"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou

not."-PROV. i. 10.

Mr. Jay gives, in his "Reminiscences," the following mournful account of a young man, the only son of his predecessor at Bath. He had good abilities, and seemed much inclined to become truly religious; but he "became acquainted with some sceptical, or as, by a patent of their own, they call themselves, free-thinking young men gave up the house of God and the sabbath. Swimming on a Sunday, for amusement and experiment, he caught a chill, which brought on con

entered the channel which leads to the Sunderbands. From a slight accident to the paddle-box at starting, we were detained two or three hours at the dock opposite to Nimtollah Ghat. It is at this place the Hindoos burn their dead. Three fires were burning during our detention. We could easily see the whole process; both men and women were engaged in performing this last rite. Around the ghat were thousands of birds, waiting with solemn mien the departure of the attendants, to pick over and devour the charred remains. The walls and houses around were covered with vultures, and dogs prowled sumption. This for months gave him about to share in the horrid feast." warning, and space for repentance; Another writer says: Visiting but it is to be feared this grace of God one of the Golgothas, we beheld the was in vain. During his gradual deremains of about eighty human beings; cline he refused all intercourse with some had just been thrown down, some pious friends or ministers ; and when were being devoured by dogs and his good nurse entreated him to call vultures, others were being consumed me in, as I lived close by, and there on the funeral pile, and many had been had been such an intimacy between us, reduced to ashes, or completely eaten he frowned and rebuked her, and up by dogs.”—Biblical Treasury. ordered her to mind her own business. On the last day of his life, unasked, I ventured into his dying chamber. He was sensible, but exclaimed, 'O Voltaire! Voltaire!' He then raised himself up in the bed, and wringing his hands, again exclaimed, 'O, that young man! that young man!' I said, 'My dear sir, what young man? With a countenance indescribable he answered, I will not tell you.'-What have I seen in a long ministry of the dire effects of evil associates and licentious publications!"--Ibid.

"He will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."

—GEN. Ivi. 12.

"Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that re

penteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."-LUKE XV. 7.

The descendants of Ishmael continue to this day, to live in hostility to the greater part of mankind. On the margin of the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, commerce has exerted some influence; but the Eastern Arabs, or Nabatheans, are almost entirely freebooters, living by plunder. Although spread over a country thirteen hundred miles long, and twelve hundred miles broad, they are comparatively secure; while those who are sometimes hardy enough to follow them, either Angels were in the full exercise of die with thirst, or are compelled to their powers, even at the first infancy of to return, overcome with fatigue and our species, and shared in the gratulasickness. Their water is obtained from tions of that period, when, at the birth of wells, sunk amid the rocks and plains humanity, all intelligent nature felt a which they inhabit, and known only to gladdening impulse, and the morning themselves. Notwithstanding the op- stars sung together for joy. They position they have met with from the loved even as with the love which ancient Assyrians, the Medes, the a family on earth bears to a younger Persians, and the Macedonians, they sister, and the very childhood of our have, from first to last, maintained tinier faculties did only serve the more their independence. No conqueror to endear us to them; and though born has subdued them; and they still, as a memento of Scripture prophecy, dwell in the presence of all their brethren.Ibid.

at a later hour in creation, did they regard us as heirs of the same destiny with themselves, to rise along with them in the scale of moral elevation, to bow at the same footstool, and to

partake in those high dispensations of
a parent's kindness and a parent's care,
which are
ever emanating from the
throne of the Eternal on all the mem-
bers of a duteous and affectionate
family.

We cannot but remark how fine a harmony there is between the law of sympathetic nature in heaven, and the most touching exhibitions of it on the face of our world. When one of a numerous household droops under the power of disease, is not that the one to whom all the tenderness is turned, and who in a manner monopolises the inquiries of his neighbourhood, and the care of his family? When the sighing of the midnight storm sends a dismal foreboding into the mother's heart, to whom of all her offspring, we would ask, are her thoughts and anxieties then wandering? Is it not to her sailor boy, whom her fancy has placed amid the rude and angry surges of the ocean? Does not this, the hour of his apprehended danger, concentrate upon him the whole force of her wakeful meditations? And does not he engross for a season her every sensibility and her every prayer?-Dr. Chalmers.

"And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."-ACTS xi. 26.

"Then Agrippa said unto Paul, almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian."-ACTS xxvi. 28.

"Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed."-1 PETER iv. 16.

