who know His will, but do it | By giving me your views on not?" An answer to the above in our JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR Would oblige, dear Sir, MOSES. ANSWER. Certainly not. Indeed this question seems too plain to require an answer. Every part of Scripture exhibits God as the righteous and merciful Governor and Judge of mankind. And "shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Genesis xviii. 25. this portion of Holy Writ, I shall Yours, a THOS. H. CARTER. Congleton. ANSWER. It is a good thing to abstain from the use of intoxicating drinks; and it is quite evident that John the Baptist, Daniel, and some other excellent men, did so, and it would be a good thing for my youthful readers follow these examples. By so general if they would doing they would secure health of body and avoid innumerable evils, secure the blessings and advantages of temperance, preand help to promote the reforsent a good example to others, mation of the poor debased and miserable drunkard. As a right-in eous Judge, he regards men's responsibilities in exact accordance with their privileges. "Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required." Luke xii. 48. Therefore it is quite clear that the heathen cannot be held accountable for privileges they never had, nor receive a punishment for sin equal in its degree with those who resist the light of the Gospel, and reject the offer of mercy through a crucified Saviour. QUERY 2.—ON ABSTAINING FROM REV. SIR, I have spent many But total abstinence is not an evidence either for or against true greatness. It must be admitted there are some very foolish and wicked men who there have been many good and practise total abstinence; and great men too, in every age of the world, who have not practised it entirely. All good men, however, are temperate men, and hate drunkenness, and they would have been equally good had they practised total abstinence. Moreover, though there are some foolish and wicked men who do practise total abstinence, it is not total abstinence which makes them so; for no doubt they were far worse before they practised total abstinence, and would be far worse again, were they to give it up. We know, too, that many a foolish man has become wise by total abstinence, and many a bad man has become men, and are much employed in good by the same means, that tempting them to sin. In the days 1S to say, when a man has become sober, he has become thoughtful, industrious, orderly, has forsaken bad companions, attended a place of worship, and become converted to God. Hence total abstinence has done much good, and is worthy of being encouraged and practised. As for the greatness of John the Baptist, it consisted in his great piety and usefulness, in his being filled with the Holy Ghost, in his being the faithful messenger of the Messiah, the bold reprover of sin, and the reformer of the manners of the people. of Christ and his Apostles, evil spirits were often cast out from men, and their influence may at all times be resisted by faith and prayer. When devils are cast out or resisted, they often retire from the haunts of men, and wander in deserts and dreary solitudes, seeking rest from their misery, but they find it not. Remerse and anguish still pursue them, and they then resolve to enter afresh upon the work of instigating men to sin. When they find a man indolent, careless, unwatchful, void of good and ready for evil, they ally themselves with him. He is just the man for their purpose. They enter his heart, and he becomes a ready tool for their crafty and malignant designs. Then his state as a sinner is worse than it was before. Before, there might be only one devil, now there are perhaps seven; and under their influence he works iniquity with greediness, and his heart is fully set in him to do evil. Such is the miserable state of many backsliders and apostates. but our space will not admit of [We have many other queries, number. We must request our more answers in the present friends not to crowd several queries into one paper. One at a time is enough, especially as we have many correspondents, and we wish to please and instruct all as far as possible. We hope too that while our youthful readers search the Holy Scriptures, they will make their precepts the rule of their lives, and their promises their best inheritance. ED.] CATECHISM OF SCIENCE. WE have received a great many answers respecting the increase of circulation for the present year. Thanks to our earnest correspondents, such promptitude and zeal would do credit to any cause. We feel quite glad to have the co-operation of so many right-hearted young friends. Only let us put forth another united and determined effort, and we shall be certain to succeed. ANSWER TO QUESTION 31.' MY DEAR SIR,- You ask why the sky and clouds at different times assume many different colours. The following will I believe be found a satisfactory explanation - Clouds consist of the vapour which has been exhaled from the earth and sea. Now, the condition of the atmosphere is continually changing. This causes the clouds also to change in their forms and density. Now, as different mediums or substances always reflect different rays of light, it follows that the ever-changing clouds must be ever-changing in their colours. ELIJAH KINDER. Staley Bridge Sunday-school. We have received a longer but equally correct answer from John Smith, of Leeds. H. R. will perceive that his answer is not exactly correct. ANSWER TO QUESTION 32. MR. EDITOR,-Four reasons may be given out of a great number, why people in the health than our people in large towns. First-They breathe a healthier atmosphere, it being well known that in large towns the decomposition of animal substances, the odour of sewers, the smoke of chimneys, the breathing of the inhabitants, &c., fill the atmosphere with gases, which, in proportion to their strength, are injurious to health. Second-They eat simpler, and consequently, more natural and nourishing food. Third-They have more exercise in the open air. Fourth-They retire to rest much earlier in the evening, by which they avoid the damp, oppressive, and poisonous night air, and they rise much earlier in the morning, by which they avail themselves of the pure, bracing, and life-giving atmosphere of the opening day. Hoping you will deem this answer satisfactory, I am, Yours sincerely, AN OLD SUBSCRIBER. Deeply interesting answers to this question have been received from John Smith, "A Senior Scholar," Bilston, "One who has never been to school," and "A mere youth," Oldham. The first is rather too lengthy. The three latter preclude themselves from our pages, by not giving their names and addresses. ANSWER TO QUESTION 33. SIR,-To your question about country generally enjoy better hard and soft water, I beg to swer: offer the following an- ral mixtures with which it comes in contact as it passes through the earth, but which soft water, being chiefly discharged from the clouds, does not contain. Pure water is composed of two gases, oxygen and hydrogen, the proportions being eight parts of the former to one of the latter. The only difference between hard water and soft, is that hard water, being taken from springs and pumps, contains sulphate of lime, commonly called plaster of Paris, together with many other mine Yours, affectionately, JUVENIS PRECEPTOR. Burslem, Staffordshire. This question has also been correctly answered by J. R. W., of Mapplewell, with whose paper we are well pleased. POETRY. A WHISPER FROM THE GRAVE OF A SUNDAY SCHOLAR. God has blessed thy kind tuition, On an infant's heart like mine; When thy suppliant knee was bending, To the burden of thy plea. When beside my pillow standing, When my feeble frame was shaking, Happier in a happy land. Fond instructor, sighing, weeping, Soothe thy sorrow, mourn not so; Far beyond a vale of woe. |