it is trifling, in their view, when put in the scale with worldly honours: even "an eternal weight of glory" is light, they conceive, when weighed in the balance with the applause of their fellow-creatures. The pleasures of piety may be good, the joys of angels may be sweet; but they feel no relish for these delights they are too refined, or too distant; and, for the present, they feel perfectly satisfied with more sensible enjoyments. Thus they leave the salvation of the soul and the concerns of eternity to a future period.

We come now to consider, III. The danger incurred by neglecting this great salvation.

The apostle asks, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" How shall we escape the just displeasure of Almighty God? Will not his wrath burn like fire against those who have neglected that salvation which he had provided for them with so much wisdom, which he had set before them with so much care, and which he had invited them to accept with all the persuasions of mercy and goodness; a salvation purchased for them by the blood of his wellbeloved Son, and brought within their reach by the ministry of his word, and the agency of his blessed Spirit; a salvation foretold by prophecies, and exhibited by types, and proved to be of heavenly origin by the most surprising miracles; a salvation which will extend its happy consequences through all the ages of eternity? Can such provisions of divine mercy be safely neglected? Can the hardened sinner escape the judgment of God, if he adds to all his other offences a neglect of the gracious offers of salvation in the hands of a Mediator?

How shall you escape, my brethren, if you carelessly neglect so great salvation? Whither will you flee for safety? What place of refuge can you find, to protect you from the power of that God, whose arm is omnipotent, and whose eyes are as a flame of fire? What mercy can you then find, when the door of mercy is shut for ever, and when that Redeemer himself will be your Judge, whose goodness and grace you have slighted through all your life? Will his gospel any more hold out to you pardon and peace, and reconciliation with the Majesty of heaven? No: it will deliver you up to the sword of divine justice, and will pronounce on you the sentence of eternal condemnation. What will be the feelings of those unhappy persons who have neglected this great salvation, "when the Lord Jesus shall" at length "be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel

of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glori fied in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe" (2 Thess. i. 7-10).

Those eyes of our blessed Lord, which once beamed with tenderness and compassion and loving-kindness towards the guilty and miserable among the sons of men-towards all who fled to him for refuge, and humbly laid hold on the salvation so freely set before them through his blood-those eyes will then " burn like a flame of fire" against "the workers of iniquity," and against all who have neglected his great salvation. Cries and tears will then be too late woes and bitter anguish will be their portion for ever. They will then feel the gnawings of that worm which never dieth, and suffer the vengeance of that fire which is never to be quenched (Mark ix. 44). Will the Judge of the quick and the dead account it a small thing that guilty perishing mortals have slighted and overlooked that salvation which sprung from the bosom of divine mercy; which was planned in its several parts by infinite wisdom, and wrought out and carried into effect by the grace and power of the Son of God?

Consider, my brethren, that the greater the offered benefits are, the greater will be the guilt of neglecting them: this would be shameful ingratitude and the most daring presumption. Let no man vainly hope to escape the notice of the divine Judge, in the great day of trial; for "behold," it is said, "he cometh with clouds; and every eye shali see him, and they also that pierced him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him" (Rev. i. 7). Instead of neglecting his great salvation, thankfully and heartily em brace it; for he will then graciously welcome his faithful people, and will be " the Author of eternal salvation" to all those who do now obey him, who humbly and thankfully lay ho'd of his rich and free and abundant mercies.

CONFIRMATION®.

Os leaving Mrs. Willis and her grandson, Mr. Gray called in next door to see Mrs. Mason. A tidy, clean, comfortable little cottage it was, as could be seen anywhere. Go when you would, it was never dirty and never in confusion, except indeed on Saturday mornings, when Hannah Mason was sure to be seen scrubbing the floor, cleaning the grate, and putting every thing to rights for Sunday.

