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■H i •me*UUo* and fellowship u* draw H | Md tbs heart lb at tries to be P” rf * ft «H IU Wllt.raS Will fittd i W It CM Mm b* safe to lira t. rxKitradlctlec «t oiM of (he law* of Visitor Rude 4 Idler, Editors. 1^7, f-M: -y' : ' '■■■'■ 1 - f "OHE LORD, OKE FAITH, Oil BAPTISE. •ZPHESIAVS IV: 5. r ' t < i'rifrflT , Terms: $2.00 a Tew. Series, vol 6-no. is. COLUMBIA, S. FRIDAY. JAM ARY 23. 1874 Di n SFRTPS vm c vn erro (CM*”*] I** no evidenoe In to support the baptism was admmis- i among the early ■ext examine the connected with [ytea applied to baptism, they snpport the immersion. Up m, tit, apo, Af in fbouded arga of their theory, they will bear (impartial examination, primary meaning of en kgl tdiaotaa red ia a finer; irtioo it is correctly Tbufc "“The tower fiamm»(take xiii: 14); en, band of God,” (Rom. ft is said (Matt. \ii: 6) “were baptized of jth) is Jordan.” Af I bare been an equally and we tiink lire of the actual to the Baptist the that John staod when he baptized; does not follow more than m Bethlehem other place, bare edge; ease are we justifiable [that he immersod. The settles the question of I proximity to the water, I (be mode of administration nothing whatever to do. i how Is ei» translated in other «f Scripture! Mark says “John did baptize (en) in bnt will our oppo- ^wkt that the subjects were Its the wilderness—plunged Lob* |p • 3) *«*•« • on* l all me country a^out (peri) preaching the baptism of if aud John e^ys (i: 28) |%m things were done in hiabara beyond (pron) Jor “ad that “John also was (en) in JEnan, near to Bat this prepanition, in iMBeetions, evidently has no to the mode of baptism, is Jordanan plies sub mb Jordan, then what in the of baptizing “beyond Jor* ring “in BethaWa,” and ! “is the wilderness V Ike preposition er is also teadered Kith, indicative of thf which a thing it performed. • ®•It, Is correctly rendered “i indeed baptize yoi (ev en) “•ter* The same translation 'teains place in othei connec "Thoa shatt love tie Lord I® 1 * (**) vith (not in) all thy Ifaaj with all tty soui, jW vith all thy mind.’ (Matt. : &) “If the salt haveajst hit I'm Uni) Kith (not t» what 6 seasoned V (Matt, r: 13.) examples, and ethers, that the prepetition designates the means ^•tilingis done; andhence, ‘“wffrwatei^Miitt.iii: 11) I that water is the itaana by k *i ordinance is ad mi mitered; *h«s aot’tbe most diatait adit ***• node of using or apply- %aio, this little word i, u*-d ^•pi/jr the agency by wkich a ’•olfeeted. Hence, it is writ* ** i: 5): “Ye shall be bq>- W by the Holy Gboa.” 1 Promise refers to the com mi- Holy Spirit, it is oi- *>at en affords no evident, °r immersing—bat h *€*lnst it, inasmuch as the ^teseant has more affinity tt ^than to plunging . hi a limikr r* passive, inert element, in which the apostles were plunged. Just as they plunge a man in water ; bat this is «* absurd as anything w hioh we can conceive, and ia nls> utterly fatal to the sense of the passage. Ws couelade then that the parti* cle en has no bearing in oonme- «ou with ita uss iu the Scriptures relative to baptism, favoring sub* mersion ; but, on the other hand, ita weight, whatever it might be, when rightly understood and translated, is cast op the st# of affhsion or sprinkling. (d) The advocates of immersion adduce, in aappor* of their theory, Mark It 9: “Jesus was baptised by John (fit) is Jordan. 