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fraudulently brass, instead of gold. I will not have the semblance, but the real nature of gold. O Timothy, Priest, Preacher, Doctor, if the gift of God hath made thee competent by talent, study, and doctrine, be thou the Beseleel of the spiritual tabernacle; engrave the precious gems of Divine doctrine, faithfully set them, skilfully adorn them, and add unto them brightness, comeliness, beauty. By thy expositions let that be more clearly understood which was believed, though somewhat obscure. Let posterity rejoice, that by thee was made plain, what heretofore, though not understood, antiquity held-and yet so teach what thou hast learned, that when thou speakest in a new manner, thou preachest no new doctrines.

THE JUVENILE VERSE AND PICTURE-BOOK.

WHEN We see the many books that are daily issued from the press for the benefit of the young, with their beautiful paper, elegant engravings, and handsome bindings in cloth, morocco, and gold, we almost sigh that our hair is getting grey, and wish that we could be young again. However, as this may not be, the next best thing is to be young in imagination, and to join in the sports and pastimes of children, and even to read their little books, in order to give that imagination the appearance of reality. Grave ecclesiastics though we be, we confess that we are never so happy as when we are surrounded by a mirthful group of happy children, studying their little ways, and watching the development of their powers. And it strikes us that the reason why children's books of the present day are so much better than their predecessors, is, that they are written by persons who really love children, and know what children like. This has, at least, caused the introduction of one element, which was formerly much neglected; we allude to what may be called in an expressive word the "fun" of children. The rector of Elford was, we believe, the first to set the example, and write children's books for children. Many others have followed the precedent thus set them, and now grave and gay are sweetly blended. Amongst works of this class, the one which is now on our table deserves especial mention and universal patronage. Its "getting up" is superior to anything of the kind that has been attempted, and the extracts are most judiciously made from all quarters, not forgetting our old friend John Gilpin. Of the ornate illustrations that grace every page, we cannot speak too highly. The majority of them are too large for our Magazine, but we have received permission to insert any that will serve our purpose. Though by no means a fair sample, we select the following:

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At this season of the year, when parents and friends are in the habit of bestowing some token of affection on the little ones that cluster around their hearths, and that cheer them with their smiles and winning ways, we are sure that young and old will thank us for recommending the "Juvenile Verse and Picture-Book,” as well as "The Lord of the Forest and his Vassals," the "Baron's Little Daughter," edited by Mr. Gresley, and, it is needless to add, Mr. Paget's "Tales for Village Children."

CHRISTMAS WITHIN DOORS, IN THE NORTH OF GERMANY.

THERE is a Christmas custom here which pleased and interested me. The children make little presents to their parents and to each other, and the parents to the children. For three or four months before Christmas the girls are all busy, and the boys save up their pocket money, to make or purchase these presents. What the present is to be is cautiously kept secret, and the girls have a world of contrivances to conceal it; such as working when they are out on visits and the others are not with them; getting up in the morning before daylight, and the like. Then on the

evening before Christmas Day, one of the parlours is lighted up by the children, into which the parents must not go. A great yew bough is fastened on the table at a little distance from the wall, a multitude of little tapers are fastened in the bough, but so as not to catch it till they are nearly burnt out, and coloured paper hangs and flutters from the twigs. Under this bough the children lay out in great order the presents they mean for their parents, still concealing in their pockets what they intend for each other. Then the parents are introduced, and each presents his little gift, and then bring out the rest one by one from their pockets, and present them with kisses and embraces. Where I witnessed this scene there were eight or nine children, and the eldest daughter and mother wept aloud for joy and tenderness; and the tears ran down the face of the father, and he clasped all his children so tight to his breast, it seemed as if he did it to stifle the sob that was rising within him. I was very much affected.

The shadow of the bough and its appendages on the wall and arching over the ceiling made a very pretty picture; and then the raptures of the very little ones, when at last the twigs and their needles began to take fire and snap! O, it was a delight for them!

On the next day in the great parlour, the parents lay out on the table the presents for the children: a scene of more sober joy succeeds, as on this day, after an old custom, the mother says privately to each of her daughters, and the father to his sons, that which he has observed most praiseworthy, and that which was most faulty

in their conduct. Formerly and still in all the smaller towns and villages throughout north Germany, these presents were sent by all the parents to some one fellow, who in high buskins, a white robe, a mask, and an enormous flax wig, personates Knecht Rupert, the servant Rupert. On Christmas night he goes round to every house and says, that JESUS CHRIST his Master sent him thither. The parents and elder children receive him with great pomp of reverence, while the little ones are most terribly frightened. He then inquires for the children, and according to the character which he hears from the parents, he gives them the intended presents as if they came out of heaven from JESUS CHRIST. Or if they should have been bad children, he gives the parents a rod, and in the name of his Master, recommends them to use it frequently. About seven or eight years old the children are let into the secret, and it is curious to observe how faithfully they keep it.-S. T. Coleridge.

A PLAIN ADDRESS ON JOINING IN PUBLIC WORSHIP.

Ir we seriously reflect upon the object of religious worship, and remember that every time we assemble together in the House of GOD, for the purpose of prayer and praise, He is graciously present with us by His HOLY SPIRIT, we shall not think anything trifling, which will conduce to uniformity of practice and decency of conduct, on those occasions, because our devotional feelings cannot but be influenced by such things. When our Common Prayer Book was composed, the good men under whose directions the different prayers were arranged gave positive rules with regard to every part of our services, and these rules are called Rubrics, because they were at first printed in red ink, so that they might be distinguished more readily from the Prayers, the Latin word for Rubric signifying red.

There are, however, a few observances about which no positive directions are given, but which ought nevertheless to be attended to; and it is for the purpose of drawing more general attention to these, that this article is penned. What I am going to say is so completely in accordance with the other directions in the Prayer Book, and will so tend to produce that decency and order which S. Paul insisted upon,* that I am sure you will at once see the propriety of my remarks, and I trust you will act upon them.

I would first, however, make a few observations with regard

* 1 Cor. xiv. 40.

to those matters about which the rubrics are very express, and which are but too often neglected, especially in country parishes. The services of our Church are social services; that is, they are services in which both minister and people are expected to join. But they are, alas, too often left to the minister and clerk, as if the congregation were not worshippers, but merely the spectators of some ceremony which they did not understand, and in which they took no interest. Now is this right? You would think it a very strange thing, if, when the minister commenced the service, he did it all in silence; if he read and prayed without opening his lips! You would say, and very justly too, that he was acting in a way that he ought not; and that he should be reproved for such conduct. But the people are acting just as improperly, if they neglect, or refuse to take a part in that portion of the services of the Church, which is appointed for the people: if you refuse to read aloud, and to join in all the responses. I believe that the silence which so generally prevails among the congregation arises from a want of consideration; I cannot believe that it is intentional, and therefore, now your duty is plainly set before you, I trust you will show by your conduct that you really wish to do what is right; and that you will join with heart and voice in the scriptural services of our Church.

There is another thing ordered by the rubrics, which is not attended to as it ought to be, and that is with regard to kneeling in prayer. Surely, when we consider that every time we assemble together at Church, we meet in God's own house; in a house which has been consecrated and set apart to God's honour and service; that although GOD dwells not in houses built by hands, yet we know that GOD more especially vouchsafes His presence in His sanctuary, and our blessed LORD Himself assures us, that where two or three are met together in His name, there is He in the midst of them;* we cannot think it right to offer up our prayers in a posture which manifests a careless spirit, and a greater regard to our own ease than to the importance of our supplications; and yet how few think it necessary to kneel in prayer at Church! Many who, in private prayer would never think of sitting or lounging, forget that a devotional posture is, if possible, more necessary in Church than at any other time. If we really feel our wants, and feel that GOD alone can supply them, and are conscious how unworthy dust and ashes are to speak to Him, we shall never forget to manifest the humility of our minds by the posture of our bodies.

A similar feeling ought to cause us to bow with reverence at

*S. Matt. xviii. 20.

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