The Christian's Call. 339 of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation." Heb. x. 26, 27.-O let us rather gladly and thankfully embrace this blessed offer of pardon; let us humbly acknowledge our own vileness, and insufficiency to think any good thing, but in stedfast faith implore of God the gift of His Holy Spirit, to guide us into the paths of holiness. Let these prayers be addressed in the name of our great High Priest, who has atoned for our sins, and who ever liveth to make intercession for us *. L. S. R. THE CALL ON EVERY CHRISTIAN TO TAKE HEED TO TURN THE GIFT ENTRUSTED TO HIS CARE TO SOME ACCOUNT. (Extract from Miller's Sermons.) CHRISTIANS, let us understand this; that we can all do something toward the great end of furthering God's glory, if we will. Nay, we can all do much if we are willing. I beg of you to weigh this well; and to become alive continually to the important truth of it. Many allow themselves to be deceived-to be beguiled to spiritual sloth, and so perhaps to be undone for ever, by measuring the life that now is, and its duties, on too narrow a scale, and weighing them in nothing but a worldly balance. Under this error the wealth of this world is the measure commonly taken. How many think that money can do every thing! at any rate, that nothing can be done without it. The view of life and duty taken in the New Testament, describing us as many members, yet but one body, all equally important to the life and welfare of the whole, * The conclusion of this paper is missing,-we hope that much of our correspondent's excellent commentary is not thereby omitted.-Ed. proceeds on no such calculation. That measures things by a much surer scale-the scale of truth. That lays an equal obligation to the discharge of duty upon rich and upon poor. It is the form of duty only that is different to these; the principle and obligation are the same. Instead of laying such vain stress on this world's means, it is much nearer to the truth to say, that, after all, money, and the fancied powers of present wealth, are but among the least and lowest offerings to be contributed to the great general work of Christian holiness, and growth in grace. Think for a moment, and you will perceive it to be quite impossible that any gift or talent should be that of highest value, from which the will of God has of necessity shut out the greater portion of his reasonable creatures. And such a gift is this world's wealth. God is not so unequal towards them that love him, and who truly seek him. He gives not wealth to all, but things which are far better, and more powerful, for the promotion of his will, he has placed equally within the reach of all. And some of such are these; a spirit of humility and fear, of meekness and of love; a reverence of his most holy name, and of his holy day and worship; a heart of kindness to bestow, and of teachableness to receive good counsel; the power of setting personal example; a temper of obedience toward those above us, and of kindness to those below us; the exercise of diligence and active usefulness; the graces of sincerity, of speaking truth, of honesty and patience. And cannot all contribute much, through qualities like these, to the great stock of common happiness and real godliness? Who (for example) may not regard the day of holiness and rest unto the Lord, if he be so minded, and come into the Lord's house to render praise to his great Maker, and to learn his duty? Who may not cease from idleness and swearing, and from bad company, and take himself, instead, to reverence and fear the Lord? Who, that is a parent, cannot at least set before his children a good example in his own person? ЛА Resignation. 341 Who may courteous? Who there to be obliging and kind and trust, may not be honest and juror servant, or in or who, in turn, may not be just and faithful towa? those who labour for him? Who may not speak the truth and hate lies? Who, in a word, may not be circumspect and careful to lay no stumbling-block of gross offence in the way of his Christian brethren? These and the like are things which have but little, you will see, to do with money, or the wealth of this world! Yet these, and things like these, done heartily as to the Lord and not unto men," can alone promote our real welfare:-and are they not within the power of all? As we must surely see that they are, so let us pray, in singleness of heart and faith to God, for grace, that he may mercifully teach us to contribute them to the advancement of his will? (Sent by C. H. N.) RESIGNATION. Forsake me not, Oh Lord my God! be not thou far from me. Psalm xxxviii. 21. I COULD not bear this lot of mine, I could not bear it but for Thee; Which thou didst bear on earth for me. Oh! God from thy eternal throne, Look down and leave me not alone. Shew me that pale, that bleeding brow, Shall share with thee those joys untold; I HAVE been reading lately a book called Mrs. Huntingdon's Memoirs, from which, as it may not be known by the generality of your readers, I take the liberty of sending you a few extracts. R. B. MRS. HUNTINGDON'S REMARKS ON EDUCATION. "The religious education of our children is indeed a subject of the greatest importance. While, on the one hand, we would avoid the error of those who think education can do every thing, we certainly are authorised to conclude, that, with the blessing of God, it may do much. The question then, "What is a religious education?" becomes one of the deepest interest. Is it, to have our children baptised and initiated into a knowledge of the general principles of Christianity? Is it to make them attend upon the regular administration of the word; to catechise them, to remind them of the greatness of their obligations to become holy, and set before them the terrors of the Lord, that we may persuade them to flee from the wrath to come? All this we undoubtedly ought to do. But all this we may do, and yet be found wanting. For we can never too earnestly press upon ourselves the conviction, that education is not what we teach our children at stated periods of time when we are giving them special instruction, or explaining to them revealed truths, but what we teach them by the silent, but ever-influencing Mrs. Huntingdon's Remarks on Education. 343 language of our general example. The mother, who recommends religion in her formal instructions to her. children, as a thing of the first importance, while, in her own case, it is habitually driven into a corner; who urges on her children the supreme desirableness of laying up treasures in heaven, while her own dearest treasures are shewn, by her conduct, to be on earth; who insists on the excellence and importance of meekness, patience, and charity, while she is no way remarkable for the exercise of those graces herself; who descants on the vanity of the world, while she is seen to be a slave to its opinions and fashions; such a one can hardly expect much success from her labours. "I have been thinking lately, more than usual, what our deficiencies in parental government are most likely to be, and I rather think we are in danger of leaning on the side of indulgence. Many things would naturally incline us to this: and it is a fault which would bear most seriously upon our children, especially upon our sons. It is of great importance that they should discover in us no inconsistencies to lessen their confidence in our judgment, and no impatience at their miscarriages, to weaken their persuasion of our piety.. While their faults should never be winked at, they should be met with such a spirit as to convince them, at once, that it is not the trouble they give us that disturbs our minds, but the sin they have committed against God. Absolute obedience should be insisted on. Nothing short of this should ever be allowed to answer. When we see the proud spirit rising, and threatening rebellion, let us take the Bible, and, while we show our children the awful guilt we should incur by suffering them to resist our authority with impunity, let us assure them, that, by the grace of God, we never will incur this guilt; that we will labour till our latest breath, to enforce upon them the reasonableness and necessity of yielding an unreserved obedience to all God's commandments. And this is one of these commands, Children obey your parents in all |