1 * Bnt Wt It be borne it mind that the Greek particles are frequently seed, tbs one for the other, and this teat will be of littlo etrength to their argn meut. In the following verse we read: “And straightway ascending (not “ont off but mpo t ) from the water,» etc. And the same form ia used in the corresponding peasage in Matt, ill: lfi. Bat whilst oar English translation reads, “owl of the water,” any ooe who ia at all ac quainted with Greek knows this translation is wrong, aad that it ahor.ld be rendered, “from the water.” Then if our Lord ascended, not “oaf off but “from the water,” we eon elude that tit (Mark i: 9) would be correctly translated si or by. Ac cordingly, we have no evidence that Jesus was in the water at all, much less that He was immersed. We conclude, therefore, that the baptism ef our Lord by no means prearmt* a ds»ar case of immersion. (t) Acts viii: 38, is adduced in evidence of immersion. “And they west down both (tit) into the water, both Philip and the eunuch. ’ The baro declaration of their “info the water,” as our English m sion rands, ta regarded as eottrlusive evidence of the immersion of the eunuch. But if this text afford* such evidence as this, then the logi cal inference must be that Philip *m iww««<l *»!•-* ■ t.M> iuk«r w«»m» down both into the water, b*»(k Philip and the nfasdk” This argument therefore proves too mocb, and con sequentlv proves nothing favorable that the water in this case was «ufl| JW flw: ciatilly deep for the purpose of total immersion # * CfJ Tkni place where the eunuch The Mosaic Institutes were was baptised is evident* to the case signed to fashion a iee* tor that ho probably was not immersed. It wae most probably a barren waste —a desert proper j but to Aad a body of water in such a place saffirieet for total immersion would he strange indeed. The narrative aaya they nat tp* t* uder—to ome water. Bel bow mwah f Tbe praaooa H cams tiwuse has a diminutive tease; aad why My that not V* Ita sigufiewtioa beret Aad If so, then we weald Md, -they came to a Utile water.” And when the eaaaeh saw it he «t claimed Horn ndra—“IrfisM water f* He dues not Indeed say lew mark, bat seams *urprld*itod pleased to And any water in inch a plane. Bo tor then as aa argument eaa be baaed upon the literal terms pm ployed la the New Testament ta dee ignatc baptism, wt coaclade that they do not afford the alighteat proof that It was administered by immer •loo. ■ ’ j (XV da otodmase and worship of God. Feuded upon the dorMfr of the Iriviae Unify, they totty ffisogomed thin to the sepeemacy si His aa ihonty as Uwgtver sod King as as la the peetortlaa d Hia am tare as aa ot^eet ef tbU Christianity la the JiHlaiam, the of the one at sthtv. We sigaaltoe at toM at iImm —^ aaasrm to the words at •erj lit, ito to (hr ti tow m to be worn as a tweeo tbe ayaa ” making as oat as tha attracts of His ktofMiif It Is easy to show the ground If this re* qutreaseot under every form to wbkb rsflftoa may he dispensed. I. Tiers it m Uw of sffttiriin he * *• ©'■wwsirw gtheoed by bis af as coming from the hand of dad i amd thus we shook! all tern to mrive thorn They mast neoaa •srtty come, nod when they come, thsy mwar be boras; bat they can eelv be borae with ■uhniitatooB, aa to Is a aad night; bwtTLaa fa of* withnat God Is aa awful oad O how I pity that poor crest a re. laid tbs bad af languishing, toll of It is ilttrr Selections. Hidssmkg tka Tteto" That to, “baying ap the opportu nity.” la this swam the worde nm- vey pertinent lemums tor tha begin mnf of ssattof year. To “redeem the tiam” la to make the best sad waeewt wee of e«rb ; event in ortr life sa It tr*a*ptree; it l« to titer berg* omrit duty as t« wmiu, I whether it lie greet or small, whether it attract the ntte»t«o» at the world ef ear Kbps not daly lytog salty between all tocalties through ahkh off into each other aad tod edbet. Thought, tends by it* t»W U fi H<rtk the glow we etpertrtic*. and tonkng, when It to temla to cry ataliae in sstbm of the will; result la embodied la an. Which etsuds both •ratntlve of the w h.4«, in this way tha U«A i and (Msreetvee. a eoweptomaan dels may be more attractive than the hid* den crons bearing. Y at on if throw gh this “baying up of opportunity * os , Itofftthm then svstle i .r.niml «. or b. k.».. m\J »UO |wl ^ ll ». „ o«k^l ennubongij n ■ Ml ** —- ——fc .. ,_s i njsss e*»*l through iIh* spiritual beta ft I within tha eonl. and i t rfi lit «.