forgotten it; and then to-morrow is "the happy day.' Oh, I am so glad it is come again so soon." The Noah's ark was brought and put by in the closet, also the maps and games of all sorts; and, last of all, the rocking-horse was carried safely up stairs, and stowed away in the lumber-room. "Now, dear mamma," said Charlie, "all is quite tidy and ready for Sunday; may 1 Come and sit beside you, just a little while, before I go to bed, and you will find me a text to learn for to-morrow? I should so like something about Sunday being the happy day." 'Well, my darling, I will find you a very short one. It is in the 58th chapter of Isaiah, 13th verse: Call the Sabbath a delight.' Will that be what you wanted ?" "Oh, yes, dear mamma; that is beautiful, and so very short that I shall hardly have to learn it at all." "And now good night, my dear boy; try and recollect, when you wake to-morrow morning, that it is God's day, and that we are to keep it holy." Little Charlie soon fell asleep; and when he woke the next morning the sun was shining brightly into his room, and the sweet birds were singing, as though they, too, felt that Sunday was a happy day. It was always Mrs. Brown's custom to have her boy in her room before breakfast on Sunday mornings, and to pray with him for a blessing on the day. She was anxious that he should, from his earliest years, be taught to love the Sabbath, and to look upon that day as the "best of all the seven." For this end she tried to make it as interesting as possible to him, and he looked forward to Sunday as one of his happiest days. After breakfast he repeated his little text, and also the first verse of a favourite hymn, beginning "Around the throne of God in heaven, His great delight was to get the Bible, and ask his mamma to find him something to read that he could understand, or to sit at her feet while she explained some history which was more difficult. The story which had been chosen for this morning was that of the three Jewish children in the fiery furnace, and Charlie listened with eagerness to the account of their wonderful deliverance from the painful death which threatened them. At the house of God he was very quiet and solemn in his behaviour; and though too young to understand all he heard, yet he tried to remember in whose house he was, and that the eye of God was upon him in an especial manner there. Bible stories, texts, and singing hymns, generally closed the day, and, the last thing, his mamma again knelt with him, and prayed that it might please God to bless the lessons of the day, and to prepare them both by his Holy Spirit for the eternal Sabbath above. Several Sundays passed away in this manner, when one morning, on awaking, Charlie complained of a sore throat. Means were used to remove it, but it grew rapidly worse; and the flushed cheek and beating pulse told that fever was gaining ground. The child seemed more than usually calm, and, seeing his mother in tears, stroked her face with his little burning hand, and said, "Mamma, why do you cry?" Mrs. Brown feared to tell him what she could hardly realise herself, and for a moment was silent. "Mamma, am I going to die, do you think ?" said the little one. "You are very ill, my darling child," replied his mother, and we cannot tell whether it may please God to restore you or not." This was said in a trembling voice, and Mrs. Brown watched with anxiety what would be the effect on the little sufferer. He looked at her very earnestly, and at last said, "Mamma, won't it be always Sunday in heaven?" "Yes, darling, it will." "Oh, then, I am so happy, because I do love Sunday here; and to have it always Sunday-oh, mamma, I shall call it a delight."" "My sweet child, do you feel afraid when I tell you that we don't know if it will be God's will that you should get well ?" "No, dear mamma; Jesus will take care of me, and then I shall stand around the throne of God in heaven,' 'Singing, Glory! glory! glory!' Mamma, say the next verse, please." Mrs. Brown repeated What brought them to that world above, "Because the Saviour shed his blood, Cleansed in that pure and precious flood, Behold them white and cleau ; Singing, Glory glory! glory!" He had spoken almost more than he had strength for, and began to complain of his head. From this time fever increased to a high degree, and he was soon quite delirious. His head was shaved, and every means used; but all in vain. Friday and Saturday passed in this way, and on the morning of Sunday every hour was expected to be his last. It was again a bright and beautiful day, and the sun shone with great brilliancy into Charlie's little room. His "happy day" was indeed come; and as his mother and father watched their little one, the remembrance of his delight at the return of Sunday, although in some respects painful to them, yet served to assure them that yet a little, and their sweet child