read, and return it nearly in the same state, only a little dirtied. 2. Sand-glasses, who retain nothing, and are content to get through a book for the sake of getting through the time. 3. Strain-bags, who retain merely the dregs of what they read. 4. Mogul diamonds, equally rare and valuable, who profit by what they read, and enable others to profit by it also. The Letter Box. THE MARRIAGE OF CHRISTIANS WITH UNBELIEVERS. MY DEAR ** -When I wrote you last, it was my hope and wish to give you a series of letters that might be useful to you. The execution of this scheme is doubtful, but one particular has been much on my mind, and I feel that I should be wanting in regard to your interests and happiness, as a man a d a Christian, if I did not give you my thoughts in a more tangible form than I have yet done. You will, before reading thus far, guess that I allude to marriage connections. To my view, it is a subject of no ordinary importance. Next to the salvation of the soul, it is most important, if a connection must be formed, to make it with one who is a" partaker of like precious faith." And the ground I go upon is that there is nothing either in Scripture or in reason to sanction the unequal union of a believer and an unbeliever, but there is everything in both to condemn it. The first marriage was between two holy persons, and when the woman became unholy, she instantly became a snare to the man. Now suppose the Creator had in the first instance given Adam just such a wife as the fall made her, who does not see that it would have been unjust, unkind, and cruel? Or suppose Adam had found such a one, and taken her to himself, would it not have been manifestly wrong? That which would have been unjust, unkind, and cruel in God must have been wicked in man; and that which would have been wicked in his case cannot be less so in ours; unless we say that a sinful state makes that lawful which in a state of perfection is unlawful, or that a creature inclined to sin may take a tempter to his bosom, while one absolutely holy, and of course more likely to withstand the evils of the tempter, must fly from it as from the face of a serpent! Again, when the father of the faithful would take a wife for his son, how careful is he! what pains does he take! what expense does he incur that he may not take one of the daughters of the land! And why? Because he knew that they were "sinners before the Lord," and were doomed to destruction, and would become a snare to grace. If to be fair, and interesting, and accom plished, were all that he was bound As in every other instance, reason, to regard, he might no doubt easily have found such a one in Canaan. And may the children of faithful Abraham do that and be guiltless which he might not? We have then before us a marriage formed by the father of the faithful, and another by the God of Abraham, and we ought to fear a departure from those principles which governed their actions. We might draw an argument not less strong from "the sons of God, who took to themselves wives of the daughters of men, because they were fair," Gen. vi.; and from the case of Solomon. The cases and the effects you will remember. The truth is, such unequal matches are everywhere condemned in the Sacred Scriptures. See Gen. xxvi. 34, 35; Ezra ix. 12; Neh. xiii. 23-31; Matt. ii. 11; and 1 Kings xi. 2. I know it is urged that the thing is not forbidden in the word of God. Still, were this the fact, there are principles laid down which, in their legitimate application, make the duty obvious, and it is in this way that many duties are enforced in the word of God. But, if I mistake not, we have something more than a simple principle laid down in the prohibition, marry when ye will, 'only in the Lord." And admitting that 2 Cor. vi. 14 refers, as some say, and perhaps correctly, to church members, the inference is not a very remote one, that if it be wrong to receive a given individual into church fellowship, how much more improper is it to take the same individual into the nearer relationship of husband or wife! 66 and common sense, and the Scriptures perfectly agree, so do they in this speak the same sentiment: "How can two walk together except they be agreed?" How can they share each other's joys, bear each other's burdens, further each other's plans? How can they go to the throne of grace? And who would form a connection which must be severed, most awfully severed at death, when a union might be formed with one for eternity? The truth is, my dear - I consider that our growth in grace, our spiritual comfort, our usefulness in the world, are so much dependent on the partners we have, that it is better for man to be alone than to be tied to an enemy of God. It is enough to carry one body of sin and death; it is too much to bear two; and it is well for those who voluntarily assume a second if it does not prove a burden grievous and intolerable to be borne. Next to the grace of God in our souls, a pious, sensible, and discreet wife is the best gift we can receive. If it be asked whether Christians may not in any case depart from this rule, my answer would be, that marriage is an institution of God, as are baptism and the Lord's supper; and as they are “generally necessary to salvation," and "of great necessity where they may be had," so in the case before us. We may suppose a case in which neither of the requisitions could possibly be complied with; there, of course, the objection ceases, for we must remember that it is not with positive institutions as with moral obligations, such as repentance, love, justice, | other may. But I must conclude etc. The one never can be dispensed this topic; if it does no good, it with under any circumstances; the will do no harm. EXPERIENCE. The Christian Household. NATURE OF THE MOTHER'S in the abyss of annihilation; and CHARGE. THE mother's charge is immortal. short years. Now she folds it in not been earlier, it will return to the dust whence it came. But the spirit that gives the babe its chief interest, the soul that thinks, and speaks, and burns with celestial fire, is rendered imperishable, if not by the necessity of its nature, at least by its Creator's decree. The arms that enfold your babe will become clods, the sun that shines upon your babe will be extinguished, and the skies that attract its infant gaze will be yet that infant mind, whose operations are now so feeble that you can scarcely detect them, will live through all this wreck of worlds, and even then will feel that its existence is only begun. When the Christian mother resigns her babe