that they must be changed and made holy by the Holy Spirit ; that they can do no good thing without his help; that Christ and the Holy Spirit are each God, and that there are three persons in one God. Strive then that all may know these truths. Try to convince them of sin, by comparing their lives with the holy law of God. Tell them plainly of their danger. Set Christ plainly and affectionately before them, as the only way of salvation. Beseech them to flee at once from the wrath to come. Speak with judgment, suitably to the cases the cases of those visited. Do not deceive any with vain hopes. A person once told a poor woman that she need not fear death, as she had never done harm to any one. Do not follow such an example as this, but deal faithfully with all, and tell them "the truth as it is in Jesus." Tell them the only way of pardon through his precious blood. Those who speak to others ought of course to know the Gospel themselves. Let every house and cottage that is within your reach, even those which are most scattered and out of the way, be visited regularly by you, or some person, who knows, and feels the power of the gospel. Some persons, we fear, are sometimes visited by several persons (perhaps in the same day) so that they are weary of it, whilst very many others are seldom, if ever, visited; visitors thinking perhaps, that others visit them enough. Some visitors just leave a tract, but do not stop to speak. Let us try to remedy these evils as far as we can, and make sure that every person is visited and spoken to enough, and taught the great truths of salvation; either by us or some other person. Many of those who are rather above the rank of poor persons, many small farmers or tradesmen, and others, are, we fear, not visited. It is thought perhaps that they would not like to be

visited, or to have tracts left with them. Whereas many of them I believe, would most gladly receive both visits and tracts or books. In general, it may be advisable to make quite short visits, and never longer than is really needful. A few words to the point, will be better remembered, and do more good, than a long discourse. By making short visits, we may see more people, and call oftener at the same houses. It may be very

useful to read sometimes a few verses of the Bible to those we visit (especially if we can get a number of persons together) to explain them in a very plain aud familiar way, and to apply them. Also to pray a short prayer on what we read, or, if we do not read, on what we say. Let us read the plainest passages, and such as are best suited to the audience. Those persons who feel unable to explain what they read, should use Jowett's Christian Visitor,' or some other similar work, and put in remarks of their own. By this means they will gain confidence in themselves, and soon get into the way of explaining without the use of a book. We are more likely to keep up the attention, if we speak to people and make remarks of our own, than if we read those of others. Be always as plain as possible, both in words and style, that all may thoroughly understand. You cannot be too plain. Use, as much as you can, words of only one or two syllables, and those of Saxon, not Latin or Greek origin. Make sure of being understood, by asking whether they understand you or not. Read to those who cannot read. Lend tracts in every house that you can, wherever they are not left by others. Lend the plainest, shortest, most interesting, and most suited to the cases of those to whom they are lent. Take notice of children, and ask them useful questions; if they are not at home, ask

handbill.

two.

When we travel by land or water, let us give tracts to the coachmen, guards, sailors, and even to the passengers, taking care to offer them to the last, in a polite way, asking them to do us the favour to take them. When a coach changes horses, let us give tracts to the men that change the horses, and to any who are standing by. Whenever the coach stops for ever so short a time, let us get down, and give away a tract or When it stops for meals, let us give tracts to the servants and (if we can) to the family, to the men in the stables, inn-yard, and coachoffice, to the people in the houses that are near, or to those we meet in the streets. When we stop at an inn for a night, let us speak to the people in the rooms, give tracts to the servants and family of the inn, and to the men in the yard; let us call at houses in the town, give tracts to the people in them, ask if any in the town are ill, visit them, and both late at night, and early in the morning, be doing good. Wherever we are, in coaches, or vessels, in shops, in inns, and any where else, let us speak to as many as we can. Whenever, and wherever we see or hear what is wrong, let us, if we can, speak kindly and yet faithfully to him that sins. Sometimes we can give the person a tract against the sin he is committing. We can always show, by our very looks, that his sin grieves us. As tracts are wanted in many parts of our country, and in other parts of the world, let us not waste them it is better, if we can, to lend, than to give them away, as they are more likely to be valued. Let us not (in general) give more than one or two at a time to the same person. When passing through a part of the country in which we fear that tracts are not lent, we can drop them to persons that we meet. We can give Italian tracts to Italians who sell images, and play music in the streets, if we find that

:

they can read them. When we call on a friend, and he cannot see us for some minutes, let us, in those minutes, call at houses that are near (whether the people in them be strangers or not) speak to, and give them tracts, or speak to persons in the streets, or try to do good to any we can see in our friend's house. We need not be afraid of calling at the houses of strangers, or of speaking to them in the streets, as we shall generally find them civil, if we speak to them in a proper way.

Christians sometimes call often on, and stay long with, those of the poor and others, who know the truth, and are real Christians; while very many who are ignorant and want visiting far more, are seldom, if ever, visited. O, let us always go where we can be most useful (even if it does require selfdenial) where our visits are most wanted, not where it is most pleasant to us to go. We can often, especially on Sundays, give away tracts in walking, and even walk out on purpose to do so.

