were a long sickness, and of the last hours and last sayings, I should not feel as strong an objection as I now do to books of this description. I should indeed like still better, to have for this purpose the lives of children who, instead of dying early, last to old age. Nothing can be more unfortunate for the cause of good, than the impression which is sometimes made on the young mind, and which has occasionally found its way into words, that all the good children seem to die early! How ill does this accord with the language of that Bible which we would fain recommend to the young, when it tells us, that the wicked shall not live out half his days? For here in the matter of these books-the language seems to be that it is the righteous that does not live out half his days.

But once more: the religion of the death-bed is not what is desirable. If it were to become common for either the young or the old to live on as they list while they are in health, and only become religious when the dark days of adversity and sickness arrive, I would no longer give much for religion, as the means of polishing and purifying and rendering happy the world in which we dwell. That, however, which does not make us holy and happy in this world, can never make us happy in another world, and it were well if it were so understood, and so presented to the minds of all, especially the young.

I repeat it, therefore, that in selecting books for a sabbath school library, I would studiously avoid all which give to good and holy things a dark or sombre shade-of which there are certainly a very great number to be found at our best depositories. I have already expressed a very strong partiality to bible biography, if well written'; but it must be prepared exceedingly ill, that is, exceedingly wide from the truth, to bring it into the shape of modern memoirs, and to give to Joseph or Daniel or Paul a long and tedious season of sickness prior to their dissolution, or any last dying words. Let us labour to remove, if possible, everything that stands in the way of representing religion as it truly is, that which makes us wiser and better in all the relations of life, and which, going with us across the dark valley of the shadow of death, makes us wiser, better, and more and more glorious in the world of spirits. Let us do nothing at all to favour the idea that piety is a something which is valuable to die by, but

which is rather an incumbrance than otherwise while we live, as is the expressed belief of some pseudo-converts to Christianity, and the practical view of thousands, who would hesitate hefore they would be quite willing to put such a sentiment into words.-The Sabbath School as it should be, by William A. Alcott.

CHRISTIAN MARINER'S HYMN. T. CLARK.

Launch thy bark, ma-ri-ner! Christian, God speed thee! Let loose thy

Ꮎ

Launch thy bark, ma-ri-ner! Christian, God speed thee! Let loose thy

rud der bands, Good angels lead thee! Set thy sails wa-ri-ly,

BRIEF NOTICE OF THE LATE J. BARKER, ESQ. WE have to record the death of John Barker, Esq., of Wolverhampton, who had fulfilled the important duties of magistrate and alderman, and had formerly held the office of high sheriff of the county, and been chairman of the board of guardians. At a meeting of the town council of Wolverhampton, on the 9th of November, a resolution was adopted to the following effect:-" That this council cannot refrain from expressing its deep regret at the loss sustained, not only by this body, but by the town, in the unexpected death of Alderman Barker. The position to which he had raised himself, by honourable industry, would, in a free community, alone entitle him to this mark of respect; but the sterling purpose of his well-regulated life, his inflexible adherence to whatever he believed to be right; the untiring liberality with which he, both in means and personal attention, promoted the education of the children of the working classes, call most strongly for the respect and sympathy of this court." As a master he had peculiar opportunities of usefulness, having had 3,000 men in his employ at his extensive iron works. He combined kindness with firmness-opposing evil habits and encouraging good ones in his workmen, being anxious to promote their temporal and eternal interests. He cared for their bodily wants in allotting small plots of ground, and aiding them in erecting cottages, and in the recent erection of baths for their convenience. He cared also for their children, by the erection of a handsome school, in which about 200 received daily scriptural instruction, and were preserved from the education of the streets and lanes.

