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a hopeful preparation for, and a fitting introduction to, a life of wisdom, holiness, and peace.

In conclusion, let parents and teachers consider their responsibility, as superintending the formation of character in the young. They have a prodigiously important trust in hand; and all their schemes and labours should distinctly manifest that they are alive to this fact. Let the young themselves awake to the obligation of rightly improving the precious season allotted for education, and now fleeting so rapidly away; and, above all, let them be careful to listen to the voice of God, proclaiming in his Word, that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Never can they learn with so much ease and proficiency as now; and their study should be, to learn the best things, and to learn them with diligence and care. Let Christians every where awake to the com

and inquire. The parent and teacher have not to make their audience,-their audience is made to their hands. A few years later, and the patient inquiring child may have become the conceited and opinionative youth,-obstinate and froward in proportion to his ignorance; a wise judge, in his own estimation, of life and its objects; most probably the slave of passions, which blind his reason, and corrupt all his tastes. Soon, very soon, especially in large cities, the teachableness of his early years passes away. The quiet submissive habits of home are broken up; a rebellious spirit is engendered; a taste for licentious freedom of thought and expression is formed; and, even before there is any violent outbreaking of temper in the presence of the parent or the teacher, there is, in many instances, a sullen immovable imperviousness to instruction, which renders the utmost diligence and care unavailing. How neces-manding claims of the religious education of the sary, how important then, when the young are teachable, to teach them well,-to establish great truths in their appropriate ascendancy in the mind, -to accustom the mind to contemplate life and its objects through the light that streams from them, -to bend the will to compliance with holiness, justice, and charity,-to stock the heart with pure and lofty principles, so that when the time of conflict with the world and its temptations arrives, it may be as a well-armed garrison, prepared to repel the assaults of the besiegers?

3. In the third place, in childhood and in youth, the power of habit may be made to subserve the maintenance of sound principles, and the practice of virtue. You all know the power of habit. It has been proverbially and emphatically termed a second nature. It binds, as with an iron chain. Too many have cause to lament, that having been allowed, at an early period, to give a bias and direction to the mind toward what is evil, it now fearfully increases the difficulties of duty, and renders it, in many instances, a painful and harassing conflict.

A great part of life has literally been spent in confirming the natural indisposition of the heart to attend to spiritual interests and claims; and now that the conviction of the truth has flashed with corresponding vividness on their minds, it is like rending asunder the very constitution of their nature, to follow out the new impulses to which they have been awakened. They resemble the man in the Gospel, out of whom our Lord cast the dumb spirit, which only came out, after it had torn and rent him sore, so that he was as one dead. To prevent this as much as possible,-to bring the power of habit to bear on what is good, as in such cases it has been allowed to bear on what is evil, we should strive to begin early; we should use every mean, and resort to every expedient, to turn the current of the mind towards the great aims of life, that, by the right bending of the twig, we may give a wise and proper inclination to the tree. Thus, enlightened views, and virtuous conduct, will grow with the growth, and strengthen with the strength of the individual; and youth, with its manifold advantages improved, will form

young. Other means of doing good are not to be neglected; but this should occupy a very high and prominent place. "Educate, educate!" is a voice that comes from every corner of the land on the ear of patriotism; and that education may accomplish its lofty end, in forming the character, and preparing for a holy and spiritual life, the Bible must be its basis, and eternity the sole boundary of its aims.

THE DIALOGUE.

BY WILLIAM E. AYTOUN, ESQ.,
Author of "Poland, and other Poems."
WAKING from a dream of transient pleasure,
Thus the soul unto the body cries,-
"Have thy lusts and wantonness no measure?
Wilt thou still my warning voice despise?"
"Get thee to thy rest

Thou vexatious guest;
Time enough it is to-morrow to be wise."
"Tell me, wayward friend, whence comes to-morrow?
This was to-morrow to thy yesterday;
Even then I woke thee with my sorrow,
And I heard thee promise to obey.'

"Peace, I pray thee, peace!

