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A modern philosopher has appropriated man's full extreme as follows:7 years in childhood's sport and play 7 7 years in school from day to day 14 7 years at a trade or college life...... 21 7 years to find a place and wife 28 7 years to pleasure's follies given 7 years to business hardly driven 42 7 years for some, a wild goose chase 49 7 years for wealth, a bootless race... 56 7 years for hoarding for your heir... 63 7 in weakness spent, and care 70 years Then die, and go-you should know where.

No "YES" IN MOTHER'S "No." "When my mother says no, there's no yes in it." Here is a sermon in a nutshell. Multitudes of parents say "no," but after a good deal of teazing and debate it finally becomes "yes." Love and kindness are essential elements in the successful management of children, but firmness, decision, inflexibility, and uniformity of treatment are no less important.

JOYS OF THE CHRISTIAN.

St. Augustine relates of a certain Gentile, who showed him his idol gods, saying, "Here is my god; where is thine?" then pointing up to the sun, he said, "Lo! here is my god; where is thine ?" So, showing him divers creatures, still upbraided him with, Here are my gods; where are thine ?" But St. Augustine answered him, "I showed him not my God, not because I had not one to show him, but because he had not eyes to see Him." Thus the joys of a Christian, though they cannot be seen with bodily eyes, though the wicked cannot so much as discern them, yet is there nothing so delightful, so comfortable as they are; witness that peace of conscience, that joy in the Holy

Ghost, which is so unspeakable, such as eye hath not seen, nor ear hath heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive them as they are.Spencer.

DECEITFUL RESOLUTIONS.

Epictetus tells us of a gentleman returning from banishment, who in his journey towards home, called at his house, told a sad story of an imprudent life, the greatest part of which being now spent, he was resolved for the future to live philosophically, and entertain no business, to be candidate for no employment, not to go to the Court nor salute Cæsar with ambitious attendants, but to study and worship the gods, and die willingly when nature or necessity called him. It may be this man believed himself, but Epictetus did not. And he had reason; for letters from Cæsar met him at the doors, and invited him to Court; and he forgot all his promises, which were warm upon his lips, and grew secular and ambitious, and gave the gods thanks for his preferment. Thus many men leave the world when their fortune has left them, and they are severe and philosophical and retired for ever, if for ever it be impossible to return; but let a prosperous sunshine warm and refresh their sadness, and make it but possible to break their purposes, and there needs no more temptation, their own heart is enough; they are like "Ephraim in the day of battle, starting aside like a broken bow."Bishop Taylor.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THOUGHT.

Daniel Webster was once asked, "What is the most important thought you ever entertained ?" He replied, after a moment's reflection, "The most important thought I ever had was my individual responsibility to God."

"MAMMA," said Hetty Martineau, as she came in from her afternoon walk one day in the latter end of December, "I don't much like the text that Mercy Green has given me to think of."

"What is it, my darling?" "This year thou shalt die.' I do not like to think of death, mamma."

"How came Mercy to give you that text, Hetty ?"

"She was telling nurse, when we called to see her this afternoon, how happy she was, because she felt sure she should be in heaven before the year was over. She said she knew the words, this year thou shalt die,' were true for her, and I said that I should not like to think they were true about me."

"And then what did Mercy say, Hetty ?"

"She said she did not wonder that, so healthy and happy as I am, I did not care to think about death; but still she knew there was a bright side to death, and she did not think I should be any the less happy if I knew it too. I do not wonder, mamma, that Mercy doesn't mind the thought of death, she has been ill so long, and her father is not kind to her. But would you like to die, mamma, would you like to leave me, and Robert, and baby, and papa ?"

"I am very thankful, my darling, that I have not got to choose. But I know what Mercy means when she speaks of the bright side of death.

I wish my Hetty knew the peace and pleasantness of being ready for either life or death." "How long have you been ready,

mamma ?"

"Since I was a little younger than you, Hetty."

