youn no thought" about them? What mechanic can suit his customers what merchant can succeed in his business, what physician or lawye or minister of the gospel can gain the confidence of the people o prosper in his calling, by "taking no thought"? How can the gain an education or learn a trade or a profession by "taking n thought"? How can a person obtain a knowledge of his own sinfu ness and of Christ as his Saviour by "taking no thought"? Or ho is it possible for any of us to obtain our needful food, drink, an clothing, without earnest and continuous "thought," on the part o ourselves or others? Can it be that Jesus meant to enjoin on Hi disciples what the words "take no thought" impute to Him? Would not such an injunction, practically carried out, lead men to be thought less, indolent, and improvident? And do not other Scriptures ex pressly direct, "Think". "meditate on these things "" Lay up yourselves treasures in heaven"-"Provide things honourable i the sight of all men;" each direction implying earnest "thought," yes forethought and effort? and further, "If any one provides not fo his own household, he has denied the faith, and is wors than an unbeliever"? (Phil. iv. 8; 1 Tim. iv. 15; v. 8; Rom. xii. 17. Yet the injunction remains, "Take no thought." It is given as practical direction for man's conduct; and as such, it should be i plain, unmistakable words, used in their ordinary sense, and capable o being readily understood and applied. Certainly a translation whic thus misrepresents an important duty, by contradicting other Scrip tures and universal practical facts, cannot be termed either goo or correct. Previous to the King James version, Tyndale, Cranmer, the Geneva the Rhemish, and the Bishops' Bible, had all rendered the passag "Be not careful for your life, what ye shall eat." This renderin corresponds more nearly with the true meaning of the Greek ver merimnao; which refers more to feeling, than to thinking. The ve is derived from the root or ground-form mer; meros and meris bot meaning "a part," and merizo, "to divide into parts." Hence merin nao naturally and properly signifies, to have the mind divided o distracted, to be uneasy or disquieted, to be distracted with car or anxiety. "To be disquieted" makes good sense in the whol class of thirteen like passages, where merimnao occurs. Fo example: "Be not disquieted for your life as to what you sha eat." "Which of you by being disquieted can add to his stature or cubit ?" "Be not disquieted in respect to the morrow; for the mo row will be disquieted of itself." "When they deliver you up, be n disquieted as to how or what you shall speak" (Matt. vii. 25, 27, 34 x. 19). "Martha, thou art disquieted, and troubled about man things" (Luke x. 41). This rendering harmonizes with the words of Jesus in John xiv. 1-2 "Let not your heart be troubled." "Peace I leave with you, peace I give to you," etc. It also exactly meets a want which Christ's disciples often deepl fo feel. They are sometimes tried in regard to obtaining the necessaries of life. Sometimes they are in pain of body, or in distress of mind; they meet with disappointments and trials, or they are troubled with doubts and fears, or with evil forebodings. And just here, in their time of need, and when other helps fail, these sweet words of Jesus come to their relief, like ministering angels of mercy: "Be not disquieted about food and raiment, but trust your heavenly Father's care and love." "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe on God, and believe on me.' 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; .. let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid." And that precious exhortation of the apostle: "Be disquieted in regard to nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds, in Christ Jesus" (Phil. iv. 6, 7). From this brief examination we may learn the great desirableness and importance of having God's word clearly and faithfully translated. 1. That errors may be removed, or avoided. 2. That we may receive from it just the instruction and the measure of peace and joy which our heavenly Father has provided for us in this priceless record of His fidelity and love. MY PRAYER. I asked the Lord that I might worthier be, And straight "Go, feed my lambs!" He answered me. 66 Nay, Lord!" I cried. To cleanse my spirit ? "Can outward deeds avail And still " Go, feed my lambs!" was all I heard. Behold, I thought that He His hand would lay Half wrath, I turned to go; but oh! the look "O! dearest Lord," I cried, "I will obey. He took me at my word. He went before; Where wolf eyed Want keeps watch beside the door He beckoned me, and I essayed to go Where Sin or Crime, more sad than Want and Woe, And when I faltered at the sight, He said, "Is the disciple greater than his Lord? The servant than his Master ?" Oh, that word; If, serving others (though imperfectly), Dear Lord, be Thine the glory! Thou hast wrought, Oh! that these lips might praise Thee as they ought. PICKINGS FROM MY PORTFOLIO. No. VI. Yet It is hard to believe that we have lived as long as we have. The child thinks the old man's life an age; but the old man looks back on it as a hand-breadth. Yet we cannot bring ourselves to realize that it will soon be over, The moment given us is to last for ever. But it was the same with the generations that have lived before us. where are the busy crowds that filled the world before we were born? They had their days filled with as many cares and occupations as ours have. Go back no farther than the beginning of this century. Where are our countrymen and countrywomen of that day? Their life was warm in them once. Some were caring for their young families then as some are now; some marrying; some following the past generation to the grave. The ploughman whistled as he cut the furrow; the sailor heaved the anchor or dropped it, to his rough "Yo ho!" the smith was busy at his forge, and wiped his brows, as he rested the hammer on