not only point out the path, but lead the way. Your wish, we take it for granted, is to train up your children in the fear of the Lord, and, as a necessary branch of this, in the practice of prayer. Is it likely you will succeed in that wish while you neglect to afford them an example of what you wish them to practise? What, under the blessing of Divine grace, is so calculated to impress them with a conviction of the importance of prayer, as the being called, at stated intervals, to take part in your devout supplications to God. While they witness your constancy, assiduity, and fervour in this exercise, they cannot fail of acknowledging its importance, without avowing a contempt of parental example.

"A household in which family prayer is devoutly attended to, conjoined with the reading of the Scriptures, is a school of religious instruction. The whole contents of the sacred volume are in due course laid open before its members. They are continually reminded of their relation to God and the Redeemer, of their sins, and their wants, and of the method they must take to procure pardon for the one, and relief for the other. A judicious parent will naturally notice the most striking incidents in his family, in his devotional addresses; such as the sickness, or death, or removal for a longer or shorter time, of the members of which it is composed. His addresses will be varied according to circumstances. Has a pleasing event spread joy and cheerfulness through the household? it will be noticed with becoming expressions of fervent gratitude. Has some calamity overwhelmed the domestic circle? it will give occasion to an acknowledgment of the Divine equity; the justice of God's providence will be vindicated, and grace implored, through the blood of the Redeemer, to sustain and sanctify the stroke.

"Where a principle of religion is not yet planted in the hearts of the young, family prayer, accompanied with the reading of the Scriptures, is, with the Divine blessing, the most likely means of introducing it. Where it already subsists, it is admirably adapted to cherish, strengthen, and advance it to maturity: in the latter case, it is like the morning and the evening dew at the root of the tender blade."

While "the curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked, He blesseth the habitation of the just;" and truly does the venerable Jay remark, "that God's blessing, with bread and water, is a good portion. If they have but little, it is sanctified. Their enjoyments are relished. Their trials are alleviated. Religion opens a refuge when every other refuge fails, and applies a remedy to evils otherwise remediless. They have a God in trouble. His grace is still the same. His providence is making all things work together for their good. Their walls are continually before Him.

The

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voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous."

The same author expresses his view of the great importance and spiritual value of family religion in the following strain of lamentation at its neglect:-"There is no more religion in the families of some who pretend to believe the Scriptures, than there would be if they were atheists. To see many attending so regularly and frequently the preaching of the Gospel, would lead to a hope that they were the true worshippers of God; but when we follow them home to their dwellings, we find them no better than Heathens.

"It may be asked, whether we imagine that there is any peculiar deficiency with regard to family religion in our day? And to this we readily answer, we are persuaded that there is; and it appears both in the frequent neglect, and the superficial performance of it, especially contrasted with the commonness of profession, and the frequency of public ordinances. We wish to speak freely, but without meaning to give offence. It is easy to see, in the lives of our good old forefathers, what a value they set upon the morning and evening worship of God in their houses. With them it was an object of first importance: they entered upon it with seriousness and preparation; they arranged their worldly business, and their household affairs, in subserviency to it; public worship did not exclude it, or drive it up into a corner. But of late years an undue stress has been laid on public exercises; and opportunities of hearing have been so multiplied, as to produce a kind of religious dissipation; so that persons of a religious character, as well as persons of a worldly, are seldom at home; there is some entertainment every evening in the week, and every hour of the Lord's day. And hence there is very little inclination or time for family duty. It is so much easier to go and lounge in a place of worship, and hear some new performance, than to retire into the closet to examine the heart, and call together a family, and endeavour to instruct and impress them, that we cannot help wondering how it was ever possible for the former to be looked upon as a greater test of piety than the latter. God forbid that we should decry public worship, or the preaching of the word: He has commanded us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is :' but that man is surely under a mistake, who thinks to please God by incessantly running from one public service to another, while he leaves his children to run wild, to grow up in ignorance, and to profane the Sabbath."

It

We fear that there are many instances in which this description is too true. may be only an error into which some sincere people fall; but error or sin, it generally leads to painful and distressing consequences. A neglected family is almost

WE resume the pen to prosecute a very pleasing part of our duty,-to recall the names of a little company of witnesses to the power of Divine grace, to recite their testimony, and to note their fair example.

