It is granted too, that preachers of popular talent are often, with great propriety, employed in London to plead for institutions of religious benevolence, which have just claims on the attention and support of Christians in general. On these occasions, large audiences, and that from every quarter, are not only desirable, but necessary. The cause, perhaps, is that of our common Christianity, and the best feelings of our nature are appealed to in its behalf; but here there is a 'general understanding that our attendance and support ought to be given. Whole churches with their respective ministers are now seen to attend; and, assuredly, the cause which attracts and unites the common feeling, will not derange, but contribute to the order, stability, and harmony of the churches. Besides, the government and observances of these institutions are regular; and their demands on the attention of the public not so frequent as to occasion any abandonment of more particular duties. to be struck with the notoriety of a dangerous passion to sober unethe fact I have now stated. Occa- quivocal duties, in which he has sional visits among families in Lon- reason to hope for the blessings of don accustomed to public worship, Heaven. can hardly fail to impress on a serious mind the conviction that the order of many churches must be greatly violated; and consequently their prosperity grievously injured by this irregularity in the conduct of their respective members and professed adherents. Coming from churches in the country, where greater uniformity of attendance is observed, you cannot help feeling that your friends in town have either never brought their minds to a settlement on religious questions, or, that in gadding about so much, they must speedily change their way. You feel that they are indulging a sort of religious dissipation. You see them pass from preacher to preacher, as from one public performance to another, in quest of amusement. They ask you, by way of filling up your time agree. ably, to accompany them on these occasions. They repeat to you a list of popular preachers, with their respective stations and subjects; their days of performance, and the kind of interest to be excited by the peculiarities of their style and manner. In the mean while, at each interval of religious amusement, you inly lament the check which all this obviously gives to growth in grace, and a real conformity of the life to the rules of the Gospel. The evil under consideration arises, perhaps, in most cases, from a certain lightness of fancy, an unchastised, unsanctified taste, which must be gratified at the expence of the judgment and the heart. In many instances, I fear, the prophecy of Paul in his epistle to Timothy is unhappily fulfilled, "The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." I am aware of the many temptations to such a practice existing in a place of vast population, where Christians of all denominations are furnished with teachers of various, and not unfrequently, of the most respectable talent. But temptaFor all practices reputed censutions to evil are to be resisted. rable, the mind is sufficiently inWhen mere curiosity, or love of ventive of reasons to justify, or novelty would prompt him to waste apologies to extenuate. In the the sacred hours of the Sabbath in present case, the culpable are not search of an unprofitable gratifica- deficient in expedients for self-jus tion, it is the part of the Christian tification. These are various; but to deny himself; and to sacrifice all, more or less, resting on what they presume to be principles uni- [To be concluded in our next.] INSTITUTION ON BEHALF OF THE DAUGHTERS OF MINISTERS. Sir, PERMIT me to appeal to the public, through your means, in behalf of the Female Children of pious Ministers, whose slender incomes prevent them from giving their offspring a suitable education. For the Sons of these deserving men, Benevolence has exerted herself; but why is nothing done for their Daughters? Is it not of the last importance that these should be well educated? Allow me the pri vilege of speaking freely, as I feel for my sex, the offspring of ministers. It is nearly five years since God condescended to employ me, in conjunction with a much more devoted female friend, privately to assist in educating the daughters of some excellent ministers of small incomes. We have rendered, we hope, lasting benefit to some; but others crowd upon our view, and excite the sympathies of our hearts. The plan, which has proved advantageous on a small scale, we wish to enlarge, and to open to ministers more extensively its benefits. If some appeal must be made to benevolent Christians, I am not afraid of exhausting their benevo lence, while the triumphant car of a beloved Immanuel is advancing through the world. I trust many will feel, as I must confess I have, condemned, that they have not made the distresses of pious minisThe children of ters their own. these faithful men are not in reality The fathers, havtheirs but ours. ing given themselves up for Christ's sake and our sake, labour night and day, watching for souls, as they