These dull warnings cease,

Time enough remains for us to watch and pray." "Time! alas, my friend, thou little knowest

Whether God shall give thee hours or years; In the grave-the place to which thou goestPenitence avails thee not, nor tears."

"Leave this doleful mood,

He is kind and good,

Come we soon or late, it matters not, He hears." "O, my friend! on me at least have pity!

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Time shall die, but I must still endure;
Let me not approach the heavenly city
Thus unclean, and tainted, and impure!
!"
Soul, thou needst not fear!
Thou art fresh and clear;
Many will pass in with darker robes, be sure."
"Falsely, O thou body, hast thou spoken!
I must reap whatever thou hast sown;
Wouldst thou have me seek no other token
Than a vain assurance of thine own?"

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Why, what wouldst thou have?
I am young and brave;

Wilt thou never leave me, restless soul, alone?”

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In the spring of 1838, efforts were made to ascertain how far the humbler classes of the metropolis were supplied with the Holy Scriptures. About one hundred and twenty-one thousand and eighty houses, inhabited by upwards of seven hundred thousand persons, have since been visited; and it appears that thirty-five thousand three hundred and ninety-three families, consisting of about one hundred and seventy-five thousand persons -a population greater than that of Birmingham and Coventry-had not a page of the Word of God. It appears that one person, aged about eighty years, has been destitute upwards of seventy years; about forty families have been destitute from fifty to seventy years; fifty-two families between forty and fifty years; two hundred and twenty-four families between thirty and forty years; one thousand one hundred and sixty families between twenty and thirty years; three thousand one hundred and sixty families between ten and twenty years, six thousand and eighty-four families between five and ten years; eighteen thousand four hundred and twenty families between one and five years; and upwards of six thousand families never had any part of the Scriptures in their possession!

The ignorance frequently displayed of the name and contents of the Scriptures is scarcely credible. Many persons inquired what was meant by a Bible or a Testament; and some, when asked if they had either, replied that they had, but then produced some other publication. Education, in many districts, is fearfully neglected; yet out of about one hundred and nineteen thousand six hundred and thirty names reported, sixty-seven thousand two hundred persons, or nearly four-sevenths

of them, can read the Word of God.

It is truly gratifying to state, that in connection with hese inquiries, the committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society resolved to prepare an edition of the New Testament and Psalter in one volume, and to supply the existing destitution by means of the Bible associations and other institutions formed for the benefit of London. Care has also been taken to prevent an improper use of this bounty by even the most reckless. In addition to the extreme cheapness of the gift, the mark of the society is stamped on the outside, the titlepage, and the last leaf, so that were there an intention to dispose of it, it must be greatly mutilated, and would thus be rendered unsaleable. Every pawnbroker in the metropolis has likewise been apprised of the circumstances of the case, and guarded against lending on any copy the smallest sum.

The distribution, so far as it has proceeded, has furnished cause for satisfaction and gratitude. The Scriptures have generally been received with much thank

fulness. There are, however, instances of a different class, chiefly among Roman Catholics; yet many of these have gladly received the Word of God. A desire to possess the entire Scriptures has caused a considerable increase in the number of subscribers for them, and this result, it is fully expected, will become more and more apparent.

The cost of this supply of London will be about five thousand pounds, and for about twenty-five thousand pounds every family in the cities, towns, and villages of our country may receive the same boon. The proposal to give the Scriptures to every negro who could read, in our West Indian colonies, on the day of emancipation, excited great interest, and was carried into full effect; and we hope, before many months have elapsed, to record that a similar boon has been conferred on the whole population of England.

CHRISTIAN TREASURY.

