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one to read the Word of God. The movement in this part will, I trust, go on; as it has till now, under the Divine blessing, for two years, been making more and more progress.

testant feeling which is manifesting itself in other forms. We ask for the prayers of our friends, that the Society may at least be allowed to sustain its operations at the present

moment.

THE BLESSED LOT.

LONDON CITY MISSION. THE Committee earnestly trust they may not be compelled to make further reductions. But they must inevitably vacate five or ten other districts more unless their funds in-fering, having our good things in

crease within the next month or two. It will especially grieve them to do this at a moment when the Church

of Rome gives indications of being about to make so large efforts among the poor, in accordance with the corruptions of her own faith. Already in various courts are altars erected, and the houses illuminated, and the crucifix brought ont, and open-air discourses delivered by parties habited in the peculiar dress of their religious order; and already are curiously dressed individuals to be met with, whose special embassy is directed exactly to those classes of the population of whom the London City Mission is now relinquishing its hold. How important is it that the Gospel of Christ in its purity and simplicity should be continued under such circumstances! Shall the very moment when that most seductive and debasing system of Popery is lengthening its cords and enlarging its efforts, especially among the poorer classes, be the time when Protestants shall allow a Society like that of the London City Mission to reduce its force and curtail its labours? This would, at all events, be no very encouraging evidence of the healthiness of that strong Pro

AN old author says, "The blessed lot is not to live joyously in the world, undisturbed by sorrow or suf

this life, or left to our ways. It is to live low (well is it for us if it be of our own accord, yet anyhow to for a time it lay heavily upon us, it live low) under his cross. Though is not so heavy as sin. Though it wound us, it is the wounds of a friend. Though its nails pierce us, they are but to let forth the disease which would consume us. Though it bow us to the earth, it places us not so deep as we deserve to be. It casts us down only, that when we have learned to lie there in silence and humiliation, He may raise us up."

A PILLOW FOR THE
NIGHT.

To sleep well, lay these things under your head:

1. A precious promise out of Scripture.

2. A sweet verse of some evan

gelical hymn.

3. A hearty prayer to God. 4. A good conscience, purified with Christ's blood.

5. A feeling of forgiveness and charity to all mankind. 6. A resolution to serve God on the morrow.

7. A glance of faith at the Cross

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THE GREAT INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION OF 1851.

ALMOST every one by this time must have heard something of the great work which is going on in London, but there may be Some who scarcely understand what it is all about, and may be wishing for further information. And I am disposed to give it to my readers, not only because it is indeed a very remarkable movement, but because it suggests some seasonable and valuable lessons.

You must know, then, that some time ago Prince Albert (the husband of our gracious Queen Victoria), devised the scheme for all the nations of the world to send specimens of their skill and industry to London, that all might see, and profit when they saw, this accumulation of human ingenuity and contrivance. Now, I doubt not, the Prince was actuated by the purest feelings of benevolence and kind consideration, in starting such a grand scheme. He thought, no doubt, that all would be benefited; and that there would be no country which would not see and learn something new, and for their advantage. He further thought, that by bringing

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men together from all parts of the world, mutual good-will and brotherly-kindness would be promoted; and I think he concluded in his own mind, that it would redound to the credit of good Old England for foreigners to see so much, as they certainly would do, of its superiority, in many respects, to all other nations.

But now there came the question, Where could be exhibited all the articles that would pour in from all parts? There was clearly no building in London large enough for the purpose. Many plans were proposed; but at length all gave way to that of Mr. Paxton, gardener to the Duke of Devonshire. And he proposed to raise an enormous building in one of the parks, of glass. This seemed a strange undertaking; but sure enough the Crystal Palace is raised, and a magnificent building indeed it is. The framework is chiefly of iron; and it is covered with large sheets of strong, rough glass. I must give you some little idea of it. It is 1,848 feet long, by 456 wide. The height of the centre roof is 64 feet, and of the transept roof 108 feet. The space occupied on the ground-floor 752,832 superficial feet, and the space provided on galleries is 102,528 feet. The total quantity of exhibiting surface is 21 acres; and if more room is wanted, an additional space of 90,432 feet of gallery can be obtained. There are about 900,000 superficial feet of glass; there are about 8 miles of tables, on which the articles are placed. Thus, you may easily conceive how long it would take you to survey all the contents of the building. If this wonderful building is to be pulled to pieces when done with, then the cost will be about 80,0007.; ́if it is to remain, then the sum will be 150,000l. Such is a short account of one of the most wonderful undertakings which the world has ever seen.

