ON A DESIRE OF CHANGE OF PLACE.

(Reflections arising from Gen. xiii. 10.)

THE following reflections would have been more properly placed after the remarks on Gen. xiii. in page 389, Vol. III.; and indeed made a part of those remarks, as sent by our correspondent. As, however, we then found it necessary to shorten the article, we present our readers with these reflections now.-EDITOR.

We are all apt to underrate present, and to overvalue future advantages; and the young, from their inexperience of what life will produce, are particu larly liable to do so. You see the roughness and ruggedness of the land around you, but the sun gilds yonder summit so pleasantly, that you cannot believe it can be the same country! But, were you there, you would find it just the same; and this barren rock would then be the smiling hill. Just so, you feel the inconveniences of your present situation, and think that, if you could but change it, you should leave all your cares behind you; but you may be assured, that, though you might leave these, you would find others, and perhaps worse; for "that which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting cannot be numbered." And there is always something crooked, and something wanting, in every man's lot. God has appointed it to be so, that we may seek our permanent happiness in Him, and not in the world. "Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way?" saith the prophet. The love of change is strong within us all, and proceeds from the ardent desire of happiness implanted in every bosom; but, though we should leave our parents, and run through all the changes of human life in search of happiness, we shall at last be forced to acknowledge that we have searched in

vain; for nothing belonging to earth can give perfect rest and satisfaction to the immortal soul. "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be, and that which is done, is that which shall be done." Immortal things alone can fully satisfy the desires of that which is immortal. "He that cometh to me," saith Christ," shall never hunger: and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread; and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." But to find our happiness in God, much prayer, self-denial, and spiritual diligence are necessary. There is nature as well as grace remaining even in the most devout Christians; and nature is continually leading us to leave the "Fountain of living waters; and hew out to ourselves cisterns, broken cisterns, which can hold no water." The grace of God in the heart of man, says a good bishop, is like a tender plant in an ungenial clime. Every thing is against it, and it requires the utmost care and vigilance to preserve it alive.

T. B. P.

HINTS FOR THE PROFITABLE READING OF THE SCRIPTURES.

If we would read the holy Scriptures with profit, we must take care that we read with simplicity of aim and motive. The Scribes and Pharisees were learned in the Scriptures, but were not profited by them they believed that "in them they had eternal life;" yet they would not come to Christ, that they might receive that life. John v. 33. 40.

We do not read the Scriptures with a right aim, when we read them either for mere amusement, and because the narratives contained in them excite a

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pleasing interest;-or when, imagining ourselves to be already fully established in our Christian principles, we read them only as a formal duty, esteeming ourselves to have performed a good work, when we have read a stated portion morning and evening, when our lives, perhaps, agree but little with the spirit of the precepts we have read ;-or if we read only with a desire of becoming learned in the Scriptures, ready in quotations, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm;"-perversely dwelling upon "unprofitable questions, and strifes of words," or looking into the" secret things that belong to the Most High," instead of exercising ourselves in laying aright the foundation of faith and repentance. If we read the Scriptures from any of the above false motives, we may assure ourselves, that with all our learning, even though we should have the whole volume by heart, we may be for ever lost. Let us first of all then see, that we bring to the study of the Scriptures a simple and apright heart, sincerely desiring "the milk of the word, that we may grow thereby," and through them be "made wise unto salvation."

The humble and sincere inquirer after the way of life will, when he reads the Scriptures, offer up his prayer that he may be enabled to " mark, learn, and inwardly digest" them. With prayer we must also join meditation, in order that what we read may take root in our hearts. David said, "I have more understanding than all my teachers; for thy testimonies are my meditation." The Gospel must be attentively considered, and laid to heart: and those will reap most profit from it, who seek most to be impressed by its truths.

0.

INTEGRITY.

WHEN a servant-maid marries, she probably becomes a cottager's wife. It is of great importance then, that, whilst she is in service, she should cultivate such habits as may be of use to her in after-life. The following remarks are taken from an excellent little book, called " Cottage Comforts :"-" Supposing any one was enquiring into the character of a servant, and should be told that she was active, cleanly, good-tempered, and possessed a dozen other good qualities,-who would reckon her character worth any thing, if it must be added, but she is not honest?' Well then, let young people begin by cultivating the strictest integrity in all their dealings. By honesty, I do not mean merely keeping from such acts as would expose to a halter or a prison, but a nice feeling of principle, that would shrink from the smallest and most secret fraud, or act of unjust gain. Shew me a youth, who, if an account is made out a shilling or a penny in his favour, points it out, and returns it, as soon as he sees the mistake; or, who, when tempted by companions to take some little perquisite not expressly allowed, steadily refuses to make use of the smallest part of his master's or his parents' property without express permission, and I will say, that such a one possesses the first requisite to respectability and happiness. A person, of another cast, who takes every little mean advantage that presents itself; who now and then takes a pinch of tea, or a lump of sugar, or a sip of wine, or one apple out of a heap, or one penny out of the Till, goes the way to ruin and misery.

"

The same little work is enlivened with several interesting anecdotes, such as the following:

NO. 1. VOL. VI.

THE HONEST WIDOW.

There was a poor widow woman who had a large family; she brought them up to hard work, all the week, and to go decently dressed to Church on the Sunday; she often found it difficult to fit them out, but, though their clothes were so patched, that it was hard to tell which was the master-piece, yet there was never a hole to be seen in them; and, let them be ever so coarse, they were sure to be 'clean. One of her boys worked for a gentlemanfarmer in the parish, and one day his master said to him, "Here, Will, are a couple of pair of old smallclothes for you; I know your mother is a tidy woman, and makes the best of an old thing." Will carried them home highly delighted, and good-naturedly wished his mother to mend one pair up for his younger brother; but she thought it a pity to cut them smaller, so mended one pair to serve Will for Sundays, and put the others carefully by. Nearly two years passed, and then the first pair being completely gone by for bettermost, the second were enquired after; the careful mother brought them down to repair, and, on turning out one of the pockets, discovered a five-pound note. She immediately took it to the gentleman, and said, with great simplicity, that she had brought back the bank-note that was left in his Honour's pocket. He thanked her, and said, he should never have missed it: he greatly commended her honesty, but suffered her to return home without any other reward than that which she found in her own bosom from the thought that she had not given way to a strong temptation to do wrong. She did not expect any other, therefore she was not disappointed, but went home very contented and cheerful, and completed her mending job by the time her son returned from work. "Mother," said he, as he entered the cottage, "the