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attentively and carefully gone through, put into our possession! What views do books open! What counsels do they furnish! What narrations do they detail! What principles do they inculcate! What incentives to all that is noble and virtuous, benevolent and holy, do they communicate! Some of the purest and richest of our early pleasures, with that of millions, and the number is increasing indefinitely, have been gained from reading. The attractive book has been a luxurious feast. The mind has been rivetted, and all its faculties enchained. How often has evening after evening been delightfully spent in perusing some spirit-fixing volume, which has been new to the youthful mind, and, by its delineations of character, its narration of incident and adventure, or its powerful appeal, has produced deep and long-remembered impression. Never can we forget how we first devoured "Robinson Crusoe," and were awe-struck by its more solemn and awakening scenes, or were charmed with its more animated and joyous narrations. What a world opened on us when this book was first read!

How can we fail to remember the eagerness with which we perused, for the first time, the far-famed "Pilgrim's Progress?"-that precious volume, with its vivid and life-like sketches, with its gallery of moral and religious paintings, the figures almost appearing to be moving and walking before us-with its affectionate and impressive exhortationswith its original and powerful admonitions, and all in perfect harmony with the word of God; this gem of books, with all it contains, is ever present with us.

John Bunyan's "Holy War," when we first perused it, awakened the deepest emotions, and, to this hour, its earliest perusal is remembered as being among our choicest pleasures.

The "Life of Henry Kirke White" was a favourite little volume; and, after its first reading, we took so deep an interest in the character, the struggles, the poetry, and the letters of poor Henry, that we were obliged to put the touching

book of Southey under our pillow, and read it, again and again, as soon as we awoke.

Rowland Hill's "Village Dialogues" constituted a volume to which, in our youth, we recurred with profound and growing interest; and, when it was perused for the first time, how did we turn again and again to honest Thomas Newman-to that beautiful delineation of a gospel minister, the Rev. Mr. Lovegood -to the character and death of Mr. Merryman-to honest Farmer Littleworth and his son Henry-to Squire Worthyto Madam Toogood and Mr. Slapdashand, so long as we live, we cannot forget the ignorance, bigotry, unlovely and unchristian spirit, of that mock-minister, Parson Doolittle. We never think of Rowland Hill, with all his eccentricities, and, moreover, with all the fine features, both of his mind and character, without blessing his memory for that choice volume of Dialogues, so full of character, of pathos, of sage and acute remark, to which we now allude, and which we place always near Bunyan's "Pilgrim.”

Our early pleasures have been derived from our home. These enjoyments, with millions of the most virtuous and estimable of the human family, have ever been among their choicest. None are so refined, so pure, so tranquillizing, so steady and permanent. Well do we remember the comforts of the endeared domestic circle-all the members of that circle collected-not one absent; the tranquil fireside—the little snug parlour, where we have often read and enjoyed our favourite volumes-the delightful evenings in autumn, and, especially, in winter, when, the curtains being drawn, the tea having been removed, the fire brightly blazing, one would peruse aloud some interesting and captivating book, while the other members of the family would attentively listen, as they pursued their work, and the more juvenile ones would be all interest and pleasure. What cheerful and happy evenings have been thus spent! Evenings, whose associations will always remain with us, and

awaken emotions of pensiveness, yet of every day could be transformed into a sabbath day!

devout gratitude and joy.

"Oft in our peaceful home, that shelter'd nest, Where still our best affections love to rest, And memory guards her treasures to the last, Or dwells, with pensive joy, on pleasures past. The conscious mind, assisted by her power, The treasur'd sweets of every passing hour Can bring again to second life, and view Their joys as pleasing as when first they flew."

Our early pleasures have been derived from some interesting youthful companions, those of kindred tastes and sentiments; those who have thought with us, felt with us, sported with us, laboured with us. What conversations have we enjoyed with them! What rambles have we taken with them! What extended and happy walks in the wide field of nature! As they grew up, our attachment to them increased, and theirs to us augmented. We were rarely a day apart. But where are they now? What changes have been accomplished! What severances effected! How many of them have departed to eternity, and have been laid in an early grave! Shall we meet them in heaven?

