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me, without knowing if God wills it; I pity them let us pray for them.' After having prayed for his enemies, he added: "Fear not them who can kill the body; but fear Him who can cast both soul and body into hell.”

One day, as he was exhorting a woman to turn to the Lord, she replied; 'I have, no doubt, committed many little sins to which I paid no attention.' Ah!' he exclaimed, do you talk of little sins? All sins are offensive in the sight of God! "He is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity." Search in the Bible if you find any sin more small apparently than the sin of Adam and Eve: they had only eaten some fruit; they had not injured their neighbour, because they were alone; and yet this little sin ruined the human race; a mighty victim was needed for its expiation.'

'You have often confessed your faults to a priest,' said he to a Catholic woman; ' do you believe that this priest has taken away your sins?' 'No,' said the woman; 'I have always been afraid of death, because I feel that I have sinned against the God of heaven, and I dare not appear before him, fearing to be cast in the dreadful abyss, as I justly deserve.' Well, you see, my dear, that a man cannot pardon your sins. But the Lord Jesus can and will, because he is Almighty and All-merciful. Go then to him, just as you are, as the penitent Mary Magdalene; and, like her, you shall find a Saviour full of compassion, who will tell you—“ Go in peace; thy sins are forgiven thee." And, like her, you will love much, because you have been forgiven much.'

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One day, being in a house, after begging those present to receive the word of reconciliation, and seeing that they attached no importance to his words, he became sad and dejected. Do you feel sick!' said the people to him. Yes, I am sick when I consider your obstinacy in remaining estranged from God, without hope in the world.' "Ah! I often read my Bible,' said one to him, and I cannot remember it.' 'Oh! if you loved this Word, you would retain it in your memory. If you had an intimate friend who was absent, surely you would often think of him. If he wrote you that soon he would return to reside constantly with you, you would read and read again his letter; you would remember it; you would speak of it to your friends; you would hasten by your sighs the moment of his coming. So it will be if you truly love the Lord Jesus.'

Felix Neff was often heard singing praises to God, when alone in his room. Worldly men said of him: What a singular being! he seems unhappy, and yet, when he is alone, he is always singing!' It was because Neff rejoiced in the Lord. Yet his friends relate that he had also great spiritual trials. He said that he was sometimes so assailed by the adversary of souls, that he seemed to himself to be surrounded with ruins, and he lost for a moment even the hope of being saved. But soon he resumed courage. He who has taken me into fellowship with himself is faithful,' said he; and if, on account of my many unfaithfulnesses, he hides for a moment his face, I hope ever in him: I know in whom I have believed!'

INCONSISTENCIES.

WHEN A PROTESTANT LOVES HIS CHURCH BETTER THAN HIS BIBLE.

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'WHAT did you think of the sermon to-day, Mrs. Benson?' inquired a friend. I was pained by it,' returned the other seriously, and could almost have wept as I cast my eyes around our little church, and saw many there whom I knew were ignorant of the truths of salvation, and I fear, returned to their homes without having heard the Gospel.' 'I am astonished to hear you say so,' rejoined Miss Parker, for my part, I was delighted; and having heard the duty of reading the Scriptures enjoined by the authority of the Church, which the preacher plainly proved, gives her warmest sanction to them, I shall return home to read my Bible with renewed pleasure.' And so shall I,' replied Mrs. Benson,' not because I am told the Church honours it with her sanction; but that I may find a sure refuge from these winds of doctrine, which, if permitted, would, I am persuaded, desolate our fair Zion.' 'Mrs. Benson,' continued Miss Parker, there is a fault-finding spirit abroad, which is not afraid " to speak evil of dignities;" it is not for us to say, of one placed over us by the Church, that he does not preach the Gospel; I think such a spirit much more likely to desolate the Church than a return to primitive usages, which you deprecate.' I cannot agree with you,' replied Mrs. B., it is the duty of a Christian people to "take heed how they hear," lest they receive doctrine which will not stand the test," What think ye of Christ?" He who has heretofore ministered to me in holy things, would have considered his ministry in vain, did it not lead his people "to search out of the book of the Lord, and see whether things are so." If you remember, it is written against Israel, that while the priests dealt treacherously "my people love to have it so."

