Page images
PDF
EPUB

hensive of subjects of all governments, and all governments will be comprehensive, equally, and without distinction, of all men of all creeds. Society is moving rapidly forward. There are energies in operation not to be exhausted, or contravened. True religion will descend upon the world like a universal spring, --she will pour her benedictions on every king, and her manifold bounties over all empires; but she will be leagued to none. The Church of God is one; and it must be pure, perpetual, and universal. Scripture Churches alone are adapted to this;

they admit of augmentation indefinitely, and will bestrew the earth as the stars bespangle the sky-none interfering with another-all harmonious—all shining together. Modern Episcopacy and Presbytery can only be local; to render them universal were utterly impossible. The Primate of the world would sound strange -the Synod of the whole earth would be rather a novel expression.

Let every reader, then, see to it that he be walking" in all the ordinances and commandments of the Lord blameless." Sept., 1851. C.

Lessons by the Way; or, Things to Think On.

[blocks in formation]

PRAYER FOR MINISTERS. When we have prayed that fresh labourers may be sent forth into God's vineyard, are we to stop when the Lord has sent forth labourers? Is all done then, and are we to cease to pray? Nay, they should be remembered in their people's daily prayers. From day to day their work goes on; their labour ceases not. Wherever they are, they have holy work to do. Whatever they are about, they are influencing souls, one way or other. Though they have their more solemn acts, yet all their life is ministerial; all tells upon souls; they cannot for a moment lay down their embassage. As you see them on the road, they are visible witnesses of God's truth; their very presence is a sort of silent utterance of its faith. By the very sight of an ambassador of Christ, you are taught that there is a Saviour,

that there is a heaven and a hell, death and judgment. You would not see them, there would be no such men as preachers of the Gospel, if there were no God nor Saviour, nor heaven and hell. Should you not pray for them?

PIETY AND MENTAL GROWTH. An hour of solitude passed in sincere and earnest prayer, or the conflict with and the conquest over a single passion or "subtle bosom sin," will teach us more of thought, will more effectually awaken the faculty and form the habit of reflection, than a year's study in the school without them.

A reflecting mind is not a flower that grows wild, or comes up of its own accord. The difficulty is indeed greater than many, who mistake quick recollection for thought, are disposed to admit; but how much less than it would be, had we not been born and bred in a Christian and Protestant land, very few of us are suffici ently aware. Truly may we and thankfully ought we to exclaim with the Psalmist, "The entrance of thy word giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple."-Coleridge.

HEART WORK.

Heart work is difficult work. Heart work is hard work indeed. To shuffle over religious duties with a loose and heedless spirit will cost no great pains; but to set thyself before the Lord, and tie up thy loose and vain thoughts to a constant and serious attendance upon him, this will cost thee something. To attain a facility and dexterity of language in prayer, and put thy meaning into apt and decent expression is easy; but to get thy heart broken for sin, while thou art confessing it-melted with free grace, while thou art blessing God for it--to be really ashamed and humbled through the apprehensions of God's infinite holiness-and to keep thy heart in this frame, not only in, but after duty, will surely cost thee some groans and pains of soul.

OPEN-AIR PREACHING.

A meeting of ministers of various denomina. tions, members of the Evangelical Alliance, was held during the intervals of the sittings of Conference, on the 1st and 2nd of September, when, after a discussion, in which strong testimony was borne by several present to the blessing

which, in their own experience, had attended open-air preaching, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

"That inasmuch as Infidelity, Popery, Sabbath-breaking, and general indifference to religious things, have alienated many thousands, especially of the lower classes, from the ordinary means of grace, and it is most desirable that the Gospel of the grace of God should be brought to bear upon them; and inasmuch as tract distribution and open-air preaching have been found happily to reach multitudes of them, to the saving of their souls, it be recommended to ministers and others, individually and unitedly, where it is practicable, to labour in this manner to win souls to Christ and salvation."

VOLTAIRE'S LAST WORDS.

Voltaire was fertile and elegant, his observations are very acute, yet he often betrays great ignorance when he treats on subjects of ancient learning. Madame de Talmond once said to him, “I think, Sir, that a philosopher should never write but with the endeavour to render mankind less wicked and unhappy than they are. Now, you do quite the contrary; you are always writing against that religion which alone is able to restrain wickedness, and to afford us consolation under misfortunes." Voltaire was much struck, and excused himself by saying that he only wrote for those who were of the same opinion as himself. Tronchin assured his friends that Voltaire died in great agonies of mind. "I die forsaken by gods and men," exclaimed he, in those awful moments when truth will force its way. "I wish," added Tronchin, "that those who had been perverted by his writings had been present at his death; it was a sight too horrid to support."-William Seward.

