pidated state, and from some other circumstances, of pulling it down to the ground; and its inhabitants were compelled to seek an asylum in a habitation which formed one of a range of buildings, appropriated, at the expence of the parish, to the accommodation of the poor. Here their habits were, from necessity, very different to what they were, when living in a solitary house, and having, as it were, the whole of the country at their command, without being exposed to the intrusion of a single eye, or dreading detection in any of their schemes, which would not bear parochial inspection. However, whether from the improved state of their child, who was in the Sunday School, or from the preaching of the gospel, or from the pangs of an accusing conscience, rendered still more severe by the recollection of poor Jack, and his nefarious life, is not for me to determine; but true it is, that from some cause this ungodly couple became different in their outward conduct, regular in their attendance at church, and desirous of imparting to their children the most valuable of all knowledgescripture knowledge. The best of books is now frequently seen in the father's hands-his temper has become improved--he is surrounded by his little family on the Lord's day, which he catechizes and instructs; and he extends, I trust, the hand of faith to receive the memorials of a Saviour's dying love, whenever an opportunity presents itself. The recent decease of the second child (who was regarded by the wife of the clergyman as her PECULIAR charge, and whose mind became, in a particular manner, drawn towards her, from the circumstances of her brother's death, as well as from those higher motives, which should actuate every Christian instructor in our Sunday Schools), led me to the selection of those words contained in Luke x. 21, as a fit subject for a funeral

discourse, after her spirit had joined the spirits of those dear Sunday School children, who are standing round the throne, singing that song of "worthy the Lamb," a song which they first learnt, perhaps, within the walls of a Sunday School. While addressing my auditory, I found myself entirely disposed to exchange my lamentation of, alas, poor Jack! into " I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes; even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight." Having conducted the reader thus far, I shall complete the contrast between the two children, as nearly as possible, in the language of my discourse, on the day that her remains were conducted to the house appointed for all living." The honoured name of Raikes shall be had in everlasting remembrance. Thus I am conducted to that circumstance, which under God, should endear that name to me, in connexion with that dear child, who has been removed from a poor-house, to reside in a mansion of bliss, prepared for her by Him who said, "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you.

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go before to prepare a place for you, that where I am, there ye may be also." She was a Sunday School girl. I wish it, however, to be fully understood, that I am not going to hold her up as a bright example of early piety, or to present either to friends or relatives a flattering picture of the deceased; nor because she happened to be in our Sunday School (for the support of which I may be expected to be anxious) shall I insist more strongly on the benefits she derived from it, than matter of fact will bear me out in doing. The fact itself is cause for gratitude, that there should be a young child, of eleven years of age, living in the fear of God, in a neighbourhood where, I am grieved

to say, there has been, in time past; and I greatly fear there now is, much profaneness, much sabbathbreaking, much disobedience to parents, and frequent depredations are committed upon the property of surrounding neighbours: and, when we consider how difficult a matter it is to draw the attention of age and experience to the things which make for our everlasting peace; when we consider how many chapters in the Bible may be read; how many sermons heard; how many sabbaths spent; and, I would add, how many ministerial remonstrances offered to some persons, without any visible effect being produced upon their hearts, I do say, that it is satisfactory to any minister to learn, upon unquestionable evidence, that a child so young, and who, before her connexion with the Sunday School, in this parish, was a sabbath-breaker, and profane as well as others, subsequently became penitent, humble, prayerful-a partaker of the grace of God, trusting only to the merits of Christ for salvation, while she was earnestly desirous of displaying that holiness, which can alone evince our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Upon one occasion, when I visited her on her dying bed (the fervor and devotion of the child is still fresh in my recollection) she emphatically repeated after me those words of our confession, "we have erred and strayed from thy ways, like lost sheep; we have left undone those things which we ought to have done; we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and there is no health in us; but do thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders: spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults." In Bthere was a remarkable tenderness of conscience, which was not unfrequently called forth, andwhich proves to me, that the Spirit of God, had, for a long time before her death, been striving with her, and I had the satisfaction of hearing her confirm this opinion

