I No, 16.—Whole No. 380. * IfMfrf. ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE SHORTER CA TECHISM. NO. lI.—MAN'S CHIEF END TO ENJOY HIM FOREVER, W 4\T Woas °^ rtll ’ a pleasant flow.ers cull, When nought therein thy soul from ditty lures, Kemembmng they are then most beautifiil, “W at h put them idto yours; And, as the rambdWs point us to the sun, So should our joys to that soul-brightening One. .' 11. Crowning bliss! it gives sublitoe delight to gaze abroad °“ ocean: but sublimer joy Ishis ’ W ho views the oeean-sborelessness of God. 1 and behold 1 He pours itxhaustless tides of love round all their shores! __ ■ m. When fierce oppression tramples down the weak Whe fled mth 1S orushed 60 <feath, when hope hath Th . e God Power and pity heats the Shriek, t,4r h«*ls a L Vengeful sea on Pharaoh’s head. mu u in yon high throne ahove, i“ • The bolt of empire m the hand of Love. ' IV. i'... . When earthly friends prove feeble hr untrue, When sins assail thee or success hath flown, •’ °rwhen you tread that valley where with you Ao mend cancome—for each must die alone— Bejoioej God gives thy perilled hours a Crowd i joys,—Christ’s robe thy bright death- V. .'s-' Who but should triumph-in a God so bright ? . Justice, truth, mercy, holiness endow ! Mm paths with beauty; what a winning light _Of gentleness and wisdom on His brow! How many a diadem His head adorns, Apd, o er them all, behold the crown of thorns. Delight thee, then, in God, and he at peace, From oreature-oomforts turn full off thine eyes In whom thy joys shall still increase, Making eternity one bright suprise- His smUe alone those pleasures can impart,. And flu the vastneas of thy.deathless heart. ” • ' EIaHiSTOTEROS. MEETING TOGETHER OF THE RICH AND THE FOOR.~-li. BY REV. E. ; Ev ADAMS. We are to begin, therefore, with the fact of inequality in the human condition; to regard it as a lawjjf Providence in the regulation of society; as in harmqny the other works and ordinances of God; as an element of con servation, of development, and of progress toward social perfection,,., . We are to submitiat the outset to a system in which some are born with more healthy, vigorous bodies, greater mental power, or a better temperament than others; in which Borne are ushered into being amid better influences, and at an epoch when fairer opportunities offer for success In states manship, or Warfare, or in the more quiet pro fessions and walks of life. We arc to accept an order of things 'in reference to the human race, corresponding to tho system which we see in the material world below and around ns, wherein each individual thing differs, in some particular, from every othef; where, among the million leaves that clothe a single oak, no two of them have precisely the same form or hue; among the myriad grasses-and flowers that garnish the broad acres of the earth, each can boast of something which the rest cannot claim; among the living creatures that fill the soil, the seas, and the, ajr with motion and with song, each wears a distinctive badge; and all in their generic harmonies, as in their specific and individual distinctions, demonstrate, as they “sing and shine” the manifoldness and opulence, yet the unity of the Creator, And we are not to forget, that many of the' distinctions existing among men, areattribut able instrumentally to the sufferers themselves; to their vices orrfollies, their idleness or incon sideration. While on the other hand, not a few are the results of criminal pride and cruel misrule on the part of those who are bom to better fortunes, or who have,>by greater skill, industry or power, obtained positions above their fellows. But with all this diversity, whether constitutional or criminal in its origin, there are planes of equality between the.two classed. V • To say nothing of the fact that all are born equally helpless of themselves jequally depen dent on some waiting hand that takes them: up, elothes, warms, feeds them, —or some heart that feels for their and-hears their cry off misery, whether in the palace or the' cottagd,' in the wealthy mansion, or in the movmgtent, or without shelter in the busy street, or beneath the shade of the all are essentially alike in their nature, Notwithstanding the different degrees- Of physical power, of Mental clearness and grasp, all hare the same organism, the. same intellec tual endowments. Superiority in any attri bute is as likely to exist in the poor as in the rich, and in the exercise of Iheir natural en dowments, the former often rise to fortune and to power; while the latter, for the want of per sonal endeavor, sink- to poverty and depen dence; and sometimes in the changes which Providence brings about among men, the poor and oppressed are pushed upward and set upon the highest grade of social life, as . the granite is upheaved through the superincum bent strata. All men have reason and ambition, more or less, in reference to some object; pursuit, or station. All have a sense Of law and govern ment; all have their tastes; and passions, con viction of personal duty; send an impression of rights. The poor are not inferior to the rich in their love of home and family, in their desire to possess knowledge, in their interest in just and safe government, in the growth and grand eur of their country. They read with ae much eagerness the story of our battles, and Our suf ferings, and