things above, taking delight in a fashionable party! Tell it not in Gath! Publish it not in the streets of

Askelon!

But, it is asked, "What harm is there in associating together? We are social beings, made for each other's enjoyment. The sin does not consist in simply associating together, neither in the numbers that assemble, nor in the lateness of the hour at which these parties break up.

We know the primitive Christians often assembled together in great numbers, and continued all night. But what were they doing? Feasting and rioting? Dancing and playing cards? Far from it-their hearts were lifted up with one accord in prayer and supplication to God for a dying world, and they brought the Holy Ghost down upon the churches. It is to be feared there are few Christians now, few that would not regard it a self-denial to stay at home in their closets instead of attending a party.

It is plain that it is a sin in Christians to attend these parties, not only because of the effect produced on themselves, but on the world around them.

Let these votaries of fashion pursue the course they delight in, but let not Christians countenance them. Let them rather assemble for prayer-even all the Christians in the city-till their numbers exceed those of the gay assembly. Let them continue all night in prayer to God-and what an impression would it make on the minds of sinners! How long I would it be that we should have to mourn over the inconsistency of Christians-the vice and dissipation of the city?

Then would Christians do their duty; their lights would shine; their example speak; their Christian graces would be increased; their evidences brightened, and they would soon obtain a full assurance of at last joining that glorious party around God's throne, which no man can number. M. C.

WHO IS TO PREACH?

THIS phrase is getting into very frequent use in the present generation. Every body knows how it is used.

"Are you going to church to day?" said I, the other Sunday, to a friend who is sometimes at worship. "Who is going to preach ?"

"The Rev. Mr. Pointblank," was my answer. "Mr. Pointblank? pray who is he? I have not heard of him before; if you can assure me I shall be interested, I will go."

"He will preach some truth of the gospel, I doubt not; if the truth will interest you, I think you may venture."

My friend, however, did not choose to go with me, for just as our conversation had proceeded as far as above noted, one Love-parade came along, and invited him to accompany him, at the same time declaring that the Rev. Mr. Showoff was to preach, and he was accounted one of the most popular men in all these parts. They both walked away together and left me alone.

In my young days there was not a handsome church erected at the distance of every mile; but notwithstanding the inconvenience resulting from distance over bad roads, and often an uncomfortable place of assembling, our anxiety was for the return of the Sabbath.

L 2

On the holy morning, we had used to set out, the children, except the youngest, on foot, and our pareuts upon the back of the family horse, for there were pillions in those days, and many was the time that we were all seated in the house of God in waiting for his ministering servant, whose appearance in the broad aisle gave the first intimation who he should be, and whose words were listened to as a message sent from God to be reverenced on that account, and not because this or that man was more showy and given to adorning.

I ventured to ask once, as we were all seated in the pew, “ who we should have to preach to day?" This was said in a soft whisper to my mother, in the midst of the sound of cautious footsteps, as the congregation were entering. I never shall forget the impression I received, as she mildly looked in my face and said, "The minister, my son; you must remember what he says;" and all was still. In my young days it was looked upon as a privilege, as well as a duty, to present ourselves before the " Lord in his holy place," and we were not accustomed to suffer our attendance to be interrupted by the fact that this or that messenger was to speak in the name of Christ. And after the lapse of many a winter, I have yet to be convinced that this was not a suitable state of feeling. It does appear to me, that it becomes us to be in such a state of heart, that we should be "glad when they say unto us, let us go up into the house of the Lord." If such be the state of our hearts, our chief desire will be," Lord, shew us the light of thy countenance." "Speak to us of thy law." Our religion would not come and go with time and circumstances, but would shine with a steady light, and our love would burn with an uninterrupted zeal. We should then live upon God; our faces would be turned to him, as to the "hills from whence our help cometh." Reader! on each returning Sabbath, go where the

gospel is preached; go, hoping to meet your God in his earthly courts; and when you hear the question asked by others, or find it arising in your own bosom, "who is going to preach ?"-remember my mother's admonition.

INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIAN MOTHERS.

THE day in which we live is, blessed be God! a day of action. The church is shaking off its slumbers, and the true friends of mankind are disputing the supremacy of the human heart with the powers of ignorance and of vice, and declaring that nothing will satisfy them but the instruction and conversion of the world. The object is noble; the means for its accomplishment are ample; and the claims on the united exertions and utmost efforts of all those who are interested in it are many and binding. There is not an individual Christian in the world who has not a certain degree of influence, and it is now for every one to come forward, and to use their influence, whether great or small, to aid in the furtherance of so great a work as the conversion of the world and the promotion of God's glory. But we shall effect but little, perhaps, if we speak in such general and indefinite terms, and therefore we shall confine ourselves, on the present occasion, to the influence which Christian mothers possess over their children. Mothers know that, from their relative position, they ought to possess, and in most instances, perhaps, think they do possess, a considerable influence with their children; but it is very questionable whether they rightly estimate this influence, either as to its amount or value. Mothers possess a vast amount of influence with their children, as mothers; and Christian mothers have this amount increased to a degree greater than they are wont to believe.

Christian mothers !-who is most likely to know what influence you have?—you or your children? I thank God I have a Christian mother, and I record my conviction that there is hardly any influence more powerful, any solicitude more deeply touching, or any efforts, if made in the wisdom, prudence, and spirit of the gospel, more likely to be effectual than those of Christian mothers. You do not know what influence you have while your children are under your immediate care and inspection; nor do they know it themselves at the time; but let them only be removed from their paternal roof and maternal embraces, and they soon find that the fondness, care, and anxiety of their mother, and, above all, her affectionate concern for the salvation of their souls, have made an impression on the heart which it would be in vain to attempt to remove or forget.

When you attempt to converse with your children on the great things of eternity, or to get them to read the word of God with you, or when you take them secretly into your retirement, and there kneel down with them, and pour out your souls in the most earnest supplications that God would bless them, and convert them, and make them sincere and useful Christians, you, perhaps, find that they evince a degree of reluctance to such engagements, and hence you sometimes feel discouraged. But O, dear Christian parents, do not feel discouraged, for, in the midst of all their reluctance, you are producing convictions in their minds of the value of prayer, and of the reality and excellence of religion, which you have every reason to hope and to believe will one day end in their conversion to God.

Within a few yards of me, at this moment, is a dear young friend, who assures me that his first religious impressions were produced under the instructious and prayers of his mother, who, when he was young, established a bible-class among her children,