and a wicked heart, that that man never understood his own creed. Either his creed is false, or, if it be correct, he never properly understood its grounds. When we see one who reasons coolly, bears opposition and contradiction patiently, and seems less concerned for himself than for his opponents; we may set it down for certain, that that man knows both what he believes, and on what grounds his belief rests. A truly enlightened and christian man cannot persecute, and a blind and bigoted man can hardly refrain from persecution. An enlightened christian has confidence in his sentiments because he knows that truth is mighty, and that God will favour it, and that it needs no force to make it triumph. But one who is unenlightened, is afraid of his system; and every thing he can do he thinks right and little enough to keep his babel from falling. I would recommend my readers always to suspect the truth of his creed, who cannot find in his heart to allow others the liberty to think for themselves. There can be no more certain token that a man's notions are not right, than a disposition to treat unkindly those who hold different sentiments. When Paul was in error, he dragged men and women of the other party to prison; but when he embraced the truth, he would not use an unkind word, to the most phrenzied and extravagant idolater among the Gentiles. God is the wisest being, and he is the most long-suffering and kind; and the nearer his people approach to the perfection of his understanding, the more will they resemble him in patience and compassion towards unbelievers and offenders. God is not indifferent to truth, but he is amazingly patient with those who reject it; and in this we ought to "be followers of God as dear children." We should be valiant for the truth, but not forward to punish error; the punishment of error belongs to the all-knowing and allcreating God.

And we should always bear in mind also, that to be illtempered is a greater sin than to be in error. If our brother's faith is wrong, let us never think of putting it right by our bad conduct. Truth is of no use if it does not make us better, and we shall never do much to correct error, if we are not correct in our own tempers and behaviour.

SCRIPTURE EXPLAINED.

Cast thy bread upon the waters, and thou shalt find it after many days.-Eccles. xi, 1.

The word translated waters means watery or moist places, and the word bread means also the grain of which bread is made. The passage should therefore run thus: "Sow thy seed upon moist ground, and thou shalt find it after many days." The text is an exhortation to the exercise of charity,

and the author would urge us to do good, by assuring us, that in course of time, we should ourselves reap advantages from our charitable labours. Doing good is spoken of as sowing seed; and as the seed if sown in good ground is not lost, but yields abundant increase in its season; so the time and money you spend in doing good, shall bring you profit in the end. Do good whenever you have an opportunity, for in course of time your labours will return in blessings into your own bosom.

It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.—Acts, 9, 5.

These words were spoken by Jesus Christ to Saul, when he was arrested in his career of persecution; and their meaning is: Thou art engaged in a bad business; in efforts which must cause thee pain and injury, and prove ineffectual after all. Pricks or goads were rods with iron at the end, used by

ploughmen to urge on the oxen. When the ploughman goaded the ox, it would sometimes kick; but it only wounded itself the more. "To kick against the goad" became a proverb, for pursuing mad and ruinous courses, and this is its meaning in this passage. Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Thou mayest ruin thyself thereby, but thou canst not destroy my cause,

THE ONE THING NEEDFUL.

Above all things, be truly and thoroughly pious. Nothing will serve as a substitude for piety. You may have much knowledge, you may have a tolerably correct creed, you may possess a ready utterance, and you may have comely and engaging manners; but you will live to little purpose if you are not heartily and thoroughly devoted to God. Without this you will never be truly happy; without this you will never be able to promote, as you ought, the welfare of your fellow-men. You may be pleased and diverted often, but this is not happiness. Happiness is a sober and abiding guest. It is something that lives with us, and attends us day and night, remaining with us through every season of the year, and through all the changes of this mortal state. It is not a momentary pleasure, or a passing dream, that the soul sighs after; it is a lasting and a satisfying portion. And this is only to be found in the favour of God, and the testimony of a good conscience, and in labours of benevolence and piety. Here the soul can rest, and only here: these make a heaven on earth. There is not an ungodly happy man in the universe; there never can be. Greatness and luxury, and fame and power with all their splendours and indulgences, are nothing to the soul. The soul is in the midst of them as a feeble bird, hurried wildly to and fro by a whirlwind : but this is distraction, and not happiness.

But to the man of God there is true happiness. He may have little of this world's pleasures; but his portion, notwithstanding, is the richest in the world. He is satisfied with himself; he is approved of God; he is an heir of heaven. He lies down to sleep without fear; and he awakes in the morning with a thankful heart. He breathes in an atmosphere of love, and the storms of evil passion are all hushed around him. In his good wishes for others, he finds a feast of pleasure himself; and in lessening his brother's sorrows, he increases his own joy. His homely fare is sweeter to him than the daintiest morsels of the sinner; for he eats it as his Father's gift, and he regards it as a pledge of richer things in heaven.

