sabbath-day too; and having "settled" themselves on a seat, resolved to stay for many hours away from their homes and families. They went to smoke as well as to drink; and when they had smoked their first pipe, there was no stopping without another and another, And I added, "This of course leads to more drink." He answered, "Yes; it does indeed; as everybody knows that smoking makes people dry, and creates an appetite for beer they never could have had without it." And so they go on, a little more 'bacco," and then " a pot more beer," until, before they get home, they have spent eighteen-pence or two shillings of their wages, for which their poor wife and children were vainly waiting, to provide them food for the week. Then on the Sunday they go again to spend still more, because they have more time; and thus the wages are dwindled away almost to one-half of what they received, and misery and poverty are their lot through all the remainder of the week. 66 Now, as this account was undoubtedly true, what an injury is inflicted on all classes by this worthless practice of smoking! It leads to the destruction of health, even if it is not itself unwholesome, as many declare it is not; it leads to the breaking of the sabbath, the ruin of the labourer, both in body and soul. Surely, if there are societies formed to advocate temperance, there ought to be another to stop the practice which is the greatest temptation to drink,-to induce all classes of persons to leave off smoking. An anti-smoking society might do incalculable good; a society which should include all persons who can be prevailed upon to give up this useless indulgence, and to persuade all their neighbours to do the same by every means in their power. Many of the objections to the two societies against drinking spirituous liquors would not lie against this. If it is said that the Christian Church is the great temperance society, and that no other is necessary, it will not, perhaps, be said that smoking is so unlawful a thing that Christianity positively forbids it. It is inexpedient, because it may form a temptation; and being so, it ought to be avoided by all prudent persons, not as a law, but as a voluntary selfdenial. And if, on the other hand, persons object to the 66 tee-total societies, from the fact that a little beer is useful and salutary, it cannot be said with any certainty that even a little smoking" can be in any way essential to health. It may be pleasant, it may be soothing and comfortable, but it certainly is not necessary: no one can pretend it is. There was as much health and enjoyment in England before Sir Walter Raleigh brought tobacco from America, as there has ever been since; and certainly there was very much less drinking. It is quite a subject for a voluntary society, and even more so than those taken up by the two societies just mentioned. And there is another circumstance which ought not to be passed over, as forming an additional objection to tobacco, perhaps more powerful than any other. This is its well-known intoxicating power! It produces something very much like intoxication of itself; it soothes, and quiets, and stupifies, until there remains very little of that energy and recollectedness which a sober man ought to enjoy. This is frequently the effect when it is much indulged in; and no doubt, with many, this is the chief reason why it is indulged in. Now if this be really the case, it becomes a sinful gratification, and every prudent man will be on his guard against it. To many it proves a snare; and how do you know, reader, whether it may not be so to you? Determine, then, to avoid it, or to leave it off. You will thereby save yourself not only a great expense and a foolish want, but remove a temptation to drinking, which some day you might not be able to withstand, even if you resist it now. E. EXTRACTS FROM MY FAMILY BIBLE. GOD, my dear family, takes care of his whole creation; the most insignificant living thing dies not without his permission. How precious, therefore, the souls and bodies of men, but especially of the saints, who confess and love Jesus Christ, his dearly beloved Son, whom He did not keep back from humiliation, suffering, and death when our eternal salvation was at stake! Pray, my dear family, for Christian courage, that in the midst of an evil world you may never be ashamed to make a faithful confession of Christ crucified, that when you have passed from this world Christ may confess you to be his before his Father which is in heaven. But here let me beg of you to recollect what we have read in one of the earlier chapters, that it is not sufficient to call Christ, "Lord, Lord:" you must do the things that He commands you. This is the best confession you can make. You must not only not be ashamed to speak of Christ, but you must not be ashamed to act for Him,-to do all things as to Him. What a sad condition in the next world is that of the people who are so afraid of man that they dare not speak of Christ, though they feel in their consciences that He is the best and most reasonable master! Their condition, I say, will be very bad, but assuredly they will deserve it. Only think of what Christ did. Think of the glory He left, the misery He came to; and then say, whether they who for fear of a few jeers from the senseless children of sin, dare not own Christ for their master; say, my family, whether they do not deserve to be denied by Christ, when they shall be anxious to enter into his kingdom, which they were ashamed to own that they cared for when on earth. Verses 34-40. Christ only came to make peace between God and poor broken-hearted sinners. He did not come to give peace to the wicked; they never can have peace: "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked 3." The more active the religion of real Christians the less the peace and happiness of the ungodly, who in envy and malice gnash upon them with their teeth. Brethren beloved, I hope there are no foes to Christ in this household; but if there be, I must do my duty; I must, at the risk of being laughed at or ridiculed, continue to declare Jesus Christ faithfully to you all :-to wife, children, servants, and visitors. I must not shrink from my duty, though the Isaiah lvii. 20, 21. 4 Psalm xxxvii. 12. foes to religion should be found among those who in this house are nearest and dearest to me. Christ showed his love for me by dying for me while I was a poor sinner ; I must and will show my love to Him by teaching and by living his religion in the presence of my household, though some members of it should count me their enemy for his sake. Every Christian should feel what David felt: "When my father and mother forsake me, the Lord taketh me up." The cross of Christ must be borne some way or other by every true disciple. He that will not bear the reproach of that cross that bore his sins, is indeed unworthy of Christ; he that findeth or saveth his life when called upon to lose it for Christ's sake, deserves what he will meet with, the loss of eternal life in heaven. You are not required, mind you, to lay down your lives like madmen for a superstitious religion which will not bear a moment's examination; but you are called upon by your Master, who, recollect, died for you, to give up your life for his heavenly religion, which, upon examination, you cannot but find to be exactly suited in its doctrines to the comfort of a sinful creature, and in its commands to the happiness and peace of a reasonable A LAYMAN. creature. "THY WILL BE DONE." Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him."-JOB xiii. 15. HIGH o'er the tall and noble ship The flames triumphant rose ; Vain was the skill, the strength of man, Their fury to oppose. In dreadful beauty, wild and grand, Oh, vainly should I seek to paint A broad and lurid sheet of fire, They seem'd to reach the sky; While from the burning vessel rose The shrieks of wild affright, And cries of anguish loudly broke The stillness of the night. Those who had left their native land At their approaching doom; And children to their parents' knees In silent terror clung, While o'er their babes in speechless grief All hope is lost: no friendly sail Then kneeling on the firelit deck, And as the last and fearful crash The azure heavens rent, Drowning, in one tremendous roar, 66 Each wailing and lament, Thy will be done!" her soft sweet voice In gentle accents cried; The words still ling'ring on her lips The pious Christian died. J. J. B. PRAYER OF BISHOP BURGESS. ASSIST me, O Lord, in my endeavours to withdraw my mind from the actions of others, and to turn my eye inwardly on myself. Be thou, O Lord, the pure object of all my intentions and desires, so that I may seek myself in nothing that I do. Keep me always mindful that many actions assume the appearance of charity, that are only selfish and carnal; preserve me from that self-deceit which seeks itself in all things without perceiving it. Deliver me from all self-will and inordinate affection; grant me that true and perfect charity which envieth not, which seeketh not her own, but desires that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. |