the more largely on this subject because I am persuaded that many well-meaning persons do not consider sufficiently the guilt incurred in an habitually careless reading of the Bible, not considering what they are reading nor with what intent they should read. 66 Others there are who differ from any of the preceding characters. They are content to receive the Bible in a general sense, but when any parts of it bear strongly on peculiar points of doctrine, or inculcate strictness of life and conversation, separation from the gaieties and pleasures of the world, &c., they endeavour to evade their force by alleging that such portions were intended only for the particular times in which the inspired writers lived and wrote. 66 This," they observe, was written for the Jews. That was meant for the Gentiles, and is in no way applicable to us in the present day." Thus they make the word of God to them of no effect. But what saith the Scripture?" Christ bids us search the Scripture." He does not add, "Read this chapter and omit that, believe this doctrine and reject the other." No; he expressly says, "The Scripture cannot be broken." apostles also declare, "All Scripture is written for our learning,"-"all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." How comes it to pass then that this blessed book is so lightly regarded by some? Our compassionate Saviour pathetically observed, "You will not come unto me that you might have life." It is the pride of the human heart that erects a barrier against the reception of divine truths. The portrait of man, as drawn by the pen of inspiration, is what it His cannot brook. This is the grand secret of infidelity. The Scriptures tell us that man is a fallen creature, that he is born in sin, and in sin he remains till grace changes his heart and renovates his nature. It further declares that this grace, this new creation, together with the pardon of sin and the hope of eternal life, can be obtained only through faith in the Son of God, who took our nature on him, became a ransom for us, redeemed us from the curse of the law, and made atonement for sin by his own death on the cross, "that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but have everlasting life." It is this faith which purifies us from dead works to serve the living God, and which creates in us the fruits of righteousness and true holiness. In the beautiful language of Scripture, the gospel is "good tidings;" it brings "glory to God," gives" peace on earth," and teaches "goodwill to all men," flowing through the rich channel of mercy in acts of beneficence and charity to all the human race. By this we learn how to live, and by it are instructed how to die, and the glorious beams of that Sun of Righteousness which brought life and immortality to light shed a lustre over the valley of the shadow of death, and "point to fairer worlds on high." "Hail, glorious gospel, heavenly light, whereby How justly then may this sacred volume be termed "the Book!" However the infidel may scoff, or the formalist undervalue it, let us strive to appreciate it as it deserves. Daily let us search these hidden treasures, taking them in all things as the rule of our actions, the guide of our lives, and the charter of our hopes. Let us teach them to our children, and may they teach them to their children, praying that, so studying these heavenly precepts on earth, our names may be found enrolled in the Lamb's book of life in heaven. When any doubt of conscience arises, or any difficulty obstructs our progress, let our immediate enquiry be," What saith the Scripture?" and let us receive with meekness and decision the answer which is given under the solemn sanction of "Thus saith the Lord." CHRISTIANA. THE PRAYING MOTHER. EVERY mother expects, or at least desires, that her children may prove a blessing to her; but how few adopt any rational means for securing so desirable a result! The word of God is plain in its instructions and most encouraging in its assurances: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." To expect the end while the means are disregarded is presumption; to despair of success in the faithful application of them is unbelief. Let maternal solicitude be duly awakened to the spiritual and eternal interests of the immortal souls confided to it, let the mother travail in pain again for her offspring till Christ be formed in their hearts the hope of glory, and the following example will be imitated, with no doubtful result: "A pious mother had the happiness of seeing her children in early life brought to the knowledge of the truth, walking in the fear of the Lord, and ornaments in the Christian church. A minister, thinking that there might be something peculiar in her mode of imparting religious instruction, which rendered it so effectual, visited her, and enquired how she discharged the duties of a mother in educating her children. She replied she did not know that she had been more faithful in the religious instruction of her children than any Christian mother would be. "I believe," she added, “that I never gave my children the breast without praying in my heart that I might nurse a child for the Lord; as I washed them, I raised my heart to God that he would wash them in that blood which cleanseth from all sin; as I clothed them in the morning, I asked my heavenly Father to clothe them with the robe of Christ's righteousness; as I provided them food, I prayed that God would feed their souls with the bread of heaven and give them to drink of the water of life; when I prepared them for the house of God, I prayed that their bodies might be fit temples for the Holy Ghost to dwell in; when they left me for the week-day school, I followed their infant footsteps with a prayer that their path through life might be like that of the just, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day; and, as I committed them to rest at night, the silent breathing of my soul has been that their heavenly Father would take them to his embrace and fold them in his gracious arms." Reader, be exhorted to use the same patient, persevering, believing method, and not only pray for, but with your children; let them see and hear you wrestle with God on their behalf; to prayer join instruction, as directed in Deuteronomy, sixth chapter and sixth to the ninth verse; and to these instructions add watchfulness over your own spirit and conduct, that your prayers for them may not be hindered by your irritable, worldly, selfish, and censorious spirit, as your children will more readily imitate what you do than practise what you command, making more use of their eyes and ears than of their understanding and reason. Pray then earnestly, instruct diligently, and walk before your house circumspectly and uprightly, remembering that "Precept must be upon precept, line upon line, here a little and there a little,' and verily your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. AMERICAN FEMALE PHILANTHROPY. SLAVERY is the foulest blot on the page of American history; and the tenacity with which it is upheld by those from whom better things might be expected is for a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation. It is however cheering to find that light is spreading, that the ranks of the abolitionists are continually receiving fresh accessions, and that societies are forming, not only among men, but among the female population, from whose sympathies, when once fully awakened to the subject, much may be expected. At Bangor, in the state of Maine, a female antislavery society was formed on the 20th of September, 1837. The following is one of the articles of its constitution : "It shall be a prominent object of this society to promote the mental and moral cultivation of our free coloured citizens, cultivating ourselves, and inducing others to cultivate, those generous and kind feelings towards them which tend to eradicate the |