"The While we pass over the other festivals, we shall give an account of the seasons of Advent and Christmas:"We have all experienced the cheering influences of this period of the year-the time of our Lord's nativity. The joyful message of peace on earth, and good will to man,' has touched the hearts of our children; they show an ardent desire to afford pleasure to all around them to the poor, as well as to those who have acted a parent's part towards them. Christmas-day, divine ser vice being ended, all the children assembled to a social meal in the hall. After the blessing had been pronounced, they repaired to the garden, and cut a large branch from one of the trees, and placed it in the large room, where they ornamented it with festive lights. They then proceeded to lay out presents for six poor persons of the parish; (the presents had been given to the chil dren by an individual friendly to the Establishment.) While the children were singing the Christmas hyme, the poor were ushered into the room. A boy, who had formerly been a pupil in the Institution, read the lessons appointed for Christmas. After this, the twelve youngest children went in pairs to the table on which the presents were laid out, which consisted of bread and warm clothing. While they distributed these gifts, the other children sang, tion, by means of familiar intercourse, every little party | to impart to the family this blessing of a congregational or family, as they are called, dines, one a-week, at his character. The festivals of Easter, Pentecost, and table. The morning and evening worship is also con- Christmas may be considered as resting points, from ducted by the Rev. Mr Wichern. Although every which we look forward to new developements of chafamily have prayers in their cottage before leaving it in racter. They frequently are occasions of bringing to the morning, and after returning to it in the evening, light the effects of grace on the soul, which, although the village bell calls together the whole community to they may be hidden for a season, will always be ready worship in the chapel, at seven o'clock in the morning to burst forth in God's good time." and at eight o'clock in the evening. The chapel is situated in the centre of the village. At the one end of it is the reading-desk, bearing the inscription, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever;" at the other end is the organ; and at the entrance a table is fixed, on which are marked the birth-days of the inmates of the Institution. The hours of worship in the chapel are the only times when all the members of the Establishment meet together. It is there their minds are to be impressed with the truth, that Christians are members of one body in Christ, and that there is but one foundation from which all can draw the comfort of which, as sinful creatures, all stand in need. events of this year," says the Rev. Mr Wichern, "have strengthened my conviction, that the daily reading of God's Word in the family is the most effective means for reviving and cultivating vital religion in the soul, and that the religious life must necessarily go to decay, where Christian communion at the family altar is neglected. The impressions produced by our reading together in the revealed Word often remain concealed from our eyes; but we have, of late, had some cheering evidence of the seed having fallen into good ground. While reading in the epistle of John, where the spirit of Christian love, which is long-suffering, forgiving one another, and exhorting one another, is so beautifully set before us, some of the young people were led to form a Christian union among themselves, unknown to their teachers. They have engaged to assist one another in the reciprocal duties and offices of love, to exhort one another, and to pray for one another. When they find it difficult to persevere in their purpose-if, for instance, there has been a quarrel amongst them, or if they feel that their brotherly love is become unstable-they instantly come to me, either one at a time or together, to request that I would act as mediator between them, and to restore peace. Although these poor children have not succeeded entirely in overcoming the sins that most easily beset them, they nevertheless show a sincere desire to go on, and to be made perfect in love." The system of religious and intellectual instruction pursued in this Institution, is too extensive and complex to admit of our entering into a full developement of it; but an extract of the annual report will show that this system teaches the youthful minds to view "the world as God's world, and not as man's world," as Bishop Butler happily expresses it. After giving a statement of the progress made by the pupils, the Rev. Mr Wichern proceeds: The constant keeping in view of the arrangements of the Christian year in all the concerns of the house, and particularly in the family worship, has been a means richly blessed to us in reviving and fostering a holy communion amongst us. The divine epochs* of the Christian year are particularly calculated The forms of the Lutheran Church are followed in this Insti tution. 