No one would have thought, to see Mrs. Mason's cottage, or herself and her family, when ready for church, that she was a widow, and a very poor one. Yet such was the case: she had lost her second husband a few years before, and had been left with a large family of young children to provide for. At first she was very thankful to have help from the parish; but now that some of the elder ones were off her hands, she took an honest pride in maintaining the rest by her own exertions, and by going out to work she managed to earn a scanty livelihood.

poor,

Yet many in the village, both rich and used to say that widow Mason could not be so badly off, or how should she be able to make herself and her children look so nice and neat on Sunday. For some people think, if they are very poor they must needs be ragged and dirty. Mrs. Mason was not one of these: if a thing of her's was ever so old, it was clean and mended, and taken care of to the very last; so that Mrs. Gray and the young ladies used to say, "There was some pleasure in giving things to Mrs. Mason, for she always made the most of them."

I have heard it said that "Cleanliness is next to godliness." Perhaps at one time Mrs. Mason thought, if she would not have said, that it came before it. But it may easily be supposed that she had gone through a great deal of trouble; and her trials had, by the blessing of God, inclined her to put godliness in its right place. They had made her feel that nothing but religion was worth setting the heart upon, and that, when she was tried with sorrow and want at home, she could find no comfort anywhere like that which she found in the house of God. She was, therefore, now still more anxious that her children should love and serve God than that they should learn to be tidy and cleanly; and she took great pains that they should be regular in their attendance at school and at church.

"She's only just fifteen; and perhaps that's full young. But the thing is, I'm in hopes she has got a place. She's gone to-day to speak to the lady; and I should very much have liked her to be confirmed before she leaves home.

I

think it might be the means of keeping her steady."

"It would be a good thing, certainly, if she is really prepared for it; and in that case I should not think her too young. She seems a thoughtful, steady girl."

"She's very quiet, sir, and very fond of reading her bible. And though I say it, as should'nt say it, she reads as well as any girl in the parish."

And does she profit by what she reads? is she a good and obedient child to you?"

"I think I may say she is, on the whole, sir; but she's a close temper, and sometimes gets put out. Still I hav'nt much to say against her; and I hope she thinks about her soul, I hope she does. I'm afraid I don't always set her the best example; I've a high spirit you know, sir: may God forgive me for it. I fear it'll be my trouble till I die."

"But I hope you do not rest contented with that, Mrs. Mason, but strive against this spirit of yours. It is a sad thing for a mother to be a hindrance to her children by her own conduct."

"I hope I do strive against it, sir; but you know when one has given way to a temper like mine all one's life long, it's hard work to get the better of it now."

"That is indeed but too true. The task of overcoming our natural tempers becomes harder the longer we suffer them to keep possession of our hearts; and nothing but divine grace can enable us to get any mastery over them.'

“Ah, sir, I often tell my children how much sorrow they'd save themselves if they'd seek the grace of God now in their young days. We may bend the twig, but it's hard to bend the grown tree if I had done so I should be a happier woman now, but thank God I've learnt to seek him at last."

Just at this moment Hannah came in, full of delight, for she had got the place she had been after, and was engaged to go to it in the course of a few weeks.

Mr. Gray stopped a few minutes to speak to her about the confirmation. She seemed to wish very much to be confirmed; and showed so much right feeling about it, that he encouraged her to think of it seriously, and told her to seek, by earnest prayer, for that preparation of heart which cometh from God only. Then saying he should expect to see her at the meetings for the young people, he

66

ward from the little back kitchen where she was washing; "busy I am to be sure, but not so busy but I shall be very thankful if you'll please to sit down and talk to me a bit. And indeed, sir, I was wanting very much to see you about my Hannah, to know whether you'd think her old enough to be confirmed this time." "What age is she, Mrs. Mason?"

From "Grace Overton; or, the Service of the Heart." London: Wertheim and Co. 1851. There is much that is

with advantage in the hands of domestic servants.-ED.

the Lord; that so many who seem to begin life aright, and to set out in the narrow way, should turn aside after the world and sin, and so fall from their glorious inheritance!" And he sorrowfully recalled one and another, of whom he had once hoped well, and who had outwardly given themselves to the Lord in the ordinance of confirmation with much apparent earnestness, but whose impressions had seemed to pass away like the morning cloud and the early dew, so that they were now as careless and worldly as any of those around them. The cares, the pleasures, and the temptations of the world had blighted the fair blossoms, and there was no fruit to repay the husbandman's toil.

