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it be to the faithful shepherd to hear the solemn bell announce the departure of a soul, of whose approach to the gates of death he had received no intimation. It is surely a duty to acquaint the Minister with the sickness of his parishioners, when they are in a state to derive benefit from his visits, and not to put it off till the mind is enfeebled and distracted with pain, and the soul struggling for release.

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The other subject which I would beg to have noticed is the disuse into which the custom of desiring the prayers of the congregation has lamentably fallen. It is true, we hear, in towns, several names repeated, generally of tients in hospitals, probably unknown to any one in the church, but in country villages, where the practice might be attended with more beneficial results, from the general interest felt in the case of the individual, it is too frequently disregarded.

For many reasons, be it remembered, it is desirable that the request should proceed from the afflicted person, rather than be suggested by the Clergyman.-Yours, &c. O. T. K.

EXTRACTS FROM DIFFERENT AUTHORS, WITH AN EXPLANATION OF SOME OF THE WORDS.

Psalm xii. 2. 66 his neighbour."

They talk of vanity, every one with

When men cease to be faithful to their God, he who expects to find them so to each other will be much disappointed. The primitive sincerity will accompany the primitive piety in her flight from the earth; and then interest will succeed conscience in the regulation of human conduct, till one man cannot trust another further than he holds him by that tie. Hence it is, that though many are infidels themselves, yet few choose to have their families and dependents such, rightly judging that true Christians are the only persons to be depended on, for the exact discharge of social duties.-Bp. Horne.

Ver. 7. "The words of the Lord are pure words," &c. The church, rejoices in the promises of God her Sa

viour, because they are such as she can confide in. His words are not like those of deceitful boasting man, but true and righteous altogether. Often have they been put to the test', in the trials of the faithful, like silver committed to the furnace', in an earthen crucible; but like silver in its most refined and exalted purity, found to contain no dross of imperfection, no alloy of fallibility in them. The words of Jehovah are holy in his precepts, just in his laws, gracious in his promises, significant in his institutions, true in his narrations, and infallible in his predictions. What are the thousands of gold and silver compared to the treasures of the sacred page.Bp. Horne.

Judges iv. 1. "The children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord."

Well might we wonder at the frequent relapses of the children of Israel into idolatry, did we not find the same evil propensity in ourselves, the same proneness to forsake God, and idolize the creature. Ease and prosperity are apt to produce in us as ungrateful returns to our great Benefactor, as they did in the Jews. Often were they delivered from the smart of punishment,-but the next account of them is, that they "did evil again." Again they are punished; again they cry to God; again they are delivered. Thus, likewise, when affliction presses us sore, we cry unto the Lord in our trouble, and He saveth us from our distress. Yet no sooner are our fears and dangers over, than we abuse the mercy and start aside like a broken bow. Thus our lives are made up, as was the history of the Jews, of acts of disobedience and of repentances; of judgments and mercies; chequered, as it were, with sin and punishment, with forgiveness and sin.-Wogan.

There cannot be a right knowledge of God, and at the same time an habitual practice of any wickedness. And therefore, it is natural enough for those, who are resolved, at all events, to abide in their evil courses, to endeavour, if possible, to lay aside all religious principles,

1 Test, trial, examination.

2 Furnace, a great fire for melting and refining metals.

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which, if insufficient to restrain, will be sure, at least, to be very troublesome to them. For this cause they are ready to say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways." Job xxi. 14.—Dr. Blayney.

Q. What is the meaning of the word primitive?

A. Original, established from the beginning, the model after which other things are formed. Primitive Christianity was formed after the model of Christ and his apostles, and it should serve as a model to us.

Q. What is the meaning of the word infidel?

A. Infidel, an unbeliever, one who will not believe in Christ.

Q. What is the meaning of the word crucible?

A. Crucible, a chemist's melting pot, made of earth capable of bearing extreme heat. They are called crucibles, because formerly marked with a cross.

Q. What is the meaning of the word dross?

A. Dross, corruption, the refuse of metals, the leavings, after the better part is taken away. Wicked persons are likened to dross, they are useless, and tend to corrupt others. Isai. xxii. 25. Ps. cxix. 119. Ezek. xxii. 18. 22.

