The Children's Messenger.

THE CLOSING YEAR.

others, He is not so to you-that you have not Dear Children,-The shadows are length-|

yet known and believed the wonderful love ening out and another busy year is near its

wherewith God has loved you—then, dear close. Before we meet you again it will

child, be a stranger to the love of Christ no have passed away and borne its record of

longer; believe in Him now. Take your Bible God's mercies and our sins to the judg

and turn to the third chapter of John's Gospel, ment-seat of Christ, while we shall have

and while you there read what Jesus himput our foot on the threshold of its successor,

self tells you of the depths of the Father's love perhaps as unmindful of God as ever. Let us

to poor lost sinners, such as you ; ask Him to pray that God would make it otherwise--that

give you His Holy Spirit to bless that word to He would enable us to spend some of its re

your soul. Do this, and the blessing will maining precious hours in "setting our house

assuredly come; and while it fills you with in order," that when the next year comes, if

peace and gladness, your full and grateful we are spared to see it, it may find us ready.

| heart will find utterance in the sweet song of The close of the year, too, is the time when

the sheep of Christ's fold: MY FATHER, THOU business men make up their accounts, that they

ART THE GUIDE OF MY YOUTH. may know whether it has been a year of loss or gain to them. By and by you will see them busy with their books, anxious to know

FRANK AND WILLIAM. whether they can still pay for food and cloth-! « Consider Him that endured such contradiction ing and schooling for their children, or of sinners against Himself."-HEB. xiii. 3. whether, perhaps, they must not lessen some “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with of their own comforts, lest you should be de- / good."--ROM. Xll. 25. prived of the greatest earthly blessing they can Oh, William (said Frank to his eldest brother), give you-a good education. When you are I have been wanting to see you ever since as old as we are you will understand the school was over. Just lo

as over. Just look at my head, and reason why your parents care so much about see where Robert has struck ine. what seem to you to be but tiresome tasks-1 William. Robert struck you ? about your learning-and you will then value the Frank. Yes, and only because I wouldn't learning you may have gotten, regretting the change my large marble for three of his small idleness that prevented you from getting more. ones.

Now, dear young friends, we would have W. Are you sure that was all ? Perhaps you you too make up your accounts—the accounts were a little provoking to him. Think a moof that greatest of all business-the business of ment; and if you were in fault, say so honestly. your souls. For, just as we are jealous of the F. No; I am sure I was not in fault. James merchant or the trader who never balances his saw us both, and he can tell you so. affairs, and think him, at the best, unsafe, so W. That is well. But did you strike him are we doubly doubtful of him, be he young or old, who is in no anxiety about how it stands | F, Oh, no. If I had, my head would have with his soul in the sight of God. Before the been swelled worse than this, I can tell you. year closes--and the sooner you set about it Why, he is half as big again as I am. But I the better, chvose some secret place where told him you would give him a good flogging. you can be alone with God, and having prayed W. Indeed? Then I have more concern in to Him to grant you his Holy Spirit, open l the matter than I thought at first. When would your heart to Him-show Him everything that you like to have me to do it ? is in it-keep nothing back-hide no sin from F. The sooner the better. I think we can Him-tell Him the very worst-and then pray catch him some time this afternoon. to Him to wash your soul in the precious blood I w. Very well. I am willing to do anything of the Lord Jesus that you may begin the year in reason to oblige you. But is it not strange, FORGIVEN.

that two such particular friends as you and And every morning ask yourself, Do I be | Robert should be trying to get each other lieve in the Lord Jesus Christ? If you believe flogged ? in Him you will love Him-you will love to F. Oh, we are not friends now, by a great read His holy book, the Bible - you will love deal. We used to be rather intimate; but he to pray to and to praise Him. It will give you was so cross and bad-tempered, that we could pleasure to serve him in any way you can, and not agree together, and lately we have been you will be constantly looking out for new | a good deal more like enemies than friends. ways. “Unto you that believe He is precious. W. Enemies? Oh, that alters the case enAsk yourself, 'Is Jesus precious to me? And tirely. If that is the reason why you want him may God the Holy Spirit enable every dear child flogged, I cannot give any assistance in the who reads this to say, “Lord, I believe, help matter. thou mine unbelief."

