in advance, by opening the soul to that fulness of joy, which springs from his presence.

The foundation of all true happiness, whether of earth or heaven, is laid in the knowledge of God. For as the higher life of the soul is the main thing to be sought-the interior spiritual existence being the chief proposal of heaven, in its scheme for the redemption of man, it becomes our first duty to study the Eternal, to acquire "that which may be known of God," though Infinity has unfathomable depths, not to be sounded by our line. "This is life eternal, to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." The business of a "candidate for eternity" is to be "increasing in the knowledge of God." Here he is met by the institution of the Sabbath, which shed its benignant light on the morning of creation, hallowing Paradise itself, and inspiring into the bosom of man a certain gladdening hope of the future. So, also, it meets every child of mortality, in lands blessed with the light of Christianity, at the threshold of his existence, and offers to conduct him to glory. This, indeed, is the blessed light which

"Streams from the depths of ages on mankind."

What multitudes of the just and holy, now radiant in other spheres, have rejoiced to walk in that light! "I," saith Jehovah, gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might KNOW that I am the Lord that sanctify them." Ezek. 20: 12. Again, we hear the heavenly injunction, uttered with imposing solemnity: "HALLOW my Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may KNOW that I am the Lord your God." But how could this command be obeyed without the kindred institution of the family, which is the constituted school of virtue, piety, and preparation for heaven? Little do we appreciate our mercies; we, to whom the Sabbath is a birthright; on whose cradled infancy it shed its precious, primal blessings; whose ears first caught those soft accents from maternal lips, echoing the voice of God: "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy," followed by that other admonition: "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." We were thus watched, instructed, prayed for, wept over, that we might

know God; and knowing, love him with all our heart, and mind, and might.

This was in the bosom of the family, and chiefly on the Sabbath. What tender recollections arise in the mind of one born to such an inheritance as this. How can we forget the authoritative paternal injunctions; the scarcely less powerful example of meekeyed piety, as expressed in maternal deportment; the morning devotions; the early lessons; the sacred stillness of the day diffusing a mysterious charm over all; then, at the appointed hour, the church-going bell ringing out its cheerful tones, to call us to the house of God, or, perchance, giving forth its solemn toll for the dead ;* these are impressive reminiscences, linking the Sabbath and the family in sweet and cordial union, while they remind us of the sanctity of the one and the preciousness of the other. Who would seek to impair the moral force of such a union? Infidelity attempted it, and drenched a nation in blood. Atheism sealed and sanctioned it with a deeper curse, and the gates of hell flew open to receive its victims. Never was that law, “settled in heaven forever," "Evil shall SLAY the wicked," more fearfully executed, than on the regicides, the fratricides, and parricides of France, who, in that long paroxysm of voluntary insanity, at the close of the last century, sought to abolish the Sabbath, and to divorce the very rite of marriage itself from the humanity which it guarded. What a train of woes unutterable followed that explosion of human depravity! The vibrations of that tremendous shock are felt to this hour. "That abrogation of the Sabbath," says Chancellor Walworth, "was accompanied by a general corruption of morals, and even by the breaking up of the conjugal relation, under a law allowing an unlimited divorce, at the mere will of the parties; when, as the Abbe Gregoire states, upwards of twenty thousand divorces were registered in the short space of eighteen months, and those in the city of Paris were nearly equal to the number of marriages.”

Now, see the Pilgrim Puritans, keeping the Sabbath in the very The old church bell had this inscription:

"I to the church the living call,

And to the grave I summon all.”

sight of the shore, on which they would not land until the sacred hours were passed. And so they taught their families. And thus a conservative influence acted and re-acted between these two institutions, consolidating the interests of society on an impregnable basis, and opening the way for the introduction of those higher blessings, which are linked with the eternal destiny of the soul. [Some further thoughts on this subject will be presented in a future number.]

Original.

A SISTER'S INFLUENCE.

• FEW young men are sensible of the benefits of a sister's influence. They find it pleasant, to be sure, to have a sister at home, to visit with them; to entertain company; to do their sewing; to write them, when away from home, and to greet them when they return. But they do not realize how much their own character and success in life are affected by the influence of this affectionate sister. This influence is felt by the student, at the academy and college; by the clerk in the store; the mechanic in the shop; stimulating him to be industrious, and to aspire after excellency; keeping him from bad habits and vile companions. This kind, sisterly influence is a good Spirit, always present to the young man, wherever he goes, and saying to him, "Be a man-be a man, my brother!" "Do not this, for it is wrong!" "Do not this, for it is mean "Go not there, for it is the way of

Death!"