Yet, on the other hand, there had been some in whose early piety he had not been disappointed, and who were adorning their Christian profession by a godly life. One of these was Mrs. Mason's eldest son Charles, who had been confirmed three years before, and was now growing up into manhood, an humble and consistent Christian, and the stay and comfort of his widowed mother. On him and some few others Mr. Gray's thoughts rested with thankfulness and satisfaction; and he felt that a few such instances were enough to reward him for all his labours.

He was now deeply interested for those young ones of his flock who were looking forward to confirmation, in many of whom he thought he saw marks of real seriousness. His former disappointments made him rejoice over them with trembling, while he was led to warn them with much earnestness, lest the warmth of their first religious feeling should pass away without producing a lasting effect on their lives and conduct. Nor did he forget to present them in prayer before the great Shepherd of the sheep, of whom he well knew that it was not his will that one of these little ones should perish.

Perhaps, among those of whom he thought at all hopefully, there was not one who stood more in need of these warnings than Hannah Mason. She was a quiet thoughtful girl, and, as her mother had said, very fond of reading her bible; but she had done so without applying its sacred truths to her heart. Sometimes she would shed tears when listening to an impressive sermon, or when her teacher spoke to her class with more than usual seriousness; but it always ended here; and, however much she felt at the time, her heart remained as full of the world, and her tempers as unsubdued, as ever.

Hannah thought very much about the confirmation; and she had a great deal of right feeling on the subject. She was sincerely desirous of serving God; but she was like a great many others, both old and young, who do not quite understand what the service of God requires. She thought religion a very serious thing, and that she should think a great deal and feel a great deal about it, particularly on Sundays; but then it was, according to her notions, something quite distinct from the concerns of daily life. She had no idea that the love of God should be a principle in her heart, influencing all her actions and tempers, and leading her to perform all her everyday duties" as unto the Lord." Still, as I said before, she had a real desire to serve God, such as

only springs from the working of the Holy Spirit; and her regular attendance on Mr. Gray's instructions was made the means of strengthening and deepening this desire in her soul.

One evening Hannah Mason came home from the school-room, more than usually impressed with what she had heard; and as she walked along she thought to herself she never could feel dif ferently from what she then did, and that the things of eternity would always be uppermost in her mind. She came in, and sat down to work with her sister; and her mother, who had been out for a day's washing, came home about a quarter of an hour after.

"Do you call these things clean, Hannah?" said her mother rather hastily, taking up some things which her daughter had been washing in the morning.

"I don't know, mother: I did them as well as I could."

under tone.

"But you know, Hannah," said her sister Betsey, "you said you'd forgotten them till you'd hardly time to do them in."

"I suppose you mean to tell mother so," she replied sulkily.

"By-and-bye Mrs. Mason came to the table where the girls were sitting, and sat down to some work.

"What, arn't these stockings of William's done? Well, now, that is tiresome of you, Han nah; you know I want to send them to him early to-morrow morning."

"How could I, mother? I had to mend my frock, and then I went to the school-room at seven o'clock."

"Your frock wouldn't have taken you five minutes. You're so terribly slow, Hannah. You'l never got on in service if you don't move quicker."

Hannah was very slow; but she could not bear to be told so; and this observation of her mother made her more cross than ever, so that she hardly spoke another word the whole evening. Whe would have thought that not an hour before bet mind had been full of holy and happy thoughts, when she could give way to such undutiful and improper feelings towards her mother?

Mrs. Mason was very sorry to see her daughter show such temper, and she was vexed with herself for having spoken rather hastily; but such little quarrels had often happened, and she would not have thought much of it, if Hannah had not been going away from home so soon. Hannah herself did not feel she had been wrong till she got up the next morning, and her fit of ill-temper was over; and then it was more that she was sorry for having vexed her mother than that she felt she had sinned against God.