Will it surprise any of our readers to learn that Mr. Barker was a Sunday school teacher? From his youth he had attended Sunday schools, and officiated as a humble teacher of the youth of the Congregational Independent church, and his cares of business, his increased and numerous occupations, did not prevent his fulfilment of this labour of love. Sunday after Sunday was the person of the great ironmaster to be seen in the school-room of the Congregational chapel, instructing with admiring patience and assiduity a band of youngsters collected around him, rejoicing in the task of instilling into their minds the precepts of the grand doctrines of Christianity, propounding and explaining texts that might appear complicated to his

youthful audience, and thus setting a pattern of forbearance, humility, christian charity, and love, to the educated of every station, and causing many a young mind to be imbued with the soothing influences and divine beauties of the gospel, and to be rescued from that ignorance which is unto death. Besides his unwearied personal superintendence and active oversight of this benevolent institution, he assisted the same cause by considerable pecuniary gifts, and was in attendance at every meeting until he proceeded on the tour from which he returned, suffering under the illness which terminated his useful and honourable career. His devotion to Sunday schools will be best appreciated by a recital of the following fact, that during the assize week, when in daily performance of his duties as high sheriff, he left the county town on the Saturday evening, and the man who the previous day was seen sitting in the court of assize, by the side of the judges of the kingdom, occupied his usual place on the sabbath, as president of the schools under his care.

In alluding to Mr. Barker's progress in the scale of society and extension of influence, it may be well to recur to dates. He was born in the year 1795, at Erbustock-hall, Denbighshire, and descended from a respectable family of farmers resident in Cheshire and Gloucestershire. He was educated at Malpas, in Cheshire, and apprenticed to a draper at Wrexham, in 1814; in the year 1817 he came to Wolverhampton, and acted as an assistant in the shop of Mr. Warner; in 1822 he married the daughter of George Jones, Esq., ironmaster; and, in 1826, formed the Chillington Company with Mr. Jones and Mr. J. Foster. In 1840 he was placed in the commission of the peace for the county of Stafford. When Wolverhampton was incorporated he was elected an alderman, and was placed in the borough commission soon after; he was subsequently appointed deputy-lieutenant of the county, and in 1851 served as high sheriff. He was a faithful member of the Congregational Independent body of Dissenters, and he was the main supporter and promoter of the erection of that magnificent and beautiful structure situated at Snow-hill, together with the commodious schools, in which place he regularly attended to worship God. The last service at which he was present was on the occasion when the large debt incurred in the building was removed by the liberal contributions of the congregation.

The illness of Mr. Barker, which ended in death, was of short duration, About three weeks since he was taken ill rather suddenly, but no fatal result was then anticipated. About a week afterwards it became evident that a large tumour was formed, and, after the best advice that could be had, recovery was declared to be hopeless. The christian faith of Mr. Barker enabled him to hear the intelligence with calmness and composure; he at once set about the arrangement of his vast business concerns and his family affairs; this being achieved, he took leave of all this world's claims upon his attention, and turned his whole heart and thoughts to that world which he was so soon to enter. He expired, on Friday, November 5th, as he expressed himself, "perfectly happy," aged fifty-seven years. As might be expected in such a case as this, the day of the funeral exhibited numerous tokens of sincere sorrow and regret. Many of the shops in the town were closed; and there were present crowds of hardy workmen, the Sunday school children and their teachers, the principal members of the Snow-hill church, magistrates, members of the town council, guardians, many of the wealthy and many of the working classes-all witnesses of the removal of the earthly remains of this good and useful man to his last resting-place. His labours are ended in peace, while it is left to others to carry on his benevolent designs and fulfil his important duties.

JUBILEE HYMNS, BY JAMES EDMESTON.

No. 1.-FOR TEACHERS.

Now fifty years are past,
And we are spared to see,
With grateful hearts at last,

A sacred Jubilee:

Then let our hearts and voices raise,
In concord sweet a hymn of praise.

Yet 'tis no time to rest,

Our work must be pursued; Much land must be possess'd,

And many foes subdued, Ere sacred wisdom's gospel ray, Diffuse a universal day.

The next rejoicing morn,
But few now here will see;
And thousands yet unborn,

Will hail that Jubilee:

But when our labours have an end,
Lord! other, better labourers send.

And may that day appear,

With glory far more bright;
Christ's advent drawing near,

A burst of heavenly light;
The Sun of Righteousness arise,
And fill with glory, earth and skies.