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ANECDOTES, SELECTIONS, AND GEMS.

Gems.

REDEMPTION, if it appeared in its native beauty, has such light and brightness, such glory in it, that it is hard to conceive how it should not have an irresistible influence, in ravishing every heart, with a love stronger than death, and with such transports of joy and admiration, as would make up the happiest state of mind in the world.

MAN'S IGNORANCE. We are but lately sprung from nothing, lately entered into God's world; we see but a very small part of his works, and that part itself very darkly: that we therefore should not know the reasons of all his actions, is so far from being just matter of wonder, that indeed it would be an incomprehensible wonder if we did.

DIVINE LIGHT.-It can never be the intention of the Holy Ghost to raise evil thoughts in men's hearts that were not there before; but to dis. cover those that are there, to discover them, in order to cure them.

Nay, dont

SIN is contagious. As we dread, more than any other, those diseases which are contagious to the body, we should dread sin which is contagious to the soul. So go not in the way of sinners, lest you take the infection. WHY?—some ask why did God permit sin? Try the matter again in thine own case-Canst thou blame God for thy own sins? flinch - canst thou? Why blame him then for the sins of others? THE TRUE CHRISTIAN desires-first, To know God in Christ-second, To know himself in Christ - third, To know Christ in himself. WHICH? yes, which is the greatest wonder? God's love, or man's ingratitude. Try it in thine own case.

THE TWO IMPOSTORS.-The devil and our own hearts are such notorious impostors that we should never trust them-no, not an atom.

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Facts and Hints.

ALMSGIVING.-When I see a fuss made in the newspapers about some rich man giving away blankets, coals, beef, and so on, to the poor, I always think, Oh, so conscience pricks you, does it? you are now making up for bad wages are you!" Pay good wages, and then you may keep your alms, or send them to the helpless only.

A MAN, who is a man will never go sneaking, and skulking, and snivelling, to beg alms, when with his own right arm he can work and get a fair price for it.

GREAT LOSSES.-Loss of money--loss of time-loss of business-loss of strength-loss of health-loss of a good conscience-loss of character -loss of friends-sometimes loss of intellects-often loss of life-and, alas! alas! loss of the immortal soul!-are the serious and often irreparable losses which he must endure who loves strong drink.

PROMISES. He who makes a promise contracts a debt which he is bound in honour to pay - principal and interest too.

HEADS AND HANDS.-Five good heads are worth fifty pairs of hands any day. So always let thy head direct thy hands.

PUNCTUALITY AND NEGLIGENCE.-A punctual man has always a few minutes to spare-the negligent man is always behind hand.

A HINT TO A YOUNG COUPLE.-The best way to avoid a second quarrel is never to have a first.

A TEST OF INDUSTRY-What is it? Ask the gardener to look at his spade. It will tell you its master's character. Is it bright?

CIVILITY charms all. It is as lovely when dressed in fustian as in silk.

THE FIRESIDE.

The Fireside.

HOUSEHOLD WORDS.-The following sentences, with words from scripture to warrant them, have been printed on a sheet in a handsome style, and may be bad through a bookseller, of Green, London. They are called "Rules to be observed by this Family." Rich People would do good if they bought them in quantities to stick up in cottages.

"WASTE NOT; WANT NOT."

"

DO EVERY THING AT ITS PROPER TIME.
PUT EVERY THING IN ITS PROPER PLACE.
USE EVERY THING FOR ITS PROPER USE.
BE PUNCTUAL. BE REGULAR. BE CLEANLY.
RISE EARLY, BE INDUSTRIOUS,

BE OBLIGING AND KIND ONE TO ANOTHER.

LET NO ANGRY WORDS BE HEARD AMONG YOU.

" REMEMBER THE SABBATH-DAY TO KEEP IT HOLY."

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES." "WATCH AND PRAY."

And, we would advise that there should be added in the next impression, to crown the whole, and as nothing of this sort is perfect without it, "BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED."

