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But I must close; and in doing so, I would say in the words of the little treatise I recommend, "Never let the world occupy God's room in your heart. Be not a stranger to yourself. Put a high value on precious time. Go to Christ with all your sorAs you expect to live with him in heaven, study to live with him on earth. Draw all your strength from him. Begin and end every day with God. Live in the world as a stranger, and sojourner to a better country. Improve the talents God gives you for his service and glory; pity those who are strangers to Christ, and strive to bring them to him. Study much the Gospel lessons of denying yourself and exalting the grace of God. Walk contentedly in every condition: God hath said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you." Be watchful against all sin, particularly that which most easily besets you; the enemy of souls knows on what side to attack you with most success. Guard against all sins of omission. Grieve not the Holy Spirit; but be looking forward to the end of your faith, even the salvation of your soul, and eternal glory in the kingdom of heaven." Finally, press forward, and so shall you know, if you follow on to know the Lord." FAREWELL.

ON KNEELING IN PRAYER.

It was an observation made by Frederick the Third, that the forms used by the Catholics in divine service, made their worship seem to have a superior for its object; those of the Protes tants to have an equal. Were that prince now living, and were he to visit many of the churches and chapels in this nation, might he not say that the posture in which many place themselves, is such as indicates the object of their addresses to be neither a superior nor an equal? Their prayers are neither in prostration, like the Mahometans; nor in standing, like the Jews; nor kneeling, as Christians, but sitting; an attitude in which a superior receives and addresses an inferior. This is a custom which has been introduced, partly through the example of those who ought to have set a better; and partly, it is to be feared, from that kind of indifference which arises from ignorance and carelessness; for did people think, who and before whom they are; did they properly reflect on the nature of prayer, did they contemplate God as the Creator of heaven and earth; as the universal Sovereign, with whom is honour, power, and dominion, majesty and glory; I say, did men consider these things, can we suppose they would dare to address Jehovah in an attitude which is at the utmost distance from reverence and deep humility.

Eusebius one day perceiving that his wife, like others, began to give up kneeling at her prayers, and anxious to give her a proper sense of her conduct, called up her maid, and desired her to go into the room where her mistress was sitting, and seat herself down on the sofa and ask her for a new gown. The lady was quite in a rage. Eusebius desired the servant to retire, and addressing his wife, drew a parallel of her own conduct with what she had just resented so highly; and she was so fully convinced, that she promised to behave with more propriety for the future.

COLONEL MARTIN'S ADDRESS TO AN AMERICAN

TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.

"Twelve or fifteen years ago, there lived in the same town with myself a young man, who was engaged in the management of one of the most respectable Journals in the State. He assisted in conducting the paper through a violent political storm which was raging in that country; his prospects for fame and fortune were flattering-the eyes of a powerful and respectable party were turned upon him, as the eyes of the mariners are fixed on the skilful pilot, as he conducts the labouring bark through the warring elements, amid the dangers of the storm. I left him reaping the first reward of honourable exertion.Some three or four years ago, in passing through one of the extended prairies of Illinois, I discovered a human being, clothed in rags and wretchedness, wading through mud and snow. He raised upon me a face bloated, and a countenance full of misery and horror.-You cannot well imagine my surprise, when the trembling voice pronounced my name,-and the man extended his swollen and palsied hand, and said, "you do not recollect me-since we parted, times have changed.' My astonishment and horror was not a little enhanced, when I found it was my young friend, the printer. He gave me a brief history of his degradation-with tears running down his cheeks, he pronounced in the most emphatic manner, "that DRINK! DRINK!! was the sole cause." He said he was hungry and cold, pennyless and destitute. A vessel of like sorrow may I never again behold! He was evidently on the verge of eternity; yet like Dives of old, he was unwilling that others should follow his footsteps to shame, misery and death. He most feelingly exhorted me to shun the monster that had already enfolded him in his snaky grasp. Oftentimes has my imagination wandered back to the vessel of sorrow I left in the distant prairies! Methinks I can almost now hear his parting admonitions as coming from the tomb-my friend, oh never drink! Although years have elapsed, yet the sepulchral notes of miserable and dying friend are still green in my recollection.'

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CHOCTAWS.

Trials of a Christian Choctaw.

