almost as stiff and hard as if it was dried in the sun,' to an uncle, who is a farm labourer This man occupied a small and illin the neighbourhood of Havre. ventilated apartment. The nephew, at eight o'clock in the evening, went to bed in the room. Soon after, the uncle and two companions entered the room, and all fell to smoking. At midnight the visitors withdrew, and the uncle went to bed. Next "I have been,' says a very eminent medical writer, 'now twentythree years in extensive practice, and I never observed so many pallid faces and so many marks of declining health, nor have ever known so many hectical habits and consumptive affections, as of late years; and I trace this alarming inroad on young constitutions principally to the pernicious system of smoking cigars. I am entirely convinced that smoking day the nephew expired. A postand chewing tobacco injure ulti-mortem examination was made, and mately the hearing, smell, taste, and the physician pronounced that he teeth. The practice of smoking is productive of indolence; it the pores of the head, throat, neck, and chest; and then going into the cold, your pores are suddenly closed -hence arise disorders of the head, throat, and lungs.' opens "Mr. Curtis, in his observations on health, says, The excessive use of tobacco, in whatever shape it is taken, heats the blood, hurts digestion, wastes the fluids, and relaxes the nerves. A patient of mine, who used to boast of the number of cigars he could smoke in a day, produced pytalism, or salivation, by his folly; and had he not abandoned the practice, he would have lived but a very short time.' apo "Snuff is highly injurious to plectic persons, and those labouring under deafness and other diseases of the head-to the consumptive-to those afflicted with internal ulcers, or subject to spitting of blood. It is an uncleanly habit; it vitiates the organ of smell; taints the breath; weakens the sight, by withdrawing the humours from the eyes; impairs the sense of hearing; renders breathing difficult; depraves the appetite; and, if taken in abundance, gets into the stomach, and injures in a high degree the organs of digestion." You ought to know that tobacco is a narcotic of the most poisonous character. This point has been settled by innumerable experiments: one occurred very lately. A youth, of the name of Lemoine, paid a visit died of congestion of the brain, caused by the respiration of tobacco-smoke during sleep. My dearest lads, the only cure for this and all other follies and evils is decided piety. Nothing good can be effected till the heart be given to God. Your present days are your most precious. Your young days are but days, and of short continuance; yea, and dubious. Some are old, as we speak, sooner than others: their flowers sooner fade, and their But grass more quickly withers. whenever your evening falls, you will wish it again morning with you. If nothing else will do it, old age will convince you of the excellence of youth. An old divine said, "Time was thus pictured of old: Time to come had the head of a fawning dog; Time present, the head of a stirring lion; Time past, the head of a biting wolf, -so teaching, that though silly souls fancy still that their best days are to come, yet, if they bestir not well themselves in their present ones, they will be very miserably bitten and torn in their future. I sadly remember sometimes the tears and words of a very ancient gentleman that anything can be judged excellent; nor doth aught make for our blessed eternity but vital piety. And surely, for that, there is no season to myself and my school-fellows, in our childhood. Children,' said he, your age is good for everything that you can desire to get; mine is good for nothing but to spend what-like to life's morning. Poets say, it ever one has got. A thousand worlds is a friend to the muses; divines I would give for a few of your learn-must proclaim it the friend of the ing-getting days again. Of all things, graces." prize your time; and of all time, Commending these facts to your your young, which is your sowing-careful consideration, I remain, your time.' It is upon eternity's account Friend and Pastor, The Counsel Chamber. SAMUEL. DR. MORISON'S LECTURES TO YOUNG MEN. YOUNG MEN,-We have this month perils which attend them, and which, in particular, attend you, as mixed up with them, and as about to take upon your own shoulders the burden of the business both of the Church and of the world, for the next quarter of a century. You have here, then, a sage and a safe monitor, to whose counsels you will do well to take heed. "The Age" The discourse on forms a meet introduction to the whole. Here the subjects of The Spirit of Free Inquiry-The Diffusion of Sacred Knowledge-The Spirit of Freedom-The Influence of Association-and The Relations of the Christian Believer are all brought forward, and presented in lights both luminous and impressive. To this succeeds the Dangers, comprising Temptations to Externalism in Religion, to Ritualism, to Spiritualism, and to Frivolousness,-points all of which are admirably put, with their practical bearings. "The Bible" is presented in its characteristics, comprising the grandeur of its theme, the force of its credentials, the adaptedness of