ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS. Anecdotes and Selections. WORKING CHRISTIANS.-Learn to be working christians. “Be ye doors of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own souls." It is very striking to see the usefulness of many christians. Are there none of you who know what it is to be selfish in your christianity? You have seen a selfish child go into a secret place to enjoy some delicious morsel undisturbed by his companions? So it is with some christians. They feed upon Christ and forgiveness; but it is alone, and all for themselves. Are there not some of you who can enjoy being a christian, while your dearest friend is not; and yet you will not speak to him? See, here you have got work to do. When Christ found you, he said, "Go, work in my vineyard." What were you hired for, if it was not to spread salvation? What blessed for? Oh! my christian friends, how little you live as if you were the servants of Christ! How much idle time and idle talk you have! This is not like a good servant. How many things you do for yourself! how few for Christ and his people! This is not like a good servant. M'Cheyne. 66 COLLINS, THE FREE-THINKER, met a plain countryman going to worship, and asked him where he was going. To worship God, sir." 'Pray is your God a great God or a little God ?" "He is both, sir." "How can he be both ?" "He is so great, sir, that the heaven of heavens cannot contain him; and so little that he can dwell in my heart." Collins declared, that this simple answer by the countryman, had more effect upon his mind than all the volumes which the learned doctors had written against him. WORLDLY HONOURS. A distinguished character, in a neighbouring nation, had an extraordinary mark of distinction and honour sent him by his prince as he lay on his death-bed. "Alas!" said he, looking coldly upon it, "this is a mighty fine thing here in this country, but I am just going to a country where it will be of no service to me.' SIR HENRY WOTTON.-When Sir Henry was in Italy, a priest sent him this question, written on a small piece of paper, "Where was your religion before Luther ?" To which Sir Henry immediately wrote under it, "My religion was to be found then, where yours is not to be found now-in the Bible." SIR ASTLEY COOPER said, "I never suffer ardent spirits in my house, thinking them evil spirits; and if the poor could witness the white livers, the dropsies, the shattered nervous systems, which I have seen as the consequences of drinking, they would be aware that spirits and poisons are the same things.' THE FIRESIDE.-THE PENNY POST. The Fireside. "TREASURES HID IN THE SAND."-Afflictions teach us the worth of our Bibles, and bring us to feel the use of them; and then how many comfortable passages do we find which lay neglected and unknown before! I recollect an instance in the history of some who fled with their families from this country to that then wild desert America. Among many other hardships, they were sometimes in such straits for bread, that the very crusts of their former tables in England would have been a dainty to them. Necessity drove the women and children to the sea-side to look for a ship which was expected to bring them provision; but no ship for many weeks appeared. However, they saw in the sands vast quantities of shell-fish, since called clams, a kind of muscle. Hunger compelled them to taste; and at length they almost fed wholly on them; and, to their own astonishment, were as cheerful and as fat as they had been in England with their fill of the best provisions. A worthy man, one day, after they had all dined on clams, without bread, returned thanks to God for causing them to "suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand," a passage in Deuteronomy (xxxii. 19), till then unobserved by the company, but which ever after endeared the Holy Writings yet more to them. Robert Robinson. The Penny Post. As we have not room now to squeeze in any of the papers we have received, we must reserve them for another opportunity. We shall, therefore, occupy this brief space ourselves in saying that we hope our readers will bear in mind that one page is always reserved for them, in which to state any facts that come under their notice, or to mention any matter which may affect their present or future well-being. Many things are often taking place in villages and secluded parts which are very unfair and unjust, and we open our Penny Post Box (which we shall call it in future) that they may be told to the world, and that the men who do such things may know that their conduct is noticed and recorded. And then there are trials and troubles of a personal or relative kind, and deliverances from them, which if made known might profit others. On these, or any other matters affecting our readers, we shall be very glad to receive papers for our " PENNY POST Box." And let not any of our friends hesitate because they are not in the habit of writing for the press. Let them say what they have to say in their own way. We will make what they write correct before it is printed. FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS. Facts, Hints, and Gems. Facts, Hints, &c. WE fill up this page with the following important items from The People's Penny Almanack. EMIGRATION FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM DURING THE TEN YEARS, FROM 1840 to 1849 INCLUSIVE. AMOUNT OF TAXES PAID IN 1849 ON THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES: .... ............ 91,407 Newspapers, 1d. Stamp; Advertisements, 1s. 6d. upon each 336,353 RAILWAY TRAFFIC. -The summary of the traffic on all railways in the United Kingdom during the whole of the year 1849, gives the following results:-Passengers, 1st class, 7,292,811; 2nd class, 23,521,650; 3rd class, 15,686,911; parliamentary class, 17,203,410; mixed, 136,755; total passengers, 63,841,539. Receipts from passengers:-1st class, £1,927,767; 2nd class, £2,530,968; 3rd class, £711,592; parliamentary class, £1,104,884; mixed, £2,678; total, £6,277,892. Receipts from goods, eattle, parcels, mails, &c., £5,528,606. Total receipts, £11,806,498. Gems. THE CHILDREN'S CORNER. NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL.-We should learn to do natural things Sayings of Mr. John Hook, one of in a spiritual way, and spiritual the ejected Ministers, 1662. A NEW HEART consists of an enlightened mind, a renewed will, a tender conscience, and sanctified affections. AN HYPOCRITE is in the worst condition of any man upon earth; for he is hated of the world, because of his profession; and hated of God, because he has no more than a profession. THE CHRISTIAN CONFLICT.-AS an encouragement to christians to fight the good fight of faith, he would often say, "The conflict may be sharp, but the victory is sure; the reward is great, and the crown is eternal." LIVE in the spirit of Christ, and aim at the glory of Christ. "Tis grace to be in Him, and glory to be with him. POVERTY AND RICHES.-Some are condemned to an estate, others are exalted to poverty. James i. 9, 10. WHEN THE ROOT is bitterness, the blossom will fly up as dust. SIN AND DUTIES.-It will go hard with men, if they be found in the guilt of the least sin, and little better if they try to stand on the merits of their best duties, for all our righteousnesses are only as filthy rags. things in a natural way. FAITH, LOVE, AND PATIENCE.By faith we enjoy God, by love we enjoy our neighbours, and by patience we enjoy ourselves. Poetic Selections. The Children's Corner. A VERY LITTLE CATECHISM. GET IT OFF NOW. 140 Sinful and miserable. Q. How did God make man? A. Holy and happy. Q. How did man make himself? Q. Who can deliver man from sin and misery? A. Jesus Christ only. Q. Who are those that Christ will save? A. Those that repent, believe in him, and obey him. J. F. WINKS, PRINTER, LEICESTER. |
