before him, and thou hast his example left upon record to encourage thee to do so, assured that if thou turnest to God, he will turn to thee. Turn then from all thy transgressions, so iniquity shall not be thy ruin*; but turn at once, for who knows how few days or months more may seal up the measure of thine iniquities, may bring thee to the grave, and shut out repentance and pardon? Devote thy future life to the glory of God;-worship the true God in the Gospel of his Son;-obey his laws; -and then thou mayest have a good hope, nay, an assured confidence, that when this short existence is passed away, thou shalt be admitted into that kingdom, "where is fulness of joy, and where there are pleasures for evermore."

G. B.

ON THE SABBATH.

THERE was nothing that Mrs. Trimmer considered of greater importance to the happiness and comfort of man, than the proper observance of the Sabbath. She regarded the fulfilment of this duty as bringing with it a peculiar blessing, as the sign which was to distinguish the servants of the Lord, and mark them as His people; and often would she recur to those passages in the Scriptures which speak of it as such. "Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep; for it is a sign between me and you, throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore, for it is holy unto you."

Of the threatenings and denunciations also in the Scriptures against those who violated the Sabbath, she would often make mention; and the punish

Ezekiel xviii. 30.

ments which the Israelites brought down upon themselves, for their neglect of that holy day.

Sunday was a day of rest and peace, of satisfaction and cheerfulness, not only to herself, but to all around her; but then it was the cheerfulness which accorded with the sanctity of the day. The Sunday was passed in frequenting the house of God, in teaching the children of the poor, in giving religious instruction 'to her own children, and in all the pleasures of domestic happiness and quiet enjoyment.

Nor did the zeal of Mrs. T., for the observance of the Sabbath, rest with her own endeavours after the performance of her duty, or with taking care that her household and the children belonging to the schools should also observe it; she likewise endeavoured by every means in her power to persuade the adult poor of her neighbourhood to pass it in a religious and becoming manner. Amongst other means to effect this great purpose, she wrote to them a "Friendly Remonstrance," from which, as it is not much in circulation, one or two quotations may be inserted in this place. After telling them the reasons for hallowing the Sabbath, and the way in which it ought to be spent, she goes on: "You, whose lot it is to labour for the maintenance of yourselves and families, have but little leisure in the week for what are called religious exercises; you should therefore rejoice that your Creator hath set apart one day in seven, in which you may lay aside your burdens, refresh your souls with heavenly comfort, and prepare for a state of everlasting rest and joy. Instead of saying,. When will the Sabbath be gone? you have cause to long for its return; not to spend it in idleness and wickedness, but that you may renew your strength, learn your duty, and enjoy the delight which God, who blessed as well as sanctified the Sabbath day, has provided for his people. "Blessed," says the Lord," is the man who

doeth this, and that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing evil.” Isa. lvi. 2., and again Isa. lviii. 13, 14. You may assure yourselves, that to the true Christian there is no pleasure to be found equal to that which arises from the religious observance of the Sabbath day; and if you once get into a habit of keeping it holy, you will never wish to pass it in a profane, wicked manner; you will find, by the peace and comfort you will enjoy in it, that God hath really blessed it. "With what delight do sincere worshippers go to the House of God! with what humility do they bow down before Him! How fervently do they implore His favour and protection! how heartily do they bless and praise His holy name! with what attention do they hearken to the instruction of the Preacher ! what pious resolutions do they form! how cheerfully do they return to their houses assured of receiving the blessings they have asked; because God hath promised them in the Scriptures! how peacefully do they close their eyes at night! how calm are their slumbers! how refreshed do they rise in the morning to pursue their labours! for six days will they do all manner of work that is required of them, longing for the return of that day, which is esteemed by them the best of all the seven! These are some of the advantages which are enjoyed by the people of God, that is to say, by those who honour Him as their Creator and Governor. Come then without delay! Do not let another Sabbath pass away unimproved! Where can you begin the work of reformation so well as in the House of God? Life is uncertain; you may not live till the next return of that holy day. Come then, like the returning Prodigal in the Gospel, and say, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called Thy son.' While you are yet afar off, your Father seeth you; for to Him all hearts are open, and He is ready to bestow

upon you that pardon and peace, which your Saviour purchased for repenting sinners, with His most precious blood."

(Life of Mrs. Trimmer.)

INFANT SCHOOLS.

On a late inquiry as to the expediency of establishing infant schools at New York, the following reasons were given to shew the advantages of such a

measure:

The teachers of some other schools said that they had some very little children, whom they took merely because their poor parents were so very earnest in their entreaties; but that such small children were very troublesome, and often a great hindrance to the others, and to the general business of the school; and that the same sort of discipline which was well suited to the elder children, was not adapted to the tender years of the little ones. That sometimes very little children indeed, quite babies, were brought by their brothers and sisters, because their mothers were gone out to work, and there was nobody left at home to take care of them.

In nine common schools there were the names of more than three thousand children on the list; but more than seven hundred were absent. A gentleman was anxious to learn the cause of the absence,and an immediate inquiry was made. It appeared, that nearly two hundred of them were kept at home "to mind a little brother or sister," whilst their mothers were out at work.

Now, what a number of great children are hindered in their education by having to look after the little ones!-and all this is avoided where there is an

infant school to take the little ones, who will, at the same time, be making progress by receiving just that sort of instruction of which their little minds are capable.

Many parents were found to be working at lower rates, taking one or more of their children with them; some left them in charge of their neighbours; others sat at their doors, or in the market, offering something for sale, with their infants in their arms or at their feet;-some infants were locked

up

in a room at home, perhaps for nearly the whole of the day;-some parents locked them out of the house to the annoyance of their neighbours,-these often met with serious accidents ;-some accustomed their children, of five or six years old, to habits of idleness, allowing them to lie in bed till noon, because they do not know what to do with them whilst they themselves are at work; and these same children, not having any inclination to go to bed at night, sit up perhaps as long as their parents; which habit leads them, when they grow older, to look for some way of spending their evenings abroad, which often throws them into idle and bad company.

Now, how highly beneficial must an infant school be, which offers a remedy for these evils, and may thus be the means of preventing a vast accumulation of idleness, and poverty, and ignorance, and vice!

ས.

MICHAEL B.

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

As the character of a pious and industrious labourer, lately resident in this village, may lead others to