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depended wholly upon his own efforts, though perfectly aware every day that it lies beyond his power. The other labours in his spiritual vocation, as if diligence could ensure his object, though deeply sensible that his own endeavours must all prove unavailing without higher aid.

The husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and the latter rain. And why should the Christian weary or faint? The

nothing good at the hand of our righteous and justly offended Maker. His unmerited benignity is the source of all the blessings we now possess, or hope to enjoy. When we have done our utmost, we are but unprofitable servants. "It is of God's mercy that we are not consumed." Eternal life, then, must be the reward of grace and not of debt; "it is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Even the progress we have made in the attainment of Christian virtue is not the result of our own unaided efforts. Whatever vic-prize he has in view is far nobler, the certainty tory we have obtained over our spiritual enemies, -whatever advancement we have made in the path of holiness, and in preparation for heaven, the praise is due, not to us, but to the divine assistance. "By the grace of God we are what we are." All boasting, therefore, is excluded. But this doctrine of human insufficiency in nowise destroys the necessity of human endeavours. We are commanded to work out our salvation with fear and trembling; while, at the same time, we are reminded that it is God "who worketh in us to will and to do of his good pleasure." The belief that the Almighty achieves for us what we cannot achieve for ourselves, implies no disparagement of our weak powers. And the assurance that He co-operates with us in all the good we accomplish, affords the highest encouragement to our feeble exertions.

The language of the text expressly corroborates these statements. The figure made use of is borrowed from the gathering in of the crop in harvest, in connexion with the previous agricultural labours. The husbandman first diligently prepares his field, and commits the seed to the ground with care; he then anxiously watches the progress of the plant, and spares no pains to promote its growth. When it has reached maturity, he joyfully reaps the fruits of his toil and unremitting attention. But is the husbandman, therefore, the sole author of that plentiful increase which rewards his industry? Was his skill the only agency? Was his arm the only instrument necessary to the production of that abundance which repays his diligence? Had the rain that watered the soil, and the sun that warmed the atmosphere, no influence? Had the blessing of heaven no share in the springing of the seed and the ripening of the full ear? Who gave fertility to the ground? Who supplied health, and sustenance, and vigour, during the process of cultivation, to the laborious peasant and his patient cattle? Who, but GOD? And God, who constituted the material system of the universe, has also appointed the means of grace and the way of salvation. Faith in the divine pledge, differently expressed indeed, is exercised by the husbandman, as well as by the Christian. The former cultivates his fields in a full reliance upon the established order of the seasons, and the constancy of nature's laws and operations. The latter commences and pursues his course in a firm belief in the doctrines of Revelation, especially the gracious discoveries of the Gospel. The one labours in the management of his crop, as if success

of his obtaining it is infinitely greater; temporary clouds may darken his sky, momentary storms may alarm his fears, occasional misgivings may obscure his prospects, but the promise of God stands unshaken and sure. The divine covenant cannot be broken. "Wherefore, let us be stedfast and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as we know that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord."

THE VAUDOIS PASTOR; A SKETCH. A PECULIAR interest attaches to the Waldenses, or Vaudois Protestants, from the tenacity with which they have adhered to the pure doctrines of the Gospel, amid the surrounding darkness and superstition. Situated in the valleys of the Cottian Alps, shut out from almost all intercourse with the other churches of the Reformation, and doomed frequently to suffer persecution the most severe, they are not ashamed to avow, and unflinchingly to maintain, the genuine Scriptural tenets handed down to them by their forefathers. Few in number, poor in outward circumstances, simple in manners, and comparatively unenlightened, so far as concerns mere worldly knowledge, they have drunk deep of that infinitely higher knowledge, which "maketh wise unto salvation." From the researches of Dr Gilly among this simple-hearted Christian people, we cannot fail to entertain the highest admiration of their character. The very scenery amid which they dwelt, beautiful and romantic though it is, seems invested with a kind of rural grandeur, derived from the scattered huts of the Waldensian Christians.