The pious Choctaws have been exposed to severe tials since the laws of the State of Mississippi have been extended over the Indians, and the laws of the latter, excluding intoxicating liquors, have been abolished. Mr. Cushman, in a letter dated Hebron, March 16th, says:

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That you may have a clear view of the trials and temptations to which the Christian Indians are exposed, I will relate one circumstance. A man in this neighbourhood, who is very deaf, gave evidence of piety, and was received into the church. His example as to industry and Christian deportment was worthy of imitation; and his unblemished character no doubt rendered him a more desirable prey for the enemy. At length he was besieged by them, and every art and stratagem was made use of, till he finally parleyed with the tempter and drank a little. Their prey was taken. He finally drank till he became completely intoxicated. After he became sober, his wife, who appears to be truly pious, told him that they had professedly set out together in the road to heaven; that they had walked together for a while; but that he had now turned out in the road to hell. She told him further, that if he would continue to go on in that way, he must go alone, and they could walk together no more; for she could never leave the bright path that she had found. She then fell upon her knees, and prayed in the most melting, fervent manner for the soul of her husband. This touched his heart. He melted also, confessed his sin, and resolved never more to taste the accursed thing. After this he was again attacked by the enemy. He was requested to drink, but refused. It was urged, that he had drank once and he might as well drink again. He still refused. Finally, every thing was said that could be, to influence him to drink, but he stood firm. Having failed in all this, they seized him and held him fast, and turned whisky into his mouth, but as often as this was repeated, he was enabled to eject it without swallowing a drop. Finding all their efforts fail, one says, "This man has done nothing amiss, and he now takes all this ill treatment patiently, and we do wrong to use him so: if he has a mind to be a Christian let him be a Christian." Many circumstances of a similar character might be mentioned.

THE PILGRIM'S SONG.

"Faint, yet pursuing."

Faint yet pursuing, we go on our way,
The Lord is our leader, his word is our stay;
Though suffering and sorrow and trial be near,
The Lord is our refuge-and whom can we fear?

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He raiseth the fallen, he cheereth the faint;
If the weak are oppressed, he hears their complaint;
The way may be weary, and thorny the road,
But how can we falter, whose help is in God?

And to his green pastures our footsteps he leads,
His flock in the desert how kindly he feeds;
And the lambs in his bosom he tenderly bears,
Yea, the Lord will deliver from fear and from snares.
Though clouds may surround us, in him is our light;
Though storms rage around us, yet God is our might:
'Faint yet pursuing,' in gladness we come,

For the Lord is our leader, and heaven our home.
And there shall his people eternally dwell,
With him who hath led them so safely and well:
Though trouble assail us, we cleave to his side,
And our hope will not fail us, for God is our guide.

ESPERANCE.

DAILY TEXTS FOR SEPTEMBER.

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Evening.
1 Cor. 19
John 2. 6

1 Tim. 1. 15
Rom. 2. 29
1 Peter 1. 5
1 Tim. 1. 16
Eph. 5. 25, 22, 24
Heb. 12. 14
2 Cor. 3. 5
Jude 20

1 Thess. 5. 16 Rom. 6. 12 Phil. 4. 4

1 Cor. 10. 24

2 Pet. 1. 10

1 Tim. 3. 9
1 Thess. 5. 12, 13

1 John 4. 9

Rom. 12. 14

Heb. 11. 1

Col. 2. 11

Heb. 2. 3
Rom. 12. 8
Gal. 3. 22
Phil. 4. 9

1 John 5. 14
2 Cor. 5. 8

1 Pet. 2 24
Heb. 1. 14

2 Thess. 1. 10

Arthur Foster, Printer, Kirkby Lonsdale.

THE FRIENDLY VISITOR.

No. CLXXX.]

SEPTEMBER, 1833.

[VOL. XV.

SUSAN P

In a small white cottage, a little, but very little retired from the public road, between which and a house was a garden, lived Susan P. an old woman of eighty-two, who for the last twenty years had been afflicted by a peculiar and distressing sort of dropsy. Some relief might have been afforded by an operation in the early stage of her complaint; but to this she then entertained an objection, and afterwards when she would have consented to it, the time was gone by when good would have resulted.

She was a constant and patient sufferer, made very unwieldly and helpless by her unnatural size, and passing days of frequent, sometimes of constant pain, and nights of sleepless weariness. She had long survived her parents, who died when she was thirty; her father having been sixty and her mother fifty when she was born. She had no brothers or sisters, and never was married. Her niece Rachel resided with her and took care of her. I yet fancy I can see Susan sitting and rocking herself backwards and forwards as her way was, in her arm chair close to the fire. A slight partition projecting into the room, separated her from the door; opposite to which was a small square opening shaded by a little curtain, through which she could peep as she liked, to see who was coming. I think I see her lifting it on one side with her stick. A print of Job was on the right of this opening, and a paper of texts printed very large on the left. She was very fond of this print of Job, and also of the book of Job, and seemed to have the fellowship of suffering with the man of Uz. The room was very small but very neat, contained a bed and a screen, or low seat by the fire, which could be made into a bed; over which and filling up a corner, were shelves containing crockery and some ornamental china, and a few books; a dresser with shelves and a clock stood at the end of the room, and a chest of drawers was on the side opposite to that where

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