there. Secondly, I look upon the earth, and call to mind how small a space I shall occupy in it, when I come to be interred. Thirdly, I look abroad into the world, and observe what multitudes there are in all respects more unhappy than myself. Thus, I learn where true happiness is placed, where our cares must end, and what very little reason we have to repine or complain. An afflicted Christian writes to a friend, "Every thing has its time, every thing comes from God; and I am still sitting on the A B C bench, to spell at that excellent hymn, What God does, he does well,' until I can read it with ease. It has gone hard this year, and instead of the expected deliverance, it grew worse and worse, at least it had the appearance; but from death, and through death, comes life and resurrection; meanwhile the gold is put to the test, the refiner is my friend, my Lord, blessed for ever! He will do all things well." In the time of a persecution, some pious ministers were met together, expressing their mutual fears, and consulting how to provide for their safety, when one stood up in the spirit of faith, and said, “We are all immortal till our work is done." Whereby he declared his lively sense of the restraining power of God over the malice of men, and his assurance that God would preserve them in life so long as he had any service to employ them in. He takes FENELON'S REFLECTIONS ON THE DEPTH OF GOD'S MERCY."He is the Father of all mercies, and the God of all consolation." (1 Cor. ii. 3.) God sometimes separates these two. His consolations are withdrawn, but his mercies still continue. away what is sweet and sensible in grace, because you want to be humbled, and perhaps punished, for having sought consolation elsewhere. Such a chastening is but a new depth of mercy. FROM BISHOP HOPKIN'S "PATIENCE PERFECT WORK."-If God will not take thy burden off, but make thee travel with it till the evening-till thou liest down to take thy rest in the grave-thy patience must hold out till then, if thou wouldest have it perfect; and though the apostle speaks of our light afflictions, which are but for a moment; yet remember, that as they are light only in comparison with the intolerable torments of hell, so likewise they are many times only short in comparison with eternity. They are short only because they are not endless; but yet this short moment may hold out as long as thy whole life. Now then, O Christian, look upon thyself as a traveller, and make account whatever burden God is pleased to lay upon thee: he may, perhaps, not take it off till thou comest to thine inn, to, take up thy lodging in the grave. If he discharge thee of it sooner, acknowledge his mercy, but be sure thou discharge not thy patience before God dischargeth thy burden. Both the cure and thy patience will then be perfect. When, if a proud and high-minded person, he hath brought thee to a humble and meek spirit; when, if a worldly and self-seeking person, he hath made thee a public spirited person and self-denying Christian; when, for a drowsy and secure, he hath made thee a vigilant, zealous, and active Christian. The brethren asked the Rev. Pliny Fiske, just before he 'died, to give them some directions how to live and labour in the Mission. "Yes, 'tis done in a few words: Live near to God, dwell in love, and wear out in the service of Christ." To his brother Missionary, Jonas King, he wrote, "I write to you, as upon my dying bed. The Saviour, whom I have so imperfectly served, I trust, now grants me his aid, and to his faithful care I commend my immortal spirit. Live a life of prayer. Let your conversation be in heaven. Labour abundantly for Christ. Whatever treatment you meet with-whatever difficulties you encounter-whatever vexations fall to your lot, and from whatever source-possess your souls in patience, yea, 'let patience have her perfect work.' I die in the glorious hope of meeting you where we shall be freed from sin. Till that happy meeting, dear brother, farewell. REMARKABLE CONVERSION OF A SAILOR. a "There is now at Achill," says the Rev. Mr. Nangle, Christian, whose consistent conduct has been a cause of constant comfort to me in the midst of many trials. This person, about nine years ago, was thoughtless and profane. He was stationed as coast guard on a part of the coast far remote from the ministry of the Gospel, the nearest church being about twenty miles distant. The chief boatman of the station used to assemble the crew on Sunday, for the reading of the Scriptures, and prayers. Being called off to England, he requested the subject of my narrative to keep up the little meeting during his absence. He promised to do so, not that he saw the importance of it, but to oblige his comrade. When Sunday came round, he assembled the men as usual, opened his Bible, and began to read the first chapter of Isaiah; but when he came to the words, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me,' &c., such a conviction of his own guilt as a sinner against a God of mercy was awakened in his conscience, that this hardy man of war burst into tears, and being unable to read any more, handed the book to the person who sat beside him, to finish the chapter. This was a new commencement in his life. His principles underwent a total change. The conviction of guilt led him to look in the Bible for a Saviour, and he found him. The change of principle led to a change of conversation and conduct, as his commanding officers and all who are acquainted with him can testify. He has now been a devoted and exemplary Christian, adorning the doctrine of God his Saviour, for nearly nine years." DRUNKENNESS. The increase of intemperance, not only in the metropolis, but in the provinces of our country, is truly alarming. Ardent spirits