THE apostle exhorts to be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life. Phil. ii. 15. Allusion is here made to light-houses in which a bright flame is kept burning during the night, for the benefit of mariners. Our own coast is studded with these lights. In erecting them, two objects are to be secured; namely, sufficient brilliancy, and the means of easily distinguishing one from another. In order to give intensity of light sufficient for dark and hazy weather, highly polished silver reflectors are used. That the lights may be readily distinguished from each other, some are stationary and some revolving; some are single, some double, and some triple. Some cast a white, some a red, and some a purple flame. All are so marked, that the mariner can learn his exact position, and safely navigate the most winding channel, by observing the bearing of these lights. At ancient Rhodes, a colossal statue of a man held in one hand a flame which enlightened the whole port. Sometimes, these lights become dim; or men who live on plunder erect false lights, and thus the mariner is bewildered, vessels are wrecked, and merchandise and precious lives are lost. Now, says the apostle, ye are designed to be lights in the world, by which others may learn their position, and be guided to the port of peace. Men are sailing on a dangerous, rock-bound coast, Where storms arise, If the light of Christian example goes out, becomes dim, is hid, or if false lights are set up, the peril becomes imminent. And when spiritual disasters take place, who can calculate the loss? "For sadder sight the eye can know, Than proud bark lost or seaman's woe, Or prey bird's shriek, or ocean's shroud, - THE DOMESTIC ALTAR. FAMILY PRAYER, says Cecil, may be made a vast engine of power to the whole circle. It says there is a God, and inspires a reverence for his character. It proclaims a life to come, and points to the spirit land. It fixes the idea of responsibility in the mind, while it diffuses sympathy through the soul. "It furnishes a judicious parent with an opportunity of gently glancing at faults, where direct admonition might be inexpedient." It greatly conduces to the maintainance of family government and order, while its spiritual advantages are invaluable. PHYSIOLOGY IMPORTANT TO MOTHERS. BY REV. WILLIAM PAGE. It is not too much to say, that there are as great responsibilities resting upon mothers, considering the extent of the sphere in which they ordinarily move, as upon any class which can be pointed out. And we rejoice that this responsibility is to some good extent felt, not only by them, but by the community generally; and that the light and influence of the press is not only called to the assistance of merchants, mechanics, statesmen, and ministers of the gospel, but Mothers. To every mother there are subjects of local interest; some of which, from their nature, cannot be generally known, and cannot therefore secure the sympathies and co-operation of others. And there are those of general interest, especially to mothers, which are as important to one as to another. One of those subjects to which I here refer, as being of general interest to you, is Physiology. By a knowledge of Physiology, we here simply mean, a knowledge of the human system; not as it sometimes is, but of its original construction and relations. Were it practicable, it might be very convenient for mothers to have a thorough knowledge of symptoms, of the nature of diseases, and of efficient remedies. But, however desirable, that is a subject which we do not now propose to discuss. We do not suppose that every mother will, or can secure a perfect knowledge of the human system; or that it is practicable, generally, to make an effort to attain such an end. Such an effort could not ordinarily be made without a long neglect of important duties. It is true, that mothers generally are not to become public lecturers or teachers of Physiology, or conductors of physiological journals; and that we are not to expect that each in her retirement will be able to define all terms, and explain and illustrate all relations. Yet perhaps it is not too much to say, that the facilities of the present day are such, that every mother, who is so disposed, may secure such a knowledge of the human system, as may greatly increase both her usefulness and the happiness of her family. Let us now look at some of the reasons which show that a knowledge of the human system is important to mothers, not as individuals, or as members of families, or of communities, but as mothers. This is desirable, First, Because the human system is exceedingly complicated. In it there is a union of a great number and a great variety of parts. It is so with that of the little child, whose expanding mind fills the bosom of its parents with those emotions which can be much better felt than described. Look at its little wrist and hand, which seem as lovely and spotless as those of an angel, as though they could never be raised in rebellion against God, or in rejecting and persecuting His Son. Look at that little hand and wrist as illustrating the whole system. In that wrist, which is softer than the finest velvet, there are eight bones. And in that tiny hand there are nearly twenty, surrounded with muscles, under that beautiful covering, which run in different directions. There are also arteries and veins. And there are also nerves, so numerous, that that little hand cannot be touched with the finest needle without producing a painful sensation throughout the whole system. Thus, by this very superficial examination of the hand, it is obvious, that the human system must be very complicated, especially those parts which are the most intimately connected with the existence of life. There is no piece of mechanism so complicated. What is all the variety connected with a cotton-mill compared with this? Yet what manufacturing corporation would select a country farmer, who knew as little about machinery as about Greek or Hebrew, to superintend successfully their establishment? Then is it not important that mothers possess a knowledge of the human system, this most wonderful piece of mechanism, in order that they may be successful in the discharge of their duties? This is desirable, Secondly, Because each part sustains a relation to each of the other parts in the system, however numerous, and also - a relation to the whole. Each was so designed, and so fitted by the Great ARTIFICER. There is no independent part. Each is a part of the whole, and sustains a relation to the whole; and consequently if one suffers, all must suffer. If by placing the foot upon the earth, no result is to follow but simply an impression of the foot, then we may feel but little concern. But if there is such an established relation, that that step is to move the world, and cause a vibration throughout the universe, then how desirable that we understand, at least, so much of existing relations as shall enable us to use those means which shall result in the greatest good! Then what shall we say respecting the subject under consideration? When the mother can scarcely press the cheek of her beloved child to her lips without leaving an impress throughout the whole system, which may be as lasting as life, shall we say that a knowledge of Physiology is of no practical importance to her? No. It seems to stand next to an experimental knowledge of regeneration, a principle of love to God and love to man implanted in the heart by the Holy Ghost. A third reason is, that children whom God has placed under the special charge of the mother, are in a forming state. We do not reject the doctrine of an overruling Proyidence, - we love it, and rejoice in it. Yet, in a very important sense, mothers make the constitutions of their children. The twig is put into the hand of the mother; and as she bends it, so it inclines. The child has not the frame, nerve and muscle of a man; but a most delicate structure, somewhat like the tender plant, which receives an impression from the slightest touch. This God designed; and He also designed, that no one, ordinarily, should have so much to do in forming the physical constitution of the child, as the mother. She has been selected from all others as the one who is to make the earliest, the deepest, and the most enduring impressions upon those she so tenderly loves, impressions which shall have their influence over mind, until those structures, now in so interesting a state, shall fail under the withering hand of death; yes, impressions which will have |