to the tomb in the budding season of its faculties, let her not look despairingly at the narrow house, as if her infant had perished there; but let her rather think of the grave as the temporary dwelling-place of that God has permitted her to make the corruptible, and be thankful such a contribution to the immortal population of heaven. Christian mother! are these things so? Then what a responsibility is yours! What honour, glory, and blessing will attend its proper discharge. TION. WHILE "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," there are many subordinate points to be carefully attended to. rolled up as a burning vesture; and yet all that is great and spiritual in RULES FOR HOME EDUCAthat babe shall survive, not only in unimpaired but constantly increasing energy. And for aught we know, other suns and worlds may take the place of those which we now behold, and, having fulfilled their end, may pass away as a midnight dream; and others still may come up at the Creator's bidding to replenish immensity, and, in obedience to a like decree, these may retire and be lost 1. From your children's earliest infancy inculcate the necessity of instant obedience. 2. Unite firmness with gentleness. Let your children always understand that you mean what you say. 3. Never promise them anything unless you are quite sure you can give them what you say. 4. If you tell a little child to do something, show him how to do it, and see that it is done. how extensive is parental neglect, and to witness the bad and dreadful consequences in the ruin of thousands. 5. Always punish your children ANIMAL DIET FOR CHILfor wilfully disobeying you, but never punish them in anger. 6. Never let them perceive that they can vex you or make you lose your self-command. 7. If they give way to petulance and ill-temper, wait till they are calm, and then gently reason with them on the impropriety of their conduct. 8. Remember that a little present punishment, when occasion arises, is much more effectual than the threatening of a greater punishment should the fault be renewed. 9. Never give your children anything because they cry for it. 10. On no account allow them to do at one time what you have forbidden, under the same circumstances, at another. 11. Teach them that the only sure and easy way to appear good is to be good. 12. Accustom them to make their little recitals with perfect truth. 13. Never allow tale-bearing. 14. Teach them self-denial, not self-indulgence of an angry and resentful spirit. DREN. WHILE the soul is the primary object of consideration, the body is entitled to serious attention. The food of the body is next to the food of the mind. There is no greater error in the management of children than that of giving them animal diet very early. By persevering in the use of an over-stimulating diet the digestive organs become irritated, and the various secretions immediately connected with, and necessary to digestion, are diminished, especially the biliary secretion, and constipation of the bowels and congestion of the abdominal circulation succeed. Children so fed become, moreover, very liable to attacks of fever and inflammation, affecting particularly the mucous membranes; and measles, and the other diseases incident to childhood, are generally severe in their attack. In reference to this remark, a distinguished medical gentleman mentioned to us that in families where children lived on simple diet, if they were seized with measles, whooping cough, mumps, and similar diseases, he never called but once, as he knew there was no danger; but in families where an opposite course was pursued he always expected trouble. If these rules were reduced to practice-daily practice-by parents and guardians, how much misery would be prevented! how many in danger of ruin would be saved! how largely would the happiness of a thousand domestic circles be augmented! It is lamentable to see VIOLENT mental efforts are unna THE BRAIN IN CHILDHOOD. tural, and injurious in a very high degree. Parents and teachers ought to remember this, and act accordingly. Nothing is gained by it, and even life itself may be lost. It is a fact well attested by experience that the memory may be seriously injured by pressing upon it too hardly and continuously in early life. Whatever theory we hold as to this great function of our nature, it is certain that its powers are only gradually developed, and that if forced into premature exercise, they are impaired by the effort. This is a maxim, indeed, of general import, applying to the condition and culture of every faculty of body and mind; but singularly to the one we are now considering, which forms, in one sense, the foundation of intellectual life. A regulated exercise, short of fatigue, is improving to it; but we are bound to refrain from goading it by constant and laborious efforts in early life, and before the instrument is strengthened to its work, or it decays under our hands. 1 her; she was an earnest seeker, and would often say, "I know Jesus is able, but I am afraid he is not willing." The Rev. W. W—, who frequently visited her, with other friends, were the means of removing these doubts; and she at length became quite satisfied that Christ had redeemed her, and was, by her afflictions, preparing her for glory: after this she was never heard to express a doubt. She suffered much for two years before her death; but it was apparent to all, that as the bodily strength failed, the spiritual life was renewed day by day, and the Saviour gave her frequent glimpses of his glory. ELIZABETH HONOR, the subject of that God was not willing to save this memoir, was born at Wheathampstead, Herts, of poor but industrious parents. She was deprived of her mother before she was twelve months old; she had gone to rest at night quite well, and was found dead the next morning, with the poor little infant at her side. But that God who watches over the orphan with special care, inclined an aunt to take the little one into her own family, and no mother could have been kinder than was the aunt to the poor little helpless one. She was brought to attend regularly the worship of God at the Independent chapel, and she loved to be there; but it was not till consumption brought on wearisome days and nights, that she began to be in earnest for the salvation of her soul. During the first part of her illness she was frequently tempted to think She would say, "I like to see my friends, but not the gay and thoughtless. I have Jesus with me, and I like to hear about him." And to the oft-repeated question of the mi |