Who can believe that things so absurd commemorated the shedding of Christ's and so nauseous are to be derived from blood for the remission of sins, for he the simple account of the New Testa-never drank of the sacramental cap. ment? Here are sixteen particulars, in which the celebration of Mass contradicts the institution of the Sacrament by our Lord himself; and we can here see that the Church of Rome has, without any authority from the Scripture, altered some things, left out some things, and added some things, so as to make the Mass quite different from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and to prove plainly that no Romanist has ever yet received this Sacrament. He has never He never commemorated Christ in this ordinance, for he is taught to commemorate the Virgin Mary; and he never could understand what the priest said in many of the prayers, because they were in Latin. The service he intends is not founded on the Scriptures, but on the commands of the church; and let him recollect that Christ has said, "In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men," Matt. xv. 9. The Letter Box. THE WORKING CHURCH. IT has long appeared to me that God 1. It will be a great advantage to your own personal religion.-He that watereth others shall be watered also himself. Such is the constitution of the human mind, that it improves by exercise. By teaching, we learn. By attempting to warm others, we ourselves become warmer. Thus there is a present reward. The Almighty does not reserve all the joys of heaven upon earth; but I know no people who possess so much of it as those who are labourers in His vineyard-who are working together with God. My opportunities for making observations have been extensive, and I have invariably found it as I have stated; and it is just what might have been expected. One of the greatest benefits which we thus receive is, I think, the deep insight which it gives us of our own weakness. If other people can live without God, surely the active Christian cannot. No, he feels the truth of that saying-" No man can do much for God who does not enjoy much of God." And this sends him to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Here is the re-action of the grace of God. Your endeavours to do good to the souls of others will prove a blessing to your own souls; and is not this an advantage? 2. You will be a blessing to your fellow-members." He that walketh with wise men shall be wise." There is a powerful attraction about a man who is eminent for goodness. We imbibe his spirit; we imitate his example. One conversion leads to a plan which does good to a whole neighbourhood. One hint produces an effect which is felt to the ends of the earth. A few such men as this will draw multitudes after them. What an inducement is this for every one of you to live near to God, and strive after eminent degrees of purity, zeal, and usefulness! See how Peter laboured after this. "I think it meet," says he," as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up." And I feel assured that a few persons of St. Peter's disposition in every church would be an unspeakable blessng. We all need stirring up; and what a great thing might be done if we were properly stirred? Then let every pious person try to bring one sinner to Christ this year, and the work will be done. on others will be astonishing. Look God never made a God never converted 4. It will be of advantage to Ministers. 3. It will be an advantage to the congregation. A flourishing church is in the way to become more flourishing. It has all the materials in itself; and only let them be called forth, and they will charm, and attract, and sanctify all around. No man likes to go into-They watch for your souls as those an ice cellar-it is too cold. Few people like to be in a room half filled with dead bodies-there is death. And a sleepy, lukewarm church has something in it so insipid-so repelling, that wonder how any one can remain in it. Let the members of your church shine forth in all the splendour of holy living," and the influence of it that must give an account. Not an account at the last day-but a daily account. Some ministers have a list of the names of all the families and people in their flock. This list is kept in their study. And what a sight it is! Over some of them the minister prays and gives thanks; but over others he prayɛ-and weeps. Of them he can not give up his account with joy. Oh the piety of persons who live fourteen no, it is with bitter lamentation. My thousand miles from us. He says, brethren, be assured, if some church- "When we translated and printed in members could hear what their mini- Tamul the account given in English of sters say to God about them in secret, a good woman in Russia doing much it would make them tremble. But good to her neighbours, I sent a copy when the minister sees the works of of it to a pious woman who read it righteousness abounding, which are by with great delight, and was stirred up Jesus Christ to the glory of God the by it to go more about among her neighFather, then he gives in his account bours; and two or three times a year she with joy, and not with grief. And this walks as far as Neyoor, a distance of will be more profitable for you. He fifteen miles, to stir up the people in our will preach better sermons-he will neighbourhood." See, then, how your make more profitable visits to the sick conduct is likely to benefit distant lands; and others—and have more joyful an- and will not that be an advantage? ticipations of heaven. And will not this be an advantage? 5. It will be of advantage to other churches.-Have you heard of that remarkable vessel which had two peculiarities? The one was-that it sailed faster than any of the old steamers in the harbour; and the next was-that it made all the other steamers sail faster than they used to do! Apply this to yourselves, and try it. Yes, try to excel all your neighbours in heavenly love and zeal-and doubt not but it will make them sail faster than they used to do; and will not that be an advantage? 6. It will be of advantage to distant nations.-There is a man in the East Indies who was born a heathen, but at an early age was taken into the Mission School, and became a pupil. There his mind was enlightened, and his soul converted to God. Now, instead of being an ignorant idolator, he is a preacher of the Gospel, a translator of tracts, a superintendent of schools, and a teacher of babes. A letter has lately been received from this interesting man, in which le strikingly shows how the piety of churches at home promotes Lastly. It will be of advantage to you in heaven. -Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Judge of quick and dead, has his eye upon the Church, and his heart upon the world; and he connects all their doing with the awful transactions of the judgment-day. Hear him: "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." O, my friends, do you not wish to have the approval of the Lord Jesus? Do you not wish to be happy and useful on earth, and glorious in heaven? Then take heed that ye "shine as lights in the world!" And though we may never meet on earth, yet I trust, through the merits of Christ, we shall meet in heaven. PASTOR. The Counsel Chamber. ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN. ness. He was not greedy of fees; and he has been repeatedly known to send back a brief, on the ground that he had no time to pay the required attention to the case. His manner of doing business was such as to inspire universal confidence in his good faith; and his strong sense of right and wrong was one main source of the influence which he exercised over a jury or a judge. This accounts for his marvellous success as a pleader, and serves to explain the hold he took upon the mind of the country; his influence with the judge, and also with the jury. His knowledge was never at fault; and having become master of his case, he never failed to make it clear to those whom he addressed. For the thousandth time, we have to He was generous almost to carelessreiterate in the ears of our young-men readers the inconceivable importance of system, energy, and perseverance! This is one of those lessons which is always most successfully inculcated from splendid examples; and when such examples can be found amongst living men, they are all the more pertinent and impressive. Now, it 80 happens, that the present Lord High Chancellor of England is one of the most desirable subjects for our purpose. That extraordinary man, when at the bar, seemed to live only for his clients; rest and recreation were matters of which he appeared not to think, or rather to be independent. His capacity was confessedly great, his industry inexhaustible, and his powers of continuous exertion almost unparalleled ; he not only read the whole of his brief, but he read it several times over, and expected his juniors to do the same. When he had mastered the facts, he made a most effective use of them; but he was comparatively powerless unless he had mastered them. He was consequently a disagreeable advocate both for his colleagues and his opponents, because he added portentously to their labours. His consultations often lasted half the night; and when so eminent a leader sets the example of excessive attention to details, his competitors have no alternative but to do the same He was wearisome at a consultation, and irritating (from excessive eagerness) in the conduct of a cause; but he was remarkably kindhearted, good-natured, and conciliating. Now, if our young readers will but imitate this eminent example, they will find their account in it. Labour-persevering, well-directed, never-ceasing, labour-this is the condition of success, and with it no young man need despair. The promise of God is to industry. There is none to sloth! Whatever you do, then, do it thoroughly with your whole heart. Let this extend to everything-to rest and labour, and even to love and hatred. Love good and hate evil; so love that your love shall make you invaluable as an auxiliary, and your hatred formidable as a foe. May, 1851. AN OLD FRIEND. INFATUATION.-WARNING TO IN the Central Criminal Court of affecting scene occurred at the trial of certain individuals-connected with the General Post-office-for embezzlement. The first was of a Letter-carrier, aged twenty-four, who destroyed some letters in a state, it was reported, of intoxication, for which he was sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for six months. Another, aged nineteen, pleaded guilty to three indictments, charging him with stealing letters; and for his conduct received a sentence of twelve years' transportation. Another, aged thirty-five, pleaded guilty to three indictments, charging him with stealing letters containing respectively a sovereign, two sovereigns, and two sixpences; for which he was rewarded by a sentence of transportation for ten years. Three sovereigns and two sixpences set against ten years! Alas! this is a bad bargain. Another, aged forty-eight, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a letter containing a portion of a watch; and was sentenced to ten years' transportation. Thus four individuals, respectably connected, and occupying respectable situations, for a thing of naught, have sold themselves to work iniquity. One, as the issue is, is degraded and disgraced, and has forfeited character and confidence perhaps for ever; while the other three are driven across the ocean to spend the latter portion of their lives on a foreign strand. How individuals, with the knowledge of the certainty, in most cases, of discovery and the consequent punishment, can deliberately perpetrate these acts of petty theft, is incomprehensible on any principle of common discretion, to say nothing of conscience and higher principles. But the matter is easily ex plained. Not satisfied to live within their income, fond of dress, and bent on pleasure, so-called, they are straitened for money, and are impelled by pride, passion, and evil company to stake all, that they may extend for a moment their delusive enjoyments. We hold these cases up as examples to young men, whom we implore to read and ponder them. They illustrate the affecting Address which the chaplain of Newgate presented in our last Number, and show that, notwithstanding "the way of transgressors is hard,” men will still enter it in crowds, and, blindfolded, rush on to destruction. It is easy to follow these infatuated men into a far country, where, absent from parents, brothers and sisters, wives and children, they are compelled to toil on as fugitives and vagabonds, while sick with none to soothe them, and when they die with none to convey them to the dust, and to hallow the grave by a tear. Who can withhold the exolamation of the prophet, "Oh that they were wise, that they understood these things!" and would ponder the dread fact, that sin is ever sure to find its perpetrators out. Let no man say that the sentence is disproportionate to the guilt. The question is one, not merely of amount, but of principle. The public must be protected; and in a great commercial country like this, it is of the first moment that the Post-office, above all places, be pervaded by undeviating integrity. 0. May, 1851. SHORT SERMON TO YOUNG MEN. Text-"Owe no man anything." KEEP out of debt. Avoid it as you would war, pestilence, and famine. |