The feeling pastor pressed the hand of the sorrowing child within his--and, ere he could answer him, he had wet with his tears the silken hair of the orphan. His first object was to sooth him into confidence, and then to direct him to a Father who would never forsake him. he satisfied his curiosity respecting death-how that it is a long sleep, With patience but that the voice of God will one day awake even the dead. He told him how death was introduced into the world, and made him understand that it was the consequence of sin. He explained to him the natural depravity of the heart-how we," like sheep, have all gone astray." He laboured to impress upon him a correct view of the character of Godhis attributes of love, mercy, justice, &c. and then explained how we might be saved by Jesus Christ. He next strove deeply to impress upon the listening boy what is "the chief end of man ;" and thus concluded, while his hearer seemed to hang upon his lips : "And now, my dear little boy, you have indeed lost a tender father; but I have been trying to point you to a Father, who has promised never to forsake the poor orphan.” "" 66 But," says the child," what is it to be an orphan ?" "It is to be left destitute of parents while we are yet children." "I think I understand; but what is a poor orphan ?"

The clergyman was affected, but replied, "It is a child who is left destitute of property as well as friends.”

"O, I wish," said the child, in the simplicity of his heart, "I wish that I was a poor orphan, if God would be my father."

The good minister wept-for he knew that the child's wish respecting property would be fully satisfied-" I trust, my dear child, that God will be your father. You know how short are our lives-how certain our death-how much we have to do to prepare for death-and how we should devote our lives to God, that we may meet death with peace. I hope you will not only be good, and live so as to meet your poor father in heaven, but I hope your life will be spent in trying to do good to

others."

The clergyman held the hand of the child, and they knelt in prayer on the grave. The petition was that God would provide for the little orphan. It was now dark, except what light was afforded by the bright twinkling of the stars. As they left the graveyard, the shepherd direct. ed the attention of his lamb to these wonderful works of God, and his heart beat with joy when he exclaimed, " My Father made them all.”

He led the orphan to his place of residence-soothed his grief—assuaged his sorrows-and determined to adopt and make him his child.But God had otherwise determined. The faithful pastor was soon after laid upon the bed of death, and from the chamber which had, for many years, been the witness of the piety of his heart, and which was "privileged above the common walks of virtuous life," his spirit, as we trust, flew from the snares, the corruptions, and the sins of this transitory world, and found a shelter in the bosom of his Redeemer-and left the child a second time an orphan.

At the death of the clergyman, the little boy was thrown upon the wide world with but few friends :-his patron was dead, and he was forgotten. Many who saw, felt compassion for him. They saw sorrow often brooding over his countenance, and the big tear often gush from his eyes: they saw and pitied-" hoped he would be provided for"-and left him as they found him. But it should be a matter of consolation to dying pa

"the

rents, that there is One who heareth even cry," and will provide for the fatherless.

young ravens when they

I have only to add, that to the subject of this narrative God was ever near. He was placed in many different situations-passed through many trials, but was ever protected through the tender mercy of God. At the age of sixteen, it is believed he experienced the operations of the Spirit of God upon his heart: he thought of this interview with the good clergyman, and of his advice, his prayers and his wishes; and he dedicated his life to the service of God. The hand of charity was extended. He is now a member of one of our most respectable colleges; and it is hoped and believed that this orphan may hereafter be known as a Missionary of the Cross in some heathen land, where he has determined to spend his days. PEREGRINUS.

THE EPISTLE

FROM THE YEARLY MEETING OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, Held in London by adjournments from the 24th of the 5th month, to the 5th of the sixth month, inclusive, 1820, to the quarterly and monthly meetings of Friends, in Great Britain, Ireland, and elsewhere. DEAR FRIENDS,

It hath pleased our Heavenly Father again to permit us to meet for transacting the concerns of our religious Society; and we have from time to time in the course of this meeting, had reverently to acknowledge the continuance of his love towards us. We have partaken of the fellowship of the Gospel; of that fellowship in which our predecessors, valiant for the truth, were comforted in the day of persecution; and which has been a strength to the true believers from the earliest periods of the Christian Church; we therefore again feel engaged to offer the salutation of our love to all our dear friends, wherever they may be situated, with earnest desires that they may become united unto one another in Christ Jesus, our Holy Head.

