when its power over the imagination is unbounded, read it afterwards with a grave perception and understanding of its meaning. It becomes a series of holy pictures engraven on the soul in its early, simple, child-like state; and though these pictures may be afterwards covered with sin, yet some time or other their covering may be swept off, and then out shine the pictures in all their freshness and beauty. And what is true of the "Pilgrim's Progress" is much more true of the Bible. Where such early impressions are made upon the mind, it would seem as if Satan works hard to destroy them; he takes the tablet and rubs out the inscription just as the monks of old used to erase the classics, and write over them on the same parchment their own absurd legends; but God can restore the original inscriptions, and can utterly efface the writing of the wicked one. And sometines he original Builder of the mind is pleased to write his own name so deep there, that, though it may be covered with depravity, in which Satan afterwards engraves his, and thinks it is written in the solid rock, yet God has a previous writing, and the Holy Spirit, in a season of trouble and conviction upon the sinner, can break away that covering of depravity, and Satan's name along with it, and there shall be God's name shining, and the whole temple of the mind shall be God's living temple. See that you write God's name upon your children's minds; and in order to do this, you must use the graving tools which God himself has given you, the diamond pen of the word of God, sharper to write with, and to cut with, than any two-edged sword, and always successful when used with faith and prayer.-Cheever on the Pi grim's Progress. A BRAHMIN'S CONFESSION.-A wealthy Brahmin in Benares, India, not long since committed his son to the care of a missionary, urging this extraordinary language:-" I feel convinced, sir, after reading your holy shasters, that they contain the true religion. I have not the power to come up to the purity of their precepts. But here is my son; take him as your child; feed him at your table; and bring him up as a Christian." At the same time he made over to the missionary the sum of five thousand dollars to defray the expenses of his son's education. DRAWING OUT A NEEDLE BY A MAGNET.-A woman at Frankfort run a needle into the fleshy part of the palm, some months ago. Last week, Mr. John Goodman, knowing the needle would not remain stationary, that it would produce suppuration and gradually move from its imbedment, it struck him that it might be attracted to the surface or skin, and he procured a magnet and applied it to the hand. Soon a sensation of pain was produced, and three days after the needle made its appearance just under the skin, when it was easily extracted. CHRISTIAN WARFARE. SOLDIER go-but not to claim Poetry. And the powers that star-like reign Mouldering spoils of earth-born trea- We exalt the drooping head; sure, Not to build a vaunting name, Not to dwell in tents of pleasure. Thou hast sterner work to do, Soldier, rest-but not for thee While around thee chafes the billow: Warier than another's waking; Such a charge as thou dost keep, Brooks no moment of forsaking Sleep, as on the battle-field, Girded shield; grasping sword and Those thou canst not name nor number, Lo! the hosts of hell are flying; Soldier, lay thy weapons down, CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH. SIGNS OF THE TIMES. WHEN from scatter'd lands afar We uplift the expectant eye, When the fig-tree shoots appear, Gird with saints thy flaming car, Summon them from climes afar; Quell'd are all thy foes, O Lord; Earth whose sab.ath glories rise Sacred be th' opposing veil, CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH. The Children's Gallery. GOOD RULES; what we desire. A little reflection I will show us the meanness of such a OR, HOW GENERAL WASHINGTON CAME disposition. When we hear a bad re TO BE GOOD. "PAPA," said Eliza, “how came General Washington to be so good? Was he born good?" "No, my daughter. Like every other son of Adam, he was born with a depraved heart. His admirable character and habits were not the result of accident; they were the result of a regular plan and persevering effort on his part. He knew that pains and labour were necessary to the formation of a good character. Accordingly, when he was thirteen years of age, he collected and wrote out more than a hundred rules for the government of his actions and the formation of his character." port, we ought to hope that it may not be true, and we must require abundant evidence before we receive it as true. We must never give currency to it unless we know it to be true; nor then, unless we are under obligation to do so." "Unless we are under obligation to do so ' said George, with surprise. "If there is a report about a man, and it is certain it is true, and I know it is true, have I not a right to tell it to anybody I have a mind to ?" "No, you are not to say anything to anybody's disadvantage, unless there is a call of duty for you to do so." "But I may meet with a man who "I should like to hear them," said hasn't heard the report, and he is going George. to transact some business with the man, and he may be cheated; may I not tell him, even if he does not ask me ?" "I should like to copy them, and carry them with me all the time," said John. "To practise a few of them would be better than to carry them all around with you. I will read you a few of them, and we will talk about them & little. "Every action in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those present.' "You see that Washington thought it worth while to form habits of politeness. Some people think that politeness is not worth taking any trouble about. Do what is right, take no trouble about the niceties of manner,' say some. Now, the law of right requires us to attend to the manner as well as to the tives of our conduct; and benevolence requires it, for we make others hay when we treat them with genuine politeness. Some persons think they are above the laws of politeness-too great to be subject to them. Let such remember that Washington was not too great to attend to the rules of politeness. 