Does sorrow prey upon the heart of a Christian?—see how soon the tears gush from his brother's eye. Does joy return? -see how soon the smiles chase those tears away. Adversity, which often consumes the love of this world, only refines that of Christians. Like the precious metal, it never shines more brilliantly than in the furnace. There is, indeed, a love which has power to melt and mingle into one, hearts never warmed by love divine. But such is earth-born, native here below. Its praise is often sung, and justly too, in poet's tenderest, sweetest, most enrapturing strains. But it can never compare with love such as warms the Christian's heart. This friendship is an exotic in the chill and barren wastes of earth. It was transplanted by the Saviour's hand, from the paradise of heaven. Its beauty, and its power to heal the wounds and allay the pains of man, mortals can only feel, not describe. Where this love reigns, how much like heaven it makes the abodes of men! How easy to bear the ills of life, where all around help to bear those ills! "There, every care is divided, every sorrow diminished, every joy redoubled, by discovery, by sympathy, by communion; mutual confidence prevails, and advice, consolation and succor are reciprocally given and received." If we err, we know that kindness, not reproach, will lead us back; while charity's pure mantle will hide our error from the gaze of those who would revile. If we fall, a brother's hand will raise us up. If conscience is weak, every word will be a word of tenderness, every look a look of love. The Christian will bear with the scruples of a brother, and cheerfully sacrifice a worldly pleasure, rather than give that brother pain. Such is Christian love. Mr. M Cheerfulness and Long Life. who died a few years since, attained to the extreme age of one hundred and three years! His centennial birthday was celebrated with public religious services. A large number of his descendants,-embracing, with himself, representatives from five generations,-assembled at the church where he had long been accustomed to worship, and there listened to a sermon and other exercises appropriate to that singularly interesting occasion. After they had returned to his dwelling, a great-grand-son-in-law, in conversation with this aged patriarch, who still retained a remarkable degree of bodily and mental vigor and activity, addressed to him the inquiry; "What is the secret of living so long?" The venerable man, with a smile playing over his countenance, replied, "Always be cheerful.” This incident illustrates the remark often made by the learned and the wise, that a cheerful, contented mind contributes much to health and length of days. Christians ought to be better able to judge of the correctness of this remark,-for they are commanded to "rejoice always.” New Hampshire Sabbath School Union. The annual meeting of the New Hampshire Sabbath School Union was held on Wednesday the 28th of August, at Lyme, in connection with the General Association of that State. From the very brief report that was made, it appears that the churches in Rockingham Conference report 400 teachers and 3,200 scholars, of whom 1,100 are adults, including 700 church members. One hundred and forty from the school have made a profession of religion during the year, and 40 more are indulging hope. Cheshire county reports 300 teachers, 2,514 scholars, and it is supposed there are connected with the schools in that county, 3,700 scholars. Nelson church has been blessed with an addition of thirty-seven members, of whom thirty-six were connected with the Sabbath school. In Hillsboro' county, there has been an increase of interest. In 25 schools there are 5,152 scholars. The report spoke of the great want of a Sabbath school periodical, and recommended to the schools and churches, the Sabbath School Visiter. If this periodical is adapted to the wants of the schools in New England, it would be far more economical for the different States to patronize this, than to publish others. All the expenses of editing and the composition, the most expensive part of the printing,—could be saved to these States. In Lyme, there are fourteen school districts, and a Sabbath school in each district. The scholars of the fourteen schools, with their teachers, were assembled,,—a most interesting congregation,-in the body of the house, where they were addressed by Rev. Mr. Marsh, and the Corresponding Secretary of the Mass. S. S. Society. Such was the interest manifested by all, in this exercise, that one clergyman said at the close, "I was at first very much opposed to this interference with the business of the Association; but I now see that the Lord had ordered it all for good," The Missouri Enterprise. We suppose that almost every Congregational society in this State will wish to aid in the Missouri enterprise. We do not now refer to any enterprise connected with the iron mountain or the purchase of lands, or any other speculation of the kind; but to the enterprise mentioned in the last Visiter, and recently in the religious papers, of aiding the Missouri Sunday School Union, in making" that great and growing State verdant as the garden of God." We can assure our readers that they will find this to be good property. The stock is now at par. All investments will be safe and profitable. We wish to suggest, as one way of raising money for this object, that collections be taken up in all the schools, on the second Sabbath of every month, or at the Sabbath school concert. We would further suggest, that the schools forward their collections to the Depository, once in six months, even though the amount be but small. All the money thus collected is to be expended in furnishing the Society's publications for the benefit of Sabbath schools in Missouri and the adjacent country; and in sustaining a missionary in Missouri, who is to devote himself to the work of promoting the Sabbath school cause throughout that State. Mr. Ashley Samson, of Cornwall, Vt., who has just completed his professional studies at the Andover Theological Seminary, has accepted an invitation to engage in this work, and will enter upon his labors the last of October. Mr. S. is very highly recommended for this department of labor, both by the officers of the Seminary and those of his associates who have known him best. He is a practical Sabbath school man, having been superintendent of one of the schools in Andover, and frequently given addresses on the subject. We trust that the communications he will send from his field of labor, for the Visiter, will interest all our churches in the enterprise in which he is to engage. Revivals. As fruits of the revival which commenced in Rowley, last April, about twenty are indulging hope, all but four of whom are under twenty years of age; and twelve of them are members of the Sabbath school. Thirty-one have been added to the church in Georgetown, and a number more are indulging hope, as fruits of the revival which commenced in the spring. A large portion of these are young persons who are connected with the Sabbath school. JUVENILE MUSIC. Furnished for this work by LoWELL MASON, Professor in the HYMN. "Sweet Sabbath morn." Sweet Sab-bath morn Thy kind re-turn, I hail with joy-ful heart; 3 b4 With those who raise The voice of praise, My tongue would bear her part. dddd SABBATH SCHOOL VISITER. VOL. VII. NOVEMBER, 1839. No. 11. To Eliza Jane. "I want to praise God like the thrush, When the earth, spangled o'er like a bride, She had been with the wild honey-bee, On the rich, sunny banks of the stream, She had twined on her delicate brow By the side of a sparkling fount, As he poured through the woodland his song. And she thought that she never had heard, In her rambles by fount or by dell, So sweet and so lovely a bird Praise nature's Creator so well. VOL. VII. 21 |