This ought

wheat, the true children of Christ's kingdom. to be made a matter of clear certainty, so that God's ministers might have no more difficulty in knowing that you are so, than you and your young folks, have in picking out the grains of wheat from the tares. You do not find any grains half one and half another.

"As to the tares-who sows them? Not the owner of the field; no, your master would never have told your husband when he went to sow a field with wheat to put some tares in with it. So the Lord Jesus Christ did not sow the evil which we see in the world. An enemy hath done this, and that enemy is the devil, who has a sore hatred against our Saviour, and all his spiritual seed; and therefore he began to do his evil work as soon as there was any ground to sow it upon. Now, this seed of evil is intended to spoil the work of God, and make it of no value; and so it consists of all that is bad in its qualities. It is the seed of error, to lead the soul away from truth; of deception, to keep it in false security; of wickedness, to expose it to the fire of God's wrath. This enemy takes care to sow his seed most abundantly, so that there may be enough of it spring up to answer his purpose. Moreover, he is so well acquainted with the nature of the soil into which he casts his seed, that he makes sure that much of it will grow. He is quite aware that the heart of man is very much like the earth in this respect. The earth will bring forth weeds naturally enough, and so will the heart of man bring forth evil; but the earth must be diligently cultivated before it will produce good fruit, and so must man's heart.

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The wicked one will have his children, the genuine fruit of the evil seed he sows in the field: thus we see very many around us in all directions, living in all sorts of sin and folly, as if there were no God, or as if they had no souls to appear before him. And some are labouring and toiling for the things of this world, as if there were no world to come; and many neglecting and despising God's salvation, as though it were of no use to them. And some, by putting on the form of godliness, appear as if they might be wheat; but, because they know nothing of the power thereof, must be reckoned, like the others, only as the tares in God's sight. "But now let us look on to the end. Not one of the children of the wicked one shall escape the burning flame; nor shall one of the children of the kingdom be cast in there

"What an awful scene that will be! What a terrible day for the tares, but what a glorious day for the wheat! What a day of wretchedness and misery for the careless and ungodly! What a day of triumph and glory for the true and devoted children of God! Oh, happy will those be who are found to be of that number! When this solemn harvest,

this day of eternal separation may come, we none of us can tell; but this we know, that we shall be found at that time just what we are when we have finished our time on earth, and enter upon the world which shall never end."

Reader, how will it be with you? Let us now leave the cottager and her children. The good seed is scattered around you; many sowers go forth to sow it; you have the very storehouse of that seed to go to for yourself. The word of God is open before you; you are invited; you are warned. What is your hope for the day of harvest? Are you still going on hardened in sin, professing to name the name of Christ because you were born in a Christian land, but not departing from iniquity? Are you trusting to your own fancied merit, as sufficient, in your view, to secure you in the day of decision? Are you so absorbed in this world's business as to have no time for God and your soul? Does your heart so love pleasure that it has no room for the love of God? Do you neglect, or, it may be, despise the free salvation of the gospel, because it teaches you that you are by nature, and by practice too, a poor lost sinner without its saving efficacy? Are you taking refuge in any of those many errors which the enemy has always at hand to delude unwary souls? Examine yourselves, and rest not satisfied in any self-deception. W. B.

THE BOYS' BIBLE CLASS.

FROM AN ACCOUNT GIVEN BY THEIR TEACHER.

LONG before the time fixed for the boys entrance, they were clustering like bees at the gate, impatient for the joyous rush, to seat themselves round their dear table with all the free confidence, without which it is not always easy to command the attention of boys. Our choice of subjects was peculiar. I found they wanted stirring subjects, and I gave them Gideon, Samson, Jonathan, Nehemiah, Boaz, Mordecai, Daniel, all the most manly characters in Old Testament history, with the rich gospel that lies wrapped in every page of that precious volume. Even in the New Testament I found that applying the character of the speaker or the narrative produced great effect. Our blessed Lord himself, John the Baptist, Paul, all were set before them with as much life as possible. It was wonderful to see thirty-two robust boisterous fellows, from nine to seventeen years old, sitting in perfect delight and perfect order, for two or even three hours on a fine Sunday evening, never looking dissatisfied till they were told to go home.

