two things will have to be proved before its pretensions can be for a moment entertained:-1st, the extent to which ordinary dexterity and skill can possibly be carried; and 2nd, that any medium can go beyond this point. Until these two issues are demonstrated, we must be excused for classing Spiritualism not only among the silliest of crazes, but among the most wicked of hoaxes."

THE FREE CHURCH AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC.-At a recent meeting of the Glasgow Free Church Presbytery, there was submitted an overture on the subject of instrumental music in the worship of God, to the effect that—As such music has been introduced by other Presbyterian Churches with some of which the Free Church is closely allied, and as there is a desire on the part of many in the Free Church to have the same liberty in this respect as other Churches, the General Assembly be overtured to take the whole subject into consideration and give forth a deliverance upon it. The bringing forward of such an overture, in one of the largest and most influential Presbyteries of the Free Church, is very ominous, though it is nothing more than was expected. It is true, the overture was rejected by a large majority, but the prevailing tone of the discussion that took place clearly showed that, on the part of most of those who voted against it, the grounds of their opposition were simply grounds of expediency and not of principle, and if the spirit and tendency manifested prevail throughout the Church, the introduction of instrumental music into the Free Church is simply a question of time. She is hardly ripe for the change yet, but to all appearence she will be ere long. The mover of the overture gave it as his opinion that there is no principle involved in the question—that it is purely a question of opinion and taste that instrumental music in worship is merely a human institution resorted to in order to assist the voice in praising God, and to render the service more agreeable and beautiful. Throughout his whole speech-and the speeches of others like-minded-there was not a word as to what God requires, or as to what will be acceptable to Him. According to such reasoning, we are at perfect liberty to introduce anything we please into the worship of God, on the three-fold plea that it suits our taste, helps us in our worship, and renders the service more attractive and enjoyable. Thus is the door opened wide for the most outrageous innovations the mind of man can devise, for the grossest ritualism the taste or fancy of man can demand. And thus there can be no such thing as will-worship in the service of God. Yet it is written-" In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." We conclude with a few sentences from an admirable article on the subject which appeared in the Perthshire Courier, the only sound newspaper in the country on the religious questions of the day :-"The deplorable display is truly distressing. The overture was in favour of instrumental music, but the speaking was in favour of all manner of current innovation, and religious sensationalism. The whole proceedings were rotten to the core. With the exception of the faithful few who protested at the outset against entering upon the subject at all, or in any way entertaining it, not one member ever asked-' What saith the Scriptures?' There was not the slightest reference, far less appeal, to the law and to the testimony. And, speaking 'not according to this word,' it is not surprising that there was 'no light in them.""

PAPALISM.-At an influential public meeting, held lately in Glasgow, the following "resolutions" were adopted on this subject :—

(1.) "That history and experience demonstrate that wherever Papalism has control over the people of a country, that country declines in the scale of nations, intellectually, morally, politically, and religiously; and, in the ratio of its influence on individuals, it enervates the faculties of man, dwarfs his intellect,

impoverishes his soul, narrows his knowledge, and engenders vice, indolence, poverty, and infidelity."

(2.) "That history and experience demonstrate that wherever the spirit of Protestantism rules in a people, that people is built up in wealth, virtue, knowledge, and true liberty; it regulates and invigorates conscience, expands and disciplines the mental powers, engenders a love of truth and freedom, gives capacity for scientific discovery, mechanical invention, and commercial enterprise, and establishes true religion on the foundation of Scriptural authority, in perfect accordance with sanctified reason and high intelligence.'

(3.) "That the foregoing conclusions make it incumbent on all statesmen, true patriots, and enlightened Protestants to oppose Papalism as a system inherently hostile alike to the temporal and eternal interests of mankind."

In support of these terse and trenchant resolutions there were some admirable speeches delivered. Among the speakers was Signor Gavazzi, and with his opinion we fully agree, when he remarked, "That if matters went on with the same rapidity as they were now doing, he had no hesitation in saying that before the next generation was grown up, we would be called upon to fight once more the battle of the Reformation." As one reads such, and many similar statements, one is inclined to ask, what is really being done to give practical effect to the above enthusiastically-received resolutions in opposition to Popery and in behalf of the principles of the Protestant Reformation? Is there not reason to fear that the speaking on such occasions and the subsequent acting are sadly out of proportion to each other? Year after year great public meetings are held, and much enthusiasm and zeal are displayed, and yet year after year Popery is steadily advancing, growing bolder and more defiant in its attitude of uncompromising hostility to the dearest interests of our country.

