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cide in so many heathen countries. In many places the crime of childmurder is so common and so little thought of, that there are few parents whose hands have not been imbrued in the blood of their innocent off spring. I do not think it would serve any good purpose to relate in detail any of the fearful instances of this crime that have come under the observation of Foreign Missionaries; but I may just mention one or two things to show you the extent to which this revolting practice has prevailed. When the deputation from the London Missionary Society visited the Society Islands in 1829, Mr. Bennet was conversing one evening with the Rev. John Williams, in his house in the island of Raiatea, on the subject of infanticide. It so happened that in the room where they were sitting, three native women were engaged in sewing articles of dress, under Mrs. Williams' superintendence. But I had better narrate the conversation in the Missionary's own words. "After replying to Mr. Bennet's inquiries, I said: 'I have no doubt that each of these women have destroyed some of their children.' Looking at them with an expression of surprise and incredulity, Mr. Bennet exclaimed, 'Impossible! Such motherly, respectable women could never have been guilty of such an atrocity.' 'Well,' I added, 'we'll ask them.' Addressing the first, I said to her, Friend, how many children have you destroyed?' She was startled at my question, and at first charged me with unkindness in harrowing up her feelings by bringing the destruction of her babes to her remembrance; but on hearing the object of my inquiry, she replied, with a faltering voice, I have destroyed nine. The second, with tears, said, 'I have destroyed seven; and the third informed us that she had destroyed five. Thus three individuals, casually selected, had killed twenty-one children! But I am happy to add that these mothers were, at the time of this conversation, and continued to be as long as I knew them, consistent members of the church under my care. Mr. Williams also tells us of a school-examination of the children

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of the same island, at which there were 600 present, most of them dressed in European garments, made by those very parents who would have destroyed them, had not Christianity come to their rescue. The children carried flags having such inscriptions as these -"What a blessing the Gospel is!" -"Had it not been for the Gospel we should have been destroyed as soon as we were born." Others had texts of Scripture, such as, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not."-" Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." It was a happy day for the children, and as happy a day for the parents. "While the scholars were repeating the hymns and lessons that they had prepared for the oceasion, the appearance of the parents," says Mr. Williams, "was most affecting. The eyes of some were gleaming with delight as the father said to the mother, or the mother to the father, What a mercy it is that we spared our dear girl!' In the midst of our proceedings, a venerable chieftain, gray with age arose, and with impassioned look and manner exclaimed, Let me speak: I must speak!' On obtaining permission, he thus proceeded; Oh, that I had known the Gospel was coming! Oh, that I had known these blessings were in store for us; then I should have saved my children, and they would have been among this happy group, repeating these precious truths. But, alas! I destroyed them all; I have not one left, and I shall die childless. After this he sat down, and in a flood of tears gave vent to his agonized feelings?"

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Now, my young friends, but for Missions, or rather but for that Gospel which it is the object of Missions to make known throughout the earth, you might have been born to a fate like that which met the infant Raiateans on their entrance into life; for these fearful atrocities are common in countries where the Gospel is unknown; but wherever it has found its way and been embraced, it puts an end for ever to all such horrid cruelties.

But, secondly, love to Jesus should enlist your affections and energies in the cause of Missions. He takes a

deep and constant interest in this work. It was to secure its objects that he became man, and died upon the cross, and is now making intercession at the right hand of God. If you love the Saviour, you cannot but love an undertaking for the success and final triumph of which he has done and suffered so much. I trust you all feel a lively interest in the success of Missions, and read with attention and anxiety the information furnished in your Monthly Missionary Magazines. It is a good sign for a little boy or girl to be fond of reading, or speaking about the progress of the Gospel among the heathen. It is proof presumptive that they have some idea of the value of the Gospel, and that they are glad to see others brought under its benign and saving influence. On the other hand, when you see children unconcerned about Missions, is there not reason to fear that they care little about the Gospel themselves, and, despite their privileges and profession, are living strangers to its power?