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with her own lips, at one of my interviews with her, about a fortnight before her departure. A neighbour, who found her employed upon one occasion, about what was highly improper, accosted her thus: Bet'sy, don't you know that wicked children will burn in fire and brimstone for ever and ever?" The ef fect of this reproof was, that her heart was oppressed with anguish, and vented its agony in tears. At her Sunday School, when a friend was instructing her, she would frequently manifest signs of the most exquisite feeling, and especially when repeating the commandment, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." 'Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy." "Honour thy father and thy mother;" and, "Thou shalt not steal." The last named commandment caused her to change countenance, and, from the excess of her feeling, she was obliged to retire from the room, before she could recover from the agitation which was produced by the questions proposed to her; and even a short time before her decease, while her father was engaged in catechising his children, in the room beneath that where she lay, she was heard to repeat, in a loud and fervent whisper, the answer to the questions in the Church Catechism.

Her attendance at school was even more regular, and her desires to be in her class more earnest, than might have been expected from a child, whom death had marked out for its spoil. She was fond of reading, and frequently, on her return home from church on the Lord's day, sought an early opportunity to find out the text, and carry it into some neighbours, whose eyesight she thought was too dim to admit of their readily finding it out. Here I am reminded of a trait in her character, which, together with others already mentioned, I would were visible in every child, who is privileged to receive instruction in

a Sunday School. If, at any time, she saw a certain neighbour (whose kindness to her was marked, and continued until the day of her death, notwithstanding she has begun to bend beneath the weight of years) carrying her pitcher to the brook for water, she was accustomed to come up to her, and say, 'give me the pitcher, give me the pitcher! I am younger than you, and I will fetch some water for you;' and, sometimes, she made a point of going before hand, to inquire if this person was in want of any water? As it regards her attendance at church, it was willing, regular, and punctual. She was ever apprehensive that she should not be there in time. In the absence of her mother, I have, myself, had frequent opportunities of witnessing her fill with fidelity, the office of nurse to her younger brothers, and I have derived authentic information respecting the care she took of her parents' property, in their absence, and also of her selfdenial with regard to the food left in her custody.

She discovered a sense of gratitude both to God and man. Being asked by a neighbour, during her last illness, from whence some little comforts came, which were sent her from the Rectory she replied they are gifts from God, have I not heard you say so, Nanny, when good things have been given to you? God bless all my friends; for I have plenty of friends, have I not?' At another time, she took up some money which a little girl had sent her, and putting it to her mouth, kissed it, and prayed for a blessing on the donor! It became a painful part of my ministerial duty with respect to her, to speak of death, which to all appearance, was not very remote, as her countenance showed some tokens, by which the approach of the king of terrors might be anticipated.

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asked her whether she would rather die or live? She replied, I prefer

to die; because if I live, I shall have more sins to answer for; I should like to die, and go to my Saviour.' The idea which she formed of heaven was, that there is no sin there, and she thought that she should be happy in heaven because she could not bear sin. The neighbour, who has more than once been alluded to, entered into close conversation with her, one day, on the subject of her afflictions, and the object of the sufferings she was called to endure. The answer was, 'that they were laid upon her because she was a sinner,' and when reminded that her sufferings were a means employed to prepare her for heaven, she added, I dont suffer as our Saviour did.' The sufferings of the Redeemer were then detailed, at some length; when her young lips pronounced, and her heart too felt a sentiment, worthy of being recorded; It was hard that the Son of God should so suffer for a poor girl.' It was rejoined, you must endeavour to follow his example in bearing your sufferings. 'I do,'

