are seen and temporal, to devote it to the things that are unseen and eternal. In the Establishment, all cathedral churches have religious service twice every day; and morning prayers are also read in many churches every day, and in others several times in the week If our religious enjoyment and improvement be thus sacrificed to the love of the country, how can we expect the influence of the Spirit in any large measure? There is an evil creeping into, and spreading through, our religious societies, of a very serious nature, which, if it be not checked, will disap--a practice which is evidently founded on the supposition, that we need all possible helps to devotion from public worship, and need them during the week as well as on the sabbath. It is quite vain for us to look for any improvement in our habits of religious feeling, unless we are prepared to give ourselves to the means likely to produce it. We must awake from our sleep, we must throw aside our sloth, we must employ the diligence which we observe in the man whose determination it is to be rich; for it is thus only we have any right or reason to look for a growth in grace. 6. In order to obtain this revival, as it respects the more frequent and numerous conversions of sinners, there must be A GENERAL EFFORT to obtain it. point all our hopes of revival;-I mean this practice of partial neglect of the public means of grace-this habit of going to such a distance from the house of God, as to prevent a constant and frequent attendance upon its public services. Week-day services are also, by this means, almost entirely given up by many. And there are some who live in the neglect of these services, without even the excuse of distance for the omission. Can we expect the blessing we seek, if we do not avail ourselves of every suitable opportunity to obtain it? Is not a prayer-meeting, a weekday sermon, eminently calculated to perpetuate and keep alive the impressions produced on the sabbath, and to maintain, amidst the urgency of worldly cares, a sense of religion upon the mind? Do we not need constantly returning admonitions, frequently repeated helps, to keep up our regard to eternal and unseen things? Let us, then, be found in our places, as far as a due attention to other duties will allow, on these week-day services. Let us make no voluntary engagements of pleasure or visiting for those evenings, but consider them as sacred to our souls' conThe people called Quakers, who are by no means deficient in attention to the duties of their worldly calling, | We need a double portion of the Spirit devote an hour every Wednesday morning to a religious meeting; and thus redeem one of the most valuable portions of the day from the things that cerns. In this great work there is something for all to do. Here is room for all, and a demand upon all. None of the friends of Zion, whether in a public or a private situation, should stand by as idle spectators. MINISTERS, of course, must take the lead. It belongs to them in virtue of their office, and calling, and vows. We should be tremblingly anxious to encourage and promote the work by every means in our power. We should first seek an enlarged measure of Divine influence upon our own souls. "We of God at such a time as this. like the angels who are as flames of dren and servants in the fear of the fire. The state of the times extremely Lord. There must be a revival in dorequires a fullness of the Divine Spirit mestic piety. Family prayer must be in ministers, and we ought to give our-performed with greater punctuality, selves no rest till we have obtained it. constancy, fervour, and solemnity; and And, in order to this, I think that we, the fire of devotion kindled afresh upon above all persons, should give ourselves the altar in our own house, as well as to fasting and prayer, both in secret in our closet. and one with another." We should also promote this work in every possible way-by preaching about it; speaking of it in our church meetings; conversing with our friends in reference to it; by instituting special seasons for public prayer; by reading suitable accounts to our churches of revivals in other places, especially Mr. Edwards's account of the work in New England, and the modern statements from America; by a diligent and serious catechising of the children in our congregations; by appointing meetings for the encouragement and direction of persons under religious concern; and by every other means which a holy ingenuity can devise. Our responsibility just now is awful indeed. Our churches are in a crisis, and can we be indifferent? The DEACONS and more INFLUENTIAL MEMBERS of our churches, should come forward and give all their assistance to the work. Instead of standing by with cold indifference, or sceptical hesitation, they should do all they can in the way of ready and judicious activity. They should animate their brethren by their example, and stimulate them by their conversation. They should endeavour to be present at all meetings for prayer, and obviously attach great importance to the work. HEADS OF FAMILIES should give themselves with renewed zeal to the work of domestic religion, and labour with fresh vigour to train up their chil SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHERS must have a deeper impression of their obligations to seek the spiritual welfare of their