hail, with as true feeling of devo tion, oar-successes. They share as largely in the sacrifice of .their children and friends their country’s altar, and bear their proportion of the burden that supports dhr armies and our government. And if In the.cottage or the hut, there are instances of brutishness toward their children and their feebler companions ; if me* ,VI. - briety prostrates, on his pallet of straw, a manly form ; if idleness lets in the frost and the gale through broken panes; the lordly mansion, too, echoeß sometimes to the profane ness and riot of its drunken master; the cham ber hung with costly drapery is profaned by unutterable sin; and into the warm drawing rooms of the opulent and great, rushes the blast of passion, and steals the frost of indiffer- 1 enee and neglect. ; If among .the higher; classes there is claimed a mo.re refined* sensibility; a greater delicacy of thought and manners, we can tell you that the better feelings ,of our nature flourish in thei humblest- soil; that bands an gentle minister: to sorrow, eyes weep v tears as warm and as true over the dead, and prayers go up as full and trusting, where penury reigns, as where; men lounge and languish amid the splendors of a court. ; , I The pbor can glow in the presence of beauty, feel thia power of great thought, and thrill when the “world’s wide harmony” falls on their Souls. They can look as deeply into truth; can believe and' worship with the loftiest of this world’s minds and hearts. In a word, the rich and the poor Are alike in their depravity,; Both are born with proclivi ties to evil; both are destitute of love-to God; and, under the power of adequate temptations, each yields and ;falls, and so they are equally in need of renewal and pardon, alike exposed to the retributions of justice. Therefore what ever advantage of culture, of family, of posses sion, or of position,-the one may, have oyer the , other, in the presence of infinite ’holiness, they are alike poor, and blind,- and naked, and des titue of the smallest title to happiness and ' heaven. ; - They are, therefore, on a level in the View of Christianity. To both, its offers ate gratriitbus. It makes but one proposal to all. The infinite worth of the Gospel towers alike above poverty ; and above-all the distinctions ofjnen. As the sun is not’appreciably more ! distant from earth’s loftiest mountain than from its lowest vale, neither is Christ more remote from the mendicant than the monarch. Often, in deed, as the beams of the morning fall on rich er verdure and awaken sweeter song in the lowlands than on the summit, so may the Sun of Righteousness win from humblest hearts 1 the purest- affections and the amplest praise. In deed, the poor, dependent and neglected world are more likely to feel the force of that appeal which is made by the cross to suffering hearts. In proportion to their isolation and their burden, to their -separateness from the - greater and more prospered of their kind, will \ they welcome the sympathy of Jesus and take the boon which others cannot give. Then, as the sdiictuaryfa 'the visible -exponent/# Chris tianity, the rich and poor meet there on an equul platform. All the distinctions of society, of talent and of birth, are ta' be set aside here. This is God’s dwelling-place, and in his presence are we to : ac knowledge and feel that the barriers of ordinary life have no rightful place. Higher interests press oq our minds. The soul has a work to do with God, and asserts its supremacy over all the accidents of its condition. ■ ~? ? Here “ Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted. But the rich in. that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.” “ Hath hot God chosen the poor of this world rich in. faith and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him ?” A VERY COMMON ERROR. From the window at which I -am sitting, I can see over the fields, a little brown cottage. A few weeks ago, a gray-haired man passed down the brick pathway in front of-it, every»morning< accompanied by Ms !i little, grandsons-—one of whom was blind—bade them good bye at the: gate, and went forth: to his daily toil. On the Sabbath, the neighbors loved to watch the kind old man, as he guided the sightless boy to church; and every one who met them had a pleasant word for old Mr.\C. - , ‘ , Several weeks ago, at the close of *a bright, pleasant Sabbath .day, Mr. Ci was stricken with sudden illness. Before many hours had gone by, the physician -prononrifeed his case'hopeless. The minister was sent for, and came to pray at the bedside of the dying ipan. . 