««)> « tlH- -MThMI h.,. . |bn| ■Out (b.l silt ,-cum . Urg, proAt, (orth m •su a pure and gcMsI . horartor be tfcr ^ wisb, fi»e illustrotion, to ho ! come a charitable mss Mow can you obtain o charitable temper, a frame of mind that always pats the best rssatrsetiwi upon the enndort by any i G**f* mtpetmmey net mate Itdymd, a* trvlf #i felt. Had friend to his pf'oe, to pat tots Ms band a •attobte remedy to rwtoe him ap, or to afford him even a hula help; bat I frity from my heart, a thousand times mow, the miserable wrotoh that lies bwnod with the cords of attktiou, aad straggtlflg with disease, without nay eeaae af a divine Providence, without acknowledging that it la the epi ritual h*»d wf Clad, and whn never cnee to Him Who alone can haul aad can anvsk. Christian, tt is yoar privilege, aa dor all the sorrows which ion are nallrd to bear, to look ap, and any, “th# lawd reigneth, clowds and dark ] dtlrrmi-1 *tom are r«mad about Ilka; right d j e»*o*nr** sod judgment are the hab< e tot»o« af Rte thrown.” It to traa yam 1 top** ant develop the whole of the j divine pis*, yet yoa ana hear your teat Nanny, nnd any, “It to good tor me to he afflicted * When God scads a rcoas, U tor it of react tom » « • * .* *»...«• they thus ummsom*. they mere Aactaatiag and emotisMUt, hat ere stereotyped m 1, pt our grvu’e to take it «p and to follow him. thrive Mo enable each to am H w.sely, band lest it be aa|w*dltabto; to tmsr it H patieatli, lest tt be intolerable ... .m Theie we see «iod*s auger against that by ton. ami Ifts tore towards ilte child, ha * If it he light, lot ns not alight it; if u, ,, issiw'tr'.* jmt/teuru JJ»MJp t'.tn M a b*nl.n*.l bttrX ( Mi b> to into dt*|deanrd nt Kits pleasure la a sign anewt eb me«tt* at owr character ^ a'rebofluiua will. May oar fwayer be that of Archtnahop Teaataoa, “O t» he Lord, give to me. Thy child, what to He to proper, whatever It may he I dare 1 ear Kmg by the dowhle right now at J tod aek either crosses or c**efbrte. of motion, I only present myself before Thee; I (mi of war sllewteorw He open my heart to Thee. Behold my Mtoti requires aa open sohmtsefcm to hta. owita, which I am Igaoraat of a»4 you can control an impaiaa to rt*lt M thortty. This is the more just, [ da ncooedtag to Thy merry. Kail to rale a friend** conduct, and, instead, Mfir# ^ .baft g ^ ^ b<* baa <* h«nl, depraaa me or raiar me ap. a«n And aasaothtag to proton Hera ^ tapnlmm of hta I Thy purpose* witJtool yoa saw at leoat heap ademee where'. , *ad the world atonal ae dtojtatowiag them; I oftor atyasKT ll there My he ao goad to he said. *|to« t lt ||«,m ran it be otherwise sarriheej I abandon myaalf to Thus row will acquire la time a ahar- than that God shoald he tenloas of I have ao awsre nay desire hat to ac (table temper Bach -bnyta* ap of H to pretugalive, when It to every appartauitv* will be wnttee in yoov ***** profanely rhaltoage*! aad character, just aa each day’s son „hatiesialy dented I If the heart be •hiae end eaoh atght’e dewy enetoeee nmlnlotd by the power af Ilia gram, tie paramount obligate* la to eaa There to no eepevtal refovnney t« ft** pwblirty before men the loyalty these words to Christian ectlvttv. * which to toll, sad to disavow tbe ia- Many a Christian means to he aaefnl, eorrvrthMt ia which It hm! prei loaeiy •Ighs over the little He areomptleh**, been Imldtcnled. bat really «k«es alwi<iwt mdhtag, he- 3. The jdeas are pm to (hrtor as cause he fUlts to “bay up oppnrtoui fffe torraa/ reward It wH an ap poaaible promise, when as an earnest tj” as It present* Htoetf. Christ Isa 1 pear la beavea when they shall shine ] student, poor and pctmtteee, yet sax Ions, bejuad words to express, to to ianugrtioo. And baeide* thin, their going “into the wafer” IM not nf tber*f Manifestly constitute the act of baptism. dwgle art of th- wtM ; But the original text does not *MI yowreeff into a charttaide | prove that Philip sad the eunnch W Bat you eaa stula what ?