that must give an account. They weep between the porch and the altar; and how many times may we have been the cause of their tears! for if Paul complained of stripes, those inflicted on the mind parents. are the most severe; and perhaps take some useful station in their we, by our evil surmises, our stripes, families, or are capable of entering or spiritual declensions, may have upon scholastic life, if thus directed been as rods to our ministers. Were by the views and wishes of their they not gentle as a nurse toward her froward children, how much would our souls lose! I repeat it, then, we should be as nurses to their tender offspring, supplying the parents lack of time or money; seeing they have denied it to their children for the sake of our souls. We should regard their daughters especially, as our own; and apply to ourselves what the Apostle says of parents, according to the flesh: "He that provides not for his own, has denied the faith.' I am sure every generous and devout mind will feel that equity leads us to recognize the relationship and discharge its duties. The following is the outline of a plan intended to be acted upon at Wakefield, in Yorkshire. It will be seen, that the furnishing of the House is all that will require the benevolent aid of private Christians, in order to carry the plan into effect. Daughters of ministers, of any denomination, instructed in Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Geography, History, and Grammar, Making and Cutting out their own Clothes, and in the various branches of domestic business. The Education, Clothing, and every expence (excepting Doctor's bills, journeys to and from their respective homes) to be included in 167. per annum; allowing 127. per annum for Board, and 47. for Clothes. The Pupils to bring one half-year's Board and Clothes in advance; also a suitable stock of Clothes, Sheets, &c. as will be shewn them by list. Children not exceeding the age of 10 years will always have the preference for admittance; but vacancies will be reserved at the commencement for six individuals of 14 years of age, and for six of 12. The former to remain two years in the Justitution; the latter four. Children coming at the age of 10 will not be expected to leave until 16, that they may be quite fitted to Their mode of living will be plain but plentiful. Bread, with pure unadulterated milk, for breakfast and tea; animal food three times a week for dinner, when puddings of a plain variety will be given with it; but the remaining days, these puddings and At every potatoes without meat. meal no limitation of quantity. A committee of ministers and laymen appointed to inspect the improvement of the Pupils, their clothing, mode of living, snd furniture of the house. Their Report to be laid before the public every year. Ministers of any denomination, who have children to place out, on these terms, are requested to make application to the Rev. James Bennett, Masbro'; Rev. J. Boden, Sheffield; Rev. B. Rayson, Wakefield; Rev. W. Eccles, Leeds; Rev. R. Cholmeley, Leeds; M. Jackson, Leeds; when their respective claims will be transmitted to the Conductors of the Institution; cording to the earliest and most needy and each person's child admitted acapplication. The number of 30 only can be admitted at present; and no application attended to after It is to be wished that ministers, and individual Christians of every place of worship, would consider how they might make this mode of education easy for those who, low as the terms are, cannot spare, out of their scanty incomes, so much as 167. per annum; and that they would therefore enter into a contribution to send the individual children, for whose education they are concerned; or else, by congregations subscribing a small sum annually, make a general fund of it, depositing it in the hands of a Treasurer, who might be a minister on or near the spot, such as the ; and thus, if every congregation throughout the kingdom were to subscribe, upon an average, three or four pounds per annum, there would be enough to educate ten times the humble number now proposed; which is intended as a feeble beginning, to shew the reli-, gious world how much important E e No Vacations allowed, except parents desire it; when it is wished they will only have their children home at the summer season of the year. good may be done, in a very easy the singing of birds is come, and way, when the heart is truly affected the voice of the turtle is heard in with the calls of Christian benevoour land." The blossoming of lence. fruit-trees, and especially of the apple-tree, as the spring advances, has a very pleasing appearance, The third and last thing which I shall mention as making the vernal season so welcome is, the refined pleasure which Spring affords, and the hopes it excites. Poets, philosophers, and moralists have often celebrated the beauties and pleasures of the vernal season. All the gay and reviving appearances of the Spring are termed by the poets It is requested that all postage of letters be paid. REFLECTIONS ON SPRING. In considering this subject, it will be proper to shew the three