which we have tried to sweep clean to-day, will be found a new web by to-morrow.

"Satan is as persevering as your spiders; one rebuke will not chase him away, he will return with fresh vigour, into the very same heart, and begin his web again. All that remains for us, therefore, is to continue instant in prayer, and persevere unto the end. Every day he begins his work anew, and every day, we must examine and purify our hearts, and, by God's all-powerful grace, chase him from them. Truly, as you say, it goes to your heart, to sweep the spiders away, and Oh, how trebly painful is it, to our mistaken feelings and corrupt nature, to expel from our hearts the sin which doth so easily beset us; to cleanse our minds from the hatred, the envy, the jealousy, which we seek to gratify, to destroy, and subdue in fact, those darling passions, which lie concealed in the darkest corners of our hearts. But as there is no other way of keeping your earthly habitation tidy, be persuaded, that there is no other way in which we can keep ourselves pure and holy; and without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.' Hebrews xii. 14. Therefore, saith the Scriptures, 'cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purify your hearts ye double-minded. Peradventure God will give you repentance, that ye may recover yourselves from the snare of the devil.' James iv. 8., and 2. Timothy ii. 25, 26.

Indeed, Sir," said Mary, "I shall never sweep the cobwebs away now, without remembering that I must do the same to my heart." Mr. Wilson having once gained the attention of this little family, thought it a fitting opportunity for continuing his instructions, and turning to William he said, "I suppose, William, you have business

"Yes! Sir, mas

enough this week in sowing?" ter has set all hands to work; this fine dry weather must not be lost." "Well, William, has it never struck you, whilst sowing, what a useful lesson might be gained from thence?

you

"Endeavour to turn your most common employments, to the glory of God, or the good of your own soul. Whilst you are busily engaged in sowing this earth with seed, that it may spring up and yield you food and nourishment, recollect that have a soul, which must be cultivated also, if you wish to reap the fruits in heaven. Life is the season for sowing. Eternity the season for reaping. Life is short and soon glides away; therefore no longer stand ye idle, but catch the present moment, plant and sow, bearing in mind that an eternity of misery or happiness, unceasing and without end, depends upon your conduct here. And who knows how soon the husbandman may bid us leave our work and follow him. To all men, indeed it must be labour and trouble; and in this life, alas! no fruit will spring up to perfection, no abundant harvest reward your daily toil; still go on in hope; commit your spiritual seed with faith to Heaven; pray that the dew of God's blessing may descend and nourish the infant virtues in your heart, and 'in due season ye shall reap, if ye faint not.' Galatians vi. 9. J. C.*

* We are sorry we could not insert J. C.'s interesting "reflections" earlier in October. But this is an inconvenience resulting from our arrangements to print in advance.

LIGHT IN DARKNESS.

"Judge not according to the appearance," said our Lord. And where is that follower of His, who needs not so wise and merciful a caution?

No vessel ever put out to sea, which we should have thought would have been blessed with a fairer wind, and a more prosperous voyage, than that which carried the Saviour of the world.

Yet upon that vessel did the Prince of the power of the air, exert all his influence, and all his malice, until the waters covered it, and the vessel itself was in jeopardy.

Are you sometimes led to fear, that the true and living Church of the Redeemer, has not the presence of the Saviour with her, because she is oppressed, and opposed, and endangered?

Or, are you, in your own individual case, led to doubt of the same blessed fact, because in temporal, or in spiritual, things, trouble and disappointment, the tempests of the world's opposition, or the winds of despondency and doubt, are permitted to assault your soul; because you sometimes feel it to be almost a question, whether you are really a child of God, or have any part or lot among the heirs of his inheritance?

To you then, there is much encouragement in the incident before us. The presence of the Saviour, did not prevent a storm; but when at the worst, it instantly and entirely quelled it. It al

lowed enough of danger to try the faith of his people, but not sufficient to peril their existence. The fact that the Saviour is with you, is, therefore, fully sufficient to enable you to brave all dangers, to face all trials, and to be assured of safety and preservation, and final deliverance.Blunt's Lectures.

SELF COMMUNION.

In your retirement, make frequent colloquies, or short discoursings, between God and thy own soul. 'Seven times a day do I praise thee: and, in the night season also, I thought upon thee, while I was waking.' So did David; and every act of complaint or thanksgiving, every act of rejoicing or of mourning, every petition, and every return of the heart in these intercourses, is a going to God, and appearing in his presence, and a representing him present to thy spirit, and to thy necessity. And this was, long since, by a spiritual person called, a building to God a chapel in our heart.' It reconciles Martha's employment with Mary's devotion, charity, and religion, the necessities of our calling and the employments of devotion. For thus, in the midst of the works of your trade, you may retire into your chapel, your heart; and converse with God by frequent addresses and returns. Bishop Taylor.

HARD must be the heart of that man, and poor indeed his understanding, who can see a fellow creature in distress, and coldly ask before he relieves him, to what religion he belongs. Whether a Jew or a Samaritan, a Christian or a Turk, it is a human being that wants our assistance, and if we refuse it because our religions are different, we bring disgrace on our own.-From J.G.M's. Adversaria.

No. 96.]

[Vol. IV.

THE PENNY

SUNDAY READER.

EDITED BY THE REV. I. E. N. MOLESWORTH,

RECTOR OF ST. MARTIN'S, CANTERBURY, AND ONE OF THE

SIX PREACHERS OF CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL.

ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH, CANTERBURY,

IN WHICH CHRISTIANITY WAS FIRST EMBRACED BY A

KINGS SHALL BE THY NURSING FATHERS, AND THEIR QUEENS THY NURSING MOTHERS.-Isaiah, ch. xlix. 23.

CANTERBURY:

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