obliged to labour hard for their daily bread, consequently their children were deprived of instruction. Mr Maton repeatedly begged the Committee to open a school, but poverty imperiously obliged them to turn a deaf ear to the demand, although fully persuaded that a school was necessary. On some friends visiting this country, the case was mentioned to them, and they were so much interested in the affliction of Mr Maton and his congregation, that they immediately undertook to pay the fitting up a school-room, and its rent, with the salary of a master for one year. A member of the church of Paturages, himself once a Roman Catholic, has given up his usual Occupations, for the purpose of devoting himself to this post. The school has been opened about three months, and already the number of scholars amounts to sixty, besides an adult class in the evenings, attended by a dozen persons. Mr Maton has had "soula for his hire, as seals to his ministry." Several have already passed into glory, and many rejoice with him here, through the same Spirit. It often happens that, at interments, he has the opportunity of preaching Christ to one and two thousand persons; many have been then brought for the first time under the sound of the Gospel, who have afterwards continued regularly to attend the church. Mr Maton also preaches at Paturages in turn with Mr Devisme. Here the converts have multiplied so fast, and have become so numerous, that after having been obliged by their numbers to change their place of worship three times, each new place becoming in its turn too small, they are now constrained to build another, not being able to find in the village a room sufficiently large. The congregation is composed of the labouring class; yet, walking by faith, they have determined to begin their new church. They set aside every week a portion of their hard-earned pittance to meet the expense of building, and they hope in twelve or eighteen months to be able to consecrate a house to the Lord. Mr Devisme's labours were, at first, entirely confined to a village called Dour, but now his hearers are to be found in almost every village in the neighbourhood. He has ever been the zealous distributor of the Word of God. That Word has not returned unto Him void, but has accomplished that whereunto its Author has sent it. The little portion of the Gospel leaven has leavened the whole lump, and a more interesting field of labour cannot be found. "It is the Lord's doing, and marvellous in our eyes." Station of Liege.-Liege is a large manufacturing town, whose inhabitants are amongst the best educated and most liberal of Belgium. In 1838, some Jesuits visited a small village in the vicinity, where a very strong opposition was raised against their preaching. A Bible colporteur, belonging to the Ghent Bible Society, visited the city, and sold an immense quantity of Scriptures. Ever since that period, there has been, at Liege and the environs, a steady demand for the Word of God, and several thousand copies have been sold. Some friends, being deeply affected at the state of spiritual darkness which reigned in the town, and thinking the time was opportune for the opening of a place of worship, made an application to the Society for a minister-offering, at the same time, to give £40 towards the fitting up of a chapel. Mr Girod, who had been employed at Mons by the Society, was sent to Liege in June 1838. During the first six months of his labours, he held his services in a private room, and his hearers were confined to a very few persons. structed, several declared they were ready to make an open profession of their faith. A room for public worship was then hired, which was soon filled by Roman Catholic hearers; and now, there are about eighty persons who have left the Roman Church to follow regularly the preaching of the Gospel, besides others who attend occasionally. Mr Girod is enabled to count amongst his congregation many who give evidence of being "born again." In one of his letters he says, "The hand of the Lord is continually on our Church. We have no need now to write over the door, nor to advertise in the papers, 'Place of Worship'-the public become acquainted with us through our enemies. The war they wage against the Word of God does not produce the effects they desire. Our services are more numerously attended than ever; and within the last month we have had so many hearers, that we have been obliged to refuse admittance to several, the room being too small to contain them. This is the case more especially in the evenings. The people surround the door before the hour, and in a few minutes after it is opened the room is filled." Although this degree of zeal has not lasted, there is a constant, numerous, and attentive congregation. At Christmas 1839, Mr Girod gave the Lord's Supper to twenty persons: the last time they partook of it, there were twenty-eight present at the table. It is pleasing to observe the missionary spirit which prevails amongst the members of this church; it may be truly said of them, "They preach the Word every where.' Whatever may be their employment, they have their Testament with them, and boldly confess Christ before their friends and companions. They are the instruments which the Lord often employs to open a door for the introduction of the Gospel. Many of their friends will converse with them, who would fly from Mr Girod; and they have free entrance into houses, which would be carefully and closely shut against a minister. In many instances, where