The amount of the sufferings of our friends, as reported to this meeting, on account of tithes and other ecclesiastical demands, is upwards of sixteen thousand pounds.

Our distant brethren have been again brought to our remembrance by an epistle from the Yearly Meeting of Ireland, and one from each of those established on the American continent. It is encouraging to us to observe, that these communications bespeak a continued solicitude for the prosperity of the cause of truth. By those from America we find that the welfare of their Indian neighbours, and the rights of the injured African race, are still dear to our friends on the other side of the Atlantic, and that, as favourable opportunities occur, they are publicly advocating the cause of justice and mercy.

This meeting has been deeply affected on hearing that the slave-trade, notwithstanding its abolition by our legislature, and by various foreign powers, still exists, with the horrors consequent upon it, to a lamentable, extent; and although the way does not immediately open for much to be done by us, on behalf of the objects of this nefarious and cruel traffic, we earnestly commend them to your continued remembrance and commiseration.

We have been again occupied in investigating the state of our society; and our present concern is, to turn the attention of all our dear friends to a strict examination of their religious profession and experience. We profess to believe in the inward teachings of the Spirit of Christ Jesus, our Redeemer and Mediator, our Advocate with the Father;-of Him whose precious blood was shed, that he might procure unto us eternal life, and present us holy and unblameable, and unreprovable unto God. Let us individually inquire, how far we are acting in conformity with the solemn truths of the Gospel. Are we seeking, in humble supplication unto the Lord, that our faith may be established therein? Are we, in patient waiting before Him, desiring that we may clearly discover the inshinings of his light upon our understandings; and that by walking in faith, according to its manifestations, our lives may be spent in the love and fear of our great Creator?

It is of unspeakable importance to all, that they should know their own wills and dispositions regulated and sanctified by the power of the Holy Spirit. If this engagement of heart be earnest and frequent, humble views of ourselves ensue, a distrust in our rational powers, as sufficient for the great work of salvation, is induced; we are taught the inestimable blessing which those enjoy who attain to a reliance on Holy aid; and, whilst we are brought low in our own estimation, and are fearful to speak of our religious attainments, we are enabled to rejoice in Him in whom we have believed. The time spent in silence, in our meetings for divine worship, would then be productive of spiritual refreshment; and our beloved brethren, in their remote and solitary allotments, for whom we feel a tender sympathy, would, in their small assemblies, be animated by the presence of Him whose promises are unfailing.

When the Christian temper predominates in our meetings for discipline, this salutary provision for the exercise of Gospel love and care, and for the purpose of reclaiming and restoring those who may be overtaken with a fault, is administered, not only with kindness and meekness, but in the authority of Truth; and each being watchful over his own spirit, those engaged in the business of these meetings, would then conduct it with weight, and in brotherly condescension:-and they would prove to be times of deep instruction.

Our Christian principles teach us to live in the world aright, but not to live unto the world. If we indeed seek to be redeemed from its spirit; if it be our daily concern that our garments may be kept unspotted by its defilements; that we may be clothed with the meekness and gentleness of Christ, we shall be enabled to discharge our civil and religious duties with holy propriety, and to adorn the Gospel in our lives and conversation. In times in which the public feeling may be agitated by civil or political questions of general interest, or by such as involve the vital principles of our faith, the humble Christian, thus prepared, will retire to the place of true inward prayer. He will see the necessity of carefully suppressing in his own mind the first emotion of party zeal; but he will feel the advantage of cherishing a willingness to suffer, whether little or much, whether in secret exercise of mind, or in outward trials, to promote the cause of his Lord, who suffered so much for him. He will not view with indifference any open, or less direct attacks, upon those blessed truths on which his hope of salvation is founded. He will not be improperly solicitous for his own ease and security, when he sees difficulties or trouble threatening those around

him: his great concern will be that he may in no way bring reproach on his high profession, but that by acknowledging the Lord in all his ways, He may direct his paths.

The love of the world operates in various ways to turn us aside from the path of holiness. We believe that it leads many to gratify themselves in dress and language, in a way inconsistent with Christian simplicity. We are convinced that this departure from our well-known testimony, is an inlet to greater temptations, and we believe that where this salutary restraint is found to be irksome, a desire to throw it off tends to retard the spiritual growth. We, therefore, affectionately entreat those who may be thus disposed, to consider well the motives for their conduct, and to reflect whether by this unwillingness to take up the cross to their natural inclinations, they are not so far declining to become the disciples of Christ.

