UNITED PRAYER.

MADAM,

"OUR God is a God that heareth and answereth prayer;" this conviction induces me to address you on a subject that presses much on my mind in this time of the church's danger, it is this-that a day or days of solemn, united public worship should be set apart to implore divine aid in this our time of need; we well know that from whatever quarter help arises it is the Lord's doing, but at present it does appear that help must come immediately from himself.

Much we know is done, the church is aroused from her slumber, anti-pusey or rather anti-popish books are written, anti-popish sermons preached, the awakened ones doubtless in private, in their families and in their respective spheres "sigh and cry" for the evils; the trumpet is blown in our spiritual Zion, but should not the rest of the exhortation be complied with, "sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children. Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, spare thy people O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach that the heathen should rule over them."

We cannot hope for a national day of prayer, we may not hope that the heads of the church will appoint such a day, the will to do so would be the will

to crush the growing heresy by the exercise of authority; but such men as the Rev. Haldane Stewart, McNeile, Bickersteth and many, many others of like spirit, might unite as on a former occasion, to set apart a season in their respective parishes, and the call would surely be responded to by all who are on the Lord's side, and, let the world see, if it will, our hopes, our fears, our refuge. I am aware that there may be objections to this plan which are not apparent, and I almost blush to couple any suggestion of mine with such names as I have mentioned,-I say mine; yet who knows but the Lord is suggesting through the vilest, the meanest of his people? I mean however, but to give a hint, hoping that some wise and influential person may forward the plan if practicable; and I know no one Madam, better suited than yourself to do so, or one who may be addressed with more certainty that the suggestion will not be lightly disregarded, or of whom that commendation may at all times be more surely anticipated-"she hath done what she could."

When a day was nationally set apart for general humiliation on account of the cholera, my unbelieving heart said "it is too late, the plague is begun," fool that I was? but the Lord mercifully shewed that his hand was not shortened, the pestilence was stayed, and why not this moral pestilence?

It has been said in your excellent Magazine, that perhaps the Lord is answering the prayers of his people in the surrounding evils: it may be so, and let the worst happen-we will still pray "Thy kingdom come," still plead with him his last gracious promise to the church, “Behold I come quickly," and say, "even so come Lord Jesus," oh! come

quickly. And may we, through the power of the Holy Spirit, be always mindful also of his command to watch and pray, for we know not what hour the Lord doth come.

I trust, dear Madam, you will excuse the liberty I take in addressing you-but I must apologize for occupying your time with the perusal of so long a letter. Believe me, Madam,

Yours very respectfully,

A.

ARAB MAIDENS FETCHING WATER. No females in existence possess finer or more erect, and at the same time, more graceful carriage than those accustomed to carry light burdens on the head. It is a subject of some surprise, why those to whose care the education of the young ladies of our own country is committed, have not sooner taken the hint from this fact, and thrown aside those horrible machines, back-boards, steel-traps and monitors, that are calculated not only to give an awkward and ungraceful gait and appearance to the person, but really to promote deformity. To appreciate the advantages of this mode of exercise, it is only necessary to observe any milk-maid walking with a pail upon her head. To preserve its balance, she must stand perfectly erect-the shoulders must be in their natural position and on a perfect level; and strange as it may seem, yet to preserve the equilibrium of the burden, be it ever so light, the back must be straight; and more pressure is taken off those parts of it, called in technical language, the intervertebral substance than when walking or remaining without any such appendage.- Wilde's Narrative of a visit to Palestine, &c.

Review of Books.

66

THE CHRISTIAN MOTHER; or Maternal duties exemplified in the Narratives of the Old and New Testament. By Mary Milner, Author of “ The life of Dean Milner." Second Edition.-Simpkin and Co.

THE principle on which our Author builds her Essays is this: "Holy Scripture is a sufficient guide in the work of Christian education." This has ever been our conviction; we have adopted it as a theory, reduced it to practice, and found it as true as is every other assurance of Him who has said, "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths."

The characters introduced as especially illustrating Mrs. Milner's doctrine are, The Mother of Moses, exhibiting the nature and efficacy of faith: Eli, exemplifying the necessity of parental restraint: the Mother of Samuel, exhibiting self-denial: Ruth,

shewing disinterested kindness and grateful affection. The history of Joseph, in reference to envy, partiality and emulation: Manoah, and prayer: David, and resignation: and four more chapters of general inference and remarks. The Author is one of those who, while desiring to know nothing among her readers but Jesus Christ and him crucified, wisely turns to the Old Testament for a beautiful exhibition of Christian principle-yea, of the Lord Christ himself. Her little book is calculated to be a blessing to every family where a fair trial is made of the safe and sanctified method set forth in it; and we trust it will be duly appreciated.

MISSIONARY LABOURS AND SCENES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA; By Robert Moffatt. Twenty-three years an agent of the London Missionary Society in that continent. With engravings by G. Baxter.-Snow.

WE should exceedingly like to impose on every Puseyitish student in the land the task of reading this book. Many a one of them would, we think, be moved to cast his foolish prejudices far from him, to blush that ever he could have dared to deny the right hand of ministerial fellowship to such men as the writer of this delightful volume; and perchance to leave his worse than useless occupation of raking up the errors and absurdities of modern antiquity for present use, that he too might preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to these heathen men, and become a blessed instrument in God's work of