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The ladies parted; Miss Parker to deplore the uncharitableness of her neighbour, and to lament the fault-finding spirit of the age; Mrs. Benson, to draw from the pure fountain of life food for her soul, and to pray for the young minisrer, that he might henceforth preach Jesus. A stranger appeared among them the succeeding Sunday, and good Miss Parker's devotions were disturbed; he wore no surplice; but with a devout and fervent spirit, he offered the incense of prayer. The service over, he ascended the pulpit, and Mrs. Benson's eyes filled with tears of joy as she looked upon the simple country congregation, and read in their interested attention that they understood the message set before them of life and death; and her prayer accompanied it, that some might be led to say, Sir, we would see Jesus.' Miss Parker fidgetted in her seat, and church over, her turn to criticise began. • Almost like a Methodist meeting,' said she,' to be sure, he could not alter our prayers, but I wonder what right he had to cast reproach upon our bishops, by not wearing the surplice. 'I always feel inclined,' returned Mrs. B., ' to apply the words of our Saviour to similar omissions, "these ought ye to have done," but in this case I am sure it must have been accidental.' Were you not delighted with

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the sermon, Miss Parker.' It was good!' replied she, but I like practical discourses, if I hear a sermon on repentance, or faith, or the love of God in my soul, it is an excellent sermon; but not practical, because I may deceive myself on those points, and think I possess them when I do not: but if the duty of going to church, of almsgiving, of family prayer, is set before me, I cannot deceive myself as to whether I practice them. 'Miss Parker,' continued Mrs. Benson, smiling, you forget the fault-finding spirit of the age in your remarks, and that he who to-day dispensed to us the word of life, is as much set over us by the Church as any minister; but I presume the sin of fault-finding is chargeable only on those who mourn a mutilated Gospel when they hear the Church preached; whereas the neglect which our preacher was guilty of to-day, merits the censure of all good church people. I may not test a sermon by my Bible, but by the churchmanship of the preacher. Those who thus cry, "The temple of the Lord," to my mind, see not the beauty of our primitive Apostolic Church, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; they who tell me the Church sanctions the Scriptures, forget that ours is the Church of the New Testament, where we find her ministry, her divine institution and her doctrines; and thus do they, in exalting the Church, take from her the only solid basis which supports her.' 'Good morning, Mrs. Benson,' said Miss Parker, as the ladies reached their place of parting, and turning to her companion, remarked, 'I fear Mrs. Benson has brought some strange notions to disturb our quiet parish. There are always to be found some to trouble Israel, and break the unity of the Church. I hope, Emma, you will not be led by her to criticise your pastor, for he is certainly better qualified than we to judge what is proper doctrine.' There are too many like Miss Parker among us, regarding the Church as the test of the Gospel. I love my Church, I honour her ministry, as the divinelyappointed channel, through which Christ promises to be with her to the end of the world. I see beauty in her every usage, from the pure white surplice (though I call it not a holy vestment) emblem of Christ's righteousness, which alone can cover the sinner from destruction in the presence of God; and the black scarf, contrasting with its snowy folds to remind me of man's guilt, to the very rubric which directs to be said, ' Here endeth the Second Lesson.' I think nothing unmeaning she requires, and have often had my wandering thoughts recalled as the announcement startled me-the Second Lesson ended; how have I benefitted by it? The opportunity for this time, at least, is ended. But dearly as I love my Church, all beauteous as she appears to me, the whole structure fades away 66 as the baseless fabric of a vision," if I see not Christ the chief corner-stone, ever prominent, ever exalted, supreme among ten thousand, and altogether lovely.'

G.

NORWOOD SCHOOLS.*

ONE peculiar feature which seems to strike visitors, (and there have been upwards of five thousand in the last three years and a half) is the cheerful and happy looks of the children, and how completely at ease and without fear they seem.

