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a memorandum fixed in our minds, which Scripture has long since presented, 'There is a time for every thing under the sun.'

"I hope I have learned much while accompanying Lucy. She lends a tract to each, which she exchanges weekly from house to house, and I believe there have been many encouraging proofs, that a blessing rests upon these little messengers. She goes so

cheerfully too, among her people, that they can scarcely fail to think religion lovely. Her sympathy in all their circumstances of joy and sorrow, seems so unaffected; she enquires so kindly into their wants, and as far as possible, relieves them; has always a spiritual word in season; and, when they consult her on temporal matters, some clever useful suggestion. Besides which, I do believe her influence is greatly increased by the tact with which she corrects their little mistakes, without making them feel inferiority or ignorance. Indeed, throughout aunt's family, behaviour to the poor is as much marked by delicacy, as behaviour to the rich. Politeness is not a dress-robe kept for state occasions, it is but the outward expression of that inward humility and love which they are taught to cultivate. Do unto others as you would they should do unto you;' be courteous, 'in honor preferring one another;' &c., are uncle's rules for producing polished manners: and then he says, 'if such manners are always worn, there is not the delay of putting them on for those seasons, when, by common consent, they are deemed appropriate.'

"How glad I shall be when to-morrow brings your promised letter. Do give me a full account of ail that is going on. Every thing headed by the word 'home' will be interesting. Above all, say how you are yourself in every particular; and do not let me remain absent, if I am in any way needful to your health or spirits. Six weeks, (though I know it will soon slip away,) seems a long time to be separated. All the warm hearts here, send warm love, but not such love, my own dear mother, as is felt by your grateful and affectionate child-MARIANNE."

S. S. S.

CHRISTIAN UNION.

I was reading the other morning at family worship a chapter that struck my mind as being very beautiful. I found that in the

lake of Galilee there were two vessels sweetly sleeping together. One of them went out fishing. They toiled hard all the night, and caught nothing; they then cast the net out on the other side of the ship, and there was a great draught of fishes, so that the net was like to be broken. Did the other vessel look on with jealousy and envy? No. But they came out to their assistance; and the consequence was, that they had a great haul of fishes, so that both vessels were filled with them. I do not suppose that those vessels had both the same name. The one may have been called The Joppa," and the other "The Damascus." They may have had different captains. I suppose they had. They may have been rigged differently, and have had different crews. But then, they sailed upon the same sea. They were met by the same storms, the same breezes of heaven filled the white and snowy sails, and when they had done their work, and the shades of evening came on, they returned and sweetly slept together in the same haven side by side. So here is the Episcopalian, here is the Scotchman, here is the Congregationalist. Now, let us, though bearing different names, remember that we belong to the same great family of God, and let us drink, especially in the present time, into the same spirit. Let us not look at each other's churches with a microscope, to find what is wrong, but let us get two miles into heaven, and we shall see but little difference between them all.-Rev. Josias Wilson-Christian Spectator.

PICK UP YOUR PINS.

"WHEN M. Laffitte came to Paris, in 1778, the extent of his ambition was to find a situation in a banking-house, and to attain this object he called on M. Perregaux, the rich Swiss banker, to whom he had a letter of recommendation. It is impossible for me to admit you into my establishment, at least for the present,' replied the banker; all my offices have their full compliment. If I require any one at a future time, I will see what can be done, but in the mean time I advise you to seek elsewhere, for I do not expect to have a vacancy for some time.'

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'With a disappointed heart the young aspirant for employment left the office; and while with a downcast look he traversed the court-yard, he stooped to pick up a pin which lay in his

path, and which he carefully stuck in the lappel of his coat. Little did he think that this trivial action was to decide his future fate, but so it was. From the window of his cabinet M. Perregaux had observed the action of the young man. The Swiss banker was one of those keen observers of human actions who estimated the value of circumstances apparently trifling in themselves, and which would pass unnoticed by the majority of mankind. He was delighted with the conduct of the young stranger. In this simple action he saw the revelation of a character: it was a guarantee of a love of order and economy, a certain pledge of all the qualities which should be possessed by a good financier. A young man who would pick up a pin, could not fail to make a good clerk, merit the confidence of his employer, and attain a high degree of prosperity.

:

"In the evening of the same day, M. Laffitte received the following note from M. Perregaux :- A place is made for you in my office, which you may take possession of to-morrow morning.' The anticipations of the banker were not deceived. The young Laffitte possessed every desirable quality, and even more than was at first expected. From simple clerk, he soon rose to be cashier, then partner, then head of the first banking-house in Paris, and afterwards, in rapid succession, a Deputy and President of the Council of Ministers, the highest point to which a citizen can aspire.