would be in the presence of that Jesus whom he loved, and enjoying the eternal Sabbath of which he had so often heard with delight. He had lain for some hours perfectly still, with his eyes shut, when suddenly he opened them, and, fixing them on his mother, said "Mamma, the happy day -come at last!" The effort had been too great; his eyes gradually closed, and with one long, deep sigh, his spirit took its flight. The next Sunday his body was committed to the ground, beneath a beautiful spreading tree, and close beside the path which his little feet had trodden every Sabbath with such light and happy steps, when on his way to the house of God. And now, dear children, may all those of you who read this history be like little Charlie How many children there are who, it is to be feared, feel very sorry when they think that Sunday is coming, because they will have to lay aside their toys, and not be allowed to play; but oh, if you really love the Saviour, as the dear boy we have been speaking of did, you will love this day. Do you think you can be happy in heaven, where it is "always Sunday," if you feel it a trouble to have that blessed day return once a-week only? Pray to God that he will teach you to love his holy day, and to "call the Sabbath a delight." Ask him to wash you from your sins in the precious blood of Christ, the Lamb of God, and to put his Holy Spirit within you, that you may not only spend a happy day each Sunday that comes round on earth, but that you may spend an eternal Sabbath with him in heaven when you die. "AUNT LINA'S SUNSHINE." "And what is your name, my little one?" said I, as the children of the friend whom I had just come to visit passed before me. "I'se Aunt Lina's Sunshine," was the pleasant answer. I looked down into her soft blue eyes, and their darkling depths seemed to be the home of so much quiet earnest feeling, that 1 could not doubt but she was indeed a beam of sunshine upon the paths of those around her; but I was anxious to know the child's thoughts onthe subject. "That is a queer name," I said; "why do they call you so?" Shaking back her long ringlets and looking up to me with those earnest speaking eyes. she said, "Aunt Lina is papa's sister; she is blind and can't see anything, not the pretty flowers, nor the soft white clouds, nor the little birds. She hears the birds sing though, but she can't see their pretty colours. She feels the warm sunshine too, but she can't see how beautiful it makes the meadows look after the rain. But sometimes when she is sad and lonely she calls me to her, and I sit on my little stoo! by her side and say the pretty verses to her that I learn in Sabbath-school; and I have learned some hymns, too, and I repeat those to her, and then she calls me her sunshine. Don't you think it's very nice to be Aunt Lina's Sunshine ?” "Yes, indeed I do. You are a real little missionary." "No, I ain't a missionary. I know who the missionaries are; they are the people who go a great way off to the poor heathens that don't know anything about Jesus, and tell them all about him. What made you say I was a missionary?" "Because missionaries do good, and you do good to Aunt Lina, don't you?" "I don't tell her about Jesus, because she knows all about him, and she tells me pretty stories about him;" and the child stopped and thought a moment, and then looked up and added, "No, I ain't a missionary; I'se only Aunt Lina's Sunshine." I kissed her broad white brow, but said no more to her. I did not wish to destroy that beautiful simplicity of mind by praising her goodness. But although I was silent I didn't stop thinking; no, my thoughts were very busy with all the little girls and boys of my acquaintance. I wondered how many of them were "sunbeams" in their homes. How many made themselves the light of sad hearts by their cheerful endeavours to make others happy. All have not an "Aunt Lina," blind to all beautiful things, and whose heart may be gladdened by the love of a little child; but many have a sick friend or acquaintance to whom kind attentions would come like sunlight, making an otherwise dreary home bright and cheerful; and all have friends who are sometimes "sad aud lonely," and to whom a word of love, or a smile, or a glance of sympathy would be more precious than the sunshine. A great poet has said, "A child in a house is a well-spring of joy," but I would rather compare good little children to the joyous sunbeams that come down from heaven and dance at the windows, and play on the floor, and make everything look sunny and bright. The next morning I rose very early I thought, but there were others up earlier than I. For when I went out upon the piazza I saw, sitting under an old willow tree near the house," Aunt Lina" and the dear little Annie, the sunbeam. It was no wrong to listen to the guileless words that passed between them, so I stood there just within