experience led Mackintosh to disavow ter, sarily formed an era in his history, it was natural that his excellent Biographer should refer to it, and in so doing he was necessarily led to speak of Paine, of whom he has drawn the following not unworthy picture, which we offer as an antidote to those who might be led away by his impassioned sophistry and boisterous impiety: The "Rights of Man," written as an answer to Mr. Burke's work, exhibited at once the mental deformity of the man, inimical to nearly everything that bore the stamp of authority, or of time, or of opinion. In accordance with this unhappy and mischievous disposition, he had long before stifled the best feelings of our nature, by voluntary dereliction of the marriage ties and duties; he had divested himself of the troublesome restraints of religion; he had shaken off all confined notions of attachment to his country. Nothing of an Englishman remained to him but the name, and even this he tried to extinguish by becoming successively, by adoption, an American and a Frenchman; but as his principles were a scandal to all, so all perhaps would willingly be rid of the dishonour attached to owning such a citizen. It was his aim, by perverting what capacity he possessed, not to make men better or happier, but to be discontented with what they were, with able truth relative to human rights, written in a style remarkably distinguished by clearness, strength, and popularity. But the man was identi-what they knew, or with what they fied with the book, and his notions of liberty with the notions of infidelity; and the result was, a measure of odium among the better portion of the public, especially the more religious, such as never attached to any publication of the sort. But odium is no refutation, and to despise is not to destroy. By men of sense, and with religious principles established, it may be read with safety and advantage. We are led to make these observations because of the cheap editions of the work which are now so extensively spreading over the country. As this work of Burke neces already enjoyed. His systems, both in He had proved a cheat to his trust, a traitor to his country, a reviler of his | God and of his king; and having already successfully aided and abetted rebellion abroad, seemed to be cut out for the presiding genius of a revolution at home, if not prematurely taken off The by the hand of the executioner. The Fragment Basket. Then mix ejaculations with thy soliloquies; till, having pleaded the case reverently with God, and seriously with thy own heart, thou hast pleaded thyself from a clod to a flame; from a forgetful sinner, and a lover of the world, to an ardent lover of God; from a fearful coward to a resolved Christian; from an unfruitful sadness to a joyful life: in a word, till thou hast pleaded thy heart from earth to heaven, from conversing below to walking with God, and till thou canst lay thy heart to rest, as in the bosom of Christ. RELIGIOUS CONTEMPLATION. CONSIDERATION makes reason strong and active. Before, it was as standing water; but now, as a stream which violently bears down all before it. Before, it was as the stones in the brook; but now, like that out of David's sling, which smites the Goliath of our unbelief in the forehead. As wicked men continue wicked, because they bring not reason into act and exercise, so godly men are uncomfortable, because they let their reason and faith lie asleep, and do not stir them up to action by this work of meditation. What fears, sorCONSIDERATION. rows, and joys will our very dreams CONSIDERATION exalts reason to its excite! How much more then would just authority. It helps to deliver it serious meditation affect us! from its captivity to the senses, and Consideration can continue and pre-sets it again on the throne of the soul. serve us in this rational enjoyment. Meditation holds reason and faith to their work, and blows the fire till it thoroughly burns. To run a few steps will not get a man heat, but walking an hour may; and though a sudden occasional thought of heaven will not raise our affections to any spiritual heat, yet meditation can continue our thoughts till our hearts grow warm. Thus you see the powerful tendency of consideration to produce this great elevation of soul in heavenly contemplation. CHRISTIAN MEDITATION. READER, make conscience of daily exercising thy graces in meditation as well as prayer. Retire into some secret place, at a time the most convenient to thyself, and, laying aside all worldly thoughts, with all possible seriousness and reverence, look up toward heaven, remember there is thine everlasting rest, study its excellency and reality, and rise from sense to faith by comparing heavenly with earthly joys. When reason is silent, it is usually subject; for, when it is asleep, the senses domineer. But consideration awakens our reason, till, like Sampson, it rouses up itself, and breaks the bonds of sensuality, and bears down the delusions of the