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Juvenile Department.

AN ADDRESS TO

YOUTH;

OCCASIONED BY READING

MATT. XXIV. 42-44.

"Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord doth come,"

&c. &c.

THIS, my dear young friends, is a season which, perhaps, more than any other, calls for serious reflection. The year is about to close; and it is highly probable that before the ensuing year is ended, many who shall read this address will be in eternity. What inquiries then can be of so great importance as the following?

"Am I prepared for an eternal world? What will become of me when time shall be no longer?' Have I seen my lost state, as a sinner? and have I fled to Christ as the only refuge? Oh! it is a solemn thought, that 'In such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh!' How important then that we seek the Lord while it is called to-day. If we are brought to repent of sin, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation; if the life we live in the flesh be by faith on the Son of God, we need not fear, even though death should come unawares; for in Christ we are safe; having him for our friend, we need not fear the worst of enemies:-no, not even him who is emphatically styled, The enemy of souls."

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." Safe amidst all the storms that may overtake him in this life; and not only so, but (which is of far more importance,) safe in that storm which shall sweep the wicked down to hell. We are told in the passage on which these remarks are founded, that" if the

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good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up."

Ah! my young friends, it is probable also, if you were assured that this year would be your last, and that ere another should close, your eyes would be closed in death, that you would be more anxious than many of you are, to be prepared for this solemn event. If you knew you had so short a time to live on earth, would you not be more concerned to know what you must do to inherit eternal life? Surely we should hear from many, that most important of all questions, "What must I do to be saved?" O that you may be led to make this inquiry, ere it be too late! It is now said," Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be‍ saved;"—and, “Behold, now is the accepted time! now is the day of salvation!"--But, remember, at the hour of death, your state will be finally fixed; there will be no repentance beyond the grave:-no prayer will avail then! Cries for mercy will no more be heard! It will then be said, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: he that is filthy, let him be filthy still!"

But, Oh! how it will aggravate our case, that recollection will be still alive; that memory will not be extinct in those regions of everlasting wo! For instance in the account recorded in Luke xvi. 25, respecting the rich man and Lazarus, it is said, "Son, remember that thon in thy life-time receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."

When it shall be too late for warnings and entreaties to be of any avail, many will remember the past warnings and exhortations of faithful ministers; and doubtless will be

full of lamentation that they did not | "attend to the things which belonged to their everlasting peace, before they were for ever hid from their eyes."

deared him to all with whom he was acquainted, but to whom the Son of Man came at an hour when he expected him not. The other was a pious clergyman, who, being prepared for death, met the king of terrors with composure and se

It is a solemn thought, that those ministers who have probably, year after year, exhorted some of you torenity. "flee from the wrath to come," may, in the day of judgment, have to say Amen to your condemnation! Once they longed after the salvation of your souls ;-once they exhorted you, and prayed for you;-but you turned a deaf ear to all their entreaties; therefore, when they shall meet you at the bar of God, all they can do will be silently to acquiesce in that awful sentence which will then be pronounced, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels!"

But, Oh! my dear young friends, while there is life, consider these things: "Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found: Call upon him while he is near.' ." "Return unto the Lord, for he will have mercy upon you; and unto our God, for he will abundantly pardon."-Perhaps you will say, How can I come? I answer, Come as the poor publican; who, conscious that he had no merits of his own to plead, but was utterly unworthy, cried, "God be merciful to me a sinner!"-Like him, cast yourselves wholly on the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, and you will not fail to obtain mercy; for he hath said in his word, "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out."

M- A.

THE CONTRAST.

The former was a medical student at a Scotch university. He cried out, "Charles, my friend, eternity! eternity! Whither! O whither, shall I fly?" His friend endeavoured to tranquillize him, by reminding him of his amiable qualities. But, with a bewildered look, he grasped his hand, and replied, "Is there not a righteous Judge, who has denounced eternal death on every sinner who violates his law in a single point? and is there a command which I have not broken? or an offer of mercy which I have not rejected? How then can I escape His wrath who has declared that sinners shall be for ever banished from his presence? Oh, Charles, the world has deceived me, and ruined me for ever. Its votaries endeavoured to infuse infidel principles into my mind.

Believe me, Charles, a depraved heart is the only solid objection to the contents of the Bible." The remainder of his discourse was expressive of the greatest wretchedness. He exhorted his friend to hasten to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world; and concluded with these words, "Turn from your unhappy friend, who is about to appear at the bar of that Being, who, to every despiser of his salvation, is a consuming fire." About midnight he entered an eternal world.

The night before the clergyman died, he said to his friends, amongst many other things, "I am happy in the prospect of death. Though my I HAVE been lately reading a four- family at this time want a father's penny pamphlet by the Rev. Mr. care, yet with Christ I can confiUpton, on the utility of Bible Asso-dently trust my soul, my family, and ciations, addressed to the inhabitants of the parish wherein he resides. It contains a number of anecdotes, amongst which are accounts of the death of two very different persons. One of them was an amiable young man, whose affable manners and highly-cultivated understanding en

my people. Charge my people to cleave to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and they will find the blessed effects of it in life, and the comforts of it in the prospect of death."

Thus, the end of the wicked is trouble; of the righteous, peace.

DEATH OF HER MAJESTY,
Charlotte,

QUEEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

OF

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND;

Who departed this Life on Tuesday, November 17, 1818, at Twenty Minutes past One o'Clock in the Afternoon.

