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GIVING TO THE LORD.

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scale or a small, is a solemn act of worship, to be reverently and heartily engaged in.

My first act of worship in entering the sanctuary, however little importance some may attach to it, is my giving, whether it be the mite of the poor or the gold of the rich;-not to the church, not to the mere object for which a special appeal may be made, but TO THE LORD. This view of it, which is entirely borne out by Scripture, is deserving of earnest consideration, as putting this important matter on its right footing, and enabling us fully to get the benefit of it. It is especially worthy of the consideration of parents, that from the outset they may train their children to right views regarding it. Our Sabbath and other contributions are, as literally as was ever any Jewish offering, our "heave-offering to the Lord;" hence we speak of our givings as " offerings "—namely, to the Lord.

2. As a means of grace. This consideration is second, and only second, to the first, with which it is closely connected. Scripture bears out this also to the full, and experience confirms it. As a means of grace, giving is to be classed with prayer and the Word and the sacraments. To be precluded from giving-which, providentially, I may be is a deprivation and a loss, like being shut out from the Word or the sacraments. To withhold from me the opportunity of giving, is to do me the reverse of a kindness; it wrongs me, it injures me. If I can, and do not give, it will be more or less the same as if I can, and do not pray, or otherwise neglect private or public ordinances. I may be a Christian, but for the time, I am labouring under some mistake, and suffering a grievous loss. I cannot be a healthy Christian, I cannot be a happy Christian, I cannot be a Christ-like Christian, without giving, any more than I can be such without praying. My soul must sufferI must sustain spiritual loss and damage. The parent who does not train his child to giving to the Lord, deprives him at once of a source of blessedness and a means of help. The Church which makes no demand on her members for her Master, which shields them from appeals, which, in mistaken kindness, makes the burden fall on them as lightly as possible-however she may be liked on that account by the worldly, the selfish, the careless-robs herself of a leading source of vitality, and prosperity, and usefulness; wrongs her people as well as her Lord, and is unlike the Church, either of the Old Testament or of the New, in her best days.

Giving to the Lord, as it should be unceasing, is a constant reminder to me, and in a partical way, of Him whom I am so prone to forget. It reminds me that I am but a temporary occupant, a tenant at will, a steward intrusted for a time with my Master's goods, accountable to Him as my Master, not only for the way in which I dispose of what I set apart for His special service, but equally for all the rest. It calls up the thought of my dependence on Him, of my obligation to Him; that I am not my own, that the very end of my being here at all is to serve and please and glorify Him. It helps me to recognize His stamp upon me, marking me out as His. It helps to check and restrain the selfishness to which I am naturally so prone; and anything that is serviceable to me thus, is of the last importance. It draws out and exercises my Christian sympathies. It makes me feel that I do not stand alone, that I am a part of a great whole-of a kingdom, a brotherhood,

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a family, the interests of which are bound up, are identical with my own. It thus gets me out of the mere personal, into a larger sphere and a more bracing and stimulating atmosphere. It gives outlet to the gratitude and love which, as a redeemed man, I feel, or ought to feel, and lets me give definite shape to those emotions, which, in order to their healthy development, must be exercised in some practical way. I cannot rightly engage in it without being the better for it. It gives me impulse and strength, exercising a part of my nature which otherwise would remain undeveloped, without which I should be one-sided and incomplete as a Christian man; as it would leave springs of joy unopened up to me, the unsealing of which introduces me to the joy of angels-to the very joy of Christ.

Oh surely, if we are at all adequately alive to the blessedness of giving, the greater blessedness, to use the Lord's own words, of giving than of receiving; if we saw it in the light of privilege even more than of duty; if we at all realized that we were giving to God,-giving him His own,-giving Him what He has given to us,-giving to Him who gave His Son for us,-giving to Him who gave Himself for us, we should be far from grumbling and grudging, as many do, and as we have often done; we should welcome each new opportunity of helping on the cause of God or of doing good to others; feeling, in each case, that we ourselves have benefited most of all. Many think our religion costlythat it is all sacrifice. If it were not costly, it would not be the religion of Christ. But it is worth it all. It has its returns, large and overflowing, in joys and blessing which strangers cannot understand.

On this ground, as on the former,--for their own sake as well as for the Lord's sake,-our young people should be trained to give, just as they are trained to pray or to attend on ordinances. Those not thus trained have an important part of their education neglected, and are losers in many ways indirectly, as well as in those ways to which special reference has been made.-From "The Free Church Monthly."

Our Oriya Hymn Book.

WE have lately received translations, by Mr. Heberlet, of several of our Oriya hymns. The following was composed by our native preacher, Babu Makunda Das, who has been described as "the Dr. Watts of Orissa." Besides writing many of our sweetest hymns, he has prepared several of our most popular poetical tracts, as-"Juggernath Tested,""Christ and Krishnoo," &c. He has also, in a most excellent style, poeticised the four Gospels.