flesh. What strength can the lion exert while asleep? What is a king, when deposed from his throne, more than another man? Spiritual reason, excited by meditation, and not fancy or fleshly sense, must judge of heavenly joys. Consideration exalts the objects of faith, and comparatively disgraces the objects of sense. The most inconsiderate men are most sensual. It is too easy and common to sin against knowledge; but against sober, strong, persevering consideration, men seldom offend. BREVITY IS THE SOUL OF WIT. UNDER this "heading" we find, in a communication to the Boston Traveller, an anecdote worth repeating, for the benefit of prolix preachers. At the recent ordination of Mr. Greely, at Haverhill Corner, New Hampshire, President Lord, of Dartmouth College, preached an able sermon, one hour and a half long. The other parts were like unto the sermon-in length, at least until it came to the address to the people. This was assigned to a venerable patriarch, the Rev. Mr. Sutherland, a Scotch divine in the neighbourhood, who observed and sympathised with the excusable weariness of the congregation. He rose and said, with great deliberation, and in a broad Scotch accent: 'Brothers and sisters of this church, and brothers and sisters of this congregation, I am to give you a charge; I shall give you a good charge-a charge you will all of you always remember. 'Be of one mind; live in peace with one another. Amen." The result and thrill which ran through the audience as the speaker sat down, proclaimed that his words were like much light concentrated into a flash, and that the shortest speech, if it answers its end, is long enough. A STRIKING THOUGHT. "THE death of an old man's wife," says Lamartine, "is like cutting down an ancient oak that has long shaded the family mansion. Henceforth the glare of the world, with its cares and vicissitudes, fall upon the old widower's heart, and there is nothing to break their force or shield him from the full weight of misfortune. It is as if his right hand was withered-as if one wing of his eagle was broken, and every movement that he made only brought him to the ground. His eyes are dim and glassy, and when the film of death falls over him he misses those I accustomed tones which might have smoothed his passage to the grave." A RECENT INCIDENT. In the crowded market-place of one of the south-western cities, a northern vender of religious books was exhibiting his stock in trade, and calling on the people to step up and buy. He was a colporteur of the American Tract Society, but seemed to be so abundantly supplied, that he had the book which every man called for, whatever its subject or title. Indeed, the variety of his supply was so curious extensive, that one man offered to bet another, (Mr. B.,) that he could not name a book which the vender had not on hand. Mr. B. took him up, and cried out: "I say, Mr. Bookseller, have you got the Memoir of the Devil?" "The very thing," replied the agent, taking out a book, "the only authentic memoir of his majesty ever published, called the Holy Bible, price twenty-five cents will you have it, sir?" Mr. B. was obliged to pay his bet and buy the Bible, which he took up in the midst of general applause. RECONCILIATION. Two celebrated ministers had quarreled; they refused to speak to each other; when John Owen, another eminent minister, adopted the following plan to reconcile them, after several others had been tried in vain. wrote, and left at the house of each, these lines: He "How rare that task a prosperous issue finds Which seeks to reconcile discordant minds! How many scruples rise at passion's touch! This yields too little, that too much. Each wishes each with other's eyes to see; And many sinners can't make two agree. What mediation, then, the Saviour show'd, Who singly reconciled us all to God!" It is said, that upon receiving the lines, each minister left his residence to seek the other, and that they met in the street, where a perfect reconciliation took place. BLUNTNESS REBUKED. IT is said of the Rev. Andrew Fuller, that he could rarely be faithful without being severe, and in giving reproof he was often betrayed into an intemperate zeal. Being at a meeting of ministers, he undertook to correct an erroneous opinion delivered by a brother, and he laid on his censures so heavily, that Dr. Ryland called out vehemently, "Brother Fuller, brother Fuller, you can never admonish a brother, but you must take up a sledge hammer and knock his brains out." Poetry. SABBATH SECLUSION. FORBIDDEN now to track the road, Which, fill'd with hope, I've often trod, My heart goes forth to thine abode, Thy worship, and thy saints, O God! All gather'd in thy house of prayer, They upward waft their praise to thee, Whilst thou wilt surely meet them there, In truth, and love, and majesty. But as the sun its course pursues, Though clouds may gather o'er its face, Oh! let no worshipper now lose The unveil'd radiance of thy grace! Almighty Father! Heavenly