arms, and thinking of my deceased friend's solicitude for her children, the entire plan of our association presented itself to my mind like an agreeable vision, and I took my pencil and sketched down the items and showed them to my husband, who was highly gratified and felt that prayer was answered. He thought it would be one great instrument in bringing on that glorious period when all shall know the Lord."

Similar associations were formed in various parts of the United States, and subsequently in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and some in India and in the Sandwich Islands, which are described as being in a very flourishing condition. Very recently we have received information of the commencement of maternal associations in Switzerland, their advancement in Ireland, and the formation of one at Madras, comprising no fewer than sixty mothers. Of the number of maternal associations in England we are at present unable to speak with any approach to accuracy; but we have no reason to conclude that they have hitherto been organised to any considerable extent. Attention is however beginning to be aroused to the subject, and we trust it will ere long be pressed upon every Christian congregation throughout the land. We have recently been favoured with the following notices, and shall be happy to receive similar communications from every town and village in the kingdom :

"Ovenden, Nov. 16, 1837.

The Maternal Society here consists of twenty members, who have among them ninety-three children. They meet every fortnight, when a discussion takes place of a question proposed a fortnight before. Their sixth meeting will be held

to day, and the question for discussion is, 'How may we best recommend religion to our children?' From the deep feeling displayed by the members of the Maternal Association, it promises to be conducted with spirit and crowned with success.'

"The Maternal Society is in a very healthy state. Their meetings are held the last Thursday in the month, and the attendance is most encouraging; may the Lord bless their efforts, and enable them to adopt such plans as will aid them in training up their dear young ones for his glory!"

The importance of such associations must be evident to all who reflect on the power of maternal influence in the formation of character; and the effects which have attended them, where they have been suitably conducted, are of the most pleasing and promising description. While the mind of every member is necessarily fixed on the deep responsibility, too generally overlooked, of training her offspring for heaven, and a spirit of active piety is thereby cherished and kept in vigorous exercise, those who have few other opportunities for mental cultivation, and whose occupations are of such a nature as to render the careful discharge of maternal duties peculiarly difficult, derive the most essential benefit from the works which are read and explained, and the practical hints which none but mothers can be qualified to give.

*

As it may serve to suggest some valuable hints to newly-formed associations, we insert a copy of the list of subjects to be discussed at the meetings of

The following books are recommended by the London Maternal Association as suitable to be read or consulted at maternal meetings:Babington's "Christian Education"-" Hints for the Nursery," by Mrs. Hoare Fry's "Principles"-"The Mother at Home"-" Hall on Education"-Dwight's "Father's Present"-Spring on " Education"and "The Mother's Magazine."

the London Maternal Association during the present

:

year :

Jan. 11.-Address to mothers and children.

Feb. 15.-The course to be pursued with young persons who are impatient of reproof and inclined to justify themselves on all

occasions.

March 15.-The best means of imparting knowledge to those children who are unwilling to admit their ignorance.

April 19.-On the expediency of committing the younger children to the care and instruction of elder sisters.

May 17.-Instances of maternal excellence which ancient or modern history supplies.

June 14.-Address to mothers and children.

July 19.-The best method of conducting domestic instruction for servants, and plans for conducting maternal classes amongst the poor.

Aug. 16.-On entrusting money to children for their own use, so as to form habits of forethought and economy.

Sept. 20.-Reasons why mothers should continue to cultivate their own minds, and the studies particularly entitled to their attention.

Oct. 18.-On the conduct of parents towards their children in regard to church-membership.

Nov. 15.-Treatment of governesses in private families.

Dec. 20.-On Christians placing their children under the care of irreligious persons.

The incidental business is transacted from eleven to half-past eleven in the forenoon, when the regular engagements of the meeting commence.

WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURE?

A MARINER would no more venture to sea without a chart and a compass than he would imagine he could see to read in the dark. By the one he is directed to avoid the shoals and rocks with which his passage through the deep is beset, and by the other he directs his course to the destined port. In relation to the voyage of life, the Scriptures are to us what the chart and compass are to the mariner. They are given as a guide to enable us to

steer clear of the shoals and rocks that lie beneath the ocean of time, and to pilot us safely "into that haven where we would be." They are a revelation of the will of God-a gift from the Creator to his creatures, setting before them the way of life, through faith in the merits and atonement of a crucified Saviour. It were natural to conclude, therefore, that on any difficulty presenting itself, under any circumstances whatever, the first question would be, "What saith the Scripture?" and that we should hasten to consult these oracles of God, that we might act according to the counsel they give. Experience however teaches that this is far from being the case. Generally speaking, the Bible is the last book that persons think of applying to for direction or assistance. They hew out to themselves "broken cisterns that hold no water," and to these they apply for relief. Various are the modes by which mankind elude the necessity of searching the word of God. By some it is rejected as wholly unworthy of attention; by others, parts are rejected and parts retained, in subserviency to their particular creed or the advancement of some peculiar theory, whatever does not coincide with these being considered, without any just ground, as either an interpolation or an erroneous translation. By a large majority it is received with a degree of reverence, and is acknowledged to be the word of inspiration. To these a family Bible is regarded as a necessary appendage to the family estate, and it descends as a heir-loom from father to son. In pursuance of this view of the sacred volume, a portion is perhaps read daily as a matter of course, a custom descending with the book itself from one generation to another; but it

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is read without any practical application or any real desire of spiritual improvement. The influence of the Holy Spirit is not sought, and but little attention is paid to the time, the manner, or the method of reading the sacred book. Numbers go on thus all their lives, resting on the external and barren performance of a duty which, having none of the spirit that can alone render it efficacious, becomes a mere dead letter, an empty ceremony, leaving their souls as destitute of spiritual knowledge as it found them. By another class of professing Christians the Bible is regarded as the standard of truth, as the oracle of divine wisdom, and as the store-house of the true and unfailing riches of Christ; with the psalmist they believe it to be a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their path," whereby they stumble not on the dark mountains. These persons take the Bible as a clue to guide them through the mazes of error and controversy; they receive it as the word of God; they read it with humility, with reverence, and devotion; they cavil not at any part that appears to be above their finite comprehension, but silently believe and adore. When they read the sacred volume in the closet they represent to themselves God as speaking to them individually. They look back to what they were by nature, they look within and apply what they read to their consciences, and they look up by prayer for a blessing. When they assemble their family to hear its sacred truths they take care to select a time least liable to interruption, and they require that every member of the circle should preserve a due sobriety of demeanour. Thus the means are used to render the daily perusal of the Scriptures a holy and profitable exercise. I have dwelt