his anvil and gossiped with the neighbours on the latest news. The met at markets, and churches, an on the exchange. The fairs ha their buyers and sellers, and thei gaping crowds to see the clowns an the giants. Men were of all kind then as now. Here, you had a honest fellow that would put hin self about to serve you; yonde one who had no thought but t cozen you. They were feasting i the great man's house, and watering a crust with tears in many a pool widow's garret-all that the poor orphans had among them. Where are they all now? Not one of them or hardly one, but is a pale ghost gone for ever from the light of th sun? Their memory has long ag faded from among men, and no on knows that ever they existed. They are faded and gone like the flower that once pleased them in the sweet summer fields and gardens of long ago. O ye sons of men, how all the past is swallowed up by the black night! What think ye of yourselves No delaying to make ready for the inevitable? You have something to say for yourself, have you? But what if it be not admitted where alone it would be of value? Besides, in such a case, can excuses be reasonable? It is no common risk. You can't afford to be lost. You can live only once, and after that must go to the dead, and have no more any portion forever in anything that is done under the sun. Then, after death, the judgment. wonder the cheek blanches. an awful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. You would shrink from letting your nearest friend know all your past life; but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. He is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things. Texts sound at times like storm-bells, deep and terrible, in your conscience: "The worm that never dies"-"Outer It is darkness"-" De part, ye cursed." O, brother! no excuse, pray, no excuse. It is a matter of eternal life or death with thee-Sunday Magazine Ir a man pray as he should, it is "the prayer of faith." If a man obey as he should, it is the "obedience of faith." If a man war in the church militant, it is "the fight of faith." If a man live as a Christian and holy man, he "liveth by faith." Nay, shall I say yet more, if he die as he ought, he "dieth by faith." "These all died THE FAMILY LIBRARY. AMONG the many books deserving a place in "The Family Library," is, The Parish Apprentice; or, John Winzer, the North Devon Puritan, by the Rev. S. Newnam, of Edinburgh.* The narrative which this book contains is very interesting, nor are its teachings less important; it is written with all that good taste and good feeling which those who know Mr. Newnam will expect to find in any production of his pen. Starting in Life; or, Familiar Talks with Young People, † is an excellent volume from the pen of the Rev. J. Clifford, M.A., of London. These "Familiar Talks" appeared first in the General Baptist Maga Partridge & Co. + E. Stock. zine, of which Mr. Clifford is now the editor; and they refer to such subjects as "Rightly Aimed;" "Looking up; Genius;" "On Books, and How to Read Them; The book is an excellent one for young people. Plodding versus """Never Despair." An Earnest Question; or, Why Baptize an Infant?* is answered by the Rev. A. M. Stalker, of Southport, in a penny tract. It is exceed ingly well reasoned, and contains and defends important truth "most surely believed amongst us." It deserves a wide circulation, which we are sure it will have. A Manual of Missionary Facts and Principles, for the Use of Young People and Bible Classes, by a Retired Missionary,† is a little book that ought to have been noticed by us before. Its price is only sixpence, but it contains an amount of information that could not be found in many a volume of ten times its cost. If used wisely by the teacher or minister, and the information it contains really instilled into the minds of the young people under their charge, it could not fail to interest them in the great subject of Christian missions, and to prepare them for the time when the work must devolve upon them. OUR MISSIONS. THE following letter, which will be the more interesting to our readers because it comes from the scene of Mr. Gordon's murder and Governor Eyre's cruelties, has been kindly forwarded to us by our friend the Rev. F. Trestrail:: "MY DEAR BROTHER,- I have much pleasure in forwarding to you a copy of a resolution of thanks adopted by our college committee at its last meeting. "I am personally gratified that by your kind services as examiner, you are kept in communication with us; and I am glad to have thus occasion to correspond with you. “We have a proverb here in Jamaica, that 'An old chaise-horse knows the crack of the whip;' and I believe that you, who were so long and honourably connected officially with the Missionary Society, will be glad to have a little missionary intelligence. As you were officially associated with the commencement of this eastern mission, I shall do myself the pleasure of giving you a brief resume of its history. E. Stock, 66 My connection with Morant Bay was maintained for four and a half years, two and a half of which I resided there. During that time a Church was gathered and organized, numbering between 200 and 300 members, and which took a fair place amongst the Churches of the island. Over £300 were expended in putting the chapel into thorough repair; and on the 30th June, 1871, Mr. Watson, who had spent four months on probation, was unani. mously elected as pastor. I am very thankful to be able to report the Church to be prospering. was "The Monklands Church, at the head of the Blue Mountain Valley, twelve miles from Morant Bay, formed in the autumn of 1867, and has grown to between 300 and 400 members. It has purchased land and built a small mission house; and a chapel to seat 900 soon be ready to occupy. During the collection and organization these two Churches, more distant and elevated portions of the district were obliged to wait; but as soon as + John Snow & Co. |