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Will the Lord ever come again from heaven?
Yes.

Prove this from Scripture.

1 Thess. iv, 16. "The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first."

What will Christ come to do?

To judge all people.

Prove this from Scripture.

Rom. xiv. part of verse 10. "We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ."

Who will rejoice on that day?

Saints.

What does our Lord tell us in Matt. xxv. 34? He will say to the righteous at the day of judg

ment

"Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

Then what is the prayer which you offer up at the end of this Hymn?

"O may I then with joy appear,

Before the Judge's face;

And with the bless'd assembly there,

Sing his redeeming grace!"

H.

We are very happy to hear that the Correspondent who has obligingly favoured us with these questions and answers is about to publish, separately, the whole of Watts's Hymns, upon the same plan. This will be a truly useful work in every school where Watts's Hymns are taught.

ED.

BENEFIT CLUBS.

Perhaps the following Letter, written by a Clergyman to a neighbouring gentleman, on the subject of Benefit Clubs, may supply some useful hints. :

MY DEAR SIR,

I THANK you for the support which you give to our Benefit Society, and will transfer your subscription to the treasurer. Unfortunately, the same mischievous spirit which opposes every thing intended to do good, is busy with our present scheme. When the Savings Bank was established, some poor persons were sure that it would be an injury to the poor. Against the Benefit Society objections are likewise made. Many persons cannot comprehend the possibility that motives may exist, unmixed with selfishness. No one can dislike the shameless mismanagement of some clubs more sincerely than I do. If there be no other choice than between the usual impious mixture of public worship and drunken festivity, on the one hand, and such a scheme as ours (in which the members never assemble) on the other, I should much prefer the latter: but, in the establishment of a new Benefit Society, where there were no peculiar local objections, I should suppose the best parts of both schemes to be easily reconcileable. For my own part, I should be glad to meet the poorest of my parishioners at church, and at dinner, once in the year. I should wish to diminish, as much as possible, that distinction between a clergyman and his neighbours, which education and habit have rendered, perhaps, too great. But, all this time, I am supposing that the friendly meeting could be regulated by the wiser and better members. Unless the clergyman could preserve the most perfect order and propriety, and rather increase the respect due to his situation, than diminish it, his presence would be far worse than useless. But let us consider that, in all this, there is no great difficulty: the clergyman establishes the

society, the more respectable parishioners are members of it, the arrangements and the regulations are made by them. In my last parish, it was customary for the club to attend divine service, and afterwards to dine at a public house, the clergyman being present. This plan was found productive of much indecency, and we afterwards dined at the parish school house. A dinner was prepared, and a barrel of beer brewed for the society. The public houses were shut during the whole day. The publicans knew that their licences depended upon their doing this. Intemperance was impossible; and the clergyman had nothing unpleasant to encounter— the first indecent word drove him from table, and broke up the meeting. Such a plan is practicable only where there are honorary subscribers, and where the society is established and regulated by them.

I fear that many persons, witnessing the shocking excesses of vulgar enjoyment, may feel disposed to discourage the pleasures of the poor farther than is prudent. Why are the amusements of this country far more brutal than those of any other? because the educated never mingle with the uneducated-because we give our poorer brethren no ideas of refinement by our own examples. In France and Italy, there are many occasions on which all classes mingle,—and, while in foreign countries the poor labourers imitate the enjoyments of their superiors, the English labourer often runs to cock matches and bull-baitings, and cannot find any pleasure without profligacy and drunkenness. I consider the gluttony of clubs so hateful that, unless it could be prevented by proper regulations I would entirely avoid all eating and drinking at them; but, where the clergyman and the honorary members have sufficient influence, and the funds are sufficiently ample, I would try whether kind and friendly sentiments might not be cultivated without any violation of sobriety and order.

Believe me, very truly yours,

L.

PORTIONS OF LAND FOR LABOURERS.

To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor.

SIR,

AN experiment has been tried for the bettering the condition of the labourers in agriculture, and for reducing the poor rates in the parish of Heybridge, Essex, by the apportionment of parcels of land, from one to five roods, which has been found, after four years trial, to be productive of the happiest effects. Through the kindness of Thomas Marten, Esq. two pieces of land were hired by the overseers for the purpose, one of 22a. 2r. 39p. the other 3u. Soon after it was known that the land could be obtained, a notice was given, that such persons as thought they could get their livelihood by the occupation of an acre, and their labour, without being obliged to seek relief from the parish, should leave their names at the house of the Rev. Mr. Goode, and state their ages and number of children. This list having been obtained, a meeting, in vestry, was called, for the purpose of its consenting to be guarantees for the rent, and also to choose labourers for occupying the land. The land was taken, and the choice determined in the following manner. First of all, four men were picked out who had brought up a family, and had never applied to the parish at all. Then some were selected of those who were above 50 years of age; after that, those that had three or more children; and amongst them, the worst and most troublesome men in the parish. The reason of the last selection being to try the real effect of the plan on men of all descriptions. The men being selected, and the land divided, the labourers were called to another vestry meeting, and had possession, given them of their respective pieces, by lot; all acre pieces but one, and that half an acre.

One acre was taken up by a road cut right through: the piece, dividing the land into two equal parts, or as nearly as possible. One of these parts is always of potatoes, or peas and beans and cabbages; the other is wheat. The parish pays the rent of the acre lost in the road.

The effect is that there is more industry abroad, a better understanding between master and labourer, much thankfulness, and less complaint. I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

Heybridge, near Maldon.
Sept. 1823.

CHARLES CLARK.

JAMES GRAY.

"Be patient; be patient my son; said the aged father, as he listened to the complaints of a young man, who was resting on some chairs on the opposite side of the fire-place; remember the hand that smote you may soon be stretched forth for your relief. Many a one has had cause to bless God for sickness and sorrow; and, though we are sorry to see you suffering so, yet your mother and I are very thankful to have you once more under our roof.” He would have proceeded, but perceiving the tears stealing down the sufferer's cheek, he was silent.

James Gray was the eldest of a large family, whose parents had endeavoured to bring them up in the fear of God, and in habits of honest industry. For many years they lived happily together, till a company of strolling players disturbed the peace of the village. Many a parents' heart has since ached at the recollection of their unhallowed mirth; and the family of the Gray's was for a time plunged into deep affliction.

James became acquainted with some of the

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