verted, the former often exercise a most pernicious influence over the latter. They are worldly minded, and if any of the youger children become serious, they laugh and talk it all away. Why? They are looked up to as Christians by their younger brethren; but instead of praying for them, and watching over them, they conduct themselves in such a lightminded outrageous manner as to stand right in their way. 1 have often had occasion to expostulate with such-"What your younger brothers snd sisters impressed by the Spirit of God, and instead of praying for them your prayerlessness is one of the greatest obstacles in the way!" In fact enquirers have often let this out in their conversations with me; they have said, "my eldest brother" does this, or "my eldest sister" says that; indeed much observation has satisfied me, that it is one of the most fearful things in the world, for a family to be passed by, whether from this or any other causes; and this I believe often to be one of the most powerful obstacles. If you see a family thus passed by unblessed, you may expect that it will be marked as was the village of Meroz. "Curse Meroz." ye say the angel, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof, because they came not up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty." It seems to be a great and guiding principle of the government of God, that whenever a church is called into conflict with the enemies of the Lord of Hosts—to make an onslaught on the powers of darkness-it is an awful thing for any family of that church to withhold its influence. Look at the whole history of the Jewish nation; how it reveals the great principles of God's government! He will act on the same principles now, if he is the same God now as he was then. The spirit of God's government is the same under the present as under the former dispensations. God always would have rebuked a family for withholding its influence at such times, and he always will do it.

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Sometimes the ministers of the locality stand out and will have no connection with revivals, but mark! in my own experience, I have uniformly seen that the curse of God follows such men. Were it necessary, I could substantiate this assertion by the names of persons and places. I could tell you some very striking facts, both with regard to ministers of various denominations as well as presbyterian elders and the deacons of congregational churches. This is a great principle of God's government, who can deny it? No man who knows his Bible, and understands the dealings of God. When God calls upon the sacramental hosts to rally at the sound of his coming-when his voice is heard in the tops of the mulberry trees-if any family neglects to invite the Saviour to become its guest, what will become of that family? I suppose I have been reminded of the curse of Meroz, thousauds of times; it is a fearful thing that the Spirit of God should breathe over a community, and here and there a family shall go unblessed? Such families may expect their children to go unconverted; for it is remarkable that in this respect God sometimes visits the iniquities of the fathers upon the children; and upon the children's children; a son turns out perhaps a gambler; a daugeter runs away and marries without her parents consent, or some thing of that kind. The fact is, Brethren, God is a jealous God, and when he comes, he expects to be received. Now, Brethren, have your families been blessed? Some of you have, I know. But do not let any child in your families, who has come to the age of intelligence escape. Be sure also to remember your servants; for if they are neglected, God's spirit is grieved. Where they are not cared for, -where pains are not taken to get them to meeting and converted, there is not the spirit of Christ. I have often observed that servants sustain to families a relation that God acknowledges. Abraham, for example, was commanded to circumcise every one belonging to his household. This is a principle of God's government, and has always been so; God always looks upon every member of your household as a member of your family for the time being; and God has given you a certain relation to them which binds you to secure their conversion to God. I have always felt a great responsibility concerning those who come to live in my family. I aim and expect to aim at promoting the conversion of these souls a thousand times more than any thing else. I have often said to my wife: "Is that girl converted? Let us arrange every thing with respect to that girl being converted, and see whether we cannot secure it."

Now is not this right? Yes. If parents and masters would rightly use the promises of influence God has given them, rely upon it, religion would spread in a manner which by no means does now. Let there be no fault on your part, brethren; let your children see that you aim at doing all the good to each other you can. You should understand how great a part of religion consists in the relation we owe to each other. Let no child forget the relation in which God has placed him with regard to his parents, and the same with parents in regard to their children. Let every member of every family be what he ought to be, and you will see what hold religion takes of the community.

63

A PAGE FOR THE YOUNG.

BY REV. W. PAYNE, CHESHAM.

MAY I hope my dear young friends, for your attentive prayerful consideration of these few plain kind words. Your age and probable influence on coming generations, your religious and other advantages-the dangers arising from your youth-the circumstance that you are special objects of interest to good angels and the holy God—the fact, that, many have remembered their Creator in the days of their youth, render your early conversion a matter of prime importance. Greatly should we rejoice to see the young men and youths growing up in the midst of us, possess the amiability of Abel-the moral excellence of Enoch-the filial affection of Isaac-the discretion of Joseph-the patriotic piety of Moses-the decision of Caleb-the integrity of Samuel—the self-reliance and confiding trust in the God of David-the heroism of Shadrach—the unsullied consistency of Daniel-the eloquence of Apollos-the scriptural knowledge of Timothy. May none of you ever resemble the scoffing Ishmael -the impious Esau-the vain and wicked Absalom, nor the amiable youth who loved Christ less than his houses and lands! We wish not for you the early grave of Abijah, nor the external prosperity of Solomon, nor the worldly position of Josiah; but we do desiderate that the godliness which beautified their character, may develope your intellect, purify your affections, ennoble your life; and can we desire anything better for our daughters, than that they may be as corner stones polished after the similitude of a palace-possess Sarah's faith, if not her physical beauty-the modesty of Rebekah-the tenderness of Ruththe prudence of Abigail-the prayerfulness of Hannah-the moral greatness of the women of Shunem-the meditativeness of Mary of Bethany-the devotion to Christ of the women of Galilee.

