LABOUR FOR CHRIST. "I know thy works, and labour, and patience.”—REV. ii. 2. Go, labour on! spend and be spent! Go, labour on! 'tis not for nought; Men heed thee not, men praise thee not;.. Go, labour on! enough, enough, Go, labour on! thy hands are weak,... The throne, the kingdom, and the crown! Go, labour on! while it is day, The long dark night is hastening on ; Speed, speed thy work-up from thy sloth-.. See thousands dying at your side;..... Haste, brethren! to the rescue, come!... Toil on, toil on! thou soon shalt find 2 Cor. xii. 15. Ps. xl. 8. 1 Cor. xv. 58. Matt. x. 32. Job iv. 3. Is. xxxv. 4. Eccles. ix. 10. Ps. xlix. 10, 12. Heb. x. 37. Rev. xiv. 13. Soon shalt thou hear the Bridegroom's voice,.. Matt. xxv. 6. Rev. xxii. 12. CORRESPONDENCE. ALLOTMENTS. In the parish in which I reside, my kind rector, a few years since, gave a general offer to the poor to occupy portions of ground on his glebe land, which offer was gladly accepted by almost every cottager—a few having been even provided for by a larger share of ground than usually falls to the lot of the poor, formed the exception. The rules of tenure are: For portions not exceeding twenty poles, a yearly rent of five shillings, free of all other charges, in payments of two shillings and sixpence, on the 1st of April and October; the ground to be under spade cultivation; two-thirds to be planted with potatoes, and one-third with vegetables; the crops to be shifted in due course, that the land may have the benefit of a change of system. White corn crops are not prohibited, but not adopted. We have a Labourer's Friend Society in the district; some of its subscribers, in addition, have offered a prize to the best general allotment in any parish of the district. The society also offers a prize to the second and third best cultivated allotments, having reference to the greater number and variety of the crops. The decision is made by the Cottage Committee, in their tour to decide on the most cleanly, &c. cottages. Last year, the first prize was awarded to the allotment of this parish. Our rector divided it into three; giving the offer of three prizes for the most cleanly and best cultivated allotments among his tenants; the decision being made by three of his farming parishioners; and such was the effect of the stimulus given by the offer of the prizes, and the desire to excel in their occupation, that the task of deciding was a difficult one. At the rector's audit, all the poor occupiers were invited to a substantial supper, (not annual,) to receive the rewards, and join in a happy evening, to which also some of the farming parishioners were not forgotten to be invited to witness their enjoyment. Thus the unity of the different grades in the parish was cemented, and a kindly spirit promoted. I cannot conclude without bearing my testimony, from experienced observation, of the great benefit the allotment system confers on the poor-a more substantial one I have not witnessed. It teaches them prudence and economy, by which their ground is cultivated, and puts them in possession, by the blessing of Providence, of a rich harvest of potatoes, (the staff of life to the poor,) which they treasure up in well-protected clamps for their winter store. Thus they are not the only persons who have no stock in hand to cheer them in times of difficulty. Not that I advocate the system as a panacea for every evil, but as a great preventive of suffering, and tending to promote the moral and general comfort of the poor. C. P. QUESTIONS ON CONFIRMATION. REV. SIR,-I shall be obliged if you will allow me to ask two questions, through the medium of the "Teacher's Visitor." I. Suppose an adult to be baptized in our Church, and to answer for himself, upon what ground is he required to be confirmed? (See Rubric, in the office for such as are of riper years.) II. Is there any Scriptural authority for the exclusion of such a person from the Lord's Supper, in case he continues unconfirmed? (See Rubric, Confirmation Service.) I hope some correspondent will kindly answer the above questions. I am encouraged to ask you to insert them, because I know, Rev. Sir, that you are desirous of assisting those Teachers whose means of procuring books and information are but few. April 6th, 1846. A COUNTRY TEACHER. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "T. M." The desire of grace is grace. You have laboured hard, you say, in prayer; your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. Prayer in the name of Jesus must prevail. It may have done more for you already than you think of. It shall do still more, if you faint not. Why shall it not? God is a God of love. His bowels of compassion yearn over his poor sinful creatures. "He waiteth to be gracious.' "Tarry then the Lord's leisure; be strong, and he shall comfort thy heart." "W. E. P." There may be a communion of saints in a very refreshing and endearing sense of the term, without the necessity of believing that the saints in glory are actually eye witnesses of our proceedings here on earth. No, they are perfectly happy; but they could not be so if they saw all that was going on in the Church militant, and therefore we believe that as we have a blessed communion with them spiritually, without seeing them, only on the report that faith brings: so they have the same; a spiritual communion, but with a far higher ravishing assurance touching the future re-union than we can have on earth. "E. S." Christ saves meritoriously; faith saves instrumentally; works save declaratively. As the tree is known by its fruits now, so faith is known by its effects or results, but it is the faith that saves. And so in the last day, faith will be manifested by the works. But it is not for the works that any are accepted. So far are the righteous from expecting this, that when Christ refers to their good works, they are represented as surprised. We must all die as unprofitable servants, hoping for eternal life only through the mercies of God through Christ. Ineligible. Verses of a constant reader. "E. G.," as referring to the living, who might see and have their humility injured; "Frances." "Teacher's Prayer." END OF VOL. IV. JOHN FOSTER, PRINTER, KIRKBY LONSDALE. |