ADVERTISEMENT.

(From the State Gazette of Dec. 25, 1850.) "Sale of a Plantation, Negroes, Horses, Mules, &c, in Alabama, United States, Dec., 1850.

"The Plantation will be sold entire or divided into two tracts, if necessary. If disposed of before the 1st of January, I will then offer at public sale, in Linden, about One Hundred and Sixty Negroes, belonging to the same estate, together with the Horses, Mules, Stock, Farming Implements, &c.

"Any information can be obtained by application to me, at Linden, or to Robinson and Caldwell, Charleston, South Carolina.

"WILLIAM ROBINSON,
"Executor."

Britons shudder on reading such Advertisements as the preceding. Permit me to add

THE POOR SLAVE'S EXPOSTULATION.

"Is there, as ye sometimes tell us,

Is there One who rules on high?

Has he bid you buy and sell us,
Speaking from his throne, the sky?"

COWPER.

SCHOOL CHARACTER. Every schoolboy has a character. Let us go among a group of them, and all doubts will vanish. There are selfish Harry, lying Tom, slovenly Peter, gluttonous Jim, sly Charley, cowardly Dick, and fighting Jack, as well as generous George, truthful Joseph, and honest Bob. Ask for evidence that these descriptions

are truly applied, and we shall find the same rules of judgment are adopted here that are adopted among grown men. There is a commanding public sentiment in every play-ground, and the same right principles that secure for a grown man, and a great man, the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens, will, other things being equal, secure for a boy the love and confidence of other boys. A long face may be put on-a fawning or hypocritical boy may play a game with an easy, credulous teacher, and for a while retain a false place in his estimation-but the veil is too thin; the true character comes out broadly in the play ground or on the ice, and the boy that deserves to be loved is loved. It is a well-known fact that Lord Byron and Sir Robert Peel being schoolboys together at Harrow, Byron often said, "Bobby will be Premier one day."

As it is among schoolboys, so it is all the world over. An honest and virtuous man may sometimes be unjustly suspected, and the breath of the slanderer may tarnish for a moment an innocent reputation; but the right side comes up sooner or later, and truth triumphs.

A PROMISE.

A promise should be given with caution and kept with care.

A promise should be made by the heart, and remembered by the head.

A promise is the offspring of intention, and should be nurtured by recollection.

A promise should be the result of reflection. A promise and its performance should, like the scales of a true balance, always present a mutual adjustment.

A promise delayed is justice deferred.
A promise neglected is an untruth told.
A promise attended to is a debt settled.

LONGEVITY OF QUAKERS.

It has been ascertained, from authentic statistics, that one-half of the human race die before reaching the age of twenty-one years; and the bills of mortality published in large cities show that one-half die before attaining the age of five years. With these undisputed facts before us, it will seem strange that the average age of Quakers in Great Britain is fifty-one years, two months, and twenty-one days. This is, no doubt, attributable to the restraints and moderation which the principles of that sect impose upon its members-the restraint they are under in mingling in many of the dissipations and pernicious indulgences that hurry thousands to premature graves. What an excellent example for the instruction of the world!

SHORT SAYINGS.

It is one thing to be weary of suffering, but another to hate sin: the lost in hell are the subjects of the one, only true saints of the other. Suffering should always be preferred before sinning.

It takes much grace and discipline to keep us in a truly teachable frame of soul.

WHAT FEW MEN CAN SAY.

"I am a true labourer. I earn that I get; get that I wear; owe no man hate; envy no man's happiness; am glad of other men's good, and content with my own."

Biography.

MRS. SPALDING.

UNDER the title, "God's Mercy Man's only Ground of Hope," the Rev. William Forster has just issued, through Ward and Co., a Sermon on the Death of the late Mrs. Spalding, wife of Thomas Spalding, Esq.,-a valuable discourse, from which we extract the following account of a woman who seems to have been clothed with many virtues, and eminently to have adorned the Christian character. Mr. Forster says:

I will not pronounce a panegyric on her, but briefly describe her character. Could this be perfectly done, it would constitute a high and noble eulogy.

Her conversion.