First, a young person, and young convert, too; SOPHIA DOROTHY YATES, of Newton, Manchester, who died in the nineteenth year of her age, on May 5th, 1848. Although not uninformed of the first principles of sacred truth, nor altogether devoid of right affection, she had rested short of true religion until within a brief period of her death. During some special services in Oldham-street and Oldham-road chapels, which were held in hope of reviving the work of God, "she obtained a clear and satisfactory assurance of the forgiveness of her sins; and shortly afterwards, of the entire sanctification of her soul to God." Then, and for about four months following, she was in perfect health, until a malignant fever suddenly seized her, and, leaving but a few momentary intervals of power to collect and give utterance to her thoughts, laid her in the grave. During that brief period of Christian life she had given evidence that her conversion was real, and the transformation of her nature into the image of Christ undoubted. The few moments of consciousness that were spared her from delirium, were spent in the expression of a calm and scriptura assurance, that having passed from darkness into light, she was prepared to meet her God.

In Lancaster, on May 25th, same year, ELIZABETH MILNER, aged twenty-one. From childhood she had feared the Lord, and for ten years before her death enjoyed that peace and love which the Holy Spirit of God imparts to those who trust in the Saviour, and follow in His steps. Not only as a private member of our church, but as a Sunday-school Teacher, and Tract-Distributer, her conduct was exemplary. The approaches of death were gradual and stealthy; but when it became evident that no hope of recovery could any longer be entertained, she showed no fear; but resting on the sure promises of God, she traversed the valley of the shadow of death,

comforted by the royal rod and the pastoral staff, without any terror, and without repining. "He hath weakened my strength in the way: He hath shortened my days," she might have said; but on the sustaining power of God she could rely, in hope of immortality she rejoiced, and she was triumphant over death.

Next, we find a record of PETER BATTERSBY, cut off, too, in the flower of his days, at the age of twenty-one. His parents were both members of our church, at Tyldesby, in the Leigh Circuit; and, watching with solicitude for his spiritual welfare during his childhood, were careful that he should attend the public ministry of the Gospel, and partake in the religious instruction of the Sunday-school. At the age of fifteen he lost his mother, and then felt some awakenings of conscience; but those awakenings he resisted. When he was about eighteen, it pleased God to pour out of His Spirit on the village of Tyldesby; and then Peter began to seek for mercy with considerable earnestness; and, after some time, received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, "Abba, Father!" He then became active as a Sunday-school Teacher, and again, as a Local Preacher; and was pursuing a course of usefulness in his neighbourhood, when a sudden attack of disease threw him into a state of excessive anguish. On a Sunday morning he was praying fervently at an early prayer-meeting; on his return he received the shaft of death, was carried to the Manchester Infirmary, and there expired the next morning, June 26th, 1848. On hearing, from his father, that there was no hope of recovery, he calmly said, "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation." When the paroxysms of excessive pain subsided, he gave utterance to his trust in the Redeemer, in the familiar language of habitual devotions, and, after a brief struggle with the mortal disease,

"Burst from the thraldom of encumb'ring clay, And on the wings of ecstasy upborne, Sprang into liberty, and light, and life."

At the same age, twenty-one, SARY MASON

finished a brief but happy course, at Namptwich, in Cheshire, on July 8th. In the document which lies before us, we trace her advance from stage to stage of Christian education and experience. Her parents were poor, but the blessing of the Most High God rested on their habitation. While many around them cast away their confidence in the politico-ecclesiastical agitation of the years 1834 and 1835, they stood firm, and, with their children, persevered in the means of grace. Little Sarah was kept at the Sundayschool; in due time she was drafted off into a "select class," gave evidence of desire to save her soul, became a candidate for the more peculiar membership of Methodism, and although her spiritual state was not so satisfactory to herself, for some time, as her conduct was creditable in the sight of the world, she followed the good example of her parents by not forsaking the "assemblies of the saints," and, at length, she stepped into the liberty of the children of God. Her Christian deportment, not only in the house of prayer, but in the performance of her daily duties, was exemplary; and having once read her title clear to mansions in the skies, she was enabled, by the sustaining grace of God, to go on her way rejoicing. As the ravages of disease advanced, and when the dissolution of her frame drew near, her joys rose into perfect exultation, and repeatedly, when it seemed to those around that the last cord was loosed, she revived, with language like this upon her lips:

"Bright angels are from glory come,

They're round my bed, and in my room,
And wait to waft my spirit home.
All is well! all is well!"

