Farnley have been kept at work at fair wages for three years by the profitable employment of this capital of £80, without calling on the rate-payers for one 6d. for that purpose during that period; and that the capital of £80 can be realised at the end of the year if the field is given up. That these are facts, it is well known, and I know of no argument that can be used against a general adoption of the plan, if rate-payers are really desirous of being relieved from the payment of rates for the support of their able-bodied poor." THE SONG OF SIMEON. "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word."-LUKE ii. 29. HYMN. GLEANINGS. CHANGE is our portion here! Down the fair cheek shall flow: Change is our portion here! Soon fades the summer sky, Leaves droop in autumn sear, And spring flow'rs bloom to die : But faithful is Jehovah's word"I will be with thee," saith the Lord. Change is our portion here! Yet, 'midst our changing lot, 'Midst tempests dark and drear, There is that changes not: Unchangeable Jehovah's word"I will be with thee," saith the Lord. A SUFFICIENT SAVIOUR. - His name was called "Jesus," because he saves his people from their sins. You can do nothing which more truly honours him, than to trust your salvation entirely to him-you can do nothing which will more delight his tender mercy, than to avail yourself of his finished work; for, when you do so, he sees of the travail of his soul, and is satisfied. How strangely do they err who fancy that he who bought salvation grudges to bestow it-who fear that, now he is ascended up on high, he is more loath to bestow gifts on the rebellious than he showed himself to be when hanging on the cross! Happy they who know his name, and put their trust beneath the shadow of his wings! Happy they who never think of any other recommendation to mercy except the sprinkled bloodwho seek no other passport to heaven except the robe of Jesus's righteousness! COMFORT FOR THE HEAVY LADEN.-If thou wilt know what is thy condition, saith the Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art a sinner. Let my praise be reserved to myself; I am thy Saviour. Esteemest thou that my wounds are ineffectual? or that there is no force in my sufferings? Countest thou thy sins so deadly that my merit and virtue cannot cure them? Will a physician pour out a rare ointment, either where no need is, or else where it cannot profit; and thinkest thou that my Father would have my blood to be shed in vain? If his justice terrify thee, remember his justice was satisfied in me, and that he pronounceth this sentence himself, 46 This is my well-beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." "I came into the world, not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Tarry not from me, because thou art a sinner, but for that cause come to me, and I will refresh thee. ROMANISM AND INFIDELITY.— All Roman Catholic countries are generally represented as bowed down under superstition, but it would be much nearer the truth if it were said that they were plunged in infidelity. Yes, Rome preaches superstition; but superstition, when preached a long time, produces its fruit, which is incredulity. I have traversed France in its fullest sense. I lived, I preached, in the north, in the centre, and in the south. I affirm, that everywhere I have found one hundred to one ready to mock the priests and their superstitions ; everywhere the most profound disgust prevails for the Merchant Church, for Rome and Company.Rev. N. Roussel. I had rather do the will of God than be able to work miracles.Luther. God hath two dwelling-placesthe highest heavens, and the lowest hearts-that is the habitation of his glory, this of his grace. There are two choice merciesfirst, to have a broken heart for sin; second, to have a heart broken off from sin. The Son of God became the son of man, that the sons of men might become the sons of God. MEDITATIONS FOR DECEMBER. "Thanks be unto God for his un- I render to my pardoning God; Many give thanks to God for meat and drink to their bodies, which indeed is the duty of all; but, alas! few give thanks to God for Jesus Christ, the only food of precious souls, and God's unspeakable gift to men! Many are fond of temporal gifts and earthly riches, which are nothing but vanity; but, ah! they are easy about this pearl of great price, this matchless gift, whose value no tongue can express, nor open up what is contained in it. "The cross of Christ."-1 COR.i. 17. Other refuge have I none, Still support and comfort me. All my trust on thee is stayed, All my help from thee I bring; Cover my defenceless head With the shadow of thy wing. Thou, O Lord, art all I want; Come and see the victories of the cross. Christ's wounds are thy healing, his agonies thy repose, his conflicts thy conquests, his groans thy songs, his pains thine ease, his shame thy glory, his death thy life, his sufferings thy salvation.-Henry. "The breastplate of righteousness." EPH. vi. 14. Leave no unguarded place, And fortify the whole. Need we bid the soldier be careful of his armour, when he goes into the field? can he easily forget to take that with him, or be persuaded to leave it behind him? yet some have done so, and paid dear for their boldness. Better thou endure the weight of thy plate, though a little cumbersome to the flesh, than receive a wound in thy breast for want of it.-Gurnall. "Darkness shall be made light unto thee."-Is. xlii. 16. Light in thy light O may I see, The God of pardoning love. Lift up thy countenance serene, Even when a believer sees no light, he may feel some hope; when he cannot close with a promise, he may lay hold on an attribute, and say: Though both my flesh and my heart fail, yet divine faithfulness and divine compassion fail not. Though I can hardly discern at present either sun, moon, or stars, yet will I cast anchor in the dark, and ride it out, until the day break, and the shadows flee away.-Arrowsmith. END OF VOL. XXVIII. FOSTER, PRINTER, KIRKBY LONSDALE. |