to others where it is possible). Those, and those alone (we are again constrained by truth to say), who endeavour to do the very opposite of all this, who endeavour to honour God on and in his holy day, and to enter with all their heart and soul into all its sacred duties such persons alone can be said to keep the sabbath from polluting it: upon such alone will the blessing of God descend; such alone, therefore, are safe; such alone will (not for their own merits, but for the sake of their Lord and Saviour) inherit the promise of the text, as well as all the other promises of God in his holy word. He, who offends in one point of God's law, is guilty of all; and he, who wilfully or thoughtlessly profanes or neglects the sabbbath, can perform no other duty aright.

In what has been said with respect to the way in which the sabbath should be observed, we must, of course, make the usual exception in favour of works of piety, necessity, and charity. Our God desires mercy and not sacrifice; and the religion of Christ is not to be a gloomy burden on the conscience, but an enlightened and joyful service of love. There are works which must be done and ought to be done by every one on the Lord's day. There are some works which were not done by the Jews on the sabbath-day, but which may be done by us, because we live under a system of greater liberty. And, perhaps, this is partly what the apostle Paul meant in the passage to which we have referred, "Let no man judge you in respect of sabbath-days." Only let us not use our Christian liberty for an occasion to the flesh or to sin. Some would stretch this liberty to an extent which shows how little they understand St. Paul's question and answer: "Do we then make void the law through faith? Yea, we establish the law." The fact is, much must be left to the conscience and the sincerity of each individual; and there are persons, unhappily, who will always abuse the doctrine of the gospel, and sin that grace may abound. God makes every allowance for human necessities and infirmities; but we cannot expect him to make any for human sloth and carelessness, and profane neglect or contempt of the requirements of his holy word.

None who really desire to serve the Lord fully and truly, and to honour him in all his ordinances, and especially in his holy day, need be discouraged if their personal strength or family duties prevent them from attending on him and keeping the sabbath as they could wish; but those who deliberately neglect his glory, and trifle away the time which he has given them for the highest purposes, have the

greatest possible cause for alarm. Such persons would do well to consider the simple but striking calculation that in each year there are fifty-two sabbaths, in thirty-five years five whole years of sabbaths, in seventy years ten whole years of sabbaths; so that, if a person lives even thirty-five years, he will have five whole years to answer for, which he might have given entirely to the service of his God and his own great preparation for eternity.

Finally, let me observe how deeply thankful we should be to God for the appointment of the sabbath, and for the blessing which he has ever caused to rest upon it. What would the world have been without the sabbath, with no fixed time for the peculiar and solemn worship of God? How few would ever have thought of worshipping him at all! We may form some idea of what the condition of the world without the sabbath would have been, from the history of those nations or individuals who have neglected and despised it. The nations, among whom vice and immorality most abound, are those which most neglect or profane this holy day. And those individuals, who have run to the greatest excess of riot in sin, have frequently been heard to confess that their course of iniquity began with the breaking of the sabbath-day. And what a rich blessing from above has ever attended the humble and devout observance of it! And is this no argument, if further argument be needed, in behalf of the Christian day of rest?

Let me conclude the present remarks upon this subject, which would furnish matter not merely for one discourse, but for a series of discourses, with the striking testimony of a writer of some note. He says: "Let men, in whose hearts are the ways of God, consider the use that hath been made, under the blessing of God, of the conscientious observance of the Lord's day, in the past and present age, to the promotion of holiness, righteousness, and religion universally in the power of it. And, if they are not under invincible prejudices, it will be very difficult for them to judge that it is a plant which our heavenly Father hath not planted. For my part, I must not only say, but plead whilst I live in this world, and leave this testimony to the present and future ages (if these papers see the light and do survive), that, if ever I have seen any thing in the ways and worship of God, wherever the power of religion or godliness hath been expressed, any thing that hath represented the holiness of the gospel and of the Author of it, any thing that hath looked like a prelude unto the everlasting sabbath and rest with God, which we aim through

grace to come to, it hath been there and with them, where and amongst whom the Lord's day hath been had in highest esteem, and a strict observance of it attended to, as an ordinance of our Lord Jesus Christ. The remembrance of the ministry, of the walking and conversation, of the faith and love of those who in this nation have most zealously pleaded for, and have in their persons and families and churches or parishes been the most strict observers of this day, will be precious with them that fear the Lord, whilst the sun and moon endure. Their doctrine also in this matter, with the blessing that attended it, was that for which multitudes now at rest do bless them, and in which many that are yet alive do greatly rejoice. Let these things be despised by those who are otherwise minded: to me they are of great weight and importance."

MISSIONARY RECORDS.