THE mournful task again falls upon us, of recording the entrance of death into our palaces. It is little more than a year since we lost our beloved Princess, Charlotte of Wales; and now we have to lament the death of her royal Grandmother, the consort of our revered King. It cannot, however, be expected that we should have exactly the same feelings in the latter case as in the former. The death of the former was sudden and unexpected: the life of the latter was protracted beyond the general expectation. By the death of the former, our prospects were obscured respecting the succession to the crown: by the death of the latter, no such effect is produced. In the former instance, the rose was cropped when it was beginning to open : in the latter, the ordinary period of human life was exceeded. In the former, the gayest and brightest prospects were at once destroyed in the latter, the protraction of life must necessarily have been a protraction, and even augmentation, of labour and

sorrow.

The loss, however, of so illustrious a personage; the beloved Consort of our beloved and revered Monarch; the mother of the Heir Apparent, and of a numerous race of princes and princesses; cannot fail to affect every loyal breast, and especially among Protestant Dissenters, who have such abundant reason for gratitude for the protection which they have received, under the Brunswick race, from the dire persecutions to which they were exposed by the family of the Stuarts. Their prayers will con

tinue to be offered up for their sovereign the King, and for the Divine blessing to attend the person and the government of the Prince Regent, and all the branches of the Royal Family.

We know not how better to improve the event, than by offering a few words of advice to our young readers.

Do not your hearts pant for happiness? You may seek it in various ways; but happiness is the universal pursuit. We do not blame you; it is a desire implanted in your breast by God himself: we only wish you to pursue it in the right way. Do not seek it from any thing under the sun; for "what profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?" With respect to every thing under the sun, "Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity." And every man who has drank at the fountain of divine wisdom says the same. And even they who have not, yet if they have drunk at the fountain of experience, must acknowledge it, however reluctantly. Read the book of Ecclesiastes; or even read the history of the world; the history of kingdoms; the history of provinces; and the lives of individuals; and inquire among all around you: has there ever been any such thing as satisfactory, complete, and ENDURING happiness under the sun? Supposing, however, the two former qualities to have been attained, which, by the bye, never has been the case, you must after all be brought to acknowledge, that death enters even into our palaces. Even there "the silver cord is loosed;" even there" the golden bowl is broken;" even there "the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel is broken at the cistern;" even there "the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns unto God who gave it."

And must you die, fond youth, and at the BEST
But wish, and hope, and may be all the rest?
Take our advice; whatever may betide,

For that which MUST BE first of all provide.

Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole HAPPINESS, this is the chief good, so long sought after by philosophers in vain, of man. For-you must die; and then "God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing; whether it be good, or whether it be evil."

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Ir is with deep regret, yet in humble submission to the will of a holy, just, and all-wise God, who doeth great things past finding out, yea, and wonders without number, that I take my pen to inform you of the death of your late pious and worthy son (Benjamin Tebbutt); he breathed his last about half-past seven o'clock on Monday evening, the 20th of April, 1818; he laboured under an incessant fever, without intermission, for about six-andtwenty days his resignation and patience under his sufferings, were exemplary. He was a member of a small religious society, formed in this regiment about ten months ago, to which he was much endeared, and to which he shewed a bright example, of sincerity, humility, love, charity, and patience, both in life and death. It was his great delight to do all the good he could out of his scanty pay of one shilling a day; he paid four shillings and seven pence a month to the Bible Society, besides paying to other charitable subscriptions.

And, my dear Sir, you and his brothers, and dear relatives at home, he never failed to pray for in the most fervent manner, both in public and private.

During his illness I asked him how he felt his mind, his answer was: "Oh, my dear Ince, I cannot express myself! Oh, I wish I could tell you what I feel, but I cannot, | my breath is so short!" I then spoke a few words to him, reminding him of the great love of God to us in all our afflictions. He was so bad he could not bear much talking. But before I left him, I bid him look to his dear Saviour, and to be sure to keep him in view continually; reminding him, that he would be with him in the midst of the fire, and it should not hurt him; and in the deep waters, and they should not overflow him; and though he should walk through the dark valley of the shadow of death, to fear no evil, for he would be with him: he

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answered, "Yes; his rod and his staff are my comfort, he is precious."

It

He appeared to be getting rather worse, and shortly after I perceived he was a little delirious. I did not expect he would live till morning; but it pleased God to prolong him about fourteen days longer. His disorder was so violent as to admit of little or no conversation. I had an opportunity of seeing him a few days before he died: but, although breath kept the pulse in motion, he seemed to be dead to all below ;— his eyes, his heart, his thoughts and affections, were fixed above. I asked him how he was? with a voice quite spent, he answered, "The fever is very bad." Perceiving that I only disturbed him, and that it was a pain to him to speak, I took hold of his hand and bid him farewell for the last time: in a faint voice he bid me "Good day”—but he gave my hand such a squeeze as expressed his inward feeling. appears he had some apprehension of his death from the commencement of his illness, for almost directly after he took ill he sent for one of his pious friends, requesting him to get a pen and ink and take directions for his father, strictly charging him to be sure to write immediately if any thing happened. It appears, on the day he died, as if he knew the very hour, for I understand he repeatedly enquired what o'clock it was. In health it was his great desire that the regiment might be removed to a station where the missionaries resided; and it pleased God to send him to the place just before his death. They visited him two or three times before his death, and were quite satisfied with the state of his mind. There are three of them here real servants of Christ, viz. Mr. Hands, Mr. Reeves, and Mr. Taylor.

Oh, Sir, you are highly favoured of the Lord, that he gave you such a son. You, no doubt, will be among that happy number, who, at the great day of his coming, will cry out with joy, Here am I, Lord, and the children whom thou hast given me! Then grieve not, but remember, that your loss is his infinite gain-death is but the voice

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