F. Why not? I don't see how there could But if you feel that you are yet a stranger | be any stronger reason. to Christ-that precious though He may be to ! W. As to that, we must try to find a good

reason as well as a strong one. You know I W. A short illustration will help you to retry to act according to the principles of the member it better. You know that in some Bible. Now, among all the instructions that countries they have warm weather all the year Christ and the apostles gave, there is nothing round, so that it never snows, and most of the plainer or clearer than that we must never hurt | people of those countries never saw any snow, our enemies, nor try to punish them for what and do not know how it looks. If one of them they have done to us. Didn't you know that, should ask what is the colour of snow he would Frank?

be told that it is white. But there are a great F. Yes, I remember what is said about lov- | many different shades of white. Letter paper ing our enemies; but does that mean such sort | is white, and so are newspapers, and your hand of enemies as Robert and I ?

is white, and the clouds are white. But all W. I suppose it means enemies of every these are different from one another; and he sort; but you shall judge for yourself. Do would not certainly know which of them snow you know where we can find a l'estament? was like. But he would be very certain that it

F. Oh yes, there are plenty in the house. was not BLACK. So love to our enemies may And you know I have a little one bound in red | be shown in a great many different ways; but morocco, that Uncle George gave me for a new it never can be shown by striking them again, year's present.

or knocking them down, or by shooting or W. Well, let us have that one; for you hanging them. All these things are as opposite must get acquainted with the inside as well as to love as black is to white. the outside of it. Now turn to the fifth chap-1 F. But mustn't I do anything to Robert, ter of Matthew, and read the thirty-eighth after his striking me so ? and thirty-pinth verses aloud.

W. Oh, yes; if the matter should be left F. (Reads.) “Ye have heard that it hath here, perhaps he would strike you again. We been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a must do something to make him remember it, tooth. But I say unto you, that ye resist not and repent of it. evil ; but whosoever shall smite thee on the F. Yes, that is just what I thought. Now, right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

what would be the best way to do it ? W. “ Whosoever shall smite thee on thy W. One very good way would be to go to right cheek”-is not this something like your him pleasantly this afternoon, and offer to exaffair with Robert ?

change marbles, as he wanted to do before. F. But does this text mean that I ought to F. What! give him my marble after he have turned round, and asked him to strike/ struck me? me again ?

W. Why, yes. If the object is to make him W. I suppose not. But we can ascertain sorry that he struck you, and asliamed ever to very certainly what we ought to do in such a | do so again, I can't think of any better way to case, by observing what Christ did when some- do it. body struck him. Give me the Testament, F. It seems a very strange way to me. If I and I will find you the place.

give up to him now, he will think I am afraid William turns to John xviii. 22nd and 23rd | of him, and then he will get away every thing verses, and gives it Frank to read.

of mine he wants. F. “And when he had thus spoken, one of W. You are mistaken, Frank. Robert is a the officers which stood by, struck Jesus with sensible and well-disposed boy; but he is a the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou | little passionate, and sometimes does things in the High-priest so? Jesus answered him, If his anger that he is sorry for afterwards. I I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil : dare say he is sorry now that he struck you, but if well, why smitest thou me?” It does and if you show a forgiving disposition, and act not say here, that Christ turned his other kindly and pleasantly towards him, he will be cheek.

very careful not to do so again. I should not W. No. We see, therefore, that the literal wonder if you became better friends than ever. meaning of the command is of less conse- | What do you think of that, Frank? quence : and that it is the spirit which we 1 F. I don't know but we shall, for I don't must be careful to regard and obey. Christ's feel half so cross about it as I did. conduct was exactly according to the spirit of W. That is well. I dare say the rest of the the command, and we must understand it in the cross feeling will be gone by the time dinner is same sense that he did. Now, Frank, tell me

over, and then you can go and see Robert bewhat is the meaning of the text you first read ? fore school in the afternoon.-From an Ameri

