walketh with wise men shall himself | advisable to unite with some fellowbe wise, but a companion of fools shall Christian in such undertaking. The be destroyed." Let your delight be, present state of society at large, and as was the Psalmist's, with the excel- of the religious world in particular, lent of the earth. Even among the presents many opportunities of this people of God, however, there is a kind; the harvest is more than suffigreat diversity of character and habits. cient for the labourers. Schools, workCultivate the society of those among ing societies, clothing societies, benevolent them who are zealous, enlightened, and district-visiting societies, missionary and prudent, and avoid the censorious. societies, and many others, will furnish The choice of books, the companions ample occupation for all who are wilof your solitude, is scarcely less im- ling to engage in them. Such pursuits portant. As the pleasantest man is will tend greatly to correct the innate not always the most useful companion, selfishness of our corrupt nature, and so neither are the most amusing books. to enlarge and warm the heart with Some kinds of books only weaken and Christian love. But as we are too apt dissipate the mind, and unfit it for any in the performance of one duty to serious occupation. Cultivate a taste neglect another, let us be on our guard, for the acquisition of KNOWLEDGE. This that while busily engaged in promoting advice I would tender, not to the young the good of others, we may not be demen only, but to the other sex. Indeclining in spirituality of mind ourpendently of the pleasure to be derived selves, and growing cold in our love from it, and its importance as a pre- to the Saviour, or losing our hold of servative from many temptations to the truth as it is in Jesus. I have which unemployed or misapplied time known several, especially young ladies, exposes us, it fits us for more extensive who, under the influence of Christian usefulness, and especially in regard to principles, as it seemed, drew the adthe rising generation. Were this more miration of many, by their zeal in generally attended to, how much more visiting the poor, and reading for them, numerous, and how much more effi- and praying with them; or by their cient, would be the Bible reading, and bustling activity in connection with the missionaries sent out from our some useful institution, have gained: churches, both in our own vicinity for themselves no little distinction. and for more distant fields of labour! They have, perhaps, felt some pleasure How many Phebes would arise in our in the performance of the duty itself, churches, whom even an apostle would and still more gratified in the applause not disdain to own as his fellow-la- it has procured for them; God has been bourers in the Lord, who might instruct forgotten as the end of their actions; the young, counsel the middle-aged, and the heart, debased by the influence and succour the aged; and through of low motives, has become cold in its whose wise and affectionate assistance, spiritual affections; the truth, in part many of the difficulties and unplea- at least, has been lost sight of, and the santnesses might be averted or suc- way prepared for the reception of any cessfully treated, which the elders and plausible error, if only of a sufficiently deacons of our churches have often exciting nature. In youth, more espefound to be very embarrassing. Such cially, ardent feelings give activity to exercises would be found to be very the imagination, and this again reacts beneficial, and would abundantly re- upon and inflames the passions, which ward for whatever time and labour are too ready to break through the might be expended upon them; and restraints of reason and conscience. would tend greatly to raise the tone of Let us, therefore, be very watchful piety in the whole church. Indeed, over our thoughts and feelings; for each one of you would find it very "the thought of foolishness is sin." advantageous to set yourselves, with With this view it is useful to have purpose of mind, to carry on some always some pursuit in hand that we scheme of usefulness that shall promote can take up in the shreds and patches the welfare of others, and bring glory of time, and particularly when we are to God; and if practicable, it would be alone And let us be very careful to avoid situations of temptation, examin- to that calmness and dispassionateness ing narrowly our feelings and propen- in judgment and in acting, which will sities, that we may know well where enable us to form a just estimate of our weakness and our greatest danger men and things, to moderate our delie. And if sin lie upon the conscience, sires, and to repress undue ardour of do not let us attempt to stifle convic- feeling, even in regard to lawful things. tions, but rather cherish them. There Sobriety of mind will give the business are only two ways of escape from of life a higher