"These are the only three places in the New Testament where the name Christian occurs. It is plain that for a long time there was no commonly recognised term of this kind. Hence they are called variously, they that believed' (Acts ii. 44), the disciples' (vi. 1), those of the way' (ix. 2), &c. Again, the name of Nazarenes was applied to them by the Jews, as a term of reproach, but plainly arose before the extension of the faith to the Gentiles. It was at Antioch that the large accession of Gentiles first made it impossible to look upon them merely as a Jewish sect, and required the use of some more distinctive title. It was natural, therefore, that the use of such a title should first prevail at Antioch. When the book (Acts of the Apostles) was written, towards the close of Paul's imprisonment at Rome, the formation of churches in the chief cities of almost every province would awaken inquiry

as to the origin of this new name, that was already in every one's mouth. How suitable, then, would be this passing remark of the historian (Acts xi. 26), to show when and where it began to be current."-Birks' "Hora Apostolicæ," p. 345.

"But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way." MATT. xiii. 25.

still literally done in the East. See Strange as it may appear, this is that lurking villian, watching for the time when his neighbour shall plough his field; he carefully marks the period when the work has been finished, and goes the night following, and casts in what the natives call pandinellu, that is, pig paddy; this being of rapid seed, and scatters itself before the growth, springs up before the good other can be reaped, so that the poor owner of the field will be for years before he can get rid of the troublesome weed. But there is another noisome plant which these wretches cast into the ground of those they hate, called perum-pirandi, which is more destructive to vegetation than any other plant. Has a man purchased a field out of the hands of another? the offended says, "I will plant the perumpirandi in his grounds."-Roberts.

LIVE.

MAKE haste, O man, to live,

For thou so soon must die;

Time hurries past thee like the breeze-
How swift its moments fly.

Make haste, O man, to live!

To breathe, and wake, and sleep,
To smile, to sigh, to grieve;
To move in idleness through earth,
This, this is not to live!

Make haste, O man, to live!

Make haste, O man, to do

Whatever must be done;
Thou hast no time to lose in sloth,
Thy day will soon be gone.

Make haste, O man, to live!
Up, then, with speed, and work

Thy ease and self away;
This is no time for thee to sleep,
Up, watch, and work, and pray!
Make haste, O man, to live!

Correspondence.

While the topics for exhortation and prayer during the week may properly be left to Christian brethren joining in this the history of man, and it will be accomdesired concert of prayer, the following subjects are suggested on the successive days:-On Sunday, January 6th, The promise of the Holy Spirit. January 7th. Humble confession of sins, and prayer for an especial blessing on all the services of

land, both in Armenian and Armeno-Turk-
ish languages."
Pasteur Guillaume Monod, of Paris,
writes :-
"We joyfully accept the invita-
tion to unite in prayer at the beginning of
next year, which has been forwarded to us.
We shall communicate it to all the friends
of the Gospel in France."

Pasteur L. Anet, of Brussels, informs us
that the invitation is published in the
"Chrétien Belge," and adds,
66 we shall
spread the appeal in Belgium, so that it
may reach all the brethren of the various
Churches in this land. I can assure you,
beforehand, that this invitation to prayer
will be received with truly great joy in all
the Churches. We have desired it and
expected it."

Similar communications have been addressed to our Committee from America and other places.

May God stir up very many of his people in this country also to promote this movement and crown it with his abundant blessing,

We are, Sir, yours faithfully,
W. CARDALL, M.A.
L.A.

JAMES DAVIS

Secretaries.
Secretaries.

A PLEA FOR PRESBYTERIAN
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES.

Prebyterian Church can do a good work. The subject is the possibility of devising a scheme to give a higher education to working men who may aspire after a liberal education. We have our School Scheme for the children of working men, to fit them to discharge well the duties of life. Cannot we have also a scheme for intelligent young men, that might even open up for them the road to our college and to the pulpits of our church? A road has already been opened up-and a public road too-but working men require to have it pointed out to them, and to be induced to travel it. The prizes, titles, and certificates of merit awarded by the middle class examination scheme of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, are tests of the sound scholarships of those who attain such distinction. But the schools which can furnish candidates to these examinations, are schools from which the children of the poorer classes are virtually excluded. Provision requires to be made to meet their case. The Presbyterian Church has done a great deal in Scotland and in other countries to supply a higher order of education to the poorer classes. Why should it not try to do the same for England. Why not originate an Educational Scheme with the special object of giving working men a chance to obtain a prize, a title, or a certificate of merit from the Universities. Mechanics Institutes and Working Men's Colleges, by means of their evening classes, afford opportunities to working men to pursue their studies in the mathematies, the sciences, and in modern languages. To make these institutions more efficient, they are being grouped in Unions, as for example, the Lancashire and Cheshire Union of Mechanics Institutes. These Unions give prizes and certificates of merit to students within their bounds who show the greatest proficiency in their studies. The late meeting of the Lancashire and Cheshire Union at Manchester, presided over by the Duke of Argyle, is an example of the interest now taken in these Institutes, and shows the benefit they may confer on the community. The students of these Institutes have a still greater stimulus to diligent study, on account of the prizes and certificates given by the "Society of Arts"

