·Fragments of a Sermon. 365 The following Remarks were copied from a loose Scrap of Paper, and appear to be part, perhaps the Conclusion, of a Sermon on the Resurrection. SURELY then it is the great work of a Christian, constantly to examine himself, and to see whether he is in a right state of preparation for that kingdom to which his Saviour has risen, and where he is gone to prepare a place for his faithful followers, Our work then here is the cultivation of a right spirit, a mind fitted and prepared for an eternity of holiness and purity, from whence every thing that is evil will be banished, and all that is good will be the eternal employment; and where all love, and all praise to the eternal Godhead will be the triumphant song of the redeemed. This truth should be ever before us- "He that doeth good shall rise to the resurrection of life, and he that doeth evil to the resurrection of damnation." This is our work then to strive to "do good"-first to seek to banish all that we believe to be wrong, and then to cultivate all that we believe to be right-to "cease to do evil, to learn to do well" to increase in holiness, in charity, in uprightness, in the honest practice, the incorruptible course of a Christian. Great things are said of "faith" in the Scriptures of its justifying, its transforming power much of the mercy of God through the merits of Christ, in pardoning sin-much of the help of the Holy Spirit to assist us, and to sanctify us; but none of these are to lead us to forget the great duties which we are taught to practice, or to draw our thoughts from the responsibility which belongs to us. The mercies of God are to be received by us with devout thankfulness, as the strongest motives, towards leading us on in the right path of holy watchfulness and duty. Cling then to the great promises of the Gospel'; receive its gracious privileges, and let your hearts be raised in gratitude for them all; but still, ever ask yourselves whether you are really striving to walk in that way of obedience to which you are sure that you are called. Our Church provides you with outward means, by which you may attain inward grace: neglect none of these means; but still ask yourselves constantly whether this inward grace is attained. And the best rule to shew us whether it be indeed so, is to ask ourselves whether there be within us a heart desirous of conforming itself to the divine will, a wish to encourage pious thoughts, and to unite in pious exercises, and an anxious and conscientious wish to forsake all that we believe to be contrary to God's will, and to live in a watchful obedience to all his heavenly commands, &c." V. INSTANCE OF THE BENEFIT OF FAMILY PRAYER. A RELIGIOUS tradesman, talking with a clergyman on family worship, related the following very inter resting fact of himself, "When I first began business for myself, I determined, through God's blessing, to be very particular in having family prayers, and, for many years, I never missed. Morning and evening every one of my family was present, nor would I suffer my apprentices to be absent on any pretence but illness. In a few years the great benefit of this practice was very plainly to be seen. Such, however, was the great increase of my trade, that I was getting rich apace, and every moment of my time was so taken up with my customers, that I began to think (such was the snare into which pros perity led me) that family prayer occupied too much of our time in, the morning. Many scruples arose in my mind, but at length worldly thoughts Benefit of Family Prayer. $67 got the better of these scruples, and I determined to excuse the attendance of my apprentices. Soon afterwards I determined, in order to save my own time, that I would say my prayers with my wife in our own room; then the prayers became shorter, till at last they were very short indeed; but I tried to persuade myself, that, as I did not quite give them up, I might be excused, as my family was becoming very large, and it was my duty to provide for them, by doing all I could to turn my very flourishing business to the best account, as I foolishly thought. My conscience soon became hardened, and I seemed to be left to my own devices, when it pleased God in his great mercy to awaken me by a singlar providence.-One day I received a letter from a young man who had formerly been my apprentice, at a time when I was most regular in family prayer. Not doubting but I continued this Christian practice, his letter was chiefly on this subject, and was worded in the most respectful and affectionate manner. But what was my surprise and my shame when I read these words?"Never, my dear master, shall I be able sufficiently to thank you for the privilege with which you indulged me in your family devotion. Eternity will be too short to praise my God for what I learnt there; it was there I first learnt to feel the sinful inclinations of my heart; it was there I was first taught the way of salvation, and the gracious promises of the Gospel. You have an increasing family, and other apprentices; may they be trained, as I was, to seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and then they may be assured, that all else that is good for them in this world of trial, will be added unto them." I could read no further. Every word flashed condemnation in my face. I trembled exceedingly; and, filled with confusion, and bathed in tears of sorrow and repentance, I fell on my knees and implored forgiveness of that great and good God, who is ever ready to receive humbled and penitent sinners. From that day to the present, I have, I trust, with tenfold earnestness and devotion, raised my voice to Him in prayer and praise in the midst of my assembled family, and more than tenfold comfort is my rich and present reward. Would that I could persuade all my neighbours to take warning by my faults; and that all mankind would "praise the Lord for his goodness, and declare the wonders that He doth the children of men." E. M. A PRAYER WRITTEN IN SICKNESS. WHEN sickness to my fainting soul, Her fearful form display'd, "If softened by th' impending stroke But if from memory's Tablet soon, The bounteous Giver and the boon, Rather than bear that blackest stain If health's unmerited return But should I shortly hence depart, May that blest Spirit, Lord! impart BISHOP OF CALCUTTA. HAVING seen observations on the culture of Bees in several numbers of your valuable Miscellany, I beg to enquire of some of its numerous readers conversant in the history and economy of those industrious and prolific insects, the cost, mode of constructing, situating, and managing a Leaf or BookHive on the principle of that indefatigable and scientific Apiarian M. Huber. It is also desirable to know the best mode of sheltering a series of flat hives; say four or five, (each about 12 inches in diameter, and five or six inches deep)-placed one above another; as the common hat or hackle made of reed of the ordinary length, seems not to be sufficient for the purpose, So late as the 1st of July, last year, I secured a remarkably fine swarm of bees in glazed boxes, and placed them in the window of a south room in my house, where they have thriven astonishingly, nearly filling four * boxes, and two glass finger basins which surmount them. On the 21st ult. they threw off an immensely large swarm, and this day another, both of which are placed in flat hives in my garden, for want of convenient room within doors. By this disposition of them I shall be enabled, at the end of the season, to sever the uppermost hives from those beneath them, without risking the destruction of many of their industrious inhabitants whereas, by the old method, the whole community is destroyed. And this operation is best perform ; * Each box is 14 inches long-nine wide, and seven and a half deep. |
