PARABLE.

A PHILANTHROPIST, taking com- he had thus procured for them, and passion upon the numerous insol- the aditional advantages he was vent debtors, who are confined in ready to confer. It was strange the different gaols of the kingdom, however to observe the various and thus incapacitated for all further ways, in which this message was service of their king and country, received. Some would not believe and yet disapproving of tbose that any one, and more especially annual insolvent acts, which provide a stranger, of whom they had never for the deliverance of the debtor, beard, would behave to them in so without first securing the just pay- extraordinary and disinterested a ment of the creditor, found means manner, and therefore would not to investigate the case of every even walk to the prison-door to see, imprisoned debtor in the kingdom, whether it was open. Others had and ascertain the amount of their been so long in prison as to have debts. The sum of course was lost all desire of going out of it: enormous. But, as his property they had bread and water in the was also, like his bounty, exceed. prison, and doubted, if they should ingly great, be undertook to dis.. get better fare out of it; and there. charge the whole. He had no fore they remained, from choice sooner, however, come to this or indolence, in the filth, and cold, resolution than he recollected, that and damp, and unwholesome air in emancipating so vast a body of of the dungeon. Others again persons, who had lost their pro- took advantage of the offer, made perty, before they came into prison, to them, and received the money and who consequently had no longer of the benefactor, but got drunk any remaining means of subsistence, with it, or committed a fraud upon he should inundate the country others; by which means they soon with paupers, and that on the very found their way back into prison day after their release there would with still less hope of ever getting necessarily be as many insolvent as out. There were however some, before. He therefore resolved on who were truly grateful for the a still further act of humanity. He benefit, and made a right use of the determined to grant to every in. bounty, which restored them to dividual, together with his discharge, their forfeited rights and liberty. ą sum of money, with which he These all, according to their oppormight begin some business, and tunities, set up in different trades, earn his necessary support; and and became useful membeis of even paid some of them, in whom society. They did not forget, he placed confidence, at a higher indeed, that they were trading with rate, on condition of their teaching the capital of another; and they those, who were ignorant or ill were all obliged from time to time disposed, some useful trade, and to make application for fresh supqualifying them for the exercise plies, which were always granted, of it; and he promised to renew when asked for, in greater or less this grant every week in favour measure at the discretion of their of those who should appear to have benefactor, who was thus continumade a right and profitable use ally enabling them to make some of the sums, previously advanced progress towards acquiring a capital to them. Accordingly he paid the of their own. There was indeed debts in full, and took measures much difference of character among for making known to all the in- them; and the great philanthropist solvents in the country the liberty made proportionate distinctions, But he never allowed any of them almoners of the bounty of the to fail or to be cast again into pri, general benefactor, often satisfied son, so long as they made an honest, themselves with performing this though it might be an inadequate duty to those, who had left their use of the sums which they received, prisons without inquiring after those a true disclosure of their wants, who remained. There were some, and a suitable application for relief, indeed, who acted differently, and as often as further application was some, who after their own enfrannecessary. But the most extra, chisement, passed the principal part ordinary fact, connected with this of their time in the prisons for the transaction, was this, that a vast sake of making known to their majority of the debtors were never inmates the good news of their informed of the benefits, which bad deliverances. But either the num. been procured for them. The ber of these benevolent persons persons who took advantage of this was very small, or some strange splendid act of liberality themselves, obstacles hindered their success ; yet left their fellow-prisoners in for it was calculated, that sevenignorance of it; and even those eighths of those, whose debts were who were paid at a higher rate for paid, never heard of what had been the purpose of teaching trades to done for them, the rest, and even of acting as

E. E. :

THE DEATH OF JACOB. '