1 “ What are your hopes of heaven ?” said the minister." “ Are yon resting on Christ? Is your faith firm V f ‘Ah,” said the dying mau,,“l am sure I will gp to heaven, for I never did any one any harm, that I know of.” • ' , This the end of seventy years, in a land so flooded with light us ours! This the result of seventy winters of the Gospel—of seventy sum mers in the sanctuary. Poor old man—going down to the edge of the dark waters , leaning on such a bundle of reeds as this, trusting in the hoar of death, not': in the perfect atonement of the Blessed One who died on the cross to expiate our sins, but in the: negative merits of his own mortal life, in whioh he had not knowingly hrrmed any one. Alas! he is not the only one. No need of going far from our own doors to find heathenism as dark, as hopeless, and infinitely harder to Overthrow than that which clouds the sunny shores of India or deepens the shadow that. b’roods over desolate Africa. No need of hunting through the squalid homes of the Five Points, of the. wretched dens of vice and infamy in any city, to find those who know not Christ. No. There are heathens in our most refined circles. The cultivated, the generous, the merry hearted, the beautiful, if sailing to hea ven In'a canoe formed of their own good deeds ghd good resolutions, .instead of finding shelter, ip the only ark of safety, will as surely be swamped, and come to terrible Wreck, as any cannibal of the South Seas of painted 1 wearer of a fetish. Jesus only! Oh! pastor, teacher, mother,-be this the keynote of your instructions. Jesus, the author and finisher of our salvation! Jesus, whose perfect work is our redemption! Jesus, the Son of God, co-equal with his Father, who aldne can lift us from the mire and the dost, PHILADELPHIA, THfESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1863. and make us kings and priests above! Have pity on those who are going, fast as time can move, to the eternal world, and teach them, that no earthly beauty,. no mortal goodness, no deed of their own can save them, but only Christ the crucified. - M. E. M. LETTER FROM CHINA. RECENT NEWS ABOUT CHINA MISSIONS. Mev. Mr. Mears: Having recently received several letters from various-parts of China, it has occurred to me to send you for your paper some items of news relative tp the work of missions, hoping that your readers would like to hear from this laud: What of the night? It is not all dark and. discouraging to the vision of those “who walk by faith hot by tfie light.” Beginning with Tien tsin, the most distant and the most northern post ,at which Protestant Missions' have been established: in the native church’connected with the; mission of the London Missionary Society, “extortion, lying, cheating, opium smoking, and even sodomy” were proved to exist ampng some of the native members. “Ten percent gain” was charged un everything done on mission account as squeezes or bribes. The result-is that “half of the church including all the native helpers,”, were excommunicated. Some were iSußsequehtly readmitted. In connection with the church of the mission qf the American Board at the same dty v it is reported that the two cripples who were bap last February, “still contiufte faithful.” The blind wife of the one has of late began to answer questions, and shows some indications of not being entirely a “ wooden woman ”- ’The' wifeof thebllnd man Chang has recovered from a long sickness, so as to come to church one or two months regularly; Jier husband “considered it a. miracle.of grace.” The prominent members who:' were excommunicated from the Church last winter do give afiy promise of repen tance. Let prayprs be Often offered for the mission at Tienstin. The news from Tang Chau is more cheering. Rev. Mr. Mills;writes under; date of August sth: “We have been having an unusually interesting time with the .candidates at the literary examinations. Brother Nevns, who formerly; was stationed at Ningpo, says he had never had snob a favorable opportunity to preach the gospel to the Chinese;” Mr M. states that the students would call at their studies or their houses, partly from, curiosity doubtless,, but many with a desire to inquire about the doctrines of Jesus, or to combat them or to procure Christian books, &c. Oftentimes he got no opportunity to rest from early morning till late in afternoon, explaining the. doc trins, exhorfcing-his visitors to believe &c. The mission were greatly afflicted not long since in the death of Rev. Mr. Rankin, who went from Ningpo pn a visit for his health. He died very happily and peacefully surrounded by his wife and children. He has been a useful missionary and his works do follow him. The Cholera has raged dreadfully at Shanghai dpring the hot months of Summer. Three valuable native helpers have been been struck down by that scourge; one from each, the American Baptist, the American Episcopal arid the English London Missionary Society’s Missions. Several of the missionaries have been poorly, but at our latest dates all were alive ; the well barely sufficient to attend to the sick-ones. At Ningpo, the missionary working force has, been greatly reduced by deaths, sicknesses, ab sences, &c. during the past year. Still the good work has been carried on with' considerable success. Rev. D. D. Green of the (0. S.) Presbyterian Mission,, under date of Aug., 28th writes encouragingly. ;He says; “Perhaps about 20 have been added to our churches on profession of faith. I suppose the Baptist Church and the. Church of England have; added about as many. Five .or six have united from our schools during the year, and there are, at present, several inquirers whom we hope to admit soon. One of our servants has united with the Church since our return from the North, and the woman that was with us at Tang Chau last summer, has asked for baptism. - The Lord ,has ' dealt very mercifully with us, and to Him be all the gloYy.” . The Rev. Mr. Ostrom of the Dutch Reformed Mission at Amoy, has Been very ill with remittent fever. Hus. life was despaired of for. several days, but God has rebuked the disease, and at last dates, he was convalescing. But in consequence