office until his death. His active services and judicious management proved of considerable advantage, and secured for him the grateful esteem of all the brethren. It is remarkable that the last time at which he met with them in their associated capacity was in his own house, and within one month of his decease. The season was one of deep interest, as the writer well remembers. The countenance of this man of God wore its accustomed hue of health, and beamed with cheerfulness. He was active, as usual, at his post. Had it been inquired which of the assembly would, in all probability, first fall a victim to the stroke of the last enemy, he would certainly have been passed over. But Oh, the mysteries of Providence! how baffling to our calculations! how admonitory to our too confident sense of security! The mortal blow fell where it was least expected. "In human hearts what bolder thought can rise but little, owing to the excessive difficulty in his breathing; but all he did say clearly evinced that religion was richly enjoyed within: and even in those hours when from the height of the inflammation he appeared bewildered, he discovered most strikingly the spiritual bias of his affections. Happily in his case no death-bed testimony was requisite in order to afford to others satisfactory evidence of his preparation for the great change. He had lived the life of the righteous, and would, as the sure consequence, enter at death on the inconceivable blessedness of heaven. Faithful till his work was done, he then received the crown of life. He died on January 15th of the present year, and was interred at the general cemetery. The funeral obsequies were performed by his beloved pastor, who, both at the grave and in the sanctuary on the following sabbath, made honourable mention of his consistent piety, meekness of spirit, steady aim at usefulness, generous dis Than man's presumption on to-mor- position, and other excellences. Nor row's dawn? Where is to-morrow? In another world. By too great exposure to the weather in the business he now followed, (having for some time relinquished the scholastic profession,) he laid, it is thought, the foundation of that malady which terminated so fatally. One cold upon another issued in a severe inflammation of the air-vessels of the lungs, which resisted all medical skill, and within one week from his being laid aside from his ordinary duties he finished his probationary term on earth. were his fellow-labourers wanting in the appropriate expression of their sorrow for his removal, and their sense of his great worth, both to his mourning widow, and at the several places where, in common with themselves, he had been accustomed to proclaim the word of life. A fragment, illustrative of the frame of his mind in the closing part of his brief illness, is too valuable to be omitted. In his musings he quoted aloud the beautiful language of the apostle Peter, "To you that believe he is precious"-referring to Christ, the sinner's hope. His dear partner, who was near him, made the inquiry, not In his last sickness he could speak from doubt, but to elicit fully his views tions, however, it must be that a peaceful as well as a happy home is meant. We have seen houses or rooms in which a father, and mother, and brothers, and sisters lived, whose temper and conduct towards each other would lead us to think of anything rather than happiness. Loud and harsh, and sometimes profane words; sullen looks, selfish and cruel acts, cries and blows; these and other things like them, remind us of that dreadful place to which all the wicked will go at last, and where no kind word, or look, or thought, will ever enter! Is your home as happy as you wish it to be, young friend? If not, can you not do something to make it happier! "Well, my child, which is the sweetest?'' "Oh, it is this little violet !" "Well, you know now, my child, why I prefer the plain violet to the beautiful almond. Beauty without fragrance in flowers is as worthless, in my opinion, as beauty without gentleness and good temper in little girls. When any of those people who speak without reflection, may say to you, What charming blue eyes! What beautiful curls! What a fine complexion!" without knowing whether you have any good qualities, and without thinking of your defects and failings, which everybody is born with, remember then the almond blossom; and remember also, when your affectionate mother may not be there to tell you, that beauty without gentleness and RULE FOR GOING TO SCHOOL, OR good temper is worthless." ON ERRANDS. Don't stop by the way, And you'll prize my advice. THE way which so many children have of playing truant in going to school or on an errand, does them a great deal of harm. It would be easy to state many cases, with the names of the children and the towns in which they lived, in which the first step in the downward path was taken as a truant. When we see a boy or girl sauntering along the road or street, or lounging about the school-room door, as if they were really inviting the Evil One to come and tempt them, we always feel like taking them by the hand, and saying to them, Do you not know, my child, that the old serpent looks upon a truant, or even an idler, as we look upon a fish with the bait in his mouth, or a bird with one foot in the snare? Move quickly then in the path of duty! THE ALMOND BLOSSOM. "MAMMA," said a lovely girl to her mother, as they were walking together in the garden, "why do you have so few of those beautiful double almonds in the garden? You have hardly a bed where there is not a tuft of violets, and they are so much plainer! what can be the reason?" "My dear child," said the mother, "gather me a bunch of each. Then I will tell you why I prefer the humble violet." The little girl ran off, and soon returned with a fine bunch of the beautiful almond and a few violets. "Smell them, my love," said