North Carolina Newspapers

THE FLOWERS COLLECTION mm . s HOLY 3. & 1 I I I FUBLISIIED WEEKLY BY A COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA CO FERENCE, M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH. RUFUS T. HEFLIN, Editor. Vol. Xo. ro. RAr.KUUI, THURSDAY DKCESSBEBiO, 185T. H 50 a Year, in Advance (Driflillfll. Fur the X. C. Christian Advueare. The little Iron Wheel. Xl'MBKR II. Rev. R. T. Heflix: In pursuing the subject of my form- er No., I purpose to extend somewhat my remarks with regard to lslimael and his descendants. IsiIMAEL himself did not enjoy, in the divine economy, was a great difference, as well as a vast equal and free' rights with Isaac variety, in the governments of the na The latter was selected by God himself, tions of the earth. God has always to stand, in a secondary sense, as the ; shown in his Providence, that he has t- .i c .i f - t.i"i . i a. - ii.: 3i - . . , . -i xauier oi uie iaumui : aim to uiiseim, the covenant that had been made with Abraham, was substantially renewed with him. See Gen. xvii. 1-14, 18 21 ; xxvi. 1-4. In this transaction, God denied to Ishmael ' equal rights' with Isaac. Isaac was selected by God as the great progenitor of Israel, and in this respect, was distinguished, not only from Ishmael himself, but also from all others. Now the nature of the government as established by God himself with regard to Ishmael, and afterwards withjpart of God with the governments of! ins i.itirc ouiid, unuviwuaiu clearly, that there was not established among them that ' equality and social freedom of this great brotherhood of the human race,' that Dr. Bascom and J. R. Graves contend for in this ' De claration of Christian liights.' It should here be borne in mind, that Ishmael and the Ishmaelits had not a government established among them upon Democratic principles, but wholly upon the score of Monarehial govern ments ; and of this there can be no doubt, while the records of Moses are acknowledged as good authority. The Tribial character of the governments founded in the families of Ishmael,shows principles of this article cannot be demonstratably, that in their organiza- ! maintained against these higher and tion, the family government was the i over-riding principles of Divine Provi prevailing principle : it could not there- i dence. It follows, therefore, that Dr. fore, be of an .Elective, bat rather An- j Bascom's views on Church Polity a3 tocratic character. No one will pre- contained in his famous ' Declaration sume to affirm, that such was the 'equal- J of Christian Rights,' fall to the ground ity and social freedom' in these in-; under the withering power of the facts stances, as would authorize the children ! herein set forth : consequently, the to choose from among them delegates, j to whom belonged the right of forming constitutional laws, as the great and fundamental law of the family. These families were governed by the sole au thority of the Father of the family, as was customary among almost all classes of that age. This is evidently the view which Moses had revealed to him upon this point. See Gen. xviii. 19. This characteristic with regard to govern mental affairs in these times, shows clearly that parental authority was , chiefly, if not altogether, the ground-; work of the government of the Tribes : ; and this goes very far to demonstrate j misrepresentations, ever to do much that the nature of government then, was j harm to Methodism, where the truths rather of an arbitrary character, and j of Methodism are examined into by in was grounded upon the will of the telligent and honest minds. Prince of the Tribe. There certainly is no evidence in the divine records, that any of those Tribial governments originated in, or were constituted by the exercise of the ' free, equal and social' rights of the families, and after wards the Tribes. Ishmael, then, and the Ishmaelites never did enjoy the ' equality and social freedom' of which the first article of Dr. Bascom's ' Declaration of Christian Rights' contemplates. This being de monstrated, it follows conclusively, that ' the proper equality and social freedom of the great brotherhood of una 1IUUU K)L I the human race, m view oi the gifts and grants of the Creator,' cannot be j inferred from all his dispensations to men.' Here are three instances which come in direct conflict with the princi ples, not only with this first article, but every one which follows. The founda tion being removed, the whole super structure built thereon, must necessari ly topple to the ground. 