"What first made you think of getting ready? Were you ill, mamma ?"

"No, my child. My early days were about as happy as yours. What led me to think of getting ready for death, was hearing your dear grandmother talk to a dear friend of hers who lived next

door to us. Their conversation seemed oftener about heaven and the Saviour than any other subject."

At this moment Robert's voice was heard calling for his sister, and with a hasty kiss the child bounded off to play. But a seed had been sown in her heart, and the mother's prayers went upward for the life-giving influences of the Spirit. that it might grow and bring forth fruit.

The merry days of Christmas passed quickly by for these favoured children, who seemed to have little to trouble them but for the occasional indulgence of naughty tempers. To have seen their sad faces sometimes, you would have thought them most miserable children; but so it always is, sin will make us wretched, though we may have every thing around us to make us happy.

On New Year's eve, little Robert had to go to bed early with a severe cold, Hetty's papa was away from home, and the little girl herself felt sad and lonely, as she threw herself on the rug before the parlour fire. She was thinking about Mercy, and wishing that she knew the secret of the happiness that the dying girl possessed, a happiness that seemed to become deeper and brighter as death became nearer.

But Hetty had not thought long before her mamma appeared, and rang the bell for tea.

"Do not light the gas, mamma dear," said Hetty, jumping up to take her place at the table. "I do so like to have tea by fire-light; see how the blaze makes the shadows dance about."

"If I were to light the gas they would seem driven into corners, but the sunshine would disperse them altogether, Hetty, and make the very corners light. When I came in just now, there was something like a shadow on your face."

"I was thinking of Mercy, mamma; it seems as if it were one bright long summer day with her."

"Mercy has opened her heart to the

beams of the Sun of Righteousness, my child, and now, too, she seems to have come to the land of Beulah, that fair country on this side of Jordan, where it is always bright."

"I should like to be like Mercy, mamma, all but the dying. I do not want to die."

"And dying is not what you have to do with now, Hetty. The peace and the joy might be yours at once."

"But still, mamma," persisted Hetty, "do you think Mercy would be glad to die if she were rich, and quite well, and had a papa like mine ?"

"Yes, I do think she would, my child. You were very happy at your aunt's last summer, but did you feel sorry when I sent word that I was coming to fetch you home?"

"Oh no! mamma. I did enjoy my. self then very much indeed, but nothing seemed so pleasant as the thought of seeing my own mamma again. Do you think Mercy feels like that, mamma?"

"I do, my darling. But ring the bell now, for I must get to work."

"And I will get my tatting for baby's frock. Do let me stay up a little longer to-night; and will you read to me, mamma ?" For though Hetty could read very well herself, she had been so accustomed to being read to, even from her infancy, that unless she was in a hurry to finish some story book, it was still quite a treat to her.

"I should have liked," said her mamma, "to have read you something which very much impressed me many years ago, but the book in which I read it is uncle George's now. Shall I tell it to you, as well as I can remember ?"

"Oh do, mamma."

"Well, many years ago, in a magnificent eastern city, one of the principal inhabitants was very much interested, one evening, in watching a stranger, whose gaze was fixed upon a star then shining brightly a little above the horizon. At length he spoke to him, and asked the reason of his looking so at the star. 'That fair planet,' replied the stranger, 'is my native home, but,

impelled by curiosity to know something of your brilliant world, I sought and obtained permission to come here, but only on condition that I never returned, and that I became subject to all the laws by which the inhabitants of this world are governed.' 'I congratulate you,' replied the other; 'allow me at once to introduce you to our many sources of enjoyment, and spheres of activity.' And he did this, introducing the stranger to his friends, showing him whatever was worthy of notice in the great city, and especially instructing him as to how he might acquire wealth.

"The stranger entered with zest into all, but it was not long before his in. terest received a sudden check.

