things, who was sowing to them spiritual things, and, instead of being weakened by the pruning-knife of separation, acquired fresh life and vigour, and deepened their roots in the soil. It might, indeed, be said, that he was supported by his people, in things spiritual as well as in things temporal; at least, he was supported by their prayers at a throne of grace. They were a praying people; they had their praying societies in every district; the head of every family had an altar in his own house; and they would not have broken bread without imploring a blessing that would equal the public prayers in some of our fashionable congregations. He wrestled for them, and they wrestled for him, and their supplications met at Jehovah's foot"My father," says a worthy son of Craigdam, "would have been twice in the barn on Sabbath morning. I often heard him pleading most fervently for his minister, that he might preach with the Holy Ghost sent down; that a day of gracious power might be enjoyed; and that the Lord's servant might be honoured to win souls to Christ."

The Seceders of Buchan, as we have seen, were highly distinguished for their piety and intelligence; but they were more-they had also learned the highest of all Christian duties to seek the glory of God along with the salvation of their souls. Mr Brown was not only a great preacher of what is commonly called the gospel, but a decided friend of all the principles of the Covenanted Church of Scotland. He was therefore deeply concerned, not merely to promote the spiritual welfare of his people, but to connect them with the public cause of God; he not only taught them the duty of making a profession of being the followers of Christ, but also the higher duty of publicly avouching the Lord to be their God. The solemn duty of public covenanting was generally observed in the congregation every alternate year; and during the course of his ministry, not fewer than sixteen hundred persons became public Covenanters. To that work has been ascribed the remarkable success of the gospel under the Secession banner in the north of Scotland; and although, alas! it has now been for many years eclipsed by manifold defections, we believe it will yet be revived in the Lord's time.

Original Poetry.

LAYS OF ANCIENT ISRAEL.

No. I.-THE CROSSING OF THE RED SEA.

Full many a wonder God hath wrought, his matchless love to prove,
Yet Israel's children feared him not-were strangers to that love.
He had led them forth from Egypt-from Pharoah's direful yoke,
And yet, ungrateful, still they sin; his wrath they still provoke.
And now behold that countless host;-O what a scene is there!
The stoutest heart now quakes with fear, now sinks in grim despair:

The foaming waves before them rise, dread cliffs on either side;
While fast behind, with burning rage, proud Pharoah's warriors ride!
O, many a son of Israel now-forgetful of his Lord-

Recalls the joyful time, when he-a stranger to the sword-
Safe in his old Egyptian hut, or by his native Nile,

Did calmly toil beneath the yoke, nor aught did fear the while;
And, filled with blended grief and rage, he joins the rebel throng,
And pours on Moses (meek the while), reproaches loud and long:
"Why hast thou torn from Egypt's bliss this thrice unhappy band?
Though not the country of our race, 'tis still our native land!”
The faith of Amram's son was great, for God was ever near;
But, wondrous as that faith may be, it well may waver here.
But no he bids them cease to quake, and cease on him to call,
Nor waves, nor warriors fear, but trust in Him who made them all!
Once more they look before-behind-around-on every side;
Perchance they think of rushing on-there roars the angry tide-
"Twere surely madness thus to die! While tortured with such doubts,
Still nearer, louder, sound behind, the foe's triumphant shouts!
But, 'mid the wild and frantic shrieks,-the wailings of despair,-
What light illumines Moses' face?—what holy beam is there?
He

prays that God would spare this host, if 'tis His sovereign will;
And see, that smile is brighter now-that beam is holier still!
The Lord hath answered, and will spare: yes, yes, it must be so.
But see,
he rushes through the camp, 'mid many a scene of woe.
Whither, whither will he go? He stands now by the sea:
He will not plunge into the gulf: no, no, it cannot be !

His arms are stretched across the flood! What fantasy is here?
Now hoarsely shriek the furious winds-the waves more huge appear,

And higher, higher still they rise! how terrible to see!

They crash! THEY REND IN TWAIN! O God! was ever God like Thee!
And see, the rend is deeper now, and deeper doth it grow,
And further back, on either side, the yielding waters flow.

Is this to swallow up the host? No, no! behold the sand!

And now, now see, from shore to shore, a strip of broad dry land!