'Teach us, Lord, to keep in view "When every one had got his share, all joined in a acquainted with the writings of Mr Cecil, will be glad | lievers and unbelievers. The land of the patriarchs to observe how much this point in the educational sys- has become dear to us for their sakes. We see them tem of the "Das Rauhe Haus" coincides with the views live and die. We see them blessed; and, being blessof that eminent Christian. "The remembrance of our ed, our understanding is enlightened, and our experipast troubles, and of the impressions which they pro- ence is extended, by the daily intercourse with these duced, should call to our minds what we thus intended messengers, who speak and testify of the truth. Notto do, and what we have forgotten to do. Let us turn withstanding the royal crown and priestly garment, over the book of our lives. We are fond of reading they pass before us as friends and brothers; and they many books; but no book, next to the Bible, will do carry us along with them, till we find Jesus, and his disso much good as reading the history of the dispensations ciples, with whom we of Providence in our own particular cases." shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God has led thee, to prove thee, and to know what is in thine heart.' "Thou As every organized body has a beginning, a gradual developement in time, and a final purpose, it follows that it has a history; and thus "Das Rauhe Haus" has a history with it the children are made acquainted in the course of the year; and while the institution which glorifies God in a corner of his vineyard, is represented to them as a visible sign of the Redeemer's mercy towards then, an endeavour is at the same time made to render them conscious of their utter unworthiness of the least of all his mercies. The history of the Christian Church and its missions likewise forms part of the early historical education; and the children show great delight in attending these lessons, for the Church of Jesus, and his people, are objects with which they are familiar, and which they have been taught to love. Were the history of the Church brought before them as an abstract thing, it would long remain unintelligible and uninteresting to them. We shall surely be excused if we quote a passage from a review of Mrs Furlong's work on female education, which appeared in the Presbyterian Review for 1838, where the reviewer points out most correctly the great importance of making the history of the Christian Church part of the early historical education:-" It has long surprised us, that when the history of Rome, Greece, of our own country, and other countries, have obtained an established place in school instruction, that of the Christian Church, its early martyrs, the labours and achievements of Christian faith in the world, has never been prosecuted as an independent branch of school education. As society becomes leavened with the principles of the Gospel, shall the lives of the early martyrs, and of a suffering Christ, we are persuaded, become the subject of early historical education, and displace, or at least obtain the precedency over Greek and Roman history, or the lives of vain-glorious philosophers and conquering heroes; of this we are confident, that such a course would form the mind of our youths to a more decided and self-denying piety, direct their sympathies into a right channel, and infuse a warmth and elevation into the religious character at present but little known." The Rev. Mr Wichern says, on this subject," The history of the Old and New Testament, considered under the one leading truth of the promised and finished redemption in Christ, is of course made the beginning and end of the educational system of Das Rauhe Haus.' The children have all, with more or less facility, comprehended that the Christian faith is founded on the history of truth, of which Jesus Christ is the author and subject. This history leads us through the period of several thousand years; and we meet in it with be Travel home to God, In the way the fathers trod.' "The greater number of the youths who have laid hold of the kingdom of God, not as a matter of the understanding merely, but as a life-giving principle, trace this happy effect to their having in this manner been taught the Gospel history. When, on a late occasion, I was expressing my concern at the stubbornness of one of the boys, one of the others was heard to say to his companion, Only wait till he has heard the history as far as the New Testament,-that will put him right. I know the effect it had upon myself!' When one of the younger ones was asked what he understood when he heard me say, Eli taught Samuel ? he answered, 'Eli told him the history contained in the Bible.' "We should be omitting one of the distinguishing features in the training of the children, were we to leave unnoticed the constant watchfulness of the teachers to discover the first symptoms of regeneration in the souls of the pupils. We are aware that it is unnecessary here to dwell on the fact, that in regenerate life a new principle is implanted