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'Wandering, one evening, with his friend, a little beyond the city, he noticed an enclosure of singular appearance. 'What is this?' said he, with the lively curiosity which always characterised him. This is where we bury our dead,' replied his friend. 'Who or what are the dead?' inquired the stranger; and his friend proceeded to explain to him the change from life to death to which every inhabitant of this world was doomed. Also, that the time of its occurrence to each person was entirely un. known-it might happen within the passing hour, it might be many years away.' 'Do I understand you aright?' replied the stranger, all the gold that I have been collecting, all the delights of your beautiful city, all the friends whom I have found since my arrival here, may I have to leave them at any moment?' 'Even so,' answered the other. 'Please then to instruct me as to the life on which, as you have informed me, the soul enters when the body dies, for it seems to me that preparation for that which is everlasting demands the first attention.' But his friend was indisposed to go further into the matter, and begged to refer him to the priests, to whom, as he said, it belonged to give in. struction in these things. The stranger marvelled at his friend's indifference to that which seemed to him so full of ab. sorbing interest, but he thankfully ac

cepted his offer of introduction to a priest. From that time his aims and interests were changed, and to any remonstrance addressed to him by those who missed him from their round of giddy pleasure or absorbing business, he had but one answer-Oh!' he would exclaim, 'I am to die, I am to die!""

Mamma paused, and Hetty, after a minute's silence, exclaimed — " Well, mamma, dying does seem the great thing after all."

"Preparation for death undoubtedly is, my child."

"I should like to be ready, though I do not want to die, mamma, but I forget so soon when I am away from you." "My Hetty needs the help of a better friend than her mamma.

'He, Lord of all the worlds on high, Stoops to converse with you, And lays His shining glories by, Your friendship to pursue.'

"I like that verse, mamma. It is very wonderful.”

And then with her mamma, and afterwards in the silence of her own little room, Hetty earnestly asked Jesus to be her Saviour and her Friend. She began the New Year very happily, with the sweet feeling of having a great and tender Friend always at hand to help and bless her, and when, a few months later, she looked on the peaceful face of Mercy, as she lay in her narrow coffin, Hetty had ceased to wonder that, to those whose sins were pardoned through the blood of Jesus, however pleasant their earthly life might be, there could be joy in the thought of death. H. B.

NOTICES OF

Congregational History, 1200-1567. By JOHN WADDINGTON, D.D. London: John Snow & Co.

THE key-note of this volume will be found in words quoted by its author, from a German writer:-"Through the greater part of the Middle Ages we can trace a succession of free spiritual associations, which were often oppressed and persecuted by the Hierarchy, pertained rather to the life of the people than to the framework of the Church, exhibited more or less a regulated form, and professed a diversity of doctrines, but which all emanated from a fundamental endeavour after practical Christianity." Dr. Waddington does not profess to find societies organised on the Congregational model, or holding clearly and fully principles which are distinctively Congregational, from 1200 to 1567. But he finds throughout the entire period "an undercurrent of opinion formed by the silent teaching of the Word of God." "The light of Congregational principles," he says, "gleams forth at intervals in the most unexpected manner, and Christian people, drawn together by the force of kindred affection, we find meeting together for mutual instruction, and united worship, apart from the parochial congregations of the National Church.' Our author has laid all lovers of true history under great obligations to him for the immense painstaking with which

NEW BOOKS.

he has laboured to bring to light the spiritual witnesses against the corruptions of the Romish apostasy in the dark ages. If these witnesses may not be claimed as 'Congregational" in the stricter sense of the word, they often avowed principles and opinions which have their most perfect development in Congrega tionalism. And if we have not an exclusive right to say that they were our spiritual ancestors, we feel that we have a chief interest both in their personal history and in their noble testimony. We hope soon to be able to give at some length an idea of the contents of Dr. Waddington's volume. Meantime, we most earnestly invite the attention of those of our friends who can pay fifteen shillings for an octavo of 750 pages to its claims on their regard. The labour bestowed upon it must have been enormous, and so, too, must have been the cost of its production. And the least that our wealthier Congregationalists can do is to diminish, by their timely aid, the anxiety of men who, like Dr. Waddington, spend themselves and their property in enlightening the public mind.

