with such intensity as to reduce to ashes our envy and selfi , and lifting us above the rule of mere routine make us sta h as living witnesses for Him? Does the spell of His mat love hold us to Himself, and cause to ring in our ears am surging billows of life, in the church and in the home, study and in the market, the memorable truth, “Ye are n rown, ye are bought with a price"? Can we say to th ing age as we look into our motives and examine the chara of our acts, "We do not only speak great things, we liv n,” and do men respond to our words with a force that show r doubt is vanquished, "The Lord is risen indeed, see ho e Christians live and love"? We have great interests com ed to our charge; let us not be recreant to our trust erful memories urge our activity, memories of fathers and hers now before the throne. Let us not resist their influence ght visions allure us. Quickly let us march towards our 1. The Lord Jesus is still with us to assure us that all pow s given unto Him both in heaven and earth. Let us not but preach the gospel of His love to every creature, and y day by day that His kingdom may come, and His will be e on earth as it is in heaven.

Son of Man! we, beholding thy glory and thy power, are amed and penitent for the weakness and folly of our lives, looking up to thy perfections and pity, desire to cherish the e that thou wilt make us more manly, truthful, strong, and 1! Anointed Messiah, teach us that we may comprehend significance of the past, and help us that we may use it to

thee, for now the voice of thy bride calls thee, and all cre sigh to be renewed.”

ART. II.-RECREATIONS AND AMUSEMENT

When the disciples had returned from one of their pre tours, and reported to their Master "both what they had and what they had taught," he said unto them: “Come yo selves apart and rest awhile; for there were many comin going, so that they had no leisure so much as to eat." Chris ed his disciples originally, and he calls them now, to la his service. His language to them is: "Go work in my yard. But when they have worked, until the necessities ture require relaxation, he then permits and requires th rest. It is as much their duty to rest, under such circums as it is to work, under others. It is as really a sin to ove in the service of Christ, as it is to under-work. It may so common a sin. It may not be one into which in this trifling world, we are so likely to fall; still, we have no right to violate the laws of our being,--which are the la

Rest may be total, as in quiet sleep; or only partial, as in , agreeable relaxation or diversion. When our Saviour ired his disciples to turn aside and rest awhile, he did not d, probably, a total rest. He did not wish them to go to sl rtainly, He did not limit them to such a rest as this. Wha cended was that they should take time, after their protrac por, to recreate, to recruit, to invigorate and strengthen th sted powers, and thus prepare for greater usefulness. Recreations then, of the right kind and within proper lim e not only permitted to us, but enjoined upon us. They joined by the very necessities of our nature. They are enjo by the authority of our Saviour. They are as really o ty as prayer, or praise, or hearing sermons, or anything el us much, we think, may be safely said, in behalf of need

creations.

The

May the same be said in behalf of amusements? This w pend on the meaning to be attached to the term. Many pe e regard amusements and recreations as the same. e the words interchangeably, and though we do not quite accor this view of the case, yet, for the sake of putting amusement on the best possible footing, we are willing to accept it in thi scussion. We will consent to use the words in the same sense e will consent to say that amusements, and recreations, of the ht kind, within proper limits, and when indulged in for the ht ends, are not only allowable but useful. They are not ly permitted to us, but enjoined upon us.

We have said that our recreations should be of the right kind, and there is need of wisdom in forming a judgment here. All persons do not require the same recreations; what would be a relief to some would be a weariness to others. For example: the person of sedentary habits and pursuits requires physical exertion—strong muscular exercise-such as is permitted by athletic sports, or some kinds of manual labor; while the weary house-wife or husbandman requires no such thing. They must be recreated in some more quiet way. The tired student needs to have his mind diverted, as well as his body exercised. He must engage in something which shall withdraw his thoughts. from the exhausting subject, and fix them upon other things. While he, whose muscles are more wearied than his head, may refresh himself with those very things which the tired student should avoid. As to the kind of our recreation, therefore, every one must be guided very much by his own particular circumstances and necessities.

And the same remark may be extended to the measure of our recreations. Some persons require more, and some less. Some kinds of labor are so agreeably diversified, that they carry their own recreation with them; while others are so monotonous and fatiguing, that no one can bear them continuously for any great length of time.

In estimating the needed amount of recreation, the great object and end of it is to be kept constantly in view. This is not to kill time, as it is sometimes said. Time is too precious to need killing in any way. Neither is personal gratification to be regarded as the chief end. We are rather to aim at continued health, recuperated strength and vigor, and a preparation for increased usefulness. Recreation may be lawfully pursued until this, which is its appropriate object,-is gained; i. e., if it is likely ever to be gained in this way;—and no further. Pursued farther than this, the recreation or amusement changes its character. It becomes unnecessary, unlawful, selfish, dangerous.

And how many of the votaries of pleasure are blinded and deceived precisely here! They plead for amusements as things which are necessary to their health and usefulness, and profess to pursue them with this object in view, while at the same time

nts, not to be recruited and strengthened, but to be plea went for the enjoyment of it,-from motives of pers tification.

And the young lady who danced till four o'clock this m 5, will, if she is honest, confess the same. Her amusem e knows, did not recruit nature, but exhausted it. It did real good, physically or morally; nor did she expect befo nd that it would. But she went to be pleased. She w m motives of personal gratification. She is entitled to led, therefore, a lover of pleasure, more than a lover of G Among the additional regulations to which our amusements creations should be subject, we mention the following: 1. They must be such, both as to their nature and circu nces, as not to violate any plain and positive command of Go is is very obvious. The law of God requires that we lo r neighbor, and seek his good. If, then, under pretence creation, we contrive to injure our neighbor in any way, pose him to personal inconvenience or suffering, we are nger excusable, but criminal. The law of God requires th use all suitable means to preserve our own life, health, an putation. If, then, we indulge in recreations which go to ex se life, or health, or reputation; if we engage in hazardou periments, or are out at unseasonable hours, or frequent th mpany of evil men; our recreations are no longer innocen d salutary, but injurious. The law of God also requires tha e remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy; and this cut