HYMN FOR A SUNDAY SCHOOL.

HEAR, Lord, the song of praise and prayer
In heaven, thy dwelling-place,
From infants, made the public care,
And taught to seek thy face!

Thanks for thy Word and for thy Day;

And grant us, we implore,
Never to waste in sinful play
Thy Holy Sabbaths more.

Thanks that we hear, but oh! impart

WHEN Our Saviour, as we read in the 17th chapter of St. Luke, had been teaching his disciples the duty of forgiveness to their brethren, the command was something so new to them, and so opposed, in its extent at least, to the natural feelings of their hearts, that for a moment, we may imagine, they fe it impossible to obey; for a moment they doubted whether

such things could be. But in the next, their belief in Jesus prevailed; they set aside the opposition that arose in their hearts, and gave themselves up to him with this acknowledgemeut of their weakness and his strength; "Increase our faith!"

Our Saviour's disciples of the present day, would do well to follow this example, when they feel any duty so hard to practise, that they are tempted to consider it unnecessary. Many times it happens to those, who are more guided by the sayings and opinions of their neighbours and friends around them, than by the teaching of our Saviour and his Apostles in the Bible, to be filled with doubting surprise, when their clergyman perhaps points out their sins, or shows them how they ought to act. "Surely," some one thinks to himself, "this is beyond me.' 'My temper is not so good as some people's:" or, my time is too much employed:" or, "such conduct may be right for the rich, but God, we feel, cannot expect it of the poor." Some such doubts as these, remember, passed through the minds of the disciples, when listening to the words of the Son of God himself; and had they yielded, they had been lost. Their part must be yours, to acknowledge to yourselves, that the hindrance lies in your own sinfulness; and to ask of him that increase of faith, which will prepare you to obey with cheerfulness.

A. B. L.

PUBLIC PRAYER,

PRAYER is the principal and most noble part of God's worship, and to be preferred before preaching: nay, indeed, to speak properly, preaching is no part of divine worship; for every proper act of divine worship, must have God for its immediate object, and God's glory for its immediate end. But the immediate object of preaching, are men, to whom it is directed; and the immediate end of it is the instruction of men.-But prayer is immediately directed to God himself; and it is an immediate glorification of Him; and a paying of divine worship and honour to Him. In a word, by preaching we are taught how to worship God; but prayer is itself God's worship. BP. BULL.

VILLAGE ANNALS.

[In three parts; Rivingtons.]

[This is a very clever little work of the kind. Its object is to show that "a religious education is the first of blessings;" and it is written with great spirit and simplicity. The following chapter is given as a specimen of the style.]

I WATCHED Hetty's progress with great interest; and was very sorry to be obliged to absent myself from home, for some months. The day after my return I walked down to my school, as I was anxious to see the improvement all my dear little scholars had made. The children were all out at play; but I stepped in to the mistress, and inquired particularly after Hetty. She gave her a good character; said she was very quick, and had got on with her book and her work faster than any girl she knew. She is always the first in school, ma'am," said she, " and down with her book directly, before the other girls have taken off their bonnets-she is just going to begin her stockings, for she can knit very tidily."

66

"Is she kind to her school-fellows?"

Indeed I should suppose so, ma'am, for she is very good friends with them all: indeed she gave little Bet half her dinner yesterday, who had got nothing but a very small bit of dry bread. You know, Bet,' said she, ‘I must do to others, as I wish they should do to me.'

I was much pleased with this account of Hetty, and walked into the garden to see her. She was winding a skein of worsted, which a little girl was holding for her, while she ran back, untwisting the yarn for many yards, and then slowly wound her way up again. When she was at a little distance, she talked rather loud to her companion, and her back being turned, I heard her before she saw me. "A capital pair of stockings I shall have, and then a pair of shoes, which I shall take rather better care of than mother I hope-my stockings shall never have holes in them, while I've a needle to darn them with-I know what! mother's house is like a pig-sty, for it's always in a litter, with the things in the wrong placethe more dirt there is, the better she likes it, I believe. I found the pig lying on the bed yesterday, will you believe me -and Jem a'top of him.- Mother,' says I, 'is that the new pig-sty?' So up she whips my new bonnet, and bastes

him out of the house with that, tearing a good piece out of the brim, which she shan't hear the end of in a hurry." This was all gabbled off so fast that the other girl who saw me, had not time to stop her, and as her eyes were fixed on her ball of worsted, she did not see the signs they made her; I came up close to her. "How do you do, Hetty?" said I :—“ who is it you are finding such fault with ?" She looked down, and made no answer; but one of her companions called out eagerly, 'her mother, ma'am." "Nobody asked you," said I; “and as you are a little telltale, walk off the play-ground." The little girl went away much ashamed, which I was not sorry for, as I very much discourage the ill-nature shown by these children, who are ever ready to expose each other's faults. "Now, Hetty," said I, "let me hear how you have got on with your lessons; your mistress tells me you have made great progress. Have you learnt your Catechism ?"

"Yes, ma'am, some of it."

Well, let me hear what you know about it. What were you made at your baptism?"

A Christian."

What is a Christian ?"

"One who knows Jesus Christ."

66 Who is Jesus Christ?"

"The Son of God."

"What did he do for us?"

"He died on the Cross for our sins."

"What did his death do for you?"

"It procured for me eternal life in Heaven." "Will all men go to Heaven?"

No."

"Do you keep all the Commandments? 66 Yes, ma'am.'

"What is the fifth Commandment?

"Honour thy father and thy mother."
"Do you honour your father and mother?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Do you? Think again;-is it honouring your mother to find fault with her, call her dirty, laugh at her, or be angry with her?"

"No, ma'am," said Hetty, colouring.

"Let me tell you, child, you can do nothing more displeasing to God than being rude and unkind to your parents. You were very wicked this morning when you spoke disrespectfully of your mother. A bad return you have made to God for his goodness in providing you with good instruction, since it has only taught you to laugh at your parents, and boast of your own knowledge. Fie, fie, Hetty, how could you be so wicked? You have indeed broken the fifth Commandment."

"I am very sorry indeed, ma'am," said Hetty, crying; "I am afraid God will not forgive me.'

"Nay, if you are very sorry, I think He will forgive you. All men are sinners; but who is it that has promised to take our sins upon him?"

"Jesus Christ."

Well, what will you do to show your sorrow for your sin ?” "I will be good to mother, when I go home to-night, and I will mend her clothes for her."

Very well, that is right: but can you do nothing else?" "I don't know, ma'am.'

"What is all this yarn for ?"

"My stockings, ma'am."

"

"Well, suppose you knit a pair for your mother, instead of yourself; will not that be showing your love and duty to her?" 'Yes, ma'am, I will; and then do you think God will forgive me?"

Yes, my dear, I think He will, for Christ's sake; and now do not forget what you have been taught ;-recollect the ten Commandments every day, and watch whether you keep them; and be sure, my dear child, that if you are ever so active, industrious, tidy, clever, or good-natured, you will not be the child of God, while you are undutiful to your parents, or forgetful of any one of His Commandments."

Many favours which God giveth us, ravel out for want of hemming; for though prayer purchaseth blessings, giving praise doth keep the quiet possession of them. FULLER.