mines Life. Thou pure angel, whose wings I already feel fanning the air near my cross, teach me to pray "My God, thy will be done!"-F. Bremer.

That Religion is necessary to our comfort in the time of affliction, and our support in the hour of death, all who have any sense of it are ready to allow; but if considered merely in that light, it is too apt to be neglected in the days of health and prosperity, or obeyed with a cold and often reluctant submission, as a restraint with which it is necessary to comply, in order to obtain the happiness of a future state. Few consider sufficiently its importance to happiness in this life, and the present pleasures as well as future hopes which it may afford to those in whom it is not merely a conviction of the understanding, but a real sentiment of the heart.-Miss Bowdler.

ABLUTION.-Bodily cleanliness, which is of high importance in every part of the world, not only for the comfort and convenience of social intercourse, but to preserve and promote each individual's physical welfare, by purifying the body from the natural effects of that insensible perspiration which has so large a share in the working of the animal economy as well as from the contaminations which ensue from contact with an atmosphere more or less loaded with impurities, is of special consequence in the warm regions of the east, and with the or ental temperament (Neh. iv. 23). It came therefore very natura ly to be accounted among men's first duties, and was soon invested with the sanctity of religion, in order that its requirements might the more readily, surely, and durably receive attention. The priests of Egypt (Herod. ii. 37) "bathed in cold water twice each day, and twice each night : nor was this regard to cleanliness confined to the sacred order (Wilkinson's Egyp. iii. 358). It was a natural feeling that purity of body was essential, in order to a worshipper's being accepted by the object of his homage; accordingly, ablutions soon came to be accounted important among the preparations for appearing before the divinities. Water thus became a type of moral purity, and an element in religious observances. Eventually, the employment of water was regarded as a means of washing away sins (Acts xxii. 16). As personal cleanliness had a religious worth ascribed to it, so was the health which ensued accounted a sign of the divine favour; while bodily diseases, especially such as were held to ensue from bodily impurity, were considered as symbols of moral pollution, and tokens of God's displeasure (Lev. xiv. Numb. v. 2, 4). These feelings and opinions, as they found their birth in circumstances, in the main, peculiar to the East, so were they common to oriental countries in general. The Hindoos bathe in the Ganges, in order to purify themselves from the stain of sin; others, when dying, have themselves sprinkled with the branches of a certain tree, or cause their corpses to be thrown into holy rivers, after death. The Mohammedans are strictly enjoined to cleanse themselves from sin by pure water (Meiner's Geschichte der Relig, 1, 119). Water was held by the Rabbins to be a symbol of the Holy Spirit (Othon, Lex. Rabb 51).-People's Dictionary of the Bible.

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. COMMERCE OF BABYLON.-Babylon was a distinguished commercial city. Under the encouragements which were afforded by a soil so prolific, that Q. Curtius says the cattle were driven away from their pastures, lest they should be destroyed by satiety of fatness; favoured by a position which brought into union the rich products of the East, and the great marts of the West; and aided by that impulse and intense interest which accompany all arts in the fresh period of their birth,-Babylon takes it position at the head of those nations which have given full scope to both the manufacturing and the commercial principles. Its inhabitants were specially renowned for the manufacture of cloth and carpets; they excelled in making perfumes; they carved in wood; they worked in precious stones; they made engravings which have beauty in the present day, independent of their antiquity. By caravans on land, and by ships on the sea, they conducted an immense trade, and were a city of merchants" (Ezek. xvii. 4.; comp. Is. xliii. 14). These great and widely-extended commercial dealings poured a flood of riches into the country, which, even when reduced to the rank of a province, yielded a revenue to the Persian kings that comprised half their income. This affluence served to embellish the city, and make its name famous over the earth. Hence it is thus described in the Scriptures: "Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldee excellency." But wealth brought pride, faxury, self-forgetfulness, and guilty ease; and so "the lady of kingdoms" is represented as given to pleasure, that dwelleth carelessly, and sayeth in her heart, I am, there is none else beside me. Ruin ensued: "she sits as a widow on the ground. There is no more a throne for thee, O daughter of the Chaldæans." So must fall every structure that rests not on the broad foundations of public morality and individual religion. Trade and commerce are indeed substantial realities, and the kingdom that has them for its strength is far more secure than Rome with its mighty armies and martial empire. Yet Babylon is not the only commercial state that rose to the highest splendour, and sank into poverty and desolation. Let England learn a lesson, and beware. Babylon was divided into two. nearly equal parts by the Euphrates, on whose banks it lay; a fact which will enable the reader to understand how easy it was for Cyrus, when he had drained off the waters into a reservoir excavated for the purpose, to enter the beleaguered city of a sudden, in the dead of the night, down the empty bed of the stream. Of the height, the breadth, and the strength of its walls, and of other points of detail connected with the city and its palaces, we have not room to speak. It must suffice to say, that they were all of the grandest dimensions. The area covered by the city was such, that it had in the midst of it, not only large parks and gardens, but also arable land of such extent as to furnish supplies of food in case of a siege. Such was the magnitude of the city, that hours elapsed be fore its capture by Cyrus was known to its inhabitants who dwelt at the extremity opposite to that where the conqueror entered. The myriads of human beings who were gathered together within the walls of this immense place were supplied with the necessaries, and no few of the luxuries of life, partly by vessels and rafts that navigated the Euphrates, but still more by the canals, which were led