hearing of all that passed. "It is a beautiful morning, Aunt Lina," said little Annie; "it makes me think of that pretty hymn, "There is a land of pure delight, Where saints immortal reign.' Don't you know that says, 'There everlasting spring abides, and never-fading flowers'? now I think if it would just keep spring here all the time, and the flowers wouldn't wither and die, it would be almost as pretty as that 'land of pure delight;' don't you, Aunt Lina ?" "This world is very beautiful, dear Annie, but then we must never forget that the one beyond the swelling flood' is far brighter and more beautiful. Can you tell me what makes it more beautiful, darling?" "Why, the Saviour will be there, and we can see Him; and then, Aunt Lina, don't you know the hymn says, 'Infinite day excludes the night, and pleasures banish pain!' Now I think that means that we shall be quite happy there, and if we are, you won't be blind any more, will you? for I'm sure I should never be quite happy in heaven if you were blind and couldn't see the dear Saviour, nor the golden throne, nor the 'never-fading flowers."" The tears streamed down from those sightless eyes, as Aunt Lina clasped the little one to her heart, and said, "No, darling, I shall not be blind there." "And I'll stand right before you, Aunt Lina, when the Saviour opens your eyes, and be the first little sunbeam that you see, shan't I, Auntie ?" And the child laughed at the pretty thought, and twined her arms around her Auntie's neck, and drew her fingers through the pale brown tresses of the poor blind girl. I did not stay to hear any more. It seemed to me that little Annie was indeed a beam of Heaven's own light, let down into this sin-darkened world; and I thought if all the little children would be as kind and good as little Annie, the sunshine of our hearts would never be quite quenched in sorrow. Miscellaneous. EVIL SPEAKING. The following anecdote is related of the late excellent J. J. Gurney, by one who, as a child, was often one of his family circle:-One night-I remember it well-I received a severe lesson on the sin of evil speaking. Severe I thought it then, and my heart rose in childish anger against him who gave it; but I had not lived long enough in the world to know how much mischief a child's thoughtless talk may do, and how often it happens that great talkers run off the straight line of truth. I was talking very fast about some female relative, who did not stand very high in my esteem, and was about to speak further of her failings of temper. In a few moments my eyes caught a look of such calm and steady displeasure that I stopped short. There was no mis taking the meaning of that dark, speaking eye. It brought the colour to my face, and confusion and shame to my heart. I was silent for a few moments, when Joseph John Gurney asked, very gravely, "Dost thou not know any good thing to tell us of her?" I did not answer, and the question was more seriously asked, "Think; is there nothing good thou canst tell us of her ?" "Oh, yes; I know some good things, certainly; but. "Would it not have been better, then, to relate these good things, than to have told us that which must lower her in our esteem? Since there is good to relate, would it not be kinder to be silent on the evil? Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity,' thou knowest." It was our custom every morning, for Miss Gurney and any little visitor she might have with her, " to go, before breakfast, into the room next to her father's dressing-room, and repeat some portions of Scripture. On the following morning I was desired to read in the 13th chapter of 1st of Corinthians, and afterwards to commit a portion of it to memory. There was no comment made on what I read; it was not necessary. The reproof was felt, even to the shedding of tears; but the kind voice and silent kiss soon spoke love and peace, and I was comforted. "A word spoken in season, how good is it!" Every one who visited his house must have been impressed with the superior tone of conversation there, with the absence of scandal and small-talk; and when persons, rather than things, were a little too much in the discourse of the juniors, how ingeniously, and yet how kindly, has the subject been put aside, and some other matter of innocent interest introduced in its stead! THE ONE CHERISHED SIN.