present could have eternal life, unless they survived Him so as to partake of His Supper. This discourse was delivered a year before His death.

9. This doctrine is entirely at variance with the spirit of the New Testament. It is a return to the carnal, for Rome degrades every Scripture doctrine which she touches. With her view of the Lord's Supper, she may not, perhaps, give it too conspicuous a place in her system, but we look in vain for any similar importance attached to it by the authors of the Epistles. It is only mentioned even twice-once to correct abuses in its administration, in 1 Cor. xi. 20-29; and again, to prove something else, in 1 Cor. x. 16. The interpretation of the passage which we have been considering is puerile, and a sound and unfettered understanding at once rejects it, but the heart is here even a better interpreter than the head. He whose soul has kindled at the prospect of the mighty blessings here promised, feels that such an interpretation is utterly inadequate and unworthy. It will no more suit the passage than the shoe of an infant will fit the foot of a giant. The doctrine could only have arisen in ages which were fast losing their hold of some of the most vital truths of the Gospel-ages when the understanding was cramped, and piety was artificial and unhealthy.

RELIGION IN ITALY.

IN Lombardy, from thirty to forty persons in a hundred are able to read; in Piedmont, twenty to thirty

in Tuscany, ten to twenty; but in Rome and its suburbs, only one in a hundred can read. The province of Naples contains 1,845 communes; 846 of these have neither schools nor any means of instruction, The population of the province is 6,500,000 souls; of these 67,000 receive some teaching; there is consequently one in a hundred under instruction,

A recent statistic gives at Rome 48,000 cardinals, prelates, priests, abbés, monks, and men receiving from the churches, as officers; 10,000 of different religious orders; 1,000 beggars of the first class, i.e., paying for, and being licensed to exercise their calling on the marble steps of St. Peter; 5,000 beggars of the second class, permitted to carry on their profession at the doors of other churches, before theatres, in streets, &c.; 2,000 females who serve as models for painters and sculptors, or who beg when they are not needed for the above uses; 4,000 soldiers of all countries; 30,000 domestics; 20,000 Jews; 50,000 Roman citizens not participating in administration or government, and who are mostly very near to poverty,

In Naples there now exist several prayer-meetings, a Protestant library, a work of colportage, and evangelical schools for young men, young women, and adults, and several other evangelical operations; rapid and encouraging progress is reported in the schools, and many interesting facts are recorded. In spite of threatenings and anathemas from the priests, the people send their children; and adults learn

quickly, making ingenious and shrewd remarks as things are explained to them, which until now have been rigorously withheld. Thus, working men are able to carry truth into the workshop and trade, and by elevating the people to knowledge and education, and especially

in the word of God, as is now done, the most effectual hindrance is placed against Romish ignorance and bondage. The report adds, that Naples is ready for the Gospel, and that souls have been, without doubt, converted to God.

It is a little empire. The father is the sovereign. It is an absolute Sovereignty, constituted in wisdom, and restrained by affection. It is derived from the fountain of all power. With this authority is connected immense responsibility. No substitute can be found. To the government thus constituted, unreserved obedience is required, that its ends may be fully answered. It is a type of that ultimate submission which will be paid to the Father of all, by His redeemed family in heaven. "Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father."

The family is a nursery. The idea is derived from a material process in nature, to which both animals and plants are subjected. God speaks of planting a noble vine." Such is the family. It requires nourishing, protecting, maturing, as much as the literal vine. "Christian families are the nurseries of the church on earth, as the church is the nursery for heaven." The nursery is a retired place, but pregnant with preparations for eternity. Its germinations are immortal. It is the birth-place of body and mind. Happy, when some auspicious star of hope hovers over it. A train of associations is there commenced which is imperishable habitudes into which the very soul is moulded; impressions are engraven, which no

lapse of time shall ever obliterate, which eternity itself will but confirm and perpetuate like seed, like harvest. "He that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." A mental philosopher has said, that the character is formed before the expiration of the sixth year of our existence; and those years are in the hand of the mother. The mother of Byron would become frantic with passion, and throw the tongs at him, in early childhood. Hence he became more and more ungovernable; in fact, he never knew what self-government was, for he was never taught it. How could such a man, with all his splendour of imagination, write about the seeds of home? He had no home. Not so Cowper, who embalms in fascinating poetry his recollections of the sanctity of home. The reminiscences of his mother were so delightful, that he could apostrophise in tender numbers even her portrait, when brought in view.

me also." Happy the parent who saith-"Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father." Speak not of wealth, of legacies, of estates bequeathed. The best inheritance is the education of the soul for eternity. Alas! how many thousands are trained to a career of guilt and shame.

The family is a society.-In it are all the elements of the social relations. Numbers, intellect, attachments, sympathies, temperaments, exercise of mind, moral power. Thus it is the very foundation of civil society, whose dignity, advancement, and prosperity in every form, depend upon the same qualities and conditions in the family. This is the only road to the perfection of the social state.

The family is a sanctuary.-If on earth can be found a refuge from earth's ills, toils, and calamities, it is here. To the man of business, jaded with cares; to the labourer, worn with toil; to the professional man, the clerk, the politician; to the sailor, from the stormy wave; to the

soldier, from the heady fight; to all who come from the battle of life, how refreshing to find one spot where the heart is sure of repose, undisturbed by a doubt that there every face beams with a smile of welcome, every heart bounds with joyful emotion.

The well-ordered family is a little church. Believers and their children in covenant with God constitute the essential idea of a church-at least in a qualified sense. Such a family is a miniature of the "whole family named in heaven." "To the church in thy house," said Paul to Philemon. Happy house! Thrice blessed home! God is their Father, Christ their elder Brother, the Holy Spirit their Sanctifier and Guide. That house is the vestibule of heaven. The sacred shrine is there. There the incense of prayer diffuses its sweetness. The melody of praise is there. Death does not break, but sanctifies the link, which binds it to the family above. The grave but opens the passage to glory.