from the river like a net-work all over the soft and yielding soil, carrying by a wide-spread system of irrigation, fertility far and wide, and bringing back the rich products of eastern climes to the great living centre-People's Dictionary of the Bible.

INTELLIGENCE.

THE TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE WORSHIP-STREET SUNDAY-SCHOOL.

THE Teachers of the Worship-street Sunday-School congratulate its friends on the arrival of another anniversary; and beg to express the gratification which they feel, in being able to present so favourable a report of their proceedings, and their unfeigned satisfaction in its growing improvement.

• In looking through the interval that has elapsed since we met on a similar occasion to that which has again brought us together, they see much to encourage and stimulate them in their benevolent and Christian exertions, and derive additional assurance that all steady and well-directed efforts in so beneficent a work as that in which they are engaged, however limited and apparently unpromising the field of labour may be, will not be in vain.

Although their wishes have by no means been fully realized, and the school is not in so flourishing a state as it has been in earlier periods of its history, yet their labours have been crowned with a measure of success, which, when they consider the altered circumstances of the times, and the difficulties against which they have had to work, is gratifying and encouraging to their minds. At the commencement of the past year the school was in a condition which caused them much anxiety, and gave them considerable discouragement-anxiety, because of their want of teachers, and so few seemed disposed to offer their services in this useful and philanthropic employment, and they would not anticipate its discontinuance without the deepest regret, feeling persuaded as they did, that during the twenty-seven years of its existence, it must have accomplished great good, and having a strong conviction of its suitableness to the wants of the young and rising generation of the poor and discouragement, because of the lowness to which it was reduced, and the unpromising aspects by which they were surrounded. They felt that if they could get more teachers, they might foon be able to increase the number of their scholars; for, unhappily, there are too many unconnected with any Sunday-School, who are being trained in carelessness, and all kinds of evil. They are happy to state that their wishes have been in some measure realized. Since the last anniversary, several friends have volunteered their services as teachers, and have been valuable coadjutors with them in their labours; and to their zeal, the improvement which has taken place is mainly to be attributed. Permit them here to observe that they are still in want of assistance, and to invite those

who would enjoy the luxury of doing good to the young, the poor, and the needy, to engage in this good and holy work.

If arguments are needed to induce them, they would urge this, as they presume alone sufficient and all prevailing. It is a good and holy work. There is none more honourable. There is none more delightful. And they devoutly trust that it will never be wanting of zealous and disinterested labourers.

In the commencement of the present year, the teachers were placed in considerable difficulty by the sudden and unexpected resignation of their late Superintendent, and for more than two months they were without any person to act in that capacity.

