Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

ious instruction of the youth over twelve or fourteen years of age. We do feel that this is an interesting age on which to bestow our choicest efforts. We are convinced that the hopes of Zion are principally suspended on the religious culture bestowed on youth. That por tion of the Lord's vineyard promises more fruit from the culture bestowed than any other. And we think we can discern in the present signs of the times, that the Church is effectually awaking to their duty, not only towards children but towards youth. And now, if it be DESIRA BLE, if it be PRACTICABLE, and if a blessing from God, has so often attended associations of youth for improve ment in scriptural knowledge, we ask, shall any Pastor? -CAN any pious Pastor, neglect so important a means of rendering his other labours not in vain in the Lord? By the interests of the Church in the next generation;-by the value of the souls of the youth, and by your own re responsibility to Him who has commanded," FEED MY LAMBS," we call upon all Pastors, to devise and execute immediately, the best measures for benefitting the young people of their charge..

ORIGINAL AND SELECT ANECDOTES..

ON SLEEPING AT CHURCH.

DR. A—~, of Cambridge was once rather embar rassed with an occurrence in his congregation. An in. sane man, who had received a public education and who was strongly attached to the Dr. had observed in the forenoon of a warm Sabbath in summer, that several of the congregation slept in time of sermon. To prevent the recurrence of the evil in the afternoon, the maniac, having filled his boson with windfalls from a neighbour ing orchard, posted himself in a convenient station in the side gallery, the front gallery being occupied by the college students. Presently after the sermon commenced he observed one asleep, and gently disengaging his hand from his bosom, he aimed its contents at the head of the sleeper. This occasioned some disturbance, but when it subsided a second sleeper's head was pelted with an ap

ple. The preacher observing the occasion of the disturbauce requested his insane friend to desist. "Dr. A." said the maniac," mind your preaching, and I will keep the dogs awake." It will scarcely need to be remarked that for some time there was less inclination to sleep in that audience than usual.

DR. A-, was distinguished for the appropriateness of his texts. When the practice of seating the congregation prevailed, the youth of Cambridge used to be all seated in the gallery, the females at the left of the speaker, the males on his right, and the students in front. In a season when the youth were uncommonly thoughtless and devoted to vanity, Dr. A-chose a text which pierced like the two-edged sword. He looked first on his right hand, and began to pronounce," How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity;" he looked in front," and the scorners delight in scorning," he turned to his right," and fools hate knowledge."

LATE ATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC WORSHIP,

A want of punctual attention to the hour of commencing divine service, is a fault but too prevalent in worshipping assemblies. A worthy clergyman whose congregation had given him much vexation in this respect, began his discourse one Sunday in these terms: "When I came here to begin to worship last Sabbath morning, I believe there were not twenty people in the chapel; at the weekly lecture it was the same; and again this morning; my heart is pained. What can you mean by this conduct? Do you mean to worship God? then I must tell you plainly, and with the authority of a Christian minister, that this is no worship; deceive not yourselves, God will not accept it at your hands." He proceeded to enforce this point with great earnestness and feeling, and produced such an impression on the minds of his hearers, that next Sabbath, almost every person had assembled by the time he ascended the pulpit.

A very common cause of late attendance, especially with the fair sex, is the time employed in dressing. Herbert has some lines so applicable to this sort of apology, that every lady would do well to have them written in

letters of gold, and suspended over her toilet, that they might be ever present to her eyes.

To be dressed!

Stay not for the other pin. Why thou hast lost
A joy for it worth worlds!

SELECT HYMN.

SHEPHERD of thy blood-bought sheep!
Teach the stony heart to weep;

Let the blind have eyes to see,
See themselves, and look on thee!
Let the minds of all our youth
Feel the force of sacred truth;
While the Gospel call they hear,
May they learn to love and fear.
Shew them what their ways have been,
Shew them the desert of sin ;
Then thy dying love reveal,
This shall melt a heart of steel.

Where thou hast thy work begun,
Give new strength the race to run;
Scatter darkness, doubts, and fears,
Wipe away the mourner's tears.
Bless us all, both old and young;
Call forth praise from ev'ry tongue;
O let ev'ry reader prove

· All thy power, and all thy love.

[ocr errors][merged small]

Several communications from former Correspondents have recently been received. A "Careful Observer,” will be inserted, in some future Number. The poetry of Henry,' is writteħ in a beautiful hand and speaks the language of an affectionate and pious heart; but it falls below our standard for poetry,

THE MONITOR.

VOL. I.

OCTOBER, 1823.

NO. 10.

THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE RECOMMENDED.

THE writer of the subsequent address has informed us that it was delivered to a Society of young men who met statedly for the laudable object of mental improvement, and whose constitution required a small sum to be annually paid by the members, half of which was devoted to religious charities the other half to increase their library.

You, my friends, are near that period of your existence, from which the whole circle of it generally re-. ceives its character. Some of you, indeed, may have advanced beyond it. Some of you may not have reached it, but none of you are so far distant from it-that it should not be an object of interest and concern. Providence has brought you into being, with various duties before you, and in possession of the powers necessary properly to discharge them. How you may proceed in the performance of these duties with advantage and honour to yourselves, with benefit to others, and with approbation from the Author of life, should be the chief object of your anxiety, the great aim of your exertions. Multitudes pass the whole of their lives, apparently ignorant of their duty and interest in these respects. They pass along in the path their fathers trod before them, or in the course those around chance to take, alike heedless what they do, and ignorant why they do it.. Thus they are shuffled about by aseident and fashion, fill at last they fall into the grave, unrespected and unlamented, Such a character and such a fate none of you can wish to be your own. 'That you may avoid the reproach of the one, and escape the misfortune of the other, In the first place, Be considerate in choosing your occupations.

-

Were young men more wise in this respect than they generally are, there would be less poverty and less una

28

happiness in our country. Their choice is generally made before reason is sufficiently matured to discover the falseness of fancy's gildings, or sufficiently estab lished on her throne to resist the sway of inclination. A particular employment, on some occasion, when the Vimagination is heated, appears to present a short and an easy path to wealth or distinction, and it is instantly adopted as the pursuit of life. And very often the deluded youth finds it suited neither to his character nor capacity, and too late discovers, that it can never lead him to affluence nor honour, perhaps not even to comfort. Do not therefore consider it trifling, that you are directed to be considerate in choosing your occupations in life. In making the selection there should always be a reference to the mental character, the moral temperament, and the bodily constitution. Some men manage successfully in pursuits and emergencies, to which the faculties of others would be wholly inadequate. A màn may prosper as a mechanic, who would be neither for tunate nor respected as a merchant; one, who could never succeed in agriculture, may emminently flourish in more difficult pursuits. The same is true of the moral temperament, and the bodily constitution. Different

moral, as well as mental qualities, are requisite for him who governs, and him who obeys; for him who superintends, and him who performs; and different degrees of health and vigour for him whose occupation demands-labour and exposure to the varieties of weather and season, and him whose employment dispenses with both. You must therefore know yourselves, your minds, and your hearts in the outset of life, if you would pass it with honour, or even propriety.

But having actually engaged in your occupations continue in them perseveringly and undividedly. Such is the fickleness of our nature, and so great our proneness to be dissatisfied with present actual circumstances, that even in agreeable situations and in proper and profitable pursuits we are apt to consider all other situations more agreeable, and all other pursuits more profitable. This weakness of our nature, for it is surely a weakness, has ruined the earthly prospects of many a young man of high expectations. Finding less satisfaction and per haps less success than he had anticipated in the pursuits

« FöregåendeFortsätt »