into the soul, and that by it only a progressive sanctification of the whole man becomes possible; but it is to the great importance which we attach to seizing the first appearance of the new principle, and acting upon it, that we would call particular attention. We have made it our unremitting care to watch over the almost imperceptible links which constitute the chain of the new life, and, in the spiritual education of the youths, we are guided by the experience which we have thus collected. As soon as we perceive the least sign of regenerate life in any of the youths, we make him comprehend that we, being partakers of the same life, are closely united to him: and thus are under the obligation of protecting and strengthening this new principle which has been imparted to him, when the truth that the Spirit and the flesh war against each other, has been clearly comprehended. We see its effects upon the youths, in the willingness with which they submit to the severest punishments, and the readiness to confess their faults, and increasing confidence in their teachers. This great truth has been the means of clearing up the most intricate cases of villany in the institution. It is right to mention, that these effects are produced on lads of sixteen and twenty years of age, whose vices are not mere acts of boyish petulance, but whose cruel dispositions have sunk them into brutality. The degree to which sinful and blasphemous conversation have occasionally been carried in the establishment might be exemplified in giving an account of a deep-laid plan to set fire to the institution; but we consider the details of it too revolting for public circulation. We shall therefore proceed to state, that different kinds of punishment, even corporal, must at times be had recourse to. "As the institution is neither a house of correction nor a penitentiary, it has no code of laws against gross offences; but its constitution being as much as possible assimilated to that of the family, the punishments are always like parental corrections,-regulated with a strict regard to the peculiarities of character and disposition of the offender. In some particular cases, a special and vigilant superintendence, joined to an observance of silence, has proved very useful. The wanton miscreant, and the wicked deceiver, who tried to entrap others, and to draw them away with him, as well as the hard-hearted, uncontrite, self-righteous man, has often been led to wholesome reflections by these means. The following circumstance may serve as a specimen of the discipline exercised in correcting the youths-After the parents of a boy whom we shall call A., had tried in vain to reform his character, they sent him to 66 Das Raube Haus." He was more depraved, deceitful, and blasphemous in his language, than any who had as yet been admitted. He came willingly into the institution, because he hoped there to have opportunities of ensnaring others, and seducing them to follow his evil ways; and unfortunately he succeeded in one instance, and one evening he and his dupe, B., made their escape. After some time both were brought back. They were of the same age, (sixteen years,) and both fully initiated in the mysteries of infamy and ungodliness. Their language and conduct were, if we may so express it, the very out-bursting of Satanic influence. We deem it unnecessary to enter into the particulars of their characters, and shall only give (as briefly as possible) an account of the punishments successfully employed in this case. On the return of A. and B. to the establishment, the whole household were assembled, for the purpose of hearing, in the presence of the offenders, a minute account of all they had done while in the establishment, and during their ab sence. After this communication the two lads were excluded from all intercourse with the other members of the institution; they had to wear the coarsest clothes, and to go about barefooted Sundays and week-days; they were kept at a distance from the other youths, both at meals and at family worship; and they were not allowed to speak to any body except the governor and the assistant, who conversed with them in private. After the lapse of several months, a favourable opportunity offered for ending this very painful chastisement, and for receiving them back into the community. Although these occurrences had become a means of im provement to some, yet there were others on whom it had a contrary effect; for the recital of the vices of A. and B. had made these feel themselves comparatively faultless, and given them a self-confidence, which caused them to fall. But the Lord, who overruleth all things, turned these events also into sources of great blessing to many among us. Circumstances, arising out of the conduct of some of the youths, obliged the Governor to declare, that until all had acquired a correct view of matters, as they now stood, they must be excluded from the morning and evening worship in the chapel. This was severing the visible bond of a holy communion in the establishment. The Governor regretted the necessity of adopting this measure