"With all my heart," said Mary; "and may this good fortune make us more earnest in our duties; may we strive to serve God more, who is so kind to us; may we be grateful for all his favours, and pray to him still to protect us; but, above all things, to keep us from temptation." In this all the family joined; they consulted what should be done with the sum that could be spared, and soon determined that it should be taken to the Savings Bank.

Such was the example the family saw, and such the instruction they received; and when Nat their eldest boy came to act in the world for himself, he had already, by his little earnings, managed to have a small fund of his own in the Savings Bank. To this his father added something, and there was then enough to apprentice him out; so he was soon able to get his living respectably. The other children, in their turn, was well provided for, and the family prospered; while their piety and honesty gained them respect and love from their superiors, and even from their less careful neighbours.

But I have not yet mentioned Nat's fellow-labourer, Sam Smith. Sam was a good workman, very active and good-natured, but sadly given to drinking. On the same night he likewise received additional wages as well as Nat, because he was considered quite his equal, or indeed rather his superior; for his master used to say, "Sam, you work like a good one;" or, "You are my best man, Sam.' But, for all this, Sam did not profit much by his abilities: his delight was to carouse with his fellows, and "tip the glass," as he used to call it, "like a hearty fellow," and be "a match for the best of them." His master did not, as too many masters do, send his men to the public-house to receive their wages, but yet Sam would always turn into the Brown

Bear in his way; and the consequence was, that very late on Saturday nights, or rather Sunday mornings, he would reel home without a shilling in his pocket.

As it might be expected, his family were in rags, and so dirty that they were scorned by their neighbours; and only a few of the worst would keep company with them. His wife was a complete scold, always beating the children, and quarreling; and such a sloven, that I have known her wear the same gown until it was so dirty that you could not tell what the colour was, and so ragged that she hardly knew how to put it on. The children were following the example of their parents as fast as they could.

Many years had passed in this way, when, to Nat's astonishment, Sam called in upon him as he came home from work on Saturday night, and with his earnings in his pocket. "How comes this about?" said Nat, "has the Brown Bear affronted you? I wish he would frighten you away. This is the first time I have known you leave work with your money, and come home without spending it. This will make your wife stare, for I dare say she has forgotten you earn any wages at all." Sam sighed, and asked, "Nat, how do you get your sons out so as you do? for the life o' me, I can't. There's Bill, a greater scoundrel never lived; he's always skulking and lounging about, sometimes half drunk, and never earns a halfpenny. Tom is just as bad; indeed they're all alike: it teazes me to death to know what to do with them." Nat was going to speak, but Sam went on : "How is it that you have a Sunday coat? I ha'n't never a one, but am forced to wear my work-aday frock. I'll be whipped if I could ever afford to buy me one. And then, there's your mis'ess as different to mine as if you had twice as much wages as me. Nat very good-humouredly answered,

Why, I do not know what you do with what you get, for we find we have too much, more than my mis'ess likes to spend. We put a great deal into the Savings Bank, and, thank God, that has 'prenticed out my boys and girls. Besides, my children are all proud of getting their own bread, and, please God, I hope they will all soon begin to save for themselves."

Sam was not quite satisfied with this explanation, though he felt confounded at his own expenses. He could not help thinking, that perhaps Nat had some other way of getting money, or some particular secret for taking care of it; but Nat assured him again, that it was only by management that he got

on.

Nat explained to him a little of his plans, and told him several circumstances in which he had been able to save instead of spending his money. In particular, he advised Sam to "bide at home more,' and warned him against his sinful and ruinous practice of drunkenness; showing him, at the same time, how comfortable he might be if he would but leave off that dreadful and expensive habit. Sam was easily convinced; he perceived its effects, and with real distress contrasted his children with those of his fellow-labourer. But it was more difficult to reform. He was afraid of being laughed at, and he so loved his favourite indulgence, that he could not leave it off. Poor fellow! his Monday's determinations grew weaker and weaker Saturday night approached. First, he resolved that he would not have any at all; then he thought that surely only one glass would not cost much; but when he once got into the public-house, he must then take only two; and so he went on while his companions enticed him, and, in spite of his resolutions, his usual habits remained almost as bad as ever.

