I told some who stood around me, that there was one true God, who was not pleased, but angry at such things as these. I asked what their god was made of? They replied, "paper." I expressed surprise at the folly of worshipping a piece of paper, adding, that the god they were worshipping had eyes indeed, but could it see? ears, but could it hear? hands, but could it handle? feet, but could it walk? They replied, "Certainly not." I then inquired what they would do with their god when the feast was over? They answered, "Burn him" I rejoined, he was surely a god of no strength, or he would not suffer that; but the true God was almighty and infinite in every perfection. Truly darkness hath covered the earth, and gross darkness the people." Satan hath indeed possession of the minds of men. O, God, make bare thy holy arm, and may the Redeemer ride forth gloriously, conquering and to conquer.(Quarterly Missionary papers, No. 15.)

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The poor as God.

idolatrous Roman Catholics worship a wafer or piece of paste

On Mr. Hodgson's return from Griqua to Maquasse, he fell in with a few of the stragglers of the defeated forces, and describes the following disgusting scene of human wretchedness and degradation :

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August 3. As we approached the bushes within which we had rested on the night of the 12th ult., and where the other waggons soon after joined us, we were surprised at beholding a fire, which two natives appeared to employ for cooking, while another was laid asleep near them the two former attempted to conceal themselves under the bush, supposing, I presume, that we should pass them unobserved. After liberating the oxen, my driver and I approached them, and, to our utter astonishment, we found they were cooking the leg of a human being. From their persons, dress, and language, I was satisfied they were part of the much-dreaded Commando: and from the appearance of the ground adjoining, it was evident the enemy had been there very recently; and, possibly, had left the place only the day before we reached it. We were filled with horror at the sight we witnessed; and I was constrained to acknowledge the kind hand of God in permitting us to wander from our path, and thereby escape those who would have rejoiced in our destruction, and afterwards have feasted on our bodies. I hastily retired from the scene to consider how to act; but after composing myself a little, and having made the necessary arrangements for leaving the place as soon as possible, I returned to the wretched beings, and found the skeleton of one full-grown person on the ground, and part of the body of another. One woman was actually roasting a leg upon the ashes; and the other was engaged with the man eating with greediness that which they had just cooked. At first, the women appeared to apprehend that we should kill them; but afterwards they seemed to view us with indifference.

"I suppose this Commando to be a part of that defeated by the Griquas; and as they are not known to eat their fellow-creatures from choice, I hope those, upon whose remains these people were feasting, had either been killed in a skirmish, or had died by hunger or disease.

Be this as it may, could the people of England have witnessed the horrid and disgusting scene, the hardest heart would have been moved to pity, and the miser's purse would have been opened to afford the means of sending that Gospel which breathes peace and good-will to man, while it roots out the barbarous practices of those who are thus sunk in heathen ignorance and cruelty. O Africa! long and much neglected Africa, to what a state of misery art thou sunk! and who will furnish the means of delivering thee from such wretchedness? Surely England will yet do greater things."-Wesleyan South Africa Missions. No. 16.

Anecdote 3.

A Leper burned to death.

M. W. Carey was one morning informed that some people had dug a deep hole in the earth, not far from his own house, and had begun to kindle a fire at the bottom. He immediately proceeded to the spot, and saw a poor leper, who had been deprived of the use of his limbs by the disease, roll himself over and over till at last he fell into the flames. Smarting with agony his screams became most dreadful. He called upon his family who surrounded the pit, and entreated them to deliver him from the flames. But he called in vain. His own sister seeing him lift his hands to the side, and make a dreadful effort to escape, pushed him back again. While these relations stood coolly gazing upon the sufferer, he perished enduring indescribable agonies.-Rev. W. Ward's Letters.

Hymn and prayer.

Hymn.

LECTURE VIII.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

This petition includes both matter, and manner of obedience.

Whose will?

Before we can do God's will we must know it, Acts xxii. 14; Rom. ii. 18; Eph. i. 9; Col. i. 9, 13. Hear it, read it, love it, understand it, Eph. v. 17. Pray, Psalm exliii. 10.

Whose will do we naturally obey? 2 Tim. ii. 26.

God's will includes whatever he directs in his word-suggests by his Spirit to our consciences-or ordains by his providence, Romans ii. 14, 15.

God's will is either secret, Deut. xxix. 29; 1 Pet. iii. 17; Rom. xi. 34. Or revealed, Psalm xl. 8; Acts ix. 6.

