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3. Finally. We owe it as a sacred duty to these missionaries, to provide for their personal support and comfort, and the success of their undertaking, so far as this can be done by pecuniary contributions. After doing all that we can do all that money, and effort, and Christian sympathy can effect, the missionaries will have to make sacrifices, with which all that we make, can bear no comparison. This they expect, and for this they have been disciplining their minds. But surely, brethren, we ought not to neglect a single thing that can lighten their burden-not a single thing that may contribute to enable them to endure without fainting, the arduous labours and trials that await them. Every practicable accommodation in their out-fitevery article that can be of use to themselves, or which they may use to advantage in their intercourse with the natives of Africa, we ought, with all readiness, and liberality, and assiduity, to furnish. And this, it is confidently expected and believed, will be done.

But this is not all. It is indeed but the smallest part of our duty, in this great concern. Permanent funds for the support and the extension of this and of similar missions, must be provided. It will be to the honour of our church, if it shall be seen that the ample ability and means which we certainly possess, shall be readily and cheerfully drawn into action, for the support of foreign missions, when they are under our own direction; and it will be our lasting reproach and disgrace, if any signal deficiency in this matter shall be witnessed. But let us go far beyond all personal, cr denominational concerns and views. While we pay, as we ought, a certain degree of regard to the reputation of the church with which we are connected, let our thoughts be chiefly and directly fixed on the Ch. Adv.-VOL. X.

salvation of immortal souls; on the evangelizing of the heathen; on the travail for them of the Redeemer's soul; on the conversion of this sin ruined world to God. To what end can wealth be so properly consecrated, for what purpose can it be so worthily employed, as in promoting the best, the eternal interests of perishing immortals? Ah! the day will come, when this will be considered as the great object for which it is desirable to possess property-to possess, in order to employ it, in extending the Redeemer's kingdom, and rescuing sinners from eternal death. Yes, and the hour will come to each of us, either in this world or in the next-either before, or at the day of final judgment-when that part of our substance which we shall have expended to promote the salvation of souls, will give us more satisfaction in the review, than all that we shall have devoted to the gratification of ourselves, or our families, in superfluities which we ought to have denied ourselves, to augment our efficiency in doing good to the souls and the bodies of necessitous perishing mencandidates with ourselves, for the weal or wo of a dread eternity. Let us then, brethren, begin this evening to contribute as we ought to evangelical missions, and continue in the same to our dying hour. So, in the name of God, I charge you, and I charge my own soul. Amen.

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Without attempting to enumerate the various operations of the Holy Spirit on the soul of man, I will mention a few only. The sinner, being delivered from the effects of delusion and wicked passions, perceives things in a new light: if, then, humbly examining ourselves by the sacred word, we become conscious of our desires and affections being sanctified, and perform actions acceptable to God, we may conclude that this is effected "by the Spirit which dwelleth in us." For we must ascribe all that is true and good to His sacred influence. His operations are "to work in us, both to will and to do;" "to quicken the dead in sin;" to raise fallen man "from" the death of sin to a life of righteousness," and to restore him to the capacity of loving and delighting in God, and his worship and service; and to excite such as "through grace have believed" to a greater degree of diligence in following those who "through faith and patience inherit the promises." These may be ranked among his most distinguishing operations on the soul of man. The same Divine Agent is spoken of in Scripture as illuminating the mind with the light of Divine truth, leading all true believers by his sacred operations, and causing in the soul high and honourable apprehensions of Christ.

With regard to what are not his gracious operations, it must not be supposed that the Holy Spirit is promised or given in order that we may do any thing which was not our duty; or that he will render us infallible; or that he will be given, in answer to our petitions, to inform us by a direct revelation that we are the children of God. This conclusion cannot be safely arrived at by mere impression, but is to be looked for by his enabling us to exercise repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord

Jesus Christ, with love to God and to our neighbour grounded upon them. Nor is it one of his characteristics to discover new duties, not already taught in Scripture; but rather to free our minds from the effects of our various prejudices and corrupt passions, that we may discern spiritual things, and understand the nature and glory of revealed truth. Lastly, miraculous and prophetical gifts are not distinguished and essential" marks, or marks at all, of His "gracious operations;" so that even if they were now vouchsafed, which it is clear they are not, they would not come under the present question.

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M. G. H.

From Friendship's Offering.

A HYMN.