66 Certainly, there would be a call of duty. But then you must see to it that the motive be a desire to prevent the neighbour from suffering injustice, not a desire to injure the delinquent, or to gratify a taste for telling news." "I think that would be a good rule for Mrs. Semple to follow," said Eliza, in an audible whisper to ner mother. "You must not be too liberal, daughter, and give away what you may need yourself. In that very remark there was something very near a violation of the rule." Eliza blushed, and thought she would make no more applications of what was said to others. "Be careful to keep all your promises.' "In regard to this, also, little things must be included. Some persons keep their promises in regard to serious matters, and pay little regard to those which respect smaller matters. But that was not the way with Washington. He was careful to keep his word in the smallest matters, and the consequence was, that he was always believed. His word was as good as his "Some persons seem to love to be- written obligation. He never failed to lieve such reports, and we easily believe | fulfil his promise in all things, even the "Be not hasty to believe flying reports to the disparagement of any." smallest, though he had the care of the nation upon him." "Suppose a man makes a promise to do what is wrong, must he keep it ?" said George. "Certainly not; a man has no right to do wrong." "One of the boys promised another to go into Mr. Field's pasture after chesnuts, and then Mr. Field said nobody should go there; but he went because he promised to go." "He did wrong, and he knew that he did wrong. People often render such reasons; but the amount of it is, they wish to do wrong, and they make their promise an excuse to themselves and others. It is wrong to make a promise to do evil, and it is wrong to keep it.' "I shall read you only one or two more of Washington's rules. "When you speak of God, let it be seriously and in reverence." "Of course this rule prohibits all swearing. Among his rules there is no one against swearing; I suppose he thought it was unnecessary. Some think it is manly, and a mark of courage, to swear; but Washington did not think so. He was never profane, and he exerted all his influence to check profanity in others. "There are some people who do not swear, and yet they use the names and attributes of God irreverently. They pronounce the awful name of God as carelessly as they would pronounce the name of any other thing. Newton, the great astronomer, never uttered the name of the Creator without a reverential pause. Washington charged himself to use it 'seriously in reverence." See that you follow his example." "Labour to keep alive in your heart that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.' "Do you understand the meaning of this rule, George "" "I don't know that I do perfectly." "What is conscience ?" "I know what conscience is well enough, but I don't know what he means by keeping it alive." Eliza, by her manner, though she did not speak, seemed to say that she knew. "Well, daughter, what is it ?" "I think it means that we should always obey conscience-always keep a good conscience," said Eliza. "That is it. Conscience is that power of the mind by which we perceive what is right and what is wrong. Before we act, we should consider whether that which we design to do is right or wrong, and act accordingly. By so doing conscience is kept alive. By using it properly, it will prove a vigilant and faithful monitor." A TERRIBLE SCENE! On THE writer of this was called about mid-day to visit a young man in the last moments of life. He was a professed infidel, and refused any spiritual aid or the services of a minister. entering the room the scene was truly awful the young man was dying. Near the bed sat his widowed mother and sisters. He was struggling to hide his fears and appear calm and collected in the conflict with death. As I approached him, (the window was slightly opened to admit sufficient light,) he turned towards the window, and as his eye for a moment rested on me-it was only a moment however, for he as quickly turned away his face toward the wall, seemingly determined to prevent my conversing with him. I took his hand; he withdrew it. I asked him to look at me and talk about his latter end; he groaned, and hid himself beneath the bed-clothes. Again I held his hand, and by gentle force turned him towards me. His countenance was intelligent, his features good; his appearance indicated twenty or twenty-one years of age. "Shall I pray with you ?" my friend. "No, no," said he; "I don't believe in prayer." "Shall I read a portion of God's holy word ?" "No. Oh, don't worry me! I don't believe the Bible; why add to my sufferings with such things? I tell you I am an infidel, and all I ask is to be left alone." "Do you know you are dying, my young friend?" |