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Come out of Rome. A Sermon by the Rev. E. Bickersteth. London: Hatchards; Painter. Pp. 32. 1840.

THIS is an invaluable production,-sold at a price which is little more than the value of the paper. We wish it the sale it so richly merits. We shall return to it next month.

MISCELLANEA.

THE PENITENT POACHER.-When Bishop Heber was Rector of Hodnet, an old man resided in the parish, who had been a notorious poacher nearly all his life; and who, through the combined influence of his irregular mode of life, drunken habits, and depraved associates, had settled down into an irreligious old age. He was a widower; had survived his children, shunned all society, and was rarely seen abroad. The sole inmate of his lonely cottage was a little-grand-child, on whom were bound up all the sympathies of his rugged nature, and on whom he lavished the warmest carresses. It was considered an unaccountable departure from his usual line of conduct, when he permitted little Philip to attend the Rector's school; and some one expressed to him surprise that such should be the case: 66 Why not?" was the old man's reply. "Do you think I wish Philip to be as bad as myself? I'm black enough, God knows." The old man was taken ill and confined to his room. It was winter; he was unable to divert his mind. His complaint was a painful one, and there was every probability that his illness might be of long continuance. A neighbour suggested that his little grandson should read to him. He listened at first languidly and carelessly by and by, however, with some interest; till at length he became deeply concurred for his soul. Convictions of guilt flashed upon his mind, and he expressed an earnest desire to see Mr. Heber. Immediately on its being made known to the Rector, he paid him a visit. The old man lay upon his bed in a corner of the room, near a trellised window. His features were naturally hard and coarse; and the marked lines of his countenance were distinctly developed by the strong light which fell upon them. Aged and enfeebled as he was, he seemed fully alive to what was passing around him; "and I had," says the narrator of this anecdote, "leisure to mark the searching of his eye, while he gazed with the most intense anxiety, on his spiritual comforter, and weighed every word that fell from his lips. The simple phraseology in which Heber clothed every idea, the facility

with which he descended to the old man's comprehension, the earnestness with which he strove not to be misunderstood, and the manner in which, in spite of himself, his voice occasionally faltered, as he adverted delicately, but faithfully and most affectionately, to the fundamental points of our holy religion, struck me forcibly; while Philip stood on the other side of the bed his hand locked in his grandfather's, his bright eye dimmed with tears, as he looked sadly and anxiously from one face to another, evidently aware that some misfortune awaited him, though unconscious to what extent." Not long afterwards the old man died, in a state of mind so calm, so subdued, so penitent and resigned, "that I feel myself cheered in my labour" said Heber," whenever I think of it."-(From Taylor's life of Bishop Heber.)

FAMILY PRAYER.-The very learned and pious Bishop Pearson took occasion very often and publicly to bless God that he was born and bred in a family in which God was worshipped daily. And certainly it is a duty which entails very many blessings on posterity; for which reason a pastor should labour with all his might to introduce it into every family under his charge; at least, he should give neither his people nor himself any rest, till he has done all that lies in his power to effect so good a work: which if he does not do, this very intimation will one day rise up in judgment against him.-Bishop Wilson's Parochialia, or Instructions to his Clergy.

TREASURY.

"MERCY is like the rainbow which God set in the heavens as a remembrance to man; he must never look for it after night—it shines not in the other world. If we refuse mercy here, we must have justice to eternity."-Bishop Taylor.

"Reader, press after experience; live not by hearsay, and upon the comforts of others, but entreat the Lord to give thee his inward testimony; it will help thee in future trials; it will remove many of thy fears, make thy passage through life easy and comfortable, and be as a pledge of thy future glory." -Bogatsky.

"Beware how you count on God's goodness, if once you presume to draw from it a motive to put off repentance. The goodness of God" leadeth men to repentance:" if they refuse its guidance thither, goodness and they must be parted for ever."-F. F. Clark.

"The military language of the Gospel seems particularly adapted to induce soldiers to read it. Christians therein are called 'soldiers of Jesus Christ;' their whole life a continual 'warfare' against their 'adversary, the devil.' 'In the name of our God we set up our banners.' We are even told how to equip ourselves for the battle:' we are to 'put on the whole armour of God,'-'the breastplate of righteousnes,'the helmet of salvation,'-above all, the shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts,'-to take the sword of the spirit ;' the peace of God will garrison (as it is in the Greek) our hearts, we are to 'fight a good fight,'-and we shall have 'victory,' and be more than conquerers, through the Captain of our salvation.'"-Ubique, author of a Reverie of a Retired Officer."

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POETRY.

"IT IS I, BE NOT AFRAID !”
(For the Village Churchman.)

BY JOSEPH FEARN

"It is I, be not afraid!"

Wherefore indulge in sorrow?
My presence shall chase the shade,
And give thee a cloudless morrow.
"It is I, be not afraid!"

What, has thy faith departed?"
Where else shall thy trust be stayed,
Thou dreary and broken-hearted?

"It is I, be not afraid!”

Mine is the tempest's power;
The storm-tossed waters I bade
Be peaceful and calm in an hour.

"It is I, be not afraid!"

Oft in an hour of sadness,

His mercy hath given me aid,

And turned my grief to gladness.

When lowly this head shall lie,
Surrounded by death's dark shade,
May this voice breathe softly by-
"It is I, be not afraid!”

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ECLIPSES in 1840.-There will be four Eclipses this year, viz. two of the SUN, and two of the Moon; all invisible to the inhabitants of the British Isles.

PRINTED BY W. E. PAINTER, STRAND, LONDON.

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"It is good for me that I have been afflicted."-Psalm cxix. 71.
"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord."-Rev. xiv. 13.

(For the Village Churchman.)

AT a time when many a town and, alas! many a village and hamlet of once happy and contented England (merry England, it used to be called), is distracted by the evil arts of designing men, who, pretending to be the especial friends of the people, are, in truth, their worst enemies at a time when rebellion and infidelity are spreading themselves far and wide, and every exertion is being made to poison the minds of the artizan and labourer, it is refreshing to turn from scenes of terror and misrule to the yet tranquil spot where no preacher of sedition and immorality has hitherto intruded himselfwhere, by the people generally, order and sobriety of conduct are still observed-where a kindly feeling continues to subsist between the minister of the blessed Gospel and his flock, between the landowner and his tenants, between the higher and middle class and the honest peasantry who cultivate the soil.

In such a spot, in a pleasant village of one of the fairest and richest of our agricultural districts, has the lot of the writer of the following simple memoir been cast. The village is, upon the whole, as happy and as orderly as it is agreeably situated. We do not pretend to say that it contains no bad

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