youthful charge, a more awful sense of their accountability, and a more ardent zeal for their success. They must consider, that the salvation of the souls of the children is the highest end of their office, and leave no effort untried to accomplish it. They must be anxious to see a revival of religion in the scene of their labours, and among the objects of their solicitude. And, for their encouragement, they should be informed that the great work which God is doing in America may be traced up, in a great measure, to the Bible classes in the Sunday-schools of the UNITED STATES; and the same remark applies to the extraordinary awakenings which have taken place in Wales. Mr. Charles, of Bala, distinctly states this fact, in letters printed in his Memoirs lately published. If all Sundayschool teachers were qualified for their work, and eminently devoted to its spiritual objects, a wonderful change might be looked for in the religious state of this country through their instrumentality. They prepare the children, by instruction, to hear the ministers of religion with greater edification. HEADS OF MANUFACTORIES may do much, by discouraging vice in their establishments; by establishing libraries of suitable books, to be read by their workmen at their own homes; by en-years of patient toil in his heavenly couraging their attendance upon pub- Master's work. These pursuits on the lic worship; occasionally admonishing sabbath may have succeeded days of them to fear God; and, above all, by manual labour either in the field, the setting an example of all morality, shop, or the manufactory, and, consepiety, and Christian temper. quently, been undergone at the sacrifice of personal ease. In addition to all this, there may be little of what is promising in the scene of his pious effort: he has to grapple with difficulties arising from the ignorance, indifference, and narrow prejudices, as well as the natural depravity of the people. Sometimes few can be drawn to listen to his message, and fewer still respond to his earnest entreaties. SERVANTS, whether domestic or manufacturing, may admonish their fellowservants, and labour in the way of counsel, persuasion, and admonition, to reclaim them from the ways of sin, to impress them with a sense of religion, and to save their souls from death. THE MASTERS AND MISTRESSES OF BOARDING-SCHOOLS should be anxious, not only about the mental culture, and general habits, and elegant accomplishments of their pupils, but also about their personal religion-remembering that the souls of the children are committed to their care, as well as their bodies and their intellectual interests. The religious character is too frequently lost sight of in such establishments, and the advancement of the understanding in general knowledge alone attempted. SKETCH OF THE LATE MR. DAVID PENROSE. THE labours of a village preacher, as was the deceased, are much secluded; and being carried on within a narrow sphere, as well as among the humbler classes, obtain little notice. The occupation is considered by many religious professors as having, at best, only a slender claim upon their sympathy or encouragement. He may have taken many a wearisome step in his benevolent, disinterested efforts have travelled far-have braved the winter's storm, and been exhausted by the summer's sultry heat, and have spent Did mercenary considerations influence, he would soon relinquish a course imposing this demand upon patience and the powers of the physical frame. The task would be galling; sense would prevail, and settle down upon the couch of repose. In the absence, therefore, of inducements likely to corrupt the motives, the prevailing impulse must be found in love to Christ, and deep compassion for the perishing souls of men. It was under the governance of these hallowed principles that the subject of this memoir employed for many years his energies in the work of village preaching, not coming behind any similarly engaged in the measure of his zeal, fidelity, and devotedness. He was born at Coseley, a hamlet in the mining districts of Staffordshire, in the year 1796, and descended from pious parents. His youthful days, which were spent at home, were marked by nothing more than a decorous and dutiful line of conduct. On arriving at manhood he removed to Birmingham, an event which, under the overruling providence of God, led Here to consequences of the highest moment circumstances were more encouraging, to his spiritual interests. He went as they became at a later period of his thither a stranger to the power of career. vital religion, with no other view than that of advancing his temporal welfare, and commenced a day-school. he attended the ministry of the Rev. Jehoiada Brewer, whose preaching obtained a just celebrity, and was greatly blessed to many. Thus it proved to the friend now referred to. He had not long sat under the word ere the truth was accompanied with saving efficacy to his heart. As the natural result, he sought the fellowship of the church, and being approved, on satisfactory evidence of his piety, was admitted to the desired privilege. Thus divinely blest and settled in his religious associations, he began to cherish a strong desire for usefulness. Not unmindful of the favourable opportunity which his position afforded as an instructor of youth-hence, while communicating elementary knowledge