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them in their own strength, forgetting that we are weak and frail, and unable to do any thing that is good of ourselves. If, then, you sincerely desire to do right, you must pray earnestly that God will be pleased to assist you; and this prayer, if offered with a sincere and humble heart, we may reasonably hope will be granted, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Saviour.

You may sometimes hear foolish persons say, when told of a fault, that they cannot help it; that it is their nature to do so. This is sad self-deceit. Evil indeed is our nature; but we must never suppose, that a sinful nature is to be our excuse for "continuing in sin;" it is rather the strongest of all arguments for us to seek for divine grace, that we may be "daily renewed by God's Holy Spirit," and thus become " new creatures in Christ Jesus."

There is a great difference between one who is influenced by the Spirit of Christ's Religion, and one who is not. The Christian is constantly striving against his faults, is in the constant habit of self-examination and prayer, and is sincerely sorry and penitent when he is so unhappy as to have done wrong; the other is utterly negligent and careless about all his duties, and takes no pains to forsake his sins. N. L. H.

THE LEGACY.

To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor. SIR,

THINKING the following incident might interest. some of your readers, I send it for the use of your valuable little work.

It was late one winter's evening, when I was summoned from my cheerful fire-side, to visit one of my

parishioners who was supposed to be dying. As I gently ascended the narrow stair-case which led to the apartment of the poor invalid, I heard, at intervals, the sound of a feeble voice. I felt unwilling, by my sudden entrance, to put a stop to the utterance of those last wishes and feelings which affection cherishes so fondly; and I paused a few minutes at the half-open door. I perceived, by the faint light of a candle, at the farther end of the room, that the poor man was supported by his wife. His daughter stood near him, and his two sons were kneeling at the foot of the bed, giving vent to their feelings in sobs and tears: "My dear children," he faintly said, "don't grieve so ;-I am only going home a little before you ;-comfort your poor mother. I die in peace, because I hope that, for the sake of Jesus Christ I shall go to Heaven ;and that God will take care of my wife and children. -I am very poor, I have nothing to leave you, that is worth 'your caring for, but this blessed book ; laying his emaciated hand upon a well-worn Bible, "it has been my great comfort in all my misfortunes; -read it often;-it will make you happy;-pray to God to make you understand it;-you cannot have a greater prize;-accept its offers, and live as if you loved it, and we shall meet again:"-Here, quite overcome by the effort he had made, he sunk exhausted on his pillow. I was struck by the solemnity of the scene; but, recollecting what had brought me to the house, I entered the apartment. The old man's eyes brightened when he saw me, he extended his hand, I pressed it in silence, I believe he understood my meaning. We offered up our prayers, and I took my leave, promising to call at an early hour the following day.

Returning home, I could not help wishing that all my cottage friends felt the comforts of religion as much as John Bennett's family: I had long observed with pleasure their regular attendance at Church, and their decent and orderly behaviour on

every occasion. I thought of the simple legacy he had left them, and it rose in my estimation, when I reflected how I had seen its promises sustaining the soul in her last conflict, and pointing the departing spirit to its better home, supporting the wife under her heavy trial, and teaching the afflicted children to trust in their Heavenly Father. Had he been permitted to leave them riches, they might have proved snares and temptations; at least, when surrounded with the things of this life, they would have found it a more difficult task to "set their affections on things above:" but this book tells them of treasures beyond the reach of corruption; treasures which they can never desire too earnestly; and which, when once obtained, will be enjoyed for ever. He might well tell them that they could not have a greater prize: I wish we were all more sensible of its worth, and more thankful to God for his "unspeakable gift:" possessed of this, we may address the world, and all its riches, in the language of the pious Cowper:

Give what thou can'st, without it we are poor ;
And with it rich, take what thou wilt away.

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"CHRISTIANS cannot be in earnest," said the late excellent Bishop of Calcutta, "if they have no wish to extend the blessings of Christianity to others." Great pains are taken by Christians in our days, to give the light of the Gospel to nations who are sitting in heathen darkness. There is much difference of opinion as to the best way of doing this; but none, as far as we have observed, as to the necessity of doing it in some way.

From the different dispositions of men, it is quite

vain to expect, that all good people should think alike, as to the best means of promoting an object, even though they all agree in the importance of that object. On the subject of missions, however, whatever a person's disposition may be, he cannot want an opportunity in these days of promoting this great cause. But let us remember, that whilst we are endeavouring to spread Christianity abroad, we have all a great duty, likewise, belonging to us at home; it belongs to us, and it deeply behoves us too, to examine whether we are ourselves living by the rules of that Religion, which we are so anxious to teach to others. If we were the means of bringing a heathen family to the profession of the Christian faith, one of the first methods we should use to keep them stedfast in that faith would be to teach them to pray. But are we really earnest in this duty, this wisdom, this privilege ourselves? It was once the general custom of a Christian household to unite in family prayer; and a chapel was formerly a necessary part of an English gentleman's house. It is a great gratification to perceive, that this excellent custom is reviving; and that many a family in this country, which may well be called great, seems more earnestly to aim at the higher title of being good. But the duty of family prayer belongs to all ranks; to the poor as well as to the rich; it should be the practice of the "Cottage," as well as of the Palace.

It is one very great recommendation to our National Schools, that the business of every day begins and ends with prayer: and this custom, learned in the school, has been frequently carried to the homes of the children's parents. The benevolent Managers of the Central School, at Baldwin's Gardens, have encouraged and invited the parents to attend the meetings of their Committees, that the influence and examples of the parents at home might unite with the exertions made in the schools, to train up

the children in the way they should go. Family prayer is pointed out to them as one great means of obtaining the Divine blessing, of keeping themselves and their children from the snares of vice, and of leading them in the paths of holiness.

In conversing with our "Cottage-friends" on this subject, we have frequently heard them say, that they had no book of Family Prayers. This want might be easily relieved; for there are many excellent and cheap ones on the list of the "Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge," and many others to be found, that are not on that list. The Common Prayer-Book, too, of our Church, will supply prayer for family worship, as well as for public worship. The General Confession,-the Lord's Prayer,-the Collect for the week (with the additional ones for Saints' Days and other Festivals), the Collects "for Peace" and " for Grace," "the Prayer for all Sorts and Conditions of Men," "the General Thanksgiving," " the Prayer of St. Chrysostom," with the "Grace of our Lord, &c." would make an excellent form for Morning Prayer. The same would serve likewise for the Evening, except that the Second and Third Collects for Evening Prayer, should be used instead of those for "Peace" and "Grace." This plan may indeed be varied, and other Collects or Prayers, from the Prayer-Book, may be used, besides these, or instead of them, according to circumstances, or for the sake of variety. I only mention these to shew, that no person, who has got a Common-Prayer-Book, need say, that he has not got a Family-Prayer-Book.

I shall moreover introduce a Morning and an Evening Prayer, which I have received from a Correspondent. They are printed in a little book, called "The Way to be Happy," which I have already laid before my readers *. They are prayers for private

Vol. II. Page 210..

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