Our early pleasures have been derived from the sanctuary: yes, our richest, our sweetest, our highest. We longed for the sabbath, when we might repair to the sanctuary observe the delightful exercises of the sanctuary-partake of the tranquil and enviable enjoyments of the sanctuary. Our walk to the sanctuary was one of our most pleasing. How was that walk anticipated; and when, on the sabbath morning, we entered the spacious building where we were wont to worship, what emotions, of the most grateful kind, pervaded our hearts! How we rejoiced to see our beloved pastor enter his pulpit! With what zest we celebrated the praises of God! How it delighted us to hear the songs of Zion sweetly sung by nearly fifteen hundred worshippers! How it gladdened the spirit to listen to the burst of praise, after a glowing and beautiful sermon, full of the pure gospel of Christ! How we returned home, longing for the sabbath to come again, and almost wishing that

These have been among our early pleasures; dear readers, have they been among yours? We hope so. If they have been, do you not feel how pure they have been; how rich they have been; how full of zest they have been; with what bloom and beauty they have been clothed; and what an impression they have produced?

Early pleasures should be recurred to. The mind should accustom itself to dwell on them. Memory should love to linger around them. If the recollection be appropriately indulged, lively gratitude will be awakened; pleasing and powerful emotions will be inspired. We shall find present happiness increased, and moral and religious influences augmented.

And let us not, as we advance in life, regret, unduly and unwisely regret that the vivacity of our early pleasures has passed away, but let us cherish unaffected gratitude for all the enjoyments, so rich, so varied, and so vivacious, which we have realized-and let us cultivate and improve the numerous pleasures, refined and tranquillizing in their nature, with which a kind Providence is still favouring

us.

Like the bee, let us extract honey from every odorous flower. Let us remember that pleasures, of the richest and purest kind, may be gained from almost innumerable sources; and let us be looking forward to the purer, the higher, the more exquisite, and the endless pleasures of paradise.

We would remark, in concluding these observations, Parents, be wise, in relation to your offspring; endeavour, in early life, to make your children happy. See that they are surrounded by what is calculated to render them cheerful and animated. Let them perceive that you are solicitous to promote their enjoyment in everything that is healthful and pure. Let not your children be made gloomy. Take every weight from the mind of a child. Do not envelop your children with a dark and sombre atmosphere. Mothers, walk out with your offspring,

and show them what is beautiful and

grand in nature. Let them see that you are happy, if they are happy. Fathers, let your children accompany you in your rambles, and explain to them that what you see and admire is worthy of their attention. Answer their intelligent and numerous, though sometimes most amusing questions. Talk to them about the wonders of the heavens, the beauty of the earth, the grandeur and extent of the ocean; the wisdom, power, and goodness of God in all. Accustom them to read and think on these subjects. Cherish early friendships of the right kind, and, above all, let your children go with you to the house of God, that early habits

of worship may be formed, and that, by the Divine blessing, an early spirit of devotion may be cultivated.

Blil, indeed, is the thought of a whole family meeting in heaven! Husband and wife, brethren and sisters, all before the throne of the Redeemer at last! one by one parting in love, in the prospect of a rapturous and unbroken meeting in paradise.

"Such tender chains connect the mind with
earth,

Till mercy kindly terminates the span
That bounds the present littleness of man;
And, like the gale to frozen waters given,
Dissolves each link, and wafts the soul to
heaven."

W. T.

TRAINING ESTABLISHMENTS FOR LAY PREACHERS.

