has before hand established a good correspondence. He has climbed the hill that stands next to it; and though the distance still forbids him to take a distinct survey of it, yet the prospect of its towns and buildings rising before him, of its spires and pinnacles glittering in the air, and of peace and pleasantness in its borders, revives his heart. The consideration of his past perils and fatigues now gives him pleasure. He is thankful to the gracious Providence that has led him almost through them, and brought him to a point whence he has a downward and direct way to a place of rest, and an abode in which he will meet with a cordial reception, and be delighted with new scenes of beauty, magnificence, and wonder. With such satisfaction doth faith fill the heart of the religious pilgrim and stranger, when he has nearly travelled through the changes and chances of this mortal life, and feels himself approaching to the heavenly Jerusalem, the abiding city. Dr. Townson. Sent by A. I. D.

POETRY.

THE COMMINATION.

THE prayers are o'er: why slumberest thou so long, Thou voice of sacred song?

Why swell'st thou not, like breeze from mountain cave, High o'er the echoing nave,

The white rob'd priest, as otherwhile, to guide,

Up to the altar's northern side?—

A mourner's tale of shame and sad decay

Keeps back our glorious sacrifice to-day..

The widow'd spouse of Christ, with ashes crown'd, Her Christmas robes unbound;

She lingers in the porch for grief and fear,
Keeping her penance drear.

O is it nought to you? that idly gay,

Or coldly proud, ye turn away?

But if her warning tears in vain be spent,

Lo! to her alter'd eye the law's stern fires are lent.

Each awful curse, that on Mount Ebal rang,

Peals with a direr clang

Out of that silver trump, whose tones of old
Forgiveness only told.

And who can blame the mother's fond affright,
Who, sporting on some giddy height,

Her infant sees, and springs, with hurried hand,
To snatch the rover from the dangerous strand?

But surer than all words the silent spell
(So ancient legends tell)

When to her bird, too early scap'd the nest,
She bares her tender breast.

Smiling he turns, and spreads his little wing,
There to glide home, there safely cling.
So yearns our mother o'er each truant son,
So softly falls the lay, in fear and wrath begun.

Wayward and spoil'd she knows ye: the keen blast
That brac'd her youth is past:

The rod of discipline, the robe of shame

She bears them in your name.

Only return and love.

OF INSTRUCTING CHILDREN IN

RELIGION.

As soon as children begin to know any thing they may, and ought to be, brought to know so much of

religion as is necessary for their age and state. For instance,

1. Young children may be taught that there is a God, a great and almighty God, who made them, and who gives them every good thing. That he sees them every where, though they cannot see him; and that he takes notice of all their behaviour.

2. They must be told what they should do, and what they should avoid, in order to please God. They should be taught in general to know the difference between good and evil. They may learn that it is their duty to fear, and love, and worship God, to pray to him for what they want, and to praise him for what they enjoy; to obey their parents, to speak truth, and to be honest and friendly to all mankind; and to set a guard upon their own appetites and passions. And that to neglect these things, or to do any thing contrary to them, is sinful in the sight of God.

3. Their consciences are capable of receiving conviction when they have neglected these duties, or broken the commands of God, or of their parents; and they may be made sensible that the great and holy God, who loves the righteous, and bestows blessings upon them, is angry with those who have broken his commands, and sinned against him; and, therefore, that they themselves are become subject to his displeasure.

4. They may be told that there is another world after this; and that their souls do not die when their bodies die that they shall be taken up into heaven, which is a state of pleasure and happiness, if they have been good and holy in this world; but if they have been wicked children, they must go down to hell, which is a state of misery and torment.

5. You may also inform them, that though their

bodies die and are buried, yet God can and will raise them to life again; and that their body and soul together must be made happy or miserable according to their behaviour in this life.

6. They may be taught that there is no way for such sinful creatures as we are to be received into God's favour, but for the sake of Jesus Christ the Son of God; who came down from heaven into our world, and lived a life of pure and perfect holiness, and suffered death, to reconcile sinners to the great and holy God, who is offended by the sins of men; and now he lives in heaven to plead for mercy for them and that as this Jesus Christ is the only reconciler between God and man, so all their hope must be placed in him.

7. They may be taught that their very natures are sinful; they may be convinced that they are inclined naturally to do evil; and they should be informed that it is the Holy Spirit of God who must cure the evil temper of their own spirits, and make them holy and fit to dwell with God in heaven.

8. They should also be instructed to pray to God, that, for the sake of Jesus Christ, the great Mediator or Reconciler, he would pardon their sins past, and help them by his Spirit to love and serve him with zeal and faithfulness for the time to come; that he would bestow all necessary blessings upon them in this world, and bring them safe at last to his heavenly kingdom.

9. In the last place, they should be informed, that our blessed Saviour has appointed two ordinances to be observed by all his followers to the end of the world, which are usually called sacraments.

The one is baptism, wherein persons are to be washed with water, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to signify their being given

up to Christ as his disciples, or professors of Christianity; and, as an emblem of that purity of heart and life, which, as such, they must aim at, and endeavour after.

The other is the Lord's Supper, wherein bread is broken, and wine is poured out, and distributed, to be eaten and drunk by Christians in remembrance of the body of Christ, which was put to a bloody death, as a sacrifice to obtain pardon for the sins of men.

The first of these, namely, baptism, is but once to be administered to any person; but the last, namely, the Lord's Supper, is to be frequently performed, to keep us always in mind of the death of Christ, till he comes again from heaven to judge the world.

This is the sum and substance of the Christian religion, drawn out into a very few plain articles; and I think a child of common capacity, who is arrived at three or four years of age, may be taught some part of these articles, and may learn to understand them all at seven, or eight, or nine; at least so far as is needful for all his own exercises of devotion and piety.

FAITH, THE ROOT OF ALL GRACES. THE root of a tree is a ragged and a jagged thing; no shape, no proportion, no comeliness in it; and, therefore, it keeps itself in the earth, as unwilling to be seen. Yet all the beauty that is in the tree-the straightness of the bulk and body, the spreading fairness of the branches, the glory of the leaves and flowers, the commodity of the fruit, proceed from the root; by that the whole subsisteth. So FAITH seems to be but a sorry grace, a virtue of no regard. Devotion is acceptable, for it honours God: Charity is noble, for it does good to men: Holiness is the