Mrs. Dudley told her children that the heathen had not been taught as they had, that God is a Spirit, and that they had never learned the commandment, "Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments."

"I don't wonder that the missionaries go to them," was the feeling which impressed itself on the mind of Willie, as he thought of the ignorance and degradation of the heathen. He loved, himself, to hear about God, and our blessed Saviour, and he knew God required a pure and spiritual worship. He knew God was the creator of the world, and that his power and glory could not well be represented or conceived by man. He had often heard of the heathen, and had read about their idols; but to see a stone head which had been actually an object of religious worship, made it seem much more real to him than ever before, that there are many people who have never learned to worship the true God.

Willie has always had a great reverence for the Deity. Several years ago he was reading a description of one of the idols of the Hindoos. The picture was disgustingly repulsive. He went to Mrs. Dudley with his book, saying, "Mother, I don't like to call g-o-d God here; I want to call it d-o-g, for I don't think it is right to call such a thing God."

Perhaps Willie will some day be a missionary, and preach the glad tidings of salvation to those who are now sitting in darkness, and in the shadow of death. But if he is not a missionary himself, I trust he will never forget to do what he can for those who, far from their homes and their friends, are fulfilling Christ's last command, to " 'go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

All christians cannot be missionaries, but they can all do something to spread a knowledge of true religion throughout the world. They can contribute of their property to this noble purpose. Our heavenly Father accepts the smallest gifts, offered in

love. We, surely, who live in comfortable homes, and are surrounded by so much that is pleasant, should never forget those who, in foreign lands, are preaching the "unsearchable riches of Christ."

If our Saviour were now upon the earth, I suppose, dear children, you think it would be a great pleasure to minister to his wants, and provide him with food or clothing, or anything he might need. It is delightful to know that what we do for those who love him, he accepts as done to himself. In his Holy Word he says, "Inasmuch as ye have 1 done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

A GARDEN OVERRUN WITH
WEEDS.

"Father, I don't like to go to school,'* said Harry Williams, one morning. “I wish you would let me always stay at home. Charles Parker's father don't make him go to school."

Mr. Williams took his little boy by the hand, and said kindly to him," Come, my son, I want to show you something in the garden."

Harry walked into the garden with his father, who led him along until they came to a bed in which peas were growing, the vines supported by thin branches that had been placed in the ground. Not a weed was to be seen about their roots, not even disfiguring the walk around the bed in which they had been planted.

We

"See how beautifully these peas are grow-> ing, my son," said Mr. Williams. "How clean and healthy the vines look! shall have an abundant crop. Now let me show you the vines in Mr. Parker's garden. We can look at them through a great hole in his fence."

Mr. Williams then led Harry through at the garden gate and across the road, to look at Mr. Parker's pea-vines, through a hole in the fence. The bed in which they were growing was near the road, so they had no difficulty in seeing it. After looking into the garden for a few moments, Mr. Williams said,

"Well, my son, what do you think of Mr. Parker's pea-vines ?"

"Oh, father!" replied the little boy, "I never saw such poor looking peas in my life! There are no sticks for them to run upon, and the weeds are nearly as high as the peas themselves. There won't be half a crop !"

"Why are they so much worse than ours, Harry?"

Because they have been left to grow as they please. I suppose Mr. Parker just planted them, and never took any care of them afterwards. He has neither taken out the weeds, nor helped them to grow right."

"Yes, that is just the truth, my son. A garden will soon be overrun with weeds and briers, if it is not cultivated with the greatest care. And just so it is with the human garden. This precious garden must be trained and watered, and kept free from Children's weeds, or it will run to waste.

minds are like garden-beds, and they must be carefully tended, and even more carefully than the choicest plants. If you, my son, were never to go to school, nor have good seeds of knowledge planted in your mind, it would, when you became a man, resemble the weed-covered, neglected bed we have just been looking at, instead of the beautiful one in my garden. Would you think me right to neglect my garden as Mr. Parker neglects his ?"

"Oh, no, father; your garden is a good garden, but Mr. Parker's is all overrun with weeds and briers. It won't yield half as much as yours will."