place in your estimathem; either by confession, repentance, tion than its amusements, the concerns and faith, in the atonement of the of the soul than those of the body, and Lord Jesus Christ, which will lead to the claims of eternity than those of the present peace and eternal happiness; present passing hour. Your spiritual or, on the other hand, by stupidity, progress, your religious comfort, and hardness of heart, and abandonment your personal respectability, are all of all vital religion, which will issue in intimately connected with your cultiendless misery. vation of this state and habit of mind; and your usefulness in the church and in the world depend upon it. Let me then earnestly exhort you to think upon this advice of the Apostle, and to keep before your mind his further charge to his favourite convert, "Let no man despise thy youth." There is one exhortation more to which it is right that I should direct your attention, for it relates to a quany or state of mind on which the Apostle Paul lays great stress, repeating over and over again the charge to Titus, to exhort young men and young women to be sober-minded; which refers The Fragment Basket. THE SYMPTOMS OF BACK- Ir decay of love to Christ be our dis- 9. When earthly-mindedness and love to the world is on the growing hand. WHY SHOULD ANY MAN SWEAR? 1. Christ will be less in our hearts I CAN conceive of no reason why he and mouths than formerly. should, but of ten reasons why he should not. 2. We will be more slack in our obedience, and have less delight in our duty than before. 3. It is a sign of decaying love, when we lose our tenderness of conscience, and wonted abhorrence of sin-Christ's enemy. 4. When we are more easy under Christ's absence and withdrawings, and less anxious for his presence. 1. It is mean. A man of high moral standing would almost as soon steal a sheep as swear. 2. It is vulgar; altogether too mean for a decent man. 3. It is cowardly; implying a fear either of not being believed or obeyed. 4. It is ungentlemanly. A gentleman, according to Webster, is a genteel man 6. When we lose our wonted appe--well-bred-refined. Such a one will tite for our spiritual food and nourishment from Christ, in the ordinances. 6. When we lose our public-spiritedness and concern for the interest of Christ's kingdom and glory. 7. When we are little concerned to have heart-holiness, which is Christ's image drawn upon the soul. 8. When we have little desire for Christ's second coming, or for the enjoyment of him in heaven. no more swear, than go into the streets to throw mud with a clod-hopper. 5. It is indecent; offensive to delicacy, and extremely unfit for human ears. 6. It is foolish. Want of decency is want of sense. 7. It is abusive. To the mind which conceives the oath, to the tongue which utters it, and to the person at whom it is aimed. and thus conducting on the billowpath a fabric created by a man's own hand. This is the highest achievement in navigation. Without a figure, it is a great thing to manage a church collected to a man's hand; but a far better thing to gather from a godless world a multitude of those who shall be spiritual stones in the great celestial building. The Free Church of Scotland understand this business much better than we do on this side the Tweed. No small portion of her best and ablest men throw themselves at once into the Mission-field, where they are regularly provisioned, and occupy the same status as the first ministers of the chief cities. So it should be amongst ourselves. The work is beginning in good earnest. The Home Missionary Society has now determined to strike a blow in the great cities. It has actually begun in London; but it wants more money for its work, and an increase of efficient men,-men of intellectual energy, thorough training, and ample resources, so that they can preach much, and preach well, with a limited measure of preparation, with great physical power, that they may be equal to the toils of their arduous enterprise. No phrase is more common in the mouths of speakers, writers, and anybody who has anything to do with matters of religion, than "A Christian Country." This phrase is speedily uttered, but, if analysed, it will be found to contain very great things. A Christian country is a spectacle on which the eye of man has never yet rested. There is no risk in affirming that Great Britain is if not the most Christian, the least un-Christian in Europe, although she will by no means admit of comparison with her gigantic daughter in the United States of America. If any land has a right to lay claim to this pre-eminent distinction, it is the Great Republic; but even there the majority are still wicked, and but little influenced by the great system designated Christianity. The term has unhappily been used, upon almost all occasions, geographically. It is expressive, not of religion, the religion of the heart, but of general profession; and hence