benevolence,-in going about doing good. This will dissipate that sickly and morbid sensibility, which broods in secret sadness over real or imaginary sorrows,-which so often obscures the brightness of the good man's days, and shuts out from his soul the cheering light of heaven. This, if in vigorous exercise, will leave us no time for the indulgence of gloomy reveries, or desponding forebodings. This will call forth those sympathies of our nature which are most conducive to our enjoyment as social beings. This will show us the reality and extent of our own blessings, by their contrast with the woes of others. This will multiply our positive pleasures, and will sweeten them all with that joy which flows from the thought that we have rendered others happy. This, too, by its very exercise, will afford more and more of that evidence of piety which is found in the zealous and faithful discharge of duty, and thus also will increase our enjoyments. This, in short, if performed in a right spirit, is active holiness, with which, in the economy of Providence, happiness is ever connected.

So it has always been found, in every age of the world. Howard, to whom allusion has been made, in the early part of his manhood, was very much disposed to gloom, and despondency; and he did not gain habitual cheerfulness, but by doing good. Paul did not win the full assurance of his title to a bright inheritance in the skies, by musing in sadness upon his secret sorrows. It was when occupied with active usefulness, that he attained to a clear and cloudless hope of his acceptance with Christ. And many a desponding, mourning child of God, by imitating the apostle's active benevolence, might realize, in his own experience, much of the apostle's exalted christian enjoyT. E.

ments.

THE WAY TO USE A RELIGIOUS PERIODICAL. IN most cases, when a manufactured article is produced, in order to supply a certain want, there is no difficulty in applying it to the purpose intended. The want itself seeks out the supply, and they are consequently easily brought together. A remedy for a disease, for example, if discovered, is sought for by the very persons who are suffering, and with an eagerness proportional to their need. A mill is

erected in a new country, and there is no difficulty in having it employed. They who have corn to be ground come to it of their own accord.

But it is not so with moral or religious instruction supplied to the community. Here there is great difficulty in bringing the want and the supply together. Some philanthropists establish a periodical, for example, in order to persuade the community to abandon the use of ardent spirits. Those who are already persuaded, perhaps, subscribe for the paper. But they who most need its influence, not only will not subscribe, but they will hardly read it if it is placed before them. There is thus great difficulty in such cases, in bringing the want to meet the supply.

These remarks will particularly apply to such articles in moral and religious works as are designed for immediate practical effect. They are most likely to be read by the persons who stand least in need of them. An able and interesting article on keeping the sabbath, for instance, is inserted in a religious paper. Who will read the article with the greatest interest and attention? Why the very man who is already most interested in the subject, who has most conscientiously and scrupulously observed the Lord's-day, and who, consequently, least of all needs its influence. As he glances his eye over the columns, this very article will at once arrest his attention, more than any other, while he who most needs it will be most likely to pass it by. What is written then with the design of producing moral and religious effects, will do comparatively little good if it is merely thrown at random upon the world, and left to take care of itself. There must be christian exertion to apply the moral remedy where it is needed, as well as christian ingenuity to discover or prepare it. Such efforts to give an efficient application to the means of religious instruction which the press supplies, are now made in thousands of cases, and they ought to be made by all who have the opportunity to do it.

Hence every christian ought to consider the religious books and periodicals which come into his hands, as means of doing good, committed to him by Providence, which he is bound to employ as efficiently as he can, to promote the cause of piety. A vast amount of good is done in this way by active christians throughout our land. As soon as they

have read any article or any work of useful practical_tendency, their minds instinctively inquire, "Which of my neighbours or friends would be interested or profited by this ?" "Here is something," say they, "which exactly meets such an one's case. "This article would interest the sunday-school; I will show it to the superintendent." "This book will do good in such a family; I will lend it to them." The instrument of good is thus carried to the points where its effect is needed.

There is another view of this subject which ought not to be overlooked. The value of a printed book or pamphlet consists in the fact, that it is capable of telling its story to a vast number of individuals as well as to one. One man, for example, who receives this very magazine, sends it to the sabbath-school, that it may be read there. It accordingly interests and profits a hundred and fifty, instead of one. He lends the work successively to half a dozen mothers, that they may read the article on the early religious instruction of children. His daughter takes it to the meeting of a charitable society, so that, if desired, some of its pages may contribute to their enjoyment and instruction, while at work, and thus his single copy accomplishes its work on hundreds of minds.