have been consumed, during the last twenty years, at a rate which would be deemed incredible, did not the fact rest on public documents which cannot be questioned. In 1820, 12,894,895 gallons were drunk in England, Scotland, and Ireland; but in the year ending January 5, 1839, the quantity was 30,868,562 gallons, making an increase over the year 1820, of 17,973,667 gallons. The duty paid for this frightful quantity was £8,267,639, being on an average at the rate of 6s. 10d. for every man, woman, and child in the United Kingdom. It was stated before a parliamen tary committee, that from £2000 to £4000 premium was commonly given for the good-will of a house of large business for the retail of spirits; and it is calculated that in London nearly £3,000,000 are spent annually, chiefly by the labouring classes, in ardent spirits alone. The gigantic evil thus exhibited cannot be lessened by any reference to the augmented population of the land. On the contrary, it appears, that while population has increased one-third in twenty years, the consumption of spirituous liquors has increased during that period in a nine-fold degree, with respect to the popu lation. The moral plague which made fearful ravages in past days, has widened its range, and acquired fresh virulence, and it will still advance, unless strenuous efforts are made, in dependence on God, that this pestilence may be stayed. During the year 1838, there were 14,296 males, and 6,941 females, making a total of 21,237 persons found drunk in London, and taken into custody by the police. What must be the number, then, of the intemperate of our land, who are not thus publicly detected! Meanwhile health sinks: ardent spirits aggravate almost all acute diseases; and so do they undermine the constitution, that neither the malady, nor the means required for its removal, can be borne. Dr. Gordon, physician to the London Hospital, thought that the proportion of diseases among the out-patients, distinctly referable to ardent spirits, might be about 25 per cent.; but an accurate calculation, on some thousands, raised the average to 75 per cent. Intemperance "acts on the stomach, then on the nervous system; it brings on diseased action; disorganization of the brain is the consequence, and all the dreadful results of insanity follow." Well might Dr. Farre say, "I view the gin-shop in every new neighbourhood with very great pain: the gin-shop, rising like a palace, absorbs the wealth, the health, and the life of the labouring class. I call them whited sepulchres, full of rottenness and dead men's bones." Nor can we forget the Divine declaration, that drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. vi. 10.) The suffering is not, however, confined to the intemperate; his connexions, and society at large, are greatly injured also. What anguish and misery are frequently brought on a father, a mother, a wife and children, by the gross vice of one such transgressor! It is a notorious fact, that numbers of mechanics work but three or four days in the week, and squander their wages during the remainder of it. In a report of the Rev. Mr. Clay, chaplain to the Preston House of Correction, presented at the October sessions, 1839, he says, that "places are licensed-if not for the purpose, certainly with the effect-of tempting the labourer and artisan into excess and ruin. Numerous advertisements upon the walls show that musical-entertainments are added to the other allurements of the public-house. I saw on one of these bills an announcement that A fight for the week's brass' was to be represented! A con.. test between a starving mother and a brutal father-for the means of a family's sustenance on one side, and of selfish profligacy on the other vulgarly dramatised, and made 'the song of the drunkards!'" Another fact is given on the same authority:-"I. W. had been in the receipt of 26s. weekly for fourteen years, up to within a fortnight of the time of his committal. I asked him what he had saved. Nothing.' 'How much would you now be worth, if you had put into the savings' bank all that you have spent in liquor? Why, I believe, about £400!' And thus," adds the writer, "it is with thousands. I know not whether my assertion may be received as a truism or a paradox, but I venture to say, that there are none who so little know the value of money as those who most frequently suffer from the want of it." 6 Women, it should be remembered, are often chargeable with intemperance; they crowd the gin-shop in even greater numbers than the other sex. How many evils might be traced to this source! To mention only one fact:-A dirty female, with a child clinging to her rags, was about to enter such a place, when the child, referring to the money in her mother's hand, exclaimed, "O mother, mother, do give it me; you have no right to spend it; it is my sister's!" What was the reply? "I must have it; I have not tasted gin for six hours!" Meanwhile, society awfully suffers. According to a recent writer, within the brief space of twenty-two years, that is, from 1810 to 1832, the number of committals to prison has increased fourfold, while the population increased only thirty-two per cent. Taking another view, and comparing the number of committals for crime with the population, it will then appear that, in 1811, there was one in 1,600 of the population; in 1821, there was one in 860; and in 1831, there was one in 686. In the space of forty years, the expense of crime was trebled, while the population only increased sixty per cent. HYMN. By Sir Robert Grant. "Blessed is the man whom thou chasteneth."-PSALM xliv. 12. O Saviour! whose mercy, severe in its kindness, I grasped at the triumph which blesses the brave! ARTHUR FOSTER, PRINTER, KIRKBY LONSDALE. |