And thus wrestling with the latest foe, she overcame him, through the blood of the Lamb.

JOHN WALTON, who died on July 17th, at High-House, Weardale, Durham, at the early age of sixteen years, is another example of the benefit of well-conducted Sundayschools, where converted Teachers instruct their children to reverence the word, the Sabbath, the worship, and the Ministers of God. From early childhood he had manifested strong attachment to the places where prayer was wont to be made, and was indeed planted in the courts of the Lord's house. But the circumstances of his conversion were distinctly marked. His testimony was clear. Only two months after his conversion, -for thus we love to speak of that decisive change, he fell sick, entirely lost his sight, and for two years endured extremely severe affliction with piety no less eminent. He rejoiced to enter into his rest. He looked

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for and hastened unto the coming of his Lord.

From the pen of the Rev. William Woon, New-Zealand, we have a note so brief and clear, that it shall be printed as it

comes:

:

"Died, at the Orokowhai, in the Waimate Circuit, July 27th, 1848, PHILLIPPA NGAWHARF, a native Class-Leader, who had been for several months the subject of severe affliction. She had indulged the hope that her sickness was not unto death till within a few weeks of her dissolution, when she quoted the words of the Apostle, Rom. xiv. 8: Whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's;' and looked forward to the final struggle without dismay. Just before she died she requested to be taken out of the house, that she might once more see the sky, and the glory of God in His works; gave her blessing to her sorrowing husband and to her friends; to the Minister, his wife, and others; quoting the words of the thief on the cross, Lord, remember me when Thou comest in Thy kingdom;' and entered into rest."

At the age of sixty-nine, JANE THOMPSON, wife of a respectable member of our church in Scarborough, closed her earthly pilgrimage. Her Christian character appears to have been formed in early life, or, at least, she was then brought under influences that powerfully contributed to its formation, in a family of pious members of the Church of England. It was after marriage, with a Wesleyan, that she entered into communion with our church; shared in the privileges and enjoyments of this communion; and, after exemplifying the grace of God in a life of unblamable integrity, gave proof that she had not believed in a cunningly-devised fable. In her last illness, which was but for a few days, she was favoured with the constant and unclouded light of her heavenly Father's countenance; and having said, "Into Thine hand I com mit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth," she fell asleep in Jesus, without a struggle or a groan.

Let these be numbered with the great cloud of witnesses, and let such as these be remembered when we bless the Lord for all His servants departed this life in His faith and fear, and beseech Him so to give us grace to follow their good example, that, with them, we may be partakers of His heavenly kingdom.

JOURNAL OF MR. ABRAHAM
BEN OLIEL.

[We have been favoured with a very full record, by Mr. Ben Oliel, of a Missionary visit to the northern coast of Africa, and have peculiar satisfaction in presenting a few extracts to our readers, beginning with the present month. We only regret that the length of the document, and its admirable minuteness, render it impracticable to give the whole. This devoted Missionary of "The British Society for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Jews was brought to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Spanish department of the Wesleyan Mission at Gibraltar, and now appears as a living witness to the relative importance of that Station. Most heartily do we bid him good speed in the name of the Lord.-EDITORS.]

EMBARKATION AT GIBRALTAR.
ON the Lord's day, 29th June, 1851, while

the sound of God's praises, from the adjacent Wesleyan chapel, was sweetly echoing in the apartment, I quitted my lodgings at Gibraltar, accompanied by my fellowlabourer, Mr. J. Lowitz, and my dear brother Mochluf. On reaching the mole, we were surrounded with boatmen, each offering his services. Soon, however, the honest man I generally employ made his appearance; and having pleaded his claim to be our conductor to his fellow-boatmen, we entered his boat, and soon found ourselves on board the French man-of-war steamer Lavoisier. Finding my baggage, which I embarked the preceding day, scattered about the deck, I complained of it to the Lieutenant, who stood by. He

replied, in a rage, "No one ought to bring any baggage before the hour of departure.' I informed him it was impracticable; for the English rest from their labour on the Lord's day. To this he seemed to be a stranger, and understood it not, as the French law gives no rest to its subjects on that day.