Another man reads his copy, and leaves it, a few days, to be read in his family, and then shuts it up in a dark closet, idle and unemployed for ever. It has done good perhaps to ten minds, when it is just as capable of doing good to a hundred. The story which it has told to a few, it is ready and willing to tell with equal fidelity to many, and if its possessor does not avail himself to the utmost of its power, he loses a great portion of the value of the work, and incurs moreover the guilt of keeping his means of doing good buried, not employed. ABBOTT.

LOVE TO THE BIBLE.

THE agent of the Bible Society at Christiana says:A peasant near the boundaries of Sweden, known to me as rather a poor man, applied to one of our commissioners for eight Bibles, a number equal to that of his children. The commissioner observing to him, that the expense might be too great for him, and that he, possessing

an old large Bible himself, might present his children with a New Testament each, the man answered: "No, that won't do! Three of my children have already left my house, or are about leaving it; and in time they may be all separated. All of them are already in possession of the New Testament; but when they are reading the missionary accounts, they want to examine the scripture passages which are cited, many of which are from the Old Testament." The commissioner giving him a hint, that by alleging to us his poverty he might get the Bibles at a reduced price: "No," the peasant replied, " that would be, on my part, an unfair proceeding: I should, in this way, deprive people poorer than I of the benefit of English christians' charity; and what blessings could I then expect to my children from their Bible ?"

LINES WRITTEN IN THE BLANK OF A BIBLE. "OPEN mine eyes, O Lord, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law," Ps. cxix. 18; see also verses 33, 34, 35, and many more.

Search the scriptures, for they testify of Jesus Christ, and no man can come to the Father but by him, for he is the way, the truth, and the life. And he that believeth on the Son of God hath eternal life abiding in him; and this is life eternal, to know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent, who is one with the Father, who made the world, and took our nature upon him, that he might redeem us from eternal death by dying for us. And having now ascended on high, he hath obtained gifts for us, even his Holy Spirit, by whose converting power alone we can be saved, being born again. By whom he being the spirit of Truth as well as the Comforter-by whose teaching, therefore, we may be led into all truth. He, being himself the eternal God, dwells in the hearts of believers, and makes their bodies temples of the Holy Ghost. No man can believe the gospel except this blessed agent first convinces the conscience of sin; then the trembling sinner, knowing that death eternal is the wages of sin, cries out, What must I do to be saved? The answer of peace will soon be heard, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. This glad sound fills him with joy and peace, he sees no other way of escape from the wrath to come; henceforth he is constrained by the love of Christ to live no longer to himself, but to Him that died for him and rose again; his life is hid with Christ in God. To him, to live is Christ, to die is gain; death has no

sting for him; he would rather depart and be with Christ than abide in the flesh, though he patiently waits the Lord's will until his appointed change comes. He does not tremble when the Lord sends his messenger by sickness, or other means, saying, Behold I come quickly; his reply is, Welcome! Even so come, Lord Jesus."

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Is it so with you, reader? or are you altogether a stranger to any such experience? If so, pause a moment, for you are in great danger-consider, what is written above is not man's wisdom, it is almost word for word a string of truths as they are written for your instruction in God's blessed book, and do you think you can safely neglect them? By this word you shall be judged at the last day; do not think that it will profit you to have your name written in this book by the hand of a friend, or by your own-no, except your name be written in the Lamb's book of life," you must for ever perish; and your own hand-writing may be a witness against you, charging you with having neglected the great salvation which is here freely offered you "without money and without price." It is appointed to all men once to die, and after that the judgment, for we must all appear before the judgmentseat of Christ to give account of the things done in the body, whether they be good or whether they be evil.-What then can you say why sentence should not be passed upon you, if, possessing a Bible, professing to believe that in it you have eternal life, you nevertheless despise or slight your Lord's command to "search" it ?-It contains hidden treasures worth digging deeply for as you value your soul, no longer let this be a sealed book to you; no longer trifle with the things of eternity; no longer provoke God with vain excuses, while he beseeches you by his word, and by his ministers and his ambassadors, to be reconciled to him, to lay down the arms of rebellion, to be at peace with him, to accept of his friendship! nay, to become a member of his family, an heir of his throne! a joint heir with Christ!! Oh! mad, unfeeling soul, to labour and toil after very vanity, while such glorious certainties are offered to your acceptance, purchased at so stupendous a price, no less than the "blood of God!" Repent, then, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out; for except we repent, we must all perish. All blessings, for time and for eternity, come through Jesus Christ, the only channel through which mercy can flow to man. God has promised his Holy Spirit to them that ask in the name of Jesus; oh! then, ask, and you shall receive; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the one great Jehovah, invites you to be saved: "Whosoever will, let him come take of the water of life freely." H. Y.