The

The subject of the following Sketch, RODOLPHE PEYRANI, was a pastor in the Alpine regions, inhabited by the poor Vaudois or Waldenses. The village of Pomaretto, where he resided, was situated in the valley of Perosa, "built upon a declivity, just where the mountains begin to increase in height and number, with rocks above, and torrents below." The scenery around it is wild and romantic in the extreme, but the village itself is far from being inviting in its appearance." street," says Dr Gilly, in his account of his visit to the place, "which we slowly ascended, was narrow and dirty, the houses, or rather cabins, small and inconvenient, and poverty, in the strictest sense of the word. stared us in the face at every step we took. In vain did we cast our eyes about, in search of some better looking corner, in which we might descry a habitation fit for the reception of the supreme pastor of the Churches of the Waldenses. The street was every where no better than a confined lane." Such was the miserable condition of the village in which was situated the residence of Rodolphe Peyrani, the Moderator of

the Vaudois. His personal appearance cannot be better described than in the graphic language of the narrator himself.

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"The welcome which we received from our venerable host, was expressed with all the warmth and sincerity of one, whose kindly feelings had not yet been chilled by years or sufferings; and the manner in which it was delivered, displayed a knowledge of the world, and a fine tact of good breeding, which are not looked for in Alpine solitudes, or in the dusty study of a recluse. We were predisposed to respect his virtues and piety, and had been given to understand that he was a man of the first literary acquirements; but we did not expect to find the tone and manners of one, whose brows would do honour to the mitre of any diocese in Europe. There was nothing of querulousness in any of his observations, nor did he once express himself with the least degree of bitterness upon the subject of his own grievances, or those of his community. That which we gathered from him upon these topics, was related more in the form of historical detail, than as matters which so materially concerned himself and connections. "Our conversation was held generally in French; sometimes we addressed him in English, which he understood, but did not speak; but when I engrossed his discourse to myself, we spoke in Latin, as being the language in which we could not mistake each other, and affording the most certain medium of communication upon ecclesiastical subjects, where I was anxious to ascertain facts with precision. Nothing could be more choice or classical than his selection of words; and I was not more surprised by his fluency of diction, than by the extraordinary felicity with which he applied whole sentences from ancient poets, and even prose authors, to convey his sentiments.

"We were received at the door by a mild, sensible, and modest-looking young man, dressed in faded black, to whom we communicated our wish of being introduced to M. Peyrani. He replied, that his father was very unwell, but would be happy to see any English gentlemen, who did him the honour of a visit. were afraid that we might disturb the invalid, and therefore hesitated to intrude, until we had begged M. Vertu to see M. Peyrani first, and ascertain whether the sight of strangers would be agreeable. The answer was in our favour, and we were now conducted up a narrow stair-case, through a very small bed-room, whose size was still further contracted by several book-cases. This led into another bed-room, more amply provided still with shelves and books. The apartment was about fourteen feet square, low, and without any kind of decoration of paint or paper hanging. At a small fire, where the fuel was supplied in too scanty a portion to impart warmth to the room, and by the side of a table covered with books, parchments, and manuscripts, sat a slender, feeble-looking old man, whose whole frame was bowed down by infirmity. A nightcap was on his head, and at first sight we supposed he had a long white beard hanging down upon his neck; but, upon his rising to welcome us, we perceived that it was no beard, but whiskers of a length which are not often seen, and which had a very singular effect. His dress consisted of a shabby, time-worn, black suit, and white worsted stockings, so darned and patched, that it is difficult to "M. Peyrani spoke with so much rapidity, and his say, whether any portion of the original hose remained. thoughts followed each other in such quick succession, Over his shoulder was thrown what once had been a that he never suffered himself to be at a loss for words. cloak, but now a shred only, and more like the remains If the Latin term did not immediately occur to him, he of a horse-cloth, than part of a clerical dress. This made no pause, but instantly supplied its place by a cloak, in the animation of his discourse, frequently fell French or Italian phrase. This animation of manner from his shoulders, and was replaced by his son with a had such an effect upon his whole frame, that very soon degree of filial tenderness and attention extremely pre- after we began to converse with him, the wrinkles possessing. seemed to fall from his brow, a hectic colour succeeded to the pallidness of his countenance, and the feeble and stooping figure, which first stood before us, elevated itself by degrees, and acquired new strength and energy. In fact, while he was favouring me with a short history of himself, I might have forgotten that he had exceeded the usual limits of man's short span; and I must repeat, that it is impossible to admire sufficiently the Christian character of the individual, or of the church which he represented, when I recollect the meek resignation with which he submitted to his hard fate, and the forbearance he exhibited, whenever his remarks led him to talk of the vexatious and oppressive proceedings, which have never ceased to mark the line of conduct pursued by the Sardinian government, in regard to the churches of the Waldenses."