3. The case of Jacob and Esau, is still stronger than the preceding. These brothers were both in the line of Abraham's seed, to whom the promise in the covenant, in Gen. xvii. was made. Here the distinction is marked and clear. These twin-brothers were both interested in, and were enfranchised by liiu iiuiau.HiiiL uuvcuaui, nun uuium rights and privileges ; but they did not enjoy the same, much less an ' equality and social freedom' with respect to these. Jacob was loved : Esau was hated. The former chosen as the pro genitor of Israel, while the latter was reprobated from such a privilege. And what was true with regard to them personally, has been equally so with respect to. their posterity. Esau and his descendants never enjoyed the high distinction among the nations of the earth ; nor did they ever possess 'equal social freedom,' which Jacob and his posterity enjoyed. The former, after lingering on the shore of time, amidst a variety of reverses of fortune, have passed away, so that their existence as a nation is no more : while the latter are still secure in their peculiar posi tion, amidst the population of the world. These are liviny witnesses, standing out in bold relief before the ' human race,' demonstrating the erroneousness of the assumptions of the first article. The views here merely glanced at, might be carried out to greater length, and embrace in their wide reach, all the different nations of mankind, which have been more or less connected with J the Jewish people, from the remotest periods of antiquity. I In this regard wc may adopt the sentiment and lan guage of Daniel, where he affirms that the ' Most High ruletli in the kingdom of men, and giveth it j to whomsoever I he will.' Dan. iv. 25 and 32. iVp lf.irn frnm t.hp historv of this Case. that the ' Most Iliali had much, very much, to do with the peculiar ar rangements of the different kingdoms nf mn nnd vpf. we find that there irnuch to do with regard to the onrani- j nation, modification, and abrogation of National as well Ecclesiastical govern ments. As a people, we frankks, knowledge this with regard to A 42SV can institutions ; and what we are so fond of claiming in behalf of our pecu liar institutions, is equally so with re lation to other, and older nations than ours. Conceding then this great principle, and this must be done, or else we must deny any connexional influence on the j mis wonu, k ionows conclusively, mat ! the entire economy of Divine Provi- dence stands opposed to the principles ot this first article oi ' Declaration ot Christian Rights,' and also every other in this category. Now, inasmuch as this article is evidently the basis upon which the entire superstructure is foun ded, it follows as a natural consequence, that as the entire series of articles of this ' Declaration' rest upon this one ; so these must necessarily be entirely neutralized in their principles, by the demolition of this one. The foregoing sketch of the argument, with the facts ' for proof, shows demonstrably that the entire structure of J. R. Graves' 'Notes of Explanation and Application,' fall with the demolition of these. There is, there can be no fighting against Providence, that can succeed ; and J. R. Graves will find, that the batteries erecieu against iuetnoaism m nis -tfi Iron Wheel' and Little Iron Wheel,' will be equally abortive. Methodism has too many marks of Divine Provi dence impressed upon her character, i ever to quail before the missiles that can be hurled against her from these armonries of his There is too great a tissue of false positions, and bare-faced Another view will be given in my next. Yours, affectionately. PETER DOUB. Raleigh, Nov. 30, 1847. A Thanksgiving Story. BY MARY IRVING. " How a for Thanksgiving Day," , . j c . 1J 1 . . f- , . .J . mi !nJ m hlS n'Sht S Farmer Tal- unlock two bright blue eyes, that sleep had sealed pretty fairly, and cut quite a ludicrous figure with his Btentorian " Howa !" " Bravo, Bobby ! Brav-o-o!" laugh ed the grandfather from his chimney corner. " Try it again, Bobby ; you'll keep up the honor of the family. Come here, sir !" Bobby's eye3 were fairly open by this time he had found his mother, and took refuge in the folds of her check dress, sucking his thumb in quiet thankfulness. Mamma looked around !from the gridiron sh j jnfr wjtjj a rrQniQ e was superintend- gentle smile. That smile seemed rather sad, methinks, for the scene and the day ; but we will know more of her. Thanksgiving was always a joyous time at Grandfather Talbot's ; not merely for its turkeys, pudding and pies though (softly be it spoken) Grandmamma Talbot and her daugh ters did excel all other grandmammas and aunties at a roaster in the esti mation of the grand-children, large and small. But farmer Talbot and his "gude wife" were staunch old Puritans two of that good old stock with which our blessed New England shores were planted. This stock has been grafted with many other foreign shoots since but it is still the nation's prosperity. Foes to exuberance