make friends o' all the bonny and sweet things in the world around them; and all the kind hearts in the world make friends o' them. They come to know that God is more especially the father o' them on earth, whose parents he has taken up to heaven; and therefore it is that they, for whom so many have fears, fear not at all for themselves, but go dancing and singing along like children, whose parents are both alive.'-Lights and Shadows of Scottish Life. Domestick Society. 'Domestick society is the seminary of social affections, the cradle of sensibility, where the first elements are acquired of that tenderness and humanity, which cement mankind together, and which, were they entirely extinguished, the whole fabrick of social institutions would be dissolved. Families are so many centres of attraction, which preserve mankind from being scattered and dissipated, by the repulsive powers of selfishness.'-Robert Hall. Persecution. 'A state of persecution leads persons to think much of their principles and future expectations, which makes them strongly to feel their importance. And the principles and prospects of Christianity are in themselves so great, and so far overbalance all the things of the present life, that they only require to be sufficiently attended to, to make any person do or bear any thing for their sake. It is only a deficiency of faith, that makes men shrink from persecution and death in the cause of the Gospel. Because, in reality, all the pains of this transitory life are nothing in comparison of that eternal weight of glory, which awaits those, who have faith and patience unto death, with respect to another. This efficacious faith, which makes men superiour to pain and death, is increased by that attention to the great principles of Christianity, which a state of persecution almost enforces. There can be no doubt, therefore, that, if the christian faith should be again tried, as it was at the first promulgation of it, or as it was at the time of the reformation, there would be as many martyrs as ever. Who they would be, it is not for us to say. The probability is, that those, who suspect themselves the most, would be foremost on the glorious list.'-Priestley's Discourses. Trial. In the rough school of billows, clouds, and storms, 'Nurs'd and matur'd, the pilot learns his art; Thus fate's dread ire, by many a conflict, forms 'The lofty spirit, and enduring heart!' Mrs. Hemans. [The following ennobling and consolatory thoughts are extracted from a letter, addressed by Dr Priestley to his friend Dr Jebb, at a time when the latter was suffering much obloquy and even persecution on account of some efforts he had recently been making in his official capacity as Tutor in the University in Cambridge, England, in favour of a more liberal system of theological instruction.] 'I think myself happy in concurring, as I hope, with your ardent zeal for the cause of civil and religious liberty in their full extent. It is our business, whenever called upon, to bear our testimony to whatever we apprehend to be truth and right, and upon no occasion to swerve from our real principles, whether we see that any good will result from what we may suffer by such a profession, or not. We ought to content ourselves with acting under the express direction of one, who is the proper judge of what is expedient for his interest and his church, as well as our happiness; and we may rest assured, that we can only sustain a temporary loss by such an implicit, but reasonable obedience. 'Could we only, my friend, expand our minds fully to conceive and act up to these great principles, of the truth of which we are both of us convinced, nothing more would be wanting to enable us to exert this and every other effort of true greatness of mind. This world, we see, is an admirable nursery for great minds. Difficulties, opposition, persecution, and evils of every other form, are the necessary instruments by which they are made, as was even the captain of our salvation, perfect through suffering. A mixture of pleasing events does likewise contribute to the same end. But of the due proportions in this mixture we are no judges. Considering, however, in whose hands are the severest ingredients of the cup of mortal life, we may be assured that it will never be more bitter than will be necessary to make it in the highest degree salutary.' Poetry. FROM THE MONTHLY REPOSITORY. On reading some late intricate Discussions in the Monthly Re pository on the Doctrine of a Particular Providence. O never, never from thee tear The simple Faith, whose fruit is Prayer! That simple Faith whose fruit is Prayer! O pause-If 'mid those darker themes, The simple Faith which causeth Prayer ;- That faith, which oft in times gone by, Hath rais'd to heav'n the martyr's eye; And now in many an hour, will come, That cheering faith whose glories steal, This simple Faith, whose fruit is Prayer! HYMN TO THE STARS. Aye, there ye shine, and there have shone Each rolling, burningly alone, Through boundless space and countless time; Aye, there ye shine the golden dews That pave the realms by seraphs trod ; There through yon echoing vault diffuse Ye visible spirits! bright as erst Young Eden's birthnight saw ye shine Gold frets to dust,-yet there ye are; And do they not-since yon bright throngs how vast! Could man but see what ye have seen, Ye saw rapt Zoroaster send His soul into your mystick reign; Ye saw the adoring Sabian bendThe living hills his mighty fane! Beneath his blue and beaming sky He worshipp'd at your lofty shrine, And there ye shine, as if to mock Drought, famine, plague, and flood, and flame, Are nought to you-ye smile the same, |