"The sickly-looking sufferer, in this humble costume, in this garb of indigence, was the Moderator of the Vaudois; the successor of a line of prelates, whom tradition would extend to the Apostles themselves; the high-priest of a church, which is, beyond all shadow of doubt, the parent church of every Protestant community in Europe, and which centuries of persecution have not been able to destroy. It is indeed a vine, which has stretched her branches to the sea, and her boughs unto the river' but while her branches are flourishing, the wild boar out of the wood doth root up the stem, and the wild beasts of the field devour it.' And unless the same Providence which first planted this vine, and made room for it, shall turn again, and look down from hea ven, and visit it, it must, it is feared, perish; for nothing short of the divine succours can enable men to bear up against the poverty, humiliation, and deprivations to which most of the Vaudois clergy are exposed to this hour."

This worthy messenger of Christ, thus doomed to sickness and poverty, was, at the time when Dr Gilly visited him, upwards of seventy-one years of age. So limited was his income, that it did not exceed £40 a-year. Yet, with this paltry pittance, he was obliged to meet the demands of a family, the calls of charity, the expenses incidental to his situation, as Moderator, and the additional wants of sickness, age and infirmity. In circumstances such as these, the calm contentment, and cheerful resignation of Peyrani, were remarkably conspicuous. He was evidently a man of a superior mind, and his heart was deeply imbued with the spirit of his Master. The character of the man is thus finely described :

The poverty of the Moderator of the Vaudois must have been sometimes deeply distressing; as a proof of which, we may quote the following passage from Dr Gilly.

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M. Peyrani's book-shelves were loaded with more than they could well bear; and when I noticed the number of the volumes which lay scattered about the room, or were disposed in order, wherever a place could be found for them, he told me, that if he were now in possession of all that once were his, the whole of his own, and the adjoining house, would be insufficient to contain them. He said he had bought a great many himself; but the principal portion of his library was the accumulation of his father and grandfather, and of more distant ancestors; and expressed much regret that he could no longer display the folios, and curious old manuscripts that had been handed down to him. I asked what had become of them. They have been sold,' he replied, with considerable emotion; for he had been

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compelled to part with them from time to time to pur- | Christian Knowledge, which directed my attention to chase clothes, and even food, for himself and family!"