God's will is revealed or made known in his Word, by his ministers, prophets, &c. His Son, Heb. i. 1, 2. Works, Micah vi. 9; Rom.

i. 20; Acts xiv. 17.

The "will of God," in Scripture, has different interpretations; sometimes it means God's sovereign pleasure, Dan. xi. 3, 16, 36; iv. 35; Rom. ix. 19. Purposes and decrees, John vi. 39; Rom. viii. 17;

Eph. i. 11. Laws and commands, Matt. vii. 2; Rom. xii. 2. Desires and wishes, 2 Pet. iii. 9. Mercy and loving-kindness, Deut.

xxxiii. 16. Appointment, 1 Cor. i. 1.

All God's will is holy, just, and good, Rom. vii. 12; 1 John v. 3,
Should we obey this will? Why?

When? In time of sickness-distress-poverty-contempt prosperity -illness-and death of friends.

By whom should God's will be done? Where?

We cannot know God's will unless he teaches us, Psalm cxix. 32, 34; Isa. ii. 2-4. Cannot do it unless he helps us, Phil. ii. 13; Rom. vii. 18; Heb. xiii. 21; Rev. xvii. 17.

What is God's will concerning us? Matt. xviii. 14; John vi. 40; xvii. 24; 1 Thess. iv. 3; v. 18; 1 Peter ii. 15; iii. 17; iv. 2; 1 John ii. 17.

How do you pray that God's will may be done?

Who do his will in heaven? How do they do it?

Angels do God's will perfectly, Psalm ciii. 20, 21; 2 Cor. vii, 1; Col. iv. 12. Constantly-at all times-in all places, Rev. vii. 15. Diligently, 2 Cor. xiii. 9; Matt. v. 48; Acts xiii. 22. Joyfully, Rev. vii. 11; Psalm civ. 4; Dan. ix. 21. Immediately, Job i. 16; Isa. vi. 2; Ezek. i. 4-14. Universally, without exception, Psalm cxix. 6, 112. Readily, Psalm exix. 60: Luke i. 74, 75. Heartily, 2 Cor. i. 22; Col. iii. 23; Believingly, Rom. xiv. 22, 23.

Anecdote 1.

How God's will is done in heaven.

A Sunday school teacher, instructing her class on the third petition in the "Lord's Prayer," said to them, "You have told me, my dear children, what is to be done the will of God; and where it is to be done on earth; and how it is to be done as it is in heaven.

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How

do you think the angels and happy spirits do the will of God in heaven, as they are to be our patterns?" The first child replied, "they do it immediately." The second, they do it diligently." The third, "they do it always." The fourth, "they do it with all their hearts." The fifth, "they do it altogether." Here a pause ensued, and no other child appeared to have any answer, but after some time a little girl rose and said, "Why, please teacher, they do it without asking any questions." -Whitecross 180. 7.

The little boy who could not say, " Thy will be done."

"What occasions that melancholy look?" said a gentleman to a little boy one morning. He turned away his face, to hide a tear that was ready to fall from his eye. His brother answered for him, "Mother is very angry with him," said he, "because he would not say his prayers last night; and he cried all day, because a sparrow died of which he was very fond." The little mourner hastily turned round and said, "I

could not say Thy will be done,' because of my poor bird." The gentleman took him by the hand, and, pointing to his school-fellows, said, "How many persons repeat these words, who never think what they are saying: who never prayed in all their lives. My dear boy, I am very glad to find that you were afraid to say to God what you did not feel in your heart. But you should beg of God to give you submission to his holy will. Read Deuteronomy v. 28, 29."-Whitecross 179. 5.

Levit. x. 1-3. Eli,
Acts xiii. 22; 2 Sam.

Examples. Abraham, Gen. xxii. 3. Aaron, 1 Sam. iii. 12, 18. David, Psalm xxxix. 9; xii.; xv. 25, 26. Job, i. 21. Paul, Gal. i. 16; | Tim. vi. 18;

Titus iii. 1. See also 1 Chron. xxviii. 9; 2 John 8.- Christ, John iv. 34; v. 30. Psalm xl. 8; Matt. xxvi. 39, 42. Privileges. Matt. xii. 50; John vii. 17; Heb. x. 36; 1 John ii. 17; Rev. ii. 2-14. Motives. God is our Creator and Preserver, Gen. i. 1; Neh. ix. 6. Redeemer, 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. His mercies, Rom. xii. 1. His judgments, Heb. xii. 10. He always sees us, Psalm cxxxix. 4. Our present happiness, 2 Cor. i. 12. Future happiness, Heb. xii. 14. Every thing obeys God-clouds and thunder, Psalm cxlviii. 8. Sun, moon, and stars, Joshua x. 12, 13; Judges v. 20; Job ix. 7.