ONE day, in a little quiet ncok, halfway up a tall mountain, there bubbled up from the earth two tiny springs of water; they danced and sported merrily in the sunshine; they were both pure as crystal, and seemed as happy as sunbeams: whereupon they fell into conversation as follows:

"How charming is this spot, and how beautiful is the prospect before us," said the first little spring to its companion; "and oh, what good we shall be able to do wherever we flow; I long to be on my way; how happy I shall feel!"

Why, how is that?" asked the

other, "what do you mean, and what are you going to do?"

"I intend," replied the first little spring, "to run along cheerfully down the narrow bed which is marked out for us among the rocks and stones and pebbles; and through that charming valley yonder at the foot of this tall mountain; and then to wind along quietly through fields and woods, through meadows and gardens, through groves and glens, through towns and cities-making myself happy by promoting the happiness of man and beast everywhere, as God intended me."

"But I do not intend to do any

"And

when he paused, the old man, who had been listening to him with great patience and kindness, gently said, "Well! and when you have finished your career of study, what do you mean to do then?" "Then I shall take my degree," answered the young man. "And then ?" asked his venerable friend. "And then," continued the youth, "I shall have a number of difficult and knotty cases to manage: shall attract notice by my eloquence, and wit, and acuteness, and win a great reputation." then?" repeated the holy man. "And then?" replied the youth, 66 why then there cannot be a question I shall be promoted to some high office in the State, and I shall become rich." "And then?" "And then," pursued the young lawyer, "then I shall live comfortably and honourably in wealth and respect, and look forward to a quiet and happy old age." "And then?" repeated the old man. "And then," said the youth, "and then-and then-and then I shall die." Here his venerable listener lifted up his voice and again asked with solemnity and emphasis

And then ?" Whereupon the aspiring student made no answer, but cast down his head, and in silence and thoughtfulness retired.

The last "And then?" had pierced his heart like a sword-had darted like a flash of lightning into his soul, and he could not dislodge the impression. The result was, the entire change of his mind and course of his life. Abandoning the study of the law, he entered upon that of divinity, and expended the remainder of his days in the labours of a minister of Christ.

TRUST IN GOD BETTER THAN IN MAN.

Especially evident at the late calamity at Hartley Colliery.

UNLESS the Lord assist in times of distress, vain is the help of man. This is true at all times, but it was more than usually manifest in the late lamentable occurrence at Hartley, where the poor creatures were literally buried alive. Numbers were eager to relieve the sufferers, but they had not the power; workmen would have ventured their own lives to save those of their comrades; children would have run any risk to rescue their fathers from destruction; sorrowing wives would have encountered any danger if they could have had their husbands restored to them; parents would have descended the dismal gulf if they could have brought up their children alive. But no, there was an impassable barrier between them which none could penetrate, at least not until it was too late. In this distressing calamity the dearest friend could not render any assistance. Therefore, "it is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man." Rulers are powerful, and can sometimes give valuable aid in time of trouble; but here the good will of our gracious Queen could avail nothing. Notwithstanding her own affliction, she could yet feel for those of her subjects who were in such distressing circumstances, and would gladly have done anything to save them. If an army of soldiers could have brought them up out of the horrible pit, she would cheerfully have sent them. But no; they were shut up from the help of

man-princes could not deliver in this hour of peril, but the Lord can help under all circumstances. Therefore, "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes." Telegraphic messages were passing to and fro, but none could reach them. No word of comfort or consolation could be conveyed to them. All communication with their fellows was cut off. The language of Jonah, "I went down to the bottoms of the mountains, the earth with her bars was round about me for ever," was peculiarly applicable to them in their distress. But, though they could not apprise their friends of their condition, nor receive back from them words of encouragement, they could tell their sufferings to One above, who could give them more efficient succour. They could send their petitions to God more speedily than the telegraph could convey its messages. Even before the troubled spirits could give utterance to their feelings, their cry was already before Him who is ever ready to hear the prayers of those who trust in Him. But it may be said, God did not deliver them from the pit. True, He did not save their bodies from death, but He did nevertheless hear the prayers of those who trusted in Him. Those who put their trust in Jesus-and we have reason to believe that many of them did were delivered from a more horrible pit. Their bodies, it is true, were left to be dug out by their fellow-workmen, but long before that, the souls of some at least had been raised above the earth; and, I think, as they passed the old spot of earth on their journey hea

venward, they had no desire to return to it again.

But,

"Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help," is an old precept, well known and easily repeated. One would think that such a precept would be accepted at once in times of distress. though we can talk about it nobly, and recommend it to others when everything goes smoothly with us, how prone we are to go to one and another for help in seasons of affliction; forgetting to look up to the hills whence cometh our help. Hence so many passages in God's word declaring the folly of trusting in man, and directing our attention to Him alone who can succour in time of need. Hence, too, it is, that we are so often like the heath in the desert, not seeing when good cometh.

Hitherto reference has been made chiefly to trust in the providence of God; but we must not overlook that trust in the Lord Jesus Christ which saves the sonl. There is a more awful gulf than the one at Hartley, with a more impenetrable barrier, which separates sinners, not only from some whom they loved, but also from God, and everything that is lovely a dreary, dismal abyss, where no help can come, and from which none can be delivered. From going down to this pit none can be saved, only by trusting in Jesus, who gave His life a ransom for those who believe in Him. And none who believe in Him can ever perish; for "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." E. E.