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capable of understanding the things lowing influence, he progresses in of God, because they are spiritual holiness, and is a happy man. The fact things. Now it is a lamentable fact, is, that what all the Bible states of it, that whilst many who have enjoyed and all that christians have experithe advantages of education possess enced of it, goes to prove, that it is these qualifications, many others adapted to the wants of THE HUMAN still remain untaught by the Divine FAMILY. No man is in the condiSpirit. How then shall they speak tion in which he came from the of that part of christianity which is hands of his Maker. Every man is purely spiritual? which in point of a manifest proof of it. We are sinfact is its ESENTIAL part? Take away ful beings. Tried by the very laws this, and you will leave nothing but which men in general have admitthe form. It would be like the body ted as obligatory on rational ereawithout the soul to animate it. Now tures, we fail. No man can honestly as a description of the inactive body say that he has not violated some would be but a poor substitute for law that his conscience has apa description of the living, active proved and if tried by the more intelligent man, so a description of spiritual, and holy law of God, this the form of christianity, is but a poor will appear in a still stronger point of substitute for what is spiritual, holy, view. We must all be left guilty and influential, in all its practical before God, for, "the scriptures operations on the soul. When men have concluded all men under sin,” mistake the one for the other, for on this very ground. Such a fact the want of spiritual discernment, as this calls for some remedy, some we ought not to be surprised at the provision for the removal of sin. errors into which they have fallen, But where is this to be found? or the mischievous results which We answer, in Christianity, and in have followed. Let such men be Christianity alone, which is derived enlightened by a ray of light from from Christ, and centres in Christ, heaven, let them experience what as the great atonement for sin. christianity is in their own minds Here is the great remedy, and the and then, they will see and judge only remedy that has ever been otherwise, but not until then. It discovered for the evil of sin. Humay so happen that the reader is a man wisdom has laboured greatly to stranger to these things himself, yet find out a substitute of equal effiis still desirous to know what chris- ciency, but in vain. After all the tianity is. Whilst we should say, attempts of men, it remains an undo not trust to the statements of alterable truth, that "there is no such persons as we have described, other name given under heaven, by we would add, in the language of which a man CAN be saved, but the Solomon, "lean not to thine own name of Jesus." Thanks be to God understanding." There is danger lest that name is all that meets our want. we rest satisfied in the pride of our He that believeth in Christ "is own minds. Enquire of the chris- justified from ALL things, from which tian, the man who has felt the he could not be justified by the law power of religion. He will tell you, of Moses." This is a heart-cheering and describe to you its workings in fact, the practical bearing of which his own bosom. He will show you, is seen in every Christian. Like that it meets his case, that in pro- other men, naturally he is a sinner. portion as he lives under its hal- Like other men, he is exposed to

The following are the astronomical phenomena for the present month:

THE PHASES OF THE MOON.

the severe accusations of conscience, month affords us perfect spring, for and all the dreadful consequences its vicisitudes of warm gleams of of sin, but he lays hold of that sunshine and gentle showers, cause atonement which is provided for the vegetable productions of the him, and finds it all-sufficient in earth to appear in profusion, and life, and in death. He receives the thereby deck the fertile earth. forgiveness of sin. He enjoys the April generally commences with raw justification of his person before unpleasant weather, in consequence God, and as a consequence possesses of the influence of the equinoctial a peace which his case required, but storms still slightly prevailing. which he could not derive from any other source. This, so to speak, is one of the characteristics of Christianity. It, however, meets another necessity. It transforms the cha- First quarter-1st day—9h. 33m..aftern. Full moon-10th day-2h. 6m..aftern. racter of man, which is naturally Last quarter-17th day-3h. 30m.. aftern. unholy, and alienated from all that New moon-24th day-7h. Im..morn. is good. Who does not discover Venus is a morning, and Jupiter in his mind a tendency to evil? an evening star. A partial eclipse of Who does not feel his bosom agi- the Moon will take place during the tated by passions that are evil? nights of April 9th and 10th, which Who does not find how unavailing will be visible in England. are his unassisted efforts to arrest the progress of these things in himself? The man that has at all studied his own heart, or that has at all marked the general working of these things in the mass of Society around him, cannot be ignorant of the fact. Indeed men who have written with candour have admitted it. They have felt, too, the total inadequacy of human power and human laws to do any thing more than curb the passions of men. (To be continued.)

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE

MONTHS.

With Astronomical Notices. By Professor DEWHURST, F.E.S.L., &c. &c.

APRIL.

}

Oh. 32m. 6s..m.