F. I suppose it means that we must take in- can Publication. juries patiently, without getting angry, or trying to be revenged. W. Right. Our duty is to feel and show

WILD MEN OF THE JUNGLE. such a spirit as this; but the particular way in which we are to show it, is left to our own The inner part of the large Island of Ceylon is choice. Thus it might be proper, when Robert covered with mountains and forests. The trees struck you, either to turn the other cheek lite- are twined together by numerous climbing rally, or to walk away quietly, and leave him, plants, while brushwood and tall grass grow or mildly to remonstrate with him, as Christ thickly over the ground, so that it is difficult to did. I say the command might mean either find a pathway through these great forests, or, of these things. But it could not possibly as the natives call them, jungles. Not only mean that you should strike him again, or try many serpents and wild beasts live in these to get him flogged for it. Do you see this | places, but a race of strange people, known by clearly, Frank ?

The name of Veddahs, or “Wild men of the F. Yes, I believe so.

jungle."

These savage foresters, when discovered, had | happy in this life, we must send them the Gosno houses or villages. When the season was pel; and then, too, through dry, they roamed in the woods, and slept under they will be prepared to live with Christ in the trees, and even on high among the branches. heaven for ever. --Tracts for the Young. But in the wet season they crept into caves, or lay under the shelter of rocks. Their beds were a few leaves, and they had nothing more on them than their neighbours, the beasts, except a small piece of cloth around the waist,

THE LITTLE BLIND BOY. and a few arrows.

These poor creatures never cultivated the | Once there was a good litile boy in Scotland. ground for food, but lived upon roots and wild about eight years old, who took the small-pox: honey; though sometimes they fed on lizards, and when he grew better, it was found it had monkeys, and other animals they found in the shut up both This eyes, so that he could see forest. They looked very wild : their hair was nothing. He had been such a gentle, good loose, rugged, and burnt brown by the rays of boy, that all the family loved him, and led him the sun.

about, and were very kind to him. He had a A traveller once met with an old Veddah,

little sister Annie, twelve years old, who used and asked him to bring his family that he

to find amusement for him, and when it came might see them. The Veddah said they would

warm weather, she would take him to walk in not come, for they had never seen a white man; the country. they would sooner meet a savage beast than see

One day they took a long walk, and sat one. But, after the promise of a gift, he | down at the foot of a great tree. “Annie,” went to seek for them. In a little time, loud said James, " what a pleasant day this is. The shrieks were heard : the wild man was forcing | air feels so soft and warm to my face. I hear his wife and children along, and they were cry

the burn racing on the smooth stones, and ing out with terror. When they came nigh, the sheep and Jambs bleat. How I wish I and saw the traveller, they again cried aloud,

could see them again. Hark! there is a thrush and rushed into the thicket. After a long singing over our heads. 0! how beautiful it time, the man contrived to bring his wife,

used to be to sit down here, and look to the daughter, and little sun, to the spot; but when

far-away hills, and the clear blue sky, and see the gentleman held out his hand to the boy, he

the mill yonder, and the pretty ducks in the was so terrified that he ran, shrieking, into the

pond: ah, Annie, I think I shall never see jungle with the swiftness of a deer.

these things again." The father was asked where he slept?“ On

| Then the little boy thought how dismal it the trees," he replied. “ But where do your

would be to be always blind and dark, and felt wife and children sleep?" “ On the trees.”

so helpless and sad: and he began to cry. “ But how can they climb?” “ It is their “Don't cry, James,” said his dear sister, “may nature.” “What do you eat ?” “Such things be, you'll see yet. There was Daniel Scott, as we can get.” “What religion are you?"

you know, had the small-pox, and was blind “ We do not know what you mean.” “Where

for weeks, but he got well, and now he sees do people go after death?” “ We do not

as well as anybody. Besides, you know." know."

