liberty. Our desire is to help to increase the holy excitement which has been called forth. Your work, dear friends, it is true, is not a political work; but had not our rulers stepped out of their proper province, you would have had no work to do that could be called political. But you would be wanting in your love to the cause of Christ, and the best interests of the immortal souls under your care, were you not at the present crisis to employ vigorously every means which God, in his providence, has placed in your hands for the defence and preservation of the precious privileges you enjoy. Blessed be God, that we live not in a land of despotism, where the friends of liberty can do nothing but weep in secret over the cruel bondage of body and mind in which their fellow-men are enthralled. We live in a free land; and woe be to us if we use not our liberty. Unborn ages would cast bitter reproach on our unfaithfulness. There is nothing to excite wonder in the present attempts of the great of this world; and no doubt that many of the friends of ecclesiastical despotism are perfectly sincere, and think they do God service in carrying out their own principles. Neither is it surprising that the advocates of a state religion should view with jealousy and alarm the results of your labours. They well know how much the increased love of the pure gospel of Christ, the simple institutions of the gospel, and the increased attachment to the sacred cause of liberty, visible in our land, are owing to the disinterested and zealous labours of sabbath school teachers. Therefore would they gladly check the progress of all sunday schools which are not under their own control. But arouse yourselves, dear friends, and committing your cause to God, use every means in your power for resisting the Factories' Education Bill. Give yourselves unto prayer. Follow up prayer with action. We once heard Dr. Reed say, in a sermon, that "Prayer without exertion is fanaticism, exertion without prayer is atheism." Conscious of the justice of your cause unite your energies in diffusing information, and procuring petitions to Parliament. The great and glorious cause of evangelical religion is at stake. Act worthy of your profession as the servants of the Redeemer. Should this bill pass into a law, tens of thousands of dear children, over whom their teachers now watch with tender solicitude, labouring for their good, would be taken from their instructions, and placed in a far different sphere, where their minds would become saturated with the absurd, erroneous, soul-destroying doctrines of Puseyism. Having used every means within your reach for the accomplishment of your righteous object, you may then cheerfully repose in faith upon the divine government. In struggles of this kind, it is well to take back our thoughts to the trials and labours of our forefathers. What difficulties had they to encounter, and yet how they laboured! It is refreshing to contemplate the character of these men. They were mighty men in every way; mighty in intellect, in moral courage, in faith. They laboured, and we have entered into their labours. The avowed enemies of our principles have declared, that to them we are indebted for the establishment and preservation of our liberties—that to them Britain owes the free constitution which she now enjoys. Much more are we indebted to them under God for our religious liberties. Let us seek, dear friends, to tread in the footsteps of our fathers, let us strive to manifest a conduct worthy of the descendants of such noble-minded, honourable men—such warm-hearted patriots— such eminent and devoted servants of Christ. A TOUCHING AND BEAUTIFUL INCIDENT. We know not when we have perused a more touching and beautiful little story than the following, from the Hartford Courant: It was but yesterday that a friend-a young gentleman of fine intellect, of a noble heart, and one well known to many of our readers, was suddenly snatched by the hand of death from all the endearments of life. Surrounded by everything that could make existence pleasant and happy-a wife that idolized him-children that loved him as they only can love, and friends devoted to him—the summons came, and he lay upon the bed of death. But a few short years ago, she to whom he was wedded, placed a bridal ring upon his finger, upon the inside of which he had a few words privately engraved. The husband would never permit the giver to read them, telling her that the day would come when her wish should be gratified, and she should know the secret. Seven years glided away, and a day or two since, when conscious that he must soon leave his wife for ever, he called her to his bed-side, and with his dying accents told her that the hour had at last come when she should see the words upon the ring she had given him. The young mother took it from his cold finger, and, though heart-stricken with grief, eagerly read the words "I HAVE LOVED THEE ON EARTH-I WILL MEET THEE IN HEAVEN.” WHAT IS LIFE? What is life-in youth's warm eye? 'Tis a sea of joy and pleasure. Life, the busy worldling cries, Life, the soberer sages say, Th' expansive energies of thought. Life, cries he whose hopes are fled, But would'st thou truly know that way The wisest counsellor is God. Learn from his word this sacred truth, With love to him true life begins; To hunt the fleeting joys of earth, But when the soul, through him who died, What tho' the sensual crowd contemn What though their vain and wanton breath Lo! in their train stalk hell and death, The soul (though impious scorners laugh) To know the God who gave his Son Who paid the debt, who bore the curse, J. B. should know the secret. Seven years glided away, and a day or two since, when conscious that he must soon leave his wife for ever, he called her to his bed-side, and with his dying accents told her that the hour had at last come when she should see the words upon the ring she had given him. The young mother took it from his cold finger, and, though heart-stricken with grief, eagerly read the words "I HAVE LOVED THEE ON EARTH-I WILL MEET THEE IN HEAVEN.” WHAT IS LIFE? What is life-in youth's warm eye? Tis a thing of boundless measure, "Tis a sea of joy and pleasure. Life, the busy worldling cries, Life, the soberer sages say, Th' expansive energies of thought. Life, cries he whose hopes are fled, But would'st thou truly know that way The wisest counsellor is God. Learn from his word this sacred truth, With love to him true life begins; |