of untamed spirits they were indeed and often too prone to stretch every mind to their own stat ure of opinion and feeling. But they were a cheerful race ! The happiest, yes the merriest Thanksgiving Day that brightened my young life was spent be neath the roof of a staunch Puritan old lady, one of the few that linger, like somber evergreens in autumn, among the more gay and careless of this generation. Farmer Talbot kept Thanksgiving Day religiously as well as cheerily. Good old patriarch ! He might be for given the pride with which he glanced on his seven children, with all their lit tle ones around him, and then lifted up his hand to bless Heaven in their be half. But for three years, ever since the little Bobby had been a sunbeam to bless the good old man's hearth, there had been a shadow, too, upon it a gentle shadow, but a sad one. -That shadow was the graceful mother of the child the favorite daughter of the family. Adelaide Talbot was beautiful and lovely in her youth, dearly loved by all, but best by her own fireside circle. She was, indeed, the richest gem in that circle. When the long lashes (3vere lilted irom her ever-changing cheek, you could wok i..to tu? very&uUi of the high-minded, sanny-hearted girl. Six years ago, she had stood in her father's low parlor on Thanksgiving eve she had stood between that fath er and another to whose face she had lifted her soul-speaking eyes, his bride of an hour. And as the good mother's raspberry wine, carefully bottled for the occasion, went round, she dreamed not that in that cup lurked a demon that should overthrow the altar just erected. Caleb Reynolds was now a drunkard and a deserter from hi3 home. He had enlisted, it was thought, in an hour of intoxication but his wife was left to learn it from other lips. He went with out one word of farewell, to the plains of Mexico and never since had she heard of him. Poor Adelaide carried her crushed heart back to her father's house, longing only to lay it in the grave. Have you ever seen a tree in your Western forests, blighted by "gir dling," as the woodmen call it cut off from its connection with the life-giving earth, and then left to wither for years? I never pass such a tree without think ing of the slow death of the heart to which some writer has compared it. It was thus that Adelaide stood among the other plants of her father's nurture. Have you ever seen from such a gird led tree, a young shoot spring out, and striking down its fibres form a feeble connection with the bark below, and sustained a sure though sickly life in the tree ? It was thus that little Rob ert came, to bind a few broken fibres trom her early hopes and dreams on earth. But we are forgetting our Thanks giving none of the Aunties forgot it, however or the cousins, and by the time farmer Talbot's 'big sleigh' had emptied twice upon the old saltsprink led steps, all were brought home from church, and all were there. All, except two unaccountable strag . glers, "the boys," as two striplings nearly six feet high continued to be called, who were cultivating the scien ces ina college not many miles away. And why were they not there ? So questioned every one, and grandraama did not answer only wiped her spec tacles every few minutes on her apron and peered out of her southwest win. dow. Meantime the new comers were all clustered in the sitting room, making merry use of the interlude between ser vice and dinner. There was Robert, the eldest son, with his romping family and anxious looking wife. There was Charlotte no, nobody knew her by that name Lottie, blooming in her prime, and managing her little ones to a charm. There was Philip, 'the old Bachelor,' though by no means a crus ty one. Next to him sat a pale, still looking cousin from the nearest facto ry village. Last, but not least, though in truth she was a little one was the old school ma'am the youngest of her father s flock, the laughing, fun-loving Susie. She was not beautiful,-as Ad die had been, but there was such a world of good nature in her low, broad forehead and dimpling cheeks, that you loved her at first sight. I will not attempt her portrait, for I do not know that she ever sat long enough to have it taken, except in church. This day she was here, and everywhere, among the children, kissing one, romping with another, and then tossing up Robert's baby, to the terror of its mother and the delight of all others. "You must let me go and helpgrand ma take up the turkey, indeed you must,' cried Susan, laughing, as she pushed through the doorway, followed by the whole scampering troop. One had sprung from the top of the arm chair to her shoulders, and sat crowing like a parrot on his perch. As she advanced toward the kitchen, the outer door was thrown suddenly open, and "A merry