opinion on the subject, and the man who uses either of these names in a "non-natural" sense is merely adjudged to be a simpleton, not a shrewd reasoner, or a clever logician. "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin." Truth is short. Folly and falsehood are full of words. Our own times bear ample witness to this. The unfledged Romanist-the full grown child who plays at Popery with toys paid for by the Protestant, is asked if he can conscientiously put out his altarcandles, and he replies in three or four newspaper columns of puerilities, instead of saying, in one word, 'Yes' or 'No'. Depend upon it, long answers are seldom true. The mouth should speak out of the abundance of the heart, not out of the Chancery of the head.

A fourth idea shadows out the happy privileges under which we live. Much as it has become the fashion to ridicule our glorious Constitution, it works well. God has blessed and prospered it, and firmly has it stood amidst the general wreck of nations during the last few years. We are no malcontents; and if we still see some grievances to be redressed, we try to lose all thought of them in the signal mercies so much more abundant on every hand. “The lines are fallen to us in pleasant places, and we have a goodly heritage" in the tolerant and orderly procedure of our government. The queen promises nothing, well knowing that of herself she could do nothing if she would: "she resorts to the advice and assistance of her parliament;" through them placing herself in the hands of a free and loving people. In the hands of an absolute monarch, we should be at the mercy of one tyrant-in our own hands, at the mercy of a million. We thank God, humbly and sincerely, that we are in neither category. Liberty is overawed as soon as it would degenerate into licentiousness; restraint is broken through as soon as it puts on the dark scowl of despotism. The speech of a good queen is the type of a happy people, and we may indeed esteem ourselves fortunate that we can pursue, sovereign, senate, and people, in one harmonious phalanx, "without disturbance, the course of calm and peaceable amelioration; and we have every cause to be thankful to Almighty God, for the measure of tranquillity and happiness which has been vouchsafed to us."

G

ANNA, THE ELDER SISTER.

(Continued from page 69.)

CHAPTER III.

Anna's attention to her sister Lucy-further extracts from her journal— references to Sunday School engagements-spiritual declension lamented -resolutions formed a new year-letters to Sarah.

ANNA had still another sister left with her, in whose companionship she found great consolation on the departure of Sarah. Lucy was the object of her constant care. Her time was devoted to educating her, besides nursing her aged grandfather. Any time that remained was seized for other works of usefulness, or improving her own mind by attending some classes. Her anxiety for the salvation of Lucy may be seen from the following extracts from her diary.

Anna, though especially interested in the spiritual welfare of her brother and sisters, did not confine her labours to them; in Sabbath schools, and in various other ways, she devoted her talents and time to the service of the Lord. Her heart expanded with love to perishing souls. She felt so much sweetness, so much satisfaction, in the religion of Jesus, that she was earnestly desirous that all should be partakers of like blessings. Hence the searching nature of the examination which she makes, as to whether she had made proper use of her opportunities of usefulness. She writes

April 10.-I feel very much wearied with the exertions of this day. My charge at the Sabbath school were restless in the extreme, and I fear got but little good. Oh, that I had made more vigorous efforts to have fastened something on their tender minds! May the Lord direct me to say a word in season to them."

“Sabbath-day, Sept. 1825.-This day is the quarterly admission of members to our church-just one year and six months since I publicly made a profession of my faith in Christ. On a retrospective survey of my past experience, I can surely sing of mercy. Though afflictions have been mingled with my cup, yet God has been gracious to me, in as much as, though I have set him at nought, lived like one of this world, and have not had my conversation in heaven, He has not made me an awful example of his love of justice, but in mercy allowed me time to

do something more for Him. O Lord, stir up my languishing graces, make me more devoted to thy name, increase my faith and love!

"I have felt to-day particularly how great the guilt I have incurred by the sin of unfaithfulness! Yes, I have one young immortal expressly under my charge, and I have allowed her to pass day after day, and week after week, with but feeble efforts for her conversion. Help me to put up for this dear child the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous. She is entwined around my heart by many strong ties; and O! how agonizing would it be to be for ever separated! Lord, quicken me! O! rouse me from this sluggish, soul-destroying state! Help me to go forward trusting in Thee, and believing that Thou art not only able, but willing, to receive this little one into Thine own fold. And wilt thou not, O! Lord, take her, make her a bright and shining light?-an ornament to thy church-a lively stone-a living temple for the most High God?

"O God, the Father, subdue her; God the Son, remember her; God the Spirit, sanctify her!"