its lessons, with the ameliorations it has wrought; and then we have a beautiful exhibition of its conflicts with the sin, the unbelief, and the false religions of the world. Its triumphs are next recorded, together with the marvellous sphere it occupies at the present time, and the prospects which still await it. This mysterious, wondrous book is shown to be still the book of the age, the source of all the light and all the truth, all the wisdom and all the happiness that now bless, and are yet more largely to bless the world. "The Sabbath " meetly follows the Bible. Here the writer proceeds to show the Divine origin of the holy day, which he proves from a variety of sources, in an argument which culminates to a point, presenting the conclusion in a light so complete and so satisfactory, that it has only to be candidly studied, to be understood, felt, and submitted to, with profound and holy submission. We could not desire a more compact, complete, and masterly dissertation on the Sacred Day. "The Sunday-School" is next brought forward; and here Dr. Morison has performed a service which it were difficult to over-estimate, on behalf of the true religion of his country, and the spiritual culture of the rising race. Under the two great heads of the Position of the School, and its Prospects, we have a disquisition which leaves nothing to be desired. Here the subject of the "Separate Service" receives particular notice; and those who desire to ascertain the views of one of the most practical men of the present day, have only to consult this Lecture. We cannot withhold a portion of Dr. Morison's record of his own experience, which runs thus: "I am di posed to speak the more decisively this interesting topic, because, after an anxious observation the conversions of Sunday-school of forty years, I have found that children have been far more frequent under the preaching of the word than in the Sunday-school class. tions of the Christian pulpit, the As a preparation for the ministraSunday-school is an institute full of all kinds of happy promise; as a fringement of a Divine ordinance, substitute for it, it is a palpable inwhich can only lead to disaster and ruin. "The sphere of the Sunday-school it need not be mistaken. It is inappears to me to be so definite, that tended to provide against the neglect of domestic instruction in the home place of a parent's legitimate care. circle; in some sense, to stand in the But as no right-thinking parent would substitute his own efforts at home to "bring up his children in Lord," for the public teaching and the nurture and admonition of the worship of the sanctuary; so, I hold, with a strong and settled conviction, perly understanding their function, that Sunday-school teachers, pro will not venture to do that for the children of the neglected poor which, if they understood their obligations aright, they would assuredly not do for themselves. Let the Sundayschool teacher feel that he has scope enough for his most enlightened and benevolent effort in the great function of class instruction and discipline, without attempting to introduce a separate ministry for the children in our schools, the effect of which will of tender association with the house necessarily be to break every link of God, and to train up a generation of young people, who will either ignore the office of ministry, or ligious control, when their brief emancipate themselves from all resojourn in the Sunday-school has though short, is pregnant with points of high moment. On the Prospects of the School he is brief, and somewhat meagre: the truth is, space had failed, and he was compelled to close. "The Press" is the next theme: here our author has put forth his utmost strength, and the result is an exceedingly able disquisition. It may appear, at first sight, that the subject is rather removed from the walk of young men ; but as it is here managed, it is altogether and very highly in point. After a glance at the history of Authorship, in which we have gathered up a chain of facts, which, to the less erudite of our readers, will be alike useful and interesting, the writer proceeds to trace the influence of the Press for good or closed. How to perfect their plans for thorough class discipline, and for the efficient impartation of elementary religious knowledge to their interesting pupils, will be far more legitimate objects on which to expend their thoughts and energy than how to devise a ministry which is not needed, — which, in many cases, would be impossible,-and which, at best, would be only problematical in its benefits. If infant classes should be incapable of deriving advantage from the stated services of the sanctuary, let some special provision be made for them; but, as they advance in years, let them be transferred to that portion of the pupils who are taught to reverence the house of God, and to look with filial affection to the Christian pastor. If Evangelical Dissenters should give in to the novelty which has been obtruded upon them of late years, let them bear in mind that Churchmen better understand their duty, keep hold of their pupils evil, in the past and the present. during the public services of the Here Dr. Morison's personal expechurch, and thereby create