FROM BLUNT’S LECTURES. " AND the time drew nigh,” says whom my fathers, Abraham and the inspired historian, “that Israel Isaac, did walk, the God which led must die." Let us, then, in imagi me all my life long unto this day, nation, enter the tent of the depart. the angel which redeemed me from ing patriarch; let us draw round all evil, bless the lads ;” and baving bis dying bed. We have followed then proceeded to bless his assemhim through the chequered scenes bled family in a strain of prophecy of his eventful pilgrimage; we have which has excited the wonder of the seen how a man of God can live church of God, even to the present let us now behold how he can die. hour, he thus interrupted his disWhat a calm scene of resignation course to express shortly, but em. and of holy confidence do we wit, phatically, the last strong feelings ness! There is, indeed, nothing wbich filled his dying bosom: “I of triumph or of rapture, but all have waited for thy salyation, O bespeaks the last hours of one at Lord.” peace with God, and God with him; Death was no new subject to one, as he declared himself, who him; salvation not an untried

had been redeemed from all evil." theme; the grave no strange coun. We behold the aged saint like a full try; heaven not an unlooked for shock of corn, coming in its season, home. He had “waited” for the waiting to be removed into the Angel of the Covenant, who had imperishable garner. *********** redeemed bim, even “the Angel

“Now the eyes of Israel were Jehovah," the Lord Jesus Christ, dim for age, so that he could not to send his messenger to summon see ; and Joseph brought his sons him into the eternal presence ; and near unto him; and he kissed them, the language of Jacob's heart bad and embraced them,” and he bless- long been this—“I have waited for ed Joseph, and said God, before thy salvation, O Lord.”

All the ardent expectation of a of persons ought you then to be new convert, who is longing to in all holy conversation and goddepart and be with Christ, temper. liness." Live worthy of these ed by all the patient resignation of unspeakable privileges; cherish the the aged Christian, who knows, if grace which God has so abundantly the Almighty makes him wait, it is bestowed upon you, in uniting you for some wise and gracious purpose, to Cbrist your living head; avoid and feels assured that God's times every thing which would sully the are always the best times. It was brightness of your faith, or damp in this state of meek and peaceful the ardour of your grateful love; reliance on him “in whom he had live near to him, out of whose believed," that the aged patriarch fulness you receive grace for grace, might have said with Job, “ All the and suffer nothing which this world days of my appointed time will I can offer to intimidate you, or to wait till my change come.” That allure you to live contrary to your change was now at hand, even convictions, or to deny Him before at the door—a fearful change men who is willing to confess you for the ungodly, a solemn change before the angels of God. for all. We read, “When Jacob “ Few and evil the days of the had made an end of commanding years of your pilgrimage" still may his sons, he gathered up his feet be; many may be the crosses to be into the bed, and yielded up the carried, the disappointments to be ghost, and was gathered unto borne, the troubles to be endured, his people," breathing his placid but He who has given you his Son, soul into the bosom of Him he is with Him also freely giving you loved. Thus, “ the work of all things. These light afflictions righteousness was peace, and the are but for a moment; joy, evereffect of righteousness quietness lasting joy, will come upon the and assurance for ever.” Who can wings of the approaching morning. witness it, who can hear it, even as Only relax not in your efforts ; act we do this day, after an interval not as if you thought you had of four thousand years, without a “ already attained, either were secret aapiration arising from his already perfect ;” but with the heart, “Let me die the death of apostle “ forgetting those things the righteous, and let my last end which are bebind, and reaching forth be like bis."

unto those things which are before Christian brethren, we trust we press forward to the mark for the are addressing many who could, at prise of the high calling of God this moment, say with the patri. in Christ Jesus.” The struggles arch, “ I also have waited for thy of the conflict will soon be oversalvation, O Lord;” or in the still every enemy vanquished, every plainer language of the Apostle to battle won; the dust shall be wiped the Thessalonians, I “ wait for his from your brow, the tears from Son from heaven, whom he raised your eyes; and that bright crown from the dead, even Jesus which to which you now are looking, delirered me from the wrath to shall be your own, when you shall, come.” How great and blessed through the alone merits of your are your privileges, if you are thus Redeemer, sit down with him of “ waiting” to reign with him in whom you have been speaking, glory, upon whom you have lived with Abraham, with Isaac and by faith on earth. Behold with Jacob, amidst the fulness of imwhat manner of love the Father hath perishable joys, in your Father's loved you, that such a promise should kingdom, and upon your Redeembe your own!" Wbat manner er's throne.