Christ walking on the Sea." He came unto them walking on the sea." What a wonderful instance of his suspending one of the first, and most prevailing laws of nature-the principle of gravitation. We are too much in the habit of speaking of the properties of matter as essential and inalienable, as if any of the laws which prevail in the wide universe around us, were so fixed and irrevocable as to be independent of the great Creator. But the history before us should check us in the use of such unqualified language as this. The laws of nature are the laws of Nature's God; not the laws by which he is governed, but by which he governs: and he who first implanted in created matter its several properties, and ordained those great and universal principles by which he has cemented, and sustains in perfect harmony the produce of his power, can change, control, reverse, or modify any of these, whenever a great effect is to be exhibited for the promotion of his own glory, or the advancement of the happiness and welfare of his intelligent creation.-Rev. DANIEL BAGOT. (The Disciples in the Storm.)

Doctrine and Practice. That knowledge of doctrine which does not endear the preceptive part of God's word, only hardens the heart and leads to every degree

of evil. The man who knows the doctrine and does not honour the precept, is in the most awful state of all. HOWELS.

The Second Death. This is the death threatened

in the law! This is dying in the highest sense of the

word.

This is to die sensibly; to die and know it; to be sensible of the gloom of death! This is to be undone; this is worthy of the name of destruction. This sinking of the soul under an infinite weight which it cannot bear is the gloom of hell.-EDWARDS.

THE CONVERSION OF JEWS ON THE CONTINENT OF EUROPE. FROM the Report for last year of the Missionaries of the London Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews, it would appear that in various instances these devoted men have been eminently successful in convincing the Jews of the truth and divine authority of the Christian faith. We give, as an example, the case of a Polish Jew in Warsaw, extracted from a letter of one of the Missionaries, the Rev. F. W. Becker.

"The father of a Jewish youth from Brzezin, who had come hither in order to fetch back his son, who had been in the Institution for proselytes several weeks since, and received Christian instruction, could be spoken to in a friendly manner, about the salvation which is only to be found in Christ, and which salvation the son was in earnest to obtain; having already, for the

second time, left the paternal house for this purpose. | Opportunities were also afforded for conversations with the parents, and especially with the mother of a scholar of the Rabbinical school here, who had been baptized during the past year; and likewise with other Jews, who were either addressed in the streets and in their shops, or who used to come to the Missionaries in their house. The best opportunity, however, for conversation and discussion, was caused by the reception of a Jewish teacher into the mission-house, and the subsequent stir amongst the Jews in this town, which lasted many weeks,-i. e., from Good Friday to Pentecost, the Jews trying every means to draw him back from his purpose to become a Christian. This man married at the age of thirty-six, and God blessed him with two children, as also with the means for supporting himself and his family, having a school consisting of forty boys. He came, after having heard many years since of the missionary operations amongst his brethren in this place, last year (1837) for the first time to the mission-house some days before Christmas, in order to hear and see more about the mission. The proofs of the truth of the Christian religion which were laid before him, and especially the predictions of the prophets, of the promised Redeemer who had appeared in Christ Jesus, excited in him the desire to be more instructed in the matter; for which purpose he made use of the late hours which his calling allowed him, to visit the Missionaries several times in the week, from which he suffered neither the great distance of his dwelling, nor the severest cold, nor even the abuse which he, on that account, had to bear from the brothers of his wife, to hinder him. At these visits he was always present at the family worship in the mission-house; a part of the New Testament was read with him in Hebrew, and explained to him with reference to the Old, and on the whole a Christian religious instruction was imparted to him. He learned, at the same time, to read and write Ger

man.