THE TIME IS SHORT.

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The Mission Boat, "Herald."

By enabling the missionaries to gain access to the towns and villages along the banks of the rivers and canals, the Mission Boat is found to be exceedingly useful. Unfortunately the boat bottom has not been coppered, and by taking it into sea-water it has been seriously injured by barnacles. Though more expensive at first, it would be cheaper in the end to have the bottom and sides of the boat lined with copper, and our brethren in Cuttack would be very thankful if any friends or churches in England would kindly supply them with sufficient sheet copper for the purpose. From those willing and wishful to aid in this good work the Secretary will be pleased to hear. Respecting a recent trip in the "Herald," Mr. Miller writes:

“Herald,” Akhnaparda (46 miles from Cuttack),
October 29th, 1884.

MY DEAR BROTHER,-I left home on the 21st inst., with two of the native brethren, Paul Singh and Daniel Das. After visiting a number of villages and spending two days at Khundittur, we came on here the afternoon of the 27th. This place has undergone a marvellous change within the last few years by reason of the extensive and costly canal works which have been executed. The river Byturinee here throws off a branch, called the Budha river: both of these are spanned by immense stone anicuts to conserve water for the canal, and form a connecting link between the locks which open into the river on each side. This is what is called the high level canal, which was originally designed to connect Cuttack with the Hoogly river. The whole canal up to this point, as far as I have been, is a splendid work. There are only five locks between this and Cuttack, three of which form the entrance to and from the Berupa and Brahminee rivers. A branch to connect this with Jajapore is now being constructed. It is intended, I believe, to extend this to the Chandbally river, and to join it not far from that now important port.

The high level canal is now open from Cuttack to Bhuddruck, and two steamers ply twice a week. It will be a great achievement when the whole line is completed, and it is practicable to go from Cuttack to Calcutta in two or three days without going to sea. The opening out of these water ways are of immense advantage to the country in many respects, and for our work they are most helpful. Villages, markets, and parts of the country once almost inaccessible are now brought near. Travelling by boat, the annoyance is never experienced of reaching where you intended to encamp, to find that nothing has come to hand, that your cart has been upset, or the axle-tree broken some miles away; so that exhausted by a hard day's work, and frightfully hungry without any means of appeasing it, you had to sit at the foot of a tree, chewing your cud, and meditating upon the disappointments of life. There are now two resident engineers here, with offices and establishments.

There is a large market held twice a week, and there are several large villages near. The head clerk of the senior engineer's office is a respected member of the Cuttack church, as is his wife. There are also five other Christian families from Cuttack, altogether forming a community, inclusive of children, of thirty-two persons. I am thankful to say that the offices here are closed on the Lord's-day, and that the head clerk has service in his house. Since our arrival we have been fully engaged among the people. In the market held quite near the "Herald" yesterday, we had several favourable opportunities of making known the truth. Our book stall, formed by a mat and the book box, was in a conspicuous place, and attracted a good deal of attention. Our sales did not, however, equal our expectation. In the evening I visited the gentlemen in charge of the works. Both, I believe-but especially the senior-take a kindly interest in the native Christians, and have in several ways shown their preference for them. I was gratified for the appreciative way in which the senior engineer referred to the head clerk. He is studying Oriya, and has one of the Christians as pundit. Subsequently I moved on to conduct an Oriya service in the house of the Babu. There were twenty adults present. I spoke from Daniel iii. 18, and dwelt on the necessity of those present possessing the spirit of these Anam Babu's second brother, Abraham Das.

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Hebrew youths, in order to resist the temptations to wrong doing which would daily assail them, living as they did among the heathen. One of the hearers had been an orphan in the Cuttack Orphanage. His mother moved to Balasore, and took him with her. He has since grown up to manhood, become a member of the church at Balasore, and has a post in one of the offices here. There is abundance of work for a native preacher here, and I am grieved that we have not a man to send. I have requested Damudar, who is with us from Khundittur, to arrange to come over at least once a month, to have services with the Christians and go among the people. The Babu has engaged to pay his travelling expenses each time. He has been most profuse in his hospitality, having the preachers at his house for each meal, and supplying us with fowls, eggs, milk, fish, etc.

I found the Khundittur people, with the exception of a few cases of fever, well. Going round to visit their houses, I was forcibly struck by the absence of the old men and women-not one is left. Happily in most cases instead of the fathers are the children, both in the church and community. On the Sabbath morning we had a prayer and church meeting. The eldest daughter of one of the native Christians was received as a candidate for baptism. I and the brethren from Cuttack conversed with her, and were pleased with her Christian knowledge and experience. After an interval of half an hour the people assembled for the morning service, and I fancy the whole community was present. My subject was "Repentance, the occasion of angelic joy." The hearers seemed interested, and I hope were benefited. To me the service was a pleasant one. On returning to the D. P. W. bungalow I had a bath, and then sat down to breakfast; but alas! I could only eat a very little. Ague and fever came on, and I was prostrated until I could arrange for a steam-bath. All this completely upset my arrangements for the afternoon, e.g., to conduct the Sunday school and preside at the Lord's supper. These had to be delegated to the brethren. Next morning I managed with difficulty to go and say good-bye to the people, and then walk to the "Herald," two and a half miles away from Khundittur. Thank God, the next day I had recovered a good deal of my strength, and was able to resume work.

