an invisible agency, directing the operation of these means, to remind us that this is not our rest. But in the loss of children the finger of God is visible.

your own."

In reference to such an event, the language of David should be uttered,-I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it. You may weep over the lifeless body without offering violence to your Christian principles, but to indulge a dissatisfied spirit is dishonourable to the divine character, and will prove injurious to your own peace. It virtually impeaches the wisdom and equity of his conduct, and, by inflaming the passions, it will incapacitate you for receiving the consolations of religion. It will be useless; for "tears will not water the lovely plant, so as to cause it to grow again-sighs will not give it new birth- -nor can you furnish it with life and spirits by the waste of When Aaron lost his two sons, he held his peace. said, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, and blessed be the name of the Lord. Who has bereaved you of your child? The Lord hath done it. For what purpose? To present it faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. When you deposited the precious remains in the silent tomb, did you extinguish the hope of another interview? I would not have you to be ignorant, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Job

The Author acknowledges with gratitude the following sums, received on behalf of the Widow, alluded to in No. 30, of this Series.

Mrs. Heron, of Manchester... 1 0 0
Messrs. Whittakers...

Eliza..

12

0 0

0

2° 0

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How this damsel could so far subdue the common feelings of human nature, and still more the natural tenderness of her own sex, as not only to endure so disgusting a spectacle, but even to carry the bleeding trophy in triumph to her mother, is not easy to imagine; but it shews, that a life of fashionable gaiety and dissipation not only prevents the growth of the more amiable virtues, but sometimes calls into action those feelings and passions which lead to rapine and murder."

Page 12.

London:

ON AMUSEMENTS.

PART II.

"Thus life rolls away, with too many, in a course of 'shapeless indolence.' Its recreations constitute its chief business. Watering places-the sports of the field-cards! never-failing cards!-the assembly-the theatre,-all contribute their aid, amusements are multiplied, and combined, and varied, to fill up the void of a listless and languid life; and by the judicious use of these different resources, there is often a kind of sober, settled plan of domestic dissipation, in which, with all imaginable decency, year after year wears away in unprofitable vacancy." Wilberforce.

"INDEED," said Miss Emma, "I think we have been kept too much out of the world: and though I certainly respect the motive which has induced our parents to act as they have done, yet I may express my disapprobation of it. We are like so many state-prisoners, who have every indulgence except unfettered liberty, which I regard as

'Heaven's best gift to man.""

Miss Orme. "I have no doubt, my dear, but your parents act conscientiously in prohibiting the novel, and the cards; but you must know that religious people in general do so though I have known some who have made a very splendid profession, who have not objected to play a game at whist after family prayer in the evening."

S

66 Yes, and so have I. I was on a visit at Mr. R some few months since, when the bagatelle-table and backgammon-board were brought out for our amusement; and I don't know when I have spent a more pleasant evening."

"And who is Mr. R

my dear? Is he a pious man? or does he belong to the world?"

"He professes to be a pious man; and I should suppose he is one, for he has prayer in his family morning and evening."

"Had he family prayer, the evening you refer to, before or after these innocent games were introduced?” Oh, it was omitted that evening."

Miss Holmes. "And why, my dear, was it omitted? Was it not because he was ashamed to place the Bible

on the same table with the baggatelle and gammonboard?—and because, after enticing others to a conformity to the customs of the world, he could not, in their presence, go and pray, that they might be renewed in the spirit of their mind? Do you recollect the remarks which you made on your return home?"

"They have escaped my recollection."

Miss Holmes. After paying a compliment to his politeness, and extreme courteousness, you observed, that he only wanted one quality to finish his character." 66 And did I say what that quality was?"

Miss Holmes. "Yes; you said, and said very justly, it was consistency."

"Oh! I recollect, that was the opinion I THEN cntertained."

Miss Holmes. "And have you changed your opinion? Do you not think that religious people ought to abstain from the appearance of evil, instead of conforming to its customs?"

"Yes, most certainly. I remember a young satirical friend came and whispered in my car, just as we began a fresh game,- Make haste, as Mr. Rhas just rung the bell for family prayer.' This remark wast heard by all our party; and I must confess that I was hurt by some of the observations which were made."

Miss Orme. "I don't know why the most religious people may not indulge themselves in all these amusements; but certainly our prejudices receive a violent shock when we know that they do."

66

Miss Emma. "I love consistency. If a family have prayer, they ought not, in my opinion, to spend the evenings in games which certainly have not a religious tendency; and if they have these games, they had better leave off prayer, as they cannot be prepared for it. I knew a young friend, the daughter of pious parents, who once had her mind very deeply impressed by a sense of the vanity of the world, and the importance of religion; but in consequence of paying a visit to the house of a very flaming professor, who in the temple was grave, and in the parlour, gay-who alternately played and prayed-sang songs or psalms, as fancy dictated,-lost all her pious impressions, and from that time she became averse to religion; nor can she conquer her aversion."

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Miss Holmes. "Example has a powerful influence, especially in doing moral injury: but the most pernicious and dangerous, is the example of a professor who acts in opposition to the obligations of his profession-of the man, who, while he professes to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, displays a spirit that is unconsonant with the sacredness of that character-and retains his religious habits, even while he conforms himself to the customs of the world.”

Miss Orme. "Well, my dear, no one will impeach your consistency; for you are, without exception, one of the most decidedly religious I ever knew."

Miss Emma. "Yes; my sister goes rather too far; and I tell her sometimes, that she is in danger of becoming a Pharisee. She sees, or thinks she sees, a dangerous moral tendency in almost every amusement: and such is the influence she possesses over the fears of our parents, that they are kept in a state of constant terror, lest I should read a novel, or dance a minuet.”

"And is it possible, my dear Miss Holmes, that either you, or your parents can object to dancing? An exercise so conducive to health-so calculated to give elegance to the form, to the walk, and to the action-an accomplishment of so much importance, that no female can be fit to move in genteel society who has not attained it. I believe you learnt at school, my dear Emma; did you not?"

"Yes; but now I am not permitted to go into a, party, which I consider very mortifying. My parents gave their consent for me to learn; and now I have learnt, and am fond of the amusement, they will not suffer me to practise."

Miss Holmes. "They permitted you to learn, that you might derive from it those personal accomplishments which your friend Miss Orme has so well described; but as they are aware of its dangerous moral tendency, they very properly object to your going into parties."

Then, ought they not to have refused letting me learn to dance, if they intended to deny me the pleasure of it? This is like a father teaching his son the art *The author knows a lady, who, when young, requested her pious father to permit her to learn to dance. "No, my child,"