"On what a trifle does the fortune of a man sometimes depend. But for the simple incident of the pin, M. Laffitte would perhaps, never have entered into the house of M. Perregaux; another employer might not have opened to him so wide a field of action, and his talents and intelligence would not have led to such magnificent results."-Teacher's Magazine.

TEMPTATION.

To resist temptation, is not to yield even partially. The temptation may be to go astray a mile. Resistance is the refusal to turn aside one inch. He who advances a step from the right path, as really strays as he who goes the longest distance. The youth who being tempted to swear, uses words as and curses as he can employ, does not resist.

like to oaths

He who being

tempted to licentiousness, looks with a lustful eye, and talks with a filthy tongue, does not resist. He who being tempted to dishonesty, takes a mean advantage of another's ignorance or weakness, does not resist. Resistance is a face set as a flint, without a veering eye; a position, upright and firm, without a backward or sideward inclination; a course, onward and direct, without even the shadow of turning.—Rev. S. Martin.

RING-MONEY.

THE Saxons, long subsequent to their settlement in Britain, do not appear to have had any coinage of their own; but appear to have used rings and other ornaments as a medium of commerce and traffic. An ancient poem in that language says of Hrothgar, the Danish king—

"He belied not his promise:

He distributed rings,

Treasure at the feast."

He is also styled "the keeper of hoards of rings." Another king is spoken of as possessing a nation, a town, and rings: and as "the giver of rings," and throughout the poem the word "rings" is synonymous with that of treasure or money.

In much the same sense the term is to be understood in Numbers xxxi. 50.

Enquiries and Correspondence.

Suggestions of an unsubdued Heart.

MY DEAR SIR,-I have for some time had a desire to address you through the medium of your Magazine; and am at length encouraged to do so by the kind manner in which you have answered the enquiries of your correspondents, although I feel myself more unworthy than them all. For several years I indulged the idea that I was a Christian, and that all my hopes of eternal life rested alone upon Christ; but some time back, I awoke to the painful consciousness that I possessed not the marks of a regenerate soul-that I had never felt real contrition on account of sin-nor was a true believer in Christ. Since making this discovery I have been very unhappy, and at times, truly wretched, feeling that I have a heart at enmity with God; and that though as far

as my actions are concerned, perhaps none would reprove me, yet that the motives by which I have been actuated, were not sincere love to God or men, but in many instances arose from mere selfishness. For many months my mind has been in this unsettled state, and deeply convinced am I that the carnal mind is, "enmity with God!" I am at times frightened at the thoughts of my depraved heart; such thoughts as these are constantly forcing themselves upon me. If heaven is a place of perfect happiness, what motive could have caused the fallen angels to sin? And how could God, who abhors sin, permit it to enter this world, when it was in his power to prevent it? Again, we are told that

God would rather the sinner should "turn unto him and live:" and that "all should come to repentance." Now it is very certain that all are not saved: How then can God be sincere in this declaration, when all would repent if he gave them grace to do so?

I am ashamed to write the above, yet do so in the hope that you will throw some light upon these subjects, or advise me how to get rid of such thoughts. It has been my daily prayer for months, that God would change my heart (the necessity of which I deeply feel); and I have entreated Christ, as the great physician of souls, to have mercy upon me, and bestow that Spirit whose influence is necessary to enable me to repent of sin and believe in Christ, but my heart still remains hard and insensible; and I often rise from my knees more uncomfortable than before, and feel as though I must despair of ever becoming a Christian, fearing God has given me up to the pride and deceitfulness of my heart, for I feel that pride indeed is my besetting sin; while I am deeply sensible that nothing but Almighty power can subdue it. Dear sir, what can I do? What means can I use, that I have not already tried, to incline this heart to love God; and how shall I get such views of my sinfulness as shall lead me to repent of it?

There is a strange mixture of feeling in my heart, for although I feel I cannot claim, nor do I deserve, any favor from God, yet if I imagine myself as crucified instead of the Saviour, on account of my sins, my mind revolts at the idea, and does not feel that it would be just. I once could not have thought it possible that my heart could be in such a state as I have described. Oh! that I knew by happy experience what it is to be made a "new creature in Christ Jesus!" May God grant it for his Son's sake! May I, dear sir, beg an interest in your prayers, and may the Holy Spirit guide your pen, should you do me the favor of a reply. Yours very respectfully,

CONSTANCE.

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