Let us

never mind the trouble of crossing the road to get at any one to speak to, or walking in a dirty road by the side of a man in a cart or waggon, or overtaking people, or walking their pace, or stopping or turning back to speak to any, if we can but do good to any one. Let us walk those ways in which we are likely to meet with most people. When we go by a coach, fly, or other carriage, let us sit on that part of it where we shall have most opportunities of doing good, not where we like to sit. If we can do most good by sitting with the driver, let us do so, but if we can do most good by sitting elsewhere, and stirring up Christians (if there be any there) to do good, and telling them of ways in which they may do more good, let us do so. It might be pleasanter to us to sit next a friend, but if we and he can do more good by sitting on differ

ent parts of the coach, and each talking to as many as he can, let us deny ourselves, that we may do good. When walking with a friend, let us be willing to walk apart, that each may speak to as many as he can, that is, if we can do more good by doing so, than by walking together, and stirring one another up to do good. Some may feel unfit to speak to others, but let us remember, that no one learns even a trade all at once, but by continual practice; if therefore we cannot speak so well as we could wish at first, let us not be discouraged, but hope, by practice, and God's blessing, to be able to speak better and better. Let us practise self-denial; in these and all other cases, preferring the glory of God, and the good of souls, to our own pleasure, even as Christ pleased not himself. Rom. xv. 3. Every family might have a missionary, or other box, in their sitting room, so placed that all entering might see it, so that any of the family or any who called, might put something into it, whenever they liked. Persons who called might often be asked to put in. In a certain family, when visitors come, one of the children brings round a box, and asks each to give something. There might be a box also in every kitchen for the servants. Every pious tradesman might have one in his shop or counting-house, and sometimes ask customers to give. Every Sunday, and other school, might have one for the children and teachers, the box being brought round to them. Every church, hospital, infirmary and other public building, might have a box put up at its entrance.

Time is wasted or misspent in many ways. But since it is so precious, let us "gather up the fragments of it, that nothing be lost." Let us not be longer than is really necessary over dressing, meals, and similar engagements. Many give more time to sleep and

recreation than is necessary. Much time is also wasted by making long, and unnecessary calls, by stopping longer than is needful at our friends houses, in shops, and elsewhere; by going to parties, by writing long or unnecessary letters, by reading unprofitable books and newspapers, and in many other ways. Much of the time that is often spent by Christians with each other, and even with ministers, and that too in speaking sometimes on things of very little importance, might be far better spent by both parties, in visiting the poor, or in other good works. Whilst time is spent on unimportant things, whilst more of it than is really needful, is spent by many, in reading and other things, there are numbers perishing around us, who know not the very plainest truths, numbers to whom we might be telling the glad tidings of salvation. Let us then use every contrivance that we can think of, for making the very most of time. Let us (as far as we can) have our private and family prayers, our meals, reading, attendance to household and other necessary affairs, at such times of the day as it is not convenient to persons to be visited. By these means we shall get more time for visiting people when it is convenient to them.

Again, Much money is wasted, and misspent in many ways. Much more is spent upon food, clothes, furniture, books, and other things, than is needful. Much upon luxuries, feasting friends,, unnecessary travelling and riding, unnecessary and expensive presents, and other things. Is it not sad that so small a proportion of property is given to the cause of Christ, and to help the distressed? When societies are so much in want of money, and cannot do near so much as they wish to do for a perishing world, when so many around us are struggling with want, surely every one who loves Christ, and

his fellow-men, should rejoice to give as much as he can to the cause of God. That we may have the more to give, let us never allow the least waste of any thing in our houses. Let us avoid every unnecessary expense. Let us not pamper our appetites, and thereby waste money and make our bodies less fit for the service of God. It is surprising, and deserves to be generally known, what a small quantity of food is necessary not only to preserve life, but also to maintain perfect health.'* Who

can doubt but that if persons lived very plainly and moderately, their health, strength, and spirits would be much better for it? Let every one think whether he cannot give up much more both of his time and money to doing good.

Ladies and gentlemen can do much good. They bave very much time, both on the Sunday, and other days, which they can give to the work. Some of them and other Christians give up some time, but we would beseech them to give up as much as they can.

Pious tradesmen may do much. They can often drop a word to customers. They can get some time every day, either early in the morning, or in the course of the day, in which they may do good, either by visiting people at their houses, or speaking to those they find about. On the Sabbath they have much time for the work. Whenever they, or pious mothers of families, or any other Christians, have an odd five or ten minutes to spare, how can they spend them better than in visiting some poor, or other neighbour? In those minutes they can speak to some one, God may bless what is said to that one's conversion, he may be the means of doing good to many more, and they to many more, and so on, to the end of the world, so

*Robertson on Diet.

that the fruits of a well spent five minutes may be amazing.

Pious children may do much. They have done good. They can write letters to many. They can speak to their brothers and sisters, companions, other children, their parents, servants, friends, the poor, and those who call at their parents' houses. They can give money to religious societies. Christian parents, and all you that have the care of children, teach them to do good, and to delight in doing it. Encourage them to give their money to these purposes. Give them such an education as will make them most useful to souls. Let them not learn mere accomlishments, but what is solidly useful. Train them up to be Sunday school teachers, collectors for societies, tract-lenders, to visit the poor, to pray for others, and to do all the good they can.

Pious servants can do much. We have read of one who was a great blessing to the family in which she lived. They can speak to their fellow-servants, and to the children of the family in which they live, and read to them. They can often speak a word to the servants of other families, who call at their master's houses. They can give something to religious societies. They can sometimes drop a word in shops. When sent with things to the poor and sick, they can speak to them. In going to God's house, or elsewhere, they can often speak to those whom they see or hear sinning for instance, to children quarrelling in the streets, or running and playing about on Sundays. They can often ask leave to visit the poor. When they have a holiday, they can visit the poor and ignorant, making a short visit to each, so as to see as many as they can. They can lend or give away tracts to many. Sometimes they can speak, in a very modest way, to their masters and mistresses. Ministers, we beseech you to stir