First contact with pen- 11h. 10m. 48s..af.
umbra (April 9.) ..
First contact with dark
shadow (April 10.)..
Middle of eclipse.
Last contact with dark

shadow...

1h. 58m. 36s..m.

4h. 46m. 24s..m. [Mean time at Greewich. The chimney or house swallow is The birds first seen early in April. continue pairing and building their nests. The nightingale sings by day as well as by night; the cuckoo generally appears about the middle of April, and preceded by the wryneck, the redbreast, whitethroat, and yellow-wagtail.

The plants in flower during this month are as follow:-viz., the wall flower, the hyacinth, cowslip, pasque flower, yellow tulip, gentianella, yellow alysson, spring snowflake, THE pleasantness of its sunny days, primrose, peerless, sweetbay, spring and the delightful view of the green crocus, bulborodium, Swedish dogand fresh opened flowers is unequal-wood, common almond, cherry, bird led, although they are frequently cherry, common laurel, black hawovercast with clouds, and chilled thorn, and snowy mespilus.

with rough wintry blasts. This The apricots and peaches lead the

way in blossoming. The most strik-teachers and members of the various congreing plants which now meet the eye are, the primrose and wood sorrel under hedges; the wood anemone in dry woods and thickets; the wood crowfoot, marsh marygold, and the cuckoo flower in meadows.

gations, by which means we hope to have excited a spirit of inquiry, which we trust, eventually, will cause many to join us; at present there are a course of sermons preaching by independent ministers which are particularly addressed to young men, the first of which was preached on the 11th instant, The farmer is still busied in sow-that our future reports will be more encouwhich has created a great inquiry. We hope ing different sorts of fodder, or his raging and contain accounts of usefulness corn, for which purpose dry weather and success. is yet suitable, though plentiful showers at due intervals are desirable for feeding the young grass and springing corn.

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Wakefield Branch.
President-Mr. S. Horn.
Treasurer Jno. Perkin.
Secretaries.

Messrs. J. Harnew and J. Craven.
Committee.

Messrs. Jas. Nowrie, Jas. Matthewman,
Wm. English, Wm. Beningfield,

On behalf of the Committee,
J. HARNEWS, Secretaries.
J. CRAVEN,

Wakefield, March 23, 1838.

TO THE CONDUCTORS OF THE Young Men'S
SOCIETY.

GENTLEMEN,-As the Guardian of a
very useful and important Institution, I beg
to draw your attention to a bill which is now
before parliament, which, if passed into a law,
will form a precedent fatal to the best in-
terests of that portion of the community which
is the especial object of your care.
I allude
to the bill for the establishment of a race-
course at Notting-Hill, about two miles from
the end of Oxford Street. It has already
been productive of the worst effects, gambling
and every kind of vice and profligacy have
been its frightful attendants-books and
prints of the most licentious description have
been hawked on the course-but if once
established by law, its evils will not be local,
for it will form the frightful parent of many
similar institutions around the metropolis.

I trust, then, that you will make common cause with the more respectable inhabitants of Kensington in petitioning the Legislation against such a monstrous perversion of Legislative authority. The right of way, or any other local privilege or inconvenience sinks into utter insignificance compared with the importance of this precedent—as the first attempt to sanction by Act of Parliament, establishments which can only flourish by the ruin and the corruption of thousands.

John Jowett, and George Pearson. For a short time our society was in a very lingering state, and at one time was very likely to have been given up, had it not been for a member of the Leeds Branch coming over and exciting us to persevere; he encouraged us by informing us what they were doing at Leeds, and how successful they had been, or it would have been given up entirely; however, at present there are two associations formed containing twenty-four members, and we hope shortly to see others formed. It is computed that about 30,000 persons The associations meet once a week, when the were collected at the first meeting, the others usual routine according to the constitution is were not so numerous-but shocking and observed; seventeen essays have been re-disgusting excesses of riot and profligacy atpeated since the commencement; deputa- tend each, and the neighbourhood must betions were appointed to visit the various Sun- come entirely ruined in its moral character day Schools in the towr, and some of the if the act can be obtained. I am, yours, &c., surrounding villages, where they explained the nature and objects of the Society, distributing copies of the rules, &c., amongst the

E. W. GRINFIELD.

19, Notting Hill Square, Feb. 28, 1838.

London: T. RILEY, Printer, 161, Fleet Street.

THE

YOUNG MEN'S MAGAZINE.

No. 17.]

THE PRIZE ESSAY.

