regards the past we have been verily guilty concerning our brother, have endured an heathen population, not on our borders only, and that had been much, but in our very bosom, that we awoke very slowly to our duty, and even now are very feebly performing it? What hope is there for us save that which grows out of such a humiliation as this? We cannot make good the past, but we can confess it, and have it pardoned.

And then, secondly, we may mar the work by determining that it shall be done exactly in our way, or not at all. Oh! brethren, how much of carnal, of unsubdued nature is there often in all this! What a sign does it give that we yet" walk as men," when if everything be not done precisely as we would have it, we care not whether it be done at all or not; nay, can ourselves endure to be scatterers instead of gatherers; when we are resolved that no wound shall heal, that the things which make our weakness here shall be our weakness in the ends of the earth. In this way too we might greatly hinder the work of the Lord, which we profess and believe that we are setting forward.

Or again, by doubt and despondency concerning the issues of that in which we are engaged, as though it were something to be done indeed, but with little expectation of any glorious results. Probably there are moments when we all are tempted to this, when we are well nigh tempted to believe that this world is the Devil's world and not GOD's; that we must let things be, that evil is too strong, that we can never win back the godless population of our own great cities, or overthrow the giant superstitions of the heathen world, when we forget that however feeble the instruments, the hand that wields them is almighty. And then, when it is thus with us, prayer is slackened, and the hands hang down,

and the nerves of all strenuous exertions are cut, and hoping little, we are preparing ourselves to receive little from the LORD. And, moreover, ever with this doubting heart goes the niggard hand. What is done is done deceitfully, done without heart or hope; that which has cost nothing is offered, and even that grudgingly, "the lame and the blind." It is thought a vain thing that England should send forth any of her nobler or more hopeful sons to the work. The Whyteheads, the Henry Martyns, that have died upon the field of battle, are counted to have thrown away their lives. Vague reports of the ill-success of Missions are anxiously listened for, and eagerly snatched at, as excuses for still further holding back; surer notices of the Spirit poured out, and of some great blessing vouchsafed upon the work, are looked at coldly and with suspicion.

Let us see, brethren, that for ourselves we put not any of these lets and hindrances in the way of our GOD. I have been led in what has been here spoken, to consider more the external activity of the Church than its work at home, more therefore, it might seem, one of these great Societies than the other, yet in truth there is no separating of their offices, the one is the pioneer of the other, and the Church's activity at home and abroad are but different aspects of one, and the same spiritual life which is working and stirring within her.

Be it yours, brethren, to answer worthily the appeal which is made to you on behalf of both. Nor should I omit to remind you, that one of them, which some years ago had large funds in hand, determined a little while ago that while the needs of the heathen world were so great, the cries for help so urgent, the souls perishing so many, it would have gold and silver in store no longer; but rather would reach out in aid of these crying needs

to the utmost of its strength, yea, and far beyond its strength, trusting to the large bounty of English churchmen that in this it should not be ashamed. The determination was a noble one, it was a deed done in faith. Be ours now and always to justify the confidence which was thus reposed in us; and by a free offering of our carnal things, to show ourselves thankful to that LORD who has so largely and in such great love sown unto us spiritual things.

CHILDREN.

FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.

BY THE

REV. JOHN FORSTER, M.A.,

HER MAJESTY'S CHAPLAIN OF THE SAVOY.

ST. LUKE II. 51.

And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them.

THERE is but little recorded in the Gospels of our blessed Lord's early life. Such information was no doubt withheld because it was not really expedient for us; and although it might gratify a natural curiosity, it might tend to divert our minds from the more important period of the Saviour's ministry. But among the few incidents of that class which are recorded is the one in the text, that He was obedient to His parents. At the commencement as at the close of His life, when he provided for His surviving parent from the cross, He proved that He partook of the sympathies and all the better affections of man's nature: and those who neglect the relative duties of private life are here forcibly taught that there is something wrong when they make public duties, of whatever kind, an excuse for neglecting those which they solemnly owe to the private ties of kindred.

The subject of the text has a peculiar interest at this happy season, when it is customary with parents to call all their children around them, and to watch their progress in wisdom as in stature. To the young we cannot help looking forward with deep interest; they are coming forward as supporters of the Church of CHRIST.

For occasional exhortations to them we have the authority of St. Peter and St. John, who address themselves particularly to young persons in their Epistles; and St. Paul, writing to Titus, bids him "exhort the young to be sober-minded*." The Chief-shepherd, too, with an anxiety for that part of the flock which more especially needed tender care, has left to every pastor this brief but emphatic instruction, "Feed My lambs."

Yet no member of a congregation is excluded from reflections of this sort, which may be profitably listened to by those of riper age, even though they be not parents. Such thoughts may serve to remind all of the sins of their youth, and, if unrepented of, it is of as much consequence to be put in mind of them, as it is to the young to be seasonably warned against those sins into which they are likely to fall. For let sins have been committed ever so many years ago, yet, like debts once contracted, they are still standing against us. However long forgotten by us, they are registered before God, and no interval of time can take away from their guilt. Have we not all, then, reason to exclaim with David, "Remember not, O LORD, the sins of my youth!"

A glance at the Decalogue will shew us the importance of the subject before us. It is remarkable, that immediately after those commandments which teach us our duty towards GOD, succeeds that of "Giving honour to parents." This is the declared foundation of all the various duties between man and man, as summed up in the Second Table. And well is it so placed; for, assuredly, it is that fruitful germ from which every other social duty may be expected to spring, as it is the surest preservative against the violation of them. It was, as we may remember, the flagrant breach of this particular

* Titus ii. 9.