They felt the want of an active and efficient Superintendent was a serious loss to the School, and in no small degree counteracted the good effects of their endeavours. They are happy to say this deficiency is now supplied. Within the last month they have obtained the services of Mr. Hill, the present student in the General Baptist Academy, in conjunction with Mr. Bentley, as Superintendents, through whose exertions the school has been re-organized and increased, and is in a much more promising condition; and the teachers believe that under their management it will continue to improve.

The teachers have been unremitting in their efforts, feeling convinced that the disadvantages under which the school was placed should be an additional stimulus to perseverance, labouring in the hope that the time would come (and that they might be humble instruments in accelerating its arrival), when these would be removed, and there would be a flourishing and more efficient school. Nor have they been disappointed in these expectations. The number of children now on the books is seventy, exceeding that of last year by nineteen, and the average attendance during the year has been twenty-nine in the morning, and thirty-two in the afternoon, and the largest attendance on any one occasion has been forty-eight. The teachers have directed their attention to the improvement of the School Library, which was in a very dilapidated condition and almost useless, from the small number of books that was circulated. A Librarian has been appointed; and through the kindness of some friends who have presented books, several additions have been made to its catalogue. A subscription of 1d. per month has been required from each member, which has had the effect of creating a greater interest among the children generally, and will furnish a small fund for the purchase of new books.

On Sunday, 4th May, the children, were regaled with cake and milk, with which we need scarcely observe, they were much pleased. The cake was very kindly presented by the ladies in the school.

On Thursday, July 3rd, the children, to the number of twentysix, were taken on an excursion to Anerley Gardens, near Croydon, in conjunction with the Carter-lane and Stamford-street Schools The weather in the early part of the day was unpromising, but it eventually turned out very fine. The children were exceedingly delighted with the excursion, many of whom had never been out of London before, nor yet on a railway, and they very reluctantly left the Gardens to return home.

The teachers are glad to say, that the children have readily availed themselves of the advantages of the Savings' Bank, which is connected with the school. This they cannot but regard as a good indication, because it shows the cultivation of habits of economy and forethought, which are of incalulable service to all, but especially to the poor. Thirty-two children have made deposits in the Savings' Bank, during the year, making in all an amount of £4 19s. 1d.

The largest amount which has been in the treasurer's hands at any time was £2 15s., which was last Christmas.

The Benevolent Fund which was established to assist any of the scholars, or their parents, who might need assistance in seasons of sickness, or in obtaining necessary clothing, has enabled the teachers to render great aid in several deserving cases.

The teachers have given prizes to the most deserving children during the past year, to the amount of four to the boys and seven to the girls, for punctuality in attendance and good behaviour. They have consisted of the Sunday-School hymn books and testaments.

In conclusion permit them to congratulate the friends of religion, education, and humanity, on the increasing attention which is being paid to this vital subject; the growing interest which is universally felt in intellectual and religious investigations; more particularly in the improvement and welfare of the young and the poor of our country, which so eminently characterizes the age in which we live, and again to call upon those who have ability and opportunity to assist in the great work of religious instruction and reformationto call upon all to support it. From this latter none can claim exemption. All may do something by their means or their sympathy. Let neither be wanting. The present is no time for apathy or indolence. A great work is to be accomplished. Thousands are crying around us for knowledge, elevation, and religion. Christianity and philanthropy have nobly responded to the call; and with their various schemes are busily engaged promoting the desired result; and it were ungenerous, a sin against our common humanity, to stand by and withhold the needed aid. The young and inexperienced have an unquestionable claim upon our regard.

As one instance of the good which such institutions are calculated to effect, they would mention the following circumstance, which has come within their knowledge. One of the boys in the school, from the opportunity thus afforded him, was induced to put into the Bank the pence which his parents were wont to give him for pocket-money. When it accumulated to 53. his father was taken ill and died; and the next Sunday, acquainting his teacher with what had happened, asked if he could draw the money out, which he had saved in the Bank, that he might give it to assist his mother in her difficulty; which having done he took it home to her. We can better conceive than describe the feelings. of the mother, at this proof of considerate and dutiful affection from her son.

Would that others may be influenced by the example of this little boy, and avail themselves of this or similar advantages, of making provision for the future necessities of themselves or their friends.