of judicial seve rity, but the elements of which the institution was at that time composed rendered it unavoidable. The measure being a new one, the youths repeatedly entreated to be readmitted to the devotional exercise; but it was not deemed expedient to grant their request at the time. Then was it seen how necessary the daily converse with the Word of God had become to them; for, during this period of exclusion, they formed themselves into small parties, for the purpose of reading the Scriptures together. One evening, when the Gover nor was walking in the garden, he heard seven or eight voices singing the thirty-second Psalm : "Those mercies thou hast shown, For thou hast seen my straits, and known They were the voices of the excluded boys, who had 66 There is perfection where the other does not exist. tical evidence of Christianity is, that it does not lose itself in mere intellectual researches; that it does not break up the bond of affection on earth, nor foster a spirit of selfishness; for the Lord himself hath said, if ye have love one to another;" and from this token By this all men shall know that ye are my disciples, of Christ's discipleship neither old nor young are to be excluded. The life-stirring principle of the Gospel is not limited to transforming the individual, it also be comes the source of unions, in which the Spirit of Christ supremely reigns. All who are experimentally acquainted with the effects of Christian communion, will be gratified to learn, that the experience of many a poor child in Das Rauhe Haus' has been richly The latest accounts from the Rev. Mr Wichern express a hope. that this young man will eventually become his assistant in "Du Rauhe Haus." blessed in this particular, and that Christian fellowship has been the means of leading many a strayed sheep back to the true Shepherd." "Principle must be tested by result," says M. Cousin. "If the results are good, the system is good also." As we trust that few of our readers will be prepared to dissent from this eminent philosophy of our day, we shall close our article by giving some of the results of the system followed in "Das Rauhe Haus." In 1837 there were seventy-eight children in the institution; of these, twenty-three left the establishment, viz., one died, two ran away, three were sent home to their pa rents, and seventeen are at present working as apprentices to different masters in the town, and are conducting themselves to the entire satisfaction of their employers. The Berlin Report for 1830 states, that of fifty-six children dismissed from the institution, forty-three left with good testimonials; four gave some cause of apprehension; three left the house unreformed; three died. In 1832, one hundred and five children were dismissed from the institution; of these, six are dead; thirty-five have been taught a trade, and are able to earn an honest livelihood; nine gain their bread by different employments; forty-one are still bound apprentices; fourteen are unreformed. The Wirtemberg Report states the proportion of reclaimed youths to be nine out of ten; and the reports of similar institutions, in other parts of Germany, state the proportion of reclaimed to be three out of four. DAVID'S TRANSGRESSION. BY DAVID Vedder. : Or old the ETERNAL had given But the king, in the pride of his might, The faulchion celestial was stayed, When the monarch his error deplored; RECOLLECTIONS OF A CHRISTIAN BY THE REV. W. S. BLACKWOOD, Minister of the Scotch Church, Maryport, Cumberland. IT has been well remarked by Robert Hall, that "it is an homage due to departed worth, whenever it rises to such a height as to render its possessor an object of universal attention, to endeavour to rescue it from oblivion; that when it is removed from the observation of men it may still live in their memory, and transmit, through the shades of the sepulchre, some reflection, however faint, of its living lustre." It is under the influence of these sentiments that I have been induced to submit the following "Recollections of a Christian Friend" to the readers of this work; and all who were acquainted with the object of them, will agree with me in thinking that his high Christian worth entitled him to be thus singled out as an object of public and devout regard. I can in truth declare, that, brought into closest contact with him in daily intercourse, I considered him a model of Christian character; and in inflexibility of Christian principle,-in the conscientious discharge of social duties,-in the devotedness of his attachment to our beloved Zion,-in all that can sweeten, and endear, and give interest to the relationships of public or domestic life, as inferior to none whom I have ever been privileged to know. His was not an austere piety, cutting him off from all connection with the secularities of this lower region, and which, however praiseworthy in some, cannot be practised by all; but it was to him a spring of perennial enjoyment, animating his heart with the warmest affection to all mankind, giving a charm to his society to which all were alive; and yet, as will afterwards appear, of