WATER AS A BEVERAGE.-Water is the natural and proper drink of man. Indeed it is the grand beverage of organized nature, and enters largely into the composition of the blood of animals, and juices of plants. It was the only beverage of the human family in their primeval state. In that garden where grew 'every tree pleasant to the sight and good for food,' producing all the richness and variety of fruit and flower' which an omnipotent and all-bountiful Creator could adapt to the relish of his senses and his wants; it cannot for a moment be doubted that man was in a condition the best suited to secure him the uninterrupted, as well as the highest and best exercise and enjoyment of his physical, mental, and moral powers. His drink was water. A river flowed from Paradise. From the moment that river began to " water the garden," till the present time, no human invention has equalled this simple beverage; and all the attempts to improve it by the admixture of other substances, whether alcoholic, narcotic, or aromatic, have not only wholly failed, but have served to deteriorate or poison it, and render it less healthful and safe. A FIRESIDE FABLE.-There was once upon a time a good little dwarf who was so powerful that he overcame almost everything he attempted; and yet he was so small and ill-favoured, that people laughed when they were told of his wondrous powers. But the tiny creature was so kind at heart, and loved so much to serve his unfortunate and desponding brethren, that he would go and beg of those who knew him better to intercede for him, so that he might be allowed to help them out of their troubles; and when once he had made them happy by his noble deeds, they no longer despised him, or drove him from them with sneers, but loved him as their truest friend. Yet the only return this good dwarf sought for all his services was, that when they heard of any one who wanted a helping hand, they would say a word in his favour, and recommend them to-TRY.

THE PENNY POST.

The Penny Post.

OUR Lord said, "gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Two facts came under my own observation which I thought ought not to be lost; and I send them to you by penny post for the

Pioneer.

J. H. THE SABBATH-BREAKER ARRESTED. - Dr. Young, in his "Night Thoughts," observes,

"A good man seen, though silent, council gives."

As Mr. T., a pious laborious preacher, was going through our village to a distant place to preach the gospel one sabbath, he observed a window covered with sweetmeats on sale on that day. This grieved his righteous soul, and led him to give an indignant look at the window, which was noticed by the man in the house, whose conscience smote him, and he exclaimed to his wife, "we are wrong to sell on a Sunday, for Mr. T. is just gone past, and he did give such a look at the window. Let us give over selling on a Sunday." To this the wife agreed, and the window was immediately cleared of its contents. The man went to hear the gospel, and afterwards joined a christian society, and sold no more on the sabbath to the day of his death, which happened a few years since, when the same minister, Mr. T., was called upon to improve his death in a sermon, which he did from "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners: of whom I am chief." THE PIOUS MOTHER AND HER CHILDREN.-A pious woman, who had a hardhearted husband, who would have plenty of money in his own pocket to brag with among his wicked companions, and yet suffered his wife and children often to want bread, living at one time many days upon potatoes, and hearing the children say their prayers, one of the little boys in repeating the Lord's Prayer, instead of saying "Give us this day our daily bread,” in the simplicity of his heart, said, “Give us this day our daily potatoes." Stop, Joe," said the mother, "why do you say so?" "Why, mother, you know, we have no bread." "But we shall have some, my dear, soon, dont alter the prayer, for God hath said in his word, 'Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.'" And so it was, though it came about in an awful manner, for the wretched man by gadding about in the night, caught a complaint which brought him down to death. The widow and her children fared better afterwards, being cared for by Him who hath promised to be the father of the fatherless, and the husband of the widow. "SWEARING ON SUNDAYS" AND ALMSGIVING.-In a village not a hundred miles from Leicester, the clergyman, in talking to one of his parishioners, asked her why she neglected to receive the sacrament at church. She informed him that she could not receive it with certain characters who were in the habit of swearing; his reply was, "do they swear on a Sunday." The same clergyman has lately withheld his subscription towards purchasing coals for the poor in this parish, because they wont go to church, but a christian lady in the neighbourhood has engaged that they shall not suffer for it. T. W. [What ignorance and shabbiness are here united in the person of one parish priest, paid from public property. We dare be bound this man pretends to be a successor of the apostles!]

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THE CHILDREN'S CORNER.