THE author of " Jethro," the prize essay on lay preaching, has done good service to the church of Christ, by republishing a part of the Edinburgh Review, respecting Richard "Baxter with his Thirty Helpers, by which he was enabled to quicken into spiritual life the inert mass of a rude and vicious population." It must be remembered, that Kidderminster passed through the most astonishing moral transformation of any town in England-and do not the "Thirty Helpers" explain the secret of Baxter's wonderful success?

Mr. Jones, the biographer of Rowland Hill, has thrown great weight into this scale, by a humorous account of "Rowland and his Ferrets,"—that is, the good men who talked to sinners, and held prayer-meetings in the borough of Southwark, which helped to fill Surrey Chapel.

The celebrated Doctor Chalmers, in a conversation which we had with him, in our town, a few days before he went to heaven, referred, with great animation, to the same subject. After stating his views very clearly, one of the company said to him, "Then you like lay agents, Doctor." "Yes," replied the philososopher, we cannot get on without them. Every ecclesiastic ought to have Twenty Helpers."

Nearly thirty years ago, Mr. Mead and myself began to act upon this plan in South Travancore, with the new converts who had just been brought out of pagan darkness into the marvellous light of the gospel; and now there are hundreds of lay preachers, and Scripture readers, and schoolmasters, in that fruitful field of Christian missions!

The plan of lay preaching was in operation at Wotton-under-Edge Tabernacle long before I came here; so that I had only to watch the leadings of Providence, and call in new converts to engage in the work. The Lord has smiled upon our labours. There has been joy in heaven in the presence of the angels of God over sinners brought to repentance, (the best token of the Divine approbation,) besides which, there have been many other proofs of God's favour, which have led us "to thank God, and take courage."

Three of our preachers have, in the course of a year, gone to reside in other places; but they are gone, as the salt of the earth, and the lights of the world. They will not be idle. Oh, no, they cannot be idle. The love of Christ constraineth them!

Our present number is twelve, who labour statedly, or occasionally, in ten or twelve parishes. By this means we are

preaching on some sabbaths to thousands of people, and operating indirectly on thousands more. The idea of the great Wilberforce was, that the grace of God, or the salt of the earth, acts in the following ratio: For every sinner that is truly converted to God, thirty-nine others are benefitted by it. Now, if we calculate according to Mr. Wilberforce's idea, then our training establishment must be exerting a very powerful influence for good upon the villages around us.

Note. It ought to be mentioned that ours is a thinly-scattered population, which may account for the smallness of our numbers: but it may serve also as an additional stimulus to those ministers and churches who live in cities, towns, and districts abounding with people. If such be the encouraging results where the inhabitants are few and far between, what might not be expected from similar efforts where the places are filled like a beehive?

Sunday-schools have arisen from these labours, which promise much good to the children, at the same time affording fine occupation to the teachers, most of whom are young converts, who will be doing something, and who learn by teaching, as it was in my own case-it will be a preparatory training for more important

labours.

Churches will sooner or later be formed at some of these preaching stations; each having some members from our tabernacle. This must of course be felt as a draining of good and useful members from the parent church. This I know would appear to some as a great hardship; and a pastor must be void of fine, tender, Christian sensibility, if he did not feel a pang at parting. But I have endeavoured to view it as a tender mother views the honourable marriage of one of her daughters. It causes a pang at parting, but this is overbalanced by the thought, "Well, she is gone!-but it is for the honour of the family, and the happiness of many beside. It would be selfish-it would be cruel, to wish to keep her at

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home." It adds breadth to a church, thus to expand; while it ultimately strengthens that which remains. Solo

mon was the wisest man, and he said, ،، There is that giveth and yet increaseth, there is that withholdeth more than is meet, and it tendeth to poverty." Let him that is wise ponder these things.