This man is always doing good. His looks, his tempers, and his words all plead the cause of truth and godliness; and his whole life is one powerful appeal to the hearts of those around him. One word of his shakes the sinner's soul, and the sight of him checks the wicked conversation of the ungodly. He is armed with unseen powers, which make their influence felt wherever he goes. Truth and virtue go forth from him, as light and warmth from the mid-day sun. He is a light to the world of souls, and he makes the beauty of religion to be seen, and its happy influence to be felt in every sphere in which he moves. A hundred such characters would carry conviction of the truth of religion through a whole city, and if all who name the name of Christ were thus true and steady and devoted in their piety, they would shortly banish infidelity and sin out of the world. Be ye, my young readers, men and women of this stamp, and every place you live in, and every one you are connected with, will be the better for you. Be christians indeed,-decided, and ardent, and firm, and religion will find in your examples its best supports, its ablest advocates, and its brightest honours; and you will find in religion in return that which will give joy in life, and peace in death, and happiness in heaven.

WORDS OF THE WISE.

MODERATION OF PASSION.-Not to be provoked is best: but if moved, never correct till the Fume is spent: for every stroke our fury strikes, is sure to hit ourselves at last.

If we did but observe the allowances our reason makes upon reflection, when our passion is over, we could not want a rule how to behave ourselves again on the like occasions. We are more prone to complain of evils than to try to cure them, and to censure than to excuse.

It is next to unpardonable that we should so often blame what we will not once mend. It shows that we know, but that we will not do our Master's will.

They that censure, should practise: or we ought to let them have the last stone, as well as the first.

He that will not hear cannot judge, and he that cannot bear contradiction, may, with all his wit, miss the mark. Objections and debate sift out truth, but these need temper as well as judgment.

But above all beware of passion in resentments, for there it is most extravagant.

Never chide for anger, but instruction.

He that corrects another out of passion raises revenge sooner than produces repentance.

Such conduct has more of wantonness than wisdom, and resembles those that eat to please their palate rather than to satisfy their appetite.

This is the difference between a wise man and a weak man; the weak man judges by the lump, the wise man examines the parts and their connexion. The wise man requires more time, but the weak man finds more trouble in the end.

The Greeks used to say, All cases are governed by their circumstances. The same thing may be well or ill as circumstances change the matter.

A man's strength is shown by his bearing.

He that can cheerfully do good, and patiently suffer evil, is a royal character.

TRICK.-Nothing needs a trick but a trick; sincerity loathes

one.

PERSONAL CAUTIONS.-Reflect on thy neighbours' faults without malice, but never without need.

Despise nobody, nor any condition; lest it come to be thine own.

Never rail, nor taunt. The one is rude, the other scornful; and both evil.

Be not provoked by injuries, to commit them.

Upbraid nothing unless it be ingratitude, and that only where thou art sure it dwells.

Mercy Triumphant: or teaching the children of the poor to write on the Sabbath-day proved to be in perfect agreement with the word of God with plain and full answers to all objections urged against the practice by W. Nunn of Manchester, J. A. James of Birmingham, and the Wesleyan Methodist Conference. Published by R. Groombridge, 6, Panyer Alley, Paternoster-Row, London; and may be had from him by all Booksellers.

Published by I. Davis, 22, Grosvenor-street, Stalybridge; Banks and Co., Exchange-street; Heywood, Oldham-street, Manchester; R. Groombridge, 6, Panyer Alley, PaternosterRow, London; and may be had of all Booksellers.

I. DAVIS, PRINTER, STALYBRIDGE.

The reasons which Infidels assign for their opposition to the religion of Christ are, first, that it does mischief in the world, and secondly, that it is founded in falsehood. If Infidels could make good their charges, no one would have any right to blame them; but this they cannot do. On the contrary, their charges are not supported by a single fact, while multitudes of facts are at hand to show that their charges are founded in falsehood and in wickedness. It is my intention to examine these charges, and to prove by facts and arguments which all may understand, that the Infidel's opposition to christianity is altogether inexcusable.

The first charge which Infidels bring against the religion of Christ is, that it does a great deal of mischief in the world. I would observe in the first place, that I have now for a long time had something to do with religion myself, and I have seen something of its effects upon others, but I know nothing of any evil it has done. It has done me no harm. It has