Nat, perceiving that Sam could not stand the test, but that all his

good purposes were broken the moment he felt his wages turn in his hand, thought it would be acting a Christian's part to assist him, as he was leaning towards the right way. So he walked home with him when he could, and tried to keep him out of the temptation to follow his old practices. But this was a great effort: Sam's ways were so confirmed, that it was with the greatest difficulty he could be persuaded to go home with Nat, though he was fully aware how much he would gain by it. Sometimes too his old companions laughed at him for being with Nat, and said he was going to turn Methodist: for Nat, though he was universally respected, was called a Methodist, because he read his Bible and went to church regularly; besides, he received the Sacrament, was a free subscriber to the Bible Society, taught his children their Catechism, &c. and would not let them play about on Sundays; all which things made jests for his neighbours. Nat did not care for their jesting; but Sam could not bear it; and when any of his tippling friends began to talk in this way, he would say that he would never be a Methodist; and to prove that he was as good a fellow as ever, the very next Saturday night he would go and sing and drink with them, just as before. If Sam could have been reclaimed, he could not have had a better example or kinder teacher than Nat; but he was a middleaged man, and his habits, and, yet more, his prejudices, were rivetted and confirmed. He heard Nat, resolved, fell into temptation, and then bitterly repented and made fresh resolutions, which he broke as he had done so many others.

He was in this state when Bob, Nat's youngest son, came in one Sunday when Sam was there. Bob had not been home for two years before; and his alteration in height, and his clean, and manly, and respectable appearance astonished

Sam. However, he said nothing, but walked to the window to hide a tear which stole from his eye when he contrasted his own Jem. He soon recovered, and returned to the table. Bob, with a delighted countenance, pulled from his pocket a piece of brown paper, and putting it on the table, said, "See, father, what I have got; will you have it? I have bought this hat and this coat, and have got plenty to spare."

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Nat opened the paper, and was surprised to see a one-pound note. No, my boy," said he, "this is your own earning; I will not take it from 66 you." Then," said Bob, "if you won't have it, I will send it to London."-" What for, Bob?" asked his father. 66 Why, to the Bible Society," said the boy earnestly: "I have read the one you gave me, and I wish every one had a Bible." His mother kissed him, and said, "This is a blessed day, when I see a child of mine like this." "But," said the father, "" I should think, though I heartily approve of your giving something to the Bible Society, as you are but a beginner in the world, if you were to put half into the Savings Bank, and send the other half to London, perhaps it would be more prudent." Bob was not willing to be persuaded. However, his mother was

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of his father's opinion, and reminded him, as it was all the money he had in the world, if he should lose his place he would then be a burden to some one else; and that it was not right to give so much away as to reduce ourselves to the charity of others. Well," said the father, "Bob shall give one ten shillings and I will give the other; that I may show that I thank God for blessing my children." This was agreed to, and the pound-note sent. Sam, who saw it all, regretted deeply that he had none to send, and he now made his last resolution. I have some reason to hope that he abided by it, as I have heard rather better accounts of him lately.

And, my readers, whether you are in the case of Sam or of Nat, be exhorted from their histories to forsake your besetting sins, or to encourage those who may perhaps be reclaimed: thus, by the assistance and blessing of God, you will prosper, and rejoice in the prosperity of those you have counselled. Never forget that piety and industry make people happy both in this world and that which is to come, and that nothing but misery can be the consequence of idleness and vice.

A. L.

AN elderly female of the Roman Catholic persuasion, residing near Montreal in Canada, having obtained a Bible, was visited by her priest, who endeavoured earnestly to prevail with her to give it up. Finding he could not persuade her to relinquish her treasure, he attempted to prevail with her to sell it, offering first five, then ten, fifteen, and at last twenty dollars. The good woman, after refusing all

these offers, at length agreed that if he would give her twenty-five dollars, she would sell him the obnoxious volume. The priest agreed, the money was paid, the volume given up, and he departed in triumph. But the good old woman set off immediately to Montreal, and with the priest's twenty-five dollars purchased twenty-five new Bibles for her own use and that of her poorer neighbours.

An Apology for the Freedom of the Press and for general Liberty. By Robert Hall, M. A. Reprinted with Corrections.-Pp. xiv. and 108. Hamilton. THE political principles of the Bible are simple, distinct, and plain. The sacred writers enter into no niceties, draw no lines of exact demarcation, meet no involved cases of civil casuistry; but, speaking of mankind generally, as alike depraved and unruly, and of governments as the creations of God's providence, they inculcate without qualification, reservation, or restriction, the obvious and indispensable duties of submission, honour, and obedience.

It has been, however, very much the fashion of late to get rid of these unpleasant and "degrading" injunctions, by pleading the change of time and circumstances, and the difference between the laws and system of government under which we are privileged to live, and those of the apostolic days. Now, as to the general duty of obedience, it is obvious that it must apply rather more than less strongly to those who live under a paternal government, than to those who live under a tyrannical one. At the same time we are ready to allow, that the system of freedom which in this country gives to the people a share in the legislature and an influence over the government, renders the submission due from them less implicit and uninquiring, at the same time that it increases the obligation to its cheerful payment.