«* rmleaiptton a* wet went farther than to the margin of i by “baying ap the water, ffto to odor, translated, **"* present tbemaMvea “tkto the water,” may, with equal correctness, be rendered, “to the water.” A few examples will eatab lish this point Acts xxvt: 14: “And when we were all fallen (eto) to tbe earth”—not into the earth.” John xi: 38: “Jeans cocneth {tit) to tbe grave”—-not into it; for a stone, we are told, “lay upon It,” which Jeans afterward commanded to ba taken away. John xx : $-4; “Peter there * •* written in the tints of the A«»wer fore went forth, end that other disci pie, and came (efr) to the sepal ebre. 8o they ran IsHh together, and the other disciple did outran PeteT, and came first {tit) to tbe sepulchre... .yet went he not fa*— (on mentoi fit eyltken). If tit nor essarily means into, then we mast ’ Work moat l<e door jaet as any other 11 Merer as the Mars la HN crow a. read t “The other disciple came tala I work—one thing at e time; amd the > It so, this should ha made caaapfcMH the sepulchre, yet went he not. Into* j lit I to pieces of work meat ha attend «*a apoe earth It to nngeaeroas to ete., which is too aboard to be eater ed to as much a* the greater «*an claim the honor which is Impltod ia tainetl. • Tlierefore, fit to mneymion Ton deal re to help in mavenlaf the the aae without retidcriag the hoai- incsins to the sepokhre, and tit teyn wnrM ; then arch to do yoar doty as age which to Iwvulved In the other. geyn means to the emrtk, tit to odor 1 fl.sl given yon opportunity to ttowe They whn nre t« sHste la the dlgnt may mean to the tenter, and that both 1 Imwiedlateiy shoot yow, year ehil ttoa af the Ihi'totr*! cxaltstma, are Philip and the eunuch went to the Iren, yoar friends. y«*r nefghtowa hound In gmtcfnl rectprcMraitoa to margin of the water. This to true Christian uscfblaesa, not take upon themselves an equal share linmeraioaiats, however, say that waiting Am name signal nrcaelaa af | la Hit hamWlBll wi, By the name “they both came ap (elj oat of merice, bat making tbe a»aet of path must tbe nM-mtwrs aeeead, attk the water,” implying that they had each, even the smallest, oppnWaaitv theti Head, from the crone to the previously been »a the water. We that ia presented. When the ehrto crown. reply, however, tbnt id is often tian church has attained to this 4. Tkt rkarck ia urge aged for the used Mini ply to denote the point from Msodanl, the work of the l*wd will prupapeftoo of the truth. Bbe mast «thick motion it made This is tvl go oo apace 1 therefore be pert urinated *■ her vlei dent irom tbe follow iug pasnages of Another thing to to be home to Me Iona a poo the earth, with bar Scripture. John vi: 33: “Howbeit mind—sod there to la H a special ministry, her aacramesli and her there came other boats {ek) from * warning as we lay oar plans for ua diealpIlAa, as lbs living evangelist to other year—sit opi*»rtnolty mice »o*t «M*i|4iah Thy will.* Car. Thy Bread Upon the Waten of tbe Journal ••per, speaking ia behalf of dependent oa church aid, A aad Mean students says; There to many a young man to day ia Martin LatbeiV condition and THieriae.” Acts vti: 3: “Get thee (#k) from thy kindred.” Rom. vii; rimthtr rendering of 24; “Who shall deliver me (ek) y>owtion in ^ 4,lte ♦ 1 “Jesus from the body of this death T It to “V by the Spirit into the therefore consistent with the general is Itise of the prepoeitions ek and ! *M I la Matt, iv: X, by ^aonymnu*. Whilst other might be given, these ( d to show that en to *** rt * i the efficient cause of a ”1* luck cases is correctly