they have embraced the opportunities offered them of speaking on Divine truths, Mr Girod has been enabled to follow up their efforts, and his labours have been blessed in several cases. Those who have decidedly joined themselves to this interesting congregation, have had to suffer severe persecution. It has followed them in every shape. One has been turned out of his employment; another has been cast off by his nearest relatives; another ill treated; others tempted and way-laid: but, blessed be the Lord, they have remained faithful. The answer of one is, "I would rather be ill and poor with the Gospel, than well and rich without it." Another replies, "Well, if I lose my customers for the sake of the Gospel, the Lord will not forsake me-he will send me others." Another says, "I have more joy now, in seeing the days of public worship arrive, than I had in my youth, in seeing the days of amusement." A person wished to bring a priest to visit one of the converts, for the purpose of inducing her to return to Catholicism: her answer was, "Let him come; I have only one word to say to him, and that is, It is a very deplorable thing that he should have kept me so many years in such ignorance, and it is time, at my age, to begin to know the Lord." Another, being called as a witness on a trial arising out of the persecution they have suffered, drew from his pocket a Testament, and placing it on the table, said to the magistrates, "It is on account of this Book we are persecuted; take it, and see if it contains any thing bad." Mr Girod adds in one of his letters, "Thank God, the enemies of the Gospel meet with very little sucHe visited in their houses, those Roman Catholics cess. They appear quite astonished at the firmness my who could not be prevailed on to attend the services, flock manifest, and that they cannot succeed in drawing but who were willing to converse on the great truths them from us. Our adversaries say, If they are obof the Bible. After being for some time privately in-stinate, it is because they have taken an oath that they will not return to our Church.'" This speaks volumes. mittee could not incur the expense of enlarging it. As an instance of the desire of parents, and those Roman Catholics, to get their children into the schools, the following may be cited, and which took place not long since. A mother had returned with her child several times, in order to get it admitted; all that could be promised was, that its name should be put down on the books, to be received as vacancies occurred. These answers did not satisfy the father, who is a carpenter, and one day he sent his wife back again with the child, saying, it must be taken into the school, and he would make whatever benches or desks were wanted. Sixth Station. The foregoing stations are all situated in that part of the country where the French language is spoken. Hitherto, the exertions of the Committee to establish a station in Flanders have been fruitless. The inhabitants of these parts are much more under the influence of the Roman clergy, and instruction is less general, whilst the greatest difficulty exists in finding ministers capable of preaching in Flemish. Holland is the only country that could have furnished them; but the state of political affairs, up to a very recent period, was such, as to prevent one of Boys' School at Dour.-A third school is at Dour, that nation from engaging in the work. A native of and dates from September 1838. It contains fifty Holland, who, in 1839, had begun to preach in a children. It has had to contend with great opposition village called Deynze, was obliged by the local autho- from the priests, who have employed their pulpits for rities to quit the country. The Committee hope, that the most violent attack on Mr Derbecque and his inthe Lord has now sent a minister who can preach instructions. Mr Derbecque waited on the dean, who had that language, in the person of a Roman Catholic particularly distinguished himself, and whose sermons priest. Brought by different circumstances to study had produced such an effect on the parents, that some the Holy Scriptures," he says, "I saw my mass and would not permit their children to continue at the school. ceremonies, like a heap of sand, fall to the ground; they crumbled into dust." He was recommended to the Committee by the Protestant minister at Antwerp: but wishing to know more of his experience and conversion, they sent him to the Theological College at Geneva, where he studied for about nine months, under the care of Mr Merle d'Aubigny and Mr Laharpe. These professors gave him a most excellent certificate on his leaving the college; and the Committee did not hesitate to make trial of him at Brussels, where he has preached with success for about three months. Had they the means of supporting a Flemish station in that town, it is more than probable he would have remained there. A clergyman of the Church of England, passing through Belgium, was desirous of placing a minister of the Gospel in a town which he named, offering to support him for three years, and to pay all the expenses of establishing a station, if the Committee could find a suitable person. Mr Van Maasdyk appearing calculated for the work, a house has been hired, and he has entered on his labours with every prospect of success. Infant School at Brussels.