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sometimes eat of a great variety of dishes; and though some of these might be good in themselves, they are not good when mixed up in the stomach together. Soup, fish, flesh, or game, may be each of them good; but when mixed together, with sweet things, and sour things, and pastry, something is likely to go wrong. It is to avoid the evil of such mixture that bacon is recommended to weak people to be taken at breakfast; for then the stomach is empty; and nothing else need be taken with it but a little plain bread or dry toast; no butter will be wanted. The lean, salt part of the bacon makes* a good relish for a person who has a poor appetite from irregular living, or other cause, but the fat of the bacon is the right thing; and we have good reason, from experience, to believe that weak persons would, in many cases, find great benefit from the use of it at breakfast. If, from the particular state of the stomach, any one finds it to disagree with him, common sense will show him that he must leave it off,-it is not for him. The reason that bacon agrees well enough with a labouring man at dinner is, that he makes this (with bread) nearly his whole dinner; he does not mix it with a number of other things. But we should recommend weak persons to try it at breakfast. In the morning, the digestive organs are in better order, from having had rest; and this food is, then, less likely to disagree. If it does not suit, it must of course be given up; but in many cases of weakness, it will be found to agree very well, and will prove to be a light as well as a very nourishing food. This food is found to be so agreeable to those whom it suits, that they hardly know how to leave it off again. It may be taken either cold or fried. If a man fears the expense, he may be assured, that if he spends no money at the ale-house or the gin-shop, he will have enough to supply him with ten times more nourishment than ale can give, at a much less price. As to gin, instead of giving nourishment, it dries up all that is healthy and good in the body of a man. The labourer that feeds his own pig, and keeps at home with his wife and family, can afford to live much better than a drunkard can. A good managing man, who finds that a moderate portion of beer suits him at his

1838.]

REFLECTIONS ON THE CHURCH SERVICE.

173

dinner, will find out a way of making a little home-brewed for himself. A man should never touch beer before he has his dinner: it does more harm than good.

REFLECTIONS ON THE CHURCH SERVICE.
(Continued from p. 101.)

"THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST," &c.

V.

IMMEDIATELY after the prayer of St. Chrysostom, we have the short prayer which the Apostle Paul offered for the Christians at Corinth, and with which he concludes his Second Epistle to them. This short prayer contains every thing which one Christian could desire to ask for another, or for himself. The greatest mercies and blessings of the Gospel are here expressed and asked for. The "grace of our Lord Jesus Christ:"-the "love of God:"-and the "fellowship of the Holy Ghost." If we have these, we have the means of everlasting life, and the preparation for it. Eternal life is the gift of God,the free gift; but God bestows that gift only on those who are prepared for it; and He Himself fits and prepares His people for their eternal abode of happiness. But we are required to seek for His gifts and favours, if we would hope to obtain them; and we have every encouragement to "seek," being assured that we shall "find." In this prayer, we may observe that the order in which the Apostle addresses the three persons of the holy Trinity is different from the usual course; here, the Lord Jesus Christ is addressed before the Father: the order is of no great consequence as a proof of any doctrine; but it seems plainly to show that St. Paul knew that, in the Divine nature of Christ, there was an equality with the Father, or, as one of our creeds expresses it, -"equal to the Father, as touching His Godhead."

But what do we pray for here?

1st. The "grace of our Lord Jesus Christ." Grace means favour. Here, then, we ask for all those mercies and blessings and favours which Christ has purchased for us, by taking upon Himself the form of man; by coming down to us on this world, where He suffered all the miseries and torments which ungodly malice, and

bitter enmity could inflict; and then submitting to the most degrading and painful of deaths, that He might purchase life for us, and thus give salvation to all those who would "come unto Him." In offering up this petition, then, we pray that we may be made partakers of these benefits, that our sins may be pardoned through our Saviour's sacrifice, and that we may, through His bloodshedding, have them all washed away.

