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drawing wrong inferences from right principles; we are not to consider these sentiments as the voice of inspiration. Their arguments and expressions must be carefully compared with the law of God, with the counsels and precepts elsewhere revealed, and with the nature of true religion as exhibited in other portions of God's word, and especially as manifested in the example and spirit of Him who was the only perfect being who ever appeared in our nature."

Perhaps, however, there is little need of adopting this alternative, as regards three of the four texts referred to by our correspondent, as the apostle's meaning seems to be simply this, that as he was supplementing our Saviour's own instructions given by himself in person when on earth, he had, therefore, none of his actual recorded teachings to refer to, though he spoke as one who had obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful, and was, therefore, worthy of attention and credence.

In the latter text, he simply intimates that he speaks in no dictatorial spirit-" not by way of command," as the phrase is more correctly rendered, but only as an incentive to the liberality of the parties addressed.

2. In the poetical books of Scripture, hyperbole, as one of the most common figures of oratory, is frequently used. The language of the text referred to is, however, strictly and literally true in a general sense, though it could not have been so in the personal experience of the writer.

A MEMORIAL OF LITTLE ALBERT.

We have always been of those who give full, and hearty, and deeply grateful credence to the kind assurance that God often ordains strength and perfects praise out of the mouth of mere babes and sucklings. This conviction has been, if possible, deepened by the perusal of a little volume kindly forwarded to us entitled, Memorials of Bertie, the taught of God.* written by his bereaved but happy motherone of the sweetest biographies of an infant, but matured, christian, we have ever met with. Unlike most narratives of the kind, its truthfulness constitutes the great attraction. It is indebted to none of the false aids, the prettinesses, and the specious accessories of other "Tokens for Children." It is a living picture

London: T. Ward and Co.

radiant with the marvellous light and glory of the heavenly world-a wonderful, and exquisitely touching anticipation of things unseen, or rarely seen, on earth. The dear young subject of this vast display of grace, was not a mere hearer or talker, but "a doer of the work"-the work of his Great Master, whom he now sees in all his beauty, and worships with the fulness of a heart too warm, too tender, too loving, for this lower world. But, let his affectionate parent speak for him, as a parent only can speak. The work, from which we are compelled to give a mere extract, is well worthy the perusal of every mother: it is the affecting transcript of a heart experiencing amidst the sorrows of a bereavement not to be expressed, the strong consolation and good hope of a trustful and assured christian.

"It was very early in the morning of a bright and beautiful summer's day, July 29th, 1829, that Bertie first entered on this world.

"Passing over the period of Bertie's infancy, the reminiscences which cluster around the memory of his babyhood, being only precious in a mother's eyes, I shall next speak of him when nearly two years old. He was very slow in acquiring pronunciation, although very quick in comprehension; as long before he could speak many words, he understood much, if not all, that was said to him. It was when nearly two years old, that I first taught him of the existence of God: on one of those early summer mornings when little children awake, almost with the first carols of the lark; when all things bright and beautiful awake into the new existence of another day.

"As I caught his eyes earnestly gazing upwards, I said-God is there! God is good, and kind, and loves you! Oh much more than mamma loves you; God gave Bertie to his mamma, and told me to teach you about him. Then taking his hand, I said, God made this hand, and these feet to run about with, those eyes to see with, and these ears to hear about him, and that little tongue to speak to him with. He is your Father, and he sees us now, and hears us too; and is so pleased to hear us talk about him; and he says Bertie must call him. With intense interest the child looked up towards heaven, extending his arms, and raising his voice he cried out in baby language, ''Pa in a 'ky!' This was Bertie's first call upon God; and thus did he unconsciously translate into his own infant-tongue the first words of the great pattern prayer-the Lord's- Our Father which art

in heaven.'

"When about three years old, on hearing the bells chiming for church, he would quicken his pace, and gently pull me on faster, answering, meanwhile, the inviting of the chiming thus- Come! come! come! my' (as he used to call himself) my come! Ma

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come!' From that age upwards he ever paid the most earnest attention in the house of God; and so wrapt would he be in the subject, either read or preached, as he grew older, that, forgetting that silence was imposed, he would break out in some remark or inquiry of the meaning. In order to prevent this we entered into a little agreement, which was, that when he wished to have anything explained, he should press my hand that I might particularly observe, and remember the subject of inquiry. We were residing in the suburbs of a large town, and were consequently sometimes rather late. On these occasions, on arriving at the chapel, we had used to creep up stairs, and, spreading our handkerchiefs, sit down quite out of sight. These were seasons of much enjoyment to Bertie; as I could in a whisper translate almost the whole service into a language more intelligible to his age. "When he was five years old he was left much to the care of servants. This was on my part unavoidable, though a subject of deep regret to me. He became impatient of their control, and they, not treating him judiciously, but irritating instead of curbing, vexing instead of subduing, he has sometimes been aggravated into passion. This was a subject of deep regret to him: his tender conscience would not let him sleep until this sin had been confessed before God and to me. On one of these occasions he was confined to his own room, as a punishment. A servant who was very kind to him happening to be in the next room, she overheard him saying these words, amidst sobs and tears, Make me a good child, let them say to grandpa when he comes home, 'Bertie's the best child.' Take my poor mamma's sorrows away. Take this bad heart away, and give me a new one, that I may obey my mamma. May never sin again; forgive him;' and then the words were lost amidst deep emotion.