said she, “God will do right about it, as dear These wild men have no knowledge of God.

mother says; and if he leaves you to be blind, If they have any religion, it consists in worship

will make you happy some other way. Beoffered to the devil. When any one of their

sides, we all do what we can for you; and I number falls ill, they make a “devil dance,"

will read to you, and it will not be so bad.” and offer cocoa nuts and rice to the wicked

But poor James kept thinking of his misspirit who they suppose afflicts them. They fortune, and sat down with his head bent upon have no knowledge of hours, nor names for

his hands, with his elbows on his knees, and days; indeed, they are sunk in the lowest state

kept on crying. The flood of tears pressed of ignorance and misery.

their way between his eyelids, which had stuck These wild men of the jungle, however, are together, and when he lifted up his head, he immortal beings, and have souls to be saved or

cried out, “O, Annie, I can see! There's the lost. They are sinners, and need a Saviour. brook, and the mill, and the sheep! O how But has anything been done for them? Yes: glad I am!” Annie was as joyful as he, and Missionaries have already been among them, hurried him to return home so as to tell the and God has blessed their labours to these

good news; but James could hardly walk, for poor creatures. They have been taught to he wanted so to look about him. “Oh!" said build houses and plant rice; to clothe their he,“ how little do children know of the blessbodies, and live like human beings. The ing of sight. If they had only lost it awhile, school-house has been built; the Lord's-day like me, they would never cease to thai has been kept holy; many have been baptized, for eye-sight.” and now meet for prayer and to praise God; You may think how pleased they all were and there is reason to hope that a good num- at home. At night, when the father prayed ber have found “ peace with God, through in the family, and came to thank God for refaith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

storing dear little James, he almost wept for Let us pray that all these wild foresters may

joy. James soon got his sight completely, and soon be brought to know that “ Jesus Christ

when he grew up to be a man, he never forgot came into the world to save sinners.” If we |

to be grateful to his Heavenly Father that he wish to make them wise, industrious, holy, and I was not blind.-Children's Friend.

INDEX TO VOLUME II.

NEW SERIES.

True Tales for Spare Hours, 306.

Duncan, Rev. G. J. C., visit to France and
Vaughan's Age and Christianity, 285.

Belgium, 477, 528.
Villiers' Word of God, 211.

English Presbyterian Pulpit, the, 292, 323, 488.
Weir's Life a Vapour, 189.

-- Missions, Meeting on
- Lectures on Popery, 565.

behalf of the, 407.
White's History of Mammalia, 417. Erskine, Rev. Dr. John, Memoir of, 33, 65.
Brampton, 55.

Etal, Ordination at, 572.
Buchanan's, Rev. Dr. R., Ten Years' Conflict, Ettirajooloo, S., letter from, 497.
11.

Explicit dealing with God. Rev. J. R. Welsh,
Building Fund, 308.

161.
Burns, Rev. W. C., Letters from, 15, 16, 50, Falstone, Schools at, 414.
82, 114, 144, 206, 244, 273, 411, 472. Family worship, the German's, 270.

-- Notes of an Address by, Female majorities, 146.
83, 100, 132, 239, 263, 296, 363, 456. Fleming, Rev. Robert, memoir of, 97, 129.
Calvin's Works and Ministers' Libraries, 377. Foreign Mission, collection for, 337.
Calvinism, 513.

- extract from Report of Com-
Carey, Rev. Dr., Memoir of, 546.

mittee, 348.
Carmichael, Sir Alex. Gibson, Memoir of, 485. France and Belgium, notes of a visit to, 477,
Castaway, the, by Rev. John Weir, 190.

523.
Catacombs, the Church in the, 479.

- Free Church of, 509.
Chadwell-street Presbyterian Church, 55. Gaelic preaching in London, 55.
Chalmers, Rev. Dr., Memoir of, 211, 462. Gateshead, presentation at, 282.

