66 Selections from different Authors on Prayer. 329 of the creation, let us consider to whom we stand indebted for all these entertainments of sense, and who it is that thus opens his hand and fills all nature for our good. The apostle instructs us to take advantage of our present temper of mind, to graft upon it such a religious exercise as is particularly conformable to it, by that precept which advises those who are sad to pray," and those who are merry to “ sing Psalms." The cheerfulness of heart which springs up in us from the survey of nature's works, is an admirable preparation for gratitude. The mind has gone a great way towards praise and thanksgiving, that is filled with such secret gladness. A grateful reflection on the Supreme Cause who produces it, sanctifies it in the soul, and gives it its proper value. Such an habitual disposition of mind consecrates every field and wood, turns an ordinary walk into morning or evening sacrifice, and will improve those transient gleams of joy which naturally brighten up and refresh the soul on such occasions, into an inviolable and perpetual state of bliss and happiness.-Addison (Spectator, No. 393.) SELECTIONS FROM DIFFERENT AUTHORS ON PRAYER. PRAYER is the application of want to Him who alone can relieve it. The voice of sin to Him who alone can pardon it. It is the urgency of poverty-the prostration of humility-the fervency of penitence-the confidence of trust. It is not eloquence but earnestness-not the definition of helplessness, but the feeling of it-not figures of speech, but compunction of soul. It is "The Lord save us, we perish," of drowning Peter-the cry of faith to the ear of mercy.-Hannah More. Prayer is a work of the same dignity and honour wherein the angels and saints of heaven themselves are employed. It is an advocate for the guilty-a redemption for the captive-a rest for the weariedand a comfort for the sorrowful. It is our watchtower while we sleep, and our safeguard while we are awake.-St. Gregory Nyssen. Prayer is to our souls what meat and drink are to our bodies;-their repast, their support, their nourishment.-Archbishop Sharp. The manner in which we pray will decide our salvation.-Fenelon. If thou hast not the convenience of religious assemblies, and the house of God, be not concerned for want of a proper place; for every good man's heart is the temple of God, and his house of prayer. Pray then in bed, abroad, in the fields, at home, in thy closet; the place makes no difference: thy prayers will consecrate it, and make it the habitation of God's Spirit, and gracious presence.-St. Bernard. I would even awake with my God. My first thoughts are for Him who made the night for rest, and the day for labour. If my heart be early seasoned with Him, it will savour of Him all the day after.Bishop Hall. As the light of the sun is to the eyes of the body, so is prayer to the soul.-Chrysostom. He who prays well will live well.-St. Augustine. RECEIPT FOR CONSUMPTIVE CASES. MR. EDITOR, THE enclosed receipt has been found useful in many instances; and, in the hope that it may be of service to some of your readers, you are requested to insert it in the Cottager's Monthly Visitor. C. C. We comply with the request of C. C.; but we should not recommend any person to try this receipt, or any other, without having first consulted a medical person, The Poor of this World. 331 for the purpose of knowing whether there be any thing in the receipt itself, or in the case of the patient, which might cause harm, instead of good, to be the consequence. "The following singular but simple remedy has been found extremely efficacious in pulmonary complaints. A poor woman whose life was despaired of, and who, apparently in the last stage of a consumption, was induced to try it, was, in the course of a few months, restored to health. "Two ounces of bright Newcastle coal pounded, to be boiled in a quart of milk till it is reduced to a pint, then strained, and half a pint to be taken warm at bedtime, and the remaining half before breakfast in the morning." C. C. THE POOR OF THIS WORLD. Ir the poor of this world, from their hearts would believe Of them in the Scriptures,-they never would grieve For there they are told, that, however unknown By Jehovah, who sits on his heavenly throne, The needy shall ne'er be forgot 1." Though foes may be mighty, though friends may be weak, The cord of God's love nought shall sever, For" the patient abiding of them that are meek It is said, shall not perish for ever 299 And though they "eat ashes, as if they were bread, If they 66 sow here in tears," the same Scripture hath said, "In joy they shall one day be reaping 4" Although they inherit no portion but ill ;- Is bequeath'd them in God's ever-merciful will, 1 Psalm ix. 18. 2 Ib. 4 Psalm cxxvi. 5. 3 Psalm cii. 9. 5 Matt. xi. 5. And " hath not God chosen the poor of this world 1, Which, to them that love HIM, and obey his commands ; Though you lack all things else,-to the end but endure 2, A FRIEND TO THE POOR. SIR, ON PROFANE SWEARING. IN consequence of the success attending the Temperance Societies, I have been led to suggest that similar institutions might be established for the " prevention of profane cursing and swearing." If numbers have been induced to give up what they had considered necessary for comfort, or conducive to health, surely they would more readily consent to abandon a habit, which, instead of being profitable, ornamental, or harmless, is, on the contrary, odious, wicked, and ruinous. In the presence of a clergyman, of ladies, or of any superior, many are silenced who have contracted the dreadful habit of swearing and blaspheming, although they are unmindful of Him" to whom all hearts are open, and from whom no secrets are hid." What, therefore, is wanted, is some additional check, which would be well supplied by the means alluded to. Humbly hoping that this hint will call forth the exertions of some abler advocate, I remain, Sir, June 17, 1831. Yours, &c. H. S. T. We are not by any means prepared to expect that such a Society will be instituted, or to estimate the amount of good which might be expected from it; but of this we are certain, that every member of the society of Christians should do all in his power to check the 1 James ii. 5. 2 Matt. x. 22. 3 Phil. iv. 18. Selections from different Authors. 333 prevalence of this deadly sin. It is sometimes said, by the man who swears, that "he means no harm;"that "it is only a habit, a trick that he has got;' and that "he hardly knows when he does it." If, however, a man loved God, or feared him, his mind would be in such a state that the name of that great and good Being could not be uttered by him profanely, or carelessly. Let every profane swearer examine himself, and ask himself whether the language of his lips does not prove "that God is not in all his thoughts;"-that he "forgets God;"--and we know the condemnation that is pronounced against all such. * V. SMALL-POX. THOSE persons who are suffering from Small-pox, not having been prudent enough to guard against it, by vaccination, will find great relief, by dredging over the severe sores, made by the pustules, with flour, and thus keeping the sores covered, as in the case of burns and scalds. This method has been found to succeed in cases of the severest confluent small-pox. The skin, even in the severest cases, comes again in a perfect state, leaving no marks, seams, or pits. This discovery has been made by Henry George, Esq. an eminent surgeon of Kensington. Great benefit has resulted from opening the pustules, and applying the flour, when, after a very short time, all appearance of small-pox disappears where the flour has been applied. SELECTIONS FROM DIFFERENT AUTHORS. WHEN we see our friends and our enemies gliding away before us, let us not forget that we are subject to the general law of mortality, and shall soon be where our doom will be fixed for ever.-Dr. Johnson. * Ps. ix. 17. |