The Children's Corner.

THE CHILD'S CHOICE.-A minister, dear little girl was called to die, and

one Lord's-day afternoon, visited the school connected with his congregation, and conversed with some of the children. He desired them to point out, from the scripture histories which they had been taught to read at school, some one which they particularly admired. One named "Noah, being saved in the ark;" another, "Abraham, offering up Isaac;" a third, "Joseph and his brethren ;"-all of them very de lightful stories to be sure: but one dear little girl said, "I like that best, sir, 'Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom 1 am chief."" In a very few days that

a pleasing hope was indulged concerning her, that she had sought an interest in that dear Saviour of whom she loved to hear. My dear child, have you done so too? You know you are a sinner: you do not know how soon you may be called to die, and then there is nothing that can make you safe and happy, but having your sins forgiven by Jesus Christ, and your hearts made holy and fit for heaven by the Holy Spirit. May such be your early experience, and then, whether your life be long or short, for you "to live will be Christ, and to die gain."

A LOVING EPISTLE TO LITTLE CHILDREN.
DEAR CHILDREN, I cannot find language to tell,
What I feel for you all in my heart;

While the glories of heaven, and sorrows of hell,
Are contrasted by me, as I know very well,

That in one you must each have a part.

Believe me, dear children, this world where we live-
Which is measured by days, months, and years-
Is the place which our Heavenly Father will give
To prove us, and while we His blessings receive,
Our heart to Him naked appears.

And truly there is not a blessing bestowed,
But what is the fruit of His grace;

Our life and our health, our clothes and our food,
Our temporal mercies and spiritual good—

O think if unthankful how base.

In the gospel of Jesus, what mercy and love,
What kindness and goodness are here;

No angel could ever find language to tell,

The love of the Saviour which brought him to dwell
Upon earth, here to die and redeem us from hell,
Though through sin we deserve to be there.

And then, my dear children, you must not forget,
No never, no never, no never,

That if you this Saviour would have as your friend,
You must to his word and his precepts attend;
And then you'll be happy in life, and its end
Will be glory for ever and ever!

S. S.

A SHIP ON FIRE.

AS DESCRIBED BY SIR STAMFORD RAFFLES, LATE

GOVERNOR OF SUMATRA.

WE embarked at daylight, and sailed for England, with a fair wind, and every prospect of a quick and comfortable passage. The ship was everything we could wish; and having closed my charge at Sumatra, much to my satisfaction, it was one of the happiest days of my life. We were, perhaps, too happy; for in the evening came a sad reverse. Sophia had just gone to bed, and I had just thrown off half my clothes, when a cry of fire! fire! roused us from our calm content, and in five minutes, the whole ship was in flames! I ran to examine whence the flames issued, and found that the fire had its origin immediately under our cabin. "Down with the boats. Where is Sophia?-Here. The children ?-Here. A rope to the side. Lower Lady Raffles." "Give her to me," says one; "I'll take her," says the Captain. "Throw the gunpowder overboard. It cannot be got at; it is in the magazine, close to the fire. Stand clear of the powder! Skuttle the water casks.-Water! water!-Where's Sir Stamford?-Come into the boat, Nilson! Nilson, come into the boat.-Push off, push off.-Stand clear of the after part of the ship."

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All this passed much quicker than I can write it. We pushed off, and as we did so, the flames burst out of our cabin window, and the whole of the after part of the ship was in flames. The masts and sails now taking fire, we moved to a distance sufficient to avoid the immediate explosion; but the flames were now coming out of the main hatchway; and seeing the rest of the crew, with the captain, still on board, we pulled back to her under the bows, so as to be more distant from the powder. As we approached, we perceived that the people on board were getting into another boat on the opposite side. She pushed off; we hailed her: "Have you all on board?Yes, all, save one. Who is he?-Johnson, sick in his cot. Can we save him?—No, impossible." The flames were issuing from the hatchway. At this moment, the poor fellow, scorched, I imagine, by the flames, roared out most lustily, having run upon the deck. "I will go for him," says the captain. The two boats then came together, and we took out some of the

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