said she, Nanny, I do;' and, in her acutest pain there was, it appears, a strenuous effort made by her to "endure all things." The books which were sent her from the Sunday School, were perused by her with avidity; and when exhausted by the effort of reading them, she felt unwilling to part with them, and would therefore conceal them in her bed, until she had acquired strength enough to proceed with the reading of them. A short period before her dissolution she assigned a reason for recalling the assertion which she had made in a former part of her illness, namely, that she wished to die and go to her Saviour, I should like,' said she, 'to live twelve months longer, that I might attend my school regularly, and get tickets enough to purchase a Bible for my sister.' The most valuable part of her property, her Testament, she formally bequeathed to her father the day before her

death. I pray God it may become a blessing to his soul, that both he and the family at large may read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest it, that by patience and comfort of God's holy word, left as a legacy to them, by a dying child and sister, they may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which we trust she had derived from reading that very volume, and which hope, she explicitly declared to her minister in the language of the collect, Thou O Lord hast given us through thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Like every one who sincerely desires the salvation of his own soul, she felt an anxiety for the souls of others, and among the rest for her brother, who died four years ago, when she must have been about seven years of age. 'Poor Jack!' said she, 'poor Jack! I hope I shall meet poor Jack in heaven!' The lamentation was natural; but whether the expressed hope has been realized, the day of judgment must determine.

We are now brought to the elosing scene of her sufferings, when the Saviour's voice having as it were pronounced before the throne of the

Most High with respect to her, "Of such is the kingdom of heaven," her happy spirit winged its flight into the presence of that Saviour, whom she loved, and took possession of the mansion which He had prepared for her.

She requested to be turned on her left side, and supporting her head with her hand, said, 'I shall be easy now;' her mother supposing she had dropped off to sleep, was careful not to disturb her; but on subsequently inclining towards her face, found that she had sweetly fallen asleep in Jesus, without a struggle or a groan.

Thus died, in the faith of Christ, B-M --, who might be considered as the first fruits of our parochial Sunday School. May this account prove encouraging to those, who are engaged as teachers in similar institutions, while it pleads powerfully in behalf of those parishes which are not hitherto blessed with such efficient means of promoting the temporal, but above all, the spiritual welfare of families, who are sitting in darkness and the shadow of death."

A CONSTANT READER.

SIR, Allow me, at the commencement of the year, to request the insertion of some extracts from a tract on the Duty of Christian Beneficence, recently published by Messrs. Hatchards; and which appear to me deserving of extensive circulation,

'Love is the noblest principle that can influence the human heart. If this be wanting, “all our doings are nothing worth." The true Christian is actuated by this principle believing that God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life, he possesses a faith which works by love, and which, disposing him to obey with sincerity all the commands of God, expands his heart with benevolence towards the whole human race.

'Nevertheless, in obeying the Divine commands unreservedly, and from a principle of love, he adopts. however unconsciously, a sure and a safe way of thriving. See Luke

hath, and not according to that he hath not." (2 Cor. viii, 12.)

From this passage we may perceive that such persons as from slender incomes are unable to distribute largely, may yet, in various ways, be serviceable. For instance, by devoting a little time frequently to the performing some kind office for a poor, or sick neighbour; by instructing the inexperienced to become useful servants; by supplying cheap and useful articles of clothing; by providing such nourishing diet for the sick poor, as may be done at a trifling expense, and of which, from their ignorance of the culinary art, they must otherwise remain destitute; or by sending from their own table, as Nehemiah, who with that consideration, which strongly marked his character, directed "a portion for whom nothing is prepared."

Some method, however, should be adopted for securing to charitable uses a portion of our income, which should ever be regarded as a sacred stock. With the humbler classes the apostolic rule may well merit regard, 1 Cor. xvi. 1, 2. Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him. That is to say, according to the ability, wherewith the Lord hath blessed him, let him set apart a portion for the poor, especially for those of the household of faith. But the trading part of the community, and the more affluent members of society, as stewards under God, will do well to acknowledge his rights in all that they possess, by submitting their incomes annually to a voluntary per centage, proportionate to that measure of this world's goods, with which they have been intrusted. Such a method