1835.] QUESTIONS TO MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. 47 them might give the public reason to think otherwise. I was conversing lately with a dissenting minister, who told me that he lamented bitterly the line taken by some of the body to which he belonged, which appeared to him calculated to destroy the spiritual character of Dissenters, and to show an hostility to the Established Church, which was by no means felt by the majority of their body. "Sir," he said, "I need not trouble you with my reasons for being a Dissenter. I am thankful that I live in a country, where we are allowed, without molestation, to follow the dictates of our own conscience, in our method of public worship; but, I do say, that, so far from wishing to disturb the Church of England, I should think that whatever were done to shake her influence would be the greatest affliction that could happen to this nation. The Church is chiefly paid from portions of property left in former days by the wealthy possessors of the soil:-but, even if the expense were paid out of the present resources of the country, a government would be without excuse which should neglect to provide for regular service on every sabbath-day in every parish in the kingdom. Sir, if an Established Church were not supplied, there would soon be an end of the regular observance of the Sabbath. I feel deeply the misery which would then spread itself throughout the country, the wretched state to which poor country villages would be reduced, the comforts lost, the wants experienced, the bad morals encouraged. There would, indeed, be still active and pious Churchmen, and active and pious Dissenters, who would do all they could; but, in that state of things, their exertions would meet with great checks, and would produce, in comparison, very little effect. QUESTIONS TO MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. Y. HAD ever any of you a well of water near your houses,the daily supply of your wants, but which, from constantly resorting to as a thing of course, you thought little of, till one day the old wall which fenced it in was pushed down by some evil-minded persons, and so choked up the bottom, that your supply of water was cut off:-what then did you say y? In distress and vexation did you not exclaim, "Ah! had I but taken care of, and shown some regard for my invaluable well, how great a loss, and how much trouble and regret should I not have been spared now!" If you felt thus at the loss of a well, what would not your distress be at the loss of your CHURCH, which is indeed a well to you, supplying you with living water, refreshing your souls, in like manner as your garden-well does your bodies, and springing up into everlasting life! How many have been heard to say, "Ah! now 'tis gone, I begin to feel how valuable this or that article of my daily need was to me !-Now, I know what I have lost!" Take thence a lesson and a warning,-not to overlook the value of the gifts of Providence, while they are yet in your hands, nor suffer yourselves to discover it, only by being deprived of them. Whilst they are your's, know them, acknowledge them, and improve them, as blessings. Not forgetting that the hand which bestows, may also remove them, you will cheerfully and gratefully use them while continued to you; and, if taken away, you will be spared the self-reproach of having undervalued them, whilst in their enjoyment, and will patiently submit to their loss, remembering that they are God's, not your's,-lent to one and taken from another, for ends and purposes best known to His unsearchable wisdom, and best adapted to your good in the state of trial in which He has thought fit to place you. Believe me, your friend and well-wisher, REFLECTIONS ON MATTHEW VI. Look upon the fowls of the air, and learn to trust God for food: disquiet not yourselves with thoughts what you shall eat. They are fed, we know not how; and it is your Heavenly Father that feedeth them. Not a sparrow lights to the ground, to pick up a grain of corn, but by the providence of God, which extends itself to the meanest creatures. But that which is especially observed here is, that they are fed without any anxious care of their own. 1835.] DUTY OF LEADING OTHERS TO THE Gospel. 49 Improve this for your encouragement to trust in God. The heirs of heaven are much better than the fowls of the air, and by faith they soar higher. God is their Maker and Lord, their Owner and Master; but, besides all this, he is your Father; and, in his account, ye are of more value than many sparrows. You are his children; now he that feeds his birds surely will not starve his babes. They trust your Father's Providence,-and will not you trust it? In dependence upon that, they sing among the branches, and, to the best of their power, praise their Creator. If we were, by faith, as little disturbed about the morrow as they are, we should sing as cheerfully as they do; worldly care damps our joy, and silences our praise as much as any thing. Look upon the lilies, and learn to trust God for raiment. So much concerned are many for gaiety and variety in their dress, that this care returns almost as often as that for daily bread. To ease us of this care, let us consider the lilies of