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Children reason at a very early age. A boy, four years old, told his mother, when she reproved him for going to bed without praying, and asking God to take care of him, "Father didn't pray last night when he went to bed, so I didn't care to do." Sharp reproof!

They observe and remember. A child, seven months old, afforded a good instance the other day. A lady held her watch to his right ear, and he conveyed it to his left, to which his father invariably applied his. Some may smile, yet I am convinced it was the effect of observation.

What is a prayer fit for a child? His own wants in his own language. He asks his parents for what he wants in his own words, and is as able to pray to God. Instances of most appropriate and touching petitions, by children of tender years, have come under my notice. One may be adduced, which was related to me by a friend. A little girl equivocated on some occasion, but the next moment a sense of her sin flashed across her mind, and, bursting into tears, she exclaimed, in horror, "Oh, I have told a lie! I have told a lie !" Forgiven by her mother, she was still unhappy, and spent the whole night in agonizing prayer for God's pardon.

A "too early acquaintance with the name may prevent through all after years a friendship with, and due appreciation of, the Being." The parent who teaches his child the name, and nothing of the Being, neglects his duty, and fulfils only an atom of it. "C. C. P." will not reason from this that no child should be taught to pray? No wonder that the child becomes a hypocrite, that he "lifts the voice to God when the heart does not follow it." It is not very like good reasoning to conclude because a mother tells her child to read the Bible, and herself reads novels, and a father bids the little one not to ask for scripture knowledge, as it interrupts him in reading his business letters on the Lord's-day; and another scrupulously hears his child repeat a prayer, and prays not himself, and the children grow up, believing not the Bible, and neglecting prayer; that it is a bad practice to teach children to pray and read God's word.

Yet" C. C. P." assumes that the infidelity of religiously trained children arises from their having been taught to pray at a too early age. To prove it he asks, "Why do the miracles of daily nature excite no

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passing interest in our breasts ?" answers, "We witnessed them first at an age when we could not comprehend them, and, contented with the vague ideas we then obtained, we have in later years never even thought of procuring more than this misty, superficial, unsatisfactory knowledge." He considers there is a complete analogy between the two cases. His answer is not satisfactory. He takes the effect of a bad early training as the first cause, whereas the bad early training is the cause of the "vague ideas" obtained, and must, of necessity, be the cause why we feel no thrill of deepest interest at the sight of beautiful nature. Wherefore, if there is any analogy between the cases it must be, that bad training produces indifference to natural and divine things, and, as a matter of course, good training is likely to produce (as a means) good results.

What will our friend say of children who die before they arrive at any age he may think best for teaching them the plan of salvation, supposing them to be brought up under his direction? That they are saved? That they never sinned? That they had no responsibility?

My mind is almost incapable of believing that he will follow out his reasoning on the second "kindred subject." It confounds me. According to it, for the gospel to be successful it must be quite novel and strange, and the night must be very dark, as if the Holy Spirit's work were limited to certain conditions.

I fear my note is much too long, yet have tried hard to be brief.

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To the Editors of "The Church." Dear Sirs,

I have just had my attention called to a letter in the November number of your periodical, in which a correspondent, writing on the subject of early religious instruction, makes reference to my name, and, although evidently in a very kind and brotherly spirit, makes a statement calculated to convey a wrong impression of my views relative to the subject of his communication.

I do not feel it well to teach children set forms of prayer, but I do most entirely differ from your correspondent as to his views, or rather suggestions, in reference to early religious instruction.

I consider it right to speak to children at a very early age of the truths revealed in the scriptures, and that, like Timothy of old, they should be taught to know the Scriptures from the earliest dawn of reason (2 Tim. iii. 14, 15)—àñò Сpéqous. At the same time, I would pray with them; talk to them about prayer, and tell them that God, who sent his beloved Son to die for them, is willing to hear and answer the prayer even of a little child. I would endeavour to teach them to pray, even as the eagle teaches her young ones how to fly.

I may mention that a beloved little one, who was removed from me many years ago, when only about three years of age, manifested, before he was taken with his fatal illness, an evident interest in the simple truths of the Bible, a certain disposition for prayer, and a child-like reverence for God.