Baptists, however, . * Allowing notable version , 5: WJI ®bn truly immersed m JeshaI1 ^ immersed in ^ ^ Arturo to make them k T ^ theory of baptism, v»rtaucc with tbe rules The Baptist ver- the Holy Gbost as a m in this passage to read, “They rent down both to the water,* ami riehen they were come up from tbe rater.” Furthermore, it should he re mem bvred that the same declaration is nude of both Philip and the ettnoeh, ootoerning their going to and taming frm the water; nod the logical in- ferine# is that one waa deeper to tbe wawr than (he other. And since, In popular language, a man Is said to he to wafer, Miongh it be ad Mure that; an inch deep about bia feet, it preach the Gospel among all nation*, is gone for ever! Himflar opportani 1 Tbe truth which God reveals be lies may occur, bat that ooe, with kegs to men, Uke Ike sunlight aad all tbe possibilities involved la tbe the afar; aad it to grieo as a sacred improving of it, hi beyond recovery, depoeit to Ills church, that like the Tbe above ef oar pest experience le Mr aad tbe light It My be as msi strewn with tbe wracks of lost op port nut ties There were opportuni ties of advancement In personal kotl ness, opportunities of set rice In tbe kingdom of oar Lord; bat we let them slip, aad they return oarer t Their memory makes ita sad, for "Of all sad ward* *»f touaas or two. Theraddeet are fkree— tt might !ar« hues.” Hhaii we not, in this new year, consider ear opj*Mrtuoiito* ae more tkaa ewer eecred 1 They are indeed worth more than eoontleAs riches. Let ae “bay ap each opportunity,* i for it ia veraaily diffused Every soul tadshi ed to it for pareoaai ealratem le bound to be saraetalaA with every other like seal la this work of props gaud ism; aad a grieveas wraog ia indicted wpaa a suffering world when this service to withhold. It to a sad mistake to suppose that, Iters mm religion lies at taet between the seal aad (led. If My be secretly j... LL..L -L.. m ii'l t m FiaM bbS iSk K*YtWsl aPWwajpiPOTi ml 1BWWPW"!' BiTfy'wBWI, Whoever attempts it wfB Hve at boat — I kffha Bush tn mwasaBs n fnpjiiin iiii. i Bffff will mi m men a case a large amount of his stodies, be wandered throagh tbe streets of Eisenach, seeking honorable help and the ful Ailment of tbe l»rd*s promise of his 4 -dally bread*—who was made glad by the warm sympathy and ready help of the wife of Conrad <V»tta. whom the “ChroaMea of Riscnach* call “fie puma Hkm*amit$" ffbe pities tbe young man. Her husband, with like sympathy, takes him Into the family and provides for his pressing wants, as also those of some time to come. “Happy times for tbe young man !* •sys IVAobigne. “Luther always looked book to them with emotion; and a eon of Conrad having gone many years after to aiady at Wit ten barg, when the poor scholar of Else each had become tbe learned teacher of bto age, be joyfolly received him at his table aad undsr his root He wished to repay in part to the eon what be bad received from the father and mother. “Never did Lather feel ashamed of tbe time when, prweeed by hunger, he sorrowfrilty begged the bread necessary for tbe aopport of life and tbe oootiaaaaee of his studies » D’AaMgae odds: “It was when memory reverted to the Christian woman who bad supplied him with bread when every* one else lepnlaed him. that be ottered this memorable •aytagt “There it than the heart of a _ Oh, for aa Ursula and Conrad hi I BeUgtatf DeprsotaL Til health is a frequent cause of religious depression. The body ia more than the jiouae in which the eoul dwells It embraces the organs through which the soul acts. Bee thoven himself could not produce sweet music from an organ out of tone; and the purest aud beat soul oftrai suffers beoaoas it plays ou a a»oet discordant instrument By long labor and insufficient food and ex •rriaa the blood becomes deterio rated, the nerves enervated, the