thanksgiving to you! " burst from the lip3 of the intruders, amid the renewed shouts of a boisterous brood. "Bless me, where did you come from ?" cried the mother, dropping her ladle into the coals in her surprise. "Why, brothers, we never heard your sleigh bells," exclaimed Susan, throwing off her encumbrance and hear tily welcoming the young collegians. "I dare say not," said Edward, as he knocked the snow from his boots. "We chartered other sort of vehicles, hev, Will ?" ''The fact is," exclaimed Will, "that we started with the sunrise thi3 morn ing, but met with a provoking break by the way. So not to be cheated out of our ihanksgivine'. we footed it through the drifts. We've lost Parton Wood's sermon, but we're in time for mother's dinner, and I sure you a walk of eight miles has en us a pair of appetites." as-giv- So they sat down to dinner at last, all the loving and merry ones. Grand father hushed them for a moment, while he lifted his bronzed hands over the huge platter, and invoked bountiful Heaven, in a lengthy but fervent 'bless ing.' Then followed (he usual chatter ing, and, but I need not describe it all ; you see it a3 well as I do. The "wish bone," (a great prize,) fell to the share of the shyest one, little blue-eyed NeHy, who carefully wrap ped it in heruvhit apron as a sacred treasure, .i v,Coz,-uSy I break with you?" scream ed her cousin Harry, from the other end of the table. "No ; I am goi:.g to break " "With whom I thould like to know!" "With aunt Su;ie, then," said the little dove, nestlin? timidly to her side. "Aunt Susie, la, ha? aunt Susie would look finelv breaking a wish- bone." "And why not, master Harry !" said Susan merrily. 'T assure you I have broken more than one wish-bone at thi3 very table." "And did your wishes ever come to pass did they ever aunt Susan !" cried three or four voices at once. "Yes, did they ever, aunt Susie ?" chimmed in Edward, casting up from his plate a sidelong demure glance that brought blushes and dimples to her cheeks. Susie had some quiet little flirtations even under her father's argus eye. Suddenly her face grew serious. She caught Adalaide's expression of coun tenance, as 'the la;ter quietly rose to the table, and made some excuse for withdrawing. The wish-bone was broken to a crarm snapping exactly in the middle, to the infinite amusement of the juve niles, who had been making bet3 on tho result. The "babies" went to sleep at the right hour precisely, and were packed in their snug cradles with blan kets and pillows. The elders of the juvenile company were esconced in a corner to play "button ; and the brothers and sisters clustered in quiet little knots. William and Susan sat by the window not lovsentiinentalize over the moonlight that cvme flickering thro' the fleecy clouds, bit to gather up the threads of confidenial tete-a-tetes to chat of college scrajfts, and, save the mark school ma'am 3 rogueries. Grandmamma hal her knitting, of course bless the dtsr old fingers that had kept so many fecf warm; and Susie, the modern substitutj, acrotchettpurse to net. j "William," said Susie, lowei'ing her voice at a pause in the conversation, and glancing up furtively, 'what do you think of Addie, to-day ?" William stole a glance around. "Much as usual,is she not, poor thing?" "See how she sits there with her fin gers moving through Bobby's curls,and her eyes fixed on vacancy." "lhis was her wedding-night, you know." "I tell you, Willie, that Addie loves Reynolds with her whole heart yet, as truly as she ever did Cn thet evening. She has never spoken his name even to me, since the day her father forbade it ever to be mentioned in his presence, but there is something terrible in this statue like grief of hers." A sharp quick bark under the win dow arrested the conversation. " Be quiet, Growler; old fellow, what are you about ?" shouted William, and l the dog was still. Dear silent Adtlaide now brought around the tray of iuts and apples,and every one tried to make her smile as he took a share, but her smile was as faint as moonlight cn an icy lake. Harry and Neliy had called aunt Susie over to the corner to name their apples, and all were quite silent for a few moments. The quick bark came again from the dog, followed by a low protracted groan. Edward jumped to investigate matters, but before he could reach the door it was opened, slowly but firmly, and a tall, pale figure stepped within it, and stood silently. The sudden paralysis of surprise bound every voice. A mo ment more, and with a faint, desperate cry, Adelaide dropped her boy from her lap, and sprang across the room to -her husband. As his arms closed around her, and her head sank like a lily on his shoul der, farmer Talbot started as if stung by a bitter memory. His arm raised and his w-hite locks floated