After having, through the mercy of God, obtained the requisite knowledge and conviction of the truth, he repeated towards Easter his wish, already formerly expressed, now to separate entirely from the Jews. The reception in the mission-house being granted him, he left his school and friends on Maundy-Thursday, April 12, and came to the Missionaries with his eldest son, a boy of six years old. This excited a great number of Jews to come into the mission-house, which they almost stormed. For scarcely had his wife been informed by the Missionaries of the abode of her husband and child in the mission-house, in order to save her from anxiety as to what had become of them, when she came there and attacked him with the most urgent entreaties to come back with her. He had formerly discovered nothing to his wife of his intention, out of a well-grounded fear of being hindered therefrom, and to avoid abuse, wishing to win her to the truths of Christianity at this meeting, which he could foresee. But she was at first by no means to be pacified, and made to hear quietly what was told her of it. Going away she was allowed to take her child, which was weeping after her, along with her, in order not to increase her pain, as the father is able to claim his right to his son afterwards at any time. As by and by many Jews came to the missionhouse besides his brethren and sisters, the Missionaries had blessed opportunities to speak with them all of the truth of Christianity freely and explicitly, whereby Nachtstern (this is the name of the teacher,) upon whom the eyes of all were fixed, boldly, yet with meekness, confessed his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Redeemer. On many Saturdays when the number of Jews was especially large, conversations were held with them sometimes in three or four different places; in the prayer-room, in the passage, and in the yard. Many came repeatedly, among whom were some of the sect of the Chasidim, and several learned Jews from the

country. There were also, at their request, tracts, and especially a number of New Testaments in the Hebrew and Jewish language, distributed among them. Of the result of these labours the writer can indeed say no more than that it effected at least so much good that many spoke in a much milder spirit about Christianity, and heard with quietness the proofs for it; yet it is to be hoped that the fruit will not altogether fail, though perhaps it may not be seen before eternity entirely reveals it. During the summer and autumn the wife of Nachtstern visited him often with several of his relations, especially on a Saturday, yet, seeming to be very much under the influence of the Jews, she has lately applied to the law for divorce.

Our next extract is taken from a letter dated Bres

law, January 17, of the present year, and contains a very interesting account of the baptism of a learned

Israelite :

"While I am writing this, I receive the joyful in telligence that the Lord has blessed my labours, and has crowned them with a success promising as it does to be of great consequence. At the head of the would-be Reformed Jews, was a very learned Jew, father of a family, who received his first education in a Jewish school, myself being his preceptor; perceiving in him diligence and talents, I encouraged his studies, and endeavoured in every way possible to support him, as he himself was without means. He attended the gymnasium, visited the university, and acquired great learning there, especially as to the Latin language, in such a degree that he now intends to publish a very learned Latin dictionary, the fir part of which is already finished. He received alsa the doctor's degree, and, having given the proof of his abilities as required by Government, he was by the Jews appointed teacher at the same school where he obtained his first education. I now endeavoured to work upon his mind, and to convince him that to love Christ is more than all knowledge, and that the doctrines of rabbinism shut up the way of truth, &c. By repeated discussions, I was by the grace of God enabled to open to his view the perniciousness of rabbin ism, but yet not to the necessity of what we must do to be saved. But I waited in faith, and hoped in the Lord that he would remove the veil from the eyes also of this son of Abraham. The schism breaking out among the Jews in Breslaw, Dr F. placed himself at the head of the enlightened Jews, and pleaded their cause both here and at Berlin before the ministry. I endeavoured to convince Dr F., that if he confessed rabbinism to be an evil, he ought to read the Holy Scriptures with prayer to the God of his fathers, and that he would perceive that Christ is the end and aim of the law, and that "there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved, than Jesus Christ.' Often did it seem to me as if the words fell in good ground. But, alas! the pride and learned fancy to make to himself a religion in the nineteenth century, choked the good seed. Yet, I left not off working upon his heart, and lo! the Lord did not let the words pronounced in his name return void. Dr F. was converted, confessed publicly the doctrine of our Lord Jesus, and was by holy baptism received into the new covenant. Thus the Lord does often bless our feeble endeavours, even before we do expect it. This event, even in itself rejoicing, will certainly by the help of the Lord be of great consequence."

Published by JOHN JOHNSTONE, 2, Hunter Square, Edinburgh; J. R. MACNAIR, & Co., 19, Glassford Street, Glasgow; JAMES NISBET & Co., HAMILTON, ADAMS, & Co., and R. GROOMBRIDGE, London; W. CURRY, Junr. & Co., Dublin; and W. M'COMB, Belfast; and sold by the Booksellers and Local Agents in all the Towns and Parishes of Scotland; and in the principal Towns in England and

Ireland.

