Let this call of the New Year awaken to manly courage and holy labour; and if its close should find thee habited in thy shroud, motionless in death, it will tell of thee that thou hast not lived in vain. Dwell near the cross, live close by the merey seat; gain your holiest inspirations there, and your Christian manliness will bear clusters of richest fruit.

1. Be manly, as opposed to childishness.-They are quite at opposite points. Paul says, “When I became a man, I put away childish things.” Well would it be if many of the professed “successors of the apostles” would imitate him here. The childishness of the Popish priest, who advertises for some kind friend to give him a “handsome cope,” and implores the benevolence because 'tis so needed, and promises to interest the Holy Mother of God in the donor's welfare,-the childish baubles of wax candles on the altar, or peculiar sacerdotal vestments,-or the old traditionary practices, sometimes seen in our Nonconforming churches, urged by the powerful plea, “ Well, for years that has been the practice of our church,”-all these belong to the age of childishness. Young men, be you manly; repudiate all toys in connection with the religion which you profess and avow. The religion of the gospel, the profession of the Saviour's name, is a manly, a rigbt manly and noble thing. Reveal your manliness by conforming your practices to the directions of the inspired volume, and not to the musty traditions of bygone days.

2. Be manly, as opposed to all sham or pretence.--Nothing is more unmanly, nothing more opposed to true manliness, than pretence; to try and appear what we are not; to boast of courage whilst we are trembling with cowardice; to denounce sin in words while we hold parley with it in our hearts. And yet fidelity compels us to confess that there is much pretence nestling under the name of religion. Many, it is to be feared, enter the ministry for a “living," who themselves know not God, nor Jesus Christ, whom he has sent. A member of a church attends the weekly prayer-meeting; he prays, and in that prayer thanks God who “has given us the unspeakable privilege of attending his house ;”- this privilege has been offered him every week for the last six months, but he has never been once there during that time; what is this but pretence ? A young man attends a tea and public meeting for Sunday-school objects ; he is asked to speak,consents,-avows his intense joy in being a Sabbath-school teacher,- would rather teach a class of young people from God's own book, than fill any of the high offices of state! The superintendent's book shows him absent as much as seven Sabbaths in the quarter. These illustrations might be multiplied ; these are sufficient. Young men, you will reject and scorn such pretences. You will say, “ Is it thus that God is to be honoured, the world saved, and Christ glorified ?” You will “show a more excellent way," and be manly.

3. Be manly, as opposed to false shame.-How solemn those words of our Divine Lord, whose banner we bear, “ Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he shall come in his own glory, and the glory of the

Father and of the holy angels,” There is a wide line of difference between the boastful utterance of our views and the manly avowal of our convictions. The pompous words of the Pharisee become not the follower of the meek and lowly Saviour. But there are periods when to be silent is cowardice, to be ashamed is treason. Three young men in latest style of fashionable dress are in a railway carriage : mentally, they are overgrown babes. Whatever topic they converse on reveals the shallowness of their knowledge ; surface men are they,-most shallow,-vapid. At length they mention the subject of religion, only to pour scorn on it, to contemn its Lord, and to scoff at its followers. In the same compartment sit two other passengers ; young men, too. They have for some time avowed the Saviour, and are helping by their personal effort his holy cause. Their cheeks crimson as they hear the frothy conversation of these men in stature, babes in kuowledge ; but they never utter one word in a way of defence or rebuke. Oh ! cruel love ! oh! weak cowardice! Second only to the “vain conversation” of the three is the guilty silence of the two! If the cordial belief of the truth, and embrace of the gospel,-if to live a life of faith on the Son of God,-if to be found in the ranks of the ransomed, ourselves ransomed, too-be a manly thing, then in the name of all that is dear, holy, undying, stand up in its defence, when witlings scorn and impious men blaspheme.

4. Be manly, as opposed to worship of intellect.-Sometimes we hear men talk as though to be a Christian was the lowest style of man, and the practice of godliness at best but miserable infatuation. They speak as though there were no proofs of intelligence amongst the people of God. They have never read or heard of the fact that some of the noblest natures and most gifted minds, which God ever formed and endowed, were men who bowed in holiest allegiance to the Saviour ; and that no jewel shines in their crown with the imperishable lustre as that of Christian. “Be ye not like unto them.” Let your practice reveal to such, let your daily life commend this fact, that there is nothing which so dignifies, ennobles, renders illustrious a man, as the loving embrace and cordial avowal of the Gospel of the Son of God.