back "Father !" It was Susie's voice choked with burning agony as she sprang to catch the hand of the old man. The uplifted hand fell, and all was hushed for one long moment. "Come you as a reformed man, Ca leb Reynolds ?" and farmer Talbot's tone was firm, though quiet. "I do by the help of God,my father," the stranger solemnly answered. Farmer Talbot threw the glare of the candle on his features. Caleb Reynolds never spoke like that, and the old man modulated each word if to steady his trembling voice. down signed the temper' ance pledge : "I have signed it, and I have kept it for a year." "Then my son," the old man's hand was extended,but his voice was choked. He bowed himself down and wept like a child. But the arms hung loosely around Caleb Reynold's neck: the surprise had been too sudden, and gentle Addie had tainted. Not till tl.ev had won back the life-tide to her cheek, and seen her again in the arms of her husband.turn ing to him the soul-full earnestness,that her early years had won not till then did the others approach to welcome, with tearful embraces, their long-lost brother. "And is this our boy, Addie, whom I never saw," murmured Caleb, press ing his lips to the little round fore- head ot the sleeper. She only replied "And have you by her tears. j non and Mis3 Reed, which at times No question further was asked; but!gav him great uneasiness, he was led Caleb soon snoke of his wandftj intrq. i to suspect that the doctrine, though it Wounded in battle, and brought to the point of death, he had listened to the angel of Reflection. But with reflection and good resolutions came also remorse Youth and inexperience exposed er and despair. Who should win back to en Franklin to be led astray by infidel him the forfeited affections of his de- speculations ; but age and observation sorted wifa ? It wa3 then that the les son learned on his mother's knee came beaming up through the gloom of years squandered in dissipation. He went to the Fountain of peace and drank of the "living waters." Having fixed and fin ished his term of probation, he sought again his home. "I knew," said he, "you would be all assembled here to night ; and I linger ed, shivered, long before I could man ray heart to come in among you." "Brother," exclaimed more voices than one. The clock in the corner struck nine it was the hour of prayer. Farmer Talbot laid hi3 hand on the family Bi ble, and wiped his glasses. "Come, my children, let us give thanks to. night, for this my son was dead, and is alive again was lost and is found." Give God His Day. Reader, do not be a robber. lie that steals breaks God's eighth com mandment. Above all, do not rob God. Sunday is Goa's property. Give Crod his dan. I do entreat you, for your soul's sake, not to profane the Sabbath, but to keep it holy. Do not buy and sell, or idle your time on Sunday. Let nt the ex ample of all around you, nor the invi tation of companions let none of these things move you to depart from this settled rule : that God's day shall be given to God. The Sabbath is one of the greatest blessings which God has given to man. Do not make a bad use of this blessing. He that cannot give God his Sunday is unfit for heaven. Heaven is an eter nal Sunday. Oh, while you live, give (Jod his day. Once give over caring for the Sab bath and in the end you will give over caring for your soul. The steps which lead to this conclusion are easy and regular. Begin with not honoring God's day, and you will soon not honor God's house ; cease to honor God s house, and you will soon cease to honor God's book ; cease to honor God's book, and by-and-by you will give God no honor at all. Let a man lay the foundation of having no Sabbath, and I am never surprise ! if he finishes with the topstone of having no God. It is a remarkable saying of Judge Hale, ' Of all the per sons who were convicted ot capital crimes, while he was upon the bench, he found only a few who would not con fess, on inquiry, that they bf-gan then cai-eer of wickedness by a neglect of the Sabbath.' Reader, resolve, by God's help, that you will always remember the babbath day to keep it holy. Honor it by a regular attendance at some place where the gospel is preached. Settle down under a faithful ministry, and once settled let your place in church never be empty. Give God his day. The Talebearer. The hated of all honest people, and the abhorred of Heaven, the 'tale bearer,' peddles out his strife-producing waves from door to door. In the ser- vo nf the devil, he employs himself day and night, and reaps his reward in witnessing the strife, quarreling, dis cord and neighborhood wrangling, which he produces. Verily, it is a sor ry work ; and the pay is such as an honest heart can but loathe. It is marvelous how adroitly the tale bearer manages his case, so as to ac complish the greater amount of mis chief. His habits are, 'Have you heard ? -What do you think ?' 