Time passed on, and the day of the confirmation was now drawing near. In the course of the week before, Mr. Gray examined each of the young people separately, in order to ascertain, as far as it was possible for him to do so, whether they were duly

prepared. There were some few who, notwithstanding the instructions they had received, seemed so careless and ignorant that he felt he could not admit them as candidates. There were many more again, who thoroughly understood what they were about to undertake, and professed a desire to serve God, in whom their watchful pastor saw so much self-confidence and so little seriousness of mind, that when he gave them their tickets it was with & very solemn warning-that, if they mocked God by withholding their hearts when they outwardly gave themselves to his service, the sin would rest on their own heads.

But, on the other hand, there were some, of whom he had a good hope that they were seeking the Lord in truth and earnestness, and that, when they presented themselves before the bishop to renew their baptismal vows, it would be in sincerity of heart and in true devotedness of spirit, even though they might have much to learn of the nature of the service to which they pledged themelves, and of their inability of themselves to act p to its requirements.

Among the latter number was Michael Overton. He bad diligently attended Mr. Gray's confirmation lectures with an earnest desire for instruction; and, now that he gave his whole mind to it, he found religion a very different thing from what he used to think it. He had never been so really happy before; and he wondered he could ever have been so foolish as to think that being regious would make him dull and miserable. He ould now feel thankful that he had not been sufred to find happiness while living in forgetfulness f God, and had thus been led to him who alone could make him truly happy.

It may easily be supposed that Michael now ked much better to be with Henry Willis than in his old companion George Hills, who, though he was going to be confirmed, was as thoughtless ever, and had no right feeling of the importance of the subject.

Henry was a very useful friend to him; for, althgh he was not so quick and clever as Michael, be much more advanced in the Christian life, and had learned much more of his own heart, and of the trials and difficulties which the faithful Servant of God has to meet with in his course. He was learning too, by degrees, more and more of the fulness that is in Christ Jesus, and thus was becoming grounded and settled in the faith. Many pleasant talk did the young friends have together en going to and from the evening lectures, eping one another to remember what Mr. Gray bad said, and talking of the happiness they might expect in the service of God. And, when at length the day of the confirmation arrived, and they openly pledged themselves to be the faithful Soldiers and servants of Christ, they did so with all purpose of heart, rejoicing that they had been enabled in the days of their youth to remember nd their Creator, and to choose him for their portion.

Nor was Hannah Mason less sincere in the renewal of her baptismal promise. She was quite vercome at the time, and felt as if she would then have gladly laid down her life for her Saviour; nor can we doubt that, when the heart is thus

offered in sincerity, it is mercifully accepted for the Redeemer's sake, though there may be much ignorance and imperfection mingled with the offering. And Hannah was as yet quite ignorant of the full nature of those vows which she was taking on herself; and it was not till long after that she learned that true piety consists in something more than feeling, and that God is to be served in the daily duties of life, by a patient warfare against temptation without, and a sinful heart within.

"Dear Grace," said Michael on the evening of that eventful day which he was permitted to spend with his family, do you remember our once talking about your being confirmed, when you found out I was'n't happy? I'm very glad we had that talk it made me wish, more than anything ever did, to become religious."

"What was it made you wish it so much then, Mike?"

"Why, because you told me all about your not being happy once, and how it was only religion made you so, and it was when you were quite young. Now, you know when I heard Mr. Gray preach abo it, I used to think that he was old and grave, and didn't understand boys being fond of play and nonsense, and all that; but I know you did, so it made all the difference."

"Yet I didn't think you thought much about it afterwards."

"Just afterwards I did, a great deal, Grace: to be sure it got put out of my head by being with George Hills, and going to the hall; but then those thoughts all came back again; and, when Mr. Gray preached about confirmation, and told us the only way to be happy was to love and serve God, I seemed to believe it all the more for your having found it so."

"I am very thankful then that God put it into our hearts to have that talk, and I trust he will give you grace to go on in the way in which I hope you've begun. You must always remember, Mike, you've made the beginning to-day of a new life."