Thirdly, A desire to obey the will of Jesus should secure your affections and services to the cause of Missions. It is his will that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. Accordingly, the last commandment he gave to his disciples before his ascension to glory was in these words "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel unto every creature." Now, you are not to suppose that this commandment was laid only upon the disciples, and that only ministers in modern times have to do with it. You are not even to suppose that it refers only to grown. up people. It concerns all Christ's followers, whether they be old or young. Every person, whatever be his age, who has felt himself a lost sinner, and who has repented of his sins, and found peace unto his soul by believing in Jesus, is bound by this commandment to do everything in his power to promote the progress of the Gospel throughout the earth. As soon as we are capable of perceiving our own need of salvation, and have been gathered into the fold of Jesus, it becomes our bounden duty to use every means to bring other wanderers

home. And if we set about the work in the appointed manner, and in the proper spirit, we have no reason to fear that our efforts shall be in vain in the Lord. On the other hand, great danger is incurred by those who ne glect their duty in this important matter; for God is very angry at those who refuse to assist in the work, as is evident from what he says in Judges, v. 23, "Curse ye Meros, saith the angel of the Lord; curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, They came not to the help of the Lord against the mighty."

Once more, Love to your fellow men should induce you to seek the good of Missions. You have heard a little about the misery that prevails in heathen countries. And would you not like to do something towards banishing such misery from the earth? You would not like yourselves to be living in a state of heathenism, and ought you not to do as you would be done by? "Whatsoever, therefore, ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."

Time forbids me to enter at present on the consideration of the various ways in which you may further the cause of Missions; as, for instance, by recommending their support to your friends and companions; by contributing of your own property or money to their funds, and by prayer to God on their behalf.

Let me conclude by reminding you of the necessity of giving yourselves first to Christ, before you profess any interest in the cause of Missions. What will it signify to you whether the heathen are converted and saved or not, if you are neither converted nor saved yourselves? Why attempt to keep the vineyard of others, if your own vineyard you have not kept? Look to Jesus every one of you; give your hearts to Him, and not to the world; and I do assure you, on the authority of Scripture, as well as the experience of all that have served the Lord in early life, that you will never repent your choice, for you will find that "Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." D. J.

The Cabinet.

CHRIST THE DOCTRINAL FOUNDATION OF HIS

CHURCH.

THE Saviour's doctrines are founded on his doings; and the first of these is his active obedience. He came not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it, and so to bring in an everlasting righteousness, which is the ground of all our saving mercies. The next is his sufferings: our iniquity was laid upon him, and he was bruised for our transgressions. Christian! this is a question you are deeply concerned in. If he had not suffered punishment, you could not have enjoyed pardon. Look to him, then, and rejoice; for he not only ransomed his Church, but provided every instrument needful to her salvation. He received gifts for men, for the rebellious. His meritorious death is the fountain of inexhaustible merit, from which all goodness flows; and of this we receive, and grace to answer grace.

Again; we have the great fact of his resurrection from the dead, which is valuable as an evidence that Divine Justice was pleased with the price which had been paid in discharge of the debt. This lays a sure foundation for the resurrection of his people to glory and felicity. The graves of the human race will be opened, and the dead, hearing his voice, shall come forth to judgment. He himself is the first-fruits of this vast harvest. He hath also ascended up on high, and is now exalted at the right hand of the Father, who hath given all power into his hand. There he interced es for his people, and whatever he asks in their behalf he obtains; and hence he is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him. Such are some of the stupendous facts which relate to the Saviour. In what follows I use the term foundation as synonymous with ground, or reason, cause, means, and the like; and accordingly I observe,

1. That Jesus Christ is the foundation of life." This is the record, that God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." Here is wisdom. Here is the root upon which the fruits of salvation grow. This is the origin of all that is gracious, and happy, and good. By nature, O Christian! you are dead,-utterly and hopelessly dead. There is nothing within you that can lead to a resurrection of the fallen soul.