-The first school which the Society established was at Brussels. Admiral Duff, passing through that town in July 1837, brought the subject under the consideration of some friends, and followed his advice with such generous offers, that it was immediately agreed on to open an infant school, as soon as a mistress should be found. It was not long before a pious young woman presented herself for the situation. She was sent to London, where she studied, at the model school, the most approved method of infant teaching. In the month of August 1838, the school was opened, and was soon filled beyond the most sanguine expectations. The children were delighted with the method of instruction and the motherly kindness of the mistress. They receive a strictly scriptural education, and it is pleasing to hear the answers they give to questions put by those who visit the school. The number of scholars in daily attendance amounts to above eighty. Had the Committee the means of enlarging the school-room, the number would be still greater, above forty children having been refused admittance. The priests have used their exertions to draw away the children, but they have only succeeded in a very few instances. Some of those taken away through their influence, when put to other schools, have been so unhappy, that the parents have been glad to bring them back again. Boys' School at Brussels.-A boys' school has also been opened at Brussels; the number of scholars is twenty. Mr Babler has been obliged to refuse a great many boys, as his school-room is small and the Com Mr Derbecque presented him a Testament, saying, it was the foundation of his system of education, and begged him to point out what was wrong in it. The dean not replying to the schoolmaster's remarks in a satisfactory manner, confidence was restored in the minds of the parents, and the school ever since has | gradually increased. Boys' School at Labouverie.-A fourth school is situated at Labouverie. It has been opened only three months, and it is already attended by sixty children, besides a class of adults in the evening. Only those who have seen the nature of the religious instruction given in Roman Catholic countries, can fully appreciate the value of evangelical schools. The Bible or Testament is never seen within the walls of a Roman Catholic school. If a child should possess either, and bring it with him, the priest immediately takes it away and consigns it to the fire. young mind, instead of being directed to the truth for the formation of its judgment, is biassed by the traditions of men. Being bent in the twig, how can it grow up a straight tree? The Tracts. The number of stations and evangelists being so limited, the Committee have endeavoured to supply their want by the distribution of tracts,-that being the only means they have of reaching the great mass of the people. At the commencement of their labours, the Committee confined themselves to the distribution made by their agents and friends, but it was soon found that these efforts were not sufficient parts there was neither agent nor friend to be met to penetrate into the heart of the country. In some with, and those localities were left quite destitute of the Gospel. After mature consideration, a hawker, or travels from town to town, from village to village, atas he is called, a colporteur of tracts, was engaged, who tends markets and fairs, and calls at the houses on his cupation. Formerly belonging to the Roman Catholic road. The person engaged is well qualified for his ocChurch, he is fully acquainted with its ceremonies, superstitions, and doctrines; and the prejudices existing in the minds of Roman Catholics. Having been brought to a knowledge of those errors, he is enabled and he is mostly welcomed in his visits. Through his to point out the way by which he was led to see them; exertions many thousands of tracts have been introduced into houses, where it would otherwise have been utterly impossible to have preached the truth. On the high road, he addresses travellers on the great concerns of their souls. In houses, he reads, explains and exhorts, whenever he can gain the attention. When he enters an inn to take refreshment, or lodges in private houses, he profits by the circumstance to speak of imminent danger of falling to the ground. Contributions for this Society, as well as for the Evangelical Societies of Geneva and France, will be received by the treasurer and secretaries of the Edinburgh Con tinental Association. Christ, and, before retiring to bed, has often opportuni- | want of the support of Christians in other countries, in ties of assembling the inmates around the Word of God, and sometimes of concluding the evening with prayer. His distributions amount to about a thousand copies a month, two-thirds of which he sells. The Committee have every reason to rejoice in this part of their labours, above fifty thousand tracts having been put into circulation. A proof that their work is not in vain, is, that the Roman Catholic clergy have been stirred up to combat the distribution of tracts, by the formation of a Society called "Society for the Propagation of Good Books." What is meant by good books is easily understood. They give their publications at a very low price, and prepare them for every class of persons; the humble tract and book for the peasant, the more splendid and recherché for the drawing-room. One of their latest publications is, "Three Sermons against the Reading of the Scriptures," preached in a church at Brussels, by a Jesuit, who from the pulpit called on all those who possessed the Bible sold by the Bible Society, to throw it into the fire. A Protestant minister published, in refutation of