No. LXXXIV.

"Strong Creator, Saviour mild,

Humbled to a mortal child;

Captive, scourgèd, bound, reviled ;
Jesus! Hear and save!"

BISHOP HEBER.

NATIONAL PRAYER FOR MISSIONS.-The national church of Prussia has recently set an example which all may well take to heart and follow. The king of Prussia, upon a petition presented by the supreme ecclesiastical council at Berlin, with the unanimous and cordial concurrence of all the provincial synods, gave his sanction, in April last, to the following addition to the form of prayer used in the Sunday services of the Prussian church: "Graciously accompany with the power of thy Holy Spirit the preaching of thy gospel among the Jews and the heathens; bless the labours of thy servants who devote themselves to this office; and so fulfil thy glorious promises of the increase and extension of the kingdom of thy dear Son, that the days may come for which we tarry, when the fulness of the Gentiles shall be brought in, and Israel also shall be converted to him, and be saved."

PARIS PROTESTANT MISSIONARY SOCIETY. -The "Société des Missions Evangeliques" held its eighteenth anniversary in the French capital on April 29, under the presidency of Mr. Jules Delaborde. In his opening speech he dwelt upon the trials to which the society's mission in the south of Africa had been exposed, and the gracious protection which the Lord had vouchsafed it, as well as upon the fidelity and prudence which its missionaries had shown. The annual report entered into details of the war which had broken out in the south of Africa, and which, had not a more than earthly arm thrown its shield over the mission, would have annihilated it altogether. This severe ordeal had given evidence of the firm hold

which the gospel had taken in the hearts of the Bassoutos, and manifested their Christian spirit and dom and faithfulness of the Redeemer's disciples, moderation, while it had borne witness to the wisthe messengers of peace and salvation in that quarter. The number of stations occupied is 11; they are under the charge of 20 missionaries, who, together with their families, form an European society of 85 individuals. The society contemplate a mission of inquiry to the French colony of Algiers; it being their desire to ascertain whe ther the time is not come for beginning the work of conversion among the Mohammedan population. At the close of the report a sketch is given of the results which have attended the work of Christian missions in various parts of the world. A approximative estimate shows that the number of heathen converted to Christianity the first years of the preaching of the gospel, was about 500,000; and on a comparison with what has been the result of the labours of the 2,000 missionaries sent out by 30 different societies during the last sixty years, it would appear that 800,000 heathen had been converted to the Christian faith. The income of the society last year amounted to £3,558 (or 88,970 francs), and the expenditure to £3,984 (or 99,600 francs). But as the year began with a balance in hand of £4,495, and as there was a sum of £2,970 due to the missionaries, the balance in favour of the society at the close of the year was not more than about £1,014. The "Ladies' Auxiliary Associa tion" had raised a sum of £403, which is, to be wholly applied to the education of the children of missionaries. The French protestants in all parts had taken so lively an interest in this good work, that as many as 74 auxiliary associations had been formed.

THE FRENCH BIBLE SOCIETY.-It is stated. in the report presented to the annual meeting ca April 30, that the society distributed 9,798 bibles and 67,433 New Testaments last year; and that the receipts were £4,040, leaving a balance of £560 in hand. Mr. Bonnet, one of the speakers at the meeting, said that, upon his visit to a tow in Italy, where the gospel had created a general movement, he was allowed to attend a larg meeting of the industrial classes, as well as of the learned and affluent, who had come to the light. A Neapolitan magistrate was among them, whe had until lately been prostrated in spirit by grie at his banishment from his native country. Bu his attention having been drawn to the cause protestantism, he was induced, upon hearing it reviled and called Manicheism, to inquire for him self; and for this purpose he went into a protes tant chapel, where he heard the preacher read and discourse of Jesus's sermon on the mount: bis eyes were opened at once to the imposition prac tised upon him, and the very next morning he paid a visit to the minister who had officiated. The gospel has now brought him the blessing of cheerful submissiveness to the divine will; and be comforts his companions in exile by leading them to seek, for the country they have lost, a better, a heavenly country. Mr. Bonnet expressed a confident hope that a glorious spiritual revolution is dawning upon Italy, and that its people will not long thirst in vain for that water of which if s

man drink he shall never thirst.