The object of this note is simply to correct the misapprehension of your correspondent, and to prevent the false impression which his statement is calculated to produce respecting my views and practice, in regard to the deeply important subject of his letter. I may just add, that in combining my name with that of my esteemed friend and fellow-labourer, Mr. George Müller, he uses terms of commendation to which I have no claim whatever. My esteemed brother has been, for many years past, singularly used for the temporal and spiritual benefit of children, particularly of destitute orphans, but the praise of this work does not at all rightfully belong to me. I cannot say with truth that I have been singularly successful in the case of

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To the Editors of "The Church." Dear Sirs,

May I request you to have the kindness to insert in "The Church," that the correspondent in your November number has been misinformed, in stating that I would not commence the religious instruction of children before they are nine or ten years old. I do not approve of teaching a form of prayer at any period of life; but I consider it a matter of deep moment, to seek to instil into the minds of children from their earliest days the truths of the Holy Scriptures, and to impress upon them the necessity of prayer. This has appeared to me for more than twenty years so important, that I have taken orphans under my care from their earliest days, for the very purpose of seeking to bring them up from a very tender age in the fear of the Lord, as experience bad shewn to me how greatly corrupted children might be, though they had attained only to the age of nine or ten years.

It is not my object to enter upon the reasons why 1 act as I do, but simply to state that your readers have been misinformed concerning my views in reference to this point.

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Notices of Books.

THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET DANIEL, WITH

NOTES EXPLANATORY AND CRITICAL. By ALBERT BARNES. 2 Vols. Blackie and Son.

First of all, it gives us great satisfaction to read in the preface to this edition the following announcement, "The copyright of the Notes on Daniel for Great Britain and Ireland, has been assigned by the author to Messrs. Knight and Hawkes, and this edition is now published under arrangement with them." We presume, therefore, that, whatever editions may be issued, there will be on the part of the publisher a full,

practical recognition of the writer's claim to a fair portion of the proceeds of his honourable toil. This is as it should be.

Of the Commentary itself it would be difficult to speak too highly. Barnes appears to us a far better commentator on the Old Testament than even on the New and we are inclined to pronounce this Exposition of Daniel the best of his works. Three different classes of readers will probably take it up. There will be first the critical student, possessing some knowledge of the attacks that have been made of late years upon the genuineness of this part of

scripture. Then there will be the enquirer into prophecy, anxious to know the commentator's interpretation of Daniel's gorgeous symbols. And the majority, doubtless, will take up the book as plain Bible readers, solicitous for something to instruct them, and to do their hearts good. Students of each class will find what they require. The critical investigator has here a summary, remarkably complete, concise, and fair, of the objections raised, in Germany and elsewhere, against the book, together with a very able refutation. The prophetical student will soon see that Mr. Barnes adheres to the old "Protestant" interpretation; and that he supports it by reasonings such as even those who, like ourselves, do not always assent to them, will find it no easy task to refute. The "Little horn" (chap. vii.) is explained of the papacy; its period is computed from the gift to Pope Stephen by Pepin, King of France, of the Exarchate of Ravenna, A.D. 752; and comprising 1260 years, is to end, of course, A.D. 2012. But the gem of the whole book is, undoubtedly, the exposi tion of the seventy weeks (chap. ix), a prophecy, the unquestionable application of which to the Messiah, Mr. Barnes establishes and illustrates in a style most lucid, forcible, and felicitous. The general reader will find useful information mingled with the plain, practical enforcement of truth, on every page. We need not add, that we heartily recommend this exposition to all who love and study the Word of God. And, with regard to the edition before us, though we have not had an opportunity of comparing it with others, we are bound to say that nothing could be more thoroughly or satisfactorily executed. The additional matter (comprising able dissertations by Professor Stuart, many valuable notes by the editor, useful maps, and numerous engravings, not to mention the book of Maccabees, which are printed in an appendix for facility of comparison with the prophecy), is all illustrative and useful. We know not the editor; but to our mind it is far better to be able to trace a thoughtful, well cultivated, and judicious mind at work all through the book, than merely to read an imposing or popular name upon the title-page.

THE YOUTHFUL ENQUIRER COUNSELLED AND ENCOURAGED. By HENRY W. BARPp. 148. London: William

NETT. Freeman.

There are many things in this volume which, in our view, are opposed to right

views both of philosophy and religion. There is much in it from which we altogether dissent, and much more that we regard as false by exaggeration; and we could wish that our friend had kept it the full Horatian period in his desk, to give it the advantage of the corrections and modifications, which doubtless time would have shewn him to be desirable. Still, we are not disposed to join in the cry of "Heresy," which Mr. Barnett so justly and unsparingly denounces. Almost all in the work from which we differ is the result of a reaction from something equally wrong, often more wrong, on the other side. It is evidently the work of an earnest, thoughtful, and, we trust, also, a devout mind. The book is meant to conduct the Youthful Enquirer through scepticism to intelligent belief. We predict that Mr. Barnett will yet write a book,--not cleverer than this, for that it need not be,-but which will be much more calculated to attain the object, and which we shall be able with less of qualification to commend.