her mother, "and see which is the sweetest." The child smelled again and again, and could scarcely believe herself, that the lovely almond had no scent; while the plain violet had a delightful odour. THE SENSE OF JUSTICE. THE boys attending one of our public schools, of the average age of seven years, had, in their play of bat and ball, broken one of the neighbour's windows: but no clue of the offender could be obtained, as he would not confess, nor would any of his associates expose him. The case troubled the and governess; on the occasion of a gentleman visiting the school, she privately and briefly stated the circumstance, and wished him, in some remarks to the school, to advert to the principle involved in the case. The address to the school had reference principally to the conduct of boys in the streets and at their sports. The principles of rectitude and kindness which should govern them everywhere-even when alone, and when they thought no eye could see, and there was no one present to observe. The school seemed deeply interested in the remarks. A very short time after the visitor left the school, a little boy arose in his seat, and said: "Miss L, I batted the ball that broke Mr.'s window. Another boy threw the ball; but I batted it, and struck the window. I am willing to pay for it." There was a death-like silence in the school as the boy was speaking, and it continued a minute after he had closed. "But it won't be right for to pay the whole for the glass," said another boy, rising in his seat; "all of us that were playing should pay something, because we were all engaged alike in the play; I'll pay my part!" "And I." A thrill of pleasure seemed to run through the school at this display of correct feeling. The teacher's heart was touched, and she felt more than ever the responsibility of her charge. Cabinet of Things New and Old. THE POOR MAN'S PORTION: Sermon preached by the late Rev. Andrew Fuller, March 4, 1795. ECCLES. xi. 1-4. SOLOMON lived in times of great plenty; yet they had their poor, and the text proves a regard to them. Charity is here expressed by casting our bread on the waters-either in allusion to sowing seed in some countries on the water, or to express the improbability of ever seeing it again. I. Point out the duty recommended. In general it is, to do good with our property. Charity has been brought into disrepute by the superstitious motives of some; but the thing itself is right, and a great duty. The change of dispensation made no change here, except to increase the obligation. It is the glory of true religion that it inspires and inculcates a spirit of benevolence. It is a religion of charity, which none other ever was. There never was a hospital built until Christianity built one. It is true there have been many since, and by people of the world too; but they were provoked to it by Christians. This spirit is not peculiar to the New Testament: Deut. xv. 7-12. Christ went about doing good; he taught the doctrine (parable of good Samaritan); he censured the Pharisees for setting it aside; he set the example to his disciples, and they abounded in it. It is no inconsiderable part of true religion to let our light shine before men. But more particularly, 1. That with which we do good must be our own. "Cast thy bread." As there are some who withhold more than is meet, so there are others who, from ostentation, give what is not their own. 2. We are to do good liberally. "Give a portion to seven, and also to eight." It is a great obstacle to many, and a common objection, that cases are so numerous. This is true, and every person must judge whether he ought to give to all. If not, he must select the most deserving and important, and those in his immediate circle. But the caution, "Be not weary in well doing," is not given without reason. 3. For the sake of doing good we should deny ourselves. "Thy bread." It is a notion of many that they are required to give only superfluities; but this is treating God and the poor with only a dog's portion-the crumbs, as it were, which fall from their table. "Cast thy bread on the waters." There is something wonderful in that passage, "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, for your sakes he became poor," &c. Deny thyself, especially in such times as these, of luxuries in eating drinking, apparel, entertainments, appearance, &c. Emu N proper aid, were a task so easy as to entitle the performer to small praise; but to be wholly ignorant of these things is discreditable to the man, and culpable to the citizen. He ought to be as familiar with Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England as with the alphabet of his mother tongue. What illumination of the path of British History, what insight into the reason of things, and the true foundations of the social fabric, a thorough digest of that work would impart! THE BRITISH Banner, in popular Essays, Dissertations, and Lectures, will expound the main elements of the mighty theme, directing the reader to the best sources of information. POLITICAL ECONOMY. The importance attaching to the subject of Political Economy can hardly be conceived by those unacquainted with it. It is a theme in which all are concerned, and the interest of which is imperishable. As the foundation of this science, every British citizen would do well to familiarize his mind and memory with the immortal work of Adam Smith-The Wealth of Nations. This great treasure of Economic philosophy deserves to be in the hands of every young man in England, and as correctors and illustrators, we would add Malthus, Ricardo, Macculloch, and others. THE BRITISH BANNER will teem with simplified lessons and disquisitions on the large and ever-extending field of Political Economy. RURAL ECONOMY. The culture of the Earth will continue to be a science of every-day interest so long as man requires food. Apart from its all-important