104 RULES FOR PROMOTING LOVE AND HARMONY AMONGST MEMBERS. is permitted to furnish its mind with things of little moment, or, what is worse, with evil habits, it will be no easy task to root them out. Whatsoever takes first posses. sion of the unfurnished and unjudging mind, is most commonly the foundation of its future conduct. Therefore, when the seeds of piety and virtue are early sown, when the infant mind is seasonably and properly cultivated, there is good reason to hope it will produce plenty of good fruit. Good impressions, when early made, most commonly prove lasting, increase as children grow in years, and the effects are both pleasing and useful. They promote the present welfare of the children themselves, render them real blessings to their fond parents, and make them respected as worthy members of society. But, what is above every other consideration, by leading a life of piety and virtue, they gain the favour and approbation of their heavenly Father, and prepare themselves for the enjoyment of a happy eternity. "For godliness is profitable to all things, having a promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.' Effects of Kindness. I AM almost convinced that there never yet was an instance in which kindness has been fairly exercised, but that it has subdued the enmity opposed to it. Its first effort may not succeed any more than one shower of rain can reclaim the burning desert; but let it repeatedly shed the dew of its holy influence upon the revengeful soul, and it will soon become beautiful with the flower of tenderness. Let any person put this question to his soul, whether under any circumstances he can deliberately resist continued kindness? And a voice of affection will answer that good is omnipotent in If the angry and reovercoming evil. vengeful person would only govern his passions and light the lamp of affection in his heart, that it might stream out in his features and actions, he would soon discover a wide difference in his communion with the world. The gentle would no longer avoid him; friends would not reproach him with a frown; the meek would no longer meet him with dread; children would no longer shrink from him with fear; he would find that kindness wins all by its smiles, giv ing them confidence and securing their friendship. Christian Churches. Rules for promoting Love and Har mony amongst Members. 1. To remember that we are all subject to failings and infirmities of one kind or other. 2. To bear with, and not magnify, each others' infirmities. Gal. vi. 1. 3. To pray one for another in our social meetings, and particularly in private. James v. 16. 4. To avoid going from house to house, for the purpose of hearing news, interfering with other persons' business. 5. Always to turn a deaf ear to any slanderous report, and to lay no charge, brought against any person, until well founded. 6. If a member be in fault, to tell him of it first in private, before it is mentioned to others. 7. To watch against a shyness of each other, and to put the best construction on any action that has the appearance of opposition or resentment. 8. To observe the just rule of Solomon, that is, to leave off contention, before it be meddled with. Prov. xvii. 14. 9. If a member has offended, to consider how glorious, how God-like it is to forgive, and how unlike a Christian it is to revenge. Eph. iv. 2. 10. To remember that it is always a grand artifice of the devil to promote distance and animosity amongst members of churches; and we should therefore watch against every thing that furthers his end. 11. To consider how much more good we can do in the world at large, and in the church in particular, when we are all united in Love, than we could do when acting alone, and indulging a contrary spirit. 12. Lastly, to consider the express injunctions of Scripture, and the beautiful example of Christ as to these important PORTRAIT OF A BIBLE CHRISTIAN. 105 1 Peter ii. 21. proper distinction between real objects and the undeserving; while he bestows his bounty on the first, in such a manner as doubles its value, and sanctifies the gift. Portrait of a Bible Christian. (Altered from an old Writer). In this small portrait all may see, THE BIBLE CHRISTIAN is God's servant, the world's master, and an honest man. His Creator is his father, the church his mother, the saints his brethren, and all that need him his friends Heaven is his inheritance, the Redeemer his kinsman, the Holy Spirit his guide, and the Bible his companion. The Bible Christian makes religion his study, prayer his delight, meditation his amusement, and godliness with content his greatest gain. "Devotion is his chaplain, humility his dress, chastity his chamberlain, sobriety his butler, temperance his cook, hospitality his house-keeper," economy his steward, charity his treasurer, benevolence