-Often from my window on the seashore I have observed a little boat at anchor. Day after day, month after month, it is seen at the same spot. The tides ebb and flow, yet it scarcely moves. While many a gallant vessel spreads its sails, and catching the favouring breeze, has reached the haven, -this little bark moves not from its accus'tomed spot. True it is, when the tide rises, it rises; and when it ebbs again, it sinks; but advances not. Why is this? Approach nearer and you will see. It is fastened to the earth by one slender rope. There is the secret. A cord, scarcely visible, enchains it, and will not let it go. Now, stationary christians, see here your state, the state of thousands. Sabbaths come and go, but leave them as before. Ordinances come and go; means, privileges, sermons, move them not,-yes, they move them; a slight elevation by a Sabbath tide, and again they sink; but no onward, heavenward movement. They are remote as ever from the haven of rest; this Sabbath as the last, this year as the past. Some one sin enslaves, enchains the soul, and will not let it go. Some secret, unseen, allowed indulgence, drags down the soul, and keeps it fast to earth. If it be so, snap it asunder; make one desperate effort in the strength of God. Take the Bible as your chart, and Christ as your pilot, to steer you safely amid the dangerous rocks, and pray for the Spirit of grace to fill out as every sail, and waft you onwards over the ocean of life to the haven of everlasting rest. TIME AND ETERNITY.-Time, like a river, carries all things away with a rapid course; they swim above the stream for a while, but are quickly swallowed up, and seen no more. The very monuments men raise to perpetuate their names, consume and moulder away themselves, and proclaim ther own mortality, as well as testify that of others. But now, on the other side, the enjoyments above, and the treasures proposed to us by our Saviour, are indefectable in their nature, and endless in their duration. They are still full, fresh, and entire, like the stars and orbs above, which shine with the same undeminished lustre, and move with the same unwearied motion, with which they did from the first date of their creation. Nay, the joys of heaven will abide when these lights of heaven will be put out, and when sun, and moon, and nature itself, shall be discharged their stations, and be employed by Providence no more. The righteous shall then appear in their glory, and being fixed in the Divine presence, enjoy one perpetual and everlasting day, a day commensurate to the unlimited eternity of God himself, the great Sun of Righteousness, who is always rising and never sets. Dr. South. HOW TO RECEIVE YOUR PASTOR.-When your minister calls to make you a friendly visit, receive him without ceremony. His time is precious, and cannot well afford to wait for you to dress, perform your toilet, and put things to rights. He calls to see you, not your fine clothes. And do not weary him with your apologies. He would much prefer to hear you speak of your moral concernments. And if you invite him to sit at your table, give him precisely such food as your family would have if he were not visiting you. And improve your time while he is with you, in conversation upon such subjects as tend to increase your knowledge and your happiness. Preachers are men, and they know that people have their affairs to see to; and if your minister is a man of common sense, and finds that you put yourself out on his account, he will not be likely to come again, lest by so doing he should put you to some inconvenience. Be kind enough to see him as you are when he calls, and he will like you all the better for it. Entelligence. NOTES OF THE MONTH. POLITICAL. Europe is now at Peace. After a war that has been continued upwards of two years, and during which blood and treasure to a fearful amount have been expended, a Treaty of Peace has been signed, and the foes are friends again. We need not say that this is an event at which all christians will unfeignedly rejoice. There may doubtless be political reasons why our joy may be mingled with disappointment, but disappointment must ever be the result of a comparison between the gains and the costs of war: still, war is so fearful a thing, and its moral and social influences are so disastrous, that the return of peace cannot fail to be a cause of thankfulness, and the continuance of peace should be an object of fervent prayer. Already the various nations are gradually A falling into the old peaceful course. Naval Review has indeed been held at Spithead, and in a few days we are to have some Fireworks in the Parks and a general Thanksgiving: but these over, the war is likely to be allowed to rest, and it will fall into its proper place in the records of history. Even Russia appears to be marking out for herself a course of social and political improvement. Turkey is doing the same. It may be that out of the war there will arise the blessing of a new life, to nations that have hitherto been in darkness and the shadow of death! In Parliament, little has been done, except what may be more properly referred to below. There has been indeed much talking about many things, but for all practical purposes the Session may be considered lost. If the ministry be not defeated in some of the war discussions which are coming on, a dissolution may be speedily expected. ECCLESIASTICAL. Properly, the