practical bearing as a section of human knowledge merely, it is full of pleasurable instruction. Since, therefore, we anticipate a multitude of readers in the agricultural districts, we shall devote a due proportion of our attention to the wants of the Farmer, who may look for frequent dissertations and essays on Rural Economy; and in particular for what he will value, a Digest of all works which relate to the applications of Chemistry to Agriculture, as also of the Periodical Literature of Husbandry. BRITISH MANUFACTURES. Since the strength of the Nation lies very mainly in the manufacturing districts, our readers there have strong claims upon our consideration. The history, progress, and present state of British Manufacture will, therefore, occupy a very considerable portion of attention. It is hoped in this way to diffuse a mass of useful knowledge on a very wide scale, and thus to stimulate the mechanical genius of our youthful countrymen to the ardent pursuit of studies in the direction of their several avocations, which will eminently make for their own improvement and the good of their country. The field is large and abounding with wonders, which will be diffused with instruction, delight, and profit to masses of our readers. GENERAL LITERATURE. The pure, the good, and really useful Literature of our country will occupy a large space in the columns of THE BRITISH BANNER, through which the best portions of it will be sown broadcast over the mind of its readers. In addition to a copious analysis of works of merit, ample selections will be made from their essential parts, thus often presenting the marrow of a book in a condensed form. The whole of the Quarterly Reviews will, from time to time, be canvassed, and extracts made of the most valuable portions of the chief articles. But our attention will not be confined to the days which are passing over us. We shall occasionally commune with the spirits of the mighty dead, and reproduce the best parts of the best works of the Poets, Orators, and Philosophers of former times. By such means we hope to achieve somewhat in the way of awakening, enlightening, and elevating the mind of the Millions. We shall thus enable the peasant and the peasant's child to sit down at the same feast with the nobles and princes of the land. PARLIAMENT. The proceedings of both Houses of Parliament will be carefully watched, and an elaborate digest of the same set forth in the BRITISH BANNER. In doing this, however, a sound discretion will be exercised: there is much said tles, we shall find that special occasions led to special seasons of prayer. What is customary generally becomes dull; formality is the usual result of stated forms; we all need something, even in reference to religion itself, to vary the sameness of regularly returning exercises. Who has not felt the need of this, in application to personal religion and closet devotion, and experienced the reviving influence of an hour, an evening, or a day, set apart for extraordinary devotion? And may it not be expected that churches would feel the same influence from such seasons? How much solemnity generally pervades such meetings! All seem called upon to humble themselves afresh before God; afresh to devote themselves to his service; and afresh to seek his blessing upon the church. And the solemnity would be much increased by the addition of FASTING! | How comes it to happen that fasting is so much neglected in modern times, as to be almost laid aside? Only be cause we have sunk into a religion which loveth ease, and which excludes all that is self-denying and rigorous. Did not our Lord, in his sermon upon the mount, take it for granted that his disciples did fast, though in a way less ostentatious than the Pharisees? Did he not himself fast forty days in the wilderness? Did not the apostles frequently observe the custom? Has not the church, in every age till the present, considered it as a Christian duty? Is it not a dictate of nature, as well as a duty of religion, and thus justified by reason, as well as sanctioned by revelation? For what is fasting? and what is its design? It is a practice to be observed on seasons of solemn humiliation and confession of sin, when the soul is supposed to be so much grieved, affected, and irapressed, on account of guilt, as to have little inclination for the ordinary gratifications of appetite. In great grief such gratifications are not only unsuitable, but undesired. Who, in deep grief, is inclined to go to a feast? Fasting is intended both to express and to aid inward humiliation; it is the conformity of the state of the outward to that of the inward man; it is the communion of the body with the soul, in the act of abasement and selfmortification. Total abstinence from all food is not necessary, for this would rather impede than aid devotion; but surely, on seasons of solemn and extraordinary prayer, an abstinence from our usual and lawful indulgences of appetite is suitable and necessary. Such fasts should be observed by individuals in reference to their own personal religion, and by religious societies in their collective capacity. All churches have, in one age or another, admitted this. The Church of Rome has been followed by the Church of England; and in an earlier period of the history of Dissenters, it was common for their churches to practice this solemnity. The Christian societies in America are exemplary in their observance of this custom, and why should not we? Special seasons of solemn prayer, at which assembled churches unite in fervent supplication to God for the outpouring of the Spirit and the revival of religion, are singularly calculated to affect the mind with the importance of the subject, and to produce a very deep impression in reference to it. Let all the members, therefore, make a point of being present on such occasions; and let them go in the most devout |