METHOD OF LAYING UP POTATOES. To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor. SIR, THE knowledge of the best way of preserving potatoes from frost is of such great importance to poor Cottagers, that I think every one ought to make public any improvement he thinks he has discovered upon the subject. I therefore send you my plan, which I have found better than the common way in wet or frosty winters. "As early in October as they are ripe, I get them dug up as dry as I can, and laid in a heap, ridged up like the ridge of a house, and then scatter as much straw upon it as will cover the potatoes. Afterwards, I cover the straw with earth dug up from the sides of the heap. I then thatch the heap with stubble, or straw, and cover the thatch with earth a second time, dug up from the sides of the heap. In March or April, I take out the potatoes in fine condition, dry, sound, and unsprouted. The thatch keeps out the wet, and the air in it keeps out any frost, however severe; and also for the same reason, the warm air of Spring is kept out, for a time at least, and therefore the potatoes are less liable to sprout than in the common way. In cold countries, the inhabitants find by experience the use of double walls and double glazed windows, containing a body of air, and also the use of furs and loose outer garments for the same reason in their dress. And in hot countries, the inhabitants know by experience the use of shade to a dwelling room, and of light loose clothing in their dress. And we should bear in mind, that air does not readily conduct heat, when we construct our dresses, habita. tions, potatoe-pits, &c. &c." R. S. This Letter was accompanied by another from a Correspondent, who seems to have been a frequent partaker of R. S.'s potatoes. He says, "the difference between R. S.'s plan, and other people's, is the additional thatching, and the second coat of earth; and this plan, in such a winter as the past, is most advantageous indeed, as I can prove; for R. S.'s potatoes are delicious, especially when cooked, as they have been, after the method directed by "Lancashire," in the January Number of the Cottager's Visitor." PARAPHRASE ON St. MATTHEW, The wild wind howl'd along the darken'd air, So shall he stand, assail'd, yet unremoved, Whose heart the force of sacred truth has proved :~ While hope and saintly charity are given To soothe his griefs on earth, and fit his soul for heaven. Oxford. T. SHORT LECTURES ON THE CATECHISM. TENTH COMMANDMENT. THE Tenth and last Commandment teaches us the great duty of Contentment. God gives us what he knows to be best for us; and we are not to covet or desire those possessions which belong to others. We are not to envy any one the enjoyment of those good things which it has pleased God to bestow on him. Envy is a very sinful feeling; it seems to find fault with the dispensations of Providence; and nothing good will spring out of a heart where envy is. Let us seek then, through divine grace, to be satisfied and contented with our condition in life, knowing that the disposal of it is in the hands of One who knows what is good for us, much better than we do ourselves. Other Commandments forbid the commission of outward acts of sin, and tell us we must not take that which belongs to another; but this Tenth Commandment forbids us to covet or wish for that which is not our own:-thus directing us to seek that the heart may be right,-this being, indeed, the only way by which the conduct can be right in the sight of a heart searching God. THE RESURRECTION. To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor. SIR, As your next Number will come out soon after Easter Day, perhaps the following remark transcribed from an old author may be acceptable to your readers. 1 Cor. xv. 20. "Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that sleep." It is observable, that the Holy Ghost, which accounteth natural death as a sleep, yet calleth the life of a sinner by the name of death. To be truly dead, is to be dead in trespasses and sins; and there. fore St. Paul bids his Corinthians "awake to righteousness, and sin not; for a righteous man hath more hope in his death, than a sinner in his life; and no man can be dead to nature that is alive to God. But, if to die be but to fall asleep, we should put No 28. VOL. III. I off this garment of flesh with as good a will as we do our clothes. And that we may sleep well in the night, we should forbear sleeping in the day; not idling in the market, as those in the parable; not sitting down"in the seat of the scornful," but working out our salvation:" for "the sleep of a Jabouring man is sweet." To taking of rest in sleep it is required, that there be a moderate taking of food; we are to eat of that bread, and drink of that cup, which shew the Lord's death till he come; and are therefore not unjustly termed by the ancient Fathers" the Sacraments and emblems of the Resurrection." This done, we may lay ourselves down in peace, and take our rest; for the Lord will make us" to dwell in safety." And, as the disciple said to our Saviour concerning Lazarus, if thus "we sleep we shall do well." March 10, 1823. J. H. C. REMARKS On the Epistle for the First Sunday after Easter. 1 JOHN V. 4-13. HAVING, by the death and resurrection, of our blessed Saviour, "received the adoption of sons," Gal. iv. 5, we are called upon by the Church to turn our thoughts to that victory which, as sons of God, we are expected to achieve in our own persons. This is that contest to which we are pledged in baptism, where we undertake to fight manfully against sin, the world, and the devil. This pledge we renewed at our Confirmation; and we renew it every time we partake of the Holy Communion. Indeed we may be said to renew it whenever we perform an act of religious worship; for unless we present ourselves before God with "hearts unspotted from the world," and determined, with the assistance of his grace, to overcome every obstacle to our salvation, we too plainly shew, that the world, and not God, has possession of our minds. "Ye cannot," saith Christ, serve God and mammon." Whosoever, therefore," is born of God," and made his child by adoption and grace, is to rise superior to the world, and not to be guided by its corrupt principles and practices. He must renounce its sinful customs and habits; all fraud, lying, drunkenness, intemperance, uncleanness in deed, word, and thought, he must studiously avoid; knowing that "they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." By continually mortifying his corrupt affections, he will die daily to the world and all its vanities; he will submit himself to the will of God, whatever be his lot. If it be the lot of prosperity, he will receive it with thankfulness, and conduct himself in it with meekness and lowliness of mind; if it be one of adversity, he will bear it with patience and resignation, following in all things the precepts and example of his Saviour Christ: far from being conformed to the world, he will be transformed by the renewing of his mind," and daily increase in all virtue and godliness of living. The great principle which enables a man to gain this victory, the Apostle tells us, is Faith; for by this be considers the things of this world as unworthy of more attention than what properly belongs to them; and keeping his eye stedfastly fixed upon that eternal crown for those, who "have fought successfully "the good fight," he will not allow himself to be drawn away by the temptations which he meets with here. Neither is this faith built on uncertain grounds. Jesus Christ, when He was upon earth, gave evident proof, by the miracles which He wrought, of being what He professed to be, and left us no room to doubt of what He said respecting our future recompense. |