the feel-rience and metropolitan residence ing of something like a Sabbath home. Whatever strengthens this are brought to bear with excellent affection in the Sunday-school child effect. What he calls "The Flagimust be in the highest degree bene- tious Press, which aims to make the ficial to its spiritual interest, and must ultimately work well for the Sabbath-day the Devil's Carnival,” success of an undertaking in which is admirably dealt with, as is likeso many devoted minds are expend-wise the Venal, the Sceptical, and ing their weekly toil." Such are the deliberate and solemnly recorded sentiments of a minister of very high position and large experience. We do not feel that this is the place to enter into the discussion; we only ask our readers to give the foregoing passage the consideration to which it is so seriously entitled. Dr. Morison goes on, with great vigour, to descant on the results which have followed from the labours of the English Sunday-school; after which he glances at some of its defects, and here the discussion, al the Atheistic Press. The Jesuitical Press is fairly unmasked: this part of the oration is particularly entitled to consideration, since, although brief, the points are of great importance. The Theological, the Philosophical, and the Historical Press are ably dealt with; after which comes the Amusement Press, in which the young of both sexes are deeply concerned, forasmuch as it is conducting countless multitudes to perdition. The writer closes by a reference to the Press as it is cleared of all shadows, and sheds its pure and refulgent brightness upon a dark and benighted world; and well were it for the world were there no other Press upon its surface! and harmonizing principle, that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God? Forget not, then, that the most distinguished, as well as legitimate, function of the Church of the living God,' is, that it is the pillar and ground of the truth;' that it is to uphold and preserve it in all its purity; that it is to set it forth before the eyes of an unbelieving world in all its native majesty and simplicity; that it is to root itself deeply and firmly in its hallowed soil; that it is to imbue itself with its light, and liberty, and sacred truth; that it is to breathe forth its "The Church" is next brought forward, in its true ideal, and legitimate functions. Although the discussion here may be less stimulant, it is not less important. The writer has set forth, with considerable fulness, Paul's idea of the Church, as the "house of God," meaning "the spiritual house," "the Church of the living God;" after which he goes on to show in what consists her grand and legitimate functions. We consider the discourse, as a whole, however, not equal to its predecessors; but what it wants in grasp and comprehensiveness, it possesses in Scripture principle and sound sentiment; refuge of all churches which struggle "The Bible will be the stay and and viewed absolutely, it is, doubt-to possess and exhibit its precious less, a production of superior value. This will appear from the closing paragraphs, which we cannot withhold from you: "If Evangelical Protestantism seeks for a safe resting-place, on which its foot may stand, to do battle with all the enemies of the faith once delivered to the saints,' let it plant itself on the fully attested canon of Holy Writ, and on its plenary inspiration; and on this vantage ground, which is open to all Christians, it will find a Church authority which can never be shaken, and a bond of union and confraternity which will produce a catholicity unknown since Rome set up her sectarian claims, and called them catholic. True, indeed, Rome will be excluded; but this is the doom of Antichrist; and we shall never have a 'true, holy, catholic church,' till Rome is quite ignored, and all other religionists, too, who will not consent to abide by the canon of God's written word, so Divinely secured to us, and who will not recognise the grand uniting spirit of love and compassion on a sinful world; and, as the ages roll on, that it is to aim, in the fulfilment reign of Bible truth co-extensive of its high vocation, to make the with the limits of the habitable globe. truth. "And now, dear friends, you see with the Church of the living God.' the grand qualification for union It is that of having your hearts united to the saving truth of God's word. Without this, there can be no effectual union to 'the house of God.' There may be the formal tie, destined to be severed, but there cannot be vital relationship, such as shall endure for eternity. "In closing this course of lectures, I am anxious to lodge in all your hearts an earnest concern on the momentous theme of your conversion to God. That can only be effected by your embracing, with a penitent and believing heart, the great salvation revealed in the Bible. Seek to be penetrated with the thought that if you are not saved, the consequences to your own souls will be interminably awful. Nothing can preserve the young men of this great metropolis from the evils which threaten their present and everlasting ruin, but conversion to God. This will prove a wall of defence thrown around your characters. It will be in you a well of water, |