:

awful state which is called in the Bible the second death. If you were ill, a doctor would be sent for; but if he were ever so clever, or ever so kind, you know it is not certain that he would be able to cure you. It is not thus with our good Physician, the Lord Jesus Christ he will heal every one that comes to him of their sins, and "over them the second death has no power." And if any child would say to me, 66 I am not conscious of my own sinfulness, I cannot feel it,” then, I would answer, 66 'pray that you may: pray that God will make you feel it: for we are told in the Bible, that it is the Holy Spirit that convinces us of sin."

Perhaps you would like to know what became of the black king and his friends. I am sorry that I cannot tell you; but I never heard that they became Christians. Perhaps they never heard about Christ again; for the missionary returned to their town no more; so you see it is a sad thing to neglect any opportunities we may have of learning about God, for we do not know how soon they may be taken away from us.

The missionary died very soon after he returned to the place where he lived: the hardships and fatigues he had undergone, in his endeavour to carry the Bible and the good news of salvation from village to village amongst the poor Africans, caused his death. He suffered much before he died; but when that text was quoted to him—“All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come"-he replied, "Yes, if he will not take me home to-day, I must wait till to-morrow; and my soul is all ready to depart." And thus he died; so that death was gain to him—it was but going home.

Now, that I have done reading, if any of you wish to put a halfpenny or penny into the missionary box, you may do so. But first let me put in this shilling. It is not my shilling. It was given to me the other day by a young servant girl who had just received her quarter's wages. I said to her, "Sarab, I am glad to find that, instead of spending this shilling as many would do, in gay ribbons for their cap, you are willing to spend it in the service of Him who has enabled you to earn it. But you are a poor girl. You have no money except

your wages. Would you like to put sixpence into the missionary box instead of a shilling?" "O no," she said, "I would rather give a shilling. I should like to give more, but I will not give less. Will you please to put it into your missionary box?" Gladly, indeed, do I fulfil this young servant's desire. God loves a cheerful giver and we may well rejoice to have the offering of such in our school missionary box.

I hope, my dear children, that your offerings may be at all times made in a similar spirit. You know we never require you to give money to the Missionary Society, nor any society. We endeavour, as we humbly hope, to shew you that a Christian should be "ready to give, and glad to distribute." We do not wish you to give grudgingly or of necessity. On the contrary, we say, 'Let each of our girls do as she is disposed in her heart;" and if she do her diligence gladly to give of her little, doubtless she will gather to herself a good reward. But you say, "Are the offerings of young children like ourselves of any use? Is it really true that God will accept our halfpennies and pennies ?" Yes, if they be offered in the humble, self-denying spirit of Christian children, he will accept them as freely and as graciously as the richest offerings of the greatest and noblest of his servants. The "two mites" of a Christian child are as acceptable to him as the bright golden guinea which falls from the rich man's purse. God can work with the one as easily as with the other; and he will bless the one equally with the other. It is not the largeness of the offering, but the willingness of the heart, which he chiefly desires: and, rest assured, my children, that poor as your offerings may be in the sight of man, if only your hearts go along with them, they will be regarded with favour by Him who has said, "that even a cup of cold water, given to shew love to the cause of religion, shall in nowise lose a reward."

From little seeds the sweet flowers spring,
And perfume o'er our pathway fling:
The noble oaks derive their birth

From acorns buried in the earth;
And the bright corn, on waving plains,
Rose from the tiny scattered grains.

And infant hands may plant the seed;
And from that small and simple deed
Rich produce shall adorn the ground,
And gladden every heart around:
For God will send the sun and shower
To cherish and refresh the flower.

How small the seed of truth appears!
Oft sown with trembling and with tears:
And yet that precious germ imparts
Fragrance and life to desert hearts;
Nor shall its progress stay, until
Its branches the wide world shall fill.

