righteous, and the everlasting torments of the impenitent so clearly described, and can we see friends around us crowding their way to despair, with our lips closed in perpetual silence? The truth is, our faith in eternal realities is weak, and our sense of duty faint, while we thus neglect the salvation of our fellow-beings. Let us awake to duty; and while we have a tongue or pen, devote them to the service of the Most High, not in our own strength, but with strong faith and confidence in him. We will now mention a few of the ways in which good may be done. 1. All can pray daily for the revival of true religion, that God would pour out his Holy Spirit on them, their neighbourhoods, and the whole world. 2. All can set a holy example; without this they can not expect to do much good; we want more per sonal holiness and heavenly-mindedness. 3. All can speak to their families, friends, neighbours, and many others about their souls. 4. All can live most plainly, moderately, and economically, and so be able to give much more to religious societies and to the really distressed. 5. All can have family prayers, and oblige all in their houses to be present. 6. Most can write letters to others, and try to convert the unconverted, and to stir up Christians to do good, and stir up others to do good. 7. Many can teach in Sunday, adult, infant, and other schools. 8. Many can leave much, and most can leave something, in their wills, to religious societies. 9. Many can collect for societies, and most can ask their friends to give money to societies. 10. Many can lend and give away tracts and handbills. 11. Many can go out as missionaries, schoolmasters, or teachers. 12. Most can visit others, and speak, read and pray with them. 13. Some can write very plain tracts, or other things. Let each do good in those ways for which he is best qualified, and in as many ways as he can for his station, circumstances, abilities, and age. (To be concluded in our next.) A TRUE STORY OF A POOR MAN THAT DID William was a poor stocking-weaver, in a small village in Notts. Having been brought to the knowledge of the truth himself, he felt most anxious for the spiritual welfare of all around him; but what was he to do? He was very poor, and getting old; and with working hard all the week, he could scarcely provide a living for his family; therefore he could not give up his work. There was no place of worship in William's village, nor was there a single person who had any care for the souls of the people: the people were very wicked, and the youngest children, as well as the oldest men and women, hardly ever opened their lips without swearing. Like Lot, William's righteous soul was "vexed from day to day with the filthy conversation of the wicked," and he determined to lose no time in attempting to shew his neighbours the evil of their ways Accordingly, his first object was to teach the children; "for," he thought, "their minds, are tender, and are more likely to receive good impressions than those who are grown up, hardened in sin; besides this, the children may be made instrumental in converting their parents." As William sat working at his loom from day to day, he used to entice those poor children, who were playing by his cottage-door, to go to him; and he talked to them kindly, and taught them to read, so that they began to be very fond of going to old William, and by degrees he had his cottage filled with children; and though he was hard at work all the time, he contrived to teach them. His next wish was to establish a Sunday-school, and on a Sunday his cottage overflowed with scholars; yet all this time he had no one to help him. William's great difficulty was to get books for the children; he taught them to read out of his old Bible, but now he wished to provide them with Bibles of their own. However, he was determined not to be baffled with a trifle, and contrived to put by a penny every week from his scanty pittance to buy books; and when any one gave him any money, he put it to his savings for this purpose. When William had collected a few shillings, he went to a lady who he thought might be likely to tell him where he could buy books cheap; she kindly undertook to order some for him from the Religious Tract Society in London, and then poor William was quite set up. Still he continued saving his penny until he wanted more books; and he bought tracts, and distributed them to his neighbours, Every one loved and respected old William; and it was no small satisfaction to him to witness a decided improvement in the village: an oath was now seldom heard. His cottage now overflowed with children; so that there was not room for half to get in; and he began to think what could be done! he could not send any away; he must speak a word to all. Well, he went to some ladies in the neighbourhood, told them his distress, and they, out of respect for William's character, subscribed and built him a school-room. How this delighted this poor man's heart, can be more easily imagined than described; his heart did indeed overflow with gratitude to his heavenly Master, who had so helped him, and he felt more zealous than ever to win souls to Christ, and to be a faithful labourer in his vineyard. Now William assembled his children in his new school-room on a Sunday; and after having taught them, he read, prayed, and expounded the Scriptures to those who liked to attend; for they lived many miles from any church: his room was always crowded; and the fruits of his labours will be seen in the last day, William is now no more; he died at a very advanced age; but will long be remembered by all who knew him. In the village where he lived there is now a church built, and weekly lectures are given in the school-room where he taught. How true is it, "the memory of the just is blessed!" This simple history needs no comment. May all who read it be stirred up to a sense of their duty, and ask themselves, "What am I doing for God? He expects me to work for him, and am I seeking my own ease and comfort, and neglecting to glorify him." No one who has been led to feel the value of his own soul can rest satisfied without doing what they can to shew careless sinners the danger of their state, and calling upon them to repent; the most uneducated person will do this, if the grace of God is in his heart. Say not, "I know not what to do;" if you have a will to work for God, you will find a way; pray to him to teach you; say, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" My dear friends, are any who read this paper engaged in instructing the young? Go on; look to Christ for wisdom, patience, and all you want; think of the privilege of being allowed to work for God. Be not disheartened that you see so little fruit of your labour; the seed you sow may take deep root in many a young heart, and yet you may never know it till you reach the realms above. Go on then in faith; remember you are accountable to God for your faithfulness, though not for your usefulness. Oh, then, freely lend your hand, ON FERVENCY IN PRAYER. FANNY. Prayer is one of the most holy, delightful, and beneficial exercises in which we can possibly engage. It has been graciously appointed for expressing the desires of those that approach the throne of grace through the atonement and mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ: consequently it is the privilege of all that live by faith in the testimony and promises of God. If, then, we wish to be enriched with spiritual blessings, and bear much fruit unto holiness, let us "pray without ceasing," believing that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Fervency in prayer always implies the possession of a suitable disposition; for until our minds are renewed and sanctified by the gracious influences of the Spirit, we are not only destitute of the knowledge that is essential to true devotion, but we have really no desire to pray in the way that is either acceptable to God or beneficial to ourselves. This holy exercise must also be viewed in relation to all those times and places which have been given us, in the providence of God, for secret, family, and public prayer—when, with suitable thoughts and language, we make known our requests to Him for those things that are agreeable to his will. It is of great importance that we should be fervent in secret or personal devotion. because this is the exercise which more immediately brings health and comfort to our souls, and will always be one of the best preparatives for appearing in a suitable frame at the throne of grace, when engaged in social and public prayer. Let it never be forgotten that our Lord has not only made secret prayer the subject of particular injunction, but has also by his own example attached the greatest importance to its nature and efficacy. Surely if he spent, not only hours, but nights, in private prayer, we, that are such sinful, necessitous creatures, ought to be often engaged in this soul-invigorating exercise. Should it be neglected even for a short time, the health of our souls will immediately decay, and spiritual barrenness will spread its baneful influence over our hearts and lives. We are likewise required to be fervent in family prayer. Not only should family prayer never be neglected, but we ought to engage in it with much holiness and fervour of mind. When the various duties of which it consists are performed in a suitable manner, a moral influence is diffused through the whole domestic circle, which never fails to produce and cherish the lovely fruits of righteousness. But if this duty be neglected, the consequences will be most injurious, both to the temporal and spiritual interests of those that are hereby deprived of its instructive and consolatory exercises. Our public devotional services, should also be distinguished by |