There is something deeply affecting in this last anecdote. It represents the worthy pastor in a state of the most distressing penury, and destitute even of the common necessaries of life. But his Christian patience and resignation remained entire. He had laid up his treasure in heaven, and his heart was already there. It is scarcely surprising, that from the poor but pious Peyrani, Dr Gilly should have parted with sincere reluctance. "It was with extreme regret we witnessed the approach of the hour which told us we must take leave of the venerable Peyrani. The good-humour, cheerfulness, and resignation of the old man, his perfect recollection of events and conversations which took place years ago, his profound erudition and general information, lent a deep and peculiar interest to his discourse. My young companions were rivetted with attention. He appeared to them like a being of a different order to what they had been used to see; all that they heard and saw had more the air of romance than reality. The little window of the room opened upon the wild mountain scenery of Pomaretto; the roar of the distant torrents was heard through the casement; and the impression left by the whole scene was so much the greater, from the contrast between the elevated character of the noble old man, and the circumstances in which he was placed. Poverty within, and desolation without, formed a dark and striking back-ground to the portrait of the philosophic minister, whose lips teemed with eloquence, and whose mind was stored with all the riches of the most intellectual society. The looks of my friends, as they wandered from the window to the Moderator, sufficiently told me what was passing within their breasts; and they did not escape the notice of M. Vertu, who watched with an enquiring eye, to observe what impression the aged Moderator of his church would make upon the strangers. Holding him in the utmost reverence himself, he was all anxiety that we should do the same; and could not disguise his feelings of delight at every mark of respect which we paid to the sacred representative of this primitive Christian community. "Before we parted, I looked several times earnestly round the room, that I might carry away with me every possible recollection of the chamber in which Rodolphe Peyrani was likely to finish his days. The ordinary and antique furniture, and the prints which hung upon the walls, were all objects of interest; and some of them illustrated the character of the man. In the centre, and directly over the fire-place, was the Moderator's diploma, presented to him by the Royal Academy of Turin. On one side of the diploma was George the Fourth, taken when he was Prince of Wales; on the other, the King of Sardinia; for no sufferings or injustice done to him could efface the loyal principles of M. Peyrani. Several Kings of Prussia, Isaac Newton, Luther, and Calvin, occupied another place; and the Duke of Wellington, and Lord William Bentinck, were in a very conspicuous situation. The good man pointed to the latter, and spoke of him with much gratitude. If any thing could have been done for the Vaudois, Lord William would have effected it,' he said; but the restored king was deaf even to his intercessions.'

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them, and occasioned this excursion to their Alpine He was one of the pastors to whom I felt so anxious to be introduced, and this was the first news of his being no more. His death was hastened by the scurvy, a disorder increased by poverty and want.

"At the door of his humble presbytery the aged Moderator wrung our hands, and said farewell with every symptom of regret at parting. He stood at the threshold, watching our departing steps, and the last sight that I had of his long grey locks, floating in the wind, left an impression that will not soon be removed. I am sure nobody could take leave, as we did, of M. Peyrani, with the certainty of seeing him no more, without being sensibly affected. His son accompanied us to the edge of the torrent, and there we said adieu to him."

In the course of three months after the period to which this account of Rodolphe Peyrani refers, he was numbered with the dead. Severe and protracted had been his sufferings and privations. These, however, at length came to a close, and he entered into rest; and his was, no doubt, the exalted privilege of learning, that "if we suffer with Christ, we shall also reign with him."

CHRISTIAN TREASURY,

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By the Law is the Knowledge of Sin.-It is a great mistake to suppose that the law is not to be preached to Christians. If any man speak, ought he not to But these oracles insist speak as the oracles of God?" on the special and grand design of the law. They tell us, it was given to make sin abound, and appear exceeding sinful to shut up all, as prisoners under sin, and thus render the news of salvation by the Lord, transporting to our hearts. The oracles of God do peremptorily assert that the Holy Ghost, the giver of life, health, and comfort to the soul, is received, not by the works of the law," (the doctrine of acceptance with God by personal obedience,) but by the hearing of faith," of salvation through faith. They pronounce those to be in the way to perdition, who seek righteousness by the works of the law, even though they have a zeal for God. They divide mankind, not only into moral and immoral, religious and profane, as philosophers and Pharisees are wont to do, but into two classes unknown to either of them-those who are of

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the works of the law, and therefore cursed, and those who

are of faith, and therefore blessed with faithful Abraham. When the law is not thus explained, nor its province and end pointed out, it is impossible that men can obtain Scriptural ideas of the evil of sin, or the nature of pure obedience to God, or of the necessity of redemption through Christ. But let the nature, use, and design of the law be opened and understood, it will soon prove itself an engine of divine appointment and admirable efficacy. By laying judgment to the line and righteousness to the plummet, it sweeps away the refuge of lies, under which sinners of every sort take shelter. It brings all who hear what the law saith, into a salutary despair of ever escaping the wrath to come by personal obedience, and so makes the horn of salvation always appear the same necessary defence and glorious blessing which the Scripture affirms he actually is. Every Christian, before he had access into that grace wherein he now stands, was, with the great Apostle,

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slain by the commandment," or he would not have fled to Christ for refuge; through the law he became dead to the law, and is the very person who proves to demonstration both the necessity and the success of its being applied to the conscience.-VENN.

