sealed with the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord, Heb. ix. 15-18. It is the Magna Charta and Statute Book of the kingdom of heaven, Isaiah viii. 20; it is the book of privileges and immunities of God's children, Rom. vi. 14-23; for it will make you wise unto salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus, making you perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works, 2 Tim. iii. 15-17. Whenever, therefore, you hear this word preached, and when at any time you read it, you must receive it not as the word of man, but (as it is in truth) the Word of God, then it will work effectually in you that believe, 1 Thess. ii. 13. Secondly, when you read this word, lift up the heart in prayer to God for the spirit of understanding and wisdom, Psalm cxix. 18, that your mind may be more and more strengthened with grace by it. For this word is spiritual, containing the great counsels of God for man's salvation, and which is a book sealed up, Isaiah xxix. 11-12, in respect of discovery of the things of God in it, 1 Cor. ii. 10-12, to all that have not the help of God's spirit; so that none can know the inward and spiritual meaning thereof, powerfully and savingly, but by the spirit of God. Thirdly, read the word with a hunger and thirst after knowledge, and growth of grace by it, 1 Pet. ii. 2; 2 Pet. iii. 18; with a reverend, humble, teachable, and honest heart, Luke viii. 15, believing all that you read; trembling at the threatenings and judgments against sinners; rejoicing in the promises made unto, and the favours bestowed upon, the penitent and the godly; willing and resolving to obey all the commandments. Thus, if you read, blessed shall you be in your reading, Rev. i. 3, and blessed shall you be in your deed, James i. 25. The Holy Scriptures are thus to be read of all, of every sort and condition, and of each sex; for all are commanded to search the Scriptures, John v. 39, as well the laity as the clergy; women as well as men, Acts xvii. 11-12; young as well as old, 2 Tim. iii. 15; all sorts of all nations, Isaiah xxxiv. 1-16; Rev. i. 3; for though the spirit of God is able to work conviction and holiness immediately without the word, (as he doth in those infants that are saved,) yet in adult persons the Holy Ghost will not (where the word may be had) work without it as his instrument, Luke xvi. 29-31, using it as the hammer, plough, seed, fire, water, sword (they are Scripture metaphors of figures), or as any other instrument, to pull down, build up, plant, purge, or cleanse the souls of men; for it is by the word both read, Rev. i. 3, and preached, that Christ doth sanctify all that are his, John xvii. 17, that he may present them to himself, and so to the Father, without spot or wrinkle, a Church most glorious, Eph. v. 2627. And whereas it is most true, that those who are unlearned and unstable, 2 Pet. iii. 16, do wrest not only hard Scriptures, but all other also, to their destruction; yet let not this (as Papists would infer) cause you to forbear to read, any more than because many surfeit and are drunk by the best meats and drinks, you do forbear to eat and drink. To prevent misunderstanding and wresting of Scriptures to your hurt, do thus: 1. Act and cherish a humble and honest heart, resolved to obey what you know to be God's will; if any man will do his will (saith Christ), he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God,' John vii. 17. 2. Get a clear knowledge of the first principles of the Christian religion, and believe them steadfastly, and endeavour to frame your life according unto those most easy and known Scriptures, whereon the first principles of the oracles are founded; for these give light even at the first entrance unto the very simple, Psalm cxix. 130. This do, and you shall neither be unlearned in the mysteries of Christ, nor yet unstable in his ways. 3. Be much in hearing the word interpreted by learned and faithful ministers, Isaiah viii. 20. 4. If you meet with a text of Scripture too hard for you, presume not to pass a sense to it of your own head; but take notice of your own ignorance, admire the depths of God's wisdom, suspend your opinion, and take the first opportunity to ask the meaning of some or other of those whose lips should preserve knowledge, Malachi ii. 7. Let no colourable pretence keep you from diligently reading God's book: for hereby you will be better prepared to hear the word preached. For it layeth a foundation for preaching, Acts viii. 28-34-35; Rom. x. 15-17, leading the way to a better understanding thereof, and more easily preserving it in memory; also, to enable you to try the spirits and doctrines delivered, Acts xvii. 11; 1 John iv. 1; 1 Thess. v. 21, even to try all things, and to cleave to that which is good. May the good Lord enable us thus to hear and read for his name's sake." Will Protestants submit to have Papists come in and take away from them and their families that great blessing they have inherited from their forefathers, THEIR BIBLE, and the free reading of it, that they may not be able to judge for themselves in matters of religion, which concern the best interests of their souls?-or to have it in a language, if they have it at all, which they cannot understand? OBSERVATIONS ON BEGGING. BY THE REV. E. W. BARLOW, A.M. Ir might be supposed by the charitably inclined that all who ask alms are really objects of charity: whereas, we grieve to say that, from statements carefully made, it is shown to be far otherwise. Few, very few, of those often met with, are they who are indeed objects fit for immediate and extensive relief. Hence indiscriminate charity is objectionable; and it is well, when it is exercised, if it does not increase, rather than diminish, the existing evil. The fact is that begging, with many, becomes a SCHEME and a TRADE. By the one they contrive to blind the eyes of those who would find them out; by the other they freely profit by the existing state of things. Were there not a decided system in the course pursued, those particulars that have been elicited could not have been discernible: whereas, now it appears, that they who, from time to