We might follow the Jesuits to their Chinese missions, where they permitted the idolatrous practices of Confucius, and indulged themselves in licentiousness which brought them under the punishments of the heathen governors; to Malabar, where they blessed the cow's dung which the natives held sacred, and permitted the women to wear the image of their God Pilear, provided a crucifix was cut on it, so as not to be discernible; or to Chio, where they permitted the inhabitants, who stood in awe of the Mahometans, to go to the mosques, provided only they took care to direct their thoughts in private to Jesus Christ. But we have perhaps given enough of details; we will conclude with M. Quinet's coup d'œil of the general history of these missions : "Follow those vast enterprizes on the coasts of Malabar, in China, and above all in Japan. Read and study these events in the writers of the Order, and compare the design with the success. The history of those missions is in itself very uniform: first an easy success; the chief of the country, the emperor, is gained over, seduced, and courted; a part of the population follow the example of the chief, then at a given moment the chief perceives, or fancies that he perceives, an imposture; thence follows a reaction so much more violent as the confidence had been at first implicit ; the population falling away at the same time as their chief; persecution exterminating those who were truly converted; the mission scouted, leaving scarcely any vestige the Gospel compromised, shipwrecked upon a cursed shore which remains for ever deserted ;-such is the summary of all those histories, and yet who could ever read them without admiration? What ability! What genius in resources! What skill in details! How many proofs of noble courage! and how badly : they know me, if they think I have no heart for such things! What heroism among private individuals ! What obedience among the inferiors! and what combinations among the superiors! It is impossible to carry further, patience, fervour, and resolution. 'Well, what is more surprising than all that, is, that so many labours, so many proofs of associated devotion, ended in producing nothing! How can this have happened? Because, though individuals were devoted; the maxims of the body were bad. Who ever saw the like of this? This Society at bottom deserves rather pity than anger! Who ever worked more, yet who ever reaped less? It has sown upon the sand; and for having mixed up the Gospel with intrigue, it has undergone the strangest chastisement in the world; and this punishment consists in ever working and never reaping. What it raises with one hand in the name of the Gospel, it overthrows with the other in the name of policy. That Society alone has received the terrible doom, that it produces martyrs, and that the blood of its martyrs produces only brambles.' THE SPIRITUAL OBSERVANCE OF THE BY THE REV. EDWARD BICKERSTETH, As we have considered those things which we are called on to lay aside on the Lord's day, let us now consider those duties which we are specially called on to practice. The Sabbath, though a day of rest, is not one of indolence, but of blessed and holy diligence. It is an emblem of that future rest during which, it is said, "his servants shall serve him; they rest not day or night." The duties of this day are eminently spiritual; they are such as of ourselves we are quite unable to perform, except as we are filled with the Holy Spirit of God. If we are duly alive to this, our great concern will be to walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. We shall seek His help as our chief means of a due observance of any spiritual duty. In the expressive language of Scripture, they that are after the Spirit do mind the things of the Spirit, and the minding of the Spirit is life and peace. This is the most important of all baptisms,-to be baptized by Christ with the Holy Ghost,-to be filled with the Spirit. This made Barnabas such a blessing. He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith. Now we may all obtain larger and larger measures of this heavenly gift. All that any have yet received should encourage them to look for more. As the first droppings of the clouds on the parched land precede the full shower, so there are yet larger supplies of this all-gracious Comforter, who helps our infirmities, and through whose presence our bodies become the Temple of the Holy Ghost, dedicated and devoted to God. 1. Aim at making family and social conversation on this day specially cheerful and edifying. It is a festival: a day of holy joy and happiness. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Is any merry, let him sing psalms. Rejoice in the Lord always. Family singing of psalms and hymns well becomes this day. There is no need of gloom, or severity on this day. Indeed where the joyful sound is known, and, being justified by faith, the peace of God dwells in the heart, we cannot but rejoice. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous. What a happy family is the Christian's family on the Lord's Day! He is relieved from the burden of daily toil, and free from the interruption of worldly feasting and company; he finds the real and highest enjoyment with those nearest and dearest to him at home, in the delightful communion of the family circle. How short, how happy the day is, how gladly its return is welcomed, and what a secret strength it gives for every duty. When the heart is fixed for God and full of his truth and love, the lips delight to speak of Him and for Him. Thus when the two disciples went to Emmaus on the Lord's Day, (though not yet appointed as the Christian Sabbath) their conversation was all about Christ, their minds being filled with the great things which had just taken place, and presently Christ himself drew near, and their hearts burned within them. If our conversation on the Lord's Day be spiritual and edifying, and turned, as much as may be, to that counterpart of the Sabbath on earth, the eternal Sabbath in the mansions above, we may have, even here, foretastes of our eternal rest to come. 2. OUR MEALS ON THIS DAY SHOULD BE SIMPLE AND PLAIN. It is not required to make this a day of fasting; but to make it a day of mere feasting, or to make the meals occupy the chief part of the time at home, is wholly unsuitable to its highest and best objects. It is desirable that the wives of the poorer classes, and the servants of the richer, should have no needless trouble in preparing our food, or in connection with our table. The baker or other tradesman should not have his Sabbath rest disturbed for our indulgence. By prudence and forethought in most places, not one of the family whose health or age allow of attendance, need be hindered from due attendance on public worship. Especially should a violation of the day, far too common, be watched against and avoided ; the making it a day for giving and attending dinner-parties. This is just to prefer the world to God: to refuse to give time to our friends on the week-day, and to rob God of his time on the Sabbath. How many poor servants groan under the distractions of bustle and company and feasting on the Lord's Day; a practice which brings double guilt on their masters. 3. OUR PUBLIC DEVOTIONS SHOULD BE REGULAR AND SERIOUS, EARNEST AND CONSTANT. To be at the house of God before the service begins, to be there regularly and constantly every Sabbath, to be there twice on the Sabbath, this is the general practice of the most valuable members of our congregations. In most parishes in larger places, there are now three services in the day, and in such parishes ordinarily the parishioners may attend twice in the day. Thus Anna departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers |