With regard to the altar, we know of no such thing. In a Christian place of worship, where praises ascend from the ground of the heart, the whole building is an altar. We consider the spot where we kneel, or stand, every whit as much an altar as the railed-off space at the east end of the church; and the spectacle of minister and congregation facing about to one point, at that part of the service, would be, in our eyes, ludicrous, if it was not a serious departure from the godly simplicity of spiritual worship. While the temple stood, there was warrant for the Jew turning towards it, as an expressive type of the Lord Jesus, yet for to come; but when the word was fulfilled, after the destruction and raising again of the real temple of His body, and the hour came when neither at Jerusalem or on the mountain of Samaria any peculiar worship should be paid, it was a strange recurrence to weak and beggarly elements to adopt this ceremony; even before the Romish church laid hold of it, perverting an unmeaning exercise into an act of execrable idolatry.

When will the Protestant Church of England find her members duly attentive to the rubrick of what many among them regard with almost superstitious reverence-the Book of Common Prayer? In that, we read nothing about altars: our reformers knew better. Ridley, the blessed martyr, pulled down a part of the wall in St. Paul's cathedral, to root out every scrap of Bonner's altar; and set, as was most fitting, a good honest table in the chancel. Edward's bishops and counsellors wielded a besom that swept both wide and clean: but Elizabeth was exceedingly cautious. She used the extreme of lenity towards the butchering prelates of Mary's days, and brought

the nation, in a prudent, politic sort of way, to back out of the idol temples, whence her glorious young brother would have boldly, though affectionately, chased them with the sword of the Spirit. This was worldly wisdom, and under its dictates several gewgaws were left to console the people for the loss of their darling abominations. In our day, we see what an advantage is hereby afforded to the adversary he is making those very 'altars' the steppingstones of farther advancement. He is restoring the popish candles, lighted at noon-day-meet types of the ecclesiastical illuminati who adopt them! By and by, he will just put up a crucifix, then bargain for the pix-and so back the deluded multitude in again, at the very doors by which Elizabeth backed them out.

In answer to our correspondent's last inquiry, we reply, that we curtsey neither to the east or to the west, to the north or south; neither to the communion-table, the pulpit, or the organ. But wè bend the knee and bow the head, in thankful adoration of the Deity of HIM whose miracle of condescending, suffering, ransoming love, we are then verbally acknowledging. When we declare with our lips that we believe Jesus Christ to be very man, we, at the same moment of time, avow by our action that we know Him to be very God. We take our lesson, neither from the temple-worship of Jerusalem or the fire-worship of Persia. But we wish to join that mighty company who say, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the LAMB for ever and ever, Amen:" and with the triumphant church in heaven we would fall down and worship Him who liveth for ever and ever.-EDITOR.

66

THE LAW OF KINDNESS.

Is not this peculiarly a day of religious privileges ? Was there ever a period since the world began, in which scripture knowledge more abounded? How manifold are the swift messengers sent forth daily from the press, especially in this favoured land, the object of which is to simplify and illustrate revealed truth; addressing not alone the deep and anxious mind of the theological professor, but attracting with suitable instruction every variety of disposition, every grade in society, every class in age and attainment, down to the infants of the poor. And yet, have we not the most painful evidence afforded to us, on every side, that many of the plainest injunctions of God's word are fearfully neglected. Public attention is often called to the necessity and duty of cultivating for God the vast field of the world; and far, indeed, would we be from even appearing to check this noble Christian effort: but while we have reason to know that in many essential points our own vineyard is too frequently neglected, surely it is our bounden duty to devote some portion of our labour again and again to call home the attention of our hearers, to subjects which, from their very proximity, are apt to be overlooked; and thus to fulfil the apostle's injunction, "Exhorting one another daily, while it is called to-day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." This being my

object, the present paper is directed to the regulation of that unruly member, which St. James declares to be "full of deadly poison." I enter not into the vast catalogue of positive evil which it inflicts upon the world. The absence of one virtue, namely, the law of kindness, and the important advantages its exercise would confer, will amply employ the present time and space.

We may confess with shame and confusion of face, that there are but few amongst us, of whom it could not with truth be affirmed, as of the virtuous woman in the book of Proverbs, " And in her tongue is the law of kindness." I allude not to that portion of society devoted to the things of time and sense, who are thoughtlessly carried forward in the giddy mazes of vanity and folly; of these it is proverbially true, that their flattering words of falsehood but ill conceal beneath the language of fashionable politeness, the sentiments of hearts hateful and hating one another. To expect that the law of kindness should regulate the conversation of such persons, would be as unreasonable as to seek" to gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles;" but we may take up a lamentation for those, who, I verily believe, have themselves experienced the kindness and love of God our Saviour; for those who have been called out of darkness into marvellous light, and who are therefore bound by the most sacred ties of obligation, to show forth the virtues of Him who hath so called them. Yes, and while I write, I feel the arrow of conviction in my own heart. We are all verily guilty in this matter; for such then we will take up our lamentation, and it shall be for a lamentation; and

1 Margin of our Bibles.

if our head were waters, and our eyes a fountain of tears, we might weep day and night for the daughter of our people, that there is so seldom found upon our tongues "the law of kindness."

And yet this exceedingly important duty, and very lovely grace of the Christian character is enjoined in the word of God, in intimate connection with our highest and holiest privileges. "Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering." "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking, be put away from you, with all malice, and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you." "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind; let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind; let each esteem others better than himself, not rendering railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing." for even hereunto are ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing." "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile and hypocrises, and envies, and all evil-speakings, as new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby; if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious."

Such are some of the precepts of scripture, bearing on this subject; and if we could follow the Christian through all the relative duties of life, we should find, upon the most careful examination, his usefulness impeded, and his happiness interrupted, just in the