She was but a girl when she began to worship God in spirit and in truth. Her love of the Saviour was not only early, but fervent and fixed. The first in her family to serve the great Father, she had no sympathy and support in her new life from those around her. Her witnessing to the truth was simple, earnest, and unfearing. No temptations made her swerve from the path of duty. She was not ashamed

of the cross of Christ. She did not conceal her attachment to his cause. After a proper time, she resolved to join herself to his disciples, to wear his mark on her forehead, and to confess his name before men. Received into church fellowship, she did not turn out to be an idle, self-seeking Christian. She connected herself with the Sunday-school. In that interesting sphere of activity her labours were regular, energetic, and efficient. When she became a wife she did not give them up. In this work she proved to be a fellow-labourer with her husband, whose whole soul, from his youth up to the present time, has been engaged in seeking to educate and elevate the children of the working classes. From this noble and useful employment of her sanctified faculties and affections she did not desist until the claims of a little family rendered it imperative. In other ways, however, she continued to do good. Her Christian life was one of real utility.

Her character as a wife.

Her highest praise is found in the unutterable sorrow which her bereaved husband feels on account of her loss. His happiness, next to the glory of God, was the object of her efforts and aim. She ever sought to merit his esteem; she made his home the circle of love, tranquillity, and enjoyment. Her force of character was felt over all her household. Order prevailed throughout her domestic establishment. In an eminent degree she combined kindness with authority in the management of her servants : she knew they had souls to be saved, feelings to be consulted, and rights to be regarded with respect. They mourn her death as if they had lost a personal friend. Of her, indeed, her husband had good reason to be proud. In her relation to him was realised the divine idea of a wife. She was a true help-meet to the man to

whom she had plighted her youthful heart and hand.

Her character as a mother.

I know that to train up her children for God is not the only duty of a mother. She has to watch over the health of her children, to form in them good habits of self-management, to direct the early development of their faculties, and to take an interest in their education for the stations in life which they may be destined to fill. Imperative as these duties are, yet the highest of all obligations which devolve on a mother is to train up her children in the love, reverence, esteem, trust and worship of their Father who is in heaven. This was the earnest desire of our departed friend, though she did not leave the minor, but yet indispensable, offices of maternal superintendence undone. I shall never forget the first Sunday I spent at her house. How admirable she managed her little ones! How pleasant, yet how profitable, she made the hours of the Lord's day to their infant minds! How beautifully she taught them to sing, her own voice mixing and melting into theirs, and lifting them up in holy hymning to the God of all praise. They sang that day "There is a happy land, far, far away." The scene has often occurred to me. It was so serene, and so hallowed. It rises before me now in vivid colourings. Little did I then think that she would be so soon removed to that happy land, and leave those little ones without her intelligent and energetic, yet, withal, loving and gentle control.

As a church-member.

She was clothed with the graces of the Spirit, not perfectly, but still richly. Until afflicted by dulness of hearing, she was one of the most persevering workers among a noble band of "honourable women," in connection with our several institutions. Great as her husband's efforts were to uphold and advance this cause, she not only never breathed opposition, but she gave her hearty cooperation. The prosperity of this community gave her the sincerest delight. To promote its welfare she was willing to make any and every proper sacrifice. I do not say she was faultless; & character of such energy could scarcely be without defect. If she had faults, they were errors of judgment, not of the heart. As a church, we have lost a sincere, influential, devout, and devoted friend.

Having considered her in some of the more prominent relations in which she stood to others, let us view her character in some of its most striking peculiarities.

Her conduct to others.

She had a profound reverence for goodness; truth, rectitude, sincerity, and benevolence, weighed far more in her estimation than rank, wealth, manners, or birth. The poorest individual enriched with moral excellence was to her an object of respect, veneration, and honour. She did not overlook the faults of the affluent, while the errors of the indigent were visited with censure. This is a noble quality; it is a God like attainment; to be able to look through

the splendid trappings or wealth, and to overlook the circumstances of the poor, and to appreciate moral worth, or to condemn wrongdoing, in both alike, is to judge, not according to phenomena, but to facts. She had this rare and excellent quality in a very high degree. It guided her in her opinions of all persons. According to their character, not their condition, did she hold them in respect or disesteem.

Her friendships.

