which belongs to the world. We forgot that old proverb, that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure-that that is the truest wisdom which advises the overcoming of the beginnings of evil. It may cost us less seeming labour to "push aside" the boy who stands at the corner of the street on the Sabbath, with an oath on his lips, than to put forth a little extra effort to get him into a Sabbath-school, and teach him, by the divine blessing, to keep the fourth commandment. But he is not yet a formid able evil to society, and so is left to float down with the current of vice-to continue his growth in sin, and reach his manhood steeped in habits of evil, and fixed in a position that may work the ruin of more than one soul. Speaking after the manner of men, greater efforts will then have to be made to save him, to overcome his power for evil. Surely, if the Church were wise there would not be such an apathy of feeling in regard to the moral condition of the destitute children of our city, and our land. Their claims upon its sympathy and labours would meet a more generous response.

When I was in Berlin, I went into the public prison, and visited every part of the establishment. At last I was introduced to a very large hall, which was full of children, with their books and teachers, and having the appearance of a Prussian school-room. "What!" said I, " is it possible that all these children are imprisoned here for crime?" "O, no," said my conductor, smiling at my simplicity, "but if a parent is imprisoned for crime, and on that account his children are left destitute of the means of education, and are likely to grow up in ignorance and crime, the government places them here, and maintains and educates them for useful employment." This was a new idea to me. I know not that it has ever been suggested in the United States; but surely it is the duty of the government, as well as its highest interest, when a man is paying the penalty of his crimes in a public prison, to see that his unoffending children are not left to suffer and inherit their father's vices. Surely it would be better for the child, and cheaper as well as better for the state. Let it not be supposed that a man will go to prison for the sake of leaving his children to be taken care of-for those who go to prison usually have little regard for their children. If they had, the discipline of the Berlin prison would soon sicken them of such a bargain.-Professor Stowe.

"I would rather be taxed for the education of the boy, than the ignorance of the man. For one or the other I am compelled to be."

REASONS WHY ERROR IS PERMITTED.

(From the Works of Andrew Fuller.) WHY is it that the beauty of the Christian Church is suffered to be marred and its peace invaded by a succession of perpetual discords? This is an awful subject; and if we were left to our own conjectures upon it, it would be our wisdom to leave it to the great day when all things will be made manifest: but we

are not. The Scriptures of truth inform us that "there must needs be heresies, that they who are approved may be made manifest."

All the influences to which we are exposed, in the present life, are adapted to a state of probation, and to do us good or harm according to the state of mind which we possess. We are not only fearfully made, but as fearfully situated. The evidence in favour of true religion is sufficient for a candid mind, but not for one that is disposed to cavil. If we attend to it simply to find out truth and obey it, we shall not be disappointed; but if our souls be lifted up within us, the very Rock of salvation will be to us a stone of stumbling. The Jews required a sign in their own way: "Let him come down from the cross," said they, "and we will believe him." If he had publicly risen from the dead, say modern unbelievers, none could have doubted it. Yet he neither came down from the cross nor rose publicly from the dead; and let them say, if they please, that he could not, and that all his miracles were the work of imposture. It may be our duty, as much as in us lies, to cut off occasion from them who desire occasion; but God often acts otherwise. They who desire a handle to renounce the Gospel shall have it. Thus it is that men are tried by false doctrine, and even by the immoralities of professing Christians.

The visible kingdom of Christ is a floor containing a mixture of wheat and chaff; and every false doctrine is a wind, which He, whose fan is in his hand, of characters who profess to receive the truth, on makes use of to purge it. There are great numbers whom, notwithstanding, it never sat easily. Its holy and humbling nature galls their spirits. In such cases, the mind is prepared to receive any represen- '{ tation of the Gospel, however fallacious, that may comport with its desires; and being thus averse to the truth, God, in just judgment, frequently suffers the winds of false doctrine to sweep them away. Such is the account prophetically given of the chief instruments in the Romish apostasy. The introduction of that mystery of iniquity is thus described: "Whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

Not only is false doctrine permitted, that it may sweep away hypocritical characters, but the discordance which appears among the professors of Christianity is itself a temptation to many, and that in divers ways. Some, who consider themselves as alwith a plea for intolerance and persecution. In this most if not altogether infallible, are hereby furnished way it operated much in former ages, and a portion of it is still prevalent among us. You see, say they, whither this liberty of conscience will lead men. If they be left to themselves, and form their own notions of religion, there will be no end to their errors and divisions, and to the sects that will arise out of them.

Others, on the same ground, have rejected all religion. You cannot agree, say they, as to what is truth: settle it among yourselves before you attempt to trouble us with it. Very well: if you can satisfy your consciences with this evasion, do so. It will not avail you at death or judgment. You will then be reminded that you did not reason thus in things to which your hearts were inclined; but applied with all your powers, and used every possible means, to ascertain the truth for yourselves, and acted accordingly. On your own principles, therefore, will you be judged.

Others, who have not gone these lengths, have yet been tempted to despair of finding out what is the true religion. Amidst the opposition of opinion which continually presents itself before us, say they, how are we, plain people, to judge and act? If you mean to intimate that it is vain for you to concern yourselves about it, that is the same as saying, it is vain to attempt anything that is accompanied with difficulties, or to walk in any way that is attended with temptations; and this would lead you to stand still in other things as well as in religion. But if it be the real desire of your soul to know the right way and walk in it, there is no reason to despair. Follow no man as your guide; but go to your Bible and your God, and there decide the question. You need not say in your heart, "Who shall ascend into heaven? or who shall descend into the deep?" The word is nigh thee. To read controversial books may, in many cases, be useful; but seldom when it is done with a view to decide the great question, What is the right way to everlasting life? A book, as well as a sermon, may be the means of affording such direction; but when the mind is in a state of suspense, it is beyond all comparison the safest to consult the oracles of God. To launch into controversy, without having obtained satisfaction on the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, is to put to sea in a storm without a rudder. One great reason why men are carried about with divers and strange doctrines" is their "hearts are not established with grace." They have no principles of their own, and therefore are carried away with anything that wears the appearance of plausibility.

But one of the worst inferences drawn from the discordant doctrines which abound in the world is, that doctrine itself is of little or no account. As intolerance and bigotry, under the specious name of zeal, distinguished former ages; so sceptical indifference, under the specious names of candour, liberality, and moderation, distinguishes this. This is the grand temptation, perhaps, of the present times. It would seem as if men must either fight for truth with carnal weapons, or make peace with error; either our religious principles must be cognizable by human legislators, or they are neither good nor evil, and God himself must not call us to account for them; either we must call men masters upon earth, or deny that we have any master, even in heaven.

It is a favourite principle with unbelievers, and with many professing Christians who verge towards them, that error not only has its seat in the mind, but that it is purely intellectual, and therefore innocent. Hence they plead against all Church censures, and every degree of unfavourable opinion on account of doctrinal sentiments, as though it were a species of persecution. But if the causes of error be principally moral, it will follow that such conclusions are as contrary to reason as they are to Scripture.

The above remarks are far from being designed to cherish a spirit of bitterness against one another, as men, or as Christians. There is a way of viewing the corruption and depravity of mankind, so as to excite bitterness and wrath, and every species of evil temper; and there is a way of viewing them, that, without approving or conniving at what is wrong, shall excite the tear of compassion. It does not become us to declaim against the wickedness of the wicked in a manner as if we expected grapes of thorns or figs of thistles; but while we prove ourselves the decided friends of God, to bear good-will to men. It becomes those who may be the most firmly established in the truth as it is in Jesus, to consider that a portion of the errors of the age, in all probability, attaches to them; and though it were otherwise, yet they are directed to carry it benevolently towards

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others who may err: "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God, peradventure, will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth."

Finally, There is an important difference between razing the foundation, and building upon that foundation a portion of wood, and hay, and stubble. It becomes us not to make light of either; but the latter may be an object of forbearance, whereas the former is not. With the enemies of Christ we ought, in religious matters, to make no terms; but towards his friends, though in some respects erroneous, it behoves us to come as near as it is possible to do, without a dereliction of principle. A truly Christian spirit will feel the force of such language as the following, and will act upon it: "All that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours, grace be unto them, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity!

THE SABBATH.

READ the following, and see the results of beginning the course of Sabbath desecration, which many Christian professors are now doing their best to bring upon our country ›—

1. AT ROME.

The profanation of the day of God is the practice of the pope. Thus although any one of the other six days would suit as well as the Sabbath to receive strangers visiting Rome, it is stated that the late pope often selected the day of rest for this purpose. The following is the testimony of a lady, who recently published a book of travels in New York:

"Persons requesting a presentation, send in their names through the proper authorities, their respective ambassadors, &c. It is made known to the pope, and when a sufficient number of names have been received, so that he can lump them, and go through with a good many at once, he names a day and hour for the ceremony. A friend who was with us, had letters from the highest Catholic authorities in Canada, the superior of the St. Sulspice, to the cardinal and clergy generally, here. These have acquired us greater facilities than we should otherwise have had. It was announced to us that we were to have an audience on Sabbath, at three P.M. A young Roman to whom we bore a letter of introduction, and who is the private secretary of the pope's secretary of state, was to present us to his holiness."