the field. There is a great deal of good to be learned from what we see every day, if we would but consider it. Prov. vi. 6. Sent by E. D. THE DUTY OF LEADING OTHERS TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOSPEL. EVERY one who is sensible of God's mercy in having given him the blessed Gospel, will heartily desire and pray, that this mercy may be spread to all, far and near; and, for this great blessing we do pray, as often as we say, in the words of our Lord "Thy kingdom come;" and accordingly we are bound to use our best endeavours in this good and glorious cause. The knowledge of grace and salvation, which God has given us, we should diligently give to others, as opportunity serves. In our own families, at least, and amidst our friends and neighbours, we may often do much; the very poorest may thus render great and good service to the Gospel. And all have the benefit of our prayers, "all sorts and conditions of men," the proud heathen, the blinded Jew, the heedless, hard-hearted sinner; that God will be pleased to "make His ways known unto them," and to turn their hearts that they may be saved, together with may us. And let us beseech the Lord to add yet this to all His other mercies, that we may have grace to be thankful, and to serve Him in holy fear, and holy love, that so He may be "Our own God." Let us beseech Him, "to put His laws into our minds, and write them in our hearts; and He will be to us a God, and we shall be to Him a people." Heb. viii. 10.-From the Rev. James Slade's Explanation of the Psalms, Ps. lxvii. THE SLUGGARD'S GARDEN. MY COTTAGE FRIENDS, I HAVE often remarked, that poor people are fond of buying printed sheets and books, of trampers, some of which contain wonderful histories, and some, I fear, still more mischievous trash: these not only take good money out of the pocket, but put bad thoughts into the mind! Now, as most people love a story, I will give you one. In a certain parish were two cottage gardens; the soil was the same, and both enjoyed a favourable aspect. The owner of the first was a sober industrious man, who employed all his leisure time in cultivating his garden, which flourished, and produced abundantly. The garden of his neighbour was equally capable of being made profitable, but its owner cared little about it, and spent his time in evil company and drinking, and it was truly "the garden of the sluggard," mentioned by Solomon. This man fell sick, and having spent his wages at the beer-shop, was in great distress: none of his profligate acquaintance came near him, and he would have perished miserably, had it not been for the good minister, whom in his cups he had often reviled. He visited him, and sent him medicine and food; and the man recovered: the minister admonished him to "forsake his evil ways." The man promised fair, and began to work in his garden; his neighbour assisted him, and gave him plants, but he fell in with his old companions, and returned to his former bad habits. His garden was neglected, and his time and money spent in wicked company: the weeds sprang up and smothered the young plants, and sheltered 1835.] THE SLUGGARD'S GARDEN. 51 toads, snakes, and venomous creatures, one of which stung him, and which (his blood being inflamed by hard drinking) occasioned his death. My friends, this little tale affords a true picture of the human mind. Though, like the soil, it may differ in quality in different persons, it is capable of improvement in all; and, if properly cultivated, will produce the fruit of useful and religious knowledge; but, if neglected, it will be overrun with the weeds of idleness and sin, and harbour those poisonous vices which will bring down the wrath of Heaven. "From our tenderest age we have wrong inclinations, and this shows the necessity of timely instruction in piety and virtue'." To afford the children of the poor these advantages, the higher orders of society, assisted by the ministers of the Gospel, are earnest in their exertions, and liberal in their contributions. Charity Schools are founded and supported at great expense, to teach children not only their duties as Christians, but to make them useful members of society, and to enable them to earn their living in the state of life in which God has placed them. Their education is carefully superintended, and their good conduct and improvement liberally rewarded, by their kind benefactors. But, like the garden which was neglected after having been planted, vain will be the instructions received in school, if the parents pay no attention to the conduct of their children at home! As the plants were smothered by weeds, so will all which is learned be lost in idleness and evil habits; and the hearts of those parents, who neglect to watch over the conduct of their children, will be bitterly stung by their wickedness, if they suffer them to fall into sin. Let this warn you, my Cottage Friends, of the sin and ingratitude of neglecting and undervaluing the blessing of religious and useful education bestowed on your children, by the charity and kindness of those who are the real friends of the poor. Do not defeat their labours, and destroy the present and future welfare of your children: 1 Secker's Lectures on the Church Catechism. |