THOUGHTS FOR THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR.

EVERY hour that strikes, every day that passes, is a monitor to remind us of the fleeting nature of Time, and to excite us to review the past and improve what may yet remain. But the frequent recurrence of hours and days makes their voice familiar to us, so that their admonitions are heard without instruction and without improvement; while the termination of one year and the commencement of another, occurring more rarely, speak the same language with a louder voice and with a greater prospect of commanding our serious attention. Yet we have seen so many old years expire, and new years begin, that the most thoughtful of us need to be aroused to consideration, that we may so number our days as to apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Were there not another purpose for which we had occasion for our time, there is one business which demands the attention of every man, and may furnish occupation sufficient for those who have most leisure-the concern of our souls' salvation, This certainly demands every man's most serious attention and most solicitous care. To what purpose is life, if this be neglected? Better doubtless we had never lived at all, than live only to neglect our souls, and through this neglect perish for ever. The care of our souls ought to be the great business of life-that to which every other concern ought to give place, as only secondary and in comparison unimportant. It is the one thing needful. For what will it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul? or what shall he give in exchange for his soul? But this need not occupy much of our time! So

many think, and not a few venture to say.

With these, a little consideration

we

occasionally bestowed when they have no other employment, or a few prayers, and perhaps tears, in a dying hour, are deemed sufficient to settle the whole affair. Fatal mistake! The shortest life, indeed, is not too short to afford time for preparation for eternity; but neither is the longest life too long. We can never begin too soon, nor labour too diligently, nor too long, in an affair of such vast importance. There are, indeed, twelve hours in the day; but though w should begin when the day breaks, our diligence must be continued till the evening; for he only that endureth to the end shall be saved. But, admitting that we could with safety squander any portion of precious time, why should we stand any part of the day idle, when we have a good God to serve, a kind Redeemer to honour, precious souls to save, and an eternal inheritance to secure? And has another year almost elapsed? How much ought we all to enquire at ourselves what improvement we have made of it? What have we done to promote the glory of God in the places where we are and in the stations which we fill? Have we counted our days and applied our hearts to wisdom? Do the realities of eternity press more upon our minds, and the vanities of time less than before? To what purpose are we living? Are we devoted to God, and diligent in His service? Do the revolutions of nations, the distress of families, the death of our relations, effectually teach us that we also must die? Are we more spiritually-minded, more desirous of the holiness and employments of the upper world than formerly? If the days are evil, do we work well? if they are short, do we work hard? Does the close of the year remind us of the end of our days, the end of time, and the certainty and awfulness of an eternal state?

Let us be up and doing. We have lost much time, squandered away many a talent, and slighted many a precious opportunity of doing good. Verily we have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Now, now is the time! Let us mind the one thing needful. Salvation is infinitely important. Time is short; death is certain; eternity is on the wing; and the Judge is at the door! We must all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. Let us not, therefore, sleep, as do others, but watch and be sober. What our hand findeth to do, let us do it with all our might, for there is no work in the grave. Let us no longer be slothful, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Let us exert all our influence to do good, not seeking our own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. The world is in confusion; the souls of men are every day perishing; darkness covereth the earth, and gross darkness the people; the nations are crying for the Gospel, and the reigning Redeemer's commission is-“Go and preach the Gospel to every creature." How then can we be idle? The Lord

enable us all to improve time for eternity! Amen.-(Selected.)

THE WORLD'S PROSPECTS.

When shall thy sons, oh! Judah, cease to roam
Through every clime that girds this changing world?
When shall thy daughters find a peaceful home
Where now the Moslem banner waves unfurled?

When shall the mountains of their father-land
And Jordan's banks, by Bible heroes trod,
Sing nature's welcome to that mighty band,
Returning, Christians, to the Christian's God

When shall the bright millennial morning break
And burst the fatal charm that blinds the soul;
When shall the glories of Redemption deck
The human family, one enlightened whole?

The Pioneers of this approaching time,-
Events unveiled to holy men of old,-

Seem sweeping on to purge the earth of crime,
And usher in the brightness long foretold.

From where the giant Himalayas wear

Their snowy turbans under eastern suns,
To where Peruvian zephyrs incense bear,
Through streams of science golden wisdom runs.

Aye, and salvation's trumpet has been blown,
With notes of joy to savage and to sage,—
Notes which in love can melt the heart of stone,
And quell the passions when they foam with rage.