But do I mean to say they are all religious? That be far from me; this, however, I do say, that to many of those who have left, and to many still in the schools, I look with the fullest confidence, as growing in the fear of the Lord, and that the seeds of holiness and righteousness have been planted in their hearts. I look at them with hope, that they have received the engrafted word which is able to save their souls' that they intend to fight manfully against the world, the flesh, and the devil, and to continue Christ's faithful soldiers and servants unto their lives' end.' My full hope is, that many (would that it may be all!) will meet in that blessed place of which we often sing and talk, through the merits of Him who they well know said, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

This hope, supported by the promise of Jehovah, is the chief source whence a chaplain in such a sphere can derive comfort under his many trials. Difficulties seen and unseen, numerous and humiliating, painful and self-denying, will come; and knowing there is every hope that schools of this kind with chaplains attached will shortly be established, I would venture to prepare my brethren in the ministry for scenes and circumstances which will require the exercise of all the passive graces of the Spirit, as well as all the active; and nothing will bear them up amidst the conflicting elements with which they will have to come in contact, but a deep-rooted conviction, that from the children chiefly, all their comfort and consolation in their "work of faith and labour of love," will come. To see the children grateful and affectionate, to know a work is going on in them which none but the Spirit of the Lord could commence and can bring to perfection, and to have a testimony within, that they are doing the work of Him that sent them, is all the encouragement they must expect.

A chaplain to pauper children is seen by few in his work, and probably understood by fewer still; it is not a popular work-the halt or maimed, or lame or blind, in body or mind, it is thought by many, will do for pauper children.-Let not this keep any one from the office. True, if I may be supposed to address some one so situated, you will in a great measure work without receiving those outward encouragements which other spheres offer- no sparkling coronet, no fashionable congregation, no rich merchant, no opulent tradesman, no extensive agriculturist will hang upon your lips; no, not even the honest operative or peasant will come to listen to your plain and simple sermons; to children only you will.minister: should, however, it be so that your efforts are observed by those in power, and promises fair and flattering be made, without perhaps your solicitation,.

* Extracted from an interesting account of these Schools, just published by the Rev. Joseph Brown, the chaplain.

you must not be surprised if they pass away "like a summer cloud unheeded." Bear all this for the children's sake, for your own sake, yea rather for your Master's sake, and "great shall be your reward in heaven." You must give yourself unto prayer-you must give yourself to the work, "in season and out of season -you must "become all things" to the children-it is the only way to gain their affection; and if you do not this, how much of your valuable labour will be lost!

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Continually am I requested by visitors to state my mode or style of preaching to the children, by which I am able to gain so much of their attention. I fear I cannot lay claim to any talent or originality in my plain and simple manner of preaching; however, I may perhaps, without presumption, as the best answer I can give, insert one full sermon, and two or three outlines of sermons; at the same time impressing the minds of those who wish to be able, in their sermons or addresses, to keep the attention of children, that in order to do this, they must give attention to reading,' with this particular object in view-they must read for children-they must read of children; and, in order to know the kind of thought which will interest-they should, till they attain the power of gaining their attention, often read to children; carefully watching the expression of countenance, which will be as so many keys to discover the delicate strings of their tender minds, and which must be skilfully touched as occasion may require. Let the mind of the preacher be well stored with Scripture-its narratives and histories, prophecies and promises-the meaning of the difficult texts-a knowledge of the customs and manners of the East; and above all, clear, distinct views of the doctrines of Christianity, and those portions of the Bible which prove them. The memory, too, should be furnished with the best devotional and other poetry; and it would be a very valuable acquisition to commit to memory large portions of the Book of Psalms, the Collects, of Cowper's, Montgomery's, and some of Keble's Hymns, Watts' Divine Songs. Miss Taylor's Poetry for the Young, and the little books of this kind which the Rev. J. E. Dalton, Fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge, now and then publishes. Mrs. Hemans's poetry is rich in thought for the young.

When we remember how many of every congregation may be called young, it is not too much to say, some portion of the hours of our reading ought to be devoted to them. Full well do I know this requires self-denial; and we, the clergy, must take up this cross, and not push it out of our way, if we would be accounted good stewards, good shepherds of Him who is represented as carrying the tender lambs in his bosom, and who left the command, "Feed my lambs."

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