of the state of the health of Mrs. O. as Well as his own, it has been decided, that they must return to the United States. They will probably leave during the Fall or Winter before another . Spring opens. His loss will a great one to the Mission, weakened as it already is by the absence of Rev. Mr, Talmadge in America. From Canton we hear of repeated and long trips into the interior by boats, for missionary and recreation purposes. Mr. Bonney accom panied by his wife and’ several other foreigners has been up at the North river to the distance of 230 miles from Canton., It required some 13 days to go that distance including two Sabbaths, daring: which time the boat was-at anchor.: The party were treated civilly by the’ people and by mandarins. Many exceedingly many trips must be made before China is evan gelized. Books were distributed at various places on the route. There is no special interest among the people here at any of the stations that l am aware of.' The work is conducted much as usual at some eight or ten out-stations, as well as at this large city within and without its walls, by the American Mission, Methodist Episcopal and American: Board. A committee of two from each of these missions are now busy at work endeavoring to prepare a translation of the New" Testament into the spoken language of this place. -. When the anion version is completed it will be an occasion of rejoicing as it is very much needed. A colloquial version is much needed for use among inquirers, pupils and church members, who are not able to. read with the understanding the versions in the classical styles already made. A few words i An: one of two subjects not strictlymissionary, yet, nearly allied to the missionary work la theif influences and interests I trust will not betaacceptable to your Christian teachers. . i; ■ ■■ < . Yesterday JJepfelSth, a meeting of American residents for Ttiarijlsgiving, in view of the news of the victories bofeght by last mail, over the rebels in Mississippi =and the- retreat of- Lee’s army into Yirginjp/was held at the house of one of the missionaries. It was attended by some ten missionary ladies, and 10 or 11 missionaries and njerehants.; . ? It>W(as ; cpnducted by Rev.; Mr. Ree% of -the; Ampjican,.Board’s Mission, pe vera!| jtrayers were offered, - and an, impromptu of, gipat. interest, feeling and patriotism, by .Rev:;; S-,L v >B%ld£ ■win of the. MrthgjHj& ; Cod’S' provi ■ dences as illustrathig .Gojiis purposes' ip regard,' to our native land, were, referred - to. / The meeting was hopefifl.- Several of the gentlemen-, present took part in remarks bearing upon the subject which Aai, convened us. ; All were earnest in the expression of the, conviction that slavery could, pot long exist in our native land, The American, msssionaries at Fuh- Chau, are all, warmjy dnifayor qf sustaining the President in earryfegqnthe war till theVbel lion is crushed, andlipeajee is restored on just ,and ,rightepusTern^ 0 for I: all ,pariies concerned, the North, Southwest,and East. .There are no copperheads or o i4js|inionistS!among them. The late news frernsJapan shows that the Jap anese are not intent on cultivating friendly and peaceful relations with-foreign powers., An Eng lish man-of-war had been,attacked by the Japan eses in -Japanese waiters which attack resulted in the woundidg or- t|l.killing of about 40 men; among the killedCapt.-Josling, commander of the vessel, is universally regretted by all who werepersonally acquainted with him. The English forces! landed add destroyed the forts which fired iupon vessel. American, Dutch and French vessels have been, fired upon. It is difficult to fqjsee how matters can be settled without a war. ' There is no very recent and important news shout the long-haired insurgents in China. The Im|)erialist troops commanded, by Capt. Gordon seem to be getting the better of the Taipings. The defection of several braves, and the capture of one or two steamers belonging to the Imperialists by Capt. Burgovine, a renegade American, who witE. the steamers and the braves joined the rebels, does not seem to have been of very much benefit to the cause of the; rebels or ofdamage’to the Imperialists. Several of Capt. Osborne’s vessels have .already arrived in China, to help the Imperialists;;, when, they all arrive, the wprld may look out for resulted . • --$&»«•- ‘ Fuch Chau, Sept. 16th. 1863. SACRED SYMBOLS. BY REV. DANIEL MARCH. I. THE CEDAR IK LEBANON. Fsaltris xcii: 12, The righteous shall grow like a cedar in lebanon. , The first rays of. the rising sun and the last light of his setting glory, fall on the cedar tops of Lebanon. When the mists of the morning darken the plain arid toil in billowy toiyents through the valleys, and’ thick rain-clouds cover the top of Carmel and brood on the.distant sea, then still the royal cedar,keeping its high throne, upon Lebanon,; rejoices; in the clear, calm light, and anticipates the coming of the cloudless noon. And when the .wild storm comes rushing down through all the gorges of the Syrian mountains, and the fir trees crash and. the oaks of - Bashan howl beneath the sound ing pinions of mighty winds, then the royal ce dar of Lebanon/strong with the growth of a thousand years, fixing the grapple of its deep and wide spreading roots upon the everlasting rock, stands firm; and the lonely wanderer among the mountains is safely