"As M. Peyrani followed us feebly down stairs, he shewed us the door of an apartment which had never been opened, he told us, since the day on which his brother had been carried out of it, to be consigned to the grave. I asked what brother, and the answer was a momentary shock. It was Ferdinand Peyrani, the pastor of Pramol. It was like bearing the knell of a A Christian's view of the World. That lofty soul dear friend. Ferdinand Peyrani was the first person that bears about with it the living apprehension of its who interested me in the history of the Vaudois. It being made for an everlasting state, so earnestly intends was his letter, addressed to the Society for promoting | it, that it shall ever be a descent and vouchsafement

into levity, or disordered into a wanton frame, indisposing us for religious thoughts and actions. We ought always, in our behaviour, to maintain not only a fitting decency, but also a stately gravity, a kind of venerable majesty suitable to that high rank which we bear of God's friends and children; adorning our holy profes sion, and guiding us from all impressions of sinful vanity. Gravity and modesty are the fences of piety, which being once slighted, sin will easily attempt and encroach upon us.-BARROW.

Christian Comfort.-Let the course of your tribulation be what it will," in me ye shall have peace." How is it, then, perhaps you will ask, that Christians are not always rejoicing? How is it that we so often see them bathed in tears, and scarcely hear any thing from them but sighs and complaints? It is easily enough to be accounted for. It is because they love the world, and the things of the world so much, that they have no room nor relish for divine consolations. To be sure, where Christ is there is always ground of comfort; but Christians are not always fit to be comforted. They may, through mere inattention, or a too fond attention to temporal possession, and enjoyments, be so sadly declined as to require reproof rather than comfort, and what they want Christ gives.-LAVINGTON.

with it, if it allow itself to notice what busy mortals | whereupon we should never suffer them to be dissolved are doing in their (as they reckon them) grand nego tiations here below. He hath still the image before his eye of this world vanishing and passing away; of the other, with the everlasting affairs and concernments of it, even now ready to take place and fill up all the stage and can represent to himself the vision of the world dissolving, thrones tumbling, monarchies and kingdoms breaking up, crowns and sceptres lying as neglected things. He hath a telescope through which he can behold the glorious appearance of the supreme Judge; the solemn state of his majestic person; the splendid pomp of his magnificent and vastly numerous retinue; the obsequious throng of glorious celestial creatures doing homage to their Eternal King; the swift flight of his royal guards, sent forth into the four winds to gather the elect, and covering the face of the heavens with their spreading wings; the universal silent attention of all, to that loud-sounding trumpet that shakes the pillars of the world, pierces the inward caverns of the earth, and resounds from every part of the encircling heavens; the many myriads of joyful expectants arising, changing, putting on glory, taking wing and tending upwards, to join themselves to the triumphant beavenly host; the judgment set, the books opened; the frightful, amazed looks of surprised wretches; the equal administration of the final judgment; the adjudication of all to their eternal states; the heavens rolled up as a scroll; the earth, and all things therein consumed and burnt up. And now, what spirit is there any more left in him towards the trivial affairs of a vanishing world? How indifferent a thing is it with him, who bears himself highest in a state of things whereof he foresees the certain hastening end! How secure is he in this, that infinite wisdom governs the world! How calin is he in the midst of external troubles! How placid and serene a spirit inhabits his peaceful breast!-Howe.

