A VISIT TO DERRY. UNMOOR the boat-the wind and tide will waft us on our way, And ply your oars-the sea is calm-and glorious is the day 'Tis well-our boat, with fairy speed divides the chrystal wave And we turn the points and bend our course to the city of the Brave.* Bright shines the sun on fair Lough Foyle-long may his splendour fall Upon the maiden city, and her well-defended wall. name, And eyes wax bright, and hearts beat light in musing on her fame ! We glide along the silvery tide-we pass thy fort, Cul more, And we mark the spot where first the boom the noble vessel bore; + * Magilligan point; the day being very beautiful, we went in a rowboat from Port Rush to Derry. The country residence of the Bishop of Derry is close by, and styled Boom Hall. Oh! we seem to hear the cry of joy which pealed 'mid din of war, And which thy hills, wild Donegal, re-echoed from afar. I climb the tall cathedral-I mount each well known spot, Illumed by thought of other days, which cannot be forgot, When stedfast hearts, and famine stern rose to the God of heav'n, And far beyond the thought of man-help through his might was given. Why starts the sudden tear-drop? I check hand, my minstrel And leaning o'er the battlement in silent thought I stand; For I think of her, the gifted one, who told the glorious tale, And the song of triumph-softens down to feeble woman's wail. Charlotte Elizabeth! thy name may well with Derry blend, And well may I lament for thee, my sister and my friend! I little thought I should have lived thy quiet grave to see, I rather deemed thou would'st have dropped the tender tear o'er me. 'Tis gone 'tis past-for years and years we held communion sweet, And bent in thankfulness and trust before our Saviour's feet, I care not for thy laurel crown-I know thy woman's heart, And in thy warm and generous love 'twas mine to bear a part. But is it gone? and is it past? I cast away the word, Who, who shall break the chain which joins the hearts that love the Lord ? A little while, a little while-then through the Saviour's might, I trust to join my sister-friend in glorious realms of light. I drop the lyre, for deep, and lone, and sacred is the thought, Which with thy blessed memory around my heart is brought, I mourn thy loss-and yet I joy to think thy path is trod, And thou art now a happy soul before the throne of God. Londonderry, Aug. 4. M. A. STODART. LITTLE SINS. WE see many who are never positively intemperate, nor extravagant perhaps, in their gratifications, who yet perceive no evil in providing for every desire, however foolish, and perhaps hurtful, its demanded object. They have no practical knowledge of any system of self-denial, in following the steps of Jesus, their professed Lord. They cannot specify any cross which they have taken up to honour him. The marks of unqualified worldliness, of undisguised intemperance, may be supposed to be far off, and the habits of life may yet be so allied to them, in principle, and in spirit, and in tendency, that the distance may be much greater in appearance than in reality. The man who sets out with the principle of allowing himself every indulgence which is not known to be unlawful, will inevitably find himself, before he has gone far upon his way, in the depths of positive sin. Hence, if your plan is thus to live upon the borders of religious character, you will be open to the aggressions of foes, whose assaults cannot, upon your own principles, be resisted. While you are thus frequently standing upon, or crossing over the line which separates you from known transgression, you will be taken captive, and led off in the chains of bondage, when you least suspect it. See, I beseech you, whether you will not find many Zoars of this kind in your experience. See if there be not, in your personal habits, or your family habits, such a planning for indulgences; such a disposition to make important points of preparation for food or raiment; such a calculation to eat, and drink, and live; as if the glory of God were in no way concerned in what you do. Oh, will you not find much here that will appear the openings of serious evil ? much that may account for the dominion of a worldly spirit and calculation? We may err when we attach too much importance to little matters, in forming our opinions of others; but we are not likely to be too sensitive, or too minute, in judging of ourselves. Be content rather to follow Jesus in his own way, mortifying the whole body of sin, and making no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. For all these things, God will bring us into judgment. And it is well for us, in every view of character and responsibility, to use the world as not abusing it; to refuse the temptations, and to avoid the chains of a worldly, self-indulgent temper. Let us esteem no questionable pampering of ourselves, as a little one," in which our "souls may live." This inattention to smaller things will be detected in the light and unimproving recreations and amusements, which are often allowed. I do not speak here of the bold licentiousness of theatrical exhibitions; I cannot descend so low. The professing Christian, who gives a personal countenance to this system of contempt for God, and of destruction for man, has already sunk too far to be reached by the language of my present admonition. The assumption of the name of Christ in such a connexion, is only a remarkable instance of the power which the human heart has to delude itself, or of the audacity with which man attempts to impose upon others. Passing over all these glaring and public scenes of dishonour to God, I refer now to amusements which come in a more questionable shape, in the recreations |