'Don't . l 1 0 mi i-J 4-! nC kir. rti.a VOU tnmK : xne avueui-iuu ui ma uua- tomer3 is thus oDtamea ; ana, men, such tales as he pours into the ear that will listen ! He provokes a word, that ho can use as a bait to others, and off he goes to hand over what he has gath ered to those concerned He tells much a3 a secret which he hopes to hear talked of a great deal ; is the pre tended friend of each that will listen ; true friend to none ; Satan's agent; and a curse to any people. Cast him out. Herald of Truth, Ton't Unchain tho Tiger- When an infidel production was sub mittedprobably by Paine to Benja min Franklin, in manuscript, he return ed it to the author with a letter, from which" the following is extracted: 'I would advise you not to attempt chaining the tiger, but to burn this piece before it is seen by any other per I son' If men are so wicked with reli- gion. what would thev be tcithout it?' The doctor was an advocate for infi delity, lie informs us that he was in his early youth 'a perfect Deist;' that his arguments had perverted some other young persons, particularly Collins and Ralph. But in the sequel, when he recollected that they had both treated hira exceedingly ill, without the small est remorse ; whea lie considered the behaviour of Keith, another frci think- er, and his own conduct towards ve? ! might be true, was not very useful. j k-ey and Mielke 3 Life of Franklin, I PP- 76, 77. - ,' convinced him, first, that they were un- ! profitable, and then, that their propa nrntinn wnuld bo lik t.hrt imfbaininrr a tiger in a populous city. 'Think,' said he to Paine, in a letter to which allusion has been made, 'how many inconsiderate and inexperienced youth of both sexes there are, who have need or the motives ot religion to re strain them from vice, to support their virtue and retain them in the practice of it till it becomes habiUal. He traced hi3 own aberrations from the path of virtue, and the vice3 of the 'young persons' whom his 'arguments had perverted,' and to the absence of religious restraints : and when he saw the youth of his beloved country in danger from the same cause, he bore his solemn testimony against the rash experiment, and entreated his reckless friend to burn the manuscript before it should be seen by another ldividual. Reader, if such a man as Faanklin, after trying infidelity himself, and care fully noticing its ertects upon others, deprecated it as tho bane of personal purity, and social order and happiness, are you willing to give it currency in our great republic ? Infidelity, if it prevails in this coun try, must be substituted for Christianity for the religion of the Bible. This religion, its enemies themselves confess, is, in its moral code, holy and just,and good. In its doctrine it is dignified and glorious, in its tendency it is pure and peaceable, gentle and easy to be en treated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypoc risy. The celebrated Montesquien re marks : 'The Christian religion, which ordains that men should love each oth er, would without doubt have every na tion blest with the best political and civil laws ; because these, next to reli gion, are the greatest good that m,en can give and receive. Spirit of the Laws. Lond. edit. vol. 1. v. 72. From Zion's Herald. 'No Nirht There." No night in heaven ! bright mellow day Stars all refulgent, fled away Each pain and slightest moan. No sad eclipse within that land, Shines ever its pure singing band, Rings each symphonious tone. , Day evermore ! and in the light Fair angel harppers dazzling bright Range every gold-paved street. The glory of the King gives noon, Where earth's lost lillies sweetly bloom, To crown the Lamb once slain. Fair, far-off clime, each nortal pearled Proclaims the Christian's banners furled, Bespeaks a resting soul ; Displays a victor's diadem For all the ransomed sons of men, Tells of a nightless goal. No eye can pierce each guarded door, Those spirit labyrinths explore, Or view the glassy plain. Earth only knows such scenes are there, Can offer but the wishful prayer, To join the ransomed train. Providence, May 8th, 1857. The Mother's Appeal. In the Knickerbocker, for January, we find the following touching bit of human nature : In a metropolitan criminal court, eight years ago, a poor wowan whose to the bov was sent tor a long term prison, for some not well proved crime, said : 'Won t your honor give him a shorter term ? He is a good boy to me, your honor he always wa3. I've just made him some nice clothes, your J. i i t: i i.:r..i honor, wnicn nt mm ueautuui, auu she looked as she said this, as only a mother can look at her boy :) 'and if you give him a