"Or, my son, do you think I would be right, if I neglected my son, as Mr. Parker does his son, allowing him to run wild, and his mind uncultivated, to become over- : grown with weeds?"

Little Harry made no reply; but he understood pretty clearly what his father

meant.

"I send you to school," Mr. Williams continued, "in order that the garden of your mind may have good seeds sown in it, › and that these seeds may spring up and grow, and produce plentifully. Now, which would you prefer, to stay at home from school, and so let the garden of your mind be overrun with weeds, or go to school and have this garden cultivated?”

"I would rather go to school," said Harry." But, father, is Charles Parker's mind overrun with weeds?"

"I am afraid that it is. If not, it certainly will be, if his father does not send him to school. For a little boy not to be sent to school is a great misfortune, and I hope you will think the privilege of going to school a very great one indeed."

Harry Williams listened to all his father. said, and, what was better, thought about it too. He never again asked to stay at home from school.

EARTH AND HEAVEN.-We see then the difference between a saint in heaven and a saint upon earth. The former may abandon himself to such feelings and such movements as come at pleasure; for he has no other pleasure than to do the will of God, and to rejoice in the contemplation of his unspotted glory. The latter cannot with safety so abandon himself. It is true that there is an ingredient in his nature, now under an advancing progress of regeneration, which is altogether on the side of godliness; and were this left unresisted by any opposing influence, he might be spared all the agonies of dissolution, and set him down at once among the choirs and the companies of paradise. But there is another ingredient of his nature, still under an unfinished process of regeneration, and which is altogether on the side of ungodliness; and were this left without the control of his new and better principle, sin would catch the defenceless moment, and regain the ascendancy from which she had been disposted. Now, it is death which comes in as the deliverer. It is death that conducts us from the state of a saint on earth to the state of a saint in heaven; but not till we are so conducted are we gafe to abandon

ourselves for a single instant to the spon. taneity of our own inclinations; and we utterly mistake our real circumstances in the world,-we judge not aright of what we have to do, and of the attitude in which we ought to stand,-we lay ourselves open to the assaults of a near and lurking enemy, and are exposed to the most humiliating overthrows, and most oppressive visitations of remorse and wretchedness,-if, such being our actual condition upon earth, we go to sleep, or to play, among its besetting dangers; if we ever think of the post that we occupy being any other than the post of armour and watchfulness; or, falsely imagining that there is but one spiritual ingredient in our nature, altogether on the side of holiness, instead of two, whereof the other is still alive. and on the side of sin, we ever let down the guardianship, and the jealousy, and the lowliness of mind, and the prayers for succour from on high, which such a state of things so urgently and so imperiously demands-Chalmers.

PRACTICAL PRAYER-In the vicinity of B-lived a poor man, depending for support upon his daily labour. His wife fell sick, and not being able to hire a nurse, he was obliged to confine himself to the sick bed

and the family. His means of support being thus cut off, he soon found himself in need. Having a wealthy neighbour near, he determined to go and ask for two bushels of wheat, with a promise to pay as soon as his wife became so much better that he could leave her and return to his work. Accordingly he took his bag, went to his neighbour's, and arrived while the family were at morning prayer. As he sat on the door-stone, he heard the man pray very earnestly that God would clothe the naked, feed the hungry, relieve the distressed, and comfort all that mourn. The prayer concluded, the poor man stepped in and made known his business, promising to pay with the avails of his first labours. The farmer was very sorry he could not accommodate him, for he had promised to lend a large sum of money, and had depended upon his wheat to make it out; but he presumed neighbour would let him have it. With a tearful eye and a sad heart the poor man turned away. As soon as he left the house, the farmer's little son stepped up and said, "Father, did you not pray that God would clothe the naked, feed the hungry, relieve the distressed, and comfort mourners?" "Yes; why ?" "Because if I had your wheat, I would answer that prayer. It is needless to add that the christian father called back his suffering neighbour, and gave him as much as he needed. Now, christian readers, do you thus answer your own prayers?