principal things which conspire to render the vernal season so plea"The smiles of nature." sant, and then point out some of All the pleasures derived from enthe chief spiritual uses which may joying them are called by Milton, be made on observing it. The first very properly, "Vernal delights;" thing which renders Spring so and he observes, that "Those who pleasing, is, the acceptable time of neglect to visit the country in its coming. In this it has a mani- spring, or reject the contemplation fest advantage over the other three of its productions, are guilty of a seasons, because it succeeds winter; sullenness against nature." Mr. which, in northern climates, often Boyle terms Spring "The youth proves severely cold for a consider- of the year, and the season of lively able time, and is always a damp, energy and pleasing hope, as to the dark, and dreary season. Our win- future productions of the summer ter which is just past having been and autumn;" and Mr. Ray says, very long, and the present Spring that "The creation during Spring so late, may be considered as an is a school for Christians." One exemplification of this, and must source of refined pleasure in spring, make the transition this year dou- is to admire the beautiful simpli bly acceptable. And, indeed, every city of nature in its renewed proyear, the lengthening of the days ductions; and indeed it is almost and the prolonged shining of the impossible not to find a charm in sun are such cheering blessings, them, unless the taste is dreadfully as cannot fail to render the Spring vitiated by intemperance. welcome. Secondly, the fresh an- best time for enjoying these pleanual display of natural treasures. sures is a walk before breakfast, Every Spring is, as it were, an or at least before dinner, in the anniversary of nature, and exhibits fields; but it is greatly to be laa fresh budding verdure of its vari- mented that many, by sitting up ous productions in fields and gar- late at night, or by intemperance, dens, with all their soft beauties incapacitate themselves for rising and delightful fragrance to regale sufficiently early to partake the our senses. In our climate the full benefits of the Spring. Mr. cuckoo is generally the herald of Hervey has the following judicious the Spring; afterwards the swal- reflections on this part of the sublow returns to us, and the sweet ject:-" How charming to rove notes of the nightingale are heard; abroad at the sweet hour of prime, so that we may say, as it is record- and taste the delightful freshness ed in Cant. ii. 12, "The flowers of the air! Who would be dissolvappear on the earth, the time of ed in senseless slumbers while the The embalm a morning's walk in the spring, and invite him to a feast of fragrance! A fugitive treat they are, prepared only for the wakeful and temperate; for when the sluggard lifts his heavy eyes, the flowers may droop, and their fine scents be dissipated." incense of the garden and fields examination of sinners and saints. As all nature is alive in the vernal season, so every Spring should excite our earnest supplications for the quickening influences of renewing grace; and with respect to believers, it becomes them at all times, but especially in the Spring, to make diligent enquiries whether their graces are in a flourishing state, and whether they visibly grow therein. In the diary of a very pious deceased minister, I lately read the following article: Let us now learn the four following spiritual uses of properly contemplating the beauties of the Spring:-1st. To be grateful to God for his goodness in producing all the natural vernal blessings. The May 1. This day I most soreturn of every Spring may be considered amongst the many proofs mination respecting the state of my lemnly made annual self-examy of a God, and of his bountiful good-soul, and my progressive spiritual ness in providing such an amazing variety of productions for the food and pleasure of his creatures, especially for man's use and delight. These annual unmerited favours call aloud upon the whole human race to express their gratitude; but, alas, this cannot be produced by a carnal heart! It is the real Christian only who can be truly thankful to the Lord, though he is certain that all the returns he can make to his gracious Benefactor are poor and imperfect. Secondly, Devoutly to contemplate the works of nature. The more the works of God, and their progressive advance in Spring are observed with a devotional spirit, the more they must be admired; yet none but a real Christian can truly be devout; for he only is savingly enlightened to see that these are the productions of his covenant Father in Christ Jesus; and he only can lift up his soul by faith to God in spiritual praise. To assist the intelligent Christian in his vernal contemplations, he should carefully read Hervey on the Creation, and the Flower Garden; Dr. Aikin's History of the Year; Thomson's Seasons; and the short but judicious remarks at the end of each month in the Evangelical Diary for 1816. Thirdly, Here is a lesson of self improvement. I have for some Lastly, Let the young learn |