so firm a texture, that no temptation, however strong, which was presented to him was sufficient to overcome it. It was not once, but often, that the writer of these pages has listened to the warmest expressions of admiration on the part of those And vengeance from heaven his kingdom shall blight, best qualified to appreciate his excellence; and indeed By the fires of a merciless horde; By famine, by plague, or by sword! In sackcloth and ashes he lies, With the cords of remorse he is bound; the general opinion entertained of him was, that, like Enoch, he might be truly said to "walk with God." It is not my intention, however, so much to trace his history, which supplies no materials of public interest, as to delineate his character, and to exhibit that eleva Whilst the angel of death 'twixt the earth and the tion of faith and Christian sentiment which sustained skies Is raining destruction around, And corses fall thick to the ground! His vestments imperial are torn, The dust hath polluted his stole; And in heart-rending agony, not to be borne, Near Salem, death's messenger lours Like a sulphury cloud o'er the plain; And turret, and palace, and fane, his mind in the season of departure. The hope of thereby contributing to the promotion of that vital godliness which alone prepares for the enjoyment of the divine presence, has overcome the delicacy and reluctance with which I undertake this task, and which I conceive may prove especially useful in these days of glorious revival in our Church. The object of these Recollections, in his earliest years, was impressed with religious concern, and experienced the influence of the converting grace of the Redeemer in his soul. He died at the advanced age of And soon shall her bulwarks, and portals, and towers, seventy-two; but amongst his papers I find a letter, Be steeped in the gore of the slain. In anguish my follies I mourn; Let it scorch up my kindred and me; But ak! let my people go free!" written to his sister when no more than eighteen, which shows the decided hold which religion had even then taken of his mind, and how conversant he was with its higher and more secret operations on the inner man. It breathes so devout and pious a spirit, and the sentiments contained in it are of so interesting and important a nature, that I would not consider myself justified in withholding it from the reader, or even in abridging it; I therefore give it entire. It is dated, Anderstor, Glasgow, May 20, 1785. "DEAR SISTER,It is my design at present to let you know when you may be said to be growing in grace. You are not to judge of your spiritual growth by the growth of others. There are some who have great knowledge-can reason solidly about the Gospel; their zeal is lively, their faith is strong, their hearts appear warm, and they seem to have much communion with God: because you find not the same gifts and measures of grace in yourself, but perhaps a coldness, a sad indifference, you are ready to conclude that you have no grace, but that you are far from being a growing Christian; not considering there are different degrees in different persons. Growth in grace discovers itself in an increase of spiritual light and knowledge. To see more of sin is a real sign that the work is carrying on. When you are enabled to go more out of yourself, and depend more on Christ, you may be said to grow in grace,-if you are more sensible of your weakness, and depend more upon the strength of the great Redeemer. You are making some advances when you find a true relish for duties, and grow more spiritual in them. You are growing in grace when you find your corruptions weaker, and the power of sin more and more subdued in you. Dear sister, when you have the Spirit in prayer, then you are enabled to pray with continued earnestness and importunity. The Spirit is said to make intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered;' intimating, that our desires are sometimes so strong that we cannot find suitable words by which to express them: and thus, when you are slothful and formal in this duty of prayer, when you are unconcerned in what frame you are in, or what you pray for,-when you come out of custom, and half asleep present yourself before God, and your words die upon your lips,-it is a sign that you know nothing of the Spirit's assistance in that duty. I hope you will employ yourself much in the Lord's service; and I hope that our Saviour, Jesus Christ, will give you strength in the performance of your duty. Although you are tossed with many fears, troubles, and temptations, these will make heaven sweeter to you, where all the sincere seekers of the Lamb shall serve him without interruption, and be made like unto him, and see him as he is. I hope you will remember me in your prayers. This is the earnest desire of your loving brother." This letter, written at the early age of eighteen, bespeaks the decided ascendancy of religion in the soul, and gave promise of high advancement in that grace of which it so beautifully and devoutly treats. It was not to be expected that one who had imbibed so much of the spirit of