Early marriages are frequent sources of inquietude, but you cannot too soon be wedded to truth. None ever regretted that union. It is fruitful of every kind of blessedness. Godliness is profitable for all things. We are sure in your calmer, holier, thoughtful moods, you desire to be like the tree of life, and not like the fabled upas tree to resemble a well of living water, and not a stagnant pool. You young men, though sometimes frivolous, and too often careless, do not wish to bring the gray hair of your father, with sorrow to the grave -and you of the "softer sex," you love your mothers too well, to stow up their heart with grief. You cannot surely wish to live an ignoble life-die a sorrowful death, and be lost for ever. Hearken then to the apostle's admonition. "Flee youthful lusts and follow after righteousness." Your life will then be a holy life. True piety is the great preservative against temptation,-the condition of happiness-the qualification for usefulness. Religion requires self-determination, effort, perseverance. Agonize to enter in at the straight gate. Surrender yourself to the evil influences within and without, and you will be led on from bad to worse. That brazen face harlot became not the disgusting object she now is all at once; when she hung upon her mother's breast, she was as innocent as you. Sin can despoil a female of her native modesty, and make her the vilest, most loathsome spectacle the angels look upon. And that young

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A PAGE FOR THE YOUNG.

man who hardly ever speaks without an oath-who is a moral pest, wicked enough to corrupt the youth of a town, whose evil communications would corrupt the best manners; he was once a hopeful boy-he knelt when a child at his mother's knee to pray-his eyes used to be suffused with tears, as his pious teacher spake to him of a Saviour's love. He listened in an evil hour to the voice of the tempter, began to absent himself from the house of God, became a worshipper of Bacchus; to stifle conscience, embraced infidelity, and now be not surprised if he come to an untimely end. "Flee then your youthful lusts, follow after righteousness."

"O never deem thoughts,-feelings,-valueless,
Which bear the balance of the heart to virtue's side.
Think not the right path can be safely left,

Though 'twere but for one moment, or one step.

That one departure-slight howe'er it seems

From innocence is nought. The young peach bloom
Rudely brushed off can be restored no more,

By all the cunning of the painter's art.

Nor to the scared heart comes in after life,
Youth's early dews-the pure and delicate."

Crush then in the bud all impatience of parental controul. Renounce that foolish fondness for dress which has ruined multitudes. Resent as a foul outrage, every solicitation to turn aside from the path of virtue. Let your ear be deaf to every thing that would pollute your heart. Flee youthful lusts. virtuous.

'Tis only noble to be good

Pure hearts are more than coronets-
And simple faith than Norman blood.

Be

Be holy. Follow after righteousness. This is the one thing needful. It is profitable for all things-it is the source of happiness. It connects you with the true nobility,-the aristocracy of goodness. It secures for you a posthumous immortality. As you have listened to the mighty orations of Handel, or gazed upon the matchless paintings of Raphael; you have thought O that I could do something to immortalize my name. Dear young friends, the canvas on which the painter has embodied the creations of his genius, will crumble to dust; and even the sublime strains of Handel will be forgotten amid the sublime strains of heaven, but the soul in which you retrace its maker's image will always exist and, therefore, will be your perpetual monument-your immortality will outlive the sun. But you will never do any thing great, good, godlike-nothing worthy of your nature, opportunities, and destiny-nothing to place yourselves among the heroes of ancient or modern time-nothing that will secure for you imperishable fame without decision, without godliness. Be like him whom Christian saw in the interpreter's house, a man of very stout countenance, who said Set down my name, Sir, the which when he had done, he drew his sword and fought right valiantly, until he cut his way through all opposing foes and pressed forward into the palace;" and not like him who quenched the hopes of the good, and cast a shadow of sadness upon the soul of the Saviour, the rich young man who stifled his religious convictions, that he might retain his wealth. "The wages of sin is death." "Come then with us, we will do thee good. The Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel."

PARDONING KINDNESS.