Dear young friends, your advancement in the way of piety and virtue continues to be a subject of our earnest solicitude. We tenderly exhort you all to cherish the belief, to seek to be established in the conviction, that your heavenly Father, as you look in faith unto Him, will assist you by his good Spirit to overcome every thing that is wrong, and to live acceptably in his sight. Be very careful then, we beseech you, not to read publications which openly, or indirectly, inculcate a disbelief in the benefits procured to us by the sufferings and death of Christ, in the divinity of Him, our Lord and Saviour, or in the perceptible guidance of his Spirit. On the contrary, in silent retirement before the Lord, seek after the contriting influence of his love, in sincere desire, that in his own time, it may please him, that you also may richly partake of that consolation and strength which are the portion of his faithful dependent children. And, as we can rejoice in the persuasion that many of you have yielded to the visitations of Divine Love, we wish to encourage these to hold on in the path of dedication, to continue to love the Lord, and to desire to know and to do his will.

May these, may all our dear friends, be impressed with the continued necessity of watchfulness unto prayer, and of being clothed with humility, as with a garment. The faithful disciple will guard against relying too much on former experience; he will find that an increase of years produces an increasing conviction that we are entirely dependent upon God for fresh supplies of strength; but he will be animated to persevere, from the consoling hope that if faith and patience continue, Christian virtues will increase; humility, meekness, and liveliness of spirit will be prevalent in advanced life; and a final admission will be granted into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Signed, in and on behalf of the Meeting, by

JOSIAH FORSTER, Clerk to the Meeting this Year.

FAMILY MORALS.-No. I.

To the Editor of the Christian Herald.

SIR-Having by special favour obtained sight of a letter from a mother, I ventured to request the further favour of being allowed to communicate the following extract for your valuable publication. If it seems

VOL. VIII.

2

to you, as it does to me, to meet usefully an important and most common error, please to insert it, under the title of Family Morals, No. 1; and oblige

MY DEAR L

A FATHER.

Your letter did please me much. You seem to be doing wonders for little H. I thought her a promising child, but not near so intelligent as she might be by a little plain every-day teaching. I am more and more inclined to think that we must lay aside all systems, if we would come in direct contact with the understanding and heart of a child. We must be guided by the Bible to the heart; and, in all our efforts with the understanding, we must stop short when we interfere with what the Bible requires there; for who would be so mad, as to be willing to gain the intellects at the expense of the slightest moral evil? When we find that the intellects must be roused by offerings to the vanity, it is time to be alarmed: it is a sacrifice far from being acceptable in the sight of God. I would not, if I know my own heart, for all the intellectual attainments that ever adorned the mind of man, consent to have my children suffer the slightest moral taint, if I were sure I could remove it the next minute; for I do believe that all sin "deserves the wrath and curse of God." There is a greater effort to unite the service of God and mammon in education than in any thing else.

In talking upon the subject of education, it has been often suggested, that my views must prevent a rapid improvement of the mind. Formerly this has made me hesitate, but now I say, "let it”—though I am persuaded that the final account will be in full favour of "denying all ungodliness." Education, so far as it is gained by perverting the heart, is wordy, "plays round the head." As far as my observation and experience have extended, it is the ready and the thoughtless, not the doubting and thinking, who are acted upon by medals and other excitements, as injudicious as they are unhallowed.

REVIEW.

A MISSIONARY CATECHISM for the use of Children; containing a brief view of the moral condition of the world, and the progress of missionary efforts among the Heathen. Published by the Yale College Society of Inquiry respecting Missions. NEW-HAVEN, printed by S. Converse, 1821.

Missionary history is now becoming an essential part of Christian education. The rising generation are to be trained up in the principles and practice of that benevolence, which, to the shame of their predecessors, is but just beginning to embrace so glorious an object as the conversion of the world. They are to be actuated by new and liberal views, and to be efficient instruments in introducing the latter-day glory of the Church. It is therefore necessary that they should early be made acquainted with the moral condition of the world, and the various plans which have been formed and are now successfully prosecuted for the diffusion of the gospel of peace. A conviction of the importance of such knowledge has caused many who have been engaged in Sabbath Schools, or otherwise employed in the religious instruction of youth, to look with peculiar regret upon the