The British Quarterly Review, No. 98, April, 1869. London: Hodder and Stoughton.

THE Contents of the current number of the British Quarterly are:-The works

of Mrs Oliphant-Royal Commission on the laws of marriage-Rawlinson's five Great Monarchies-Roman Catholicism in France-Poetical works of Robert Browning-The Irish Church in the Sixteenth century-Pauperism - The Brahmo Somaj of India- and 80 pages of admirably-written critical notes of New Books. There is thus no lack of variety, nor is there any lack of ability and power. As to Mrs. Oliphant, we differ on some points from her reviewer: we do not think her life of Edward Irving worthy of a permanent place among the biographies of national worthies," if truth and reality are essential to such worthiness. We agree with the late Professor Scott, in regarding the work as a romance rather than a history. We think, too, that the reviewer might fairly speak in much stronger terms of condemnation of Mrs. Oliphant's caricatures of certain religious classes. The article on Roman Catholicism is one of deep interest and of great value. We hope its author, understood to be Dr. de Pressensé, is correct in the views which he entertains of the antagonistic principles now at work in the bosom of the Roman Church. The history and exposition of "the Brahmo Somaj of India," is what very many readers of missionary intelligence have long been desirous to possess.

Fret Not, and other Poems: including

Hymns with Music. By HENRY BATEMAN. London: Hodder & Stoughton. "If it be admitted," says Mr. Bateman, "that to induce a blade of grass to grow where never one grew before, is to be a world-benefactor, let me claim for the present volume, the aim, at least, to plant some green thoughts in hearts that are arid or sad." The aim, thus humbly avowed, is noble and Christian,

and will not fail of its accomplishment. Many hearts, we doubt not, will be taught to have faith in God and will find rest in their faith, through communion with the spirit that pervades these pages. It is only by specimens that we could give our readers any correct idea of Mr. Bateman's poetry, and such we hope to be able to give, ere long. But, meantime, we may say that we think the poetry is genuine, and the soul that inspires it is sure to make it a means of blessing. The volume is perfect in outward form and beauty, and does honour to "The Gresham Press."

John Ploughman's Talk; or Plain Advice for plain People. By C. H. SPURGEON. London: Passmore and Alabaster. THIS little volume contains the "concentrated essence" of Mr. Spurgeon's wit and genius. The difficulty which "plain people will have in reading it is the wealth and suggestiveness of its wisdom. The very first sentence of the book will give an idea of the telling and proverbial character of its style :-"It is of no more use to give advice to the idle than to pour water into a sieve; and as to improving them, one might as well try to fatten a greyhound."

The Prodigal's Return: its Lessons of Penitence and Pardon. By Rev. W. RITCHIE, Dunse. Author of "Life for God exemplified in Nehemiah." London: Hamilton, Adams & Co. THIS is a judicions aud healthy exposition of the most beautiful of our Lord's parables. It is free from all straining and extravagance, whilst it is pervaded by the emphasis of enlightened earnestness. In a series of chapters, Mr. Ritchie presents to his reader a large amount of spirited and wholesome Christian teaching.

ASSOCIATION MEETINGS. Mar. 7. Hull and East Riding Associa tion at HULI.. Chairman, J. Oldham, Esq., C.E. Paper on "Church Life among the Independents," Rev. G. Snashall, B.A.

Mar. 22, 23. Notts Congregational

Union at Albion Chapel, NOTTINGHAM. Chairman, Rev. W.K. Vaughan.

A public meeting in the evening, presided over by Mr. Alderman Herbert. Mar. 31, April 1. Association of English Congregational Churches for Glamorganshire and Carmarthenshire at CARDIFF. Sermons by Rev. D. M. Jenkins and Rev. Dr. Rees. Discussion on "The Vested Interests of the Irish Church."