sheltered beneatl ite while he hears the roar of the tempest and traces the track of its desolation 'afar/.; ■" So stands the righteous man, secure,and se rene upon his high post of duty, with the light of heaven around him mid the fear of God per vading his soul, when deep darkness settles ' down on all the devices of wicked men, and wild tempests of revolution shake the nations, and the low and crooked policy of the faint hearted and the compromising only leads on to greater dangers and darker conclusions. The light of heaven will always shine on the of him who keeps himself At a sufficiently high and commanding position above the world. The mount of God seems to the murmuring and sensual multitude at the hase, full of thick dark ness and shaken with angry tempests. But to him who ascends the sacred heights upon the wings of faith and prayer, the whole region is full of light;, his own countenance absorbs the radiance of the heavenly day, and when he re turns to the world, it can be seen in his silent look that he has been talking with God as friend with friend. .The face of the righteous man is a mirror to receive the light of the sun of righteousness and reflect it upon a darkened world. By looking to him, the fearful, the be nighted, the wandering, can always see that the true light shines, though it be hidden from them. The faithful servant of God, calm in the midst of public .agitation, fearless in the face .of danger, prompt in the discharge of duty, living every day in the celestial region of light and love, above all the doubts and fears and cavil 3 of the world, preaches righteousness by the purity of his own life ; encourages the fear ful by the strength of his own faith, and cheers the sorrowing by the- light and serenity of his own countenance. And when the day of pe culiar trial comes'to him, and temptations assail in a fiery shower, and afflictions : , beat upon him Jike a strong wind to cast him down, then still he stands, like the royal cedar, fipbn the ' high throne of Lebanon, a defense to others and se cure himself, proving that his foundation is the holy mountain and that his trust is in thj im mutable God. William Mathews, Esq., of Philadelphia, has subscribed SSOQO t 6 aid in compfetiffig/.tk?. en- Befprmed Preshytpi’ikn ohurchfin Philadelphia. ,fflMiw’s Jtoff ffMl, THIRD SCRAP.-THE CHRISTIAN PRO FESSOR IN THE ARMY. - Soldier :—Are you a professing Christian ? If so, I now, write especially to you, I know many of yourlfellow soldiers who, at home, walked with the church, and came to her sacra mental .feasts. I need not say to you that; when they .went tothe War, they went where theif whole'character was brought to the: test. ! Thrive .watchbd the' course of; some of them, with gratitude and joy: The state of things around them.was sach; that, if; their faith 7 : and i love was-sfrongi they],must.almostinfallibly. j becode warinertanA-brighter Christians tbau ■ evert They wjould find no alternative between clinging- closer to Christ, and falling away. They accepted the necessity; they have kept , fast,by the: cross;, they have Watched and prayed; they have promoted prayer meetings; they have been Aarons and Hurs to godly chaplains and army i missionaries; and they have led their comrades to Jesus. Of others, I have sadder things to write. They ceased to pray, and then they began to sin. The temptations of camp life overwhelmed :their spirituality; and their religibri is des troyed for the present, if not forever. They Weire ashamed to read their Bibles, to pray, and to speak for , Christ, before swearers and suf ferers. They could brave death for their coun try, but they would not brave a light cross for Christ. Tilts booming of a cannon from a rebel fortification, would give them the heart of a lion ; but a single pop-gun from Satan’s bat tery made them moral cowards. In all our army, there is scarcely a soldier to be found, who was a professing Christian at home, arid who now occupies a middle ground between these marked degrees of growth in grace arid backsliding. Mediocrity is almost impossible there. All the circumstances and" scenes of camp life forbid it. The trial of re ligion is incessant. Those who do not work for Christ will soon be at work for Satan. The profession which is not honored will soon come to shame. In a Yirgiriia hospital, immediately after a ; battle, I found a Rhode Island soldier, waiting | for his turn to be placed bn the amputating table. He was an old man, i- e., old for a sbl dierj and so feeble that the probability of being j saved by the? operation was against him 7 . He wanted a letter to be written to his wife and 7 | daughter athome. lasked him what I should write. He named over -a few particulars, chiefly relating to his; being wounded - and his; present'circumstancos. ” Anything more ?” I : IMt ought to say: He was silent a few riibments.. “My friend,” said I, “ are that wife and daugh ter of yours Christians ?” “ Yes,”-he replied, “ Do yon also profess to be a Christian ?” A deep: anguish gathered over his counte nance. "0 sir,” he said, “You have touched a tender point now. But I will tell you the, truth. lam a professor of religion at home. But here—o sir, lam ashamed to tell you how it has been;” I asked him if he had not some thing to say to that dear wife and child con cerning his spiritual condition. “ Oh,” said be, “ they are