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RESIGNATION.

1 Sam. iii. 18. And Eli said, "It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good."

(Original Hymns illustrative of passages from the Old Testament.)

I.

"Ir is the Lord!"-His will is good,

In sorrow answered mild,
The aged Eli, as he stood
Before the prophet child.

II.

"It is the Lord!" when sorrows lour,
And tears thine eye shall dim,
Yet think not, in thy darkest hour,
Thou art unseen of Him.

III.

For ne'er by chance with careless hand,
Thy good or ill are given;

Alike they wait the high command,

Alike are sent by Heaven,

IV.

"It is the Lord!" may every heart
The truth consoling feel,
That a sure blessing can impart
Its sharpest wounds to heal.

V.

It comes to bid the tempest cease
Within the troubled breast:
Brings to the heavy laden peace,
And to the weary rest.

THE BUTLER'S ADVICE TO HIS FELLOW-SERVANTS.

I HOPE, my young friends, you will not be frequenters of public-houses: they are useful in their way, but not a fit place to go to for amusement, or to spend your time and money. You seldom hear any thing in them but profane and wicked conversation, which can only fit the mind for some bad end. I hope you

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will likewise set yourselves against reading every sort of blasphemous or licentious book, for they are to the mind of man just the same as poison is to his body; they will speedily corrupt all your best feelings and principles, and both fit you for, and lead you to, misery and destruction. Often consider and examine yourselves, and ask yourselves, whether you are pursuing the path which will lead to peace and honour. I am sure, if you contrast the life of a man who is a frequenter of public-houses and bad company, with that of one who is staying at home and minding his business, you will be constrained to say that the man who stays at home is the happiest, for he is a credit to himself, a comfort to those round about him, and an honour to his situation. Moreover, "all must die," and a holy life is the way which leads to a peaceful death, and prepares the Christian for the happines of a better world hereafter. This is the only character that really enjoys this present world: the profane and the wicked do not, for they have it, but enjoy it not: they desire and have it not, as they seek happiness where it is not to be found.-From the Footman's Directory, or Butler's Remembrancer.

MAXIMS.

GIVE up expensive follies, and you will not have so much cause to complain of hard times, heavy taxes, and chargeable families.

What maintains one vice, would bring up two children.

Beware of little expences; a small leak will sink a ship.

Buy what you want, not what you wish for.

Many, for the sake of finery, have suffered hunger themselves, and starved their families.

Try to get clothed well, and let others try to get clothed finely.

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By coveting things above their station, many have sunk below their station.

Fond pride in dress is sure a very curse;

Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse.

Try all you can to avoid running in debt. He who runs in debt gives to another, power over his liberty. The debtor is always ashamed to meet his creditor; he is afraid to speak to him; he makes poor, pitiful excuses; and by degrees sinks into downright lying. The second vice is generally lying, when the first is running into debt.

For age and want save while you may,

No summer's sun lasts the whole day.

Still you must not depend too much on your own industry, frugality, and prudence, though they are excellent things; for they may all come to nothing without the blessing of heaven. Though no one can be prosperous in the world without heaven's blessing, yet worldly prosperity is no sure sign of the favour of God. For the ungodly are often in great prosperity, and the faithful servants of God are often in deep affliction. Whilst, therefore, you pray for success on your exertions, pray that success may not be an injury

rather than a benefit.

PSALMODY.

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

As your advice on all subjects is good, I wish you would say something about Psalm-singing in country churches, which is very often so managed, as to be rather a mockery than any devotion; it used to be the custom for all the congregation to join in singing, which is surely what is intended, and I think it a great pity it should be given up; I hope you will agree with me in this opinion, and likewise that,

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as the new version is an improvement on the old, it would be better to use it. If you would say a few words, too, in favour of plain easy tunes you would much oblige

Your constant reader,

RUSTICUS.

WE have inserted the above letter just as we received it. The subject is very important, and we have treated of it on former occasions. If the letter of Rusticus should direct the attention of any of our village musicians to this subject, a very little consideration must convince them, that singing, which is now a part of the service of the Church, ought to be such as to shew that those who joined in it were really singing "to the praise and glory of God." The pride of a few performers, which leads them to attempt such tunes as the congregation cannot join in, is so ridiculous a piece of conceit, as only belongs to those who know little or nothing of the science of which they are so proud. If the congregation is prevented from joining by the difficulty of the tunes, the whole end and intention of singing is destroyed. Let the musicians, if they please, choose some other opportunity of shewing their supposed skill and knowledge, but let the service of the house of God be considered as too sacred for the admission of such foolish and profane conceit. The really excellent performers who have the management of some of the noble organs in London and its neighbourhood, would be ashamed of attempting to shew their powers by such airs and graces and flourishes as the little musicians of the country seem so fond of. If a few plain simple tunes be chosen, and the congregation encouraged to join in them, there will be presently a sort of music, full of devotion and spirit, which will sound really like a song of praise, and soon put an end to the wretched performances of bassoons, and fiddles, which, instead of helping

devotion, and encouraging the song of praise, seems sadly calculated to be a deadly check to them. I do not mean to say that all instruments are to be banished from country congregations. Something of the kind is often necessary, to set the tune, and to guide the voices; and, if a few instruments are in the hands of sensible, judicious, and devout men, they may be of great service; and they should be so managed as to shew that the musicians really wished to help the people, and not to hinder them. A country congregation may be brought to learn a sort of singing which is truly beautiful, the voices of those in a higher condition, among them, who have been instructed in music will, in the different parts of the church, be a very important help. There are some churches in large towns, where the greater part of the females, and many of the males, by joining their voices, would make most excellent music; and they could not employ their instructed and melodious voices better. What a spirit this would give to the service of our church! What attraction it would offer! And I know not why the church may not honestly hold forth such attractions, as are not used instead of devotion, but which aid devotion and are a part of it. Indeed a negligent and careless performance of any part of the service of the church, is profaneness, and therefore a grievous sin. I say nothing now of the comparison between the old and new version of the Psalms alluded to by Rusticus; opinions differ, whichever is used let it be used devoutly, and let every part of divine worship be, "as unto the Lord and not unto men."

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