And now let me suggest what occurs to me on the subject. I. Nothing can be clearer than that the object is perfectly free from objection, and right. It is allowed to men to be advancing in knowledge and science, and right that one should be profiting by another's superior skill and experience. No one can doubt this. But if England as the focus-the point to which all the world's produce is brought-if England, by the comparison with other nations, is led to exult in her superiority, and, as a nation, we are only filled with vanity and conceit; if the language which we seem to hold out to foreigners be this, "Come, see my great glory and magnificence, and look up in wonder at the high pinnacle of renown on which we stand above all the world-see here the produce of

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our Colonies and dependencies, as well as of our happy country -see all this, and hide your diminished heads;" or if we fail to recognise that Divine power which alone, as we are told, enables us to get rich and prosper, and exceed others-if we fail to own the Supreme Being, from whom alone cometh wisdom, and might, and power-why then it will only be an Exhibition of human folly, on which no blessing can rest. In some way or other, Ichabod will be written on it-"the glory is departed;" and God's merited wrath may be expected to break forth in one or other of those channels of mischief, which will clearly not be wanting on such an occasion; though, if God is with us, they may be easily averted. In the Old Testament, we know enough of the evil which resulted from selfish and vain displays, not to tremble lest all the success of this project should be marred by man's pride and ungodliness. We should like to see some such motto as this over the grand entrance: Except the Lord build the house, their labour is in vain that build it. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows.' Let God be owned and honoured, and all will then turn to national good.

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II. How important it is that English Christianity should be favourably represented to the crowds of foreigners who will assemble in London from all parts of the world! I am afraid of saying what the number is that they calculate will comeprobably between one and two millions from abroad, in addition to the hundreds of thousands from all parts of Great Britain.

Now, happily, much is in preparation for this object. Great exertions are making for the holding forth the word of life to all that shall visit England. For this purpose the most eminent ministers abroad are invited to come over, that they may preach in the various languages of the visitors: for you know it would be of no use that our churches are opened to them, since very few can understand the English language. And the Religious Tract Society are making great preparations to have a large supply of proper tracts in various languages. And the Bible Society will do every thing in its power. All this is well. But, oh! how one grieves to think that foreigners will see so little of a Sabbath-loving and Sabbath-observing people as London affords. We have the character abroad of standing higher, in this respect, than all the world,—oh, that we really deserved the character! But foreigners will come to poor London, and see open shops, and pleasure-taking; not even commencing as with the Papists in the afternoon, but from morn till night: and they will see the

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follies and dissipation of the tea-gardens, and other places of riotous revelling. Alas! alas! that it should be so. with regard to drinking, where so much of this evil as in poor London?-from what city will any come from abroad where there is any thing like the costly splendour and number of gin-palaces? It will be well, too, if they do not return home to condemn our metropolis as the head-quarters of extortion and fraud.

In every way we may well tremble, lest the practical simple Christianity of the Bible be but dimly and incorrectly exhibited on this great occasion. May the God of mercy put further plans and efforts for spiritual good into the hearts of his people, and may He be pleased in His boundless grace and wisdom to avert all the evils that may well be feared, and crown with large success all that is done for His own glory, and the best interests of precious souls.

III. Another thought strongly occurs to me. There is no good without its evil; and it is to be feared, that much distress will be occasioned by the restless and unmanageable spirit of curiosity which will lead many to hasten up to the Great Exhibition who ought not to go. I fear there will be many a father-a mechanic, for instance-who cannot restrain his longings, and will scrape up his last money to hasten to the scene of attraction, perhaps leaving his poor family penniless at home. Surely this should not be. I would not say a word to deprive any of such a gratification, where it can be properly had, regardful of other duties. But, alas! I have known the very poorest in my parish, hastening to the races, fourteen miles off, leaving their children at home without bread, and absolutely borrowing a few shillings for their own. pleasure. And I fear that this may be the case with numbers on the present occasion. If this paper should meet the eye of any one who doubts whether he is doing right or not in going up to the Exhibition, let me urge him to weigh the matter well. It is not always safe to act on the impulse of our own feelings. Your trip to London will not, as a matter of course, render you all the pleasure you expect. You must go with an easy, comfortable mind, or you may expect an harvest of misery and disappointment. Are you leaving a sickly, remonstrating wife behind you?-or children barely provided for, and nothing coming in while your labour is suspended? Depend upon it, the path of self-denial is, in your case, the safest and happiest path. It will be more to you to deny yourself, and make your family happy, than to hasten to the

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