ני!

There are a thousand little improprieties, to say nothing of vices and crimes, from which the bare thought of a sister, who loves him, is sufficient to deter a brother. A distinguished professor in one of our colleges used to tell the students, that it was a very good rule, to keep their rooms in such a condition that they would never be ashamed to have a sister look in upon them. Many young men in college, have I known, who were, apparently, saved from vice by the letters and good influence of a sister. I have in my mind one lad of sixteen, whom the officers in college

had given up, as also his parents and friends. But the boy was a favorite of the elder sister. She loved her brother, and would not despair of him. She interceded with the college officers, who permitted him to return. The brother saw the solicitude, the faith of his lovely sister, and, for her sake, he roused himself, and was saved.

I pity the young man who has no sister; for he not only loses the enjoyment of her society, but is without one of the best influences that go to form his character, and make him a man. Many good men, great men, and strong men, are indebted, not only to a mother, but to a sister, for their goodness, greatness, and strength.

These thoughts have been suggested by reading, lately, a letter of one of these sisters to a younger brother, who was not vicious, but rather unsteady, and fickle-minded; and, soon after this letter was written, started for California. He got sick, however, returned to Vt, and is now contented and steady. As there is no danger that the eye of the brother or sister will ever fall on these lines, I will make a short extract from the letter.

"I have just heard from you, by the way of G, and I wish to ask you a question or two. Are you a little unsteady? Say, sir! 'Rather wild,' I hear you say. Now mind what I tell you: See that your wild oats are all sown before spring, if you are going to New York, to study law. You know your sister thinks a great deal of you, and would be sadly grieved to hear any unfavorable acounts of you. Set your standard high-high above bad company, bad practices, and everything that is calculated to lead you astray. Pursue the straight and narrow path-the path of honor and virtue, and strive to be great, by being good. And now, my youngest, my best beloved brother, may the hearts of those who love you be made glad, by seeing you, not only an eminent man, in the profession you have chosen, but an upright, honorable, and useful man. Again I say, shun bad company as you would the poisonous viper, whose sting is death!""

What earnestness, good nature, affection, and eloquence, are in this sister's words. That young, thoughtless brother, as he wandered to California, for gold, did not realize how much better than gold is such a sister's love. How many

young men have such sisters saved from the path of vice and shame! Young man, if you have a sister, be thankful; and in your prosperity, do not forget this sister, that will rejoice in your prosperity, and sympathize in your affliction.

Wardsboro', Vt., 1850.

J. T.

A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

Cook had not then navigated the South Seas; Polynesia and Australia were names unknown to geography; no Humboldt had then climbed the Andes; the valley of the Mississippi had not been explored; no European traveller had ascended the Nile beyond the first cataract; the Niger was wholly veiled in mystery; and the Brahmapootra was unknown, even by name, among the rivers of India. The languages and dialects of the Eastern world were as little known as the physical aspect and phenomena of the countries. No Sir William Jones had arisen, to set the example of Oriental scholarship as a polite accomplishment; the Sanscrit had as yet attracted no attention from western philologists; the Holy Scriptures had been translated into few vernacular dialects, except those of Western Europe; no Carey or Morrison, no Martyn or Judson, had girded themselves to the task of mastering those languages, which had hitherto defied, like an impenetrable rampart, all attempts to gain access to the mind of India and China. A hundred years ago, there was neither Protestant Missionary Societies nor Protestant Missions, save only those which had been formed for the propagation of the Gospel in the American Colonies, the Danish Missions in Southern India, and the Moravian Missions in Greenland and South Africa. In fact, the obstacles to success in almost every part of the world, arising from the ascendancy and intolerance of the Papal, Mohammedan, and Pagan powers, added to the deficiency of our knowledge, and the poverty of our resources, would have proved little short of insurmountable. What wonders have been accomplished, under God, during the last century! In these days of steam and lightning, who can predict what may be accomplished in another century !