a high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith."

The wicked have a claim to our concern for their salvation. They are exposed to eternal condemnation; they may fall into hell at any moment; yet they are insensible to their danger. They are making no effort to escape the wrath of God. They need to be warned to flee from the wrath to come, they need to be instructed in the way of life, they need to be persuaded to give attention to the claims of the Gospel. God employs the efforts of His people to save the careless and impenitent. Reader, would you escape the punishment due to your sins? Then look to Calvary, obey the voice of Christ, give yourself unto prayer, cry unto God through faith in Jesus, "Do not condemn me." Mercy will receive your petition. H. H.

THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM.

"That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ."-GAL. iii. 14.

I. What was the blessing of Abraham?

1. Temporal prosperity. He became the father of many nations.

2. Great fame. God promised to make his name great.

3. He should be a blessing to others.

4. His faith should be counted for righteousness. This includes pardon, justification, protection, Divine friendship, a peaceful death, and eternal life.

II. How shall this blessing be obtained? I reply

1. Through Jesus Christ. By His atoning sacrifice we are redeemed from the curse.

2. By faith in Him. By faith in Christ, His righteousness is passed over to our credit.

3. By the Holy Spirit. The Spirit influences the heart to exercise that faith that makes the sacrifice of Christ available.

III. Have you that faith? Abraham's faith procured his blessinghave you "like precious faith ?"

1. He exercised faith before he received the covenant.

2. His faith purified his heart.
It produced corresponding

3.

works.

4. It controlled his conduct. 5. It accumulated to itself other godlike dispositions.

If such be your faith, the blessing of Abraham will be yours. You will have real temporal prosperityreal fame-you will be a blessing to others, and you shall be counted righteous. You shall be pardoned, justified and saved; and shall be gathered with all true believers "from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God."

Tell me not of real blessing

In the heart of unbelief;Sin and guilt that heart are pressing:All its throbbings are confessing

Sorrow, shame, and bitter grief. But there's blessing in believing

In the Lord of life and love,All His word by faith receiving, In His hands my spirit leaving, Waiting for my home above.

Oh, this is blessing without measure,
Filling all my soul with joy;
'Tis divine and holy pleasure,
Like the sainted Patriarch's treasure-
Treasure which has no alloy.

H. J. E.

REVIVAL MEETINGS.

THE work at Hexham may be named as a type of what has taken place in many other towns in England. It has not been spontaneous. It has not been very successful. It is rather of the nature of an imitation of the Revival that has in reality taken effect at Newcastle and elsewhere.

Meetings for prayer and exhortation have been held every night for many weeks past. They have been attended by a few from every congregation in the town-they have circulated through all the chapels, six in number-but a very powerful interest has not been awakened.

At the end of each week, for a month past, it seemed as if they would come to an end; yet nobody has the courage to urge it. And why should the meetings be discontinued? Individual conversions are believed to have taken place. Some, at least, have been reclaimed from a lapsed condition; and believers who have availed themselves of the privilege of attending these meetings have heen confirmed, refreshed, and encouraged to put forth efforts for further usefulness; whilst the Dissenting ministers generally, with love and zeal and active devotion have formed a union which we should be sorry to see dissolved.

A little cloud seems to hover over Hexham; and we listen for the "sound of abundance of rain." The prayer of faith may yet be followed by the blessing sought. Hexham,

November 19th, 1859.

REASONS FOR RENOUNCING DEISM.

The following Reasons were assigned by a reclaimed Infidel, for renouncing Deism and embracing Christianity.

1. THAT I never saw, heard, nor read of any man, woman, or child that was reformed, either in whole or in part, by embracing the principles of Deism.

2. That I have known hundreds, and heard of thousands, who have been reformed by embracing Christianity.

3. That I have known industrious and sober men, who, by imbibing

J. R.

the principles of Deism, almost instantly became desperately wicked; and, in many instances, dangerous members of civil society.

