THE PAINS OF SCEPTICISM.-David Hume, after witnessing in the family of the venerable La Roche those consolations which the Gospel only can impart, confessed with a sigh that "there were moments when, amidst all the pleasures of philosophical discovery, and the pride of literary fame, he wished that he never had doubted." -The Business of Life.

ACCOUNTS FOR ETERNITY.-When the Rev. Mr.

once

heard an infidel jestingly say, "I always spend the Sunday in settling my accounts," that venerable minister turned round and said, in accents of solemnity never to be forgotten, "You may find, sir, that the day of judgment is to be spent in exactly the same manner!"-Ibid.

THE HAPPY MEETING OF BODY AND SOUL IN THE RESURRECTION. When we pull down a house, with the intention to rebuild it, or repair the ruins of it, we warn the inhabitants out of it, lest they should be soiled with the dust and rubbish, or offended with the noise, and so for a time provide some other place for them; but when we have again trimmed and dressed up the house, then we bring them back to a better habitation. Thus God, when he overturneth this rotten room of our flesh, calleth out the soul for a little time, and lodgeth it with himself in some corner of his kingdom, but repaireth the breaches of our bodies against the resurrection; and then, having made them decent, yea, glorious and incorruptible, he doth put our souls back again into their well-known mansions. -Chrysostom.

CORRESPONDENCE.

SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTY.

REV. SIR,-In answer to Mary W.'s letter, in this month's TEACHER'S VISITOR, perhaps I may be allowed to make the following remarks, explanatory of the difficulty expressed in connecting the 16th and 17th verses of the ninth chapter of Matthew with the 15th verse.

Instead of entering into a lengthened argument as to the propriety of his requirements, our Lord answers the question proposed to him by one of his simple illustrations referring to the national custom of the Jews at their Marriage Feasts, namely, that while the Bridegroom remained, it was a time for rejoicing and festivity-the reverse of fasting. Our Lord is often spoken of as the "Bridegroom." At the time of proposing the above question, the disciples of our Lord and John were in different circumstances-the former having Christ with them, while John was at the time cast into prison.

Jesus further explains himself by delivering the two Parables recorded, that it was not policy to put new cloth into an old garment, or new wine into old (leather) bottles, as it would destroy

both. The Jews had already more ceremonies and ordinances laid upon them than they were able to bear; and having been brought up in them, they would very naturally not be willing to part with them without reluctance: our Lord would not, therefore, add new customs to their old ones; that is, "put new wine into old bottles."

A practical exposition of both parables will, I think, be found in the Epistle to the Church at Antioch, recorded (in the 15th chapter of the Acts.

I think the doctrine to be deduced is this, that we are not to lay too much on or expect too much from young converts. While we must insist on their giving up every thing fundamentally wrong, we must not expect entire reformation in minor matters at once. In a word, we can hardly expect conversion and perfection simultaneously.

Many of your readers will doubtless give you a better elucidation of the passage, but I think the above will be found to be in the main correct.

I remain, Rev. Sir, yours respectfully,

London, December 9th, 1848.

W. H.

SUMMARY OF NEWS.

"There are many devices in a man's heart: nevertheless the counsel of the Lord that shall stand."

We are now entering upon a new year, which seems in prospect likely to be as eventful as the last has been in retrospect. The future is crowded with as many images, some of brighter hues, some more gloomy, as the past has been. At present, events have been occurring of such a mixed kind, and in such a confused series, that it is almost impossible for the mind to associate and classify them. The exhortation to the Christian is, "wait." We are in danger at the present moment of excitement-magnifying and distorting our unbelief would lead us to disregard and pass by. May our minds be evenly poised between these two extremes; on the one hand discerning these signs of the times, and on the other referring them to their true position in the events of time. At such a period Mr. Stewart's Annual Address on the Special Out-pouring of God's Holy Spirit, and his invitation to prayer for this blessed result on the day on which this appears before our readers, is peculiarly appropriate. We trust that many will be found availing themselves of a privilege which is so opportune, and may be productive of

:

so much benefit. The events which are the most momentous at the present time, are chiefly occurring on the Continent. The Emperor of Austria has abdicated the throne in favour of his ne phew, the Archduke Francis Joseph, who is to commence his reign under the title of Francis Joseph I. Active measures are to be carried on for the subjugation of Hungary, to which we adverted in our last, and the constitutional assembly will occupy themselves with many internal reforms; such as the free dom of the press and the people; economy in the public expenditure; and the consolidation of the empire.