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gistrate, in matters of controversy, either between nations or individuBy F. A. Cox, D.D. F.A.S. als, they are settled by fair argument "THERE are two Empires in the and debate. In the important conworld, that of Force and that of cerns of religion, this is still more Truth, and, as their nature, so their evident; and if any great moral means are different."* To advance effects are hoped for, it is not from the empire of the latter is the object the Faggot or the Dungeon, but from of our humble efforts, and it is to the Pulpit and the Press. These the same end that the desires and thoughts occur to us in resuming energies of all true Christians are our notice of Dr. Cox's elegant work, every where intensely directed. which is intended to affect the opiFor, in proportion to its increase, do nions and conduct of those to whom they anticipate the progress of Free- it is addressed, by enlightened apdom, Christianity, and happiness peals to the understanding as well as among men. Their weapons, how-to the feelings. Of this character is ever, are not those which the mo- the following extract, contained in narchs of the earth too often employ page 94 to page 95. On the mode to enlarge their territories-brute of parental instruction, he remarks, force and fraud-though these have "Parents should win their children been sometimes resorted to, yet to truth and to Christ; and bear in never with advantage to the cause mind the peculiar advantage which of truth ;—the only force which she they, above all other persons, possanctions is the force of moral sua- sess, the opportunity to impart sion ;-there is no other power that instruction at all times. is worthy of her name, or that can "Let young men then learn the promote her interests, except it be true nature of religion; let them be that unseen but Almighty influence, taught its sublime and elevating which assures to her the final victory character. Show them, ye pious over all things. It is, therefore, one parents! that it is the opposite of of the best indications of the present all that is mean and selfish; while times, that persuasion is gradually taking the place of force, in the world of action as well as of mind; and that, instead of those frequent appeals to the sword, or to the ma

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irreligion is debasing and destructive. Point them to those illustrious specimens of a self-sacrificing piety which abounded in primitive times, that they may be led to form some conception of the benevolence of Christianity as an emanation of the

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benevolence of Deity. Let them are directly, and almost all of them understand that it inspires the spirit indirectly, immoral. The theatre, of martyrdom; that it annihilates the ball-room, and the gaming-house, personal considerations in the love are to be reprobated, and deserve to of others; that it elevates man above be united in condemnation as the his guilty passions, and gives a per- three-fold source of pollution to sopetual victory over present things; ciety. They ruin heal.h, destroy that it not only suppresses but ex- time, and undermine moral feeling. terminates the resentments of fallen They were too bad even for the nature, and lays the foundation of morality of heathenism: shall they true honour in the triumphs of meek- be sanctioned by the high and the ness, forbearance, loving-kindness, low in the boasted realms of Chrisand the glory of doing good. Con- tendom? Shall Athens and Sparta vince your sons that here is the close their theatres, without the proper sphere of ambition, in a Bible to instruct them; and shall cause that sets before them, as its Britain open them in defiance of rewards, pleasures which pass not the light of revelation? The folaway, and crowns of immortal life. lowing brief and authentic narrative Let them be made to comprehend is affecting :-'I am a father. The that the humility of the gospel is best years of my life have been detrue elevation, that faith in Christ is the element of all greatness and of all blessedness; and that all the interests of time, however splendid and vast they may seem, are but sparkles upon the stream of being, that every moment disappears as it rolls on to eternity."

voted to the instruction and education of my children. I have spared neither time nor expense in their education, and have led them daily to a throne of grace for that wisdom which cometh from above. I saw with delight their youthful minds expand, and watched with solicitude At page 120 there are some very the bent of their genius. Having judicious remarks upon amusements. qualified them to enter upon the Those which are innocent are dis- professions of their choice, I comtinguished from the contrary.- mitted them, with tears and prayers, "Neither morality nor religion de- to the direction and care of mermands the extinction of the animal chants of known worth and integrity. spirits, and the annihilation of that Removed from my sight and daily spring and elasticity of mind-that inspection, they now found opportubudding forth of juvenile hilarity, nities of mingling with the gay and which belongs to our very constitu- dissipated. The daily advertisetion. No; it is not the ruin but the ments of the theatre, and the solicirenovation of nature that is sought-tations of their new acquaintances, the regulation of the passions, not tempted their feet to visit these their extermination. A great dis- burial-places of virtue. The sequel tinction must be drawn between I forbear to delineate. It may sufpublic and private amusements-fice the reader to know, that both such as create a taste for home were led, from step to step, in guilt pleasures. The former have a ten- and crime, till one strangely disapdency to derange the order of fami- peared without the possibility of my lies, to introduce to dangerous knowing his fate. I will not attempt associations, to uphold improper to describe my feelings. For many practices and persons. Some of them weeks his agonized parents watered

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