4. That I have known some Deists, and many scoffers at religion, speedily and effectually turned from the most abandoned practices, "by the preaching of the Gospel," to a life of righteousness; which showed itself by sobriety, industry, charity, brotherly kindness, and universal philanthropy.

5. That I do not recollect ever hearing but one Deist profess really to believe in a future state of rewards and punishments.

6. That I never met with a man who professed to be a real Christian,

but what built his principal hopes upon the reality of a future state.

7. That I cannot, in all the Deistical writings, find any law to prevent wickedness, or encourage virtue, with rewards and punishments annexed thereto.

8. That in Scripture, all the crimes that man can possibly commit are, under the severest penalties, forbidden; and every possible virtue inculcated and encouraged, by promises of "eternal and exceeding great rewards."

9. I have known some Deists, and read of many, who, at the apparent point of death, were seized with the most horrible despair, uttering the most bitter reflections against themselves for their total neglect of those duties commanded in the Gospel; but who ever heard or read of a Christian at the hour of death despairing of the mercy of God, because he had all his lifetime rejected Deism, and shunned the company of its professors? Or, even when long fierce diseases had shaken the nervous system, and raging fevers inflamed the blood, have they ever been so far deranged as to wish they had never been born, for not rejecting the Bible as a wicked and mischievous imposition on the human race?

These reasons demand the solemn attention of every man of a sceptical turn, as well as of the confirmed Infidel. If they are fairly dealt by, there are, we believe, few who will not be constrained to surrender.

CONVERSION OF CAMBO, A Negro in one of the Southern States of America.

CAMBO, being desired to give some account of his conversion, proceeded

JOHN NEWTON IN HIS Old Age. -I have now almost reached my seventy-third yearly mile-stone; what dangers have I escaped, or been brought through! If my heart would jump to be within three miles of you, why does it not jump from morning

as follows:-"While in my own country (Guinea) me had no knowledge of de being of a God; me thought me should die like de beasts. After me was brought to America, and sold as a slave, as me and another sarvant of de name of Bess were working in de field, me began to sing one of my old country songs-It is time to go home,' when Bess say to me, 'Cambo, why you sing so for?' Me say, 'Me no sick, me no sorry, why me no sing?' Bess say, 'You better pray to your blessed Lord and Massah, to have massy on your soul.' Me look round, me look up, me see no one to pray to; but de words sound in my ears, 'Better pray to your Lord and Massah !' By'm bye, me feel bad-sun shine sorry-birds sing sorry-laun look sorry; but Cambo sorrier dan em all. Den me

cry out, 'Massy, massy, Lord! on poor Cambo!' By'm bye, water come in my eyes, and glad come in my heart. Den sun look gay, woods look gay, birds sing gay, laun look gay; but poor Cambo gladder dan em all. Me love my Massah some;

me want to love Him more."

If we suppose Cambo to have been previously informed of the evil of sin and the way of mercy through Jesus Christ, although, till the moment above referred to, unaffected by what he knew, this little anecdote will excite pleasing reflections on the power of Divine grace on the heart of a poor negro, and the genuine effects of it thus simply and sweetly expressed; while the real Christian will rejoice to perceive what a similarity is found between the experience of the untutored slave and the polished European. "Christ is all, and in all."

till night, to think that I am probably within three years of seeing the Lamb upon the throne, and joining in the praises of the blessed spirits of the redeemed, who behold Him without a veil or a cloud, and are filled with His glory and love!

