make a push; strive to go; do not make excuses about distance. If it should really be too far to go to every week, go every other week; in short, do all you can to go when you can. If there is no Church within reach, be very jealous and watchful over yourself; use as much of the Church service as you can at home without fail; spend even more time in reading God's Holy Word and in prayer, lest you should be tempted to get cold and dead and careless about the Lord's day, and about heavenly things.

7. Seek to make acquaintance with the clergyman of your township or district, as soon as you can; and look upon him as your friend and guide, the ambassador of Christ.

Give what aid you can in the building of schools or churches.

8. Do not say to yourself, "no one sees or knows me here; I can do what I like; I need not be particular." On the contrary, as you are away from those whom you looked up to at home and have more liberty, so be more careful to keep yourself from all evil. Remember the presence of God; seek to live in His presence; continually say to yourself, whether in the wood or field, the wilderness or the town, "God is with me, near, close to me; though I am away

from those whose opinion helped to keep me in order, I am in His presence who searcheth the very secrets of the heart."

9. I fear that in the colonies you will find many men who have low principles, low views of what is fair and upright; you will meet with a low tone of morals, a low standard of Christian duty. Be careful not to sink down to the level of such men. Do not mix with them; avoid their principles, their maxims, their ways of dealing; keep to the better sort of colonists; evil company is always a snare, but it is a tenfold greater snare in a colony.

10. In short, in all things rule yourself by the law of Christ; seek to serve Him wherever you are, whatever you do. Be not too much taken up with getting on or prospering here; life will soon be over; we shall all soon be standing before Christ's throne.

And now my friend I commit you to God's keeping; the blessing of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be with you always. Pray for your friends in Old England, and we in Old England will pray for you, for we are all brethren through Christ Jesus our Lord.

JOHN HENRY PARKER, OXFORD AND LONDON.

SCRIPTURE READINGS ON SICKNESS.

No. I.

Sickness to be regarded as sent in mercy to
prepare us for death.

DEATH is the passage from this world to the next. It is the struggle of the soul to go forth from its habitation to another dwelling-place either of joy or woe. Placed in the body for a time appointed by God, during which, through the intercession of Christ, it may provide for a long eternity, its trial time is now over, and no further room is left for repentance. What a solemn and a dreadful season then is death, which fixes our doom for ever and ever.

Generally, however, our gracious Saviour is kind enough to give some little warning of this event. By one method or another He says to us, "Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die and not live." And it is a great mercy when He does so. Our own Church is of this opinion, else why the petition, "from sudden death, good Lord, deliver us?" For what person

is altogether ready? what holy saint, what blessed, devout man or woman, has so arranged and ordered his house, the inner man, that he would not desire a moment's thought, a brief time for recollection, penitence, prayer, before standing in the more immediate presence of God.

And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the unrighteous and sinner appear? If the saint who is like-minded with Jesus Christ, and by much painstaking and great watchfulness has brought himself into conformity with the life and example of his Saviour; if such a man, too conscious as he is of many short-comings, would fain have a brief time allowed him for a more exact preparation; what must be his necessity, who has no pretensions to be a saint, but who like the great majority of men, has at least lived carelessly, if not wickedly! What an awful thing for such a one would be a sudden death! to be hurried in an instant of time, from the earth, from his companions and friends, from his engagements and pleasures, from utter inattention and heedlessness, into the unknown land of spirits. Surely a long sickness, any ailment which drives a man from the world, which shuts him up in his room, which compels him

to comparative retirement and reflection, whatever may be thought of it at the time, is the greatest blessing the Almighty can bestow. For "whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth. Before this the man must certainly have perished now he may be saved.

But then the man must take heed that he does not fling away the opportunity, or rather the invitation, which a most kind and merciful Father gives him, for making his peace. One who loves him well, the gifts and calling of whom are without repentance; One who has sacrificed for him His only Son, and overlooked and foreborne again and again, makes him one last expostulation; "Turn," He says, "to Me, and I will turn unto thee: I am punishing in order that you may amend: I would yet give you eternal glory and happiness: seize the time which is now allowed you: it is your last opportunity, your last trial."

Come then, O thou, into whosesoever hands this may fall, and peruse with me one or two passages of Holy Writ, connected with this solemn matter of sickness. "If any man lack wisdom, it is said, let him ask of God, who giveth to every man liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him." We will ask of God, we will