"It was about this time, that one night, after retiring to rest, he was crying in deep distress in his cot bed, and though very late, and now nearly dark, he could not sleep - he was heard crying, but, on some one inquiring the cause, he begged to see me. I went to him immediately, when he burst out afresh in an agony of grief, throwing himself on his face across the bed, sobbing out, 'O mamma, what shall I do? My sins! my sins!'

"I told him that Jesus came to save the lost, and enlarging upon the subject of His love, soon quieted his fears.

"One revening, when about five and a half years old, being particularly engaged, he and his brother were put to bed without me, and prayers had not been heard. I was soon after desired to listen to the conversation between them. I lost much, but was in time to hear the following dialogue: "You hav'nt said your prayers, Ernie; will you now?'

"Ernest. I can't without mamma.'

"Bertie. I'll tell you' (the other following):

'Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,

Look on me, a little child;

Pity my simplicity,

Suffer me to come to thee.'

He then proceeded to pray in his own simple words. After this, I often heard him, in the stillness of his attic chamber, when he thought that no ear but His to whom he addressed himself could hear; and found that meditation and prayer were precious and habitual exercises to him. I rather think that he discovered that his voice could be heard from the other rooms, for I did not hear him from this time at all. Alarmed at what I feared might be declension, I took an opportunity of inquiring of him if he prayed in private? His head drooped, and he appeared in difficulty. This deepened my suspicion, and I urged my inquiry with greater earnestness, on which he replied, with much gentleness, "Mamma, we should pray in secret." Faithless and unbelieving as I was, I still said, 'But do you?' He was evidently pained, and said, Of course I do!' thus embodying, in other words, Montgomery's beautiful stanzas

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'Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,

The Christian's native air.'

Bertie had a great thirst for knowledge, but had to acquire all that he obtained almost wholly by observation and conversation, as I was particularly recommended by our medical adviser not to let him continue scholastic training until his health was fully established. He was, therefore, only taught to spell monosyllables; but being very anxious to read the Word of God, so determined was he to acquire its contents, that in an incredibly short period he taught himself to read fluently. And now his intimate acquaintance with his Bible was increasing each day. It was manna to his soul, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and manna which it was his delight to gather up. His Bible is full of marked passages and used pages. If a Bible was inquired for, it was almost proverbial amongst us-' It lies where Bertie was last.' He would often recommend to his brother an earnest attention to its contents, reading and repeating hymns and verses in its praise, as—

'Here would I learn how Christ has died

To save my soul from hell;

Not all the books on earth beside

Such heavenly wonders tell!'

cence.

"His love for truth was painfully tested on one occasion. He was running round the garden in some childish game, when, being nearly caught, he uttered an exclamation which sounded much like a profane use of the name of God. He was accused to me, but repelled the charge with firmness. The accusation was persisted in by three or four children. I took him aside, and told him that so many persons could not be all mistaken; he insisted upon his innoI thought he was adding sin to sin, and was deeply distressed. I prepared to whip him, and again I urged him to confess; but he persisted still in denying it. I commenced the punishment, and then for a moment desisted to give him the opportunity of confession. I shall never forget his behaviour as he knelt down unresistingly to receive the correction, and said, Mamma, you may flog me, but I dare not tell a lie;' then looking upwards, he said- O Lord, thou knowest that I did not swear!' I could no longer doubt him, but folded him, naked and trembling, in my arms.

“When scarcely seven years old Bertie was a delightful companion, -a child who was an example of what nature and grace could accomplish intelligent and thoughtful, gentle and affectionate, obedient and amiable, exceedingly sensitive, and consequently very careful not to wound the feelings of another-and yet he was a child-an unaffected, untrained child of nature-racing at the top of his speed to be first at the wood, but, recollecting those behind, running back for dear mamma;' then scampering away, like a Shetland pony, with his little sister in her bauble coach,' to the wild strawberry banks, along the skirts of the wood. Bank and brae, forest and field, yielded their treasures of grasses and mosses, flowers and fruit-it was their last offering to him.

"Bertie's beloved grandpapa had furnished us with a number of woodcut illustrations of Scripture histories; in the use of which I found a most felicitous method of imparting Bible lore to infant minds a very treasury of knowledge. We pinned our pictures within the head of the little bed where Bertie and his brother slept; so that on awaking in the morning they supplied a choice of sacred subjects for thought or conversation; and on going to bed at night they also suggested topics on which there were a score of questions for reply, within as many minutes, accompanied by earnest solicitations to remain in the room and talk about them.

"Bertie had learned the law of kindness' from The Master, and carried out the precepts as a little child. Thus, during the summer, his pocket money was reserved to redeem the lives of captured birds and butterflies, while he reasoned with their cruel captors. Often

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