I cannot help recording an event upon which I look back

with great thankfulness, though it was a terrible trial to me at the time. Two of my boys had a quarrel one week-day: one of them was very teasing, the other very passionate; the latter ran to a butcher's window close by, seized a large knife and plunged it into the left side of his companion. Most mercifully the wound was not dangerous; the knife penetrated within a short distance of the heart, but separated no large vein, and in a few days the boy was out again. The Sunday after it occurred, my party were extremely moved; they expressed great anger, and not a few threats were uttered against the culprit, whose parents had locked him up. On the following sabbath I resolved to make an effort to avert bad consequences, and also to arrest the poor boy in his dangerous course. He had rather justified himself than otherwise, and had shown a spirit sadly unsubdued, and unthankful for his escape from a deadly crime, and its awful consequences. I sent word to him to come to me: he replied "he would not." I repeated the summons saying, "I should be exceedingly hurt if he did not." No answer was returned. The place next but one to me belonged to the wounded boy, that below it to his assailant: the former was present, pale, indeed, but well. I lost no time in announcing that I expected P-—, which occasioned a burst of angry feeling, some saying they would not stay in the room with him, and others seeming to assent. "Then," said I, "you must go, for he wants instruction the most, and the very feeling that makes you shrink from associating with him, proves that you are better taught than he. So if you will leave me, do; I must admit him."

Just then P-- was seen coming; he entered—his walk upright, his manner firm, his dark brows knitted. The looks of my young lads spoke much; his boldness irritated them. I felt some alarm, but I motioned to P-- to take his usual place, and instantly rising, offered up the usual prayer, with a petition for the spirit of mutual kindness, forgiveness, and love. I ceased; all remained standing. I looked earnestly at the wounded boy: he hesitated a moment, then suddenly turned, and with a noble openness held out his hand to P——, who took it directly. I then offered him mine; he grasped it, and burst into tears. A delightful scene followed; each boy pressing to seal his forgiveness in the same manner. We had a most happy evening, and I could not but tell my dear boys how much I rejoiced over them. What may have been the effect on the future characters of those concerned I know not. I am persuaded the proceeding was a means of averting much mischief. Boys require to be placed on a right footing, which is not always done, even by what is called a scriptural education.

News was brought me one evening, while the boys waited

for admission, that two of them had stripped off their jackets to fight, after disputing which loved their teacher the most. "Exclude them both to-night," said a friend, "and threaten to expel them.” Instead of which, I sent word that he who first left off and put on his jacket, loved me the most, and that I was ready to begin. In they both came smiling, and had a reproof in due time when a passage in point came before us. How many of these neglected lambs are there in England, and many who in schools get only a mechanical knowledge of what would interest them greatly if brought before them with a little condescension and care! It is particularly needed now, when information is sought after; and be it remembered, I am speaking of a class above the very poor-a most important class, from which active agents are too often supplied for works of mischief. But I never yet knew a boy who would be rude to a friend, earnestly and kindly seeking his welfare. Charlotte Elizabeth.

TROUBLE.

OH! why do troubles sore,

So throng a pilgrim's ways?
To make him cling to Christ the more,
His heavenly hopes to raise

Where Christian friends are gone before,
Where all is love and praise :

Troubles should point us to the throne
Of heaven, where troubles are unknown.
What an amazing change

From trouble that will be,

How great, how sudden, and how strange
When, Lord, we come to Thee!

O'er endless realms of bliss to range

Through all eternity!

Broad is the stream that washes yonder shore,
In thy good time, Lord Jesus, waft us o'er.

To venture all alone

To cross a stream so wide,

Without a single stepping stone

To help us o'er the tide,

With strength and wisdom all our own,

Were but presumptuous pride!

Thou, Friend of sinners, swift and strong to save,
Be thou our Pilot o'er the stormy wave.

OCCASIONAL MEDITATIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS. UPON THE SIGHT OF THE BLIND AND THE LAME.

HERE is a true natural commerce of senses; the blind man hath legs, the lame man hath eyes; the lame man lends his eyes to the blind, the blind man lends his legs to the lame; and now both of them move, where otherwise both must sit still and perish. It is hard to say whether is more beholden to other; the one gives strength, the other direction, both of them equally necessary to motion. Though it be not in other cases so sensible, yet surely this very traffic of faculties is that whereby we live, neither could the world subsist without it: one man lends a brain, another an arm; one a tongue, another an hand. He that knows wherefore he made all, hath taken order to improve every part to the benefit of the whole. What do I wish aught that is not useful? And if there be anything in me that may serve to the good of others, it is not mine but the church. I cannot live but by others; it were injurious if others should not likewise share with me.

WHAT a sensible interchange there is in nature betwixt TRACT MAG., THIRD SERIES, No. 95, NOV., 1841. M