When morn awakes our hearts,

To pour the matin prayer; When toil-worn day departs,

And gives a pause to care; When those our souls love best Kneel with us, in thy fear, To ask thy peace and rest

Oh God our Father, hear! When worldly snares without,

And evil thoughts within, Stir up some impious doubt,

Or lure us back to sin; When human strength proves frail, And will but half sincere ; When faith begins to fail

Oh God our Father, hear!

When in our cup of mirth

The drop of trembling falls, And the frail props of earth

Are crumbling round our walls; When back we gaze with grief, And forward glance with fear; When faileth man's relief

Oh God our Father, hear!
When on the verge we stand
Of the eternal clime,
And Death, with solemn hand,
Draws back the veil of Time;
When flesh and spirit quake

Before THEE to appear
For the Redeemer's sake,
Oh God our Father, hear!

T. P.

CHRISTIAN

Miscellaneous.

MORALS IMPORTANT IN
RURAL LIFE.

ESSAY VII.

"Behold the hire of the labourers, who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth"

This is an alarming passage. It brings to view, the obligations under which we lie, to do justice to those whom we employ. It appeals to every moral principle, lodged within us; and fortifies the appeal by reminding us, of the omniscience of our Creator. We are aware that virtue is a word frequently used by scepticks, but Christian virtue are words, the use of which they invariably decline.

There can be no just grounds of hostility to systems of moral philosophy, intended to illustrate the obligations of man to man. They have great influence in keeping together the discordant elements out of which communities are organized. Some errors may be countenanced in these systems. But notwithstanding that much which is commendable has been written by Paley, Reid, Beattie, and Dugald Stewart, still the Scriptures contain the best system of morals the world has ever seen: and though it is ornamental to rural men to be instructed in philosophy, it is much more ornamental that they should instruct themselves in the Holy Oracles. Christianity carries in its train virtues nobler by far, than any other system; its precepts penetrate more deeply into the heart and conscience, and they affect more intimately all the motives which prompt to action. There are complaints, indeed, about the strictness of its morals, as addressed to frail and erring man; but this leads wise men the more to approve the system. Were

its morality relaxed, all good men would unite in its rejection. Infidelity has sometimes varied its modes of attack, and strange to tell, it has impugned the morality of the Scriptures. It has blended the historical and biographical details, with the precepts of Christianity; and its impartial announcement of the failings of men, infidelity has set down as the approbation of those failings. But the morals of Christianity are most pungent still. When we see rural men fertilizing their lands by oppression, we might suppose that justice was asleep, and that there was no standard by which the wrongs of the oppressed were to be remedied. But here is the remedy. "Behold the hire of the labourers, which of you is kept back by fraud, crieth, and the cries of those which have reaped, are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbaoth."

If men conform not to Chris

tianity; to what standard will they conform? Is it the standard of conscience? Alas! the cries of distress which daily enter the ear of the Creator, ought to carry with them the conviction that conscience cannot hold the reins over the passions of men, any more than the slaughtered dragoon can guide his charger into the battle. The people of this world, are contending together in the tumultuous sea of self-interest, and the cry of conscience for that which is right, is often overwhelmed in the roar of the waves-is heard no more than the shriek of the sea bird in a storm. We might have the temples of justice, but without the Bible they would be profaned: we might have her ministers in robes, but how often might equity strip away the

abused investiture. If men carry

not about them a conscience so purified by the Scripture as to be accurate and invariable in its decisions, it cannot be a conscience of which our Maker will approve. The morality of the Scriptures is simple and pure. To ask us to adopt any other rule, in sight of one so plain, would be as incongruous as to ask us on a journey to strike into a thousand bye paths and entangling thickets, in sight of a highway that leads through a smiling country.

We are too apt to build whited sepulchres, to cover over the moral death of our hearts. Looking over the state of the world we quickly find that men refuse to be swayed by the precepts of Christianity. The policy of courts, the craft of diplomatists, the vindictiveness of kings, the fury of warriors, and the madness of an inflamed populace, clearly show that men will not be influenced by that which would extinguish their ambition, or control their passions.

In inculcating the virtues of Christianity on rural men, it is readily admitted that there is equal necessity for inculcating them on all. But in tilling the earth, while many temptations are escaped, there are others peculiar to this mode of life, which may lead to a neglect of the rule to do to others, as we would they should do to us. He that is unfaithful in little, is unfaithful also in much. He that overreaches an humble husbandman in a shilling, so far as principle is concerned, might as well overreach him in a guinea. There is often a temptation to adopt means and cherish a spirit that is unchristian, in order to hand down rural domains unimpaired, and even improved and embellished, to our descendants. But he is not to be envied-he is a guilty man, who employs fraud or injustice to fling fine tints over his possessions.