We turn to Rome. The reflecting could not fail to see that the crisis was approaching, and that if revolutionary innovations were not granted by the Pope, they would be extorted by the people. The last act in the drama was the appointment by the Pope of Mamiani, the Radical democrat; but the concession was made too late, the populace became enraged, and his subjects forgot their spiritual allegiance, in their republican partialities. Rossi, the Prime Minister, was assassinated. The Pope was urged to fly, and leave them to their own devices. He did so in the disguise of a servant of the Bavarian Legation, and took refuge in Gaëta, in the dominions of the king of Naples. Since the fourteenth century, we believe, such an event as the flight of a Pope has not been heard of. In the mean time, the student of prophecy is endeavouring to scrutinize these events by the light of God's book of truth, and hopes that the days may soon arrive when it will be said of the great mystery of iniquity, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen."

Ibrahim Pasha's death has been recently reported. He is succeeded by his nephew, Abbas Pasha, the governor of Cairo, and now viceroy of Egypt. He is about five-and-thirty, of quiet habits, and a strict Mahommedan.

We have seen a report of the French Canadian Missionary Society, which seems to give a very encouraging view of its operations. There is an institution in Montreal attached to it for the education of missionaries, from which six are now labouring among the French population. There are sixty students at present in it; but there is a heavy debt of £1600 on the building, for which succour is asked from the British public. The efforts of the society are principally against the Church of Rome, and it is composed of different denominations of Christians.

Our readers must have been greatly interested in Lord Ashley's meeting among the thieves of London. Such a scene as was then witnessed, far exceeds the most romantic tales of abandoned life that were ever penned. 207 thieves were present, and none but

those who were of this fraternity were permitted to enter. The great object of the meeting was to persuade them to emigrate, and many professed themselves willing to do this. At a former meeting, at which 138 were present, 137 declared themselves ready to abandon their "profession" and leave for the colonies; 13 of whom are now in the wilds of Canada. Very few men are wilfully dishonest. The generality of abandoned characters with whom the streets of the metropolis swarm, would, we believe, embrace a better mode of life, if they could find it. And such a meeting may be a prelimi. nary effort for a good end, viz., that of reclaiming the profligate and dissolute, to virtue and piety.

A document of some interest has recently appeared, shewing from what sources the revenue of our Colonial Bishops is derived. It appears that there are now 21, whose joint incomes amount to £46,000. Of these, eight only receive government assistance:* Nova Scotia, Montreal, Newfoundland, Jamaica, Barbadoes, Antigua, Guiana, and New Zealand. The grants which are made to these sees amount to £14,790. The rest of their incomes is contributed—a gratifying thought in these days of parsimony—from private sources.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

If the correspondent who asks us a question about Cain's wife, will refer to Genesis v. 4. she will find it expressly mentioned that Adam had daughters as well as sons. There can be little doubt that one of these daughters was Cain's wife.

We wait for a better explanation of Matthew ix. 16, 17. than that given by a "Sunday-school Teacher." Our correspondent's letter contains much that is valuable, but does not enter sufficiently into the difficulties of the passage.

In answer to another correspondent, we beg to say that the question of the first and second resurrections is an exceedingly difficult one. We do not see, however, any reason to infer, from St. John's statement, that those who rise at the first resurrection shall not appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, in order that their acquittal, although previously certain, may then be declared before the assembled universe.

Several communications received, but deferred.

* We are anxious that this fact should be noticed, as very gross mis-statements have been put forth on the subject, with a view to injure the Church of England.

J. FOSTER, PRINTER, KIRKBY LONSDALE.

(From a little work published by Gallie, Glasgow, entitled "The Young Man's Aid to Improvement, Success, and True Happiness.")

A YOUNG man left his father's house in the country at the age of fifteen. He had a pious mother, and had been the subject of early religious instructions and impressions. After he began to reside in the city, according to his parent's directions, he attended the faithful preaching of the Gospel, and was of hopeful habits. He, however, kept himself aloof from the more personal and special means of religion, yet still believing it to be important, and designing to attend to it at a future time. He formed an acquaintance with associates less favourable to religion, with whom his feelings gradually learned to sympathise. He went on in this way some four or five years, without much obvious change, though he was of course resisting convictions, hardening his heart, and laying the foundation of his moral ruin. He often received letters from his mother, reminding him of his duty, and urging him to it, over some of which he was constrained to drop a tear and make good resolutions.

But the way of his heart was steadily backward from God. Every month hardened him the more in impiety. He at length began to give rather free indulgence to the theatre, and to other dissipating amusements and pleasures. His place in the house of God was sometimes vacated, especially in the afternoon, and he was almost never at the evening religious lectures. His mother's letters he read with less attention than formerly, for he had begun to think himself a young man of some importance, quite competent to think and judge for himself