The discovery of unsuspected sin, one of the results of sanctified affliction.--How much unmortified corruption, unhumbled pride,-unsubdued opposition to the divine will, when directly thwarting our own;-how much secret cleaving, with idolatrous attachment, to some beloved earthly object, often lurks within our soul, unconsciously to ourselves, of whose very existence, the awakening influence of affliction first makes us aware. This it effects, by stirring up the hidden mass of pollution that lies concealed in the deep recesses of our hearts, which before appeared so calm and clear, that heaven itself seemed reflected in its bosom; like the pool, that, while undisturbed, appears perfectly pure and pellucid, but as soon as it is stirred, all the muddy sediment which had settled to the bottom, immediately rises to the surface, and what before looked so transparent, is now all dark and defiled, the reflection of heaven entirely obliterated, or sadly marred, and clouded, and confused. Now, this hidden mass of corruption, which thus lay concealed from our view, in the depths of our deceitful hearts, was not concealed from the piercing eye of the heart-searching God, "with whom we have to do." He saw it in its hiding-place, and, in mercy to our souls, resolved to discover it to our view; and, therefore, sent down the angel of affliction to stir the pool; because He knew that the troubling of the waters would be attended with such salutary influences, such healing virtue to our soul.-WHITE.

Christian Gravity. It is our duty never so far to engage ourselves in the way of wit, as thereby to lose or impair that habitual seriousness, modesty and sobriety of mind, that shady composedness, gravity and constancy of demeanour, which become Christians. We should continually keep our minds intent upon our high calling and grand interests, ever well-timed and ready for the performance of holy devotions and the practice of most serious duties, with earnest attention and fervent affection;

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The Reward in Heaven.-The earlier the new birth, the weightier will be the glory in the kingdom of God. Young ones regenerated and enabled to bear head against the temptations of their violent nature, shall have crowns set with more jewels,-they shall have an abundant enthe greater will be their glory. If there be any sorrow in The more violent the storms they encounter, heaven, it is because they were not sooner new born, that they might have glorified God more on earth, who bestoweth such honour upon them in heaven.-CHARNOCK.

trance.

Obligation to Preach to the Heathen. Our speculations regarding the final destiny of the heathen ought never to influence our conduct towards them, in any way tending to render us less zealous for their salvation. Were we even sure that they would occupy thrones in heaven, or pass, by an imperceptible transition, from a state of consciousness into the calmest sleep of oblivion, it would be just as much our duty to labour for their conversion as of those who see in every pagan the subof the moral righteousness of God, exalted, as it is, by ject of an inevitable condemnation. The recognition

the atonement of the cross, by a Christian catechumen in a pagan country, one prayer of faith offered to the Supreme Being, through the merits of Christ, by such an individual, is of infinitely more value than all our theories as to the final destiny of those who live and die in involuntary ignorance; as practical charity transcends subtle and ingenious speculation.-STEELE,

Diligence.-Diligence is a duty that makes rich; therefore, be much about this duty. Take Solomon's verdict of it: "The soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” Would you know why the Christians of this time are so much put to it, to cry, "Their leanness, their leanness?" Would you know why the Christians are so much in sighing and going backward, and counting that their life is spent here in vain, they are not ascending like "pillars of smoke?" Even this, they are not diligent. O Christians! When was it that you rose up in the "silent watches of the night" to pursue after an absent Jesus? It is this that would make you rich: diligence would make a Christian rich in experience; diligence would make a Christian rich in love; diligence would make a Christian rich in humility; yea, it would make a Christian rich in all the spiritual things in heaven. I may compare diligence to Joseph. It is "fruitful by a well, whose branches hang over the wall." Nay, if you were diligent, I know not what you might not win.-GRAY,

SACRED POETRY.

A SABBATH SCHOOL HYMN.
BY THE REV. DUNCAN GRANT, A. M.
Minister of Forres.

WHERE human reason, poor and blind,
No guiding star to bless can find,

But wanders on in sadness;

The child who loves the word of God,
Shall see a light upon his road,
Which guides in peace, to the abode
Of boundless love and gladness.
All human wisdom shall decay,
All knowledge soon shall pass away,
All learning's light shall vanish;
But every child by God made wise,
Shall to salvation's transports rise,
And dwell where joy, that never dies,
All shades of grief shall banish.