Parliamentary history of the month should come under this head. Almost all the discussions of any interest have been on Ecclesiastical questions, or on questions involving Ecclesiastical principles. Foremost, perhaps, in importance comes the Endowment of Maynooth, the motion respecting which has been decided for once in accordance with the wishes of the abolitionists. Mr. Milner Gibson has also succeeded in bringing in a Bill for the Abolition of the Oath which excludes Jews from the House of Commons. And, chiefly on the ground of their interference with religion, Lord John Russell's resolutions on Education have been ignominiously defeated. Thus this month has seen three important victories to the cause of voluntary religion. There has, also, been one defeat -namely, on a motion for the Abolition of Minister's Money-a tax similar to Church rates-in Ireland; but here the advocates of religious liberty had everything but the majority of votes. The defenders of the tax were left in an almost ludicrous minority of argument, the House in the absurd condition of having voted one night for disendowing Catholics, and the next night for endowing Protestants with rates paid by Catholics,-and the Secretary for Ireland was obliged to confess that it was more than doubtful whether Government could compel the Corporations of the seven towns subjected to the tribute, to collect the rates as Sir J. Young's Act requires them to do. The mention of Church Rates just now, reminds us of the controversy which is going on respecting the Government amendments to Sir W. Clay's bill. As was stated last month, these amendments, which are at best but a compromise, and which have been spoken of by one of the most intelligent and high-principled Nonconformist members as "including one of the most insolent and insidious proposals ever made to Dissenters," have been accepted by Sir W. Clay and the Liberation Society. The Noncon formist has sustained this decision, and The Freeman, with, we must say, far more force of argument, has opposed it. The question will doubtless come up for discussion at the Liberation Society Conference to be held in a few days. We shall rejoice if by that conference the resolution of the council on the subject should be rescinded, for we can but think that a more unfortunate step than the acceptance of these amendments could hardly have been taken. It is probable, however, that, after all, the Bill will be defeated either in the Commons or in the Lords: in which case Dissenters will have an opportunity of retracing their steps, and entering again on their old course of uncompromising adherence to principle. Before this reaches the eye of our readers, the Annual Meetings of our Denomination will be for the most part over. Writing, as we do, at their very beginning, we can but trust that they will be largely attended, and that those present at them will enjoy much of the influence of the Divine Spirit. Amidst political change and social excitement, it is gratifying to find that the work of the church still goes on. May those who have the charge of that work be equal to the task, and be sustained in it; so that whatever else may fail, the kingdom of God in the world may advance, and "righteonsness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost," may ere long be universal! KINGSGATE CHAPEL, HOlborn. This new chapel, erected for the use of the church and congregation lately assembling in Eagle-street, was opened on Thursday, April 17th. The chapel is built in the Gothic style of architecture. The size of the chapel is sixty-eight feet long, by forty-eight feet wide, and it is capable of seating about 1,000 persons. The school-room in the rear of the chapel is fifty-six feet long, and divided by a folding partition, when required; there is also a spacious ministers' and deacons' vestry. The whole has been executed for the sum of £3,760. At twelve o'clock, the Rev. Baptist W. Noel preached a very impressive sermon from the words, "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house." After the service in the chapel, which was attended by a large congregation, a goodly company of ladies and gentlemen took their seats in the new school-room in the rear of the chapel, and partook of a cold collation; the Rev. F. Wills, the pastor of the church, presiding. After dinner, an adjournment took place to the chapel, and a public meeting was held. Mr. W. H. Watson occupied the chair, and addresses were delivered by the Rev. F. Wills, the Rev. W. Brock, the Rev. C. Stovel, the Rev. R. W. Overbury, and Mr. Cartwright. At seven o'clock in the evening, the Rev. Samuel Martin preached a masterly sermon to an overflowing congregation, from the words, "Enlarge the place of thy tent." Collections were made after each of the services, and several liberal contributions were made. It appeared, from a report read by Mr. Wills at the |