In addition to many Papers of value and interest, our February number will contain "Con- gregationalism in Birmingham," by J. BICKERTON WILLIAMS, Esq., and "Essays on Ritualism,” Many of which had been abandoned by former medical advisers as hopeless. "Every person of weak lungs, delicate habit, or debilitated constitution should read this book." Notice-Mr. GEO. THOS. CONGREVE may be seen at his new residence, CooMBE LODGE, RYE LANE, PECKHAM, on the usual mornings (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday,) until Twelve o'clock. CASE OF A LITTLE GIRL AT NEWPORT, MONMOUTH. In March, 1865, Mr. George Fox, of 17, St. Mary Street, Baneswell, Newport, Monmouth (who Notes of the Case.-" Family tendency to chest disease. Illness commenced with fever, nine I advised upon this case, ordering a course of the Balsam with honey, powder at intervals, a In a month, (April,) some improvement was manifest, which continued through May: by which At this time, imprudently, as is too often the case with patients-the medicine was left off In a recent letter, Mr. Fox writes me as follows:-"It is now upwards of eight months since my 27 THOUGHTS ON SPIRITUAL GROWTH-FOR THE NEW YEAR. By the Editor. THE growth of a tree is easily measured; it is a question of feet and inches. And so is the growth of a human body. But how shall we measure the growth of a spirit? The foot rule is of no use here. It is a matter of consciousness, and consciousness cannot find a fixed standard by which to ascertain the spirit's progress; or, if we speak of the law of God as the standard, cannot find how to use and apply it so as to bring out a clear result. The thing to be measured is there-the human spirit, and the measuring-line is there—the law of God. But how to apply the one to the other so as to form a definite judgment on ourselves—this is the difficulty. And the difficulty is such as often greatly to discourage the Christian. We wish to know whether during a given period, say twelve months, we have grown. We turn our eye inward, and it is hard for us to discover any marked difference between the inner man of to-day and the inner man of twelve months ago. We examine our outward life and we find that we are living just about as we were living then. Whether our faith is stronger and our holiness brighterwhether we are more God-like or more Christ-like-perhaps we cannot say. At the least, we can discover no very marked difference between our former self and our present self, although we have had another year's privilege, and worship, and instruction. Now how shall we deal with a case of this sort? Shall we distress ourselves or shall we not? Are we at fault or are we not? These questions do not admit of a single answer. Some may be to blame, sadly and seriously to blame. They have not been either so watchful or so prayerful as they ought. They have not given earnest heed to the apostolic precept," Work out your |