let us never forget that real eminence of character, consists, not in intellectual attainments, but in the subjugation of carnal propensities, and the ascendancy of kind and generous feelings. For making progress in this direction, the poor and illiterate, are as favourably situated as the rich and wise; and, indeed, from their lowly condition in society, they escape some of the snares which beset the higher classes at every turn of life. Though naturally capable of all refined enjoyments of modern civilization, they do in fact feel less the want of them than those would to whom habit has rendered them necessary: so that, with more slender means of bodily support and personal comfort, they have proportionately fewer temptations to be distrustful of God's all bountiful providence and ever mindful care. Indeed, receiving, as they apparently do, the means of their support more directly from the hand of God, than does the rich man who has his goods laid up in store, the balance of advantage in respect to a humble trust in providence, may be regarded as turning in their favour. Nor have they so many pretexts for fostering in their sentiments and deportment a notion of some peculiar, personal importance; and for looking down with a feeling of proud self-complacency upon a lower class; or, for folding themselves up in the vestments of self-conceit, and saying to a neighbour, "stand by thyself I am thy superior." They also escape the spell of some of those brilliant phantoms which render earth so attractive to the children of pleasure, to those means of gratification are more adequate to meet the wishes of a vain heart: and their minds having fewer sources of amusement, and fewer claims of a grave and pressing nature than their more educated and business-doing contemporaries, their hearts, and their intellects are more at liberty to be absorbed in the grand concerns of religion.

The hard-working, the illiterate, and the poor, then, as a class, though (viewed in the light of mere human opinion) occupying a much inferior vantage ground than do the classes above them, nevertheless, for securing the highest station in the future periods of existence, are not one whit behind them, and for some reasons may be considered as having the greater advantages. The most lovely forms of piety are often met in the cottage. Some of the fairest ornaments of human nature are displayed among the poorest children of want. Some of the happiest and holiest feelings of earth are found blending with the heavy toils and scanty support of the peasant. Some of the most heavenly feelings that ever blessed and sanctified a home, are met with where education, knowledge, refinement, and wealth, have administered but the meagerest aid. And some of those who are the most eminently prepared for purest bliss of heaven, are among the classes who serve, and toil, and want, and suffer.

Let no one, however, suppose, that a lowly condition here constitutes a right to, or necessarily secures, a superior one hereafter. God is a debtor to no man. He gives to all far more than they can claim, though to some a greater portion than to other. He distributes his gifts according to his own pleasure; but always in wisdom and bountiful goodness.-Nor must we fall into the error of supposing, that poverty, lack of education, and unrefined manners, are inherently and necessarily conducive to moral excellence They never can of themselves, any more than other earthly

circumstances, form a virtuous and a holy character. In fact, they are trials and temptations whose influence must be met and resisted by the inwrought, holy principles of the gospel. Hence arise the scope and neceesity for the persevering struggle, "the good fight of faith,”—to obtain, strengthen, and mature those dispositions and habits which best alone can qualify men for the exalted honours and happiness of "eternal life."* Let the soul, then, learn to repose on God with a cheerful contentment and a chastened, but intelligent submission to his all-wise appointments; let it patiently endure the ills of mortal life, gratefully acknowledge mercies, and confidently expect the promised inheritance through the merits of Christ; let all duties to God and man be conscientiously attended to; -let praise and prayer habitually ascend from a sincere, humble, and contrite heart;-let a sympathizing kindness, a forgiving patience, and an all generous charity, be exercised towards the whole fainily of man;-and the lowly condition of earth, passing away with each revolving year, will soon give place to that exalted state in which the poor and rich lose their distinctions by blending into one visible family,-occupying the same mansion and inheriting the same blessing.

The sum then of these remarks is :-the soul is of inestimable value, and its welfare should, in the habit of feeling and in the hourly conduct of every human being, take precedence of all other objects. No one, however lowly his present condition, however limited his knowledge,-however feeble his powers-however few his opportunities of mental and spiritual culture, should for a moment lightly esteem his own immortal spirit. No one, on the other hand, should so over-rate those blessings, which God has given to be temperately used and gratefully enjoyed in this life, as to shut out from his heart the glorious future. The prospects opened to our mental vision beyond the grave-when the artificial distinctions of time shall be obliterated-should make us think meanly of the inequalities of mortal life: for they must, at the latest, soon pass away; and should lead us, instead of indulging fretfulness or discontent under present privations or even injustice, to direct the best of our energies to the attainment of that holy character, without which the wise and refined cannot enter heaven, and having which, the poor and the unpolished, the illiterate will meet with a reception none the less glorious and blessed.

W. G.

"The snares and temptations of vice, are what render the present world peculiarly fit to be a state of discipline to those who will preserve their integrity; because they render being upon our guard, resolution, and the denial of our passions, necessary in order to that end."-Butler's Analogy.

THE PARISH PRIEST'S ANNUAL CIRCULAR.

The following is a copy of a handbill published by a clergyman for the guidance of his parishioners :

"OCKER HILL LENT SERVICES.-The parish priest of Ocker Hill affectionately reminds his parishioners and other members of the congregation of St. Mark's, of the return of the church's sacred season of Lent: and of the solemn duties of fasting, humiliation, and repentance towards God, which are especially connected with this season.

"He purposes, God willing, to aid them in these important duties by affording them, as in former years, extra opportunities for public prayer and worship, and by bringing before them from the pulpit the following subjects:

"Ash Wednesday, morning, at eleven, Fasting.' The Scriptural sanction for it; the manner, motive, and design of it; the reward promised to it. Matthew vi. 17, 18.-Evening, at seven, 'Watching with Jesus.' Matthew xxvi. 40, 41.