THE BLESSED COUNTRY.-So much as moments are exceeded by eternity, and the sighing of man by the joys of an angel, and a salutary frown by the light of God's countenance, and a few frowns by the infinite and eternal hallelujahs, so much are the sorrows of the godly to be undervalued in respect of what is deposited for them in the treasures of eternity. Their sorrows can die, but so cannot their joys. And, if the blessed martyrs and confessors were asked concerning their past sufferings, and their present rest, and the joys of their certain expectations, you should hear them glory in nothing but in the mercies of God, and in the cross of the Lord Jesus. Every chain is a ray of light, and every prison is a palace, and every loss is the purchase of a kingdom, and every affront in the cause of God is an eternal honour, and every day of sorrow is a thousand years of comfort, multiplied with a never-ceasing numeration; days without nights, joys without sorrow, sanctity without sin, charity without atain, possession without fear, society without envying, communication of joys without lessening; and they shall dwell in a blessed country, where an enemy never entered, and from whence a friend never went away. Bp. Jeremy Taylor.

INCOMPREHENSIBILITY OF GOD. All the discoveries of modern science serve to exalt the Deity; but they do not contribute a single iota to the explanation of his purposes. They make Him greater, but they do not make Him more comprehensible. He is more shrouded in mystery than ever.

It is not Himself that we see, it is his workmanship and every new addition to its grandeur and to its variety, which philoso. phy opens to our contemplation, throws our understanding at a greater distance than before from the mind and conception of the sublime Architect. Instead of the God of a single world, we now see Him presiding, in all the majesty of his high attributes, over a mighty range of innumerable systems. To our little eye He is wrapped in more awful mysteriousness; and every new glimpse which astronomy gives us of the universe, magnifies, to the apprehension of our mind, that impassable barrier which stands between the councils of the Sovereign, and those fugitive beings who strut their evanescent hour in the humblest of its mansions. If this invisible being would only break that mysterious silence in which he has wrapped himself, we feel that a single word from his mouth would be worth a world of darkling speculations. Every new triumph which the mind of man achieves in the field of discovery binds us more firmly to our bible; and by the very proportion in which philosophy multiplies the wonders of God, do prize that book, on which the evidence of history has stamped the character of his authentic communication.Dr. Chalmers.

DOST THOU BOAST? Of what can we boast? See a man struggling amidst the angry waves of the sea, and where is his power? See him suddenly overtaken by accident and misfortune, and where his foresight? See how superficial are his proudest attainments, and where is his knowledge? See him shattered in mind and body, and where is his pride? See him reeking in his vices, and where is his dignity? See him infected with a loathsome disease, and where is his vanity? See him inflamed with passion, and where is his philosophy? See him toiling for uncertain and unsatisfying worldly wealth, and where is his nobility? See him selfish, jealous, envious, and where is his humanity? him forgetful of everything but the present, and where are his high-born hopes? See him dying impenitent, and where is his wisdom? See him driven in shame from the judgment-seat, and what is his eternity?, Surely every man walketh in a vain show; he is pursuing shadows; he is grasping the wind; he is feeding on husks; he has nothing. to be proud of. He never learns the true wisdom, until he learns to distrust himself, and cast himself on the mercy of his Saviour.

See

FAITH NECESSARY TO LIGHT.-No man shall ever behold the glory of Christ by sight hereafter, who does not in some measure behold it by faith here in this world. Grace is a necessary preparation for glory, and faith for sight. Where the subject (the soul) is not previously seasoned with grace and faith it is not capable of glory or vision. Nay, persons not disposed hereby unto it cannot desire it, whatever they pretend; they only deceive their own soul in supposing that so they do. Most men will:

say with confidence, living and dying, that they desire to be with Christ, and to behold his glory; but they can give no reason why they should desire any such thing,-only they think it somewhat that is better than to be in that evil condition which otherwise they must be cast into for ever, when they can be here no more. If a man pretend himself to be enamoured on, or greatly to desire, what he never saw, nor was ever represented unto him, he doth but doat on his own imaginations. And the pretended desires of many to behold the glory of Christ in Heaven, who have no view of it by faith whilst they are here in this world, are nothing but self-deceiving imaginations.-Owen.