Subscribers will have their copies delivered at their Residences.

THE

SCOTTISH CHRISTIAN HERALD,

CONDUCTED UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENCE OF MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH.

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BY THE COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, FOR PROMOTING THE RELIGIOUS INTERESTS OF SCOTTISH PRESBYTERIANS IN THE BRITISH COLONIES.

DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN,-In the interesting circumstances in which you are placed, preparing to leave for a lengthened period, and many of you perhaps for ever, your native shores, -we, the Committee of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, appointed to watch over the religious interests of Scottish Settlers in the British Colonies, present ourselves before your notice, to address to you some words of parting counsel, to give you our blessing, and to bid you a long farewell. Your wellbeing has occupied much of our attention. We have exerted ourselves to the uttermost to make provision that, upon your reaching your destination, you should have an opportunity of attending upon Gospel ordinances, in the same form as in your native country, and that during your voyage you should have the benefit of a religious instructor; -in cases where we have failed in the attainment of these objects, we have prepared a code of regulations or suggestions, copies of which will be placed in your hands, or brought under your notice; as individuals we have you continually upon our hearts before a Throne of Grace ;-at our stated meetings we unite in our supplications in your behalf; we would desire, were it in our power, to see you face to face ere you leave us; but as this may not be, we embrace the present form of giving you a final greeting, and pour forth the fulness of our hearts in this Address.

Coming before you with a friendly purpose, there are particulars in your situation that lead us to hope for a favourable hearing. In the circumstances in which you are placed, there is much to solemnise the mind. The change that is before you all is too great not to make a deep impression. Where so many ties are to be broken-when friends and acquaintances are to be parted from, never to be met again till you stand together before the Judgment-Seat,-with all the hazards No. 22. JUNE 1, 1839.-1d.]

of a long voyage in immediate prospect, the hearts of all must for a time be softened; reflection must force itself even upon the most thoughtless, disposing them to pay at least some regard to religion, and to those who speak of religion. The whole of your earthly existence must at this time be brought under your view. Every tender recollection of the past is forced before you in strange contrast with the dim uncertainties of the future. Your relation to earth itself as pilgrims and strangers can scarcely be overlooked. And the leave you take of your native land must shadow forth your launching into the ocean of eternity. Let us beseech you not to allow so awakening a period to pass unimproved. When your souls are stirred to their depths,-when they are allowed no longer to settle upon their lees,when they are forced out of the ordinary habitudes in which we are so prone to sink into forgetfulness, you can no longer plead the excuse of want of warning. God worketh with the souls of men in trying times, and in momentous eras of their existence. He seals by extraordinary providences upon their souls the instructions of his Word. There is a special responsibility in being placed in circumstances untried and exciting. And while your feelings are all called forth, and your hearts are moved and melted, you are to seek that they may take an impress of the characters of eternity.

The emotions which may be thus excited you will have an opportunity of cherishing during the long voyage that is before you. In the many weeks or months that are to be spent by you upon the watery deep, you will be freed from your ordinary labours; you will find the mind itself delivered for a time from its former cares; and a period will be given, such as many of you never enjoyed before, and may never enjoy again, for communing with your own hearts, and attending to the things that pertain to your eternal peace, SECOND SERIES. VOL. I

Here again we would earnestly exhort you to avail yourselves of the opportunity that will thus be afforded. We would urge you to improve the resting time from your ordinary avocations, in spiritual exercises ;-to occupy the solemn pause that Providence ordains ere you can plunge into your projected occupations, in the work of selfexamination, of faith, of repentance, of purposes of new obedience, to devote the many hours that will be wholly at your own disposal to acquainting yourselves with God. . You have his Word in your hands, and time to peruse it; you have the azure heavens for a temple; and the voice that the mighty deep sends forth from all its multitude of waves calls upon you to worship God.