- Rev. Wm., Memoir by, 257. | Gillespie's, Alexander, Esq., visit to Bala, 523.
Change, a Divine, 513.

God with us, 512.
Charteris, Rev. W., letters from, 17, 20, 81, Greenwich Presbyterian Church, opening of,
145, 146, 182, 271, 366, 367, 410, 537.

378.
Chelsea Presbyterian Church, 22, 415, 476. Griffin, Rev. John, of Portsea, Memoir of, 389.
Chester Presbyterian Mission Station, 150. Gutzlaff, Charles, the friend of China, 43.
China, our Mission to, 15, 50, 114, 143, 206, Hamilton, Rev. Dr. R. Winter, memoir of, 225.
245, 273, 411, 472, 474.

- Rev. Dr. James, pastoral address
-, Missionaries in, 135.

by, 103.
Chinese Gleanings, 467.

Harbottle, soirée at, 447.
Christ, the knowledge of, 512.

Harvey, Rev. M., address by, 299.
- Live upon, 29.

Henry, Philip, memoir of, 1.
Christian Philosopher triumphing over death, Holiday, the Editors', 469, 500, 532, 560.
142.

Home Mission, our, 243, 539.
Church, the, languishing through unbelief, 39.

- collection for, 245.
-, the, of Scotland established, and our

-, sixth annual Report of Com..
Churches in England, 179.

mittee, 372.
- door collections, 427.

Hope of immortality, the, 448.
Clunie, James, of Wells-street, Memoir of, 517. | Huie, Rev. James, of Wooler. Subjects for
Collectors for the Schemes of the Church, 214. Prayer, 232.
College Collections, 147, 538.

Humiliation and prayer, day of, 122.
College, the opening of, 542.

Hunter, Rev. Dr., memoir of, 453.
College Library, 147..

Immortality, the hope of, 448.
- , Report of Committee, 435.

Indwelling corruption, practical observations
- the Presbyterian Church in Eng on, 69.
land, 119, 150.

Infidelity, converts from, 92.
-, Meeting on behalf of the, 203. Isdale, Rev. Mr., call to the, 355.
Corfu, Jewish Mission to, 17,81, 115, 144, 182, Israel and the Gentiles, 267.
271, 366, 410, 502, 537.

Johnston, Rev. Robert, of Madras, letter froir,
- Mission Fancy Sale, 379.

499.
Covenanting Traditions of the Upper Ward, Kirk and Covenant, Lays of the, 535.
375.

Knox's, John, Church, Presentation to Mr.
Creation's Lord reserved till his abode was Fergusson, 354.
ready, 335.

La Force, France, 208.
Crookham Presbyterian Church, 84.

Lambs fed ? are the, 327.
Cumberland, Proceedings of the Presbytery of, Lancashire, Proceedings of the Preslytery of,
121, 446.

| 22, 53, 54, 217, 279, 312,444, 445, 505, 541,571.
Departed brother, the last days of a, 357. Leghorn, the Free Church in, 13.
Devotion in Congregations, on the Means of Liberty of the Soul, the, 36.
promoting, 449.

Liverpool Missionary Meeting, 509.
Dinners, Sunday, 494.

- St. Peter's Church, 543.
Directory of discipline, and tenure of Church London, Proceedings of the Presbyterv of, 21,
property, 119.

53, 84, 120, 148, 186, 216, 248, 275, 311, 381,
Disruption, the day of the, 27.

444, 541, 569.
Donations and Collections, 15, 52, 84, 119, | London Presbytery Prayer Meetings, 313.
148, 186, 215, 247, 275, 309, 338, 380, 413,

Presbyterian Sabbath School Union,
443, 476, 505, 540, 569.

150.
Dudley, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 252, 415. - Wall Scots' Church, 507.
Duff, Rev. Dr., arrival of, 383.

- Sabbath Schools, 314.
b, and English Presbyterianism, | Lynch's, Lieutenant, Expedition to the Dead

Sea, 46, 74.