LOVE. We may die without the knowledge of many truths, and be carried to Abraham's bosom; but if we die without love, what would knowledge avail us? Just as much as it avails the devil and his angels. I will not quarrel with you about my opinion; only see that your heart is right toward God, that you love the Lord Jesus Christ, that you love your neighbour, walk as your Master walked, and I desire no more. I am sick of opinions, I am weary to hear them, my soul loathes their frothy food. Give me solid, substantial religion; give me a humble lover of God and man, a man full of mercy and good fruits, a man laying himself out in works of faith, the patience of hope, the labour

THE MONTH.

of love. Let my soul be with such christians wheresoever they are, and whatsoever opinions they may hold. "He that doeth the will of my Father in heaven, the same is my brother, and my sister, and my mother."-John Wesley.

WHAT MAKES KNOWLEDGE VALUABLE. Knowledge is valuable according to its object and its use. The knowledge of trifles for trivial ends, is itself a trifle. The knowledge of things great and necessary for great and necessary ends, is the great and necessary knowledge. And therefore how unmeasurably must the knowledge of God and our eternal happiness excel the pedantic philosophy of the Gentiles.Baxter.

A REBUKE TO SLANDERERS.-"My dear friend, that man has been talking about you so again! He has been telling some of the awfulest lies you ever heard; why, he railed about you for an hour!'" And you heard it all, did you?" "Yes." Well, after this, just remember, that it takes two to make a slander,-one to tell a falsehood by way of detraction, and the other to listen

to it.'

THE HAPPIEST MAN. He is indeed the wisest and the happiest man who, by constant attention of thought, discovers the greatest opportunities of doing good, and with ardent and animated resolution breaks through every opposition, that he may imFrove those opportunities.-Doddridge.

The two great events of the month are 'the visit of the Emperor of France, and the renewal of the bombardment of Sebastopol. We refer to the former somewhat reluctantly as a great event, but it is undoubtedly so, as a renewal of the alliance between England and France; and as such it has, we believe, been regarded both by the Emperor himself and by the thousands who thronged around him. We could have wished indeed that France had had a more worthy representative. Louis Napoleon, though the successful and therefore powerful Emperor of France, is still the hero of the 2nd of December, and the man of the coup d'etat: and we cannot but feel humbled that so much fulsome adulation has been offered, by both the press and the people of this country, to a man whom both so recently characterised as an oath-breaker and a murderer. Such, however, is the reward of success. Englishmen always honour the successful man, and do not long remember the methods by which success has been secured. Probably, too, curiosity, and the presence of the Empress, had much to do with the thronging of the multitudes during Louis Napoleon's visit. It is worth while, after all, to see a man who has had such a history as the Emperor of France; and who can tell what he has yet before him ?

Almost simultaneously with the arrival of the Emperor, came the long expected news of the bombardment of Sebastopol. It commenced on the 9th of April, and at the time we write is still going on, though with so little of decided advantage to the allies, that it is impossible to tell what will be the result. Meantime the failure of the Vienna negotiations, which is, alas, now almost certain, throws us back upon war as the only solution of the great dispute with the Czar. The state of affairs appears still more complicated from the fact that Austria seems to be falling away from her alliance with the Western powers. It is an unnatural alliance, truly, and one that must always be attended with danger. We believe Kossuth will prove a true prophet, after all.

The Budget of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, just presented, is letting us somewhat into the secret of the cost of war. Eighty-six millions,-a tenth of the whole amount of the national debt,-is announced as the expenditure of the country for one year of war! The only way to meet it is by a loan, which will add still more to the debt, which has all along been such a curse. Our sugar, our tea, and our incomes, are also to be additionally taxed, to provide cannon balls, and powder, and soldiers, and ships of war. Surely the pecuniary argument is not a small one in favour of peace.

Eighty-six millions! It is a sum that would take a man who should count ten hours a day, and a hundred a minute, four years to count! It is a sum that would many a time over supply all that is asked for philanthropic or religious efforts throughout the world! When will the nations learn the folly of war? Pity that one ruthless despot should have the power of entailing such fearful misery upon other nations and the world!

