The Sailor Boy's Grave, 234.
The Village Church, 135.
The Vision of Eliphaz, 111.
The Wee Dead Wean, 125.
The World is Wide, 233.
To-Day and To-Morrow, 270.
Triumph of the Gospel, 145.
Wait a While, 76.

Weep not, my Brother, 70.
What is a Year? 85.

Why does She Weep? 132.

Popery weighed in the Balance, 41.

Potato, Substitute for the, 161.
Prayer, 212.

Prayer and Reflection, 223.

Prayer Answered, 280.

Sabbath Prudence, 197.
Sabbath, The, 206, 247.
Sacred Devotion, 248.
Sacrifice, 87.

Saints have no Cause to Complain, 250.
Saviour, An All-Compassionate, 257.
Self-Sacrifices, 164.

Sinners' Inquiries Answered, 11.
Sketch, 179.
Slander, 248.

Slave, A Good, 199.
Soundness of Heart, 199.
Spirit's Work, The, 175.
Star of Jacob, The, 80.
Stitchel Brae, 20.

Storm, On a Great, 246.

Storm, Our Lord and His Disciples in a, 251. Sublimity of Nature, 224.

Success, The Apostles', 80.

Sufferings of the First Christians, 162, 192. Symbols of the Two Dispensations, 200. Synagogues, 23.

Tears, A Child's, 176.
Tekel, 41.

The Lord Sustains, 248.

Thief on the Cross, The, 222.

Time of Need, 247.

Tomb Door, The, 218.

Trench, Rev. James, 108.

Tribulations lead to Glory, 176.

Triumph of Piety, 131.

True Humility, 287.

Trust in God, 32.

Trust in the Redeemer, 93.
Twilight, 264.

Union to Christ, 27.

Universal Scepticism, 247.

Value of a Fair Reputation, 248. Vanity of the World, 198. Vastness of the Universe, 75.

Waiting upon God, 52.

Walk of Faith, 81, 105, 133.
Want of Success, 128.

Weakness of the Human Mind, 30.
What Ruins Kingdoms, 80.

What Hope did, 199.

Witnesses, The Cloud of, 28.

IMPRESSED ourselves, we are desirous to impress all within the sphere of our influence, with the value and utility of sound, Religious instruction. To the health and prosperity of the soul, it is indispensably requisite. But, not only is it of vital importance to spiritual well-being: its temporal advantages are neither few nor small. In connection with other instrumentalities, it tends to meliorate the outward condition. It improves the lot of man, as a citizen of earth; enforcing his duties, sweetening his relations, and multiplying his comforts. As a mean, it is conducive, in a diversity of ways, and in a pre-eminent degree, alike to the social advancement of a community, and the moral ele

vation of its individual members.

To endeavour, as he has opportunity, to disseminate such instruction, is obligatory on every professing Christian. Next to his personal salvation, which, being dearest to himself, ought to be his primary concern, he is bound to seek that of his fellows, in whose conversion God is equally glorified, and the power of the Gospel as eminently displayed. He should study to impart to them the knowledge of the Truth, and acquaint them with the doctrine which is according to godliness.' This is at once the requirement of duty, and a labour of love; since, upon their faith of the Evangelical Testimony, as contained in the lively Oracles,' depend their interest in the blessings of redemption here, and the hope of their full enjoyment hereafter. No subject possesses stronger claims on the practical regard of the pious. To their serious consideration, therefore, without enlarging, we earnestly recommend it. It is never out of season -is always interesting-demands universal attention. Nor, in commencing a new Volume, do we know any topic more appropriate, on which, whether in the language of exhortation, admonition, or remonstrance, to address our Readers. No. XXXVII.-NEW SERIES.

If ever there was a period, in the history of our Country, when exertions for the spread of a pure Gospel might have been safely relaxed or dispensed with; that period, assuredly, is not the present. Opinions, partaking of every shade of error, are being broached with unwonted freedom. By their abettors, they are propagated through all corners of the land, and all classes of Society, with a vigour and an industry unexampled in former times. Already, in instances not rare, their baneful fruits have begun to be reaped, in a too abundant harvest of irreligion and immorality. Insidious have been the attempts to inveigle the more thoughtless and unwary among the young, as well as to imbue with heterodoxy the ignorant or unreflecting of riper years. Of both, many have become the dupes of the artful deceiver, and blush not to avow and advocate sentiments, subversive of all that is true and holy. Nor should it be overlooked, how much the work of mischief may be aided, or what new facilities for prosecuting it may be afforded, by a recent legislative measure.