it is common to call England a Christian country, and the English a Christian people, although the truly Christian portion constitute but a small minority of the gross population. The following Table was recently compiled, and whatever mistakes may have become mixed up with it, it is correct enough for our purpose. Of the Dissenters, it appears that, in England, the number of Independent Chapels is Baptists Wesleyan Connexion Lady Huntingdon's Unitarian United Brethren (Moravian) Various Sects-Plymouth Brethren, Swedenborgians &c.. about Total 1,920 1,450 American maize. On the other hand, they ate substances which we now neglect the mallow, the herb oxtongue, the sweet acorn, the lupin. They liked the flesh of wild asses, of little dogs, of the dormouse, of the fox, of the bear. They ate the flesh of paroquets and other rare birds; and of lizards. They were fond of a great many fish and shell-fish, which we now hold in no esteem. They employed as seasoning rue and assafoetida.-Dick's Diet and Regime.' QUAKER'S REPROOF. SOME time since, a sailor on one of the wharves was swearing most boisterously, when one of the Society of Friends passing along, accosted him very pleasantly, and said, Swear away, friend, swear away, till thee gets all that bad stuff out of thee, for thee 66 can never go to heaven with that bad stuff in thy heart." The sailor, with a look of astonishment and shame, bowed to the honest Quaker, and retired. HOW TO RUIN A SON. 1. Let him have his own way. 2. Allow him free use of money. 3. Suffer him to roam where he pleases on the Sabbath. 4. Give him full access to wicked companions. 5. Call him to no account of his evenings. 6. Furnish him with no stated employment. Pursue either of these ways, and you will experience a most marvellous deliverance, or will have to mourn over a debased and ruined child! Thousands have realized the sad result, and have gone sorrowing to the grave. Poetry. A SWARM OF BEES WORTH HIVING. B patient, B prayerful, B humble, B mild, B sure you make matter subservient to mind. B cautious, B prudent, B trustful, B true, B courteous to all men, B friendly with few. B temperate in argument, pleasure, and wine; B careful of conduct, of money, of time. B cheerful, B grateful, B hopeful, B firm, B peaceful, benevolent, willing to learn; B courageous, B gentle, B liberal, B just, B aspiring, B humble, because thou art dust; B penitent, circumspect, sound in the faith, B active, devoted; B faithful till death. B honest, B holy, transparent, and pure; B dependent, B Christ-like, and you'll B We are dreamers all! the lover dreams We are dreamers all! the poet dreams We are dreamers all! We are dreamers all! the Christian dreams Of the pleasant paths of paradise, We are dreamers all! but, Oh! to me The Christian's dream be given! When he opes his eyes in heaven! THE DEAD. BY HENRY ALFORD. THE dead alone are great! While heavenly plants abide on earth, The soil is one of dewless dearth; But when they die, a morning shower Comes down, and makes their memories flower With odours sweet, though late. The dead alone are fair! There is no envy there. The dead alone are dear! The dead alone are blest! THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN. BY MRS. E. LITTLE. "THE Rights of Woman"-what are they? The right to labour and to pray; The right to watch while others sleep; PRAYER. ERE the morning's busy ray The Children's Gallery. COUNSELS TO YOUTH. your sex, and a blessing to your pa rents. But we must not be like the his wagon out of the mud, and was too man that prayed to Hercules to help lazy to try to help himself:-no, we must be thoughtful; try our very best to learn our books, and to be good; and then, if we call upon our Father in heaven, he will help us. I am very glad your grammar is becoming easier to you. It will be more and more so, it. God has been very kind in blessing the more you give your whole mind to you with a sound understanding; and it would be sinful in you to neglect such a great blessing, and suffer your mind to go to ruin, instead of improving it by study, and making it beautiful, as well as useful, to yourself and others. MY DEAR LAURA,-I would have answered your letter sooner, but that my courts and my clients hardly leave me time to write to your dear mother, to whom, of all other earthly creatures, you and I owe our first duties. But I have not loved you the less for not writing to you: on the contrary, I have been thinking of you with the greatest affection, and praying for you on my bended knees night and morn-mouths, and crying for something to ing, humbly begging of God that he would bless you with health and happiness, and make you an ornament to Suppose there was a nest full of beautiful young birds, so young that they could not fly and help themselves, and they were opening their little eat and drink, and their parents would not bring them anything, but were to let them cry on from morning till |