THE church and the world expect much from young men. To them in the hour of danger a country looks for the defence of its altars and homes; on them expectation waits for intelligent advance in the arts of peace, while the upward and onward course of a nation depends on the gifts and graces of its sons. When the juvenility of boyhood ripens into the maturity of manhood, the features assume that aspect that displays the kind of man, and foreshadows the actions to be expected of him; so the complexion and general aspect of the coming age, may be gathered from the prevailing sentiments current among the young men of a country. Hope pencils a golden future, or fear darkens the back-ground with threatening clouds of convulsion and storms, according to the discovery of the presence or absence of mental strength, moral power, and holy principle, in the actors now rehearsing their parts, and preparing for action on the stage of life. Hence, the importance of the period of youth; and the justification of every honest effort to implant correct principles, and aid the development of sober-mindedness among the young. The ship that outrides the storm, and enters port, has been trimmed for the voyage, well ballasted, and thoroughly equipped; and man, in the prosecution of the voyage of life, must have under due control and regulation those powers

with which God has endowed him. The regulation of the soul, under the influence of true religion, will effectually guard all the best interests of our nature. The choice of Christ, as a leader, will effectually decide the direction which the journey through life will take; so that when the height of manhood is gained, with its powers, opportunities, prospects, and duties, the journey shall be continued in the same heavenward direction; the valleys and the mountains that lie in the way being crossed and passed in the strong confidence that He will guide with His counsel, and afterwards receive to glory. It is not, however, an unreasonable fear, that the early promise may be nipped, and the blossom go up as dust; for many a youth, that seemed to set out for heaven, has abandoned all evidence of such an issue, and lifted up his heart to vanity. The field that has been sown with good seed, and which betokens a coming harvest, may be visited by a killing frost, as the good seed of principle may be blasted and destroyed by the blighting influence of temptation. The structure commenced in hopeful circumstances may be left unfinished-the column broken off-not by the rude hand of death, but by the desolations of moral evils. Since it is so, we are disposed to exhort young men to be sober-minded. The slightest observation of society in Canada must have convinced the observer of the

need, among young men, of the recognition of the restraints of lawful authority. No man is a law to himself to do what is right in his own eyes. The blessing of home is salutary; but loyalty to its laws is exacted before it yields its rewards. "Honour thy father and thy mother." The yearning of the true parental heart is, "May God Almighty bless the lads." The family-tie is one of affection, and is not to be rudely cut, and its cords cast from us. Society will be broken up, if its mutual relationships are destroyed. Passing in view from an earthly home, to the universal care of the Almighty Parent, His claim of government must be joyously recognised, since God loves with more than the tenderness of a mother. His fear is productive of good, and the confessor of it in the hour of temptation will ask, "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

Self-denial, exercised in early life, will tend to mature a character fruitful in all that is lovely and of good report. Youthful passion must be curbed. The rein must not be thrown loose on the neck of insatiable desire. The current of opinion may run strong towards gratification. There is, however, a line drawn by the hand of the Highest, that is marked-"Thus far shalt thou come, and no farther." To break beyond that enclosure, is to fall among serpents; the poisonous brood will fasten on the right hand of mental energy, and men will look for a speedy death of character, of joy, and of love; then, only a miracle of grace can shake off the viper of sin

into the fire. True pleasure consists in the lawful use of what God permits. The appreciation of food is sure to him who makes a temperate supply enough; but the gourmand, by the very gratification of his sensuality, unfits himself for its enjoyment. The speed, therefore, of fast young men carries them quite beyond the spot on which a bounteous Creator has spread the feast of pure satisfaction. The high pressure to which the powers of their nature are brought by an unholy pursuit of sinful pleasure, must issue in a fearful collapse.

We, therefore, come to lay down a few cautions-the utterance, we trust, of love-for the highest good of those who shall soon fill important spheres in society. A lighthouse should be built on the rock of danger, more especially when every tide leaves a wreck.

Beware of feasting the soul with deleterious food.-The mind of man is his glorious distinction. The spirit of the beast goeth downward, but the spirit of man goeth upward. Faculties that wear the stamp of an immortal birth are not to be perverted or destroyed. The practice, which we fear is a widely prevailing one, of novel and romance reading is damaging the mental powers, and destroying the souls of multitudes. Light and trashy books are to be met with in every corner. The work of deterioration is rapidly completed under the potent spell of this enchanter. Home influences and steady industry go to the wall, and rash adventure and deeds of blood are crowned for homage. Nothing can so unfit for the real duties of