Christian-minded people who are not ablé either to read or to write. Still it is true, that, generally speaking, ignorance is a great cause of crime; and that those, therefore, who are engaged in promoting the education of children, are engaged in a work positively good, and the statement of the chaplain of Norwich gaol, which we have given above, shews that the greater proportion of the prisoners there could not read or write, though there were many that could do both. How We must not indeed suppose that merely learning to read and to write is an education which will keep men from crime. Who could ever allow himself to suppose that it would? If it were so, almost every man and woman in England, above the very humblest rank of society, would be full of excellence and worth and piety; but we know that this is not so. then are we to expect that the poor shall be without crime, merely because they are taught to read and write? A great deal more than this belongs to the work of Christian education. It is of the very first consequence that the masters and mistresses of our National and Infant Schools should themselves be impressed with the importance of the religion which they profess to teach, or they will never labour sufficiently to impress it upon those who are committed to their charge. The business of education is one which requires constant diligence, and the most patient attention, not only to what is called learning, but to the state of the mind and the heart. Every inclination to what is wrong should be most carefully watched; and such means should be used as seem most likely to check the wrong propensity; and the smallest inclination to what is right should be encouraged and fostered by every method which kindness and affection can suggest. But, with all that can be done, still we must not expect that we shall succeed to the full extent of our wishes; there will, it is to be feared, be still much Lindley Murray's Character of his Wife. 71 that is wrong-offences will come; but this is no excuse for those who commit them, for those who encourage them, or for those who do not labour to prevent them. "Woe unto them by whom the offence cometh." The worthy Norwich chaplain adds the following important observation to those which we have already quoted :-" The most common origin of crime I have found to be Sabbath-breaking: but I cannot forbear observing that poaching leads more easily and rapidly to the perpetration of the higher crimes than any other temptation; and that the time, and the nature of the employment, and the desperate combinations that are entered into, create a greater ferocity of spirit than I have hitherto found in any other species of offenders." V. LINDLEY MURRAY'S CHARACTER OF HIS WIFE. THE late Mr. Lindley Murray, in the Memoirs of his own Life, gives the following account of his wife: "We lived together more than forty years; and, through the whole course of that period, she has been to me a truly affectionate and excellent wife. In all our varied conditions of life, I have received from her the strongest proofs of attachment and of anxiety for my welfare. During my long confinement, on account of bodily infirmities, she has cheerfully met our privations, tenderly sympathized with me, and been cordially disposed to give up her own ease to afford me assistance and comfort. She has, indeed, been a great blessing to me, and I have abundant cause to be deeply thankful to God for this unmerited favour, and its continuance to the present time. It yields me great satisfaction to perceive that our esteem and love for each other have not diminished with advancing years. The evening of our life has, indeed, been illuminated by brighter rays than those which our morning or meridian sun afforded. And I earnestly hope that, whilst life remains, we shall be enabled, by Divine grace, to cherish those sentiments and virtues which will exalt the happiness of our union, support us under every trial, and prepare our minds for the enjoyment of a better world." How happy would it be for families, if this spirit of kind affection always prevailed between husband and wife! And it would prevail, if both were Christians in disposition as well as in name. A husband is solemnly pledged to love and to cherish his wife; and she is as solemnly pledged to love and to obey her husband. Now a regard to this promise cuts up by the roots a thousand causes of disputes and quarrels. A husband who shows a haughty, domineering, angry spirit, is not only making himself and his wife miserable, but he is breaking a most solemn vow. To prevent disputes, since in every thing both cannot have their will, the Almighty hath ordered that the wife is to submit. But a Christian husband will be very careful not to give any harsh or unreasonable commands; and a Christian wife will derive her greatest pleasure in complying with the wishes of one whom she desires to "love, and honour," as well as to obey." Women are naturally affectionate; and it is wonderful, in the hour of affliction, what difficulties, and toils, and privations, they will go through for the sake of the object of their regard: and, in truth, when a wife forgets her duty, it is very often in consequence of the neglect, or ill-treatment, of the husband. I do not offer this as an excuse for the wrong conduct of the wife, for it is none; neither is it true that the husband is always in fault. It is often, indeed, said, that where there are disputes there are generally faults on both sides. Perhaps there may be much truth in this. Let husbands and wives, however, each examine themselves, instead of finding fault with one another. They may find much good Reflections on reading the Bill of Mortality. 73 by looking to such examples as that which we have quoted. Above all, let them consider how a Christian ought to act, and let them each say to themselves "Am I so acting?" V.. REFLECTIONS On reading the General Bill of Mortality, for the Year 1826. YEAR after year, this fatal list appears, When ev'ry thought—and ev'ry word is gay, When we would cheat ourselves, with promis'd joys, And, fondly fancy, midst the doubtful strife, A few more thoughtless hours, and thou art here!" Will then thy friends, who hail'd the midnight hour, Will seize his victim, and will stop thy breath, By Christian faith, thy doubts, thy fears shall cease, F. S. E. ON THE SABBATH. THE following reflections have been sent us by our correspondent T. Our "The Christian Sabbath is called the Lord's day. The blind and idolatrous heathen worshipped the sun upon the first day of the week; but upon this day we worship Him who is the Sun of Righteousness, and who made the sun and all the host of heaven. Redeemer submitted to sufferings and to death for us men and our salvation, on the third day He arose from the dead, according to the Scriptures. The resurrection of Christ is a great and important event: He was declared to be the Son of God, with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through the resurrection of Christ, and the hopes arising from it, Christian believers are supported and comforted, amidst all the troubles of this present life: through the resurrection of Christ, their hearts are filled with strong consolation, when they look forward to death and the grave, and when lover and friend are put far from them, and their acquaintance into darkness. They who know Christ in the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, live unto God, and walk with Him in newness of life. God hath given assurance to all men, that He will judge the world by Christ Jesus, in that He hath raised Him from the dead. Is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus an event so joyful and so important? Shall not we cheerfully observe that day which He claims as his own, and which He hath appointed to be kept holy, as a memorial of His glorious and triumphant resurrection? "The sanctification of the Lord's day is an important branch of our Christian profession. When men neglect the worship of God, and spend their sacred time in dissipation and wickedness, their conduct |
