The ordinances of the house of God, have experienced the same treatment. By the institutions of the great apostacy, all the ordinances of the New Testament have been either laid aside or modified by human wisdom. There is not one portion of the Divine inspiration which has not been tampered with. And the Lord's people, when they have been allowed to return from Babylon, have in many instances, even thought it prudent to bend to circumstances, and by a holy guile, to persevere in those alterations and modifications which were introduced by the man of sin. How few churches dare take the New Testament in their hand, and go through it with this fearful caution before their eyes! Have not almost all of them, either added or diminished, or modified? While we are bound to rejoice in all who hold the truth, and should receive them in all things in which we are agreed, we should not cease, boldly and loudly, and constantly, to make this charge "tingle in the ears" of all our brethren, "Diminish not a word.”

A BLESSING BEFORE MEAT.

THE excellent Rowland Hill, of London, was an eminently pious and useful man; probably more useful in the conversion of sinners than any other man during the almost seventy years that he occupied the pulpit. He had frequently a very original manner of presenting a common thought. The following lines, which he wrote for some of his young friends to repeat before meals, may serve as an illustration :—

Some have meat, and cannot eat;
Some could eat, but have no meat;
But I have meat, and I can eat,
God's name be praised.

BEAUTIFUL EPIGRAM.-The family motto on Dr. Doddridge's coat of arms, was "Dum vivimus, vivamus," the literal translation of which is, "While we live let us live." The direction thus given was beautifully versified by the Doctor in the following lines:

"Live while you live," the epicure would say,
"And seize the pleasures of the present day."
"Live while you live," the sacred preacher cries,
"And give to God each moment as it flies."
Lord, in my view let both united be,

I live in pleasure when I live to thee.

MY DEAR BROTHER HUTCHINSON:-Being desirous of perpetuating the existence of the following touching lines, you will greatly oblige the writer, and I hope gratify your readers generally, by giving them a place in your excellent publication. There is a slight circumstance associated with these verses, which it may not be amiss here to mention. About one year since in this village, a young lady, the pride and hope of a widowed mother, the loved and respected of the church of her choice, was prostrated under the afflictive hand of a most painful disease. —She was informed by her attending physician and friends, that she must soon die, there being no possible ground upon which to build hope of recovery-yet she manifested no astonishment-no alarm; but with that calmness and quiet of spirit, which alone characterizes the "every day Christian," calmly replied, "The Lord's will be done." As the man of God found his way to her bedside day after day, he conversed freely with her, upon her future prospects-the realities of eternity— the solemnity of death and of judgment-when to his enquiries she would heartily respond: "My trust is in Jesus-I have hope through a crucified and risen Saviour, of a glorious immortality-I have but little anxiety, and that is for my mother; poor mother! what will she do when I am gone? How lonely she will be !-God will take care of her -it will be but a little while at best and we shall meet again—no more to part." Having arranged matters for her burial, she requested the writer to "address the living" after her death, from Revelation 21st chapter, 4th verse: "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying-neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." This young woman died in the "comfort of love." revealed in the gospel of the Son of God. Shortly after her death, the lonely widow sat down to gaze upon the little mementoes left of her departed child, and the first drawer she opened, presented a letter containing the beautiful lines of "Miss Thompson"-full of comfort and of consolation to the stricken heart and especially so, as they were thus arranged by the hands of her whose life was pure and whose end was peace. By publishing them you may afford hope and consolation to such of your readers, as are mourning the death of pious children-or youthful Christian associates.

D. HENRY MILLER.

Yonkers, N. Y., March 3.

ON THE DEATH OF A YOUNG CHRISTIAN.

BY ELIZA THOMPSON.

WEEP not! because the fair young bud hath faded,
That in its opening glory smiled so bright—
Though sorrow's sweeping cloud hath darkly shaded
The star-like beam which cheered our lonely night!
For He who gave such sweetness to the flower,

And made the silvery ray so pure appear,
Sheds sunlight o'er affliction's gloomy hour,
Upholds the fainting heart, and dries the tear.

Weep not! sad mourners, though to thee, no longer
Earth yields that cherished form to be thy stay.

There is an arm far mightier and far stronger,

Will guide thine aged steps through life's dark way!
Rest on that power divine, while sorrow, welling

Streams from the fountain of thy bleeding heart,

Fear not when death's cold waves are round thee swelling-
That heavenly strength will still its aid impart.

Weep not! although no gladsome voice is cheering
Thy household labors, or thy lonely hearth,

Though well thou know'st no more those tones endearing,
Shall e'er be heard by thee again on earth.
Think not her gentle notes are hushed forever;
Upon thy joyous ear they yet will rise,

In that bright land where loved ones never sever,
Beyond the splendor of those beaming skies!

Ah! who can tell the rapture that is filling,

The bliss now flowing through her sinless heart,

While in that song, through heaven's high arches thrilling,
She bears her grateful and triumphant part!
We will not weep then, that to endless glory
Our treasured gem hath been conveyed;

Rather be ours the joy to spread His story

On whom were all our griefs and sorrows laid.

