minds, which they had not before world, and it is eertain we can received, and they possessed a carry nothing out. Such is the faith, before which every peril or language of the gospel on the temptation, threatening or allure. subject of the pursuit of wealth. ment vanished into air, and With respect to its possession left them in full view of a hea- and use, its language is also as venly world, an everlasting in. perfectly temperate and rational. heritance for the righteous.

It does not send us to the sea, A second reflection on the gen. like some of the ancient philosoerosity of this primitive church, phers, to throw our wealth into is, that it was an early, fair, and the waves--por does it require important exhibition of the gen- us to hoard or to lavish the abunerous spirit of Christianity, and dance with which we may be fathe kind of value which our re. vored; but we are cominanded to ligion allows us to affix to our minister to the necessities of worldly possessions. We do not others; to give to him that ask. say that this generosity was per. eth of us, and from him who fectly unexampled in the world, would borrow of us not to turn but this we may say, it was the away;—as it becomes those who very spirit and essence of Chris- believe themselves pot the lords tianity.

of these possessions, but the stew. The precepts and the spirit of ards of him who gives them all Christianity are altogether gen- things richly to enjoy; for acerous, and hostile to the avaricecording to our religion, a well of possessions.-Not only does it bestowed benefit is a treasure of forbid every species of injustice, hope, which thieves capuot plunbut warns us against an ardent der, nor misfortunes diminish, pursuit of these perishable goods. nor moth nor rust corrupt. In And from what considerations? our acts of charity, Christianity Truly, because we cannot serve requires undissembled goud will. God and

-and the It teaches us that the hope of cares of this world, and the de- · recompense or reputation core ceitfulness of riches. enter in and rupts our bounty; That ils accepchoke the word, and no fruit is tableness with God is lost when brought to perfection; because these interested motives mingle the solicitude of aequiring and with the act. To encourage us preserving wealth is always at- to the most disinterested and tended with a thrall and a tor- generous kindness, it promises a ment, which impairs and cor- special care of those who observe rupts the

very

satisfactions ex., these laws of benevolence. It pected from its possession-and leaves to Christians none of those sufficient unto the day is the excuses whicb we are ready to evil thereof;-because, in fine, make for neglect of duty, but on those things which nature de. the contrary, points to the ra. mands are few, easily acquired, vens which are fed, and the lila and unexpensive-for godliness ies which are clothed by a kind with contentment is great gain- Providence, that knoweth we we brought nothing into this have need of all these things.

mammon

Such is the language of our If I were to enter into the reg. religion on the subject of wealth.

sons for munificence, I might sugAnd did not these primitive gest to the rich, that many are Christians understand their re- now struggling with poverty and ligion? Did they not show the distress, who are more deserving power of it more effectually by of God's favors than themselves. their generosity and their mutu- I might ask whether we can enal affection, than the most sol. joy with any satisfaction that emn and reiterated professions superabundance which we might could have done?

easily spare for the relief of What remains then but to show those who really need it. I ourselves worthy of this primi. might ask whether our wealth tive community, this parent stock has not already led us into luxof Christians? Let it not be sus. ury, sensuality, pride and hardpected, that after eighteen cen- heartedness and whether turies, we understand less of the

can better check this tendency, spirit of our religion than the or better make amends for our poor Jews of Jerusalem; or that past defects, than by consecratwe have less confidence in our ing a larger portion than erer Christianity, than the first con

to the relief of the poor. I might verts. If the circumstances of go still further and ask, whether our times do not require the same we are all entirely satisfied with provision by a common stock for the means or the spirit, by which the poor, yet, our religion de.

we have risen to our present af. mands the same spirit, and our fluence; and if not, how shall we faith can be as well proved by better repair these mistakes or the nature of our generosity, atone for our rapacity, thin by though it may not be so publicly distributing to the wants of God's exhibited.

poor children?

we

B.

ALFRED AND SIGBERT.

(Concluded from page 89.) Sigbert afterwards appears in the presence of the king as a penitent. Sigbert. My long lost Prince! my master! have I found

Thee, Alfred! oh my king? thy fearful frown
At any other moment I might shun,
Yet now I heed it not, to see again

My long-lost Lord.
Alfred. -Peace be thine!
Sigbert. -My master, pardon me!

And with my weakness, bear a little space,
That I may tell my grief. To name the pain,
This breast hath felt, since thou didst hid me go
An outcast and a murderer; I would fain,
But cannot. Oh, my king, this heart is sad!
I from a guilty conscience have endured

a

Anguish so terrible, and past the power
Of words to tell, that how a heart can bear
A load so vast, I knew not till this hour.

Pardon me, Monarch!
Alfred. Sigbert! remember, I am man, not God;

He must the deed forgive!
Sigbert. Most truly! And by wrestling fervently.

His ear hath heard my prayer; and I have faith
That pardon'd in the Almighty's eye I stand.

Do thou forgive me!
Alfred.

I do!
I chid thee, but to teach how harder far
To bear heaven's chiding. Now thy mind is chang'd
And thou dost see how mutable the man,
Who on himself doth rest, when the hour comes,

Of sore temptation—I am yet thy friend.
Sigbert. Monarch, my heart is thine! but to my words

Thou must not look for recompense. Declare,
Oh king! how I may shew my gratitude,
And if I do not shew it, trust not mand-
His vow is vain.

Alfred.