There is nothing more delightful than the interchange of kind offices between rural men of wealth and their tenantry. These acts of kindness, however, have often self interest for their basis. But there should be a surrender of this for the broad basis of Christianity, because the affection which springs from self interest, may expire with the circumstances that gave it birth. The peasantry of our own country are possessed of privileges, which do not fall to the lot of thousands, in the same rank of life, in other countries. The means of subsistence with us, are comparatively easy of acquisition, and proprietors of lands are accessible to those who rent and cultivate them. One of the greatest evils with which the peasantry of the old world have to contend is here scarcely known, namely, the non residence on their estates, of large landed proprietors-Of the evils of an Irish peasantry some knowledge may be gleaned from the memoirs of Edgeworth. More however is required of rural men, than the mere redress of ordinary grievances. The morals of Christianity deal in things positive, as well as in things negative. There must not only be the withholding or putting down of an oppressive arm, which would crush their rights, but there must be an actual advancement of their comforts. Intelligence must be fostered; and even intelligence, without piety, may inflict an injury on the community: it may create a haughty population, who lean to their own understanding. But no such evil can result, if piety be united with intelligence; for the former will correct or prevent the poison which the latter, left to itself, might breed and nourish. The higher circles in rural life may do much to impress the minds of their dependants and neighbours with a feeling of the importance of piety. Their counsel, when given with a benignant

spirit, often produces lasting effects; and when they sleep in their graves, the poor man may often cast upon them the first flower that blossoms in the glade. They may do much by precept, and still much more by example. Their most inconsiderable actions are noticed; and a tenour of kind, and equitable, and pious conduct, can scarcely fail to have the happiest influence.

It is impossible, without a personal inspection of the wants of the poor, to ascertain the number and nature of those wants. A superficial glance may satisfy the selfish, but a close and thorough investigation is the business of the philanthropist. From a distance,, the poverty stricken hovel may wear the aspect of cheerfulness, and even embellish the prospect. But draw nigh and behold. The wealthy themselves frequently need the arm of help. Why then should not they whose prospects have been darkened from the beginning, still oftener need assistance? Damascus has been called a city in the country, and there are many who live in the country that have all the luxuries of that renowned city; from which the wants of the neighbouring poor ought to receive relief. No man was more capable than Burns of expostulating with the wealthy, in a burst of indignant eloquenceOh ye, who, sunk in beds of down,

Feel not a want, but what yourselves

create,

Think for a moment on his wretched fate, Whom friends and fortune quite disown, Ill satisfied keen nature's clam'rous call, Stretch'd on his straw he lays himself to sleep,

While thro' the ragged roof and chinky

wall

Chill o'er his slumbers, piles the drifted heap.

To the duties of Christiaity, then, let all attend. It is not to philosophy that we shall have to give in our last account. How glowing are the prospects of those who, when they quit the earth,

quit it, without a solitary cry of distress having reached their ear in vain. The Scriptures have been the rule by which they have managed and used their possessions, and by which they have been led down to the dwellings of their dependants and poorer neighbours, that they might refresh them with a joyous influence.

THE TEARS OF PARENTS.

Under the above title, a series of papers was commenced in the Christian Observer, for January last. After an interruption of several months, they were resumed, and continued in the September and October numbers of that work; and a farther continuance has been promised. The following extract from the October number, containing the account of an unhappy

son of the excellent and well known Andrew Fuller, with the writer's reflections interspersed, will, we are sure, interest, and we hope edify, all our readers; and extended as it is, we think that none will complain of its length.

What affliction can be so great as, believing the Bible, to see a child perish apparently beyond all hope! I will quote as an illustration a passage from the life of the late Mr. Andrew Fuller, whose highly valuable works, recently collected and published-especially his Socinian and Christian System compared-make me grudge that he did not pray under the same roof with us; though well will it be if we are permitted to praise eternally in the same temple with him. Mr. Fuller had a son of many prayers and many tears. I copy the following notices respecting this unhappy youth from his father's diary, as introduced by his biographer, doubting not that the incidents will be new to you, and that you will account

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