Colonel Allen that his daughter was dying, and desired to speak with him. He immediately went to her chamber, accompanied by Dr. Elliot, who was desirous of witnessing the interview. The wife of Col. Allen was a pious woman, and had instructed her daughter in the principles of Christianity. As soon as her father appeared at her bedside, she said to him, "I am about to die; shall I believe in the principles you have taught me, or shall I believe in what my mother has taught me?" He became extremely agitated; his chin quivered, his whole frame shook, and after waiting a few moments, he replied, "Believe what your mother has taught you."

A worthy officer, during the war assembled all his men in the cabin, and stating the critical situation of his country, proposed to them the contribution of ten day's pay, as a free will-offering to the necessities of their country. This being cheerfully agreed to, he presented each of them with a Bible, desiring them to peruse it carefully, adding, "It will instruct you to fear God, honor the king, and love your country."

A poor boy, going to a Sabbath School, was met by a companion, who invited him to play the truant; but he absolutely refused, and went to school. When this came to be known, the boy was asked what it was that kept him from complying with the temptation? He answered, “Because I read in my Bible, My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not:"

Q. 4. What is God.

A. God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable m his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

Simonides, a heathen poet, being asked by Hiero, king of Syracuse, What is God? desired a day to think upon it; and when that was ended, he desired two; and when these were past, he desired four days; thus he continued to double the number of days in which he desired to think of God, before he would give an answer. Upon which the king expressed his surprise at his behavior, and asked him, What he meant by this? To which the poet answered, "The more I think of God, he is still the more dark and unknown to me."

A little boy of extraordinary abilities, being introduced into the company of a dignified clergyman, was asked by him, Where God was? with the promise of an orange. "Tell me," replied the boy, "where he is not, and I will give you two."

The teacher of a Sabbath School in Bristol, discoursing with the children, asked, among other things, "where is God?" one of the elder boys immediately answered, "In heaven." The teacher not appearing satisfied with this reply, again repeated the inquiry, when a lad younger than the other, answered, "Every where." Requiring still further explanation, the question was again put, "Where is God?" when a third boy called out, "God is here." The views of the teacher were now met; and he endeavoured to impress 'upon the minds of the children the important truth that God is in heaven-God is every where -God is here.

It was a fine reply that a pupil of the deaf and dumb institution at Paris made to the following

question, put by a gentleman visiting it. "What is eternity?" "It is the lifetime of the Al

mighty."

Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one?

A. There is but one only, the living and the true God

An Indian chief, having sent for Hiacoomes, a converted native, with the view of receiving religious instruction from him, after some conversation, the chief asked him, "How many Gods the English worshipped?" Hiacoomes answered, "One, and no more.' "On which the chief reckoned up about thirty-seven principal gods which he had; "And shall I," said he, "throw away all these thirty-seven for the sake of one only "What do you yourself think?" said Hiacoomes; "For my part, I have thrown away all these and many more, some years ago, and yet I am preserved, as you see, to this day." "You speak true," said the chief, "and therefore I will throw away all my gods too, and serve that one God with you." Hiacoomes proceeded more fully to instruct him, and the rest of the company with him, and the chief having promised, as is above declared, to worship the true God, and serve him only, was as good as his word; for he carried himself as a true servant of God all the days of his life after.

At Buhapurum, in the northern Cicars, a child about eight years old, who had been educated in Christianity, was ridiculed on that account, by some heathens older than himself. In reply, he repeated what he had been taught respecting God. "Show us your God!" said the heathens. cannot do that," answered the child: "but I can soon show you yours." Taking up a stone, and

"I

daubing it with some resemblance of a human face, he placed it very gravely upon the ground, and pushing it towards them with his foot; "There,' said he, "is such a god as you worship."

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Q. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead? A. There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

"Sitting lately," says one, "in a public room at Brighton, where an infidel was haranguing the company upon the absurdities of the Christian religion, I could not but be pleased to see how easily his reasoning pride was put to shame. He quoted those passages, 'I and the Father are one; I in them, and thou in me;' and that there are three persons in one God. Finding his auditors not disposed to applaud his blasphemy he turned to one gentleman, and said with an oath, · Do believe such nonsense?' The gentleman replied. Tell me how that candle burns? Why answered he, 'the tallow, the cotton, and the atmospheric air produce the light.' 'Then they make one light, do they not?' 'Yes.' 'Will you tell me how they are one in the other, and yet but one light? No, I cannot.' 'But you believe it?' He could not say he did

not.

you

The company instantly made the application, by smiling at his folly; upon which the conversation was changed. This may remind the young and unexperienced, that if they believe only what they can explain, they may as well part with their senses, being surrounded by the wonderful works of God, whose ways are past finding out."

When Mr. Job Orton, a dissenting minister at Shrewsbury, was preaching from Isaiah ix. 6., his more orthodox hearers, who had doubts concerning his belief of the divinity of Christ, were all attention in hopes of hearing their pastor's real sentiments. They were, however, disappointed; for when he came to the words, "The mighty God," all he said was, "The meaning of this I cannot tell, and how should I, when his name is called Wonderful ?"

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Two gentlemen were once disputing on the divinity of Christ. One of them who argued against it, said, "If it were true, it certainly would have been expressed in more clear and unequivocal terms." Well," said the other, "admitting that you believed it, were you authorized to teach it, and allowed to use your own language, how would you express the doctrine to make it indubitable?" "I would say," replied he, "that Jesus Christ is the true God." "You are very happy," rejoined the other "in the choice of your words; for you have happened to hit upon the very words of inspiration. St. John, speaking of the Son, says, This is the true God and eternal

life.'"

Q. 7. What are the decrees of God?

A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby for his own glory, he hath fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass.

"Some preachers near Olney," says Mr. Newton, "dwelt on the doctrine of predestination. An old woman said, 'Ah, I have long settled that point, for if God had not chosen me before I was born, I am sure he would have seen nothing in me to have chosen me for afterward!'"