My time,
Important duties claim, but I will stay,
Albeit unwise, one moment to bestow
A passing word, with meek austerity:-
Ask of the world's great Author, to subdue
All evil in thy heart, but chiefly, wrath-
The source of ills unnumber'd, which, around
Spreads direful burdens-making hell of earth,
And fiends of men. Sigbert! 'tis well to know
This shadowy world, this transient state of being,
But ill deserves of man, the sacrifice
Anger requires. What is there here on earth
To rouse our spirits? What below the sky
Worthy a creature's wrath! Few are our days,
And all our little evils, sent to cleanse
Our wayward minds and faculties from dross,
Debasing, and unworthy that high name-
The sons of God. Precious to heaven, is he,
Who sees in mortal things, their real worth
And looks beyond them! Here on earth we sow,
After we reap the fruit. The race is here,
The prize hereafter. Here the ocean raves,
There is our haven. And that man shall find,
Who through this howling wilderness preserves
Spotless his mind, and in a tainted world
Holds converse with his Maker; sees how great
The worth of holiness, and truly knews
How to respect himself, and to preserve
God's temple pure;-that man shall surely find

Life's evils fleeting, and his mind prepared
Vol. IV. No. 3.

15

For that fruition, full, unspeakable
God hath reserv'd above.

Thou hast slain
A pleading man! I would forget the deed
For, in thy countenance, methinks I see,
Contrition; that-to God! and for thy kind
And many services, I hold thee dear.
As once I told thee, now I tell the same
Thou shalt not war! Profession thou hast made
Of bol.ness and of devoted heart
To holy ways-flee then the avenging sword!'
If wars must coine-if human blood must flow
Let those who never bote the Teacher's name
Stand forth and combai! but the God we serve,
In most peculiar way, his ministers

Requires to dwell in peace.
Sigbert. As the tall tree catches the sun's last beam,

Wijen all beside is darkness, so may 1,
When seath draws near, on king, remember thee,
And these thy words! My heart indeed is fill'd
With lasting gratitu le. Thy mild rebuke
On this my mind flashes conviction's light,
And for thy precepts, I am neaier heaven.
I see my frailty, I perceive how wrati),
And most full hatred, to the instruments
God hath seen fit to use, hath fill'd my mind.
Th’ Almighty Father asks but penitence
From us bis children, and for these my crimes,
That would I feel I am an alter'd man.
„Point but the path thy servant should pursue,
And he will seek it from this hour, and strive
'To merit thine applause-to copy thee.

ON INTEMPERANCE.

No. 2.

it is acquired; till what was at It was proposed, first, to con- first received with indifference, sider the causes of intemperance. if not with reluctance, is sought

The most prevalent of these, with avidity. it is believed, is the habit of con. There is great danger, that sidering ardent spirits necessary such persons will proceed to exin all cases of manual labor. cess. Accordingly we find, that

Accordingly almost all, who immense numbers are not conare thus employed, are accustom. tent with the stated seasons of ed, from early life, to drivk .pir- drinking, nor with moderate ituous liquors, at least twice a day. quantities of the delicious poiIt requires some practice to be- But by free indulgence come ieconciled to the nauseous they excite an unnatural thirst, potion. By degrees a relish for which continually iinpels them

to excess.

to gratify it; and this very grat- also been amply proved, that ification serves only to increase men, working in damp places, the demands of appetite. If this are more likely to preseive health propensity be not seasonably and ever to remain comfortable, checked, it invariably leads to without than with the use of ar. in emperance.

dent spirits. Away then with This vice is sometimes con- the false muxims of the intem. tracted by regarding ardent spi. perale, who,, in every state of rits, as a safeguard from the the atmosphere, and on all occa. bad effects of the weather. How sions, can readily find a pretext many, for example, think them for the indulgence of their durselves justified in taking a dou- ling appetite. ble portion of spiriluous liquors, The free use of spirits at con. when they are exposed to the vivial meetings is a powerful wet or the cold? Ou these oc- inceptive to intemperance. The casions, some, who are temper. love of strong anak never talis ate at other times, indulge them- to multiply such assemblages; selves in drinking too freely. and, when convened where pro But it has long since been de. ituous liquors are at hand, it is monstrated, that such a practice too common io indulge in them greatly increases, instead of less

Hence the great dan. ening their danger. In proof of ger, to which they are unavoidthis, a striking fact occurred, ably exposed, who loiter about near the commencement of the taverns, and places, where arrevolutionary war. In a driving dent spirits are vended. Perstorm of snow, a large vessel B0018 may frequent such places with many hands on board was merely to hear ihe news of the wreeked in our bay. Most of day, or to pass away time, which them were enabled to reach the

hangs heavily upon them. But shore. The weather

few instances, it is believed, can cessively cold. No human hab. be produced, of those, who are itation was in view; and there habitually and unnecessarily at was but little prospect of pre- such places, without contracting,

, serving life, unless aid could be

to a greater or less degree, an immediately obtained. Several inordinate love of strong drink. casks of ardent spirits were drive A false notion of generosiły, en on shore. Those, who con- wbich prevails within the haunts sidered such liquors, as preserva- of intemperance, is also favora. tives from the weather, partook ble to this vice. Many people freely of them. The more judi.

seldom meet a friend at a tavero, cious drank nothing, but cold wa• but they feel bound, even without ter. It has been confidently as- the least occasion, to invite him serted, that the lives of the lat. to drink. This produces from ter' were preserved, while the him a like return; and it is former perished with the cold. thought uosocial to refuse the Many instances of a similar inebriating draught, although in. kind might be produced. It has toxication should be the result.

was

ex