you that the weight of an additional person does make a difference to them: but we are contending for a principle of obedience to the law of God. The question is not, has God, by some visitation rendered it necessary for your friend to claim an exemptionbut, has he sanctioned in YOU the breach of his commandment, without the existence of any such plea? It is lamentable to see how, on the arrival of one infirm invalid at the door, a long string of young and healthy people will step out of the carriage, to the grief of more reflecting Christians, and the injury of many whose religious principles are not fully formed: while the worldly scoffer enjoys the scene, inwardly exclaiming, See, in what pride and indolence these people indulge, while crowding to hear a man who preaches up humility and self-denial!'

Still you have not answered the main argument, the force of which you have allowed in your remarks on C. A. in your July number, when you contended for the liberty of seeking elsewhere the nourishment most conducive to our spiritual growth, when it could not be found in our appointed place of worship.'

Most certainly: and for that liberty we do and will contend but never at the expense of breaking one of God's commandments. Many a long walk have we taken, ay, and with our dinner in our pocket too, for the blessed privilege of a truly spiritual ministry : but-we bless the Lord who so far put His fear into our heart-NEVER have we yielded to the temptation, however powerful, to sacrifice the obedience which our lips profess, by countenancing what we regard as a most crying evil. In many cases, worldly pride lies at the root of this inconsistent practice. The ministry so desired, may be within our reach, if we

are willing to make an effort, but those who possess the accommodation of a carriage, are tempted to distinguish themselves from the less wealthy class who can walk because they must; they do not like to appear capable of so much exertion as their neighbours. Now, God has declared that he beholdeth the proud afar off: and, in commanding us that the same mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus, his humility is the point dwelt upon for our especial imitation; while St. James, to leave us entirely without excuse, brings the matter home, in a peculiarly solemn reproof, directed against the observance of these worldly distinctions in the " assembly" of Christians. What shall we say to those who, in the face of all these outworks, built, as it were, to render the fourth commandment more impregnable to the assaults of worldly pride, can venture to bring their vain distinctions to the very threshold of God's temple, secretly and perhaps almost unconsciously, glorying in their shame.

It is greatly to be wished that an open testimony were more frequently borne against this practice from the pulpit: but even to it the snare extends: for when a long string of carriages, many perhaps bearing coronets, is drawn up before the doors of some fashionable chapel, this circumstance, so gratifying to the preacher, tends to seal his lips from admonishing his hearers against what his secret judgment, if he be a faithful man, must needs condemn. It is no work of piety, or of charity, or of necessity, to do, or to justify what God hath prohibited—to cast a stumbling-block in the way of others—and to indulge our individual predilections at the expense of Christian consistency.

C. E.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHRISTIAN
LADY'S MAGAZINE.

MADAM,

THERE is a subject which I have sometimes wished that you should touch on in your Lady's Magazine, which you will perhaps allow me to mention to you. I am aware that it is one of delicacy, and for that very reason, I think it may be most properly introduced in your pages. I shall best explain my meaning, by throwing what I have to say into a narrative form. A few years ago, it was necessary for me to entrust one of my children, then a very few weeks old, to the case of a wet-nurse. I had a little difficulty in procuring one with whom I could be satisfied. In a few days, however, my inquiries were successful, and a respectable woman took up her abode in my household; she was young, and looked younger.

As visitors dropped in, and the baby and its nurse were introduced, I was somewhat puzzled by the occasional scrutinizing glance at the latter, and the low whisper from more than one individual, 'not married, I presume,' or ' not married, I fear?' 'Most certainly she is.' You will have much trouble.' And I by degrees learned that, in some, I will not be so uncharitable as to say many, families, an unmarried nurse was preferred for this important office. One plea for this practice is that of convenience

and this, I apprehend, the principal. Another, however, is ready—that the imprudent, unfortunate young woman, who has felt the misery of the first transgression, may be thus saved from flying into the depths of sin; and that therefore it is an act of charity. I confess I never was convinced by this reasoning, though I have often thought deeply on it, and much wish that you would in your publication, which is read by many mothers, give us your opinion on the subject I have thus referred to. I really think you ought, as opportunity may offer, to treat of the duties of a Christian female, under all the circumstances in which she may be placed,

I am, Madam, yours,

A PARENT.

We must honestly confess, that our first feeling, on receiving the foregoing communication, was that of astonishment, almost amounting to incredulity; but a little enquiry has convinced us that a practice, the existence of which we never suspected, does prevail to an extent sufficiently great to render us, and we hope our readers also, grateful to the writer who has brought it forward. We wish that the views of A Parent' had been more fully stated; but since the task devolves upon us, we must seek, under the divine blessing, to fulfil it faithfully.

It has always been our opinion, that nothing but the most imperative necessity can justify a departure from a beneficent law, prevailing through the whole of that class, whose formation indicates that God has supplied the female with nutriment, which he wills her to impart to her young. How many touching instances cross our daily path, of the ready obedience

rendered by irrational creatures to this gracious law! And shall woman alone, whose obligation to do the same shines most clearly, most sweetly, throughout the word of God-shall she alone contemn it? Surely the penalties of pain, and danger, and multiplied inconveniences, attached to the needless separation of the babe from its mother's bosom, confirm the fact, that it opposes the will of Him, whose laws are not to be violated with impunity.

But we will take it for granted, that real necessity compels a mother to seek a substitute in that most endearing of maternal offices: the question ensuesTo what class shall she turn for assistance?

The Christian lady surely replies, "To the humbler class of respectable young married women: to a wife whose husband consents that she should undertake the office; and in whose sobriety, fidelity, and healthful state of body, a pledge may be found of due attention to all the interests of her precious little charge.'

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No,' it is alleged, you must avoid a married woman: the husband may become troublesome to your family; he may take her home, before you can well dispense with her services; and therefore'-we do most reluctantly commit it to paper- therefore, prefer an unmarried female, as being more completely a free agent.'

Such counsel is actually given, and, alas! such counsel is extensively followed, by women professing that godliness which should suffer, knowingly, no evil in its dwelling. Most earnestly do we implore our Christian mothers to consider, in the spirit of prayer, a few of the circumstances involved in this fearful choice.