brain iteelf diseased. T»»ea tbe soul from tha nmciious of Tbe suflhrar need* medicine net counsel; a pbyhiciau, not a min frter j no kind of religious exorcise, only rest After weeks of exhausting tail, in which, perehsnoa, the soul has been wrought up le the higfaeet pitoh of excitement, a crows long expected is past, sod tha exhausted and over* worked laborer ta loand at night ia a condition of ooaumuglcd waaknoas, wearitMias and excttomevit, aomewhat aosloguas to that winch ha suffers who has stimulated himself by the use of alcohol. Ho can not pray ; he can not read tk« Bible; he can form ne thought of God; ha eaa s carcely exclude thoughts of worldly conccra or even wicked imaginations. His mind is ruddariees aud drifts. He mm to himself to have lost all hold et God and all hope oi heaven, “"hat <aa I do f* he cries JLfol Go to sleep. Itccupeiwto tha over taxed nerves; restore tbe equilibrium of (he exhausted body. I*reier is a mmoiLuJ exercise j uad there are times whew the mind is in capable of a«y exorcise, when to •hwff » * ohhv sacred duty than to watch and pray . If, at night, 1 take my ehtkl into my lap to talk to him of truth and daty, and bia weary bead droojts and drops upon uiy shoulder, do I chide him! No I 1 lay him down to his sleep, and re serve my coaforenrc for another sea son. And when my rnuid refutes to t&h iJ'mwtk'.JteUtcu m chide ma, nor do 1 chide himself. “Sleep, my child.* he says to us; “we will talk another time.” Tha Trsyw: Ksetisg. How came it to paas that three thousand were converted oo the day atL Pentecost f He! not the meeting for prayer, oi which mention is made in Acts i: 14, when it to said. “These all conUutmd with ooe accord in prayer and supplication * a close rvMinertion.with the glorious results of thi? day f Undoubtedly it had. Bat what wax there iu that meeting of ooe hundred aad twenty disciples to exert an influence to the ?onver stoo of three thousand individuals ! Whence had it that power t It waa a pray er meeting, profotmedly a pray er meeting, a meeting of Christians t<* express their dependence ou God ; unitedly to call on Him for hia blessing ; to plead His promise aud wait for the tuifUlmeut of it. These are the efficient meetings in which Christians meet and agree to ask of God. 1 wonder they do not value tlotn more. To the prayer meeting Christians owuie to exercise the high privilege of intercession for others, to do good and lo communicate, to act the more “blessed partwhere a*, to mevling* of another kind, they go for tbe pnrpoee of receiving ^ood. Yet it to to be feared Christians valm? no mev* tings so III tie as prayer meet ing*. But tha influence of that meeting of a hundred and twenty was not owing entirely to its being a prayer meeting. There was tnneb by which it was distinguished from ordinary pmyee meetings. The men tion of th<Mo peculiarities may be of service. It may provoke imitation In some cliurchea. 1. All tbe church attended that prayer meeting. “These all contin ued,”&C. There was but one hun dred and twanty disciples, and they veto ell present. How different it is now! They who meet may agree among tbemaelve* for an outpouring of the Spirit, but it la after all but tha agreement of a minority of the church. The majority by their ab sence dissent from the request. 2. Aa all attended, of course the men attended aa well as the women. Yea, every male member of the church was present; they did not leave It to the women to awstoin the prayer meetings. That prayer meet tog had not the aspect of many a modern prayer meeting, to which ah most all are women. moot dietingnieb&’l one as the roost obscure. There were all the apostles, and “Mary, tha motbsr of Jesus,” and “hia brethton.