Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

THE PSALMIST'S

REVELATION.

God, even our own God shall bless us.

7. God shall bless us ; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

PARALLEL PREDICTIONS.

of the hand of those who served themselves of them. Ezek. xxxiv. 27.

They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. Isaiah lxv. 23.

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. Psalm xxii. 27. A. A.

(To be continued.)

The Psalms, indited under the influence of Him, to whom all hearts are known, and all events foreknown, suit mankind in all situations, grateful as the manna that descended from above, and conformed itself to every palate. The fairest productions of human wit, after a few perusals, like gathered flowers, wither in our hands, and lose their fragrance; but these unfading plants of Paradise become, as we are accustomed to them, still more and more beautiful; their bloom appears to be daily heightened, fresh odours are emitted, and new sweets extracted from them. He who has once tasted of their excellences, will desire to taste them yet again; and he who tastes them oftenest will relish them most.-BISHOP HORne.

QUESTIONS ON THE COLLECTS.

THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.

(Being the same Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, as the First Sunday after Christmas.

1. To what events connected with our Saviour's birth and childhood, is the mind dirccted in the service for this day?

2. What particular instructions were conveyed to the Jewish Church upon the subject of circumcision?

3. To what corresponding rite in the Christian Church are such instructions generally applicable ?

1st SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.

1. What allusion to the calling of the Gentiles is there in the service for this day?

2. What duties are enforced on the Christian by our Saviour's words, and actions?

3. On what ground are Christian duties urged?

2nd SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.

1. What allusions to the calling of the Gentiles, and to our Lord's Epiphany are to be found in the service for this day?

2. What particular rules are laid down for the direction of the faithful?

3. What motives to obedience are to be found?

3rd SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.

1. What allusions to the conversion and bringing in of the Gentiles are to be found in the service for this day?

2. What are the joyful results of the bringing in of the Gentiles?

3. What peculiar graces are we commanded to manifest, and how are we to obtain power and strength ?

SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.

Preparatory to the Fast of Lent.

1. What information desirable for the promotion of repentance, is afforded in the first lessons for this day? 2. In what portions of the service is mortification of the flesh recommended?

3. What motives for the practice are suggested?

Literary Notices.

WE have been more than usually favoured this month with a variety of works which it is a pleasure to introduce to the notice of our readers.

THE FEMALE VISITOR TO THE POOR; by the DAUGHTER OF A CLERGYMAN. (Seeley.) needs no recommendation from us. Most of its chapters have already appeared in our Magazine, under the titles of the Bible Class, the Cottage Reading, &c. We know of no work more likely to cheer and stimulate the young Christian in her first efforts among the poor of Christ's flock. The village tales are full of pathos and simple interest, and though it be the smallest of its recommendations, we cannot forbear noticing the peculiar charm of its simple and graceful style. May the blessing of the Lord accompany it, that she who has been so largely blessed herself among the cottages of the poor, may find at the great day, that she has been the honoured means of leading others forward in the same path of usefulness and happiness.

THE MEMOIR OF MRS. ANN JOHNSTONE. (Hamilton and Co.) is another work well calculated to arouse us to a sense of the duties resting upon us as Christian women, and the blessings which we lose by neglect of those duties. Our earthly spirits are so prone

66

to set up a low standard, formed not by the law of the Lord, which is exceeding broad, but by the example of our fellow Christians, in a day when religion is more marked by width than depth, that it is well to hear of one who could say: Frequently from five o'clock in the morning, until a late hour at night, the soul was so filled with believing views of the blessed Jesus, as a King and a Priest upon his throne for ever, that scarcely a wandering thought would be suffered to obtrude or draw away the mind; and sometimes in secret prayer and spiritual meditation, the Divine character and perfections in the scheme of apostate man's redemption by a crucified Redeemer, the love of Christ, the promises of the covenant, and the joys and glories of heaven, were exhibited by the Spirit with such a vividness of spiritual perception, as to be too bright for mortal eyes to behold; and as the tide of light, life, and love continued to flow into the soul, she was made to cry out, like the godly John Welsh, Hold, Lord, thy weak vessel can contain no more." "

6

Another work has been forwarded to us by the beloved and now glorified Authoress whose triumphant death was announced a short time since in our pages. THE GREAT COMMANDMENT, by the AUTHOR of the ListenER. (Seeley.) The main object of this book is to make all that we have known and felt of human love, instrumental in enabling us to realize the love of God, to transfer that love from the region of mysticism, which makes many feel it impossible to decide whether God loves them, or they have love to God. It contains many beautiful passages, and we trust may be useful in dispelling these clouds ; but we must confess the impression left on our own mind, was, that in her desire to vindicate the love of the Father,

« EdellinenJatka »