“It makes the coward spirit brave,

And nerves the feeble arm for fight;
It takes the terror from the grave,

And gilds the bed of death with light." Sin is the madness, the suicide of the soul; scepticism is the height of folly; the life spent in worldliness is squandered ; and the ungodly man is a bankrupt in soul, and, dying so, will be a bankrupt for ever and ever. Christian intelligence, employed in searching the Scriptures, devising schemes of Christian usefulness, walking in the narrow way, and guiding fellow-travellers in the same path,-is súrrounded by a halo of divine and eternal light and joy, and raises its possessor even here to the very verge of heaven-the precincts of the throne of God. But he has never known the true value of intellect, or used it well, who has never consecrated it to the blest service and work of redeeming love.

5. Be maniy, as opposed to slothfulness.—The slothful man fears both labour and difficulty. “There is a lion in the way ; I shall be slain in the streets." Enter a mercantile or banking house in London or any great town. See sixty to two hundred men at their respective desks ; the most of them are young men : no triflers, no drones, no slumberers, are there ; all are awake, all are busy,-it is earnest, active life. “Now, they do it to obtain a corruptible, but we an incorruptible crown.” And yet, are there not many of our young men, members of our churches, rescued from sin, ransomed from death, bought with a price, who are doing nothing in active personal service for God? They are slumbering at their posts ; and this whilst the church is awakening, and God is pouring out his Spirit on many portions of this globe ; and the gracious showers, we trust are nearing us, and hundreds, yea, thousands of Christians are praying, waiting, expecting the fulfilment of the promise, “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.” Surely this is not the hour for sleep! The sun is high in the heavens, noontide is hasting on; we are on the eve of vast and wondrous changes, -all else is wakeful, active, earnest, and all shall “turn out to the furtherance of the gospel.” “Every man to his tent, O Israel.” “ Who is on the Lord's side, who ?" We must rise in all the ardour and vigour of manhood, or we dishonour ourselves, and yet more our Lord.

6. Be manly, as opposed to a miserable contractedness, a guilty selfishness.--Breathing his spirit who prayed, “Grace be with all them that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth,' and yet more his Divine Spirit, whose “great commission” is, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,” let us go forth. Be firm as a rock in the maintenance of your Christian principles, and full as an ocean in the flow of Christian love. Looking on man as man, man in his guilt, man in his misery, man in sin, without God, hasting to ruin,-go forth with an eye of pity, a hand of effort, and a heart of love, anointed with the Holy Ghost; and, with the energy of those who seek to rescue men from the burning pile, seek in the strength of the Lord to save souls from death.

Oh! young men, whose eyes may light on this paper, we beseech you in the earnestness of affectionate entreaty, let this New Year find you manly, more manly than ever, in all the features of right noble Christian manliness. Let it be a year of unwonted zeal, a zeal which has kindled its torch at the cross of Christ, and is fed by fire from heaven. By all the quenchless love of a dying Saviour, and the quenchless lustre of a crown of glory, enter into the service of the Lord, and labour in it manfully; and then thou shalt finally enter into the joy of the Lord, and be for ever with him in the divine manliness of heaven's unending service and undying worship.

“Arise, for this matter belongeth to you.” May you have “understanding of the times to know what İsrael ought to do.”

King's Lynn.

Tales and Sketches.

penny.”

THE LOST BRACELET.

| ful that Cod had given her such a

happy home. She had not removed A NEW YEAR'S TALE.

her hat and cloak when she heard her “Just one penny, if you please, husband's step in the hall, and, with ma'am.”

a smile and a kiss, she met him at It was the day before the end of the door. the year, and late in the afternoon “Why, Kate, low tired you look ; a beautiful and richly-dressed lady have you done a great deal of walking was walking up the street with her to-day?" arms laden with brown-paper parcels. Kate blushed and smiled, but deHundreds of people were hurrying ception was not a part of her natur, along, jostling each other as they and she replied, “Yes, Henry, I passed up and down the crowded walked all the way home.” thoroughfare; but her bright, happy “You shouldn't have done that," face was like a ray of sunlight in the said he, a little reproachfully; and gathering darkness of the winter then he laughed as he continued : afternoon; and the owner of the “Did you spend all your money, so clattering shoes that had been fol that you couldn't afford a sixpence lowing her some distance took cou-| to ride home with ?” rage from its sweet expression, and “Well, I suppose I must tell,” put up its modest plea for “just one said Kate, with another blush. “I

did have just one sixpence left, and It was a low, pleading voice, was going to ride, when such a poor scarcely audible in the noise and little girl --" bustle around; yet the lady heard it, “Yes, that's it, I know what's for she turned and looked an instant coming. Why, Kate, you make the at the little creature before her. Her very mischief among the poor people scanty garments were a poor pro- and my pennies; they are the most tection from the frosty air, and her ungrateful set in the world.” gloveless hands and pale face looked ; “But,” said Kate, earnestly, “she blue and pinched with the cold; her was such a delicate, half-clothed, and, miserable hood had fallen on her I am afraid, half-starved little streetshoulders, and a pair of eloquent sweeper eyes looked up into the lady's face, “Street-sweeper!” and her huswhile, with her little stumpy broom, band held up his hands in mockshe swept the crossing.