the Gospel, and who seems so desirous to make progress in the divine life, would ever fall away, or return to that sinful and degrading servitude from which he had been emancipated. Of the uncertainty and distresses of this present state he had as large an experience as most men; but it is interesting to know, that, till his latest hour, he retained the very same sentiments which are expressed in the above letter, and breathed out his soul into the hands of his Redeemer in the certain hope of a blessed immortality. Christ himself has said of his sheep, "that he gives unto them eternal life, that they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of his hand:" and an inspired apostle, that "the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal-The Lord knoweth them that are his." How rich the comfort of these precious declarations; and how interesting to see them verified in the constancy of the people of God! The object of these Recollections having been unfortunate in business, and having lost money to a considerable extent in Glasgow, removed to Edinburgh, in the hope that there he might prove more successful. He attended for many years on the ministrations of these two most pious and devoted men, Drs Davidson and Campbell. His worldly affairs, however, were not pros perous, and in this new situation he was reduced to contend with the same adversities he had before expe rienced. Instead of giving way to impious dissatisfac tion under the trials with which he was visited, I have heard him declare, that at no period of his life did he live in the richer enjoyment of spiritual peace, or realize more of the comfort of having God for the portion of his soul. He has mentioned to me seasons of secret communion which he then had with the Almighty in the courts of His house, as well as remarkable interpositions of Providence for the improvement of his temporal affairs. I am persuaded that had he been asked to single out that period of his life to which he looked back with most pleasing recollection, and which he regarded as the happiest and the best, he would at once have recurred to that when the shades of adversity had gathered most deeply around his earthly lot. In the good providence of God, however, he received an appointment in a public office, which placed him in a situation of comparative comfort, and which, for the last thirty years of his life, afforded him a decent and sufficient income. For some time previous he had la boured in a subordinate department of the same estab lishment; and here his faith was put to a most severe and delicate test. The anecdote which I am about to relate of him may be added to those others which are sometimes brought forward as illustrations of the gra cious care of God over his people, and as arguments for a settled and devout reliance on his providence. The worthy individual about whom I now write, when retired from public life, was accustomed to carry about with him a few pious tracts for distribution, and one of these I have, since his decease, found in his pocket, entitled, "Nothing Lost by Serving God." This is proved by two examples, and his own may be adduced as a third. When acting as a clerk in the public establishment I have mentioned, without any permanent situation, and having a young family dependent on him for support, he received an unexpected summons to attend to bis duties one Sabbath morning. The apology pleaded was, that certain papers were required to be got up in haste, and to be transmitted without delay. My deceased friend sent back an immediate reply that he would attend at the very earliest hour on Monday morning, but that it was opposed to his principles aud uniform practice to prosecute his secular calling on the Lord's day. On the Monday he went as usual to his employment, expecting an instant dismissal, but the high official under whom he acted took no notice of his refusal. Shortly after this, an application was made by the Lord Register of Scotland to Government on his behalf, and this was seconded by the strong recommen dation of the very gentleman, eminent for rank and influence, to whom he had denied his services. That gentleman continued his steady and devoted friend ever afterwards, and was, I believe, a chief means of procuring a considerable augmentation to his salary at no very distant period. While the example of my worthy friend, on this occasion, should minister encouragement to all who may be placed in similar circumstances, it reminds us of the impious and cruel conduct of many a master towards their servants and dependents, in exacting from them labour on the Lord's day. "Were we asked," says Dr Chalmers in the warmth of a virtuous indignation, characterise the man who, so far from attempting one counteracting influence against the profligacy of his dependents, issues from the chair of authority on which he sits a commandment in the direct face of a comandment from God,—the man who bas chartered inpiety in articles of agreement, and has vested himse with a property in that time which only belongs to the Lord of the Sabbath,-O! were the question put, To |