REVIEW OF BOOKS.

and he shall save thee. Soon you may religion of the Sabbath is sufficient, and have it to say, “ I shall not die, but that it will atone for forgetfulness of God live, and declare the works of the Lord. during the remainder of the week. It The Lord hath chastened me sore: but will give plausibility to the representahe hath not given me over unto death." tions of worldly men, when they assert Pp. 143—145.

that religion is a periodical thing, and · The following extracts from the

that saints consider it to be so amidst discourse on Family Worship, de

all their professions to the contrary.

In conducting family worship, we serve serious attention.

must beware of being too tedious or too 2. There are several directions which short. If it is hurried over in a premay be suggested with regard to the cipitate and careless manner, it will be performance of the duty. All the parts considered as a form which we observe of it must be observed. Some think it from necessity, and in which we take enough to pray, and others satisfy them- no pleasure; and if it is protracted to selves with singing of Psalms and the an unseasonable length, children will reading of the word. But it is by the become languid, impatient, or drowsy. union of all the three that we discharge It is a great fault in some families, that the duty, and fulfil the ends of family worship is delayed to so late an hour worship. There are times when it may that its members engage in it with no be inexpedient or impracticable to do liveliness, and scarcely offer to God the more than pray; but such seasons occur service of either soul or body. rarely, and opportunity for worship is · Study variety. There are times in much less wanted than a willing mind. which a melancholy straitening in

Let it be performed with seriousness prayer is felt by the most experienced and fervour. It is the character of a Christian; but God will revive us again, good man that he trembles at God's and wbere the Spirit of the Lord is, word. Jehovah must be sanctified by there is liberty. all that draw nigh to him. Our tones Generally speaking, formality in of voice and modes of expression must prayer indicates either the vacancy of be grave and solemn; but let us re- the mind or the coldness of the heart. member, that if the heart is not influ. It is a happy union of attainments when enced by godly fear, we are acting the we are enriched with all knowledge and part of hypocrites ; and the detection with all utterance. The study of the of this will degrade us in the estimation scriptures, and of books of devotion, of our families, when they find our and a close attention to the public fervour affectation, and our solemnity prayers of the sanctuary, will tend much mere grimace.

to promote variety. With every faculty Let it be observed regularly. We God has connected a capacity of imknow not how much good may be lost provement. To us the treasures of by a single omission. Besides it is to wisdom are set open, and we are enthe first neglect that the most strenuous dowed with qualities for enriching opposition will be made, and after this ourselves with these. —Pp. 68-70. the struggle will become more feeble till it is relinquished altogether. Is

We particularly recommend the worship neglected because we are

discourses on the spirit to be exhurried away to a journey or to our ercised at family meals; lessons for labour? It ought to be considered that conversation; and the influence of it is the best preparation for a journey holy and happy scenes. or for labour to implore God's protec

There are few, if any, more pain. tion and aid, and to commit those whom Auto

ful trials than when a young family we love to his care; and that a few minutes are but a small deduction from

from

are deprived by deanu

are deprived by death of a pious sleep, or may soon be made up by in- and affectionate mother. The creased exertion.

seventh of Dr. B.'s discourses to There are some who never worship the young, suggests comfort under God in their families but on the Sab

such melancholy bereavements, and bath. And can any think it enough to

communicates many salutary lesserve God when they cannot labour for Mammon? And is it the Sabbath only

sons to those also who are still whose outgoings in the morning and in

favoured with this most faithful the evening rejoice over them? This of earthly friends. In pointing out may lead children to suppose that the what there is in the death of a