* None of them felt above being at a prayer nulling. How is It now t 4. They were all agreed—“of owe accord,” as it ia said. Not merely agreed as touching what they should ask, namely, tbe fulfillment of “the promise of the Father/ 1 hat af ana mind generally, aye, and af eat heart They all loveff They observed tbe meut. Snob cordial anion among Christians baa great power with Gad. « film* 1 "” ,Xto * 18 °° r ”*’■ 5. They pmarmd ia prayer. “These all continued la prayer.” First they stirred tneraaeivet S* to take hold ea God, aad then said, ; “We will net let Thee go except Thou bless ua.” They met often tor prayer, and all met, and they Ua- tond mp »t tbe throw of Irik*. w “ Bat bow long did they continue ask ing f Until they obtained, and then they did but pass from the note of {stayer to that of praise. They •ought the Lord until he came. It is time we all should do it They were together holding meeting when the Spirit descended. I think if alt our church members would habitual ly attend the prayer meetings, they would not wait in vain for tbe prom ise of tbe Father. How often we hear it said, “It is nothing bat a prayer meeting r Nothing but 1 I should like to know what surpasses a prayer meeting 1—Chrittian Omar- Do What You Oaf.—Onr Lord praised few when on earth, bnt He commended one for doing something which you and I can do: “She both done what she could F* I often think He praised her for that to enoourage us all to do oar best. Men—hard, Pharisee*—misunderstood and sneer ed at poor Mary’s broken box of ala baster ; but He for whom she broke recognised, appreciated, and accept ed the oblation! and still true as evex^ is the parable of the broken broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not deepiee I* Many a heart’s sweet fragrance, and capacity for precious gifts and gracea, would never have been known, but, like Mary’a box, that heart was bro ken for Christ Then tbe words came home to it with a sweeter, di viner naction. It had nothing else to ofiv r, so it offered that—the sacri fice of God which is a broken spirit; aad that broken, contrite heart, which man may ridicule, but thou, O God, wilt not despise! How TO CCLTIVATE A 8POUT OF I v rav*r.—Let the mind and heart w pervaded with tha conviction of those great truths which oooatiUite the Gospel—and being filled with a spirit of troth, never to be shaken, iu God as oar tendersst friend, we shall always be ready to oome boldly to tbe throne of grace, to find help in time of need. We shall have that sense of a Divine Prtoeaoo which shall cause us to pray without oeaa- ing, though our prayers will be often only a throb of gratitude, or a sad- deu aspiration of love, or the soul falling down in humility mid bowing itself before God. And then, too, we slusli find a place aud a use for times of prayer, and for a certain degree of method and system in prayer. THREE Great Words.—A Chris tian traveller tolls us that he saw the following admonition printed on a folio sheet in an inn in Savbo, and it was found, he learned, in every house in the district. “Understand well the force of the words—a God, a moment, an eternity, a God who sees you; a moment which flies from yon; an eternity which awaits yen; a God whom yon serve so ill; a mo ment of which you ao little profit; an eternity which yon haaaard ae rashly.” How far most one wander from God to be a “backslider 1” Tbe church at Ephesus waa highly com mended for its good work#, yet, said tbe all-Searching Spirit, “I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love,” and “I will remove toy candlestick out of his place, except toon repent” Let these thoughts prompt os to a rigid self- examination. The Grace of God.—The grace of God in toe heart of man is a ten der plant in a strange, unkindly soil; and, therefore, can not well prosper and grow without much care and pains, and that of a skillful hand, and which hath the power of oher- the church attended as well j iahing it /