Our readers have already heard of the struggle that is going on for the abolition of Church Rates. Sir W. Clay succeeded in introducing his bill on the 29th of March. It comes on for a second reading on the irst of May (to-day). We are glad to know that many of our churches have joined earnestly in the struggle, by petitioning in favour of Sir W. Clay's bill. If any have not yet done so, there may still be time. Nothing less than the entire abolition of the Rate will now be accepted by Dissenters. We trust that the time has come when this victory is to be given to us. If not, it is evident that it is not far distant. Let us do our part to hasten it on.

The Annual Denominational Meetings have been held in London at the close of the last month, and they were of the usual interesting character. It is a gratifying fact that, amidst the changes and tumults going on in the world, religious effort is still not neglected. While empires are struggling for supremacy, and wars and rumours of wars are abroad over the earth, we still go on seeking to advance the peaceful reign of our one king,-Jesus. May his reign be extended!

It is the one thing needed for the world, that it should be placed under his sway. The christian is the truest patriot, and the best philanthropist. Let christian work be everywhere successful, and, despite the failure of politicians, and the mismanagement of ministers, the world's work will be done!

GENERAL BAPTIST CONFERENCE.

Mr.

The General Baptist quarterly Conference was held at Halifax, April 10th, 1855. Mr. Wood, of Salford, opened the morning service by reading and prayer; and Mr. Tunnicliff, of Leeds, preached an excellent sermon, from Isaiah lix. 1. The conference was well attended, and the business commenced at two o'clock. Ingham, minister of the place, presided, and engaged in prayer. From the reports given, it was considered by a few, that some of the churches were in a better state than they had been for some time past; others were not considered to be in a good state. Since the preceding conference, two dear brethren have been removed by death, viz., the Rev. H. Hollinrake, of Birchcliffe, and the Rev. W. Robertshaw, of Burnley,-the former had been pastor of the church at Birchcliffe nearly fifty years; the latter had been at Burnley-lane not quite four years. Ile has left a widow and eight children to mourn his loss. The following resolution was agreed to:-"That we express our

deep sorrow at the removal by death of our esteemed brother, the Rev. W. Robertshaw, and our unfeigned sympathy with the bereaved family of our departed brother; and that we cordially recommend every church in this district, and in the connexion, to assist the church at Burnleylane in raising a fund for the relief of Mrs. Robertshaw and her eight fatherless children." A resolution was also passed in the conference, "recommending The Freeman newspaper to the notice and support of the members of the churches in the Yorkshire and Lancashire districts." Other important resolutions were passed, and the meeting closed a little before six. After tea, there was a meeting in the chapel, when several of the brethren gave short addresses.

CHELTENHAM.

Mr.

The church and congregation lately meeting in King-street chapel, under the pastoral care of the Rev. James Smith, having erected a neat and beautiful chapel, in Cambray, in that town, it was opened for the worship of God, on Tuesday, April 10th, 1855, when three sermons were preached, that in the morning by the Rev. Dr. A. Fletcher, of Finsbury, and those in the afternoon and evening by the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, of New Park-street. Spurgeon preached also on the following evening. The services were continued on the next Lord's-day, when Mr. Smith preached morning and afternoon, and the Rev. Thomas Haynes in the evening. The chapel is built in the Italian style, is freehold, and is vested in trust for the use of the Baptist denomination. It will accommodate about 1,100 persons, and has a dwelling-house attached to it. It is calculated that the entire cost will be about £4,000. Many of the ministers of the town and neighbourhood were present, and several took part in the services. The collections amounted to £201. 12s. 9d.

WINCHESTER.

The

On Tuesday, April 17th, the public recognition of the Rev. J. H. Tucker, as pastor of the church and congregation assembling in the above chapel, took place. In the afternoon a public service was held in the chapel. After singing and prayer, the Rev. Francis Wills, of Eagle Street Chapel, London, gave the charge to the minister, in his own peculiarly happy, affectionate, and telling style. The recognition prayer was then offered by the Rev. S. S. Pugh, of Southampton. Rev. T. Morris, of Whitchurch, then followed with counsels to the church, relative to the duties devolving upon them,counsels which, for their importance and utility, ought to have been heard by many of the churches of the present day. The Rev. William Thorn, Independent, closed the afternoon service with prayer. Afterwards the friends assembled again in the chapel, and partook of a tea, which had been kindly and gratuitously provided by