On looking over the receipt for canal bill given at one of the locks, after the name of boat, head man, and measurement had been given, "Cargo-Priest Miller," was added by the Babu in charge.

Notes from Rome.

BY REV. N. H. SHAW.

THE INCREASE OF THE CITY OF ROME.

Rome bids fair to become a very large city. Six years ago its population was about 250,000. At the last census (three years ago nearly) the numbers had grown to more than 300,000. But since then the growth has been wonderful. Visitors to Rome who knew the city ten years or more ago, would not now be able to recognise many parts of it. Not to speak of the old parts of the city, which are being remodelled, and through which new streets are being cut, there is quite a new city sprung up on and around the Esquiline. Almost the whole of the land between Santa Maria Maggiore and S. John Lateran is now covered with blocks of buildings and new streets and squares. I was told the other day on good authority that the population (counting only those persons who declare themselves to the authorities) has had added to it recently every week from three to four hundred persons coming from other parts of Italy. To-day I see in the Papolo Romano some statistics from which I learn that from October 1, 1883, to September 30, 1884, there were built in Rome 162 new palaces or blocks of houses. Besides these there have been many restorations and enlargements, the result being an increase of 12,830 new rooms. There are very many families in Rome that occupy only one room each-alas! many families are found herding together in one room even-and if we give three rooms to each family, that will give an increase of 4,243 families, which probably represents 25,000 individuals. But what is most important to note is that the larger part of this population is living without religion! They are nominally Catholics, but in reality are indifferent to all religion, treating it as the average Englishman does the ancient

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mythology; while there is amongst them a considerable number who are violently opposed to everything that bears a religious name or appearance. I walk about this new Rome sometimes and feel inexpressibly sad. I ask myself, why don't we Christians, who profess such love for our Saviour and for those for whom He died, give largely, and plant mission stations here and there among the people? Why are we without the means to do it, while the devil never lacks anything? Why can the papacy seize on a site here and another there and proceed to build imposing and costly structures for the propagation of vile superstition, and the promotion in the end of incurable infidelity? What is to become of these people? Are we to content ourselves to see them live and die without Christ, comforting ourselves with the reflection that sometime in the future there will come a change? A COLPORTEUR.

We have now a Colporteur and visitor working as such three hours of every day in connection with our mission. His reports are very interesting, and his labour cannot be in vain. Would that one or two ladies of independent means might be induced to come out from England to help us as some other missions are helped. They would find the work hard and trying, but love and zeal combined with good sense would ultimately prevail.

THE VIRGIN COVERED AND UNCOVERED.

An Evanglist writing from Genoa to "Il Testimonio," vouches for the truth of the following:

A woman wished to have a mass said to the Madonna, and turning to the Sacristan asks:

"How much is it?"

"With the Madonna covered up, it will be 2 lire, uncovered 3 lire." "Cover her up! cover her up! it is cold in church."

Dr. Buckley writes:

Statistics.

I have recently been reading some rather severe remarks against statisticsremarks, I may add, in which I cannot concur. The Apostle said of the law that it was "good" if a man used it "lawfully." So we may say of statistics that they are "good" if carefully prepared, and properly used. It may of course be truly said, that much that appears to us to be success may not be found so in the day when "the fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is;" but on the other hand, it must be remembered that some of the most precious results of Christian work cannot be tabulated, and that none of the servants of Christ can know all the issues of his labour, and its relation to the future triumphs of the gospel, till it be seen amid the brighter light of eternity. Besides, who can say that statistics are wrong in themselves, in in view of such texts, as "The number of names together were about an hundred and twenty "—" The same day there were added to them about three thousand souls""The number of the men was about five thousand." Our last report gives the total of our native Christian community as 3,246 of whom 1,222 are church members. Our American brethren publish their statistics in a somewhat different form from us, but the number of communicants is returned at 566, and the total of the nominal Christian community would probably be a thousand more, but this is not given. The reader marks that in the three texts just quoted (Acts i. 15; ii. 41; iv. 4), the precise number is not given, but the word "about" is used in each case. Great care has always been taken in Orissa that the statistics sent should be reliable; and I may add that when three years ago we thoroughly revised our list of church members at Cuttack, we found that we had a few more than we reported.

SAMBALPUR BOOK ROOM AND PREACHING STATIONS. Sums previously acknowledged in September Missionary Observer Mr. A. Bexton, Old Basford

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Loughborough, December 15th, 1884.

£28 14s. 6d.

£1 Os. Od.

J. G. PIKE.

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