At midday I parted with my beloved brothers, and under a cloudless blue sky, with the majestic sun shining in all its brightness, we moved slowly out of the bay on a waveless sea, with a calm, and fine weather, the picturesque rock spreading itself before our eyes most beautifully; and I could, with a spy-glass, see my worthy and intimate friend, the Rev. H. Cheesbrough, on his terrace, and my fellow-labourer and brother at the windows, gazing at us, and doubtless wishing us a happy and prosperous voyage.

ORAN.

1st July. From an early hour I engaged the Polish Rabbi in a religious discussion till the hour of disembarking. To the astonishment of his co-religionists, he did not offer many objections to my statements of Gospel truth. I parted with him, saying, "I shall feel pleasure to meet and speak with you more on this important subject at Oran. I always like to speak with those who can understand me, and know what they say;" to which he replied, "I have had intercourse with Jewish Missionaries in various parts of the world, and shall be glad to have a little talk with you too."

At half-past eight, A.M., we anchored at Murs-el-Kebir, and in a few seconds I once more stood on African soil, earnestly praying our heavenly Father to follow my feeble efforts to propagate the truth as it is in Jesus with His blessing, which alone can insure abundant success, to the glory of His ever-blessed name.

The baggage was carried to the Customhouse to be examined; but as it was nearly ten o'clock, when Frenchmen are wont to look for breakfast, I was obliged to leave there two cases of Bibles and Tracts, till the afternoon or next day.

Murs-el-Kebir is the port of Oran, as this last is inapproachable by ships on account of reefs and shallow water along the shore. The most remarkable object in it is the fortress, which was taken possession of by the troops of Ferdinand, the Catholic, in the year 1505, and was regarded as the key of Africa. They are now rebuilding it, and have just finished a strong battery, facing the bay, containing some twenty pieces of artillery, of large calibre. The most prominent part of it, in the direction of the sea, is surmounted by a pretty lighthouse. To the amusement of Englishmen, and those who have seen Gibraltar,-that monument of British valour and wisdom,-an annual of Algeria says: Competent men have already compared Murs-el-Kebir to Gibraltar, on account both

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of its situation over the Mediterranean, at the mouth of the straits, and of the advantages of its position!" Its houses, as also those of an adjacent village, are all in the European style; and both together contain one thousand inhabitants. It is five miles distant from Oran, and is one of the most spacious and safe ports of Algeria. No Jews reside in it; but many go there to buy and sell in week-days.

Stepping into a vehicle, I set off for Oran. As my friend, Mr. Cheviron, with whom I lodged the last time I was here, had no empty room in his house, I put up at the "Hotel de France," in Napoleon-square, in the midst of which stands the republican tree of "Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity," which neither the people nor the Government of the colony manifest practically. I do not believe a nation can ever enjoy these very desirable social blessings in their true and natural sense, unless the Gospel be received and believed. There can exist no such a thing without the knowledge, fear, and love of the true and living God.

Soon my friend and brother, Mr. F. Ruiz, (a converted Roman Catholic Spaniard, formerly residing at Gibraltar,) from whom I received much spiritual good when I as yet was halting between two opinions, arrived at the hotel to give me a brotherly welcome. He spent the afternoon with me, giving me all the information I desired. Some Jews, he said, who heard I was coming, are impatient to hear I am here. His customers being chiefly Jews, he is daily preaching to them the glorious Cross. I wish I could see this humble yet steadfast believer employed as a Colporteur or TractDistributer among my brethren. He is full of zeal and love, and is well acquainted with the truths of our holy faith. Nothing is impossible to God.

In the evening, after reading suitable portions of God's precious word, we knelt down before the mercy-seat, and supplicated a blessing on each other, on our relatives and friends, on the church of God, and on our fellow-sinners, especially those of the house of Israel.

"Thou boundless Source of every good,
Our best desires fulfil;
And help us to adore Thy grace,

And mark Thy sov'reign will.”

2d July. Visited the Rev. H. A. Markheim, Missionary of the London Society for Promoting Christianity amongst the Jews. He told me he and Mr. J. Bell, late British Consul here, who is now Consul in Algiers, were once treated by Jewish boys in the same way, though not by so many, with the same fury, nor to the same extent, they treated me on June 17th, 1849. They complained to the authorities, who caused the Rabban, (the French chief Rabbi here, who is paid by the Government,) to make proclamation in the synagogues that the next