But while there are many advantages in your situation which, by the Divine blessing, may be improved to your everlasting benefit, we are well aware that there are snares and perils too. The bustle and stir in which you are involved in preparing for embarkation, are in danger of absorbing all your thoughts. The very greatness of the changes that pass before your eyes, calculated as these changes are to teach that all in this world is vanity, is yet, by the deceitfulness of the human heart, the means of binding many the more firmly to the fleeting scene. And, amidst a multiplicity of avocations-your footsteps hurried from place to place,―your ears stunned by new and discordant sounds, your eyes bewildered by constantly changing sights, many of you may be in danger of requesting us to leave you till a more convenient season. But now is the accepted time-now is the day of salvation. Before you commit yourselves to the dangers of the deep, you are called upon to commit yourselves to His care who has the winds and the waves in his control. If you neglect the present, what security have we that the future will be better improved? In the period of repose of which we spake, Satan can find his advantage. Idleness brings its thousand snares. Intemperance and licentiousness present a ready resource to the abandoned; and according to the different characters of men, there may be jesting and foolish talking, which are not convenient, or bitterness and wrath, anger, and malice, and evil speaking. We would put you all upon your guard against the temptations which the great adversary of souls will present to you in these respects; for we are not ignorant of his devices. To prevent the evils arising from the distraction of mind occasioned by the presence of a crowd on the one hand, and the vacancy arising from want of settled employment on the other, we would recommend you to form a plan for the distribution of your time, and to adhere to it with undeviating regularity. Let stated portions be set apart every day for reading the Word of God, for meditation, and for prayer. In observing these duties, you will secure for yourselves the benefits of solitude in the midst of a crowd; and their right improvement will spread a sanctifying influence over all the other portions of the day. Forced as you

may be into proximity with men of various characters, shun all familiar intercourse with the thoughtless and ungodly. Steadily resist from the first every solicitation they address to you to engage in any relaxation or pastime that may lead to excess. Set a watch before your mouths; keep the door of your lips. Be swift to hear; slow to speak; slow to wrath. Hold communion with those whose fellowship is with God. Be ready for every good work; but be not obtrusive in your services. Walk in wisdom towards them that are without. Give no offence to any, and be at peace one with another.

Upon reaching your destination, the cares of life will again return. A new world, and a new course of duties and anxieties, will be in danger of engrossing all your regards. And this makes it the more necessary that the opportunities of your long voyage should be well improved, so that you should enter upon the new scene in a right spirit; that while ready, diligently to engage, in whatever sphere of active duty Providence may open up to you, the kingdom of God and his righteousness may still be your first object; and that in the event of your schemes being frustrated, and your hopes deferred, you may cast all your care upon Him who careth for you.

Let your inquiries be immediately directed to your opportunities of attending upon the public. ordinances of religion. Where there is a minister of the Gospel within your reach, be regular in your attendance upon his ministrations; if of your own communion, place yourselves in connection with him, and esteem him very highly in love for his work's sake. If otherwise, still if he holds the pillar and ground of the truth, do not let a difference of outward forms be made a pretext for neglecting the means of grace, but observe them, though in an unwonted form, knowing that the same Spirit worketh in all,-in the hope that the Lord, in his own time, will send you a teacher after your own heart.

If removed from all possibility of joining in the public services of the sanctuary, still," Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy." There will be many temptations to encroach upon its sanctity, and to make it undistinguished from other days of the week; but bear in mind the holy Law of God; bear in mind the example of the land you have left behind you; and though no Sabbath bell reach you in your solitude, and no village spire be seen pointing to heaven, let the remembrance of the time when you went to the house of God in company with them that kept holy day, awaken the longings of your heart after the courts of God's house, and lead you to put your trust in that God who is not confined to temples made with hands, and who is present with them who remember His Sabbath, though far from His Sanctuary. When you cannot assemble under the care of a duly appointed minister of the Lord, you may, to a certain extent, derive the benefits of social worship by meeting with those of your neighbourhood, for the purposes of reading the

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