long time to stay in prison, the clothes won't fit him when he comes out tor he s a growing ooy. Poor mother ! she had saved much (for her) from her scant earnings to clothe her boy 'like the neighbor s children. He melted, lhe boy wept repented was forgiven. And he is now one of the most enterprising and honorable young merchants in our city. Every word ot this is true, ana Known to oe so by many persons. L s. It is told me I muit die. RicnAUD Lahghorne, a lawyer, was un. justly condemned and put to deatli ns :i trai tor in tho rcin of Charles II. Just before his execution be wrote the following exquis ite and remarkable poem. In the lanuago of the Quarterly Review, " A poem it must bo called, though it is not in verte. Perhaps there is not in this or any other languno a poem which appears to have (lowed so entire ly from the heart." It is told me I must die ; O, happy news ! Be glad O my soul, And rejoice in Jcsun, tho Saviour ! If be intended thy perdition, Would be have laid down his life for tlire 1 Would be have called thee with so much love, And illuminated thee with the light of tho Spirit t Would be have given thee his cross. And given thee shoulders to bear it with pa tience ? It is told me I must die 0, happy news 1 Come on, my dearest soul ! Rchold, thy Jesus calls thud Iliprayed for thee upon his crns : There There lie extended his arms to receive theo: lie bowed down his heal to r cciro thee ; There he opened his heart to give thre en trance ; There he gave up his life to purchase life fir thee. It is told me I must die: 0, what happiness ! I am ging To the place of my rest ; To the land of the living ; To the haven of security ; To the kingdom of peace ; To the palace of my God ; To the nuptials of the Lamb ; To sit at the table of my King ; To feed on the broad of Angels ; To see what no eye hath seen ; To hear what no ear hath heard ; To enjoy what tho heart of man cannot cora prcheud. O, my Father! O, thou best of Fathers ! Have pity on the most wretched of all thy children ! I was lost, but by thy mercy found ; I was dead, but by thy grace am now raisod again ; I was gone astray after vanity, But I am now ready to appear befero thee. O, my father ! Como now, in mercy, and receive thy child 1 Give him thy kiss of peace ; Remit unto him all his sins ; Clothe him with thy nuptial robe : Permit him to have a place at thy fnt ; And forgive all those who are goilty of his death. Negative Religion. A cotemporary journalist describes a large class of professors, made up of those who have received a religious ed ucation, have been trained up to an outward conformity to the prcccpt3 of the gospel, who abstain from the open follies and corruptions of the world, but remain quite satisfied with a nega tive religion. They do not defraud their neighbor. They do not neglect the poor and needy. They do not run a round of gyety and folly. They are not drunkards, They are not swearers. They do not bring up their children without 3omo regard to religion. They do not cast off the ear of iod. BUT, They do not love him. They do not experience His love shed abroad in the heart. They do not enjoy the rital, heart felt religion. They do not give God their hearts. They do not delight themselves in Him. They do not esteem His Word more than their necessary food. They do not love the habitation of His house, and the place where hid honor dwelleth, though they attend it. They do not enjoy the peace of God which passeth all understanding. They are not the temples of the Holy Ghost. The Bible and French Villager. " That is the book they call the Bible," said a poor French viliager, " and of which I have heard so much then going to the middle of the street, she ealled all her neighbors with a loud voice, and they came running to her. "There is the bible," the exclaimed, holding the volume high above their heads. " In that is found all that God would tell ua about himself, about ourselves, about heaven, about eartb. Let us all read it ; let us all believe it, and wo shall be saved." "And what will the priest say ?" asked a woman. " If he says what God says ia this book, we will listen to him ; if he says otherwise, we will do without him." " Ameu," said all the wotnei ; an 1 thoy went to the colporteur to buy more copies. Golden Thoughts. Direct thy heart to the Holy Scrip tures, and there learn what thou wert, what thou art, and what thou shouldest be. If thou cornest with lowly heart to the Holy Scriptures, thou wilt as suredly find in thena that grace which raises the fallen, guides them to tho right way, and finally brings them t the bliss of the heavenly kingdom, Fulgentius. 237" If you know anything good of your neighbor make hasto and tell it ; but if you know something evil, bury it in a grav. 10 IlL'V- r to be opened.