THE BIBLE CLASS MAGAZINE FOR 1853. NOTES ON SCRIPTURE LESSONS FOR 1853. THE CHILD'S OWN MAGAZINE FOR 1853. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS REGISTER AND DIARY FOR 1854.

THE JUVENILE YEAR BOOK, AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE MISCELLANY FOR THE YOUNG. London: Sunday School Union.

With one exception, these are all publications which we have been accustomed year by year to recommend to our readers, and they are, also, so far as we can see, aswell worth approval now, as on any former occasion when they have come before us. The exception is, "The Child's Own Magazine," which is new to us, of which, indeed, this appears to be the first volume, and it seems equal to the run of children's periodicals, of which, however, we must confess, we have never yet met with one which altogether met our idea of what such a thing should be. Perhaps we may try, sooner or later, to furnish one according to that idea ourselves.

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A FIVE POUND NOTE. BY MRS. J. B. WEBB. Pp. 227. London: Clarke, Beeton, & Co.

A very interesting and instructive littletale, which all who know "Naomi" are sure to read with avidity. It would be a nice book for a winter evening's fireside, when the family are drawn all around it.

STRIKES, VIEWED IN RELATION ΤΟ THE INTERESTS OF CAPITAL AND LABOUR; A FEW THOUGHTS ON THE PRESENT INDUSTRIAL CRISIS. BY HENRY DUNCKLEY, M.A. Pp. 36. London: A. Hall & Co.

An able, but we are bound to add, not to us altogether satisfactory brochure, by the author of the Free Trade Essay, which. has just obtained the prize of two hundred

and fifty guineas. Those who understand the subject will see what are the topics discussed, from the following list of headings to the respective sections. Our Present Industrial Position. The Might of Labour. Labour has its Rights. Capital. Capitalists. Strikes. Strikes Cannot Raise Wages. Strikes Always Depress Wages. Tyranny of Trades' Unions. Conclusion.

A Page for the Young.

ADALINE GREEN, THE PRAYING
GIRL.

CHAPTER 1.

Joseph and Adaline Green' were playing in the front yard of their father's cottage. Ada had brought out the whole furniture of her baby-house, doll, and doll's bed, and the little table and chairs, and her nice little tea-things. They had played at "keeping house and keeping shop," going a visiting and receiving visitors; Adaline all the time yielding everything to Joseph's arrangement. The little boy being rather a peevish, fretful child, his sister was glad to be anything, or nothing, so that she could keep him in humour to play with. her. At length Joseph began to get uneasy. "How hot the sun shines here, Ada," said he, "I am tired of playing." Ada had just tucked her doll into its bed for a scarlet fever, and the little boy was to be the doctor that was going to cure it, and she didn't like to put dolly away without curing. "Oh, Josey," said she, "it is nice and shady round the corner of the house, let's carry the things there and play." Joseph sat silent on the green bank; but as he did not absolutely refuse, the little girl gathered up the things and carried them round the house. A happy thought struck her just as she had got everything arranged. "Oh, Josey, dear," said she, "you be out there in the carriage, and I will come and call you Doctor B., and ask you to come in." But Joseph was crosser than ever. I will tell you why, he was dissatisfied with himself for disappointing his sister, he knew it was unkind in him to let her carry all the things round alone, and so the silly boy resolved she should do all for nothing. "Doctor B." called Ada, in her most polite tone; but Doctor B. was deaf as an adder. After a few more vain attempts to interest him in

her case, she gave up the hope of winning the boy back to play; she knew by bitter experience, that his sullen fits must have their course. But Adaline was a child that never let trifles disturb her. A sweet little honey-gatherer she was, and one (her mother said) that would make sunshine in the darkest day.

"Well, Dolly," said the patient girl, after vainly trying to rouse the doctor, "ma must cure you herself; I dare say I can, for Mrs. May had no doctor to Ellen, and she got well of the fever." So Ada affected to make some sage tea, and sweat the little one, which appeared so well, that in a short time she was able to remove her, furniture and all, into the house, and up stairs.