Of the enactment referred to, one effect undoubtedly will be, to give a mighty impetus to the operations of the Press. A multiplication of its issues, especially of those produced at a trifling cost, may be confidently predicted. An additional power will thus be put into the hands of the friends and the enemies of Christianity, which both parties will have the privilege of working on equal terms. Hence, we may anticipate a speedy succession of Publications, worthless in character, and bad in tendency, though varying in the degree of hurtfulness, with a proportion bearing the stamp of respectable or superior ability: all containing the elements, and spreading the infection, of moral pestilence. The Negative will breathe a spirit of indifferentism: the Popish, defend the dogmas and ceremonies of Romanism: Vor. IV.

the Infidel, plead the cause of Deism, Pantheism, or Atheism: while the Rationalistic School, with the followers of Socinus, may be found vindicating, respectively, their peculiar phases of heresy.

Do we, then, deem the freedom of the Press an evil, and would we fetter it with restrictions? No: we desire no Censorship, and long for no Expurgatorial tribunal. Argument is to be met with argument, and error refuted by the statement of Truth. Nor, unless in very extraordinary cases, would we visit with penalty the venders of blasphemy: assured that falsehood and impiety are best exposed by appeals to reason and Scripture; and that the punishment of the person, instead of enlightening the understanding, or convincing the judgment, is apt only to strengthen prejudice and dislike. We call for no magisterial interference or legal inhibition. We ask not that the mouth of the enemy be muzzled, or his liberty of expression be curtailed. To speak what he thinks, to defend what he believes, is his right, as a rational and responsible being; and far be it from us to seek to trammel him in the freest exercise of it. Give him no pretext for the charge of unfair treatment, by aught in the form of interdict, or that savours of the compulsory or the intolerant. Let full license be granted him to write and debate, that we may know exactly his tenets, and the grounds on which he holds them.

But, in these circumstances, is there not just cause for apprehension? With the Press unshackled, while one large portion of it is avowedly irreligious, and another, by ignoring, virtually opposes, Christianity: will it be alleged, that no danger to the interests of piety and righteousness is to be feared? We are no alarmists: we stand not forth as prophets of evil. But neither can we shut our eyes to indisputable facts. We think we can 'discern the signs of the times,' and persuade ourselves we do not misinterpret their import, when we affirm of some of them, that they are of portentous aspect. Happy shall we be, if events prove us to have been mistaken, and a brighter future shall dawn than existing omens, or visible appearances, warrant us to prognosticate. In these vaticinations and forebodings, however, we are not alone. Not a few, whose moral worth and sobriety of judgment entitle them to consideration, entirely sympathize with us. Among a host whom we could name, we mention only a Member of the Aristocracy, one of the foremost of his order as a philanthropist and a Christian. Addressing his Peers on an important question, he told them advisedly, that they were about to let loose a Penny Post, which, judging from the specimens

he had seen, would inundate the Country with Publications the most terrible that had ever been issued in any Country, civilized or uncivilized.'

Facts and statements like these are of no trifling significance. They call loudly on the friends of orthodoxy to bestir them. selves. They show what urgent need there is for sternuous exertion, and hearty cooperation, on their part, to avert or lessen the threatened danger. Let them approve themselves men who 'have understanding of the times, to know what ought to be done.' When at a loss to determine what is suited to the emergency, let them entreat the 'wisdom' which is profitable to direct.' Among the means adapted to correct the evil apprehended, the majority, it is presumed, will concur with us in thinking, that one of the most select is, a corresponding increase, alike in number and variety, with an extended circulation, of Works and Periodicals devoted to the advocacy of views and principles in accor dance with 'the form of sound words.' Such has long been our decided and often. expressed conviction. The same would seem to be the persuasion of others, who have reflected much on the subject. In a Transatlantic Publication lately put into our hands, the following judicious remarks occur. We quote them as the testimony of an enlightened stranger, confirmatory of our own belief. Would that the Christian Commonwealth duly pondered sayings, at once so weighty, and so deserving of earnest attention! Good were it both for the Church and the world, if they were more generally and systematically acted on.