Human friendships are too often hollow, frail, and fugitive. How frequently do young people plight themselves to eternal friendship, which a few short years see pass away! One succeeds in life, the other has to struggle with difficulties and poverty. The rich man soon forgets his humble friend; if reminded of his former professions, he treats them as the foolish expressions of youthful fervour and inexperience. O Friendship, what deceptions have been practised and infidelities perpetrated in thy name! It was not so with the late Mrs. Spalding; she was a steadfast friend. Though she had risen to affluence, yet she did not forget the early attachments which she had formed. She made efforts to retain them; she assured her old friends that external changes had made no change in her heart. In the midst of her abundance she was pleased to receive and entertain them. Nor was her friendship a mere sentiment which expended itself in words. It was substantial where it was necessary to take this form. It went forth in costly acts of kindness. To this many a one now weeping in secret could testify. In her death they have lost a kind, an unostentatious, considerate, and steadfast friend. Fidelity to former attachments in circumstances where many would have forgotten them, was a prominent feature of her character.

Her conversation.

She was distinguished for great plainness of speech. This is no ordinary virtue. It is little known, and less practised, in society. How few will hint before your face what they publish abroad behind your back! Too many Christians deal deceitfully in this respect. You think you have their sanction and esteem, while they condemn you in their hearts, and slander you with their tongues. No character is more contemptible than this. From this defect our departed friend was free almost to a fault. She was one of the most transparent characters I ever knew: there was no hypocrisy in her. She would tell you her mind frankly and fully. You were aware beyond doubt what were her feelings towards you. She might sometimes carry this outspokenness too far: to steer the exact middle course is most difficult; our very virtues are apt to run into vices,-justice may become cruelty; mercy, connivance at error; faithfulness, severity; candour, rudeness. To hit and

hold the happy medium is attained by few, perhaps by none. Excess is better than deficiency. The former is almost sure to be pruned of its redundancies; the latter is seldom brought up to the standard of which it has come short: But this frankness was not confined to the expression of her opinion to others respecting their conduct, but it led her to acknowledge her own faults. If the erred, she was ready to confess it; she was honest in reference to herself as well as to her friends.

Resignation to the Divine will.

She had not many trials; her faith was not often put to the test. Still, sunny as was her married life, it had its troubles and its clouds; she had lost three children. Though her maternal affections were intense, yet she did not repine or murmur. She breathed the sentiments of Job: her language was, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." When she was brought to the bed of death, the spirit of solemn resignation filled her heart. You must just look at all the circumstances. She was young; she possessed a fond and confiding husband; she had five interesting children; she had everything around her which heart could wish; her family were unspeakably dear to her; she had very much to attach her to life. She had no wasting sickness to reconcile her to death. A few short days, and she passed from a state of health to the grave. Yet when she was seized with her fatal illness-not deemed fatal at first by any one but herself-she said, "I know I shall never recover; but I am not afraid to die." At another time, when her babe was brought to her, she looked at him affectionately, saying, "He is too young to know that his mother is dying." Still, not a murmur éscaped her lips. She seemed willing, as far as she herself was concerned, to depart and be with Christ; though, for the sake of her husband and children, she had a wish to live. Her affliction was of such a nature as to prevent her, for the last two or three days, from saying a word, or perhaps from being conscious of her state. the midst of her years, surrounded with plenty, beloved by her husband and children, respected by all who knew her, she fell beneath the stroke of death; leaving behind her a good name, and taking with her into eternity a spirit enriched with all the graces of the Spirit of God. Rarely has the death of a private individual produced a sensation so deep and wide. Persons of all ranks, ages, and creeds, in this neighbourhood, have felt it, and in one way or other have given expression to their profound sorrow. But she is gone! She came forth like a flower, the death-wind passed over her, and her place among the living will know her no more.

Emigration.

We have found that our former Articles on the subject of Emigration were read with general interest, and proved useful to not a few worthy people, who are now inhabitants of one or other of England's glorious Colonies. We repeat our com

In

munications this month, by giving publicity to a very interesting and thoroughly practical letter from a worthy emigrant, who, previous to his departure, was a London City Missionary-an honourable and useful vocation, sustained also by

Mr. Vanderkiste, through whose politeness we are enabled to present the following:

DEAR BROTHER VANDERKISTE,-I can assure you that I feel as much interested in the subject of Emigration, and am as anxious for the welfare of Emigrants now I am in the "Far West" as when I was in England.

I would therefore venture to offer a little counsel to those who are thinking of emigrating.

First let them well consider the subject in all its bearings, and not be led astray by the flowery poetical descriptions of tourists who have passed through the country in railway-cars or steamboats, and boarded at first-rate hotels. Remember, America is not a paradise; there is much in the climate that is unpleasant to English people-such extremes of heat and cold that must not only be trying to the feelings, but to the health and constitution. This is considered a very healthy part, but it has been a very hot summer, and there has been a very great mortality among children from diarrhoea, or cholera infantum, and I have been called to part with three of my children, between the 14th and 20th inst. I hope the Lord will sanctify it to my soul.