CENTRAL INDIA.-Jubbulpur presents its surrounding three millions of British subjects, who for a quarter of a century have belonged to England, but to whom the church of England has not yet sent a missionary. There is here the entire frame-work of a mission already set up by zealous Christian officers and chaplains on the spot, a local committee to collect funds, schools, and dwelling-houses. And this is the language in which the zealous chaplain has addressed the Society: "The change which has recently taken place in the native mind is so remarkable, as to form the subject of common discourse amongst both natives and Europeans, namely, that the Hindus are fast deserting their idols and the worship of them. Both Hindus and Mussulmans are willing to listen to the holy scriptures, and acknowledge their excellence. There is an unusual demand for Christian books, and many pundits are inquiring diligently into these things. There is a village four miles from Jubbulpur, inhabited largely by Brahmins, in which the holy scriptures and the claims of Jesus are a daily subject of dispute and inquiry. Surely God intends to do great things here presently! O that Christian men every where would lend themselves willingly to the help of the Lord! that England would send us missionaries! All that we require is men. Time presses; and, what you do, I beseech you to do energetically and quickly. If I could only see a holy and experienced missionary settled here, under the auspices of our truly evangelical missionary society, I think I could die content" (Correspondence of the Church Missionary Society.

NEW ZEALAND.-Many attempts have of late been made to obtain a correct census of the native population of New Zealand. It has been variously estimated at from 80,000 to 120,000, of which considerably more than three-fourths are protestant Christians; of the remainder, about 5,000 are supposed to be connected with the Romanist mission, and about 10,000 refuse to join either party, though they have laid aside, for the most part, their heathen practices. Hence the reports from New Zealand are gradually passing from the missionary into the pastoral type; yet of that kind of pastoral work which belongs to our overgrown or extensive parishes at home, for each missionary has still his 10, or 20, or 50 miles to travel over, in his pastoral visitation of his scattered flock. The number of natives connected with the mission of this society exceeds, on the lowest calculation, 45,000. The communicants are between 5,000 and 6,000: "none are admitted to the Lord's table, as at home, simply because they express a wish to come; but on each occasion they undergo an examination in the company of their native teachers and neighbours, when there is little opportunity for inconsistency of conduct to pass unnoticed. There is, therefore, the best reason to believe that the amount of real Christianity is great, and that the outward change is the fruit of a sound principle within." This result may well excite our praise and gratitude to the great Head of the church, for such a blessed recompence upon the past labours of the Church Missionary Society.

CHINA. The bishop of Victoria has addressed o the archbishop of Canterbury an annual report

of missionary proceedings in China, dated January 28, 1852, in which he states that the new building for St. Paul's college has been completed. The number of Chinese pupils was about 30. Speaking generally of the mission in China, the bishop writes: "Among the encouragements which I am privileged to record, is the fact of the past year having witnessed the first-fruits of the Church of England Mission in China; I trust, only the beginning of a more plentiful harvest of souls to be gathered into the church of Christ. There have been baptized, three at Ningpo, four at Shanghae, and three at Hong Kong. If we were satisfied with a low standard of Christian profession, many additions to these numbers might be made." On Sept. 7, 1851, the rev. T. M'Clatchie records the ordination of a native convert by bishop Boone, of the American Episcopal Mission. Mr. M'Clatchie was present at his examination, and was much gratified at hearing his answers: he also preached on the occasion, at the bishop's request. On the following day Mr. M'Clatchie admitted his first convert, one of his blind class, to baptism, after he had been for nearly two years under instruction. The rite was administered in the presence of a large congregation; and Cha-e, the newly-ordained minister, preached a sermon on the occasion, in which he explained the nature of the sacrament. When it is remembered that in New Zealand upwards of ten years elapsed before a single convert cheered the hearts of the missionaries, and that Shanghae, the oldest station on the Chinese coast, has not been occupied eight years, and Ningpo not five years, while during this period the Chinese language, one of the most difficult of the many which are spoken in our world, has been so far overcome as to afford the missionaries access to the understanding of the people, and that yet ten converts have been baptized, the committee cannot but feel that in the prospect of missionary work in China there is much to encourage them. Summary:_Stations of the Church Missionary Society, 3: European missionaries, 6; schools, 2; scholars, 35.

THE JACOBITES AND THEIR BISHOP-ENVIRONS OF MOSUL." At the end of three hours, on the 12th of November, we came to Arbo, a Koordish village, where lately occurred a scene of blood. A Koord of Arbo had killed a Chris tian. The government sent to have him appear before a kadi. He refused; and when a force was sent to take him, the Koords tried to resist. The result was that twenty-seven were killed. This happened only about two months before we were there; and the house where the slaughter occurred was carefully pointed out. Two hours and ahalf from Arbo we came to Dir Malchi, where we found a bishop only twenty-eight years old. He had been bishop about five years. He was apparently glad to see any one who could relieve the monotony of his hermitage. He pressed me to drink wine with him, which I declined. He took us to see the church. In the wall he showed me the tomb of the hand of St. Malchi; which hand, it seems, works miracles. "What is this dirt for?' I inquired. He took up a chain and said,