But although it be conceded, that under a constitution which renders the people a party to their own government, it is lawful and proper for laymen to interest themselves intimately in political concerns, and even, to a certain extent, to participate in political contests, there is one body of men whom

we could ever wish to see taking no other part in these matters than as moderators, instructors, and peacemakers.

The Ministers of the Gospel must, in the discharge of their duty, --they must, if they will "declare the whole counsel of God," sometimes touch upon those passages of Scripture which inculcate the duties of subjects. While St. Paul, in the days of Nero himself, was led by the Holy Spirit to write, "Submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake;" and to pronounce without hesitation," He that resisteth the power," tyrannical as it was in the extreme, "resisteth the ordinance of God:" and while similar passages abound in the inspired volume, it cannot be thought consistent with the character of a preacher of the Gospel to maintain an absolute silence on these topics. But there is one rule which, in our opinion, Ministers would do well to follow; and that is, to go no further than the Bible will carry them. The war of parties and factions, the continual struggle of political leaders, the various questions of constitutional casuistry, are subjects which lie beyond this boundary, and with which they would do well not to embroil themselves. The servant of the Lord is exhorted "not to strive," but "to cut off occasion from them which desire occasion;" and assuredly he will find that the bare discharge of his plain duty in these things will expose him to sufficient obloquy and reproach.

Entertaining this view of the subject, it is with sorrow that we observe the republication, under his own immediate sanction, of Mr. Hall's

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Apology for the Freedom of the Press." This work was first given to the world about thirty years ago, and has been long since forgotten, or remembered only as one of the sins

of its author's youth. Since its disappearance, Mr. H. has so much better employed his time and his great talents, that he may now be considered as standing in the very first rank among the Nonconformists of the present day. And is it not a lamentable thing to see such a man stepping forward in the ripeness of his years, and at the height of his well-earned reputation, to obtrude himself on the public in the degraded character of a violent party scribe;--and yet, in what other light can we consider the man who, in so uncalled-for and gratuitous a manner, and at so comparatively peaceful a period, sends into the world, with the sanction of his name, and of his latest corrections, a new edition of such a pamphlet as this?

He indeed states, as an excuse for the republication, that the term of copyright being expired, it was no longer in his power to prevent the reprinting of this work. The law, however, is not so; the power of perpetuating its oblivion lay still in his hands. But had he even been correct on this point, where was the necessity for his being an active agent in this re-appearance?

To characterize the tract before us appropriately, we need only observe, that the principal topics discussed by this "Minister of the Gospel" are, the right of public discussion, the propriety of political associations, parliamentary reform, the rights of men, the character of Dissenters, the present discontents. The work is extremely personal, and great bitterness is shown towards the late Bishop Horsley, Mr. Burke, and Mr. Pitt. We shall not imitate Mr. Hall's example by entering into a discussion on the subject of Mr. Pitt's political character; but we should have hoped that the reflection of his undoubted integrity, and of that perfect devotion to his country, which led him to sacrifice even life itself in its service, might have spared him, at the distance of sixteen years

from his death, a new volley of bitter reproach from one whose vocation is "the gospel of peace."

As to the character of Bishop Horsley, it is now placed far beyond the reach of his adversaries: and the Christian world will know how to appreciate invectives against such a man, from one who is at the same time the eulogist of Priestley and Price the Socinians, and of Mary Woolstonecraft the female libertine and Deist.

Looking, then, upon this work as one, of which a critical analysis would be ill-placed in the pages of the ChristianGuardian, we shall conclude with a specimen or two of the political creed of Mr. Hall, and of the manner in which he supports it.

He is, then, as far as professed doctrine can make him, plainly and clearly, a Radical Reformer. He pleads for "annual parliaments," for universal suffrage, for the unfettered publication of every kind of blasphemy, for the exclusion of the relatives of noblemen from the House of Commons, for the overthrow of all ecclesiastical establishments, and for "the sovereignty of the people." In what part of the sacred volume he has discovered the least sanction for any one of these notions, we are at a loss to imagine.

In fact, the whole pamphlet is an argument in favour of the supremacy and infallibility of the people, and of the necessity of paying the most implicit obedience to the least expression of their will. Now, could these notions have been carried into practice at the time they were written (soon after the Birmingham riots), and could a legislature have been formed upon Mr. H.'s universal suffrage plan, the necessary and inevitable consequence would have been, that as the feeling of the multitude ran violently against all the friends of the French Revolution,-Mr. H. and most of his fellow-labourers and admirers would have been silenced.