"First Sunday evening in Lent, Feb. 29th. Abraham an Example of Self-denial.' Genesis xxii. 9, 10.

"Second Sunday evening, March 7th. "Third Sunday evening, March 14th. Repentance.' Joel ii. 12, 13.

"Fourth Sunday evening, March 21st. pent.' Jeremiah viii. 4, 7.

"Fifth Sunday evening, March 28th. Penitent.' Luke vii. 37, 38.

"Sixth Sunday evening, April 4th. Phillipians ii. 5.

"Good Friday, morning, at eleven. Isaiah lvii. 15.-Evening, at seven. i. 12.

Repentance.' Matt. iii. 2.
The Duty and Necessity of

Man's unwillingness to Re

A Scripture Portrait of a True

The Example of Christ Jesus.'

The Contrite Spirit God's Abode.' 'The Atonement.' Lamentations

"The Litany will also be said every Wednesday and Friday during Lent, (except Good Friday,) at nine in the morning; and Evening Prayer at eight in the evening. During Holy Week there will be Morning Prayer at nine, and Evening Prayer at eight every day, except Friday and Saturday.

"THUS SAITH THE LORD: he that, being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.' -Proverbs xxix. 1. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.'-Prov. xxviii. 13. "LIONEL W. STANTON,

"February 21st, 1852."

'Perpetual Curate of Ocker Hill.

REVIEWS AND CRITICISMS.

The Test of Experience; or, the Voluntary Principle in the United States. By JOHN HOWARD HINTON, M.A.

THIS book one of the series of "The Library for the Times." The name of the author is a guarantee for clearness of statement, closeness of argument and integrity of purpose. If it meet with the success it deserves, it will have a very wide circulation. The reasoning of this little treatise is of a kind to interest and satisfy a large class of inquirers. Many persons not accustomed to the investigation of abstract principles, will here be convinced by the irresistible logic of facts. As a specimen of what a work should be founded on such a basis, it is entitled to the highest praise.

The writer has done well to select America as his fleld of discussion. There the Establishment system had a full, fair trial, and was at length abandoned for its inefficiency. The voluntary plan which has come in its stead has so completely justified its superiority, that the most sceptical objectors have been converted into its warmest friends. The slowest to believe have yielded to the power of overwhelming evidence.

The Nonconformist, who is armed with the statistics of Mr. E. Baines on voluntaryism in our own country, and with Mr. Hinton's, showing of the same question on American ground, need not fear the strongest attacks of State-Churchism. If we do not mistake, this is just the sort of book which is suited to the English mind. We confidently recommend it to all, especially to the young men of our time.

We have only to express our hearty sympathy with the closing words of the volume: "Such is the lesson which has long been taught by theory, and is now taught by experience. May the world, and, above all, may our country, have the wisdom to profit by it."

The Sleeper Aroused. By E. A. PEARCE. London: John Snow.

"The Glorg of Young Men;" a Sermon delivered in Pendleton Independent Chapel, on the occasion of the death of Robert Needham, Esq. By the Rev. E. A. PEARCE. London: John Snow.

THE former of these two little works, is especially adapted to arouse Christians in general from a state of lethargy; whilst the latter is especially adapted to young men, and presents a noble example for their imitation. We wish the author in these and his other efforts of usefulness the success he eminently deserves.

Use and Abuse; or, Right and Wrong, in the Relations of Labour, of Capital, Machinery, and Land. By WILLIAM M'COMBIE. London: Ward and Co.

THIS is an extraordinary little volume, consisting of a lengthened prefatory disquisition, developing in more scientific order the principles advocated in the two following Lectures.

These Lectures are on "Social Economy," and "Modern Society;" and grapple, with much force and clearness, with some of those social questions now forcing themselves into notice. The whole science of sociology is so young and immature, that we may be excused from too hasty a consent to any theories of labour and of capital, and especially the settlement of landed interest. Nevertheless, we can honestly commend this volume, as the work of an earnest mind, and calculated to awaken an enlightened attention to some of the most difficult questions of the age.

The Eclipse of Faith. London: Longman and Co.

WE often hear of "the coming man," but have never seen him yet; we have equally required the coming book; and here it is! We have nothing else to answer its purpose, -to meet the pious infidelity of our spiritualized sceptics :-Newman, Parker, and tribe. The work before us, is plainly by a practised hand, it combines these two rare qualities, finish and power; and it finishes off the spiritualizers. We predict for it a very extensive circulation, and earnestly commend it to all thoughtful young men; every student for the ministry should have a copy of it. We can only at present give this slight notice, but hope hereafter to present those suggestions to our readers which this invaluable addition to the literature of the age, may awaken in our own minds. The author has modestly hidden his name, but the work will not be hidden.

Morning; or, Darkness and Light. By the Rev. GEORGE B. SCOTT. London: J. Nisbett and Co.

THIS little book, addressed "To the Church of the living God," is a book for the heart. Where there are devout feelings and warm aspirations towards the Saviour, it will be welcome, and where these are low and cold, it will revive them, as its aim is to "fix the readers ardent thoughts on him alone, who loved the Church and gave himself for it. It presents Christ as the true helper in every condition, both of the individual believer and of the Church generally, from "the blinding darkness," through "the darkness dispersing," until "the morning begins," and at length shines forth in the full blaze of "the perfect day." The plan of the book is to give under headings of which some have been indicated by our inverted commas, a short practical illustration of two passages of Scripture, in which the adaptation of Christ to the varied experience of the Christian is set forth, and each illustration is closed by a few lines of sacred verse. As a whole it is nicely done, there is an entire absence of that sickly sentimentalism which has generally characterized productions of this nature, and the printer has done what lay in his power to make it attractive. We cordially recommend it to those who try to do good through the Post-Office. It is just the thing to be enclosed in a letter.