Anecdote 3.

A little boy who would do his father's will.

A little boy, about seven years old, was on a visit to a lady, who was very fond of him. Although he was a great way from home, he behaved very well, and endeavoured to do every thing that he thought his parents would wish him to do had they been present. One day at breakfast there was some hot bread upon the table, and it was handed to him; but he refused to take it. "Do you not like hot bread ?" said the lady. “Yes,” replied the little boy, "I am very fond of it." "Then, my dear, why don't you take some?" "Because my papa does not approve of my eating hot bread." I suppose that his father thought, as most people think, that hot bread is not wholesome food for children. "But your father," said the lady, "is a great way off, and will not know whether you eat it or not. You may indulge yourself for once. There will be no great harm in that." This was very wicked indeed, and shows how cautious parents should be where they suffer their children to visit. They cannot be too careful in this respect. The little boy answered, "No, I will not disobey my father and mother. I must do what they have told me to do, though they are a great way off. I would not touch the roll, if I was sure that nobody would see. I myself should know it, and that would be sufficient." Yes, and GOD would know it too. We should never forget this. (Gen. xvi. 13.) Now, we should think of this when any would try to lead us to do what God forbids. Never forget that your heavenly Father is always close at hand, and sees, and knows, and hears everything. (Psalm cxxxix. 7-10.)-Whitecross 164. 3.

What would be the consequence if every one on earth did God's will, as it is done in heaven?

"How many have I been acquainted with, who, through their vehement self-will, have lost their property, their lives, yea, and often, it is to be feared, their eternal salvation! O how should parents and teachers seek to inculcate in those intrusted to them, humility, and the subjugation of their self-will."-Schwartz's Remains, p. 301.

What do we desire of God in these three petitions." I desire my Lord God, &c., as we ought to do." "Giver of all goodness," James i. 17. Hymn and prayer.

The first three petitions relate to God. The last to ourselves.
Of these, the first relates to the body,
unless he preserves our being.

because we cannot serve God

Christ teaches us in prayer, Matt. vi. 33; Psalm xxiv. 10. "For what is a man," &c., Matt. xvi. 26.

Though this petition refers to the body, it includes also provision for the soul.

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It includes "all things that be needful, &c., Pet.ii. 2. Bodies, food, raiment, habitation, health, &c. We ask God for "bread," here put for all necessary provisions, because bread is most generally used; bread means provisions in general, Gen. xiv. 13; xlvii. 12. Sometimes bread literally, Gen. xxi, 14. Men will give all for bread, Job xv. 233 Gen. xxv. 34; xlvii. ›19 ; Sam. ii. 5.

"Daily" bread-not a stock-that we may continually pray to God, Exod. xvi. 16-35; Luke xi. 3; 1 Tim. vi. 8.5mm, det berotins, “ “This" day, Exod. xvi. 4; 1 Thess. v. 17. Dependent creatures, Matt. vi. 31, 32.

291 ret off optoromb. “Us,” “our,” pray not for ourselves alone but for others. "Give," we have no right to it-claim upon God here we acknowledge our helplessness- -no creature can give, if God withholds-God's power over us our entire dependence upon him, even for a crust of bread.

God's gift, Eccles. ix. 11; Ruth i. 6; Neh. ix. 15; -Psalm.civ. l5g cxxxii. 15; James i. 17; Gen. xxxii. 10; Luke xvii. 10; John vi. 32; Psalm cxxxvi. 25; Psalm cxlv. 16; cxlvi. 7; Acts xiv. 17; xvii. 25; Hos. ii. 8; John vi. 32, 34; Gen. xlviii. 15, 16; Deut. ii. 7; viii. 3, 4; Eccles. iii. 13. Why should the rich pray, &c.? They know not what a day, &c. . Anecdote. Dr. Orton mentions thirty persons who once rode in their carriages, who were so reduced as to be obliged to ask for assistance.

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