horror; “why, Kate, they pick up "Never mind,” said she to herself, I handfuls of money in a day; and did “I can walk home, this poor little you walk home, and give one a whole thing needs this more than I do;" sixpence? Oh, oh, what won't your and she dropped into the open palm innocent little heart do next?” before her the only sixpence left. Kate bore this quizzing very well, “There, child, a happy new year to | and was about to reply, when, on you,” she said, in a sweet, sympa passing her hand up her arm, she exthising voice, which made the tears claimed suddenly, "Oh, Henry, my come into the dark eyes of the little bracelet is gone-your gift last newgirl as she tried to thank her.

year's day-what shall I do? where It was a long walk that the lady can I have lost it?” had before her, and the omnibuses “That is too bad,” said he, thoughtrattled along with a provoking empty fully; but the next moment he conseat or two inside ; but her heart was tinued, shrugging up his shoulders light and happy with the little sacri mischievously: "Maybe some honest fice which she had made, and just as person has picked it up." Seeing the the iets of gas began to blaze out of the

tears come into his wife's eyes at this windows she reached'her home. She speech, he put his arm around her had been married only a short time, and kissed her, with, “Never mind, and as she looked around her pretty though, I can replace it some time.”. rooms, she felt more than ever grate. ! Her husband, who really loved his

little wife tenderly, took her hand | band's office. Mr. Alair was poring and put something in it, closing the | over his books when Kate rushed in, slender fingers tightly over it, saying, with bright eyes and glowing cheeks, “Don't distress yourself any more and holding up the bracelet before about bracelets and street-sweepers ; his eyes, she exclaimed : “See there, here's your new-year's gift, and the Henry, that's what came of giving next time you go to town get a pretty my sixpence to the street-sweeper.” dress with it.” Kate's hand had 1 Her husband looked up, glad and closed over a note.

surprised, first at seeing her, and The day after new-year's-day, she then because the bracelet was found; was again in the city; and as she was and he listened while she told him of passing by the identical spot where | her interview with the child and her she had given away her sixpence, she mother. “And now, Henry, I am felt her dress pulled gently, and going to ask you if I may do one turning around, she encountered the | thing. I really do not need so nice a same little half-clad girl,

dress as you have given the money “ I'm so glad that you've come, for, and I want to take some of it ma'am," said the child; " you dropped and buy fuel, and lights, and prothis the other day, and I've been visions, for those poor people; they saving it for you ever since;” and had neither coal nor candles, and pulling something out of ber bosom, nothing but a little cold cabbage for she put it into the lady's hand. their dinner.” Hastily unrolling the bit of news | Henry shook his head, but it was paper, Kate saw her bracelet. What a not a very negative shake. “Nobody triumph for herself and for Henry ! can resist you, Kate,” said he, smil“Thank you, thank you, my child,” | ing, “and you may do as you please she exclaimed, taking the little bare | with the money." Kate thanked hand in hers.

him with her moistened eyes more “I tried to find you that day," said than with her voice; and as the door the child, “but you went out of sight | closed after her, Henry said to himso soon that I couldn't;" and, with a self, “There goes an angel; and if bright face, she continued : “I want | ever that text, 'He that giveth to to thank you, and my mother wants | the poor shall not lack,' was meant to thank you too; for I didn't get a | for anybody, it was for her." penny all that day until I saw you, | The little girl's mother did not get and that sixpence bought the medi | well again ; but before she died Kate cine which is going to make her get | told her about Jesus, and won her to

love and trust him, soothing her last Kate's eyes glistened as she heard moments with comforting, cheering this, and thought of the temptation words. Even little Jane she taught to ride home that God had helped her to say, with faith, “When my father to resist. “Take me with you to and mother forsake me, then the your mother,” she said, still holding Lord will take me up." the girl's hand; such honesty and By-and-by Mr. and Mrs. Alair took thankfulness shall not go unre. little Jane, now an orphan, to live warded."

with them ;' and if there was one It was a pretty long walk, but they grace more than another that Kate finally reached the house, in the prayed the child might have, it was basement of which the little girl that of charity; for Jane's growing lived. A pale, sickly woman was beauty of character, and her constant lying on a bed in the single room gratitude, proved a continual rewhich they occupied; but she looked minder to her generous benefactress up eagerly as she heard her child's of that sweet lesson of our Saviour's voice say, “Here, mother, the beau. | -“It is more blessed to give than to tiful lady is come herself." Kate sat receive." down by the bedside and lent her ear to a tale of want and privation of which she had never dreamed ; and,

DREAMING AND DOING. leaving what little pocket money shé ! ARTHUR ARCHER and Luke Linger had with her, she promised to see her were cousins, and were both of the again ; then she started for her hus. samc age. They went to the same

well.”