To the Editor of the Presbyterian Messenger. DEAR SIR,-It was one of the characteristics of our Saviour's ministry, that to the poor the Gospel was preached." Is this also pre-eminently characteristic of the Ministry of the Presbyterian Church in England? Or is it not rather the case, that our church is very much a middle class church, and that its pews are chiefly occupied by "well-to-do people?" My experience on this point goes to show, that few of the poorer or the labouring classes are to be found among the pewholders of the English Presbyterian Church. This is not a healthy condition for a church to be in. The English Presbyterian Church must strike its roots deep down in the affections of the poorest of the people, in order to become a really useful and genuine English deno-to those students from all the Institutes in mination. To become a "visibility" to them, it must show sympathy with them in efforts made to elevate them to a higher standard of intelligence and morality. A helping hand and a kind heart will draw the attention and win the respect of the community sooner than an abstract statement of principles, however lucid and logical it may be.

I shall confine my remarks to pointing out one subject where I think the English

England who distinguish themselves most in certain departments of learning. But they cannot compete at the University Middle Class Examinations, unless they have acquired a knowledge of " the Classics," which Mechanics Institutes do not profess to teach.

Presbyterian Educational Institutes, might therefore, be established in the cities, and in some of the large towns of England, as supplementary to the Mechanics Institute

Endea

and to give, by means of evening classes, hymn and psalm an appropriate tune, and young men an opportunity to acquire a good be careful that as a rule, the music and the classical education, and enable them to com- words be not divorced pete at the University Middle Class Exam-vour, if possible, to associate certain words inations. These Educational Institutes would and ideas with certain music, so that the become nurseries for the College, and some melody is never dissevered in the mind from inducement might be held out to those who the sentiment; and it will prove a marvellous obtained certificates at the middle class help in the furtherance of congregational examination, to prosecute their studies for singing." the Church. A certificate of merit, for Let me entreat the attention of our preexample, might be regarded as equivalent to centors and of our ministers to this subject. one year's attendance at the University, and" A schoolmaster," says Luther," ought to that without letting down or lowering the standard of scholarship required for the ministry by all sections of the Presbyterian Church, if the remarks made by the "Times," of May 21st, 1860, in its leading article on Lord Brougham's Inaugural Address as Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, be correct. "Certain it is," says the "Times," "that in the faculty of arts embracing what we call a liberal education, the Scotch universities are only schools, and schools of not a very high order." Here, then, is one source of obtaining students, having perhaps, a better preliminary education than the majority of students acquire by one year's attendance at a Scotch University. There could be no doubt of their tastes and sympathies being adapted for England. A Presbyterian Educational Institute need not be an expensive concern. A Church lecture-room, or the ordinary day-school could serve as the class-room, and every large town possesses already some one well qualified and having time to devote to teaching the Classics two or three times weekly.

Occasional lectures on scientific and philosophical subjects could also be given in connection with them, and thus make them as much as possible levers to contribute to raise the standard of education in England to a higher platform.

PLEBS.

CONGREGATIONAL PSALMODY. To the Editor of the Presbyterian Messenger. SIR,-Some months ago you inserted a letter from me on the subject of Psalmody, urging that a certain time should be appropriated to each psalm or paraphrase, to be always used with it, so that the words and the music might become associated in the memories of the people.

An article in "Frazer" for September, induces me to crave a little space in your columns, that I may again urge this matter with the assistance of an extract bearing on the point in question :

"In order to make your singing congregational, observe this rule,-attach to each * April, 1859.

have skill in music; neither should we ordain young fellows to the office of preaching, except they had before been well exercised and practised in the school of music." I observe, that when baptism is administered, and two verses of a psalm are sung before, and two more of the same psalm after the ordinance, the precentor is not even then content with one tune for the four verses, but esteems it desirable to indulge us with a variety. On the other hand, some of our ministers make use of about a dozen only of our two hundred and odd psalms and paraphrases, so that we have a continual variety of music to a disheartening monotony of words.

To a few appropriations suggested in my last, let me add: "St. Asaph's" to the 66th Paraphrase. "How bright these glorious spirits shine." I am quite sure that after two or three times singing these together (if the time be taken quick enough), no congregation will desire to use another tune to these words.

Another remark before I close. How seldom are some of the old tunes, pure, simple, and eminently suitable, heard in our churches. One of the most striking among them all, "Montrose," which so much captivated the late Dr. Hamilton, of Leeds, when he heard it in Scotland, that he procured the music to bring home with him,I do not remember to have heard in church for many years. I do not wish to bar the door against every new tune, but I do say, don't bar out the old.