his disposition, and circumspection the porter to keep the door of his lips, words, and actions. View the Bible Christian in secret. There he daily prays to his heavenly Father, who, he is well assured, sees him now, and will hereafter reward him openly; There he meditates on the truths, and enjoyments, and prospects of religion; and there he often longs to be with the redeemed before his Father's throne. View him in his public devotions. There you will find him attentive and devout, hearty in his petitions, sincere in his acknowledgments, and joyful in his praises. View him in his family. He is always cheerful, good-natured, affable and discreet, endeavouring by his habitual conduct, to evince himself a real Christian, in practice as well as by profession. View him in his employments. He is diligent, active, and assiduous; honest in his dealings, punctual in the performance of his engagments, and faithful to his promises, not forgetting the golden rule, to do as he would be done by; that uprightness and integrity may preserve him. View him in his charities. He is liberal without ostentation, and benevolent without profusion, not grudgingly, or of necessity, but as his circumstances will admit, and with readiness and pleasure, knowing that God loves a cheerful giver; he feels for the misfortunes of others with a generous sympathy and compassion, making a View him in company. He is pleasant, courteous and entertaining; ready to hear and willing to attend; humble without meanness, candid, and yet firm, modest without bashfulness, aiming by his whole deportment to recommend the precepts of his Saviour. View him in his relaxations. He is wise in his choice of such as are innocent in themselves, and hurtful to none; partaking of them at proper times, and making them always subservient to their chief end and design, the recreation of his body, the relaxation of his mind, the improvement of his understanding, and greater alacrity in the return of important duties. View him in his death; calm and undisturbed, resigned and patient, confident and humble; surveying the past with holy shame, yet with lively gratitude; contemplating the present with solemn awe, yet without perturbation or dismay; stretching forward to the future with joy unspeakable and full of glory. "His God sustains him in his final hour, His final hour brings glory to his God." And having thus surveyed the Bible heart, and inquire," AM I THE MAN?" If Christian, let each put his hand upon his thou art, I congratulate thee, and exhort thee to give God the glory, abide in his love, and go on to perfection; thou art Bible Christian, lament it deeply, pray assuredly a happy man. earnestly to God to make thee such, and may thy earnest request be speedily granted! If thou art not a The Way of Peace. IF we shall effectually labour against the grounds and cause of contention, pride, self-love, envy, covetousness: if we shall compose ourselves to a temper fit for the entertainment of peace; that is, if we shall be humble and meek-minded, if obedient to our spiritual guides, if charitable to our brethren, if not too peremptory in our own apprehension: if we shall pray and labour for further illumination in all requisite truths; and shall, therefore, walk conscionably after the light which we have received: if lastly, we shall be content to let fall our own interest, out of a tender respect to the public, we shall tread comfortably in the private way of peace; and shall, in our particular stations, have contributed our due endeavours to the tranquility and happiness of the church of Christ. Books. Our Young people. IT is chiefly through books that we enjoy intercourse with superior minds; and these invaluable means of communication are in reach of all. In the best books great men talk to us-give us their most precious thoughts, and pour their souls into ours. God be thanked for books. They are the voices of the distant and the dead, and make us heirs of spiritual life of past ages. Books are the true levellers. They give to all who will faithfully use them, the society, the spiritual presence of the best and greatest of our race. No matter how poor I am: no matter though the prosperous of my own time will not enter my obscure dwelling, yet if the Sacred Writings enter and take up their abode under my roof, with Milton, to sing to me of paradise-Franklin to enrich me with practical wisdom, I shall not repine for want of intellectual companionship, and I may become a cultivated man, though excluded from what is called the best society in the place where I live.