Thus did this old man, tottering on the brink of the grave, and pretending to be the vicegerent of Christ, give his official sanction to the crime of vio lating the sanctity of the Sabbath, God's appointed day of rest from worldly cares and pursuits, by converting it into a set day for seeing company. Of the manner in which the affair was managed, we have this narrative:

"We each bent the knee on entering; but he immediately motioned with his hands to have us rise and come forward. We obeyed, bending and bowing as awkward as stiff-necked republicans might be expected to do. Mr. - being in advance, knelt at his feet, but the pope reached out his hand to prevent him. He, however, not understanding it thus, took hold of it, and rising, gave it a hearty friendly shake, quite a la American. We were introduced severally by name, and the place each came from named. He then addressed each separately, asked questions, related anecdotes, was perfectly affable and easy, and quite garrulous; conversing in Italian, though he understands French."

II. AT NEW ORLEANS.

A very shocking exhibition of the violation of the ay of rest is found in the following illustration of he manner in which Roman Catholics keep the sacred day in New Orleans. A handbill was paraded n the streets, of which the following is a copy:"Philharmonic Ball Room. Orleans Street, opposite the Theatre, between Royal and Bourbon Streets, Sabbath, March 30th, 1845.-Grand Attraction!Catholic Orphans' Benefit.-A Grand Dress and Masked Quarteroon Ball. Doors open at 8 o'clock. Weapons are prohibited."

III. IN GERMANY.

In direct opposition to the laws and the intent of the Lord's-day, it is a season of worldliness and sin, with the single exception of the observance of public worship. Even the appropriate instructions of this day, in many places are superseded, and the teachings of the sanctuary accommodated to the maxims of the world and the spirit of the age. In the cities and large towns, in noise and bustle, it is hardly distinguished from the other days of the week, and scarcely recalling many even of the higher classes from their labour for the enjoyment of repose and worldly pleasures. The public officers of State, from the highest to the lowest, almost without exception, and in direct opposition to law, disregard the day.

The lower orders, even less restrained by the laws, imitate the demoralizing example of their superiors; and the more so, because the Lord's-day greatly increases their gains. Tobacconists, musicians, rumsellers, rope-dancers, and all those whose business it is to minister to the pleasures of men, respectively depend on Sabbath as the best day for the exercise of their craft. Accordingly every kind of business proceeds on this day as on any other, until suspended, so that the people may participate in the public amusements. The warehouses and stores are every where open; and the multitude of customers gives melancholy evidence that the tradesmen, in opening their shops, do but accommodate themselves to the spirit of the times. The noise of the work-shop, the rattling of machinery, the rumbling of mills, and the strokes of the steam-engine with its hoarse and heavy respirations, everywhere disturb the stillness of the sacred day, here, alas! hardly known even by name. Here is the blacksmith at his forge, and there a gang of labourers upon the scaffold. In one direction, they are busy in preparing their carriages for a party of pleasure; in another, is the teamster with his weary beast toiling at his load; and on every side the postcoaches, pressing eagerly on in their destined routes. At the sound of fife and drum, the people are running together at the corner of the streets to a beardance; the mendicant minstrel is wailing forth his music with his hand-organ in the courts and lanes; and multitudes of criers are calling out at the top of their voices, to draw the greedy crowd to come and taste of their dainties.

It is not enough that military parades, and public reviews of whole regiments, engross a great part of the day; not enough that the sound of the Sabbathbell mingles with the clang of martial music and the roar of cannon; but the din of business and the pursuit of pleasure so disturb the rest, and desecrate the

sacredness of this holy day, that what God ordained to be a blessing to man has been converted into a curse.-Bibliotheca Sacra.

IT IS A QUESTION.

A NUMBER of intimate friends being at dinner on the Lord's-day, one of the company, in order to prevent improper discourse, said, "It is a question whether

we shall all go to heaven or not." This plain expression occasioned a general seriousness and selfexamination. One thought, "If any of this company go to hell, it must be myself;" and so thought another and another. In short, it was afterwards found, that this sentence proved, by the special blessing of God upon it, instrumental to the conversion of several. || their conversation in heaven when in company! What an encouragement is this to Christians to have

LIFE'S PENDULUM.

Ar every swing of the pendulum a spirit goes into eternity. Between the rising and the setting of every sun, 43,000 souls are summoned before their Creator. Death is ever busy, night and day, at all seasons, and in all climes. True, as well as beautiful, are those lines of Mrs. Hemans

"Leaves have their time to fall,

And flowers to wither at the north-wind's breath,
And stars to set-but all,

Thou hast all seasons for thy own, O death!"

He is supplied with a boundless variety of darts and all the forms in which death comes to man be written arrows, with which he accomplishes his work. Could together, what a long and fearful catalogue would it make! Think of the innumerable number of diseases, all at the command of death. And, as though these were not sufficient, see how man is exposed to fatal accidents on every hand, and at every moment. It was a saying of Flavel, that "the smallest pore in the body is a door large enough to let in death." "The least gnat in the air," says the same writer, "may! choke one, as it did Adrian, a pope of Rome. A little hair in milk may strangle one, as it did a councillor in Rome. A little skin of a raisin may stop one's breath, as it did the lyric poet, Anacreon."