That rebel race is filled with awe-but 'tis a holy fear:
Though they'd forsaken Israel's God, yet Israel's God was near.
Thus ran their thoughts, as on they march between the raging tide,
That tower'd like stately crystal walls, aloft on either side.
Then to the Lord a song they sung-a holy hymn indeed;-
Their fathers had Him served in truth, and he had saved their seed:-
"O Lord, our God, our fathers' God! was ever God like Thee!
For Thou hast saved us from the foe, and from the raging sea.'

Scarbridge, June, 1856.

D. C

Selected Poetry.

CHRIST IS ALL.

Chief of sinners though I be,
Jesus shed His blood for me;
Died, that I might live on high,
Lived, that I might never die :
As the branch is to the vine,
I am His, and He is mine.

EXTRACT FROM THE CHARGE DELIVERED BY THE REV. EDWARD IRVING, AFTER THE ORDINATION Of a pastor TO THE PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION, LONDON-WALL.

In thy capacity of a preacher, or minister of the gospel, I charge thee, as a steward of the mysteries of Christ, to know those ordinances which are entrusted to thy administration. The several parts of public worship thou hast to conduct without the help of any service book or curate; no form to guide thee, which I hope thou wilt never need nor desire to have. O, brother, what a weight lieth upon a Scottish minister's shoulders, and what need of largest knowledge and most patient study hath he above all men! First, then, concerning those psalms, of which I would not forego one out of the collection for all the paraphrases, hymns, and spiritual songs of these Methodistical times. Thou must taste, and deeply drink into the spirit of them, and open them to the flock and congregation; for praise, without the understanding, is praise without the heart, not pleasant in the ear of God. If thou shouldest find it necessary to open the psalms a little, by way of preface, in order to point out Christ, and the Church, and the Kingdom in them, thou wilt do well. They are the essence of divine truth, the divinest of the inspirations of the Spirit, upon which I charge thee to admit no modern innovations, and, in their stead, to take no modern substitutes. And stir the people up to love and relish them, which is best done by leading them to know and understand them.

Secondly, Thy prayers. Oh, brother, what a burden is laid upon thy spirit, to offer, in such a time as this, the prayers of the Christian Church! for, remember, thou pray not for thy people alone, nor for the presbytery alone, nor for the Kirk of Scotland alone, but for the holy catholic church, and communion of saints; and, remember, we have not four separate prayers, but, as it were, four parts of prayer, which, together, make up the liturgy of our Sabbath-day. Thou must not indulge the people by saying the same thing twice over, one for the forenoon company, and the other for the afternoon company, who can make it convenient to attend. It is a

day's service, a Sabbath's sacrifice, divided as thou best may. O, it is an onerous charge, my brother, this of public prayer! I cannot tell thee how it weighs down my spirit; and I give it in charge to thee, to make this part of the ministry thine especial care. Our Church loveth that it should be extempore, and it is best that it should be so; but O, fill the fountains of thy spirit every week, by secret devotion and prayerful meditation, and solemn careful thought of all things. Preaching cometh next in order, which is, as it were, the food and nourishment of all the rest, the foolishness of God, which is wiser than the wisdom of men, the royal ordinance of the kingdom. Here put forth all thy knowledge, all thy wisdom, all thy strength of manhood, with all the gifts and graces of the divine nature. Take thy liberty; occupy thy commission; beat down the enemies of the Lord; wound and heal; break down and build up again. Be of no school; give heed to none of their rules and canons. Take thy liberty; be fettered by no times, accommodate no man's conveniency, spare no man's prejudice, yield to no man's inclinations, though thou should scatter all thy friends, and rejoice all thine enemies Preach the gospel; not the gospel of the last age, or of this age, but the everlasting gospel; not Christ crucified merely, but Christ risen; not Christ risen merely, but Christ present in the Spirit, and Christ to be again present in person. Dost thou take heed to what I say? Preach thy Lord in humiliation, and thy Lord in exaltation; and not Christ only, but the Father-the will of the Father. Keep not thy people banqueting, but bring them out to do battle for the glory of God, and of his Church; to which end thou shalt need to preach them the Holy Ghost, who is the strength of battle.

STRIKING PROVIDENCE-THE WICKED TAKEN IN HIS OWN NET.

Amsterdam, May 28.

