THE PENNY POST BOX. The Penny Post Box. CHARITY TOWARDS WILFUL WICKEDNESS. A FRIEND of mine, having exposed some of the abounding evils of our village in your Pioneer, has brought himself under no small share of ill-will from some of his neighbours, who charge him with being uncharitable to the persons that his letters touched upon. One was on sabbath-day wakes and feasts, another on Christmas Singing. But when christians reprove iniquity, is it because they dislike the person? By no means. The other letter was on Burial Mockeries. With respect to which, he is told that we ought to be charitable; and though the whole of a person's life be ever so sinful, we ought to hope he is gone to heaven. Now, sir, I do not understand such charity as this. Suppose I were to tell an open sinner of the threats denounced against him in the scriptures as a reason why he ought to repent and lead a religious life, and he still persisted in his evil course till death came and took him away, where would be the ground for my hope, when the scriptures plainly tell us that such characters shall go to hell. Going to heaven and hell is not a mere chance. The apostle says, "Knowing the terrors of the Lord, we persuade men." So we see that if any one will not be persuaded to be reconciled to God by faith in Jesus Christ, and lead a holy life, he must expect condemnation. Now, sir, I am far from being comfortable about these things; for we have a deal of this false charity here. We live in what is called a christian land, and we have a great many privileges; and yet error seems to have the ascendancy over truth, and I think it is because professing christians do not maintain their ground. "Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth." 1 Cor. xiii. 6. S. We have also received a letter from the writer of the papers referred to above, who wonders that the people should think him their enemy because he has told the truth. But he need not. It always was so, and always will be. Such people dont like to be told of their sins. They would rather go quietly to ruin. We think our friend has done well to make such folks feel. That is something, for it shews they have some feeling; and now, having wounded, let him heal, by manifesting toward them a kind and christian spirit, and they may yet be led to see their danger and flee to Christ for salvation. For it is not only our duty solemnly to warn our fellow-sinners of their danger, but we should endeavour in a kind and affectionate manner to reason with them, and draw them by a loving tender solicitude. They will feel such influence as this, especially if we ourselves walk worthy of the gospel we profess. THAT THOUGHT OF COVETOUSNESS. Stop it, or it will freeze you into the form of a selfish, miserly, detestable wretch. THAT THOUGHT OF THEFT. Stop it, or it may be the first step on the way to Norfolk Island. THE TOWN OF BEDFORD has more charities than any town in England. There are as many as THAT THOUGHT OF LYING. Stop fifty-nine alms houses, besides pub-it, or you will go on until no one lic schools. And yet this works will believe you when you speak badly, for the people depend on truth. them instead of on themselves. GOOD HANDWRITING is a great thing, and will always be found a valuable means of any man making his way in a country like ours, where so much writing must be done by somebody. SLAVERY IN AMERICA.-A lady in America has written a book called "Uncle Tom's Cabin," which tells tales that will make the ears of every one tingle. The slaveholders ought to be ashamed of themselves-dise. boasting of liberty, and doing such things as these! was THAT THOUGHT OF GENEROSITY. Keep it, and give it full play; it is a manly, noble, godlike principle. THAT THOUGHT OF HONESTY. Keep it, and never let it slip from thee; it is a passport to riches and honour. FREE TRADE OF OLD.-Edward I. passed laws by which all who bought up grain or fish to raise the price were subject to pillory and banishment. Edward III. more severe, threatening death to the forestallers. Henry VIII. THAT THOUGHT OF TRUTH. Keep ordered prices of food to be fixed it, hold it fast, and though it should by royal proclamation. What a be unwelcome tell it. royal booby! Gems. FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS. Poetic Selections. FRIENDS AND ENEMIES.-Men THE VOICE OF MERCY. are often our enemies. God is SWEET were the sounds that reached our always our friend. YOUR THOUGHTS are the issues of your heart. Watch them well. FORGIVENESS.