—Channing. Works of Fiction. MANY works of fiction may be read with safety, some even with profit; but the constant familiarity even with such as are not exceptionable in themselves, relaxes the mind that needs hardening, dissolves the heart which wants fortifying, stirs the imagination which wants quieting, irritates the passions which want calming, and above all, disinclines and disqualifies for active virtues and for spiritual exercises. Though all these books may not be wicked, yet the habitual indulgence in such reading is a silent ruining mischief. Though there is no act and no moment, in which any open assault on the mind is made, yet the constant habit performs the work of a mental atrophy-it produces all the symptoms of decay; and the danger is not less for being more gradual and therefore less suspected.-Hannah More. The Acquisition of Diligence. Ir is wonderful how much is done in a short space, provided we set about it properly, and give our minds wholly to it. Let any one devote himself to any art or science ever so strenuously, and he will still have leisure to make considerable progress in half-a-dozen other acquirements. Leon; ardo de Venci, was a Mathematician-a a Musician-a Poet, and an Anatomistbesides being one of the greatest painters of his age. Michael Angelo was a prodigy of versatility of talent, a writer of sonnets, (which Wadsworth thought worthy of translating) and the friend of Dante. Salvator, was a lutanist and a satirist. Tatian was an elegant letter writer, and a finished gentleman. Joshua Reynold's discourses are more classical and polished then any of his pictures. Let a man do all he can in any one branch of study, he must either exhaust himself and doze over it, or vary his pursuit, or else lie idle. real labours lie in a nut shell. The mind makes at some period or other, one Hercu All our BARNES, in his practical sermons, which are full of truth and beauty, says, Usefulness is the rivulet that glides though the meadows, and that runs along day and night by the farm house, rather then the swollen flood or the noisy cataract. He describes the majesty and glory of Niagara; but one Niagara is enough for a continent or a world-while that same world needs thousands and tens of thousands of silvery fountains and gently flowing rivulets, that shall water every farm, and meadow, and garden; and that shall flow on every night and day, with their gentle and quiet beauty. So we admire the great deeds of Howard's benevolence, and wish that all men were like him. We revere the names of illustri ous martyrs. We honour the man who will throw himself into the imminent breach and save his country, and such men, and such deeds we must have, when the occasion calls for them. But all men are not to be useful in this way, any more than all waters are to rush by us in swelling and angry floods. We are to be useful in more limited spheres. We are to cultivate the We are to gentle characterestics of life. Advice to Children. You were made to be kind, generous, and If there is a dull one, help him to get his lesson. If there is a bright one, be not envious of him, for if one boy is proud of his talent and another is envious of them, there are two great wrongs, and no more talents than before. If a larger or stronger boy, has injured you, and is sorry for it, forgive him, and request the teacher not to punish him. All the school will show by their countenances, how much better this is, than to have a great fist. Sabbath-school Treasury. Temper in Teaching. FEW persons seem to have proper apprehension of the sacredness which attaches to the instruction of youth. Hence much of the neglect and many of the errors of teachers; and hence, consequently, many of the mishaps and catastrophes of pupils. You have, I will suppose, under your tuition a little boy eight or nine years of age. It is a most interesting period of life, and the charge is one of the most momentous nature. I can conceive of few employ ments more delightful than the training of such a child, and there is certainly none more responsible. Every touch you give, makes its mark, as the fingers on a mass of ductile wax. You can scarcely say, or do, or omit any thing, without contributing in some way or other to form the character of your pupil. He finds an example for good or for evil in everything about you. Let me direct your attention to a single particular, in which we are all apt to go wrong: I mean the temper which we manifest in the company of our pupils. Almost every child has some trait which tries the temper of the teacher. He is stubborn or forgetful, idle or hasty; these are great faults, but that of the teacher who loses his temper is greater. Patience is a virtue which is especially demanded in the work of instruction; but for this reason above others, that all impatience on the teacher's part disturbs, in a high degree, the process of communicating moral truth. If the teacher grow warm, especially if he use reproachful words, the child will suffer pain; some will suffer great pain. If this be often repeated, an association will be |