A singular instance of death, by poisoning, has recently occurred in the small town of Deventer, in Holland. A man and his wife, who seem not to have lived on the most amicable terms with each other, sat down to a supper of butter-milk-a very usual article of diet in Holland. Just as the wedded pair were about to partake of their evening meal, the husband left the room for an instant, during which a spider chanced to fall from the ceiling into his wife's plate of butter-milk. Quickly casting out the offending insect, she exchanged plates with her husband, who, she thought, would be none the wiser, as he had not seen the insect. They drank the butter-milk, but very soon after, the man was seized with cramp and vomiting, so intense, that the wife thought it necessary to send for a medical man, who at once declared his patient to be suffering from the effects of poison. The woman was, in the presence of her husband, questioned as to all the particulars of that dog's diet, and frankly narrated the incident of the spider. The man then confessed, that, tired of matrimonial strife, he resolved on getting rid of his wife by poison, and accordingly had, a moment while her back was turned, put a quantity of poison into her plate of butter-milk. Shortly after having made this confession of his diabolical design, the wretched man expired. But what would have been the fate of his wife, had he died without making that confession? With such strong circumstantial evidence against her, the story of the woman would have been discredited, and she would probably have been hanged for the murder, by poisoning, of her husband.

Department for the Young.

LEARN TO KEEP HOUSE.

No young lady can be too well instructed in any thing that will effect the comfort of a family. Whatever position in society she occupies, she needs a practical knowledge of the duties of a housekeeper. She may be placed in such circumstances that it will be unnecessary for her to perform much domestic labour; but on this account, she needs no less knowledge than if she was obliged to preside personally over the cooking-stove and pantry. Indeed, I have often thought it was more difficult to direct others, and requires more experience, than to do the same work with our hands.

Mothers are frequently so nice and particular, that they do not like to give up any part of their care to their children. This is a great mistake in their arrangement, for they are often burdened with labour and need relief. Children should be early taught to make themselves useful to assist their parents in every way in their power, and consider it a privilege to do so.

Young people cannot realize the importance of a thorough knowledge of housewifery; but those who have suffered the inconveniences and mortifications of ignorance can well appreciate it. Children should be early indulged in their disposition to bake, and experiment in cooking in various ways. It is often but a "troublesome help" they afford, still it is a great advantage and benefit to them.

I know a little girl who, at nine years old, made a loaf of bread every week during the winter. Her mother taught her how much yeast and flour to use, and she became quite an expert baker. Whenever she is disposed to try her skill in making cake or pies, she is permitted to do so. She is thus, while amusing herself, learning an important lesson. Her mother calls her her "little housekeeper," and often permits her to get what is necessary for the table. She hangs the keys by her side, and very musical is their jingling to her ears. I think before she is out of her teens, upon which she has not yet entered, that she will have some idea how to cook.

Some mothers give their daughters the care of the housekeeping each a week by turns. It seems to me a good arrangement, and a most useful part of their education. Domestic labour is by no means incompatible with the highest degree of refinement and mental culture. Many of the most elegant and accomplished women I have known, have looked well to their household duties, and have honoured themselves and their husbands by so doing.- Westminster Agriculturalist (American.)

To the Editor of the Original Secession Magazine.

REV. SIR,-I am happy to find, that, in common with many Christian citizens of various denominations, your Synod, at its recent meeting, has placed the Saturday evening concerts in the category of practical evils. Considering the popularity of these modern amusements, and the countenance which they have received by public men, both in the State and in the Church, it requires no small courage to brave the reproach which has been so liberally poured from the platform and the press upon the hapless heads of any who may venture to express the conviction, that their tendency is fraught with evil to the community, and especially to the young. I do not wonder that a certain class of newspapers, whose existence depends upon pandering to the tastes of the godless multitude, should treat to their foulest abuse, all opposers of their plans and projects; but that ministers of the Gospel should appear on the public platform, and hold up to contempt and scorn the conscientious convictions of their own brethren, and the decisions of church courts, is, to me at least, matter of astonishment. This aspect of the liberalism of modern times is certainly peculiar, and requires to be dealt with, without ceremony or reserve. These remarks have been suggested in reading the report of the "Halfholiday Association Soiree," held in the Music-Hall, Edinburgh, on the 10th May, which was addressed by the Rev. Drs Begg and Guthrie. And here let it be distinctly understood, that I have the fullest sympathy with the primary objects of that Association, and the deepest interest in its success, while I claim the right of private judgment upon matters of detail connected with its operations. In reviewing some of the sentiments expressed at that meeting, I feel that, though the task