On a Love of Change.

235

handy" as it is called. A well brought up girl who can brew, bake, make butter, cure bacon, &c. will not only be equal to a much better place than another, but will acquire habits of industry and activity which will be valuable to her through life. Your constant reader,

ON A LOVE OF CHANGE.

M.E.

To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor. SIR,

I HAVE often heard it observed, that servants are now very different from what they were some years ago, and that they have not the same attachment to their masters. I am inclined to think there are faults on both sides; though I am afraid, that "being fond of change," is a failing in many servants of the present day. Such persons do not know when they are well off, but, as soon as they can get a two year's character, away they go "to see a little more of the world." Now, though this may sometimes be a change for the better, I believe, that, nine times out of ten, they repent of their haste, particularly when they have left a comfortable and respectable place, without good reason for so doing. Such a place they may be a long time without meeting with again. Perhaps you will give that class of your readers a little good advice on this subject when you have a page in your Visitor not devoted to better purposes.

Your constant reader,

M.

The above hint may be more useful than any laboured advice of ours. A word to the wise is enough. To the foolish many may be the words, but little will be the profit.-Editor.

SELECTIONS FROM DIFFERENT

AUTHORS.

SOME people try to persuade us that religious practice would interfere with the concerns of business, and prevent the affairs of the world from being properly managed-thus strangely shewing that they believe wickedness to be a public benefit. But, in truth, sin is the real cause of all our sufferings:the only disturber of men, of families, cities, kingdoms, worlds, is sin: there is no such troubler, no such traitor to any state as the wilfully wicked man: there is no such enemy to the public, as the enemy of God. Wogan.

It is easy for a man to bear such affliction as he can paint out of his own imagination and fancy; but when it comes in reality, and is brought home to him, then he must be a man indeed, and there must be God to assist the man, that he may bear it.

Fuller. Frequently and humbly to ask the assistance and protection of God, and to return him thanks for the blessings which we derive from his providence, are duties so natural, and so necessary to our happiness, that one would think no person or family could live in the habitual neglect thereof. And yet how many there are that do so! Macknight.

Besides outward worship, there is due to God, worship in spirit, consisting in habitually cherishing just conceptions of his character and government; in placing our affections on him as their highest object; in submitting our will to his in all things; and relying upon him for our happiness, both in prosperity and adversity. The same.

Affliction is the time when God gives the most abundant measures of his spirit to his children, and raises their faith in the promises of the Gospel, and

Extracts from different Authors.

237 strengthens their trust in his Providence: by all which they obtain such peace and joy as nothing The same. Every hour comes to us charged with duty, and, the moment it is past, returns to heaven to register itself, how spent.

can overcome.

A.

There is no doctrine in the world, either so pleasant or so pure, as that of Christianity. Leighton.

No man has any warrant from Scripture to believe that his sins are forgiven, unless he repents of them: that is, is heartily sorry for them, and earnestly desires to be freed from the power of evil habits, and an evil nature.

A.

It is a known truth, and yet very needful to be often represented to us, that we are redeemed on purpose that we should be holy. Leighton. If we venture our happiness upon any thing besides the peace of God, we shall as certainly be unhappy, as every thing in the world is uncertain.

A.

I cannot take the dimensions of Christ's love, without a proper knowledge of my own sin.

It is a sad mistake in religion to say a form of prayer without desiring to obtain what is asked.

A.

The knowledge of our sins teaches us humility towards God, and charity for the offences of our brethren.

A.

Disputation cures no vice, but kindles a great many, and makes passion evaporate in sin; and though men esteem it learning, yet it is the most useless learning in the world. When the son of Archidamus heard an old man disputing about wisdom, he asked very soberly, if the old man be yet disputing and inquiring concerning wisdom, what time will he have to make use of it? So much time as is spent in quarrels about Christianity, is a diminution to its interest. Men inquire so much what it is, that they have but little time left to be Christians.-Jeremy Taylor.

The following Extracts were sent by. M. M.

ONE of the uses of obscurity in the Bible is to excite curiosity, and to make an exercise for the faculties as well as for the affections and dispositions, in order that the whole man may be employed in religion.

Shall the word of a physician alter our regimen? Shall a few hundreds added to, or taken from, our fortune, alter our style of living? and yet shall a visit from God produce no change? Shall heaven have descended upon earth, and earth remain the same? Shall the spirit of God have communed with me, and shall my soul return unprofited from the conversation? The Rev. C. Wolfe.

If we put off repentance till another day, we have a day more to repent of, and a day less to repent in. Mason.

Neither contentment nor discontentment arises from the outward condition, but from the inward disposition. If a man is not content in that state he is in, he would not be content in any state he would be in. The same.

How can we expect to live with God in heaven, if we love not to live with him on earth? If thou lovest to worship God here below, God will take thee up to worship him above. Thou shalt change thy place, but not thine employment. Heaven is a day without a cloud to darken it, and without a night to end it.

Judge thyself with a judgment of sincerity, and thou wilt judge others with a judgment of charity. The same.

We may truly conceive of God, though we can. not fully conceive of him. We may have right apprehensions of him, though not an exact comprehension of him.

Religion must be our business, then it will be our delight.

Extracts from the Public Newspapers. 239

EXTRACTS FROM THE PUBLIC NEWSPAPERS.

Society of Friends-The following Circular addressed to the Quarterly and. Monthly Meetings of Friends in Great Britain and Ireland, contains such excellent advice to all persons in business, that we cannt refrain from recommending it to the serious attention of all classes:

"We entreat friends frequently to inspect into the state of their affairs, and not to delay the performance of this duty, either from an apprehension that things are going on well, or from a fear to know how their accounts really stand. It is a practice which can be injurious to no one; but it has very frequently been seen, that had it been timely and regularly resorted to, it would, in all probability, have prevented grievous suffering. Those who hold the property of others, and this may be said to be the case, more or less, with most who are engaged in trade,―are not warranted, on the principles of justice, in neglecting to inform themselves, from time to time, of the real situation of their affairs. If men conceal from their nearest connexions in life a knowledge of the actual state of their property, they may deprive themselves of salutary counsel, and of a kind participation in trouble; family expences may be incurred, and distress may follow, which might have been avoided; and we particularly advise young persons to be cautious not to enter too hastily into business, and from the time of their being thus engaged, to be very careful to make themselves well acquainted with their annual income and expenditure. This would be made very easy by their adopting at first, and regularly pursuing, a elear and methodical system of keeping their accounts, in regard both to trade and domestic expenses. We know that the experience and sufferings of the past year, in this nation, have furnished many useful lessons to those who have escaped the troubles of which others have partaken; and we desire that these lessons may not be without their practical good effect. Among the evils of later times has been the practice of individuals trading beyond their capital, and that of carrying on their business by means of a fictitious credit-practices very dangerous in their effects, and utterly inconsistent with that Christian moderation and contentment which the precepts of the Gospel enjoin, aud in which our true happiness consists. And we would tenderly invite those who may have acquired a competency of outward substance, to watch the proper period at which they may withdraw from the cares of business; and, when disengaged from the regular concerns of trade, to beware how they employ their property in investments, which may involve them anew in care and anxiety. We affectionately desire that neither these nor other cares may disqualify them from acting the part of faithful stewards in the employment of their time, their talents, and their substance."-London Paper.