these sermons, two tracts, which have destroyed much of the unfavourable impression produced by them, and greatly facilitated the sale of the Scriptures. The Committee, approving of the above tracts, purchased and distributed six hundred copies. The necessity for increased exertion in the sale of evangelical publications is very great, and the Committee ardently desire to open a shop in Brussels for the sale of religious works. They trust that ere long their wishes will be realized. (Signed) ED. PANCHAUD, Secretary. It is painful to relate that the Society, thus blessed of God, has been reduced to such pecuniary difficulties, as to render it probable they may ultimately be under the necessity of withdrawing some of their most devoted and successful agents. "At the end of 1840," says a letter from the secretary, "the Committee required ready money to carry on their labours to pay their minister and schoolmasters. They had none on hand, nor could any one in the Committee advance it; and they felt that, to continue as a Committee, was impossible. They decided that after the 31st of March, the Committee should be dissolved, and an agency appointed, who should endeavour to get friends in England, Holland, or elsewhere, to take on themselves the support of different stations. In several instances they have been successful. On the 31st of March an agency was formed of three members of the old Committee, of which I remained secretary. A general meeting of the agents was then called, on which the greatest unanimity prevailed: the agency was obliged to inform the agents that it was impossible for them to assure them all of their salaries, that one of the agents thought of giving up his post; but all entered into a resolution to join, as in a body, to do the work of evangelists in this benighted land, and to trust in the Lord for the rest. Those whose salaries were secured by the promises of friends, agreed to suffer a deduction in order to supply the wants of those who are not secured, should gifts and subscriptions fail to come in." The account goes on to state, that unless their wants are speedily supplied, some of their evangelists would soon be left without a penny. Thus, an instrument which God has already used for shaking the power of Popery in this idolatrous land, and which, if preserved, promises to be eminently useful in advancing his kingdom, is, for | THE NATURE AND ADVANTAGES OF PRIVATE SOCIAL MEETINGS FOR PRAYER: A DISCOURSE. BY THE LATE REV. WILLIAM HAMILTON, D.D., "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord."-ZECH. iv. 6. WHEN this text was uttered, there was a great work to be performed on behalf of the Jewish nation. They were to be delivered from their captivity in Babylon-restored to the land of their fathers--where their city was to be rebuilt, and their temple raised from its ruins. This work was important. Difficulties intervened to prevent its accomplishment. But the result was certain and infallible. Jehovah had spoken the word; and whatever obstacles might be interposed, he could easily triumph over the most formidable and insurmountable of them all. The Jews possessed no national resources, and Their emancipation could not be achieved by they were provided with no foreign alliances. might nor by power. But they enjoyed an invisible Benefactor; and his strength was almighty, and his resources inexhaustible. of the Jews, we are taught to regard the event By introducing the Holy Ghost as the deliverer before us as typical of another deliverance, more wide in its extent, and more lasting in its duration. If nothing but the return of the Jews from Babylon had been contemplated by God, this could have been achieved by the instrumentality of kings and conquerors and would have been ascribed to the agency of his providence. No reference whatever would have been made to the Holy Spirit. By introducing that Divine Agent, we are led to consider the text as referring to Gospel times, and to our own present duties and encouragements. From the declaration in the text, we are necessarily compelled to remark,-First, That there is an important and difficult work before us. It is more than might and power can perform. Second, The accomplishment of this work is certain and infallible. It shall be secured by the Third, The means by which Spirit of the Lord. his agency is procured. I. There is a work to be wrought, lying before us. And what is that work? It is great and momentous. Such as never was undertaken on earth, heard of in heaven, nor witnessed in any province of immensity. The Church of the redeemed is to be built up. Rational immortals are to be delivered from the bondage of Satanbrought into the glorious liberty of the sons of God-clothed with the righteousness of Immanuel | that they have loved idols, and after them they -converted into the Divine image-and made temples of the Holy Ghost. The empire of darkness and vice is to be overthrown-the nations are to be subdued to the obedience of the faith the kingdom of God is to be established among men, and the whole earth filled with his glory. And is this a simple or easy undertaking? If nothing more were required in the conversion of a sinner, than merely to reform his life and polish his deportment-to enlighten his understanding, and form him to habits of benevolence and humanity; though difficult, still this might be a practicable enterprise. By long and laboured reiteration of the doctrines of Christianity, you might succeed in lodging a knowledge of our holy faith in the