good Christians, and it will break their hearts to know that l am dying here, all in the dark. lam a Peter; lam afraid I have even been a Judas. I used to think that I 1 enjoyed religion; I have,no peace now.” Here we were interrupted by the Surgeon’s' assistants, who came to remove him to the operating tent. For about two hours I busied, myself in another direction, and then returned to my Rhode Island friend. The operation had been safely performed' but it had left him .too weak to say ot hear' much. I could ohly lear'ri that still all was dark. He was distressed with the fear that he had passed the boundary ’of forgiveness. ! The next day I was I was on a distant part of the field, and could not see Mori The third day I saw him again, and ; we had feller con- : versations respecting his spiritual state. He was evidently sick of sin, but failed to get a "fast hold upon the peace of forgiveriess. Once in a while the cloud woald seem to lift; once in a while prayer would seem to 7 bring in a gleam of comfort; but it was only for the mo ment. The power ! bf the prince of darkness was not so easily broken: His bodily suffer ings were intense; perhaps he was soon to ; die under their severity. But the physical agonies of a thousand deaths were pleasure beside the Anguish- of a spirit crying for one token of for giveness and one smile from its Lord, but still feeling that all was datk, and terrified with the apprehensibri of dying under this darkness. He felt thistobe the Kexmrd of leaving his retigioW at home when he came to the army. My duty soon called'mri elsewhere, and I commended his case to a faithful Christian friend. I know not whether? he lived or died ; arid if the latter, -whether or not, he found peace. I sometimes thought he was a real,' though deeply sinning Christian, and that be would not be left to die in the dark. Brit, dear Christian soldier, is yorir religion with you in the field, or did you leave it at home when you came to the war ? You will return or die a better Christian than when you went forth, or deeply fallen. Thousands of prayersascend in your behalf. Be faithful to Jesus and faithful to your own solemn vows. B. B. H. ,PX SEASONS. The glories of Summer and Autumn are fled, And Winter, stern Winter, has reared its dark head; December is here, and will quickly be past, And another short year is finishing fast, ' • Another short-year ! bb, the sound of ite wing To my bosom some heart-searching questions should f . bring; ;; ... Have I-sought for the Lord? Do I walk in. his .ways? And my thoughts, are they hallowed by prayer' and by praise ? , - • The days of the years of my life glide away '; May! earnestly labor while yet it is day, : ,■ : ; And, knowing that life must soon come to an end, Look to Ghrist as iny Saviour, my Lord, and my ■; Friend. - ■-" -/T Bb pot weary in well doing, ] A RUSTY CHRISTIAN. A key unused becomes rusty. A harp un practiced gets out of tune. A heart which does not draw up daily and hourly its kind and emo tions, a benevolence which does not seek its opportunities for exercise, a machine which lays bye unused, however admirably it may be adapted to its end, however beautifully it may work,, and %ith however little friction—each; all will, by : neglect, iriattetitipn, want of use, become rusty, dry, hard tb start—sometimes impossible without a great deal of work - and labor, and use of all such material as will put it in motion, Thp engine, may need the hammer, the filegthh witli oil, and sometimes of some part of the machinery, and thenit will not work as at first; the rust eats in and some times so corrodes as to require another piece to be substituted. Impatience,, or irritability, or indolence, or indifference may say it is not worth the trou ble ; ignorance may say it cannot be done; despondency may give it over; but patience, forbearance will put it in motion—fit to its place, get it in tune,. draw up the waters of consolation—so on, and effect the work. The pump gets dry from want of use, and, however much water may be in the well, how ever excellent the pump, the stiffness and dry ness must be attended to; to moisten it, until it takes up the water.,! A mail who has a Bible and neglects to read it, a throne of grace arid seldom comes to it; a family altar, and only Sabbath evening, gets his family around it—who knows the way of life, but just keeps so near that it may" be hoped for him he is la it; yet is so in all his movements that you stand in doubt; is like a map. wbo can write, yet Seldom takes bold of a pen. The want of use; application, perseverance in anything which we should follow; makes us stiff in our movements, dry,, lifeless, rusty the very motion makes a gritting, shrieking— brit sometimes the rust eats in so that the whole thing is useless. ' Arusty Ohristiari-i-he maybe on the outward appearance from circumstances—for want of the means of, grace, society of Christians, and, when brought under proper treatment, may be started—but the safe, sure, and comfortable way is to continue on in the way and use of in prayer, studying the Bible, keeping up household worship, private praver, with devotion to every, Christian duty. This, may seem, laborious, confining, hut it it will go easy, and the burden will be light. It is only a rusty Christian who can’t be moved to Gos pel duty; vsrhile it is'a burden to him—it is in great