"Words cannot tell what blest relief, What strength for warfare, balm for grief,- "Hush'd is each doubt-gone every fear, "Oh, till I reach yon peaceful shore, In prayer to Thee." BIBLE QUESTIONS. 1. Who was the first king of God's chosen people, who fell into the sin of idolatry? and what led to it? and what was the punishment? 2. What are two signs of the latter days, and of the nearness of the Lord's coming, mentioned together in one verse in one of the four greater prophets? 3. Give seven texts, forbidding images of any description in connection with religion? 4. In what books of the Bible, besides Numbers, is Balaam mentioned? and what is said of him there? A WORD ON THE BIBLE QUESTIONS, It is said that when Sir William Jones was a child, he used to ask his mother a great many questions, and that her answer was, " Read, and you will know." It is possible that some of the readers of these Bible Questions may not be able to answer them, and may not know in what part of the Bible to look for the answers. To such we would say, "Read, and you will know." Be in the habit of reading the Bible; and read at one time all the portion which contains a subject. Read straight through the whole of an epistle; the whole of any period of time, as the reign of a king, &c. To read only single verses, or detached chapters, is not the way to attain a clear understanding of the Holy Scriptures. It is desirable to read through each Testament. Above all, ask the Lord's blessing on your reading, for without this it may prove a savour of death instead of a savour of life. Why is it that some people wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction? Because, either through ignorance or sin, or without an honest heart, they do not seek the Lord's blessing on their reading. Satan aims to prevent our reading the word of God, and if he cannot effect this purpose he tries to prevent our benefiting by it. Blessed be God, there is one stronger than Satan, who is both able and willing to save us from his assaults and delusions. We are weak, but His strength is made perfect in our weakness, 2 Cor. xii. 9. A. E. O. AND ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS, PRICE TWO PENCE. DOUBLE NUMBER. For Notices to Correspondents see page 260. NOTICE. WE cannot close this Number without alluding to the conclusion of our Volume for this year. The following appeared in some of our early Numbers: "It has been a serious question whether the time was not come for THE FRIENDLY VISITOR to close its labours. It has been at work during the long period of thirty-two years, and was the first Penny Periodical that came into general circulation. Now the kingdom is full of them; and amidst the charms of novelty which weigh with many, and possibly the improvements which exist elsewhere, it cannot be withheld that the demand for THE FRIENDLY VISITOR has been materially diminished. This, with other reasons, has naturally induced the thought, that possibly its labours are profitably superseded by others, and consequently not needed. If this were very clearly the case, the Editor can most truly say that he is quite willing to decrease whilst others increase. He must own, however, when it came to the point to decide, he felt no common difficulty in abandoning a work, which it has been very pleasant to him to conduct, and which God has very greatly owned and blest, humble and imperfect as it is. Moreover, he has felt, that these are not days in which to give up any channel for dispensing sound, Protestant, Evangelical truth. Now, more than ever, is required-" line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little:" and if but a few can be led to Christ, and keep near to Christ, through his instrumentality, he knows not how he can abandon his effort for their good. He has come to the conclusion, therefore, to pursue his labours for the present. If its friends deem it worth supporting, and should take means to increase its circulation, THE FRIENDLY VISITOR will be continued. If otherwise, the path of duty will be clear; and if as much, or more, good can be done through other channels, all will be well." It has been a cause of great satisfaction to receive, since this was written, so many kind remonstrances from our friends, against the giving up of THE FRIENDLY VISITOR. And it has accordingly been an equal satisfaction to find that the support which has been rendered to us has enabled us still to keep on our way. The Editor, therefore, is encouraged to commence a New Year (if all be well), with fresh endeavours to increase the usefulness and the interest of the Periodical. And he ventures to hope that his friends may continue that support which they have hitherto so kindly given; and endeavour to increase the circulation by any means that may lie in their power. We shall begin the New Year with a new dress; the present covering to our pages appearing to be too similar to that of other periodicals of a similar character. And, may the Lord bless and prosper our undertaking! The CHILDREN'S FRIEND. By the same Editor. A monthly storybook for children; intended to teach Scripture truths in the simplest manner; chiefly by way of illustration and narrative. Suitable for Christian families and schools, where the object is to train up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Illustrated with many engravings. Price One Penny. SEELEY'S, 54, Fleet-street and Hanover-street, Hanover-square, London. Both may be ordered of any Bookseller in town or country. THE FRIENDLY VISITOR. ever. WHAT HAVE I DONE THIS YEAR FOR MY SOUL? DEAR READER,-Time is introductory to eternity. It is given to us to prepare for an eternal, an unchangeable state of existence. The eternal future depends on the present. What we sow in this world, we shall reap in the next. As we live, we may expect to die; and as we die, we shall remain for We are, by nature and by practice, sinners; as such, we deserve punishment, and are exposed to never-ending suffering. But we need not perish, for God has sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him; that our sins may be pardoned through His precious blood, and our persons justified by His perfect obedience. All He did on earth, He did for sinners; and all He suffered on earth, He suffered for sinners. His blood is our all-sufficient atonement, and His obedience is our justifying righteousness. But, how does the atonement and obedience of Jesus become ours? By faith only. And what is faith? It is giving credit to His word; placing confidence in His work; and depending solely upon Him for pardon, peace, purity, and acceptance with God. But is faith alone sufficient to give us an interest in the perfect work of Jesus, and to entitle us to everlasting life? It is quite sufficient, for His own word declares, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." He hath also declared with His own mouth, "He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." But true faith will never exist alone, it always produces repentance towards God, generates love to the Saviour, and leads to the performance of good works. Every true believer N is sorry for his sins; he confesses them before God with shame, pleads the blood of Jesus that they may be pardoned, and strives to conquer his bad habits in the strength of the Lord. Every real Christian loves the Saviour who died for him, and prays most heartily to be consecrated entirely, with all he has, to the Redeemer's service and praise. He wishes to do whatever the Lord requires of him; to go wherever the Lord will send him; and, if he lives, to live unto the Lord: or, if he dies, to die unto the Lord. He places no dependence on his own works, but relies altogether on the service and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus for salvation; and then does all he can to honour his Saviour, and to benefit his fellow-men. He lives by faith in Christ, or by believing the word of Jesus, trusting in the merits of Jesus, and exercising confidence in the veracity of Jesus: but while he thus lives by faith in Christ, he is careful to maintain good works. His object, from day to day, is to make his calling and election sure; so that no one may justly doubt the truth of his profession, and that he may have no reason to doubt himself, but that he is saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation, Is this the true state of the case? It is.-Then let me ask, What have you done during this year to make sure your own salvation? Have you exercised faith in Christ? Have you confessed your sins before God? Have you prayed for grace to obey the commands of God? Have you been striving against sin? Have you sought to bring honour to the Saviour's name? Have you pitied sinners, and set your heart upon rescuing some of them from eternal flames? Have you endeavoured to subdue some lust -to mortify some corruption-to conquer some bad habitand to be more assimilated to the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you mourned over sin, sighed for holiness, and kept your eye steadily fixed on glorifying God? Or, have you lost sight of eternity, neglected your duty, and been living to yourself? Has there been no communion with Jesus, no zeal for God, no pity for sinners? If so, is there not reason to doubt that your religion is but a form, your profession a pretence, and your danger of eternal death imminent? Faith without works is dead. Can such faith save us? Never! It is utterly impossible. If, therefore, we would not deceive our own souls, if we would not plant thorns in our dying pillow, if we would not sink into hell under a profession of religion, let us examine ourselves carefully, let us reform our lives thoroughly, and let us give all diligence to make our |