'The circulation of good Books is one of the present day. The masses are not only the most important means of usefulness in disposed to read, but will read. Hence, those who are really interested in their moral and religious improvement, should not only en courage this taste for reading, but should use every mean in their power to supply them with that kind of reading, which will tend directly to this result.

when it is considered that there are thousands "This duty becomes the more obvious, engaged in the Book business, whose only object is to make money, and who are not over-scrupulous as to the means, provided the end be attained. These men are literally flooding our Country with a light and trashy literature, and, in many cases, with that which is absolutely pernicious and demoralizing in its nature and tendency. The influence of these Publications must be counteracted by some means: and we know no means so well calculated to secure this end as the circulation of good Books.

ing Books, and their extreme cheapness, "The great facilities now enjoyed for makplace them within the reach of all classes. This advantage should be turned to account, by putting into their hands those Books

which will tend to enlighten, elevate, and improve them, mentally, morally, and religiously; to make them better men, better Christians, better husbands and wives, better fathers and mothers; in short, to make them better every way, and for all the important purposes of life. This, too, would be one of ployed, for forcing out of circulation those hurtful and demoralizing Publications, which are sought after with so much eagerness, and read with so much avidity, by thousands, whose only object seems to be the emotional excitement, which Works of highly-wrought fiction are designed to produce. Of all others, Ministers of the Gospel should be the most active in promoting this good work. It is part of their duty: and not only may it be made a powerful auxiliary in the building up of that cause to which they have devoted their time and talents, but, in the present age, it seems almost indispensable to great and permanent success.'

the most efficient means that could be em

Not only do we subscribe to the justness of these remarks: while embodying, substantially, our own sentiments, they indicate a plan of usefulness, which, if wrought with prudence and energy, might be followed with excellent effects. Its adoption we respectfully urge on the Ministry and the Eldership in particular, and on Church members in general. Each, how humble soever his station, or small his ability, or scanty his resources, may thus aid in checking the agencies, and thwarting the devices, of the corruptors of the faith. Here is an instrumentality admirably fitted to do good, and which all, high and low, learned and illiterate, male and female, are competent to employ.

Let not, then, a talent so precious, and of such easy and indefinite improvement, be neglected. Instances there have been, as our own experience can attest, in which the prayerful use of it, by plain and unpretending individuals, has been signally honoured with the Divine blessing. Every possessor we exhort to trade with it: confident that if he does so, in a spirit of persevering diligence and devout dependence, he will turn it to such account, that the Master shall 'receive his own with usury.' Who can tell but the weak, the foolish, the base, the despised,' may thus lay some of their equals or superiors under lasting obligation? To such means, by whomsoever occupied, one may gratefully ascribe his preservation, another his deliverance, from the toils of the destroyer. In that case, how rich the reward of the benefactor! How incalculable the good which he is privileged to confer! Angels might envy him his opportunities of service; for, in whatever ways these celestial spiritsminister to the heirs of salvation,' here is one in which they cannot advantage

them. This work of piety is peculiar to men: all are permitted, as they are capable, to engage in it: earth is the scene, and life the season, of its performance. May grace dispose and animate numbers to the prompt and faithful discharge of it! Oh, the importance, the grandeur, the blessedness, of success! Brethren, if any of you err from the Truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he who converteth the sinner from the error of his ways, shall save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins.'

Y.

SINNERS' INQUIRIES ANSWERED. THERE is no want of directions proper to sinners, but the difficulty is, they are not in a disposition to regard and follow them. People are always ready to ask, 'But, after all, what shall sinners do? Can you give them any directions how to get out of this helpless condition? Is there any thing for them to do, or is there not?' Now this, however common it is, is certainly very impertinent. If it is a settled point, that the case with sinners is, they have no heart to do any thing that is good, people must strangely forget themselves who ask, 'Is there any thing for them to do?' As if all the difficulty lay in answering this question, or in pointing out duty to them! Surely, there is enough to be done, if they would but do it. It is easy to direct them to the course they ought to take; and it would be easy to put them in a way in which they might have great reason to hope for salvation, if they thought it a matter worth taking pains about, and were of a teachable spirit, and willing to follow good advice. It is much easier to say what they should do, than it is to make them willing to do it. They should become serious and thoughtful about eternal things. They should amend their ways and their doings,' which are not good. They should search the Scriptures, take every method, and improve every opportunity in their power, to acquaint themselves with God and Jesus Christ-the Law-the Gospeland with their own character and state. They should 'cry after knowledge, and lift up their voice for understanding.' They should seek it as silver, and search for it as for hid treasure.' They should lie open to conviction, be willing to know the truth, and to embrace it when discovered. They should not cover their sins, but be sensible of, humbly confess, and heartily forsake, them. They should 'return unto the Lord,' their Maker and rightful Sovereign, submitting to His authority, owning His justice, and accepting His grace through the Mediator. Or, in other words, they should repent and believe the Gospel.