"Yes, Grace; and that's just what the bishop said when he spoke to us after the confirmation: he said we weren't to think it was a thing that was over and done: it was the taking up of the station of children of God and heirs of the kingdom of heaven, and that we should strive every day to become more and more like God, and more and more fit for heaven, and that we should often think about that day, and see if we were keeping our promises."

don't always feel so happy as you do now." "And you must not be surprised, Mike, if you

"Why not, Grace?" said Michael, rather surprised: "I thought that if we served God we were sure to be happy."

"Because," she replied, "you'll get to find a great deal in your heart that will often make you sad, and you'll meet with trials and temptations that will cause you trouble and sorrow. I don't want to dishearten you: only sometimes we're disappointed because our happy feelings leave us. Now, we oughtn't to expect they should always

stay it wouldn't be right for us. But, if we keep close to Jesus, and trust in him, we shall be sure to have as much happiness as is good for us, and we shall be safe too."

"Then do you think people are most happy just at first?"

"I think some are: God does not teach us all in the same way, and he does not teach us everything at once; and it's best for us to leave it to him, and only take care that we are willing to learn what he does teach us, and to learn it in his way; and I'm sure, if you are enabled to do this, you'll be thankful all your life long that you chose his service when you were young; for then his promise is, he will guide you by his counsel here, and afterward receive you to glory.""

"And, as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it."-MATT. xxvi. 26, 27.

THIS is that bread that came down from heaven. Every one that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, hath everlasting life. And this blessed truth is bodily taught at the Lord's table, when the minister, giving bread to the communicant, says, "Feed on him in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving" As Jesus said, "He that eateth me," with faith's appetite and love's hunger, shall live by me." This is the true original Christmas cheer; and angels' food it is.

But you may be invited to the tables of men, and dainties of the world may be set before you If so, remember, "all things are lawful for you" (1 Cor. vi. 12); but " you must not be brought

"Meats

under the power of any." Remember, for the body, and the body for meats; but God shall destroy both it and them": the worms are waiting for both. Remember, "the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Therefore, "whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." And to do this, remember, the best seasoning of your meat is the word of God, and prayer (1 Tim. iv. 4-6). Now, do any of our communion sit down to meals without asking a blessing? Do any of you eat and drink of the Lord's gifts, and forget the Giver? Why, even the poor dog wags his tail for gratitude when you feed him; and the little bird of the air sings fraises with all its heart, even for a few worms. Thus God rebukes your prayerless meal by the unbidden thankfulness of his smallest creatures; and what wonder some of you have sickness, crosses, quarrels, and intoxica

tion at your table? "The voice of joy and health is in the dwellings of the righteous." Does any one conceive of health and happiness, by meats and company at table, while no blessing is on his bread, and he gives no thanks? Are we, then, more free to use bread than Jesus was? He gave thanks for bread: he was known by his habit of giving thanks with his bread. What an argument is it of unbelief and ingratitude that any one of you eats without prayer, and drinks without praise! Your conscience reproves your error. But it is not mine to judge you, but to exhort and provoke you, rather, to follow Christ in this thing, namely, by the sanctifying all meats and all meals by "the word of God and prayer"; and, to that end, accept, I pray you, a handful of holy seasoning for your morning meal, and for dinner, and for the last meal; and with it an invitation to mingle the word with your bread, that a fall blessing may be given you and yours with it. SELECT WORDS OF GOD, SUITABLE FOR MEDITATION, PRAYER, OR PRAISE, BEFORE AND AFTER

The gracious habit of looking up to God before eating and drinking will realize his presence to your souls, and become an excellent and always ready piece of armour against any temptation to murmur over meals, or indulge your appetite to meals; for, although it is the smallest as to eating, excess. The Lord's supper is the chief of all our to a gracious soul it is the largest as to blessing, and it should be the pattern of all our meals in this point of asking the blessing we hope to receive. Did Jesus, when he took bread, bless it? let us follow him. Study to have a sanctified use of your creature comforts: pray before them all: God gives all, in all confess

him.

say grace" at meals;

"The just shall live by faith." When God is seen and sought in all your daily actions, when his word and prayer are on all your daily bread, then do you live by faith, and will find God's creatures doubly sweet when received" faith with thanksgiving."

G. E. S.

by

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