1833.] THE WIDOW'S MITE. 87 expressly brought forward as an exemplification of the striking difference between a real and assumed profession of religion-single-hearted devotedness and love to God being more acceptable in his sight than whole burnt offerings and sacrifice, as we read in the 40th Psalm, ver. 6. 8.. where the Christian's best obedience may be summed up in our Lord's words, "I delight to do thy will, O my God, yea thy law is within my heart." Let us beware then that we act not for outward display either in deeds of charity or religious profession; for he who seeth in secret, and sifts our thoughts and intentions, shall reward according to the motives which influence the heart. Of the "abundance" we possess, let us not be backward abundantly to bestow on the poor and needy, nor of our "want" forget to give the mite also; and may he, whose is the gold and the silver, look upon what we cast into his treasury with favour and acceptance, as he did the widow's gift, for he knoweth the value of all our gifts, he weigheth the spirit of the giver, and duly appreciates every spiritual as well as temporal mite which bears the impress of his spirit, and the stamp of his love, thereby rendering it the true genuine coin and currency of heaven. And thanks be unto God, though we must acknowledge all we think and all we do to be unprofitable, and the whole even of "all our living" but a mite offered up in much unworthiness, this offering shall be accepted in and through the great living sacrifice, the sinless atonement, the perfect righteousness, of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath purchased by his death the everlasting salvation of his people. A. F. N. The word of God affords us direction, but the grace of God must enable us to follow its direction; and that grace must be obtained by prayer.-Bishop Horne. 1833.1 89 THE MENAI BRIDGE. IF our young readers will look at any map in which England and Ireland are to be seen together, they will observe that the road from London, the capital of England, to Dublin, the capital of Ireland, will pass through the Isle of Anglesea; and that the traveller to Dublin must take shipping at Holyhead, on the western side of Anglesea. But the Isle of Anglesea is separated from our Island by the Straits of Menai, across which, till within a few years, there was no method of passing but by means of a ferry. Much delay was caused by this interruption; and many serious accidents occurred to the Holyhead mail, and other carriages, arising from the different state of the tides, and of the weather. In the year 1810, the House of Commons appointed a select committee to inquire into the state of the roads from Holyhead to London; into the regulations for the conveyance of the mail between London and Dublin; and also into the laws and regulations relating to the conveyance of passengers, goods, and merchandize between Dublin and Holyhead. In the years 1810 and 1811 different plans of bridges were proposed for the passage over the Menai strait. One of those which deserved the most consideration was to have a single arch of 500 feet span, the highest part of which was to be 100 feet above the level of the high water line. This was to cost 127,000l. But great difficulties presented themselves, from the depth of the channel, the rapidity of the tide, and the rocky nature of the bottom, so that it seemed scarcely possible to fix the proper apparatus for constructing such a bridge. It occurred to Mr. Telford that a bridge upon the plan of suspension, was well suited to this situation. His suggestion was attended to. His plan was submitted to the Commissioners of the Holyhead road. They consulted several eminent engineers, and then made their report to Parliament. The necessary funds were granted, and the work was begun in July 1818, and was opened to the public in January 1826, at an expense of about 120,000l. The bridge consists of one opening of 560 feet be tween the points of suspension, and 100 feet in height from the water when the tide is highest. But the four arches on the Anglesea side, with the three on the other side, each arch being fifty feet broad, make the whole bridge 910 feet. The road on the bridge has two carriage ways, each twelve feet broad, and a foot path between them four feet broad; so that carriages do not interfere with each other, nor incommode the foot passengers. Besides the great utility of this bridge, its form is most particularly beautiful-its light appearance, from being suspended (upon mathematical principles) from a chain hung across the strait, is peculiarly elegant. At a little distance, it has an appearance of such delicacy, that it would seem unsafe to trust any thing like weight upon it, and yet it has a power and strength capable of bearing almost any weight that could be put upon it. V. HOW THE CATECHISM TEACHES US THE LOVE OF GOD. The "IF I seriously desire the love of God, I must first drive out of my heart all contrary loves: and then consider the motives and causes that excite the love of God. former is taught in the Vow of Baptism, the latter in the Creed. When Divine love is once produced in the heart by the influence of the Holy Spirit, my next care must be to put it in practice; I must bring forth the fruits, or effects of love; which are all contained in the Ten Commandments. When the love of God is engrafted in my heart, and is set on work, my last concern must be to preserve, and ensure, and quicken it: it is preserved by prayer, the pattern of which is the Lord's Prayer; it is ensured to us by the Sacraments, which are the pledges of love; and more particularly it is quickened by the Holy Eucharist', which is the feast of love. So that the plain order of the Catechism teaches me the rise, the progress, and the perfection of Divine love, which God of his great mercy give me grace to follow."-Extracted from Bishop Kenn's Exposition of the Church Catechism. 1 The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. 1833.1 SUNDAY. (Extracted from "Cottage Poetry" by the Author of "Old Friends in a New Dress.") SUNDAY is the day I love, More splendid breaks the glowing dawn, How my heart delighted swells Come "hear of Heaven, and learn the way 1," Sunday is the day I love. Assembled in the House of Prayer, At evening, service is renew'd, ! Dr. Watts. |