of a general kind, he carefully endeavoured to instil religious principles into the mind, knowing their importance to the proper formation of character; and it was his happiness to see in some of his pupils the beneficial effect of his watchful solicitude. By what particular circumstances he was brought forward into the path of usefulness as an itinerant preacher the writer cannot now ascertain. Suffice it to remark, that he commenced the work about twenty-five years prior to his decease, and that in his early labours he often supplied places at the distance of three, and even ten, miles from his own residence. And to his honour it must here be added, that he went to these scenes of labour with the same promptitude as when the local After the death of his pastor, and the subsequent removal of Rev. Mr. Eagleton, Mr. Brewer's successor at Livery-street Chapel, he wished for a change of religious fellowship, owing to the unsettled state of the church he had been hitherto connected with, and he, with his beloved partner in life, united themselves to the church under the pastoral oversight of Rev. J. A. James. Here a wider scope for his talents as a village supply was opened to him. There were more stations and more labourers, all whose operations were conducted with a spirit of love, and guided by the skilful hand of a senior deacon of the church, (still living,) eminent for his piety, wisdom, and zeal. Our departed friend, along with the other members of this fraternal band, being one in heart and in object, felt a desire for some periodical seasons of devotion and counsel in "a collective capacity." Ends of importance seemed likely to result from such an arrangement. All of them at once concurred in the scheme, and in the year 1834 was formed the Carr's Lane Village Preachers' Association; its design being, at quarterly-meetings held where most convenient, to unite in prayer, consider the state of the several stations, and concert measures for their improvement; to reciprocate brotherly affection, and afford mutual counsel and encouragement as circumstances might seem to require. This organization has happily realized more than was anticipated at its origin. Mr. Penrose was unanimously chosen secretary at its commencement, and filled the office until his death. His active services and judicious management proved of considerable advantage, and secured for him the grateful esteem of all the brethren. It is remarkable that the last time at which he met with them in their associated capacity was in his own house, and within one month of his decease. The season was one of deep interest, as the writer well remembers. The countenance of this man of God wore its accustomed hue of health, and beamed with cheerfulness. He was active, as usual, at his post. Had it been inquired which of the assembly would, in all probability, first fall a victim to the stroke of the last enemy, he would certainly have been passed over. But Oh, the mysteries of Providence! how baffling to our calculations! how admonitory to our too confident sense of security! The mortal blow fell where it was least expected. "In human hearts what bolder thought can rise but little, owing to the excessive difficulty in his breathing; but all he did say clearly evinced that religion was richly enjoyed within: and even in those hours when from the height of the inflammation he appeared bewildered, he discovered most strikingly the spiritual bias of his affections. Happily in his case no death-bed testimony was requisite in order to afford to others satisfactory evidence of his preparation for the great change. He had lived the life of the righteous, and would, as the sure consequence, enter at death on the inconceivable blessedness of heaven. Faithful till his work was done, he then received the crown of life. He died on January 15th of the present year, and was interred at the general cemetery. The funeral obsequies were performed by his beloved pastor, who, both at the grave and in the sanctuary on the following sabbath, made honourable mention of his consistent piety, meekness of spirit, steady aim at usefulness, generous dis Than man's presumption on to-mor- position, and other excellences. Nor row's dawn? By too great exposure to the weather in the business he now followed, (having for some time relinquished the scholastic profession,) he laid, it is thought, the foundation of that malady which terminated so fatally. One cold upon another issued in a severe inflammation of the air-vessels of the lungs, which resisted all medical skill, and within one week from his being laid aside from his ordinary duties he finished his probationary term on earth. were his fellow-labourers wanting in the appropriate expression of their sorrow for his removal, and their sense of his great worth, both to his mourning widow, and at the several places where, in common with themselves, he had been accustomed to proclaim the word of life. A fragment, illustrative of the frame of his mind in the closing part of his brief illness, is too valuable to be omitted. In his musings he quoted aloud the beautiful language of the apostle Peter, "To you that believe he is precious"-referring to Christ, the sinner's hope. His dear partner, who was near him, made the inquiry, not In his last sickness he could speak from doubt, but to elicit fully his views |