heads of the most obtuse; and, by patience and perseverance, you might open the hearts of the most hardened to emotions of generosity and kindness. will go. We have for ages had able and laborious ministers, who were labouring and striving to make known the wonders of redeeming mercy, and bring guilty sinners to the enjoyment of the great salvation. But after their most urgent and persevering exertions, they have been compelled to complain, "Lord, who hath believed our report ?" But when conversion is nothing less than the renovation of our nature-the restoration of the Divine image upon our souls-the surrender of all that we have and are to the glory of God, and the opening of our affections to receive the vast and unbounded fulness of redeeming mercy; the mind may be enlightened, the conduct may be reformed, the garb of profession may be thrown around the exterior, and the munificence of generosity may blaze in the eye of admiring multitudes, when all along the soul is in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity. A clear head may consist with a hard heart, and a flaming profession may be employed to conceal the filth and rottenness of a spiritual sepulchre. You may wash a blackamoor, but that will not change his colour. You may paint a piece of lead white or yellow, but you cannot alter its nature. And you may load a man with erudition, endow him with science, and adorn him with the decorations of legal morality; but, amidst the alterations and improvements he experiences, he is still carnal, and dead in trespasses and sins. In the pulpit, and at the Lord's Table, Judas would have been as much a child of wrath, as when bargaining with the high priests; and, when appearing among the sons of God, Satan was as much a devil as when seated in hell, and associating with his fallen companions. And till the heart be renewed by grace, and the soul made a habitation of God, through the Spirit; amidst all the beauties of virtue, amidst all the discoveries of philosophy, and all the splendours of science, the man is still a child of disobedience, and dead in trespasses and sins. And is it an easy task to soften the hard heart? to purify the wayward affections? to renovate the depraved nature? You may make the attempt when you please; you may plead, argue, reason, entreat, remonstrate, and beseech; but few will attend to your pleadings and prayers. Few will give audience to your counsels. Few will ponder the meaning of your words. None will abandon their carelessness and carnality. All will practically say, If we address ourselves to the task, in our own strength, we may just as soon raise the dead, or create a world, as turn a single sinner from the error of his ways, and save his soul from death. The Jews, in Babylon, had no strength to contend with their conquerors. But they had no love to their bondage. They abhorred their slavery; and would gladly have co-operated with any benefactor who rose to give them liberty. But the sinner loves his bondage-glories in his shamedreads emancipation and hates his deliverer. But is the state of the sinner desperate? and the conversion of the world impossible? II. The accomplishment of this work is certain and infallible.-Might and power may fail; but the Spirit of the Lord shall succeed. The condition of the Jews in Babylon was deplorable. The state of the world is dreadful. Sin has obtained the ascendancy. Confusion and misery have followed. The world lies in wickedness. The whole creation groans, and travails in pain. But are we utterly undone? and must we sit down in total despair? The God of heaven is upon our side. He has purposes of mercy in store for our guilty and ruined race. What mean his declarations, "I will put enmity betwixt thee and the woman?"-his saying to Abraham, “ In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed ?"-his engagement to his Son, “Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance?"-his assurance, that all the ends of the earth shall remember, and turn unto the Lord, and the whole world be filled with his glory? What is the plain and obvious meaning of these declarations, but that it is the purpose and determination of the Most High, that in his own time the reign of vice shall be overturned, the god of this world cast out, and the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heavens, given to the people of the saints of the Most High? And is there fickleness with God? Has he said it, and will he not do it? The Gospel contains ample provision for the conversion and salvation of all. The righteousness of Christ is perfect. His atonement is allsufficient. "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?" Crowd your city with agents; fill the empire with ministers; cover the whole earth with heralds of the Cross; let a general interest be excited; and one intense and irresistible desire universally awakened among all the nations of the earth, when should we be obliged to recall the messengers of mercy, and tell the trembling multitudes that their application is too late? that the efficacy of the sacrifice of Immanuel is exhausted, and the door of salvation is closed for ever? Let me traverse the length and breadth of the earth, and address men of every language and complexion, to each I must say, Jesus is able to save to the uttermost, and his blood cleanseth from all sin. their temple restored, without their own agency and co-operation? Were the walls of their city to be reared by miracle? or the remains of their tribes transported to Judea in the arms of angels? Without the Divine blessing, their own activity and exertions would have been utterly unavailing, and might have involved them in deeper misery and disgrace. "Without me, ye shall how under the prisoners, and fall under the slain." Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. And unless the Lord prosper our undertakings, men of the greatest talents and most splendid attainments will be covered with shame, and filled with confusion. Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but without the Divine presence and bless And what is the amount of the energies of the Holy Ghost? It is by his sacred agency that the blessings of salvation are applied to the sons of men-that the heart of stone is removed, and the heart of flesh implanted. And what is the amount of his might? He is partaker of all the fulness of the Godhead. He is one with the Father and Son, and possessed of all power in heaven and in earth. And, wielding at pleasure the ele-ing, they must labour for nought, and in vain. ments of nature, and possessed of all the plenitude of divine power and perfection, is any thing too hard for him? He speaks, and it is done. He has already softened many a heart-cleansed many a soul-converted many a child of disobedience into a child of God, and an heir of heaven. Hereafter he will convert Jews and Gentiles-clear the earth of its pollutions-raise the dead, and bring all the children of Adam to judgment. And, when he has already given such proofs of his converting and transforming power, is it too hard for him now to bless the ordinances of grace; to clothe his word with authority; to break down the barriers of ignorance, superstition, and impiety; and make our wilderness like Eden, and our desert like the garden of the Lord? Are the hearts of men now possessed of greater obstinacy and refractoriness than those of former ages? Are the people of Scotland more alienated from the life and power of godliness than the Jews? or our congregations composed of more stubborn and unyielding materials than those of past generations? And, after the displays of saving power which he gave at Pentecost, on the streets of Jerusalem, and which, from time to time, he has repeated at Ayr, Irvine, Stewarton, Shotts, Kilsyth, and Cambuslang, is he now unable to cope with Satan? to set the dry bones a-stirring; to lay hold on the hearts of all our congregations? and pour out his blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it? But with his presence and blessing, the consequences are most sublime and delightful. Logs cannot travel; but fashion them into ships, furnish them with masts, and sails, and seamen, and they will fly before the favouring gale, and gallantly breast the angry billows. And though, in ourselves, the most weak, helpless, and inefficient of all his creatures; when God gives his approbation and blessing, he can infuse into exertions and efforts the most mighty energy and brilliant success. He can make one chase a thousand. He can make the worm Jacob thrash the mountains. Because the increase is from the Lord, does that warrant us to place ourselves in the attitude of indolence and apathy? allow us to fold our arms in ease, and sit down idle on the field of battle? Because God had undertaken the deliverance of the Jews, and the restoration of their city and temple, did that authorise them to neglect the means provided for their enlargement, and abide by their huts in Babylon, till they were transported by miracle to Palestine ? In what He has already wrought, we have a specimen of what he is able and willing again to perform. Under his protection and guidance, we may boldly rush into the thickest of the foe, and boldly march on to the conquest of the world. Is the breeze too much for the massy fog? and the rising sun nore than a match for the shades of darkness? What opposition, then, can all the hosts of impenitence and impiety array against the power and grace of the Eternal Spirit? Assemble all the murderers of the earth around me, if He speak the word, he can disarm their hostility, change foes into friends, charm every heart, and unite the whole into one holy band of happy, delighted subjects of his power and grace. III. The means by which his agency is to be secured. Were the Jews to be delivered, and And because the salvation of congregations, and the conversion of the world are to be accomplished, not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord, does this allow us to overlook the means which God has placed in our hands, and under the presumptuous pretext of honouring his sovereignty, warrant us to neglect our duty? The more certain we are of his approbation and blessing, the greater encouragement we have to exert our energies; and the more we are assured of his readiness to crown our labours with success, the more imperatively are we required to put forth effort, and strain every nerve in his service. Though we possessed the might of angels, and the power of seraphim, the wealth of worlds, and the resources of creation, they could never be so honourably, so profitably, so gloriously employed as in his cause. It is when this might and this power is exerted, that the Lord makes bare his own arm, and comes for our salvation. It is when the tithe is brought into his store-house, that he opens the windows of heaven, and pours out his blessing, that there is not room enough to receive it. It is when we have improved what we have, that more is given. It is when we have done justice to our advan |