And a child's soft and earnest prayer
Rich blessing may to others bear;
And a child's penny, rightly given,
May aid in guiding souls to heaven:
And lisping accents may proclaim
The sweetness of a Saviour's name.

Dear children, God is kind, indeed,
To let you help to plant this seed!
Oh! cast it with a liberal hand,
On every dark and heathen land:
And He who dwells enthroned above,
Will smile upon your work of love.

THE WISH.

I ASK not golden stores of wealth,

No rank, nor pomp, nor state;
Noble's glittering coronet,

Nor mansion of the great;
I care not that around my brow
Fame's laurel wreath should
twine;

Or, that on History's glowing
page

My name may proudly shine.

I envy not the calm retreat,

From worldly noise and strifeThe lowly cot-the flowergemm'd path

The simple joys of life:
I ask not that in soft repose
My peaceful days may glide,
As the light bark is borne
along

The deep, unruffled tide.

|

I

But this I ask: that while I live,
may not live in vain;
For I would cheer the aching
heart,

And soothe the mourner's
pain-

Would wipe away grief's bitter tears,

The poor man's struggles aid; And guide the wanderer back, whose steps

From virtue's path have
strayed.

Then, whether affluence and state
Shall be my destin❜d lot,
Or 'neath the humble cottage roof
I dwell,-it matters not-
If I, by self-denying love,

Earth's weary ones can bless,
And deepen, as I pass along,
The stream of happiness.

SCRIPTURE PRAYER TEXTS,

FOR DECEMBER.

SUNDAY." Lead us not into temptation." (Matt. vi. 13.)

Monday."God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able," &c. (1 Cor. x. 13.) Tuesday." Neither tempteth he any man." (James i. 13.)

Wednesday." I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation." (Rev. iii. 10.)

Thursday."Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation." (Matt. xxvi. 41.)

Friday." If sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” (Prov. i. 10.)

Saturday." The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations." (2 Peter ii. 9.) SUNDAY.-"Deliver us from evil," or

(Matt. vi. 13.)

the evil one."

Monday." The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." (Rom. xvi. 20.)

Tuesday." Satan hath desired to have you, that he sift you as wheat but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." (Luke xxii. 31, 32.)

may

Wednesday." Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James iv. 7.)

Thursday." Ye have overcome the wicked one." (1 John ii. 14.)

Friday." Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter v. 8.)

Saturday." Neither give place to the devil." (Eph. iv. 27.)

SUNDAY.-" Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.” (Ps. lxxi. 8.)

Monday- -"He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God." (Ps. xl. 3.)

Tuesday." Seven times a day will I praise thee.” (Ps. cxix. 164.)

Wednesday." By him therefore let us offer the sa

crifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name." (Heb. xiii. 15.) Thursday." My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day.” (Ps. lxxi. 15.) Friday.—“ They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power," &c. (Ps. cxlv. 11, 12.) Saturday." I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." (Ps. xxxiv. 1.) SUNDAY.-"Surely I come quickly; even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Rev. xxii. 20.)

Monday.-"Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand." (Phil. iv. 5.)

Tuesday." Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God." (Titus ii. 13.) Wednesday. Yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” (Heb. x. 37.)

Thursday.—“ At such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matt. xxiv. 44.)

Friday." Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments." (Rev. xvi. 15.) Saturday." I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Rev. xxii. 12.)

THE LATE JAMES DAVIES, OF DEVAUDEN. [We have received the two following documents relating to this departed man of God, which we feel sure will be interesting to our readers.]

Chepstow, Oct. 11, 1849.

REV. SIR,—I conceive I should be wanting in gratitude towards you, if I omitted to communicate to you the decease of James Davies, late schoolmaster of Devauden, near Chepstow. No doubt you will call to mind his removal to establish another school at the village of Llangattock Lingoed, near Abergavenny. The school and house for the master were begun at his desire, and brought to completion about October last, when J. D., with his scanty household goods and books, bade farewell to his former scene of labour of, I believe, thirty-two years duration, to collect in a poor village