All this time Joseph sat on the green bank switching his little whip, and feeling as unpleasant as ill-natured people generally do, especially if they have been disobliged. He heard his sister sing a sweet lullaby to her sick doll, and when in her imagination the baby had recovered, how lightly she carolled some merry little song as she removed her play-house to the chamber. "How in the world can Ada sing all the time, I wonder," said the impatient boy; "mother says it is because she is lighthearted, but I should think she was lightheaded. There she goes with her basket for chips, to boil the tea-kettle; she might have asked me to help her, for though I don't like to play baby-house all the time, I am willing to work now father is sick, and mother has to nurse him.'

Joseph walked slowly and sullenly towards the house. "Look here, Josey," said his sister, "don't make a bit of noise, for mother don't know 'tis five o'clock, and I am going to get the tea all myself, just to please her, and then call her out;" so saying, the little girl drew out the table very softly, and spread the cloth, and put on two cups for her father and mother to drink

tea, and two little mugs for herself and Joseph to have their milk in.

"You need not put that nasty mug for me to drink from," said her brother, testily, "I shall have tea, and a cup and saucer." "Why, Bub, the mug is not nasty," said Ada, laughing.

"Well, naɛty or clean, I shan't drink milk all the time."

Ada didn't want to dispute the point; young as she was, she had learned to "leave off strife before it was meddled with," and she took her plates and went into the cellar to get some butter and a loaf of bread, and then she went softly into her mother's room and asked her "if she would please walk down to tea."

"And so my children have got a nice tea ready alone," said Mrs. Green, coming into the kitchen, and looking very happy. "Which of them will carry father his tea?"

Ada looked at her brother, thinking, perhaps, he would like to do that, as mother seemed to suppose he had been helping her; but Josey had not got pleasant yet, and stood looking from the window, and so the little girl took up the tray containing her father's tea, and carried it to his room.

“Why, Ada," said her mother, when she had returned and taken her seat at the table, "how you have burned your neck in the sun this afternoon! where was your bonnet?"

"Oh, I was keeping house, and couldn't wear it; no one wears a bonnet keeping house," said Ada, laughing.

"Ada looks like a negro girl beside Ellen May," growled Joseph.

Ellen is sick," said his sister; "you wouldn't have me like her with her pale face and blue veins, her poor crooked back and weak limbs, and then to think that she will never walk a step. Mrs. Rowe said she should think Mrs. May would hope she might never get up from the scarlet fever."

"Mrs. Fowe is a stupid old woman," said Joseph, with warmth, "and deserves

to have the scarlet fever all her days. I am sure if Ellen was my sister I should love her very much, and would hand her in the little carriage or do anything for her."

"Perhaps," said Mrs. Green, "you and Edward May had better change sisters, for Mrs. May was remarking how happy you were to have a healthy sister to play with; she said that Eddy sometimes got tired of being confined to poor Ellen, though he was too kind to let her know it. She says he will leave play any time to come to her, and has fixed a long rod with a bright flag on the end of it, for her to wave out of the window for him; no matter how interesting his play, if Ellen's flag is waving, Eddy is off, and then he will sit by her couch for hours together, handing her pictures and explaining them, bringing books and reading to her; maps and globes are brought forward, and then when she is tired, nobody but Edward can put them all into their place again."

Joseph was silent, for conscience was contrasting his own conduct with that of Ellen's brother; after a while, willing to justify himself, he remarked, "that a fellow must be very unkind that was not good to a sick sister."

"True, my son," said Mrs. Green, "but a child who indulges ill-nature and unkindness under one circumstance, will soon do so under any. It is not things outward that make little or grown people unpleasant, it is an unhappy disposition, nursed and fostered in the bosom, till it becomes a settled habit. It is a dreadful disease, my children: crooked spines and shrivelled limbs are nothing to it, for these are not faults, but misfortunes, which may become sanctified to the soul, and help to prepare it to dwell with the good and happy for ever. But ill-nature lets in a train of evil spirits into the heart, anger, revenge, and jealousy, and a real troop of fiends. Oh, I hope we shall never get acquainted with them."

(To be continued.)

Miscellaneous.

A STRONG CHURCH "A church may be what the world calls a strong church in point of numbers and influence. A church may be made up of men of wealth, men of intellect, men of power, high born men, and men of rank and fashion; and being so com

posed, may be, in a worldly sense, a very strong church. There are many things that such a church can do. It can launch ships, and support seminaries. It can diffuse intelligence, can uphold the cause of benevolence, can maintain an imposing array of

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