TOWARDS the end of last century, during the war with France, the late Rev. Mr. Griffin of Portsea, received a letter from a friend in London, mentioning that two young men of a highly respectable family, offended at some restraint imposed on them by their parents, had left their father's house, with the determination to go to sea that it was likely they would be found at the rendezvous at Portsmouth, and requesting him to inquire about them, and, if possible, persuade them to return. He soon found they were there, though they assumed a false name. Having prevailed on them to call upon him, he expostulated with them on their conduct, representing to them in as strong colours as he could, the distress they had inflcted on their parents, and particularly, that their affectionate mother was in a state of the deepest anguish. He succeeded in persuading the youngest to return under his parental roof. When he seemed

somewhat softened by Mr. Griffin's expostulations, he said, "Well, I think I will go home again.' His brother, with a most determined air, looked on him with a scowl of indignation and contempt, telling him he was a poor milk-sop, and adding that he might do as he pleased, but for his part he was determined to go to sea, and after the manner he had been treated, he would never return to his father's house.

When Mr. Griffin found he could make no impression upon him, the last thing he said to him before he left him, was, "Well, young man, remember one thing: your sin will one day find you out." The younger son returned to his father,

and the elder went aboard a man-of-war.

Several years passed, and Mr. Griffin had almost forgotten the occurrence, when, one Sabbath morning, a ship-of-war came into the roads, and a message was sent to him to come and see a young man who was sentenced to death. As soon as his other engagements permitted him, he went aboard, and found this bold and resolute young man, lying in irons, while he was condemned to be executed during the following week. On Mr. Griffin's inquiring what was the cause that had brought him into such distressing and disgraceful circumstances, he was informed, that he had struck one of the officers; an act of insubordination which could not be passed over, without all discipline being destroyed. At his trial, every advantage was given him to plead some palliation at least of his offence, as the officers saw he was quite a superior young man, and one born to better prospects. He was asked if he was drunk? "No!" Had he not drunk anything that day? (as they were anxious to mitigate the punishment, if it could be done consistently with the discipline of the ship) he replied, "No!" In short, it was found necessary to condemn him to death. Some of the officers remarked to Mr Griffin, "We see he is a superior young man, of a very high spirit; he would have made a capital officer, but one guilty of such insubordination, cannot be allowed to escape."

Mr Griffin conversed with the prisoner. He still mantained his high bearing, would make no apology, and seemed determined (as the phrase is) to die game. Mr Griffin immediately came ashore, and got an application forwarded without delay to the admiralty, stating all the circumstances of the case. In short, through the instrumentality of the gentleman who was the member of parliament for Portsmouth, he procured a pardon just in time to save the young man's life.

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THE TWO YOUNG LADIES.

All the preparations were made for having the sentence executed, when the pardon was communicated to him. "Here," said Mr Griffin, 66 we saw the effect of unexpected kindness. That heart which nothing could subdue, which even the terrors of a violent and ignominious death seemed incapable of appaling, was completely melted when a pardon was announced to him. It was too much for his feelings. He fell before it, and burst into tears."

When the circumstances of the case were known, having obtained his discharge, he returned to the bosom of his father's family, and afterwards he was transformed into a young gentleman, was engaged in business and held a respectable station in society.

The use which Mr. Griffin made of this interesting story, in preaching, was this:-We have here a specimen of the melting effects of kindness. It accomplished what stern law, and the mere dread of punishment, nay, of an ignominious death, never could. Such is the effect which the grace manifested in the gospel is eminently fitted to produce. Many who have set at nought all the thunders of Mount Sinai, have been effectually subdued by the still small voice from Mount Calvary. It is the precious proclamation of pardon through Jesus Christ, that wins the sinner's heart, that brings down every high thought, and lofty imagination, and bringing him to the obedience of faith, makes him bow to the sceptre of the Prince of Peace.

THE TWO YOUNG LADIES-A CONTRAST.

It is now about fourteen years since I was accustomed, as pastor of the church in MN. J., to meet monthly with a missionary society, composed of young girls, mostly between the ages of ten and sixteen or seventeen. Among them was a young girl, of perhaps fifteen years of age, the daughter of wealthy parents, who passionately loved her and doated upon her. Still they were Christians, and had dedicated their child to God in a covenant of which they knew the meaning, and the terms of which they were by no means disposed to explain away or dispute.

The object of the monthly meetings above referred to, was to excite an interest in the cause of missions in these young minds, by bringing before them information of the progress of the great cause, and by affording them an opportunity to contribute as they were able to the treasury of the American Board.

After the lapse of so many years, my mind still loves to return to those gatherings of precious youth. They were seasons of refreshing to my own heart, and were participated in with manifest feeling and profit by most of those in attendance.

In the course of a year or two I removed to another field of usefulness, leaving this young and interesting society to the guidance of others. After some time, the young lady above referred to became the wife of a beloved missionary, and accompanied him to his field of labour in the far distant East.

A few days since I met her for the first time since I parted with her, a young,