danger of destroying him. Are you in this condition ? Get the file, the hammer, the oil. Rest riot until you find it easy to take hold of the Bible and read—until you find the throne of grace the*place where you- must go, to which you will go with a readyinind and will;; the work and service of God—that in which you find your heart and hand ever ready. , ’ ~ When’yoti Christian, and the family look surprised rit;your asking a hlessing, or the head of the; house apo logizes for not thinking to ask. you until you have hinted at it—or when, on your suggesting family worship, the members are so scattered that they cannot be found, or come in and look as if they did not know what was going to be done, it is a tolerably safe inference that they are not in .flip Habit of these things. They are certainly very rusty. If I were to adopt a name after the days of Oliver Cromwell and his noble Christian mi nisters I would sign myself.— Standard/ DISCOURAGEMENTS AND TRIALS, NO EXCUSE FOR ABANDONING THE MASTER’S WORK. The times in which we live are so much of golden slippers and downy beds, that we cannot look for much manly vigor or endurance, and where success does not appear, the faith of our times inclines,to abandonment of the field. ' This was not the way with the men of faith of whom Paul writes. Nor is it the history of the men who have J carried the Gospel to the destitute and degraded. ■ • ; We are reminded of the mission to Greenland in the days of Christian Staich, where after years of labor and toil without encouragement, .they consulted together for weeks as to the evidence of duty to stay. Christian David concluded to return to his own country, but he agreed to support the mission to his utmost ability; Nia'cA agreed- to try ten years longer, even if no fruit should arise from his labors. Three other ntissibnaHes agreed to spend and be spent—to believe without seeing, and hope against hope. Their supplies were reduced to the- lowest degree, when a vessel arrived from Europe, but brought nothing for them. Out' of their scanty supply they had to provide subsistence for David to returh hoihel They hadmow to rely on the seals caught by the Greenlanders. These they had.to buy. When, attempting to catch fish for themselves they; were in danger of, being drowned 1 . In' their strait, God sent a strange Greenlander named Jppagan, who lived 40 leagues south of them, to sell them all he could spare—by him they were thus preserved during a‘ whole season from actual famine. They got used to living on train oil with oat-meal. It' was a delicacy com pared with the old tallow candles which, they frequently were compelled to eat. . God' don’t promise fine houses, comfortable, aoebmodatiohs, luxuries- but food, raiment; bread andt water sure. With these he will give grace, strength, .wisdom and success, in that to which he appoints them. On the. way they may have many difficulties, over which he will make them to triumph. ~ Sure I must fight if I would reign. The saints conquer though they die 'On the field. Death pan have no power over them. Jesus has conquered for them—he led captivity captive; he bore the cross—its shame, its trials. Will any follower say in the time of trial, let me go back-?- Will ye also go away ? Think of those' words, “Ye are they that have continued with me in. my temptations.” Effects of one glass. On passing through*otoe of the wards of Die ——• prison, I accosted an elderly looking convict. He held down his head ks though' ashamed to look me in the face. On Padding him a tract, he said, " I knew your voice ,as soon as I heard you, sir; I have heard you before to day, sir.” ‘ ;■ ' ', After a few words,ofexplanation, I found that we had been oneGmemembersof' the same congregation, and sat under the same , faithful ministry. I anxiously inquired how it was that he had fallen so low as to become an inmate of a prison. “A glaSs of'ale, sir, was myruin,” hereplied. “How could, that be?” Tasked. ..v'.f;.- “ Iwas at one period of my life, sir, very intem- perate, but was happily led tp give up drinking entirely, although" I did . xiot sign any ple‘3ge; which I now lament! I became a regular at tendant at a place of worship, and joined the congregation. I went on very happily for some GENESEE EVANGELIST.— WhoIe No. 917. little boyto no; I canned,” stud he. 'i ' ■' ' “ Why ? now why ?” they .asked. “Why?” answered the hoy, “ ’cause if I do, I shall have to pray it all out to God by moth er’s knee to-night. : “Oh, well,” they said, “in that case you had better not go.” , . . • Bad boys expect of boys better brought up than themselves better things than they can practice. But you see what a bridle the habit of prayer puts on a little child. Prayer acknow ledges God’s all-seeing eye, God’s bountiful hand, God’s care, God’s goodness, God’s pity, God’s authority, God’s right to us. It is remem bering God. The reason we sin so is because we forget Him. Nobody can bring daily to mind His adorable character, what He wants us to be, and what He wants us to do, and go on. doing wrong; for prayer, like a chain let down ‘from heaven, with one end in our hand, twitches us from evil and draws us toward heaven. Oh, what golden moments are those when a pious mother gathers her little ones about her, and teaches them) not to “say their prayers,” open their little hearts in penitence and trust and love to the