We bring crazy people here, and put this iron collar on their neck, and chain them here all night, and they recover.' And what is the dirt for? O, we bring it in from the vine

yards, and pray over it; and, if any one is sick, we put the dirt in water, and they drink it and get well.' This is the teaching of a Jacobite bishop! Of another convent it is said: It dates back more than twelve hundred years, according to an inscription on the reading desk, which is one immense stone. The roof was newly tiled four hundred years ago, as appears by a date. The chancel was paved with tesselated marble, more beautiful than any work of the kind that I had seen. The roof of the chancel was inlaid with little cubes of glass and stone, each not larger than a little finger nail, and wrought into figures and flowers. Ravandooz plundered this convent, and carried off much that he thought gold. The church, as well as the convent generally, is built of large blocks of faced stone. The arches are massive, and the church looks as if it might stand another thousand years. Here, no doubt, the multitude came up to worship; and from these walls went forth decrees to India and Africa. Now a decrepid old bishop and a withered nun, with a single Christian family as servants, are all the Christian population left; while half a dozen families of vile looking, idle, and malevolent Koords have crowded in, and bid fair to become the exclusive occupants" (Rev. M. Marsh).

The Cabinet.

EXHORTATION TO FAITHFUL PRAYER.-Wherefore it behoveth us all that we pray earnestly unto God to give us faith to believe his word and works, when we hear, read, or see them. For the word and works of God do nothing comfort the unfaithful; as we may see by the scripture, where God saith he stretched forth his hand all day long to a people that believed not; for such as have ears and hear not, eyes and see not, be rather the worse for God's word and works than the better. Ye shall see, where the spirit of David was replenished with faith, he was so assured and ascertained of God's present help, that he said he would not fear, although a thousand men environed and compassed him round about. No, he would not fear, though he should walk in the shadow of death. At another time, when faith quailed and waxed faint, he was trembing in his spirit, and fearful in his body: as we may see when he felt his spirit wax faint, he said, "My soul is troubled very sore, and my bones be weakened." And in other of his psalms he showeth that his soul was very heavy and comfortless, and could take no consolation. Also, when the spirit is assured of God's grace, then the eyes cannot look upon any work of God but the mind taketh by the contemplation and sight thereof unspeakable consolation; as David declareth in his psalms, and saith, he would see the heavens the works of God's fingers, and would mark how one day was an induction to another, and how the heavens praised the Lord. At another time, when the consolation and life of the spirit was overwhelmed with troubles, he could not see at all with his eyes, but cried and complained that he was stark blind. And also in that marvellous psalm, in number lxxxviii., where as prayer is made to be delivered from the horror and feeling of sin, the prophet saith that his eyes waxed dim and blind. The same is to be seen likewise in the crosses and afflictions that God sendeth. As long as true faith and confidence remaineth in the heart, all troubles be welcome and thankfully taken; as we read, when Job had news that his goods and children were taken from him in manner suddenly, he most patiently said, "God gave them,

and God hath taken them away: as God would, so it is done." But, when faith quailed, and the spirit was troubled, then followed these impatient words: "I would my sin were laid in one balance, and my pair than he had deserved. When the spirit was quieted, in another;" as though God had laid more upon him for all his poverty and nakedness, he rejoiced, and was

contented with his birth, and coming into the world, and also with the state in the world appointed unte him by God, saying, "Naked I came out of my mother's belly, and naked I shall depart hence again." But, when faith fainted, then came out these words: "The day, the night, and the time be cursed wherein I was born;" with many more horrible words, as the text declareth. So that we see, where as God's Spir wanteth, there is no learning nor consolation to be had of anything.—Bp. Hooper on P8. lxxvii.

SKETCHES FROM NATURAL HISTORY.

No. C.

PARRAKEETS.

THE psittacidae are a family of birds remarkable for beauty of colour, for their powerful bill, their fleshy tongue, and their capability, in many cases, of imitating the human voice. They are distributed over Africa, India, Australia, and parts of South and North America. But, as the shortness of their wings does not permit them to pass wide No. 954.

seas, the species are for the most part different in the different localities where they are found.

Among the various genera may be noticed the maccaws, the parroquets or parrakeets, the lories, the cockatoos, and the parrots; all of which are distinguished into subdivisions presenting some variety of form or habits.

The psittacidae make their nests in the holes of trees, which they climb with their feet and bill. The upper mandible of the bill is peculiarly constructed. It is not connected with the skull, as in other birds, by yielding and elastic plates, but is