And sure that child is wise indeed,
Who in the morning loves to feed

On Truth, the heavenly manna:
Thus nourished, he shall onward go,
Whilst streams of gladness round him flow,
Till glory's crown shall deck his brow,
'Mong angels' loud Hosannah!

But, child, remember, 'tis thro' faith
In Him who conquer'd sin and death,
That thou canst reach salvation :
'Twas unbelief that made the Jews
Their own Messiah to refuse,
And all the mercies to abuse
Bestowed upon their nation.

In ev'ry nation, age, and clime,
Has ev'ry form of guilt and crime

From this dark source been flowing:
The Holy Scriptures plainly tell,
That unbelievers all shall dwell,
Imprison'd in the gloomy cell,

Where grief is ever growing.
Then, child, be wise, and let the page
Inspir'd by God thy mind engage,

In life's gay golden morning;
Its hallow'd light shall cheer thy way,
When comes affiction's wintry day,
And on the cloud show hope's bright ray
Its fringe with gold adorning.
Yes, child, it will thy spirit cheer,
When ev'ning's shadows dark appear
Upon the mountains hoary:
"Twill shed around thee rich perfume,
When hast'ning to the lonesome tomb,
And give thro' nature's heavy gloom,
A glimpse of coming glory.

The Scriptures search; and pray that He,
Who only makes the blind to see,

May thee by grace enlighten;
Pray, child, that God may light bestow,
That thou in holiness may'st grow,
And onward still to Zion go,
And for salvation brighten.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Much Labour but no Profit.-Walking in the country, (says Mr Jay, of Bath,) I went into a barn, where I found a thrasher at his work. I addressed him in the words of Solomon-" My friend, in all labour there is profit." Leaning upon his flail, and with much energy, he answered: " No, Sir; that is the truth, but there is one exception to it: I have long laboured in the service

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of sin; but I got no profit by my labour." know somewhat of the apostle's meaning, when he asked; what fruit had ye then in those things, whereof "Thank God," said he, "I do; ye are now ashamed.'' and also know, that now being freed from sin, and having become a servant unto righteousness, I have my fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."

Prayer the Best Defence.-Upon one occasion of great difficulty, Melancthon and Luther had met together to consult about the best means to be adopted. After having spent some time in prayer, Melanethon was suddenly called out of the room, from which he retired under great distress of mind. During his absence, he saw some of the elders of the reformed church, with their parishioners and families. Several children were also brought hanging at the breast; while others a little older were engaged in prayer. This reminded him of that passage, out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and avenger." Encouraged by this pleasing scene, he returned to his friends with a mind set at liberty, and a cheerful countenance. Luther, astonished at this sudden change, said, "what now! what has happened to you, Philip, that you are become so cheerful?"" O Sirs," replied Melancthon, "let us not be discouraged, for I have seen our noble protectors, and such as, I will venture to say, will prove invincible against every foe!"-" And pray," returned Luther, filled with surprise and pleasure," who, and where are these powerful heroes?"-" Oh!" said Melancthon, "they are the wives of our parishioners, and their little children, whose prayers I have just witnessed-prayers which I am sure our God will hear: for as our heavenly Father, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has never despised nor rejected our supplications, we have reason to trust that he will not in the present alarming danger."

Nominal Christians in America.-Mr Brainerd informs us, that when among the American Indians, at one place, where there was a great number, he halted, and offered to instruct them in the truth of Christianity.

Why," said one of them, "should you desire the Indians to become Christians, seeing the Christians are so much worse than the Indians? The Christians lie, steal, and drink, worse than the Indians. They first taught the Indians to be drunk. They steal to so great a degree, that their rulers are obliged to hang them for it; and even that is not enough to deter others from the practice. But none of the Indians were ever banged for stealing; and yet they do not steal half so much. We will not consent, therefore, to become Christians, lest we should be as bad as they. We will live as our fathers lived, and go where our fathers are when we die." Notwithstanding Mr B. did all he could to explain to them that these were not Christians in heart, and that he did not want them to become such as these, he could not prevail, but left them, mortified at the thought, that the wickedness of some who are called Christians, should produce such prejudices.

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