-He who will not forgive breaks down the bridge over which he one day will have need to pass, for every man needs forgive ness. ALIVE OR ASLEEP. As in natural life so in spiritual. Some christians are so moveless that we can hardly tell whether they are alive or only asleep. a A PROFESSOR who takes up religion because it is gainful or respectable will never make martyr. He will live on it whilst all goes smoothly, and disown it if it should attempt to live on him. IT IS GREAT GAIN to suffer the loss of all things, that we may learn to depend on Christ alone. DEATH PAYS NO RESPECT either to youth or usefulness, but mows down together the tender herb, the fragrant flower, and the noxious weed. TROUBLE AND PERPLEXITY drive me to prayer, and prayer drives away perplexity and trouble. IF THE WAY TO HEAVEN be narrow, it is not long; and if the gate be straight it opens into endless life. THE DAY WILL COME when God will judge over again all those things which are judged amiss. ONE OF THE FINEST SIGHTS in the world, is a christian at the end of a long course, with an unsullied reputation; his hair may be white, but his leaf is green. THE STREAMS OF RELIGION run deeper or shallower as the banks of the sabbath are kept up or neglected. PAUL HAD THREE WISHES, and they were all about Christ,-that he might be found in Christ, that he might be with Christ, and that he might magnify Christ. THE CHILDREN'S CORNER. The Children's Corner. THE PRAYING BOY. THE Lord has said he will regard A boy to sabbath school had been, And by his teacher told, The boy was led to seek the Lord, That he would mercy show; God did his humble prayer regard, And mercy free bestow. He also prayed that God would give A heart to praise him here; That he at last in heaven might live, And sing his praises there. The father, an ungodly man, Who sorely hated prayer, The boy was furthermore forbade Because the whip he fear'd. But when the father was inform'd The lad still dar'd to pray, Again with whip himself he arm'd, To lash him well one day. He search'd the wood until he found The boy engag'd in prayer; Against him now to lift his hand He felt he did not dare. For he in earnest pray'd that God Would change his father's heart, Cause him to quit the sinful road, And choose the better part. But when he had concluded prayer, Behold! with much surprise, He saw his father standing there, Tears streaming from his eyes. The father to the boy then said, "To lash you here I came; But I've from you a lashing had, Which puts me quite to shame." Henceforth the father lov'd to pray, And.sought the better part; Nor did he e'er forget the day, When praying reach'd his heart. The father and the son, ere long, Did with the church unite; We trust they'll join that bloodbought throng, Which stand array'd in white. Incline us all, O Lord, to come To thee, through Christ the way; And serve thee here, till welcom'd home, To realms of endless day. J. D. MONTGOMERY. "I AM NO SCHOLAR." How often are these words on the lips of some people If you try to say anything to them about religion, "I am no scholar," shuts you up, and puts an end to the business at once. is an example. Here "I will tell you what I think, sir," said a labouring man, to whom I was talking one day about the concerns of his soul, "I think God is too merciful to take much notice of what we poor creatures do. May be he will reckon with those who are learned and rich, and who know better than we who are no scholars. But I do think if I can only ask him to save me when I come to die, that I shall fare very well in the other world, if there be one." I endeavoured to show him that God was no respecter of persons; that, as sinners, we are all on a level in his sight; that he marks the conduct of every man; that he has given us a revelation of his will, which shews us the way of salvation by Jesus Christ; and that this way is so open and plain that even the most unlearned may understand it; and that if we refuse to listen and learn the truth when we have an opportunity of doing so, we shall be held guilty before God. "It may be so, sir, perhaps; but I only mean to take care of the main chance, as we country folks say, till I am going to die, and then it may be time enough to see about another world." "And so you really think that taking care of the main chance- that is, I suppose, obtaining food and clothing—is the principal thing which a man has to see to in this world?" "Yes, I think so, and so do a power of people." "If you had a box which contained a thousand sovereigns, which would you do, take care of the box, or the money?" "Ah, the money, to be sure!" "You have a soul which must live for ever, and therefore worth more than all the money in the world, and a body which will only live a short time, and will then decay. Now, which should you care for most?" 66 Ah, sir, all that is very good, I dare say; but we must take care of the body now, that's certain, and the soul must be thought of by and by." I could make no impression on his mind; but retired praying that He who wept over impenitent sinners at Jerusalem |