USEFUL HINTS. 57 1839.] Forty days our blessed Saviour fasted in the wilderness. Matt. iv. 2. "And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights He was afterwards an hungred." Forty days our blessed Saviour conversed with His Apostles after His resurrection. Acts i. 3. . "To whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” So that whoever considers these facts, cannot but think that this number of days was appointed by the Church, to be used by all as the common solemn number belonging to extraordinary humiliation.-Sent by T. T. B. USEFUL HINTS. To wash Tables and Floors.-Use stone-masons' sawdust instead of soap; it is better, washes all deals much finer, and costs nothing. Get a bushel at a time from the stone yards. To clean frying pans. Before you use the pan set it on the fire, with some hot water in it, and rub it with a clean cloth, till all the water is taken up. The inside is then quite sweet. Clean the pan both before, and after using it. Earthenware.-Put new earthenware into cold water, to heat and boil gradually; then let it grow cold again. While the water is boiling throw in a handful of bran. This preserves the glazing, so that it will not be affected by salt or acid. Boiling earthenware toughens it.-Mag. of Domestic Economy. Protecting flower seeds from birds.-"It has been very satisfactorily proved," that black thread or worsted is a better protection from the depredations of the housesparrow in gardens, than any other colour. The black lines being stretched over the flowers proved a complete defence. See Floricultural Cabinet; sent by a Correspondent1. 1 The authorities are quoted for the above directions: we do not profess to give them from our own experience. SIR, ON CHRISTIAN EXERTION. WHEN We consider the state of the world, and even of our own land, must we not be deeply affected? But if every Christian was a missionary in spirit wherever he went; if he did all that he could for the souls of others, in every way that he could think of; if he stirred up as many more as he could to do the same, telling them all the ways in which they could do good, begging them to tell those ways to as many more as they could, and to stir them up to do their utmost, how much good, by God's blessing, might be done! Then the flame of apostolic zeal might spread far and wide, and the whole Christian world be roused to exertion. How vast an engine would then be set at work. Then most persons, rich and poor, might be visited, and have the Gospel declared to them.—Then there would be missionaries, ministers, district visitors, teachers for Sunday and other schools, places of worship, funds, collectors, and men for societies, in abundance. The Christian world, taking it as a whole, seems to want rousing to make far greater efforts than it has hitherto made. When there is so much ignorance, drunkenness, sabbath-breaking, neglect of God's house, and, even in Christians, so little zeal, devotedness, and heavenly-mindedness, should we not all long and labour for a better state of things, and each set to work in the best way that he can? How delightful it would be, if all Christians, young and old, poor and rich, made it the business of life, (so far as other duties permitted,) to do good: if they were most fervent and unceasing in prayer for others, and the spread of religion, and most self denying and indefatigable in personal efforts to do good; if they lived most plainly, moderately, and economically, and gave most liberally to the cause of God, and to help the really distressed; if they were always watching for opportunities of doing good; if they tried to do good to all with whom they came in contact; if they spoke to all that they could (with propriety) of Christ and His great salvation; if in walking, travelling, and wherever they went, they did all the good they could; if they laid out the whole of their time and money to the very best advantage, not wasting 1839.] ON CHRISTIAN EXERTIONS. 59 any of either; if they laid out the whole of every day, Sundays, and other days, (so far as duties permitted,) in doing good, in one way or other; if they went to the careless and unconverted, and besought them to be reconciled to God, to attend His house constantly, to keep away from public houses, beer, and gin shops, (the slaughter houses of our population,) and to keep the Sabbath most holy; and if they yearned over perishing souls. How delightful if ladies and gentlemen devoted their time to visiting the poor, teaching in schools, trying to do good to the rich and middling classes, and to other ways of usefulness. If they made quite short visits to each, they might see more people, and call oftener at the same house. Servants, children, and the poor can do much good, in their respective spheres, by speaking to others, exhorting them to go to the house of God, and to use all other means of grace. The poor, in general, (even those of them who are well disposed, and read the Bible and tracts, and hear the Gospel,) seem to be sadly ignorant of the very plainest truths of the Gospel. Must not this arise, in a great measure, from the language of sermons, tracts, books, teachers, visitors, &c. being too much above them? Is it not then highly desirable that the language of sermons, tracts, books, teachers, &c. should be as plain as possible, in words (as much as possible) of only one or two syllables, and of Saxon, not Latin or Greek origin1? And that all should study the greatest plainness of language and style? Now if every magazine had articles exhorting Christians to do as above stated, might it not rouse many to exertion? Thus many Christians might be addressed at once on the subject of doing good, some through one magazine, and some through another. your Magazine circulates probably (from its title) among the poor, might you not have articles to stir them up to do good, and to show them in what ways they may do good? I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Peckham, Dec. 14th. 1838. As 1 See 1 Cor. xiv. 9. TESTIMONY TO A SCHOOLMASTER. In the city of Chester, amongst other charitable institutions, is the Blue-coat Hospital; for the education and maintenance of poor boys; founded in the year 1700, whilst Dr. Nicholas Stratford was Bishop of Chester, and at his earnest recommendation: since which time it has been supported by voluntary subscriptions and benefactions. The present building, which is formed on three sides of a square, with a court in front, and a playground at the back, was erected on the ground where an ancient hospital once stood, dedicated to St. John the Baptist; and where, by the pious benevolence of our forefathers, thirteen poor men of the city were provided with beds and food. This hospital was destroyed during the civil wars; and the building that now stands in its place, contains a chapel, school-rooms, dormitories, domestic offices, and committee-rooms. The chapel is opened every Sunday; and divine service performed: the psalmody and responses are conducted by the pupils of the institution. There are twenty-eight boarders, and sixtyfour day scholars. The boarders, or blue-coat boys, are selected from the day scholars, who are called green cap boys; and, in addition to a good education, calculated to fit them for apprentices to any trade, they are clothed and fed and finally, through the interest of the friends of the institution, are placed in a trade suited to their capacity; from this time all expense devolves on the parent or guardian of the boy. The great advantages to the poor boys of Chester in this charitable foundation, are too obvious to require any remark; but the welfare of such institutions must depend, in so great a measure, on those to whom is entrusted the care and instruction of the boys, that the writer of these few lines is anxious to call the attention of schoolmasters to the serious importance of the trust confided to them. And as an encouragement to those who are silently and steadily discharging their duty, through good report and evil report, your correspondent concludes this short article with an extract from the minute-book of the governors of the Blue-coat Hospital, which was resolved on at a large meeting, held dur |