Many expenses will be connected with these varied labours, such as the licensing, and rent of rooms, the erection of chapels, the purchase of books, and little incidentals. But these must be met with a generosity becoming the glorious cause. We serve a good Master, and shame on the man who would do his work with a niggard hand. Fifty pounds laid out in this way will bring a rich return. It is like seed-corn. It will give “seed to the sower, and bread to the eater." There will soon be a re-action. Our last little chapel was opened this day week. The whole of the expense was defrayed by one family, who also entertained a large party of the villagers to tea on the occasion. O that similar efforts were universal throughout the kingdom! And does not the state of our country require it? The urgency of the case arises from the want of evangelical preaching in by far the greater part of the parishes in England. I should suppose, from extensive observation, that in some quarters not more than one in ten of the parish pulpits are filled with what the commentator Scott would call "tried and evangelical men." Then, of course, the inference is easy. "If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." O, my brethren! rescue your country from this calamity. You can do it. Up, my brethren, and be doing. Your Master says, 46 Go-preach my gospel to every creature, and, lo! I am with you.' Prepare for a mighty struggle! Quit you like men! "The Lord of Hosts is The God of Jacob is our

with us.
refuge."
Wotton Tabernacle,

August 5, 1817.

RICHARD KNILL.

PRAYER FOR STUDENTS IN THEOLOGY.

Amidst the many anxious desires and vigorous efforts in behalf of our cherished schools of the prophets, is there not one sad omission ?-Are not the students forgotten in prayer?

Christians meet to pray and praise in the more private social prayer-meeting. The student is often there, and joins in the sweet and holy exercise: the solemn hymns of praise, the devout and earnest prayers, the precious words of Holy Writ -all bespeak the promised Spirit's presence. The student retires, wondering why he was forgotten in almost every prayer.

The weekly church prayer-meeting assembles. The pastor is there; the student is also there the solemn exercises progress; devout petitions arise to God from many hearts, imploring Heaven's richest blessings on the shepherd and on the flock; on the true Israel everywhere; and on a world lying in sin. But the students are forgotten in every petition.

The holy sabbath appears, and the sanctuary is thronged with worshippers; the man of God stretches forth his hands; and whilst the people bow in prayer, he,

as their mouth unto God, acknowledges the Keeper of Israel, and implores the forgiveness of sins, the consolations of the gospel, and all the benefits of Christ's purchase upon that particular churchupon the church universal-for Jew and Gentile-for Christian and Pagan: but amidst the crowds who ask and obtain an interest in his prayers, the student is forgotten.

Why pray for the acting ministry, or the prosperity of the church, and yet forget the student of theology? Surely, he is neither so holy, so happy, nor so wise, that "his full soul can hold no more;” nor yet is he so profligate and worthless that Divine grace cannot benefit him.

Why should his heart be chilled by the thought, that he is such an outcast creature, cloistered in his study, that he is even forgotten in prayer?

Why should the church thus injure or destroy herself, by never sending up a petition to the Lord for the furnishing or strengthening of those who will in time be her pastors and her watchmen ?— Christian Treasury.

MATERIALS FOR THOUGHT.

STANDARD OF PIETY.

We give no evidence that our religious profession is a matter of choice and the effect of an internal principle, until we arrive at that point beyond which the world will not advance with us. If from thence we proceed with a mild but intrepid singularity, assigning as a reason for our conduct that we are influenced by the fear of God, we afford a satisfactory proof that our piety is real,—that we are Christians indeed.-Dr. Styles.

A MONTH FROM HOME.

If a moralist were justified in saying that but few individuals "know how to take a walk," the Christian preacher is certainly warranted in affirming that but few even among consistent Christians

VOL. XXV.

know how to spend a month from home. It requires a considerable portion of selfknowledge, a great power of reflection, -and a habit of making all the objects around us administer to our improvement, both mental and spiritual, to preserve us against the evil consequences resulting from a suspension of accustomed pursuits. It is no mean attainment to be able to spend our leisure hours with advantage to ourselves and others. We are equally accountable for those as for the other portions of our time. God does not suspend his claims during the period which we devote to recreation. On the contrary, it seems reasonable, that when we have the whole of our time at our own command, as much of it as possible should be consecrated to the service of religion

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