Nothing is more discouraging to the young convert than a constant tendency to spiritual declension. When newly born by the Spirit of God, he exults in the light of the gospel, basks in the beams of the Sun of righteousness, rejoices in the cross of Christ, and feels as if it were impossible for his faith ever to become languid, his prayers formal, or his love cold. But soon he is taught that his strength is weakness, his goodness almost like the morning dew; and by this course of temptation, doubts, fears, and even occasional defeat, he is led to glorify God, by casting himself entirely on his arm for protection and support in every time of need. Then he owns-"All my sufficiency is in thee."

A short time after, we find Anna, exposed to the fiery darts of the evil one. But we see her also triumph at last over all his assaults. Let the young convert take courage, strengthen his feeble heart with the promises of God, seek out the cause of declension, and resolve to renounce it for ever. This was done by Anna, as is shewn in the following extract:

“October 15, 1825. Sabbath-evening. For this past month I

have been enjoying great privileges, greater than usual. I have had numbers of God's people around me, and I might have been edified by their pious conversation. But I expressly desire to note it down, that I may recur to it with shame, and that it may be a means of quickening me hereafter-I have awfully backslidden from my covenant engagements. When I think of my state I am overcome with the forbearance of God, that he has not made me an awful example of justice, by suddenly cutting me off. Yes, I have so far gone back as often to neglect secret devotion, and to have only mocked God when I did come before him, by hypocrisy. I have risen in the morning, and when I thought of my coldness and neglect of God, it was only to let it remain till some other time. At night when I thought, suppose it should be said, 'Thou fool, God will require thy soul this night,' I slid on my knees and just muttered over a short prayer, but I experienced no comfort, no peaceful assurance; nothing but a fearful expectation of the wrath of God; and yet my heart was so hard as not to be moved by it. During the day my thoughts were worldly, entirely earthly; and though ostensibly engaged in promoting Christ's kingdom, I felt that my heart was as indifferent as if I had never heard of another world. And on this holy day my thoughts have been wandering, like the fool's eye, to the ends of the earth. O Lord, hast thou in any measure shown me my sinfulness, or is it only a delusion of Satan to bind me yet faster in the bondage of sin? I tremble when I think I may yet be a castaway, unaffected by Divine grace, unsubdued by the Spirit of God. O great God let me feel it, if I am still without thee; if I am thine, perfect thy strength in my weakness, by accepting a renewed dedication of myself to thee! Help me to determine now, while my thoughts during the week are so much engrossed with other subjects, to devote some time entirely and unreservedly to thee. Help me to resolve in thy strength―

I. "Never to leave the house for school, without having first dedicated myself to thee.

II. "Never to retire, unless prevented by bodily indisposition, without having first sought thee. For this purpose—

III. "I resolve, whenever practicable, to retire some time in

the evening before nine, so that my devotions may be performed at a time when my body is not weary.

IV. "I also resolve to command my thoughts (God helping me) more entirely during the family devotions.

V. "Never to let a day pass, unless unavoidable, without saying something or other to the dear child under my care, something which shall lead her mind to God and divine things, and something which, with God's blessing, shall lead her mind to a Saviour.

VI. "To endeavour to attend to those duties which I have undertaken for the advancement of Christ's kingdom, such as the Sabbath school, collectorship, &c. in a firmer reliance on God, feeling my own weakness, and trusting in him alone, and to make them a particular subject of prayer, and also a means of quickening my own graces.

"O Lord, wilt thou help me to keep these resolutions, and fix my soul on Thee and thee alone, with a feeling sense of the emptiness of this vain world, and keep me from spiritual pride and spiritual sloth as my two greatest evils!

We continue our extracts from Anna's diary—

January 1, 1826.-Another year has rolled away, and is for ever gone! laden with all its sins to give up its account to God. What a sum of iniquities are contained in it, which I have forgotten. What a black catalogue has every single day to present, and I am yet spared-a striking monument of God's long suffering! I feel that at this momentous period, the beginning of another year, I have peculiar duties to perform. When I look back on the past year, and see how many resolutions I have formed, how deliberately I have broken them all, I tremble to make any more, particularly when I consider the awful solemnity attached to a resolution made in the name of the Lord. Oh, how much need have I to humble myself in the dust for my neglect of all the duties which have devolved upon me-some entirely neglected, others performed in so cold and heartless a manner, that instead of glorifying God by them, I have robbed him of his reasonable due, a willing heart. And not only have I reason to lament my negative sins, for what an amount of positive evil have I committed. How many Sabbaths profaned, opportunities