time, and from place to place,* carry on their manœuvres and designs, find it a continuous, as well as a considerable, advantage. For, it is some time before scveral persons have their suspicion of any design or imposition; and, upon the verge of detection, how many a means of escape are open to the practised vagrant? To make up a tale is easy enough, but to make out a tale requires skill and management, which alas! comparative children are but too apt to endeavour to do. Discretion, especially in these days, is very desirable, together with generosity; and, we should remember, that should we discover our mistake afterwards, in the same proportion as we have benefited the ill-deserving, we have deprived those who are better disposed of seasonable help and support. Locally there is often much reason to regret the attempts made to take undue advantage of the liberal and benevolent; but frequently it suits the impostor to make off as soon as he is known, or as soon as enquiry is thought of, respecting himself or his circumstances. Out of the many that we have met with, how small a number can we find who have nothing to blame themselves for, and who, had they been actually honest, respectable, industrious people, would not have got on much better, and scorned the idea of coming to this method for a livelihood. Truth, we fear, is sadly deficient with a great number of those who pass under the name of "beggars," and who by their own means, or by means of their accomplices, effect their miserable purpose of falsely acting upon the sympathies and affections of those who fain would pity their condition-knowing that, in this world of woe, they themselves might come to poverty and want. Oh, it would be an instructive lesson to many who go about begging and story-telling, could they see some really poor and distressed one-struggling with his difficulties-and only mentioning his grievous case to those who know it best, and can best judge of his integrity and rectitude. Such a person might not be as much benefited by the sight as he could wish; but, methinks, it would have some effect upon his disposition and conduct. He would scarcely depart without some secret I have been told of a poor woman coming to the part from whence I write, and giving as her reason that she understood it was a good placei. e., for her work. respect for honesty and honoured poverty; or without this inward notion,-"this man does better recommend his state by his demeanor, than I can ever hope to recommend my state by mine." "PROFITS OF BEGGING.-On Friday, 6321. was paid into the bank, in 17. notes, by the trustees to the will of James Satcherley, an old man, a beggar, who died in a cellar in Shadwell, some weeks back. After his decease, the above notes, together with other monies, were found concealed, with a species of will, in a cupboard. The notes must have been hoarded many years."-Globe. Poetry. REMEMBER US, O God of love, Remember us, whene'er we kneel Remember us whene'er we seek Remember us in sorrow's hour, When nought of earth can calm, But, O! remember us yet more Anon. Village Dialogues. NO. X. THE OLD WELSH FARMER. It is not a month since I have returned home from a visit to the Principality of Wales, where I was advised to go for the sake of my health. The journey, "by the will of God, was prosperous," for, I am thankful to record it, that I am quite restored to my usual strength. The first day, on beginning my excursion, I travelled by the railway about one hundred and fifty miles. The next morning, in company of two beloved relations who had gone with me, I saw the beautiful cathedral of W. How many great men of former ages repose within its venerable walls! "What is life? It is but a vapour!" We proceeded by coach to the city of H-, about thirty miles, through a most luxuriant part of the kingdom, where a thousand hands were at work in the harvest. What thanks are due to Him who "reserveth for us the appointed weeks of the harvest!" Here, too, we saw the fine cathedral, and two elegant parish churches; afterwards our journey was along the banks of one of the finest rivers in the kingdom, through rural villages, by corn-fields, orchards, and gentlemen's seats. The weather was charming. The woods resounded with innumerable little songsters; sweet as the human voices were in the two cathedrals that we visited, they fell far short of the natural notes of the little birds. In the course of the day we arrived at the pretty little town of B—, whose church-yard delighted us greatly. It is triangular, and surrounded with trees in two rows, between which there is a pleasant gravel walk. The principal entrance is on the south, from which to the church porch there are also two rows of trees. A more interesting burial place I seldom witnessed. It was situated in a valley near the town, and kept in perfect order. This quietness of the grave is proverbial. How soothing to the mind is such a scene! But, oh! how interesting is the thought that many of the souls that once inhabited the bodies that rest below the ground are in rest in glory! Sad is the thought that any had come short of it. But I must go on to the subject at the head of this paper. The next morning we quitted this sweet spot, and soon found ourselves in the retired village of C—, and as more than twenty years had passed since my last visit to it, every face was new to me. I enquired for many of my old acquaintances; but there was only one old farmer that was yet living. On entering his premises, he was putting his last load of corn into his barn, and the first words I heard him utter were, "Thanks be to God, we now can keep our harvest_home." "I am very glad to hear your thanksgiving to God, my old friend (said I), for so great a blessing as the conclusion of a plentiful and fine harvest." "Truly, sir (replied he), we ought in everything to give thanks to our God and Saviour, for his manifold gifts for time and eternity. But, sir, am I right in thinking that you and I went together to school in this village? I am some years older than you, sir, but I must know you. You look ill and faint. Time has bowed us both down. Come into the house, |