Q. Why is the word of God compared to the most refined silver?

A. Because there is no dross, error, or vanity, to be found in it; and because, the more it is tried, the more its value is discovered. 2 Sam. xxii. 31. Ps. cxix. 140.

Q. What is the meaning of the word to refine?

A. To refine, means to purge from dross, as founders' do metal, or as vintners' do wine from dregs. Christ is a refiner and purifier; by his word, by his Spirit, and by sanctified troubles, he purges out the dross of sinful defilement from the hearts of his people, and error and corruption from his church. Isa. xxv. 6. xlviii. 10. Zech. xiii. 9. Mal. iii. 2, 3.

Q. What is the meaning of the word alloy?

A. Alloy, baser metal mixed with coinage, as silver

1 Founder, a melter of metals.

2 Vintner, a maker of wine.

mixed with gold, copper mixed with silver. Alloy takes away from the purity of that with which it is mixed.

Q. What is the meaning of the word fallibility?

A. Fallibility, possibility of error, uncertainty, liability to deceive. Infallible, which cannot fail, cannot admit of any doubt. Acts i. 3.

Q. What is the meaning of the word precepts?

A. Precept, a command, a guide, a rule of action; that which directs our practice. The real Christian, while he looks to Christ as the life, the truth, and the way, desires, above all things, to regulate his whole life by the Christian precepts.

Q. What is the meaning of the word institutions?

A. To institute means to place or appoint, for a particular end. The institution, or establishment of God's law, and of the ordinances of religion generally, are designed to train us up for heaven. The institutions of the Jewish church pointed to a Saviour to come, the institutions of the Christian church point to what that Saviour has actually done and suffered for us.

Q. What is the meaning of the word narration?

A. Narration, history, an account of something that has been done. Gen. vi. vii. viii. we have the history of Noah and the Flood, with the reasons for which the world was drowned; this is a narration.

Q. What is the meaning of the word predictions? A. Predict, to tell beforehand, to prophesy. The predictions of Scripture are narrations of events before they came to pass. Holy men of God spake as they were inspired by the Holy Ghost. Gen. xviii. 17-21, contains predictions of the destruction of Sodom. To predict or to prophesy, signify, to tell, to expound, to declare what is to happen. Neh. vi. 12, the word prophecy means a declaration of future things. In Rom. xii. 6. and 1 Tim. iv. 14, it means the preaching of the Gospel. The Levitical institutions, as given to the Jews, are well explained in Cowper's Hymn.

"Israel, in ancient days,

Not only had a view

Of Sinai in a blaze,

But learn'd the Gospel too:
The types and figures were a glass,
In which they saw a Saviour's face.

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"The paschal sacrifice,
And blood-besprinkled door,
Seen with enlighten'd eyes,

And once applied with power,
Would teach the need of other blood,
To reconcile the world to God.

"The lamb, the dove, set forth
His perfect innocence,

Whose blood of matchless worth
Should be the soul's defence;
For He who can for sin atone,
Must have no failings of his own.

"The scape-goat on his head
The people's trespass bore,
And to the desert led,

Was to be seen no more.
In him, our Surety seem'd to say,
Behold, I bear your sins away.
"Dipt in his fellow's blood,
The living bird went free:
The type well understood,
Express'd the sinner's plea ;
Described a guilty soul enlarged,
And by a Saviour's death, discharged.

"Jesus, I love to trace,

Throughout the sacred page,
The footsteps of thy grace,
The same in every age:

O grant that I may faithful be

To clearer light vouchsafed to me."

(Sent by C. W.)

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ON PRAYER.

PRAYER is the application of the heart to God, and the internal exercise of love. St. Paul hath enjoined us to "Pray without ceasing," (1 Thess. v. 17.) and our Lord saith, "I say unto you all, Watch and pray;" and all therefore may and all ought to practise prayer.

Let all pray we should live by prayer, we should live by love. Children, draw near to your Father, and he will embrace you in the arms of love. Let all, without exception come; for Jesus Christ hath called all.

Prayer is the guide to perfection, and the sovereign good it delivers us from every vice, and obtains us every virtue; for the one great means to become perfect is to walk in the presence of God. He himself has said, "Walk in my presence, and be ye perfect," (Gen. xvii. 1.

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