Friend! As with one heart on thee they call, Let showers of blessings now descend, And on each waiting spirit fall. Nor let the slumbering onwards sleep; Arouse them, lest they live no more; And open, as thy laws they keep, A spring of bliss unknown before. And as the rivers of thy love Pass on, so bright, so pure, so free, Oh! that from their great source above One rill, at least, may flow for me! CHARLES WILLIAMS. Brighton, March 24, 1850. MUTUAL FORGIVENESS. "Then came Peter to him, and said, Go, look across yon wide expanse, There seems nor bound nor end. Look upwards to the heavenly plain, Glistening with beautcous orbs, and bright; Thou canst not count the starry train, So is the mercy, so the love Of Him who made that deep, blue sea, And bade the stars of glory rove Throughout immensity. Nay, infinite the wond'rous reach Of God's forgiving, healing love; Our mighty debt we cannot count, How, then, can pardon'd man restrain Compassion's yearnings in his breast? How bear to give his fellow pain, Unblessing and unblest? No scanty measure he will know, Will pitying love assert her claim, Father of mercy, shed within Each heart thy love, and hope of heaven: May each forgive his brother's sin, As he has been forgiven. THE PRECIOUS HOPE. THERE is a hope, a precious hope, This world is not its native place; 'Tis not by mortals given; It enters that within the vail'Tis anchor'd fast in heaven. 'Tis built upon the Saviour's blood, It points the lonely wanderer here It whispers in the sinner's ear Of crimes and sins forgiven, And promises his weary soul A peace and rest in heaven. Nor time, nor space, nor life, nor death, Long as the Saviour's name is known, AN INDEPENDENT MAN. Be thou like the old apostles, Be thou like heroic Paul; If a free thought seeks expression, Speak it boldly! speak it all! Face thine enemies-accusers; Scorn the prison, rack, or rod! And if thou hast TRUTH to utter, Speak! and leave the rest to God. The Children's Gallery. MATERNAL COUNSELS. MY DEAR BOY,-Agreeably to promise, I have sent you a cake, and hope you will enjoy it be sure to give some to your schoolfellows, and the dear little children of the family. I was much pleased to hear of your good health and spirits; may they be continued to you. I often think and talk of you, and pray for you. Oh! my dear boy, do you ever pray for yourself? Repeating words is not praying; you must feel what you say. And now, separated from home for a short time, you still have One that can do more and better for you than your earthly parents, if you ask him. "Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My Father, thou art the guide of my youth?" This is God that addresses you in these words. Oh! may you have him for your portion. My dear Charles, you have left home for no other purpose than your improvement. Do try that the end may be answered. Let no difficulties discourage you. Be determined to persevere and understand your lessons. You will see the necessity of what I am now writing in after life. Riches may fly from you, should you ever possess them; but education never can be lost, if once realized. You have every advantage: a kind and good master, one who studies your temporal and 1 spiritual welfare, whose plan of education is such as to make it pleasant and Easy. My dear boy, study to make yourself agreeable to your schoolfellows. Let them see that your happiness is not derived from self gratifications, but a wish to see and trying to make them happy; and they, in return, will try to please you. Be very particular as to speaking the truth at all times. I have always endeavoured to impress it on your mind. Never tell a falsehood, that by it you may escape punishment. Remember God sees and knows all things, and he has said, "All liars shall have their portion in that lake which burns with fire and brimstone." My dear boy, be strictly conscientious in all your dealings with those about you. Do not, in the most trifling matter, take any advantage of them, even should it be only in your play. Always know what belongs to you, and never dare to take (though its value should be ever so little) anything belonging to another. I have no reason to fear from your past conduct; but watch against temptations, pray to God to keep you. You know how much of your dear father's and my happiness depends upon your good conduct. If ever you are tempted to do anything wrong, think of this passage of Scripture: "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Remember the Sabbath-day, my dear Charles. Do not encourage a trifling disposition on that holy day. Every moment of it is God's. We are not even to think our own thoughts, much less to encourage anything like play or trifling. You have often repeated those lines; may you practise them: "I must neither work nor play, Because it is the Sabbath-day." My dear boy, I must draw to a close. What I have written comes from a heart which glows with ardent desires and prayers for your present and ever |