The champions of the Cross are now abroad

Storming corruption's demon-mounted towers;
Thousands are mustering to the ranks of God,
And Heaven's blessings fall in sacred showers.

The clouds of strife are gathering in the east,
And some great crisis slumbers in the gloom,
Destined, perchance, to crush the Roman beast
And seal Mohammedan imposture's doom.

It may be that the arrogant Chinese,

Now groping with Confucius in his dream,
Ere long shall hail, o'er intervening seas,

The truth which cradles Britain in its beams,

Then let our watchword be redeeming love;
Let each less noble motive yield to this ;-
And may the Spirit, breathing from above,
Diffuse through all the lands millennial bliss.

-(Anon).

THE MISSIONARY BOX.

(For the Young.)

THERE it is. It stands on a little table. We know it of old. It has a familiar look. One remembers it as long as anything. The polished wood, neat letters, text of Scripture, and nick on the top who has not seen this? It is quite an institution.

No matter for lamentation, either. Quite the reverse. It will be an ill day when the time-honoured box is banished. Church and world alike profit by it. Children are especially benefited. Anything which makes them benevolent is a blessing. One of the golden lessons which they ought to learn, "and that right early," is pity for the sinful and wretched. Most of us come into the world with a tolerably strong infusion of selfishness. To lessen it is a main duty of life. The habit of giving money to the needy aids in this.

At a meeting held awhile ago in Bedfordshire, a minister said, "I wish missionary boxes could speak." That sounded odd, and provoked a smile. But he soon explained himself. He gave good reasons for it. We have often thought

of what he said, and shared his desire. Why? Here is one reason,-if the boxes could speak, they would tell us things which would please and benefit us. Sure, quite sure we are, that they could relate stories of self-denial which we should not easily forget. The pence, threepenny pieces, and sixpences are often the result of noble disinterestedness. We find a case in point. Listen to it, and remain unmoved if you can. an. A little girl attended a missionary meeting, and sat upon her father's knee. She listened with deep interest as the missionary described the misery of the heathen, and she wept over them. On her return home she said, "Father, couldn't I do something to send the Gospel to the heathen?" "What can you do? you are but a little girl." "Mother gives me a penny a week, and I could give that." A box was obtained, and every week a penny was dropped in. Not many weeks had passed, when she was taken ill of fever and died. After her burial, her father took the box to the minister. "I have not the heart to open it myself,” said he; “but if you do so, you'll find seventeen pence. The minister did so, but found eighteen pence. The father was surprised, and could not account for it. When he returned home, he told his wife, and asked if she could explain it. "Oh yes," she replied, “I can tell you. The day before our dear child died, a neighbour, seeing that she was suffering from thirst, said, 'Here, dear, is a penny for you to buy an orange.' When she left, our little one called me and said, Mother, I am very thirsty, and the orange would be very nice; but I would rather you would fetch my missionary box, that I might put it in there.' I did. It was the last thing that she did before she died."

Of course there is another side to the question. Some boxes are little credit to their owners. Little is put in them, not so much because of small means, as small interest. Trifling sums that will never be missed are slipped down the hole at the top. The generosity of certain folk is of a questionable kind. It reminds us of an American of whom we read. He declared that he had resolved to make a sacrifice for the heathen. In order that he might be able to contribute something, he had made up his mind to give up salted mackerel; “for,” added he, “I don't often have it, and I don't like it." Now and then something of this sort is carried on in reference to the Missionary Box. Only odds and ends are put into it. Farthings, coins with holes, money that is found in the streets, &c., contribute the bulk of the amount.

But this will not do. It is irreverent and ungrateful. God does not act thus. Does He? Does He bestow upon us the inferior, and keep back the valuable? Never be it forgotten that He has yielded up for our sakes the costliest thing which He could present, namely, the life of His only and beloved Son! Do think of that the next time you go to the box. It will keep you from being mean. Be liberal. Act toward your heathen brethren as your heavenly Father has acted to you. Strain a point sometimes. Don't be afraid of slipping into the box a sum which you will miss.

We said just now that we wished the boxes could speak. We gave a reason for it. We have another. They are often neglected. People forget them. A few weeks before and after the annual meeeting they are handled pretty well, but byand-by they are lost sight of. It would be a good thing if they could suddenly startle the family by crying out, "Hallo there! what do you mean by treating me in this way? It's a long while since you attended to me. What have I done that I am to be shunted after the present unpleasant fashion? I hope I've been guilty of no sin, have I? Remember the box. Please remember the poor box. Have pity