EVERY virtue communicates a proportionate degree of felicity, as may be instanced in that of honesty, which gains confidence; the exercise of judgment, gains estimation; prudence, respect; courtesy and affability, affection; temperance gains health and fortitude, that peace of mind which adversity cannot disturb.

Monthly Record.

FOREIGN ITEMS.

ENGLAND. THE WORLD'S FAIR.-The Executive Committee of the World's Fair, have decided that no free admissions shall be granted; and that exhibitors, unless they state their intention of attending for the purpose of explaining or keeping in order their contribution, shall not be entitled to free tickets. Firstclass season tickets for the World's Fair are three guineas for a gentleman's and two for a lady's ticket, and these will procure admission at all times when the exhibition is open. On the first day of all, the right of entrance will belong to the holders of these "season tickets” exclusively, no offer or money whatever being receivable at the doors on this occasion. On the second and third day, the price of admission for the day only will be £1; and on the fourth day 5s., at which sum the entrance-fee will continue stationary for the space of three weeks. On the 22d day the price will fall to 1s., and so remain during the period of exhibition, with the exception of the Fridays and Saturdays in each week, on the former of which days the cost of admission will be always 2s. 6d., and on the latter 5s.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC QUESTION.-It appears by the English papers that there are in Parliament thirty-six Roman Catholic members, and that they have unanimously and solemnly resolved to oppose with all their power, a ministry that proposes to interfere in any respect with the late papal aggression. Lord John Russell intends to present still more stringent measures against Papacy. What a storm is impending?

ITALY. It is rumored that the "Holy Alliance" at Dresden, has demanded the expulsion from Piedmont, of all the Italian emigrants; the suppression of the liberty of the press, and an immediate reconciliation with the Court of Rome. These absurd pretensions have been met by a deliberate refusal on the part of the Turin Government.

ROME.-The Pope is said to be desirous that the French troops should be withdrawn from Rome that he may place himself under the special protection of Austria and Naples.

ARCHBISHOP HUGHES OF NEW-YORK-This man is preaching at Rome to large audiences, and endeavoring to prove that Protestantism is so rapidly declining, it will soon be among the things that were, or in other words, he is laboring with all the ingenuity and power he has for a Cardinal's hat. We should not wonder if such a Romanized American should be hooted at in the streets on his return to this country.

CHINA. The celebrated Commissioner Lin, whose energetic course gave rise to the opium war, has deceased, and his death is lamented by the government.

AFRICA. THE KAFFIR WAR.-The Cape Town Mail, of Feb. 3d, contains the most deplorable account of the state of things throughout the frontier districts. English farmers had been murdered, and their farms plundered, and their dwellings burned. From the last of December to the 4th of February, a desultory warfare had been carried on. The English and their native allies were generally victorious in pitched battles, and numbers of the rebel chiefs had been killed. In one battle, near Fort Hare, where the Kaffirs were 3000 strong, a much smaller number routed them, the Kaffirs leaving 100 dead upon the field. From news of March 15, we learn that the Kaffir war is likely to be more prolonged than was at first anticipated. Sir Harry Smith at the head of 5,000 men, had given battle and killed 70 or 80 Kaffirs.

RICH GOLD DISCOVERIES.-An immense discovery of gold has lately been made upon a hill in the vicinity of the Mokelumne river, which had never previously been wrought.

GERMANY. Prussia is supported by France and England. The treaty of Olmutz avails nothing, and negotiations must be commenced again with Austria. Prussia will now have much advantage, and Austria will be obliged to be more moderate in her claims or unsheathe the sword.

BADEN.-The State of Baden has passed a law for the regulation of the press. Its main provisions are as follows: Abolition of the censorship. All articles to be signed by the writers. Caution money must be deposited by publishers and authors. Publishers, printers, and distributers of works are all responsible for the contents, and alike liable to arrest and prosecution. The Chamber of Deputies has been burned.

THE HUNGARIAN REFUGEES.-Most are probably aware that our government has sent instructions to our minister at Constantinople, directing him to employ one of the National ships now cruising in the Mediterranean, for the purpose of conveying the noble Kossuth and his compatriots to this country. The Sultan will, no doubt, comply with the wishes of our government, and we shall be permitted to welcome those sons of freedom to our shores. Truly Columbia is an asylum for the oppressed. Austria protests against the release of the Refugees by the Sultan.

GENERAL ITEMS.

DEATH OF THREE EDITORS.-John S. Skinner, of Baltimore, Md., Hon. Issac Hill, of Concord, N. H., and Mordecai M. Noah, of this city, all veteran and able editors, have recently been called to their final account. They were all between sixty and seventy years of age.

REV. JOSEPH STOCKBRIDGE, Chaplain in the United States Navy, and for a number of years a resident at this port, has been detached from the ship North Carolina, and is waiting orders from the Navy Department. He has been instrumental in circulating many copies of the Scriptures and many religious tracts among the marines, besides attending, with fidelity, to the ordinary duties of his office. He has many warm friends in this city and vicinity. We wish him as much success in another field as he has experienced in this.