Redeemer who died for them. Then is tKe time, in earliest infancy, for the Spirit of Christ to enter in and mould their souls into His likeness. Mothers, see to it that His print be there first “JOHN DTJPPS.” It was Charley Ed wards! birth-day, and his mother, to please him, gave him the liberty to invite a number of his playmates to spend the afternoon with him. , Children never forget engagements of this kind, and all the little fel lows were early at the house. For a while,. they played .about the large garden; first at one thing, then, when tired of it, at another. Then some one proposed going into the house, to play blind man’s buff, and so the large di ning-room was cleared for the fun. There was one boy, John Dnpps, at this party of whom I wish particularly to tell you. He was not, a yery . bad boy—no worse than most boys; arid yet he was not a good boy— always good—as you will see. The privilege of going where they pleased-? was given to the children, provided they diß-. turbed nothing. It is oftentimes a very" hard matter, for boys especially, to keep “hands y- was gofag on, hecatrie tired of it, arid stepped into the par lor, adjoining the room they* were in. How many beautiful things were there! What pretty! Dooks, and shells, and ornaments I What beau tiful birds 1 far more beautiful than he had ever before seen! How many nice little things! “ Surely Mrs. Edwards can scarcely know what * a quantity she has. And the books, so fall of pictures! That is a beauty with the crimson' back on it—-Stories for Little Folks. I would like a book like that. I. wonder if she would - miss this little bit of a one ?” So Jobn.Dupps . was thinking. -“I should love to have it. There ain’t any body about to see me ” —and John slipped the book into his pocket. Quickly he returned to the dining-room.. “Here is John;” said one of the boys; and immediately John’s face turned aS crimson as the book in his pocket. . “ Johnny, you blush like a girl,” said Mrs. Edwards. years, until one evening 1 was returning from . ■■■■ ■ , ;whpn I; met with £pme friends from Hull. They prevailed upon me' to go to the public house to have but ‘ one glass. ’ Conscience reproyedine, but having.entered upon the en chanted ground, I was readily induced to take more liquoruntill becameovercome-byit. The next rimming I was ashamed to show myself, and left for Heeds. My old appetite for drink had beenrekindled. I became reckless and joinedanetq|.coimterfeit coiners. We were discovered; convicted, and now I am to be trans ported. Oh I that I had never touched that one glass!”—Band of Hopeßemew. ffrafp TTA’DT'n OT? VDATVV •lliiS HAKI 1.- 11 if. rafl iKK “I am so hot,?’ replied John, untruth. , “If you are,” said the boy next him,.“why don’t you keep your hands out of your pockets.” Something kept saying to John, “They alb know you are a thief—your face looks like a; thief’s,. John Dupps. Take that book out of your pocket. What a shame, John Dupps, to steal from so kind a lady.” Poor hoy, he was no wgo uncomfortable that he took his cap and left the house. It would have been far better if he had returned at once to the parlor and re placed the stolen book. But he soon reached his home, and, going to his room as quietly as he could, he sat down and drew from his pocket the cause of his trouble. “Perhaps,” thought he, “ they won’t miss it, and I’ll keep it locked in my little box; and no one shall' know it is there. I’ll look at the pictures a while. Poe-- try in it, too.” “ It is a sin to steal a pin As much as if a greater thing.” instantly he let the book drop. The first words in the stolen treasure were words of con viction. “ I wont keep it there. I can’t have such a book about me. The Good Man placed those lines just there for me.” Oh, how well he thought so! “ What are you doing here ?” cried Charley Edwards, rushing unheralded into the room. John Dupps’ mortification was complete. There could be no disguising facts now. There lay the stolen book on the floor, and its owner before him. “ Will you forgive me Charley ?” “ Certainly. What for, John—for leaving sosoon ‘ , . “No, no. For taking your book!” “This one,” asked Charley, lifting it from the floor. “Yes.” “But you didn’t mean to keep it, John?” “ Yes, but I did, though, and that’s wha makes me so sorry.” “ Ma prizes this hook more than any other. It is sister Jane’s book, and she is dead, John. Ma would have felt sorely the loss of it” “Ain’t I a bad boy, Charley ?” “ Not if you won’t do so again. And come; I’ll take the book and put it myself in the par lor, and no one shall know of it—not even Ma and I’ll never, never speak of it again.” * And generous Charley kept his word. The hook was placed on the table where it bad long 1 been kept by thg hand of affection. The boys returned together to their sports Charley to enjoy himself; but Johji to think over what he will never forget, that “Itis a sin ,to steal a pin As much as if a greater thing.” — Ypuik’s Evangelist. . X ' _ . ' ' ■ *ach. An effort is making to have 4 grand fair J “ ing sjx dajs, at; 14$ianapolis, for the so families. The fair is to be on the sam ple as the great fair held at Chitffthe paper at proved such a success. Rapper annum, in • When Christ 4ehies^wWfe^^^ or the first, and what-is inueh more to ongr <p on for ease j he gives patiei^O' ' That was an
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers