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was even now dawning after her night of

sorrow.

The following day, her emancipated spirit was with Him whose name was sweet to her in the hour of "lonely woe," and whose presence she seemed to recognize when all other remembrances were confused, or altogether effaced.-American Mother's Magazine.

DON'T BECOME RICH AGAIN.

BY MRS SIGOURNEY.

"I've lost my whole fortune," said a merchant, as he returned one evening to his home; "we can no longer keep our carriage. We must leave this large house. The children can no longer go to expensive schools. Yesterday I was a rich man. To-day there is nothing I can call my own."

"Dear husband," said the wife, "we are still rich in each other and our children. Money may pass away, but God has given us a better treasure in those active hands and loving hearts."

"Dear father," said the children, "do not look so sad. We will help you to get a living."

"What can you do, poor things?" said

he.

"You shall see, you shall see," answered several cheerful voices. "It is a pity if we have been to school for nothing. How can the father of eight children be poor? We shall work and make you rich again."

"I shall help," said the youngest girl, hardly four years old. "I will not have any new things bought, and I shall sell my great doll."

The heart of the husband and father, which had sunk within his bosom like a stone, was lifted up. The sweet enthusiasm of the scene cheered him, and his nightly prayer was like a song of praise.

They left his stately house. The servants were dismissed. Pictures and plate, carpets and furniture, were sold; and she who had been so long mistress of the mansion shed no tear.

"Pay every debt," said she; "let no one suffer through us, and we may yet be happy."

He rented a neat cottage, and a small piece of ground a few miles from the city. With the aid of his sons, he cultivated vegetables for the market. He viewed with delight and astonishment the economy of his wife, nurtured as she had been in wealth, and the

efficiency which his daughters soon acquired under her training.

The eldest one assisted her in the work of the household, and also assisted the younger children. Besides, they executed various works, which they had learned as accomplishments, but which they found could be disposed of to advantage. They embroidered, with taste, some of the ornamental parts of female apparel, which they readily sold to a merchant in the city.

They cultivated flowers and sent bonquets to market in the cart that conveyed the vegetables; they plaited straw; they painted maps; they executed plain needle-work. Every one was at her post, busy and cheerful. The cottage was like a bee-hive.

I never enjoyed such health before," said the father.

"And I never was so happy before," said the mother.

"We never knew how many things we could do when we lived in the great house," said the children; "and we love each other a great deal better here; you call us your litte bees."

"Yes," replied the father; "and you make just such honey as the heart loves to feed on."

Economy as well as industry was strictly observed; nothing was wasted. Nothing unnecessary was purchased. The eldest daughter became assistant teacher in a distinguished female seminary, and the second took her place as instructress to the family.

The little dwelling, which had always been kept neat, they were soon able to beautify. Its construction was improved; vines and flowering trees were planted around it. The merchant was happier under his wood-bine covered porch, in a summer's evening, than he had been in his showy drawing-room.

"We are now thriving and prosperous," said he; "shall we now return to the city?" "O no, no," was the unanimous reply. "Let us remain," said the wife, "where we have found health and contentment," "Father," said the youngest, "all we children hope you are not going to be rich again; for then," she added, "we little ones were shut up in the nursery, and we did not see much of you or mother. Now we all live together, and sister, who loves us, teaches us, and we learn to be industrious and useful. We were none of us happy when we were rich and did not work. So father, please not to be a rich man any more."

Our Young Men.

THE USES AND ADVANTAGES OF ESSAY & DISCUSSION SOCIETIES.

BY THE REV. JOHN BIRT.

[We have much pleasure in directing the attention of our young readers to the following paper from the pen of our esteemed friend, Mr. Birt, of Oldham. It will be concluded in our next number, and will probably be followed by some remarks of our own in our number for January.-EDS.]

Having to present an introductory paper at this first meeting of your revived Essay and Discussion Society, it has occurred to me that no subject would be more suitable than that which is suggested by its designation; and I propose, therefore, to offer a few remarks, on the Uses and Advantages of such a society on the Choice and Treatment of the subjects to be brought before it-and, in conclusion, to offer some remarks on Language and Style.

I. The uses and advantages of such a society are :

1. To the writer himself; who thereby acquires, among many other benefits, a closeness and justness of thinking, not only with regard to those subjects on which he writes, but which will be applicable to all others which he may find in books, or which may offer themselves to his own mind. By committing to writing our own thoughts, or those we gather from others by reading and conversation, we not only lay up a permanent stock of ideas and of knowledge, by fixing them more indelibly in the memory, but we acquire the habit of more closely examining, and more accurately weighing, their truth and importance. Thus the mind becoming more discriminating, and the judgment more mature, the spurious and trifling will be at once detected and laid aside; and its stores becoming more select and precious, knowledge will not only be more sound and compact, but also more fit and ready, for reference and use.

This will be especially the case, when what is written is submitted to the judgment of others. This will naturally increase the carefulness both of selection and revision; not only because no one would willingly expose an inaccuracy to the view of others, but no benevolent mind would run

the risk of misguiding the thoughts and opinions of those for whom he wrote. This will, of course, produce in the writer a still greater anxiety to be thoroughly master of his subject; and will, in some degree, enhance the advantages he would derive from merely committing his thoughts to writing for himself.

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2. There are advantages likewise to those who discuss the paper that is read. If writing gives to knowledge a fixed place in the mind, conversation gives a facility of using that knowledge to the best advantage. Reading," says Lord Bacon, "makes a full man, writing a correct man, and conversation a ready man." ." Knowledge laid up in writing, and by writing stored in the memory, may be compared to the stock of bullion in the bank; discussion to the employment of that gold, whereby it is turned over and over again, until it even doubles its original amount. This will be especially the case, when the discussion is upon a given subject; because the direction of a variety of minds brought to bear upon the object, will, by their collision, elicit many sparks of thought and sentiment which, previously to the discussion, were not present even to the minds of those by whom they were emitted. It will be as when many rays of light converge in one focus; the brightness of that focus will far surpass that of the separate rays added together.

3. Those who are present at such discussions, even though they take no part in them, may derive great advantage from them. The topics introduced will be usually interesting and instructive, and the discussion will be of a corresponding character. These subjects, presented first with the carefulness of a well-considered paper, and then illustrated with the vivacity of free conversation, will awaken more attention, and excite more lively interest, than the same topics if studied through the duller medium of a book. Knowledge will thus be presented in new forms, and with new attractions, which cannot fail to enliven the mental acquisitiveness of our nature, to increase the readiness and retentiveness of the memory, and to form the taste to reject the evil and choose the good.

II. As to the selection of subjects, the whole field of science and of literature is

before you; but I have the impression, that the departments which furnish the most appropriate matter for such an Institute as yours, are those of History, Philosophy, and Morals.

1. Of History, I am sorry to say, that what is genuine and unsophisticated, bears a very small proportion to the immense mass of historical writing with which the world is inundated. Ancient History, although accounted the model and perfection of historical style and eloquence, having been written chiefly by heathens, is written on heathen principles, and poisoned by heathen sentiments, and holds up to admiration as virtues, vices which deserve the universal execration of mankind. Nor is Modern History at all purer or more free from perversion or falsification. Take the history of our own country as an example. The earlier portions of it were written by bigoted, tyrannical, and venal priests and monks, who sold their praises to the perpetrators of the vilest deeds, if they made amends by a large donation to the church; and pronounced the foulest censures on those who evinced any attachment to truth and liberty. The best of these histories, even that of Venerable Bede himself, are corrupted and defiled by fabulous legends, false miracles, and a stupid superstition. The more recent portions of our history are scarcely more to be depended on. They are all written more or less in the spirit of partizans, some of them of different competitors for the crown, and others of different political factions. The newspapers of the present day do not more grossly contradict each other, than the majority of these historians do, according to the party they represent. Nor can much better be said even of Ecclesiastical History, which is tainted with a similar spirit; few of its historians seem to have known what Christianity really is, while the generality of them give indeed a copious account of the intrigues and violence of ambitious and lordly prelates; but scarcely one feature of the true church of Christ is discernible in all their volumes.

Still, although these falsehoods and perversions darken the page of history, and render the historians unsafe guides, yet the great facts and revolutions recorded in history remain, as the monuments and interpreters of prophecy fulfilled, and to reward the diligence of those who would study the ways of God among the children of men.

It is a wholesome and beneficial occupation, to disentangle the ravelled skein of human prejudice and passion, and to trace the thread of God's own purposes and deeds, with a simple and unprejudiced mind. The study of History, therefore, with due precautions, is one of the most profitable employments of the human mind; it accumulates in one point the experience of ages, and furnishes facts for the illustration of truth, on the largest scale, and in the richest abundance. If there be any one part of History to be preferred to the rest, it is Biography.

For the life of an eminent

man is a mirror in which we have contemporaneous events more closely and distinctly reflected in their own shape and form; and, besides, the information we thus acquire, sinks the deeper for our human fellowship, and is embalmed in our human sympathies.

2. As to Philosophy, while all its branches are valuable, and none of them will be disregarded, the highest and most important is undoubtedly that which relates to Manhis Constitution, Relations, Tendencies, and Issue. We ought to be acquainted with the origin and nature of his ideas; the spring and development of his sentiments, feelings, affections, and passions; the character and extent of his faculties and powers; the reciprocal relations and the reactions of his body and mind; with his relations and responsibilities to those that are around him, to the God that is above him, and the Eternity that is before him. If the proper study of mankind be man, and self-knowledge be the most valuable of all attainments, then these particulars should not be accounted abstruse, or be suffered to be remote; but they ought to be familiarised by most intimate examination, and brought home by most persevering study. It is of great importance that we should know things without us, both near and at a distance; but he will most readily and fully acquire the knowledge of other things, who best. knows himself.

3. The science of Morals is either general or casuistical. By Morals in general, we mean those rules and laws which bind society together, and prescribe the duties and obligations of the different classes of which it is composed. It has principles and maxims, which are founded in nature, reason, and the law of God. It is chiefly conversant with what is right and wrong, just and unjust, to which we may add benevolent and unkind, according to the

great moral rule of him who said, "Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them." This social law prescribes duties and responsibilities, and ascribes rights and claims, to every condition of human being. According to its principles and rules, governors owe duty to the governed, the high to the low, the rich to the poor, masters to servants, the strong to the weak, and ALL RECIPROCALLY. It prescribes the duties and the claims respectively of husbands and wives, parents and children, of brothers and sisters, of kindred, of neighbours, of the community at large, and in all its connexions. It includes all the integrity, the decencies, the urbanities and active beneficences of social life. In proportion, therefore, as this is not only well understood, but as the mind and heart become instinct with its principles, will a man become qualified for the enjoy,ment and diffusion of well-being and happiness among his fellow-men; and, thereby, will he turn his self-knowledge to the best and most profitable account.

4. Casuistry in Morals intends those par

ticular cases and questions which require for their decision the application of the maxims and rules of moral science. These maxims and rules are admitted; but the question is, how do they determine particular cases; just as in courts of law, particular cases are tried, whether they are, or are not, according to law. Casuistry, however, seldom gives the certainty, or inspires the confidence, which is placed in the general rule; there is too much room for human prepossession and prejudice; and though the law of casuistry may be perfect, the casuist himself may be either blinded or bribed. Yet, as without its application to special cases, the science of morals is merely an entertaining speculation, and effects no practical good; while we use every precaution with respect to what casuists have decided, and are on our guard when we ourselves make a special application, it is the part of wisdom both to study diligently the rules themselves, and to cultivate a skilful application of them to such cases as may arise.

(To be continued.)

Notices of Books.

A NECESSITY OF SEPARATION FROM THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND PROVED BY THE NONCONFORMISTS' PRINCIPLES. BY JOHN CANNE. EDITED FOR THE HANSERD KNOLLYS SOCIETY, BY THE REV. CHAS. STOVEL. London: Benj. L. Green.

By some accident we have but just received this volume, to which it would have given us great pleasure to have invited the attention of our readers earlier. Many of them will have already met with Canne's name in the "Broadmead Records," as the individual who first taught the founders of that church the duty of separation from an establishment antichristian at once in its government and offices, and its compulsory character. Canne was the author of the Bible with References which bears his name, and a great advocate for interpreting scripture by scripture, and not by creeds and traditions. Must not this habit of mind have been intimately connected with both his Anti-State-Church and Baptist sentiments? If so, how many who have used that bible, once the sole or chief reference

bible in English, have little thought what the author learned from it!

The object of the book is to shew the Puritans, who at that time bitterly and revilingly denounced all who separated from the Establishment, that they were bound to do it, and to shew them this from their own writings. This Canne does most unanswerably. He selects from the writings of the principal Puritans such representations of the government and governors of the church, of the Service-book and the readers of it, as prove beyond contradiction that christian fellowship with such a Babylon was impossible. We heartily commend the book to our readers. We have often thought that, partly in our zeal for the grand Anti-StateChurch principle, and partly in mawkish sentimentality towards "our beloved evangelical brethren" of the Church of Lord Bishops and Prayer books, we are in danger of forgetting the real quality of the Hierarchy and its Service-book. It is still an utterly and monstrously antichristian hierarchy, only a shade or two less so than

that of Rome. The main difference being that we have a king and parliament for its (practically) infallible head, instead of a Pope. The Prayer-book is still as Popish as when bishop Jewel and other Puritans denounced it,-still, as they and Milton termed it, "but an extract from the Massbook," still crammed with Popish titles, feasts, fasts, and saint days, with Lent, Easter, Christmas, and the like,-still its marriage service, confirmation service, and ordination service, profane and disgusting, or impious,-still its baptismal service teaching unequivocally the disgracefully Popish doctrine of baptismal regeneration,— and still its Articles, though many of them good, polluted with the presence of one which, worked as it has been and will be, vitiates and destroys in practice the utility of the rest. It will do us all good to read these racy extracts from those who beheld the birth of the English Liturgy, and who were horrified at the unscriptural monster; who wished, indeed, to love the ecclesiastical offspring of adultery between the Church and the State, but could not conceal their disgust. We freely own that we cannot allege all this as legitimate argument against State Churches, because, of course, we may not, with free Churchmen, allow that governors may establish the perfect opposite to all this; but surely it ought to quicken our own zeal, to reflect that ten millions per annum is employed by the State to uphold what could never endure the free discussion incident to voluntaryism, and which even the priestcraft of a Conference cannot utterly suppress.

We must, in conclusion, protest against the Society occupying our funds so much, not in reprinting the works of early Baptists, but in simply printing the essays of modern Baptists. After the really useful

historical introductions in the former volumes, half a dozen pages would have sufficed to tell us all that is known of Canne. Subscribers in our hearing complain, and we think justly. We fully appreciate the Editor's invaluable labours on the text of his author; but we should have been thankful for an additional 100 pages of Canne him. self. One-quarter of 465 pages is introduction!

AUNT MARY; OR, MAKE HAPPY AND BE HAPPY. A TALE FOR THE NEW YEAR. London: Benj. L. Green; Leeds: John Heaton.

This neat little book, from the pen of one of our colleagues, has just reached us upon the eve of publication, and we hasten to commend it to the attention of our young friends. We are sure they will read it with pleasure, as the incidents interwoven with the narrative, and the points of character so happily introduced, cannot fail to interest them. It will form a very appropriate reward book for our Sunday schools; and, if introduced, will greatly contribute to the cheerfulness of many a youthful circle, when assembled to celebrate the New Year. We need hardly say, that we heartily commend it to the friends of the young.-B. E.

JESSIE GRAHAM; OR, FRIENDS Dear, but TRUTH DEArer. By AUNT KITTY. Pp. 126. (Green's Juvenile Library, vol. 2.)

We have much pleasure in commending to our young readers this beautiful and touching little tale. If the succeeding volumes should all be equal to "Blind Alice" and "Jessie Graham," the series will form one of the prettiest and best "Juvenile Libraries" with which we are acquainted.

Obituary.

BRIEF MEMOIR OF THE REV.
SAMUEL BLYTH.

The subject of this memoir was born on the 10th of May, 1783, at Birmingham, in which place and in the neighbourhood, the greater part of his boyhood and youth were spent. There was nothing in the first years of his life which can call for a place in this sketch, or in the attention and interest of

the reader; at all events if there were, the means of supplying it are not now at hand. It may suffice to say, that he left. school at the usual age, and was placed with a merchant of his native town. After the expiration of the ordinary term of apprenticeship, he continued for several years to be engaged in mercantile affairs. His grandfather was a Unitarian minister, and a large

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