ject-the general besetting sin of children and servants-that we must apprize our friends of the existence of just such a book as may be read through by one of either class, without fatiguing the attention, or encroaching too much on a short period of leisure. An interesting, natural little tale, is made the vehicle for conveying some of the most solemn admonitions we have ever met with, on this momentous subject. It is full of nature, and full of scripture; and that, to our mind, forms the combination most desirable for the purpose of effectually reaching the young heart; so far as human means can go.

THE PROTESTANT.

'WE have been denounced, uncle, as going quite out of our province, in bringing forward the subject of the election fund. I have been asked what bearing it could possibly have on that faith, the end of which is the salvation of our souls: or how Christian ladies could be expected to mix themselves up with a political scuffle.'

'Did you ever collect among your friends for the purpose of building or enlarging a church?' said my uncle.

'I have assisted in both, sir.'

'Were you never asked what possible connection there was between stones, bricks, mortar, and the preaching of the gospel? Were you never reproved for interfering in the dirty work that belongs to builders' and carpenters' labourers?'

'Oh, no. It is evident that many who would laugh at the idea of administering so absurd a rebuke, are ready to do the same thing in a case quite in point, but which they do not choose to investigate sufficiently to perceive the false position that their remarks place them in.'

'False indeed!' ejaculated my uncle. Alas! how many who, had an incendiary party approached their parish church with firebrands to burn it to the ground, would have risked their very lives in defending that hallowed structure, how many such stood by, with

folded arms and sealed lips, while the ground was openly broken, the mine dug, and the regular approach commenced, to overthrow not merely their houses of worship, but the worship itself of God in the land. Take warning, my child, by what has passed: never be deterred, by fear or favour, from urging on all within your reach the great, the multiplied, the diversified duties of Protestants, at this most awful crisis. Fear not, since the cause is undoubtedly the Lord's; fear not the reproach of thoughtless persons, though you be compelled to the irksome iteration of “Line upon line, line upon line: precept upon precept, precept upon precept." Remember that the position of our country is substantially the same with that of Jerusalem when God's watchmen were commanded so to urge on the careless inhabitants their danger and their duty. Should the nation, by whatever means, be roused to a timely sense of both, and so escape the coming woe, you will never regret having joined your feeble voice to the many powerful ones now lifted up in the same sacred cause. If we fall-oh! it will add no bitterness to the cup of which you, in the general calamity, must also drink, to recollect that, to the utmost of your humble ability, you warned those around you. Remember, there are times when every talent, however small, must be brought forth, and freely devoted, yea, actively, energetically employed in the Lord's service. Whatever clouds may darken your sky, oh, never let the curse of Meroz shed its blackening gloom over your habitation !'

'Never, uncle; never, while God gives the grace of faithfulness. It cheers me to think that among the many into whose hands these humble papers

fall, some thoughtless one may surely be led to reflect, some careless one to pray, some idle one to help, or some desponding one to take courage and persevere, by means of what is placed before them. This cause, or rather the anxiety occasioned by it, is as a fire in my bones: I believe it to be of the Lord's kindling; and suppress or smother it I dare not, lest I be found guilty of quenching the Spirit, who, in dividing to every one severally as he will, follows not the thoughts or ways of man, but often uses the weakest, the basest, the most despised things of the world, to accomplish mighty ends. So long as a pen is placed in my hand, power vouchsafed to use it, and a medium permitted through the yet unshackled press of my dear country, so long, uncle, so long, by God's grace, I WILL persevere working out, in every possible variety of ways, consistent with spiritual-mindedness, queen Elizabeth's adopted motto: "NO PEACE WITH ROME!""

:

'Then, my dear niece, let me now endeavour to shew your doubting readers how fully accordant with right Christian and feminine feeling is the plan of co-operating with the Protestants now engaged in carrying on the petition-fund for Ireland. By a reference to the past history of England, it will be seen in what manner the safety of our ark was compromised, during the reigns of the first Charles and the second James. The part acted during the former period by the infamous society of the Jesuits, has not been so fully opened to the general eye, as, by God's blessing, it shall yet be: but those who have considered the evidence afforded on the subject, are well aware that to the mighty, though unseen working of popish influence and money, through the

means of unconscious instruments in the parliament and the army, is mainly attributable the fearful act of regicide that removed from this life one whose own offence against God was his early connivance at the great abomination which afterwards overthrew him. James, proceeding farther in his popish schemes, and being met by the uncompromising front of a thoroughly Protestantized nation, lost the throne in his bootless attempt to overturn the church. Who can refuse to acknowledge in these great events the overruling, the protecting hand of the Most High? We may yield a cordial assent to the doctrine of those who say that God will maintain his own cause, and preserve his own people, needing no help from man: true, he needs it not, but it is his declared will to use it and in these mighty revolutions he did so use it; and it is the height of presumption to hold it back, with this evidence of history, illustrating the declarations of holy writ. How striking is that addressed to Esther, by Mordecai; how expressive of both these truths, God's sovereignty, and man's required instrumentality! "Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape, in the king's house, more than all the Jews: for if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed; and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" It is true, such power as Esther possessed is not the lot of your readers: but whatsoever they hold, of talent, influence, or pecuniary means, it may fairly be asked, respecting that gift, who knoweth whether it be not given thee for such a time as this?'