2nd. We pray for the "love of God;" that, having accepted us through the atonement made by Christ for us, He would no longer look upon us as enemies, but would receive us as reconciled to Him,-as His own dear children, and would bestow upon us a Father's love. God is the great Creator, the great Lord and Master of us all: but He is seen in a more endearing character by His own children. Those who have earnestly sought salvation by Christ,-who put their whole trust in Him, -whose sins are forgiven for the sake of the atonement made by their Saviour, and who have been moreover solemnly dedicated to Him by His own appointed sacrament of baptism,-are the children of God, and may address Him as a "Father:" they pray for the "love of God," and all the mercies and blessings,-all the protection and care which love, infinite love, can bestow. And those whom God loves, can want nothing that is really good for them in this world: all their trials, all their afflictions are sent by a Father who knows what is best for His own children; and, though at times all things shall appear to be "against them," yet to them "God is love;" and He will make all things work together for their good. And when all the trials of this world are over, they will be exalted to everlasting life. Nothing that is truly good here or hereafter will be wanting to those whom God loves, and who love Him.

3rd. We then ask for the "fellowship of the Holy Ghost," the communion of the Holy Ghost; the helps, the consolations, the sanctifying powers of the Holy Spirit. We cannot enter into eternal life, unless we are prepared for it. We must be fitted for the society of saints and angels, by having dispositions, and inclinations, and pursuits like theirs. And it is the Holy Ghost that thus

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THE OMNIPRESENT GOD.

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prepares the minds of the children of God, to love those things which God loves. The exercises and employments in heaven are of a holy nature. They would be no delight to those whose nature is not holy. It is the Holy Spirit that sanctifies the heart, that makes it holy. By His regenerating grace-by His daily renewal of the soul,-by His consoling, strengthening and sanctifying power, the Christian is fitted for his heavenly abode; and his appointed course on earth is such as to teach him that he has need, every day, to seek this Divine help, and that all his heavenly Father's dispensations are such as shall lead him constantly to seek this help, that he may become every day more and more prepared for the blessings which await the faithful in the kingdom of glory.

v.

THE OMNIPRESENT GOD.

(Translated from the German.)

PSALM CXxxix. 6.-"Whither shall I go, then, from Thy Spirit; or whither shall I go, then, from Thy presence?"

My soul to God shall ever rise,

The Lord of love and fear,

The track of this world yonder lies 1,
The path to Heaven lies here;

I praise Him when joy's smiles are bright,
I rest on Him in grief's dark night.
Praise be to God,

The Omnipresent God.

When, in the shade of solitude,

I seek religious balm,

And none of this world's cares intrude,
To break the holy calm 2,

As thus I raise my soul on high,
More glorious shines God's Majesty.
Praise be to God,

The Omnipresent God.

When, not alone by foes opprest,

Our bitter tears shall flow,

But the false friend we loved the best,
Fills up our cup of woe 3;

1 Psalm cxix. 35.

2 Psalm iv. 4.

2 Psalm xli. 7. 9, 10.

What can send peace in that sad hour
But trust in God's almighty power?
Praise be to God,

The Omnipresent God.

And when within the cold, cold grave
Some treasured object lies,

And the same power who blessings gave
Our faith by sorrow tries 1,

E'en then despair not! God is near
The suppliant mourner's heart to cheer.
Praise be to God,

The Omnipresent God.

When in the last sad hour of need
Truth from deceit shall sever,
And from each world-applauded deed
The mask shall fall for ever 2,
Still have we comfort-God is there
To hear the dying Christian's prayer.
Praise be to God,

The Omnipresent God.

Oh, then, my soul, to God arise,
The Lord of love and fear,

The track of this world yonder lies 3,
The path to Heaven is here;

And be my course through dark or light,
A gracious God will lead me right.
Praise be to God,

The Omnipresent God.

Author of the " Lives of the Saints."

NEW POOR LAWS.

GREAT difference of opinion has been expressed on the subject of the late alterations in the poor laws. A change from long established custom must at first be felt, as a serious inconvenience, by many. But this subject has not been fairly dealt with. When the case of a distressed person or family is mentioned, those who are against the late change immediately lay all the blame on the " new law;" but they forget what dreadful complaints there were, and what dreadful distress too, when things were managed according to the "old plan." And the distresses were then getting worse and worse" every year: we hope that every year will now show a course of improvement; although there will be cases of individual distress

1 Psalm cxix. 28.

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