oppressive weight of the atmosphere was felt and complained of by each; but far more sickening was the air of the low court into which they turned previous to entering Mrs. Wright's abode.

They were kindly welcomed by this daughter of the Widow Green, who struck Helen as being altogether the most unlike her mother of any person she had beheld as dissimilar, in fact, as the apartment they had entered was to the cottage they had left. Here, on dusky walls, stained with every variety of sombre discolouration, were stuck a number of the most tawdry prints, evidently quite fresh, and placed there for a particular display : the window, incapable as it was of admitting much light under the best circumstances, was rendered opaque by dirt, and festooned with cobwebs; yet a struggle to look fine was manifest throughout the whole establishment, including the mistress, who, though she had not combed out her matted locks, had surmounted them with a cap of unusual form, decorated with showy ribbands. Of ornaments there was no lack, but of neatness, cleanliness, comfort, respectability, nothing relieved the eye above all, it wanted cheerfulness.

After the first affectionate greeting, and some tears shed on the cheek of her long-absent daughter, the widow kindly enquired for the rest of her family.'

The children won't be in till after dusk,' replied Mrs. Wright; and as for their father he will come about the same time.'

Some arragements were then made: an inner room, intolerably close to be sure, but rather cleaner than the other, was pointed out for their temporary use. Here they were to remain until a suitable lodging was found, after being installed in their new

situations. By the time their bedding was unpacked, and their personal neatness improved, after the fatiguing journey, evening was come; and the village party returned to the parlour, as Mrs. Wright had called it, just as her family entered it from the street.

There was a pause-almost a movement of recoil on the widow's part, as this groupe of her grandchildren met her view; while a hasty glance of involuntary comparison bespoke the mother's consciousness of a contrast such as words can but faintly pourtray. Stepping between them, she hastily remarked, 'It is well for the children that poor William fancied a country life; for to be sure it does make them look more fresh and healthy, though town-bred young people may be ever so much genteeler.'

C. E.

REMEMBER that while the Bible is the "word of life," it is also, if unused, the instrument of death. The man who has a Bible can make no excuse if he is lost. A Bible in his house, but unopened, unread, or read without prayer, is a mighty machine undirected, which will recoil on its owner, and bring down upon him a more utter destruction. It is "the Sword of the Spirit," but it is a "two-edged sword;" it cuts both ways: and if it cut not forward upon sin and Satan, it will cut backward upon the soul.-Rev. T. Dale.

MADAM,

AN INFALLIBLE GUIDE.

I read in the Christian Lady's Magazine some time ago, letters signed Clericus Junior, from which it appeared that the writer felt a difficulty which for a long period I also experienced-a difficulty occasioned by the demand to show an infallible guide which we acknowledge in religion, or follow one alleged to be infallible. I knew, at the period referred to, as well as I do now, that the doctrines of the church of Rome were different from those of the Bible, and on that account I would not receive them; but I was perplexed by the arguments of Challoner and Milner, and quite unable to answer them. A great change has, however, since taken place; the scriptures are now more read, and the principles of religion more generally understood, and able controversialists have been brought forward, who have exposed the sophistry of Rome; and it having been my lot to visit those quarters where most attention was paid to the subject, I believe I can show (and I shall feel happy if I can do so to the satisfaction of your correspondent) how we arrive at the following conclusions: First, that the guide offered by the church of Rome is not an infallible or even a uniform guide; and, secondly, that Protestants have a sure and infallible guide.

For, since it is a general council which Romanists

think infallible, what can any individual among them come at more than the decree of a council and the teaching of a priest of his communion? Now the priest has no power to guide any man's judgment, nor is it contended that he is infallible;1 consequently, the inquirer may mistake the priest, or the priest may have mistaken his college teacher, or the college teacher may have misunderstood the decrees of councils; so that even if the errors of those decrees were not discoverable, from their being inconsistent with each other and contradictory to the scriptures, still there would evidently be no infallible guide for the Romanist; for the priest cannot guide his judgment, nor can the college teacher guide the priest's judgment, nor can there be any certainty that he understands the decrees of councils aright.

But the Protestant relies on a sure and infallible gnide, which, on the certainty of the promise of our Saviour himself, he knows will guide him to all truth. For the scriptures are infallible, admitted to be in

1 The Romish priests are taken young into their colleges, where they are instructed from books artfully composed, and their minds are filled with false opinions and prejudices: they are taught to argue in support of their peculiar tenets; they are sworn to maintain them, and are then sent out as teachers. No wonder they should shrink from the evidence of the scriptures, which show their fallibility as teachers.

2 In the Latin language, in which all the bulls and decrees of the Romish church are written, there is no general rule for the discovery of the exact signification of words, as in Greek and Hebrew, in which tongues terms expressing complex ideas are usually derived from simple words. In Latin there is no single word which expresses μeтavola, repentance; penitence is used, which has a different and somewhat ambiguous meaning; and from this arises the error of penance being introduced into popish translations,-an interpretation which the Greek word would never bear. 2 D

NOVEMBER, 1839.

fallible, and declared by the inspired writers themselves to be perfect and sufficient.

The scriptures are indeed infallible, but where is the infallible human guide?

The Divine Spirit is the only infallible Guide, as alone able to guide the judgment, and to supply all deficiencies. We know that church communion is necessary, and we acknowledge its benefits and its privileges, and its divine institution; but as every man is accountable for himself, we choose a church by the guide given us-the word of truth. By it we may know them; "If they speak not according to that word, it is because there is no light in them;" but if they do, we hear them with deference.

We have an infallible rule of faith-the scriptures, and an infallible Guide, omnipotent, and present to every one living; and we have the divine promise that whoever seeks that guidance will obtain it. Yet more, every true Christian must be so influenced. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." If a Protestant is not led by this holy, infallible Guide, it is because he does not seek that guidance in an humble, prayerful, and faithful spirit. Converse with any who habitually read the bible with a devout mind, and in essentials they will be found to agree. It will perhaps be found that many who differ in non-essential things read the bible attentively, but these differences only shew that it is the subject of their thoughts, and they sometimes even produce good effects, by promoting inquiry and exertion; but those who differ in essential points of faith are in general either ignorant of the bible, or entertain a secret hostility to it in their hearts, and neglect the sacraments; for the scriptures are explicit