I would advise those who think of leaving their native land to remember it is no trifling undertaking to leave their friends and home and country, and cross the Atlantic in an emigrant ship. Though we had a very civil gentlemanly captain, and a third mate who was very attentive to our physical comfort, yet there was much that was very unpleasant to me. The confined air of such a number of people in so little room was very oppressive; so many of the passengers did not go on deck so much as they ought, but were lounging in bed, &c., when there was no necessity for it. And the swearing and filthy conversation were truly disgusting; for almost every one seemed to have thrown off all moral restraint, and to sin with impunity.

When I arrived at New York, I thought my toils were nearly over as it regarded the journey; but I found it more tedious and more fatiguing going up the country than crossing the Atlantic. It makes a great deal of difference if a person has a small family; but to a single man it is quite tolerable.

I would say to those who have well considered the subject, and are decided on emigrating-if residing in the South of England, sail from London, and be sure to sail in a regular liner; there is one sails from the Jetty in the London Docks every week; you had better give ten or twenty shillings a head more than to go by the transient vessels sent out by various companies.

And it is well if a number of relatives or acquaintances can engage a number of berths near together-it will lessen the expense and increase the comfort.

And be sure to have some sound strong waterproof boxes for your luggage, with iron handles at the end, not larger than two men can move comfortably; but avoid having a number of small boxes, because of the Dock dues, as they charge so much per package, whether large or small; and get a few nails and hooks to hang your things on in the ship, and take a large curtain which you can hang up in front of your berth, and bring it out of a

circle two or three feet, to shelter you while you dress or undress. And if you choose to be retired, take your berth near the stern; but if you prefer light and air, take it near the main hatchway, but remember the latter will have its annoyances and inconveniences.

Having secured your berth, allow me to alvise you as regards provisions. You will not need a great stock of these, as the captain furnishes you with 24lbs. of biscuit, 2lbs. of rice, 1lb. of flour, 5lbs of oatmeal, lb. of sugar, lb. of molasses, and 2oz. of tea per week. It will be well to take new bread enough to last the first week you are at sea, and a currant loaf or two, with a few pounds of good gingerbread; this is very excellent when a person feels rather Equeamish. Mrs. T. could eat a piece of this when she could eat nothing else. And take with you a few raisins and currants, a few new laid eggs, some butter, and lard, and cheese, some well-cured bacon or ham; but be sure to see that it is good, for several of our passengers in the Victoria threw the greater part of theirs away. Bring a good supply of flour and baking. powder, then you can have new bread all the voyage, especially if you arrange with the chief cook. I gave him a sovereign to cook for us, which I did not at all regret, as it saved me a deal of pushing and scrambling at the galleyfire, and we had new bread all the voyage, and he often sent us a little broth or a small piece of meat, from the cabin-table. I would advise you to bring a few oranges and lemons, a few onions, and pickles and potatoes. You will need a tin water-bottle, and slop-pail with lid, and tea and coffee-pot and saucepan and tin-plate and porringer; and a lantern and candles are very needful where there is a family. Now having got your provisions and yourself on board, make your boxes fast either with rope or iron hooping or cleet, so that when the ship rolls they may not be tossed from one side to the other.

And when you arrive at New York, beware of a number of unprincipled fellows called Loafers, who come on board as soon as the ship gets into port, pretending to buy your surplus stores; but they will give you scarcely any. thing for them; and if you have any good bacon or tea and sugar, take care of them, they will be worth carrying up the country, or may be useful on your journey. But I should have said before, be sure not to bring a great quantity of luggage, it is so expensive getting up the country.

And when you get to New York be careful where you go to lodge and board, as some of the people are very imposing. I went to H. Heald's, Miner's Arms, No. 2, Front-street, near the Battery; he only charged fifty cents per day for three meals and lodging. But most of these keepers of boarding-houses are connected with forwarding agents, and will use their influence to induce you to go by such and such parties; but be very cautious, for there is a deal of imposition among them. But it is best to take your passage from New York to Albany by steamboat; then from Albany to Buffalo by railway; be sure not to be persuaded to go by canal, if you do you will regret it, it is such slow and uncomfortable travelling. And when you arrive at Buffalo, take your passage by steamboat to Detroit, then by the railway across Michigan to New Buffalo, and then from

« PreviousContinue »