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Once were you dead, then, but now are you alive; and with your Lord you shall live for evermore. Yes, you are dead; but “your life is hid with Christ in God." Reader! are you a backslider, whose soul is dying from a neglect of the fountain of life? Return, and be strengthened. Sinner! "arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Not yet tired of sleep and sin! Get up! Shake off your slumbers! Open your eyes, and look around! See what sins are behind you! what a judgment is before you!

2. Jesus Christ is the foundation of repentance.—He is “exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins." This is the first boon that he confers upon a lost creature. "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." This is Jesus' doctrine. Here again is wisdom. Reader! be well convinced that you have repented with godly sorrow. The foundation of all great buildings is serious work. Whatever is to stand long must be laid deep. Now, the temple of the Lord is to endure even to eternity. A true penitent finds that he has been a servant and a temple of Satan,-a creature that disregarded the will and the honour of his God, and earned only the wages of destruction. He feels that all this has endangered his soul, and that he deserves to die. The conviction is sharpened to agony by the thought that he has dishonoured God, and despised Christ: "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned." Here is the essence of true repentance. No more is now heard of virtue, and works, and self-righteousness, and other refuges of lies. The soul throws itself in the very dust, full of self-abhorrence. Nothing can now satisfy it but God. "Thy favour is life; thy lovingkindness is better than life." Reader! have you been brought to this pass? Would it be hell enough to you that God's favour should be withdrawn, and you remain the subject of his displeasure? No salvation without this! See, then, that the work in you be begun, and that it be deep, and also deepening day by day continually.

3. Jesus Christ is the object of faith and the foundation of justification. He is "the Author and the Finisher of faith," as well as the great object of it; and "in him shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory." Here again is the mind that hath wisdom. Christian! "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into your heart, to give the light of the knowledge of his glory, in the face of Jesus Christ." Your soul, quickened, wounded, abased, and driven from every subterfuge, was pierced with a sense of helplessness and depravity. All hope was

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gone! Now appeared the "hope of Israel"-the Saviour! You discovered his glory, his suitableness, and his ability to save you. You were then powerfully and sweetly constrained to throw yourself into the arms of Divine mercy through him. Having reached the foundation, and being convinced of its strength, you now rest upon it, and are cemented to it by a living faith. You believed God, and set to your seal that he is true. You have taken hold of Christ; you have trusted in him for your own special benefit, and made a particular application of him to yourself.

Seekers after peace to your souls! learn the way to obtain it. Ye who are resting in your own righteousness, learn your error and danger, and flee to the cross. Hardened sinner! come hither, and we will teach you the fear of the Lord. He waits to receive you; full of love, he exercises patience; but love despised will turn to vengeance, and patience have an end!

0.

FELICITY ATTENDANT UPON THE OBSERVANCE OF PUBLIC ORDINANCES.

"With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation."—ISA. xii. 3. THE chapter contains a hymn of praise for the Church on her restoration from captivity. While she sat by the streams of Babel and wept, she was not in a mood to sing one of the songs of Zion. These songs were not congenial to a strange land. The abundance of the spiritual privileges which they were to inherit is clearly pointed out. The wells were to be numerous, and plentifully supplied with water. In other words, the means of grace were everywhere to exist in the largest measure. There is here an action to be performed.

1. Water is to be drawn.-Man cannot live without water. Bread alone will not sustain his existence. Give him the finest food that earth produces, and without water he would soon be a dead man. In like manner, the truth of the Gospel will not suffice for the sustenance of souls without the grace of the Holy Spirit. The truth may be ably and fully preached, and ordinances may be purely and abundantly administered, but unless the dew and the rain come down from heaven, there will be speedy death among the graces.

2. That water must be drawn from God's well.-Every Christian church, where the word and ordinances are properly dispensed, is a well of salvation. There the water of life is supplied from the fountain of Divine love. This allegation is supported by all Scripture, and by all experience. The record of the Church of God is one

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