to the death of the father of this family, that I made the following observations from the pulpit. "Another means of grace is to be found in an attention to the ordinances of our religion, and in a regular attendance on the house of God on the Sabbath-day. It is only a due tribute of respect to departed worth, and an incentive to others, to go and do likewise,' to mention here the example and custom of one, who has very lately departed from this world, and who as a fellow-parishioner was well known to most persons who now hear me. It will not be forgotten how regular and constant was the attendance of the family of which he was the father at the house of God, every sabbath-day. Be the weather what it might there was that Christian family in their place, and seeming to think, with the Psalmist, 'I was glad when they said unto me, we will go to the house of God." This indeed was their never-failing practice, till absolute and lamented inability prevented them, a silent, but severe reproof to some who are happy to seize any plea as an excuse for neglecting the homage due to their Almighty Benefactor, and to others, who, though they may be present in His house of prayer, are yet ready to exclaim, with the persons mentioned in the eighth chapter of the book of the Prophet Amos, and the fifth verse, Oh when will the Sabbath be gone that we may set forth wheat? Does any one suppose that an acquaintance with God to be obtained by such means is unproductive of good? Oh far! very far from the truth is such a supposition. True are the words I have taken for my text, acquaint thyself with God, and be at peace, thereby good shall come unto thee.' (Job xxii. 21.) The religious family is sure to be the happiest, even in this world. Religion makes parents happy, contented and thankful,—it makes children dutiful and obedient. To the former, in the loss of a dear child, it offers this comfort, that they have surrendered one who has been a blessing to his earthly parents, to a Heavenly Father, who will recompense him with joys, which this life cannot afford; to the latter, when they mourn for the death of the loved authors of their existence and great indeed must be such a sorrow-there is always a balm in the consoling reflection, that they have observed that

1835.] THE BUYERS AND SELLERS IN THE TEMPLE. 153 commandment on the keeping of which the first blessing was promised by the God of Israel; they look not indeed for length of days in this vale of mingled misery and happiness as their best reward, but through the merits of their Saviour, they hope for an eternity of joy together with their friends, who have departed hence in the Lord, in that blessed "land which the Lord their God shall give them." W. M. S. M.

THE BUYERS AND SELLERS IN THE TEMPLE.

LUKE xix. 45. He went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought. Such acts as we here read of, men are not and cannot now be guilty of; but if the buyer and seller can neither bring cattle nor money into the church (which is our temple), they can bring there what is equally offensive to God, their thoughts about worldly traffic and earthly concerns. Instead of considering the sacred place they are in, and the purposes for which alone they ought to have entered it, they may, by their careless, inattentive conduct, cast contempt upon it: instead of giving their minds to spiritual things, they may be in thought buying or selling, bargaining or making profit, working or idling, and thus be profaning the house of God. Men are betrayed into sin by setting their affections too strongly on worldly concerns,-on matters perfectly lawful, and even praiseworthy in themselves, but which, when pursued too far, and too eagerly, are often allowed to interfere with, and perhaps to set aside, those higher con-cerns which it ought to be the main duty and object of our lives to attend to. "Six days," says the commandment, "shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do." Diligence, and needful attention to our worldly affairs, is thus positively enjoined us as a duty,-but very apt are men to make this duty an occasion of sin: eager and intent upon their calling, and with a view to promote their worldly interests, they allow themselves to attend to some of their temporal concerns on the Lord's-day, seldom, and perhaps unwillingly at first, as remembering it to be! sinful. By degrees, however, these better feelings wear away; the trespass is committed oftener and more boldly;

what was at first done, only now and then, comes to be practised as a matter of custom and right; more and more of the Sabbath is taken, holy ground is further and further trespassed upon, till in the end, the Lord's right is set aside and trampled down, without blush and without shame. The market itself is not perhaps attended, but the business of the market is either prepared for, or looked back upon. The work of the week, if not actually done, is thought of,-is laid out in the mind. The house of prayer is not altogether neglected, but it is entered with a mind crowded with weekly thoughts and weekly business; and thus, the Lord's temple and the Lord's Sabbath are treated with contempt; his honour is insulted, and the habitation of his holiness defiled. If any of you are conscious that you do not treat the house of God, or the day of God, with that holy reverence, and undivided respect which He looks for, let me intreat you to consider your ways; you are fallen into a depth of sin, without, perhaps, being aware of it: you are like one of those money-changers, profaning the temple of the Lord, and he may come as suddenly upon you, as He did upon them; but, remember, in a far more awful manner. When He does come, it will not be, as we read of Him in the Gospel of St. John, with a scourge of small cords, (John ii. 15.) " but his fan" will be in his hand," with which he "will throughly purge his floor," separate "the chaff from the wheat," and drive out the ungodly from his presence for ever.Rev. Francis Lear. Original Family Sermons. Part 28.

THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS.

Matt. xxv. 32.

THE Judge of the whole earth is likened to a shepherd, who, when he driveth his flock to the fold for the night, separateth the sheep from the goats, parting each kind into a different pen; because, though they may feed quietly in a large field, yet crowded in a fold, the goats would not agree with the sheep. The Judge, therefore, separateth the good from the evil, because, though, like

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the wheat and tares in the same field, they may live together in this world, without more annoyance to the good, than may be necessary to exercise their faith and patience, and perfect their graces and virtues; yet, when they come to be settled for eternity, it is necessary that a separation should be made. The good and the wicked can have no joy in each other; and, besides, nothing unclean and unholy can enter into the kingdom of heaven. The Shepherd easily maketh a true distinction between the sheep and the goats; and with still greater ease does the great Judge of the world, by his knowledge of the hearts of all men, make a true and exact distinction between the good and the wicked. He will set the good on his right hand and the wicked on his left.

Now to understand this expression of the right hand and the left, I will explain to you what the practice of the Jewish courts of justice was, in criminal causes. When the judges had heard the accusation against the prisoners, and the evidence by which it was supported, and also his defence, he was removed from the court, till they had considered all circumstances for and against him, and had settled the judgment they would give. The criminal was then brought into court for the last time. If the judgment of the court was favourable, and he was to be acquitted, he was placed on the right hand of his judges; but if he was to receive the sentence of condemnation he was set on their left hand.-Bishop Seabury's Sermon on the General Judgment.

ECONOMY OF TIME.

IT is not to be believed how much those people will be found to have gained at the end of the year, who are accustomed to work up all the little odd ends and remnants of leisure; who value time even more than money; and who are convinced that minutes are no more to be wasted than pence. Nay, he who finds he has wasted a shilling, may by diligence hope to fetch it up again, but no repentance or industry, can ever bring back one wasted hour.-Mrs. Hannah More.

IN the Alps, in Switzerland, about eight thousand feet above the level of the sea, is the convent of St. Bernard. The mountain on which it is built rises still three thousand feet higher than that part on which the convent stands. These high mountains are, on the upper parts, covered with snow, which causes the passing over them to be attended at times with great danger. The monks who live in the convent are celebrated for their hospitality, affording food and shelter to the travellers who have occasion to pass over these desolate regions: and they have opportunities of saving many a poor wanderer from perishing in the snow. "The office of these monks, of whom there are always eight at the hospital, is to receive all travellers, without distinction of rank or nation, and to entertain them gratis for three days, should they need to stay so long. Travellers in easy circumstances generally put something into the poor box in the chapel, which is employed for the purpose of feeding those who are not able to pay anything. In foggy and tempestuous weather the monks go out with their servants, in all directions, to give relief