Sophia. "Yes, that is it; but can you not go on?" Henry. "Not one word more do I recollect; which is very stupid, for I once committed it to memory." Sophia-(after a pause). "It was that sermon, dear Charles, that helped to confirm me in my present views; and did not you once say, Papa, it had the same effect upon Mamma's mind." Mr. M. "The same, my love. You know, when your sainted mother married me, she was a strict Calvinist, and a firm believer in every doctrine taught by the Established Church. I never attempted exercising the slightest influence over her mind; I never even introduced the subject, unless expressly requested to do so by her; but, naturally of a very inquiring and liberal nature, after a careful examination of the Scriptures, and serious perusal of the best Unitarian authors, she was led to reject many of the peculiar tenets of her own faith, without embracing all our views. Accustomed to worship the Saviour in union with the Father, her mind was often distracted between two equal beings, yet it was a difficulty she found almost impossible to get over. About this time, Mr. Harris's excellent sermon upon Christian Worship was published; I put it into her hands; she read it, and all her doubts were cleared away. It completed the work which was begun. For four whole years, at the close of which God was pleased to take her to himself, it was her constant companion morning and evening, her daily study; wherever she went, it went along with her; and oh, how often in pious gratitude has she acknowledged to myself, that, under Providence, she attributed her permanent change to the pious reasoning, the dispassionate arguments contained in those invaluable pages; and young as you were, Sophia, you remember how calmly, how peacefully she died.” Sophia. "Ah, well do I remember;-dear Mamma, I shall soon be with you!" * * * * * Another month had glided by, and Sophia was hourly becoming weaker; yet so gradual was her decay, as to be almost imperceptible even to her medical attendant. She was able now to converse but little; and when she * A fact. did, it was always about the employments of heaven, and the eternity that awaited her. Her mind, too, occasionally wandered; still, even in her moments of incoherence, there was a connection in her ideas at once affecting and surprising. One morning as she awoke from a short and unrefreshing slumber, she half-raised herself from her pillow, and fixing her eyes upon her father, "Papa,” said she, "what am I to do with sin?" Mr. M.-(supporting her in his arms). "My dearest Sophia, do you forget that Jesus Christ has destroyed its power?" She pressed her hand upon her forehead, as if trying to recollect for it was evident her mind wandered a little-then added quickly, "Oh yes, you are right, quite right; God sent him to die for me; blessed Jesus!" She remained silent for about an hour; perception had returned, and she requested to be carried to the sofa by the window. "You know, Papa," continued she, after being carefully laid upon her little couch, "I ever wished to die by the bright rays of a morning sun." Upon Charles asking how she found herself, she faintly smiled, while she answered, that her mind was quite calm, that she suffered no pain, but felt as if she had not long to remain. Here her sister entered the apartment; she laid her hand impressively upon the little girl; "Shall I live in your remembrance, Minna?" said she; "you will not forget you had a sister Sophia; you will try and remember all I ever told you. I am leaving this world; you, my love, must leave it too; oh, then, make it the business of your life to prepare for such an hour. Be good and dutiful to Papa; be to him all that I would have been. God bless you, dearest; we shall meet again." The poor child sobbed as if her heart would break. "Oh, Sophia, if it were not for leaving Papa, I should like to go to heaven with you." Shortly after, Sophia asked her father to pray for her, and to repeat the four first verses of the fourteenth chapter of John. He did so; after which, she remained for some time in an attitude of supplication, her lips moving, but uttering no sound. During the night she gradually sank, but gently as an infant falls asleep; in the morning her breathing became very difficult, and she was exceedingly restless. It was evident that dissolution was fast approaching; the hue of death-that hue which, once seen, is never to be forgotten-now overspread every feature; the touch was becoming cold and clammy, and the sweet eyes were dim and lustreless. All stood round the bed; a universal stillness prevailed; not a breath was heard. Once more her eyelids moved. "Where are you all?" she said, but in a voice so low as scarcely to be heard; "where is Charles? I don't see." In a moment he was by her side. "Dear Charles," she murmured, "I die a Unitarian, and I die in peace. I believe in God; I believe also in Jesus. Farewell all of you, Henry, sweet Minna-beloved Papa" -hovered upon her lips; for a moment her eyes rested upon him, and they closed for ever. "The Lord gave and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord,"" burst from the lips of the poor father, as he sank upon his knees by the side of all that remained of his darling child.* Oh! who will say that Unitarianism can afford no consolation in a dying hour? We can speak differently; we have watched by the deathbed of the Unitarian,—we have witnessed the holy calm, the pious hopes, the sacred trust, which its peace-giving truths alone can inspire; we have seen gleams of enthusiasm now and then breaking forth, like "the sun through a watery cloud," when dilating upon God's unchanging goodness, and man's hopes, and Christ's promises. There was no bitterness, no heart-burnings, no protracted repentance, to mingle gall in the last earthly cup; nothing but heavenly comfort, sacred consolation. * * * * * As the reader will have perceived, Charles Herbert was of a calm, dispassionate nature, and an inquiring turn of mind; neither susceptible of hasty impressions, nor likely to be governed by feelings or impulses; so that, when, several years after his cousin's death, he openly avowed the principles of Unitarianism, the change effected in his mind was the result of mature deliberation and conviction only; and he was often heard to declare, that the hour which first saw him become an inhabitant of his Uncle's roof, was the most important and happy event in his existence. * This scene is described as the author saw it; and the preceding conversations are written almost verbatim as they occurred. REVIEW. Select Forms of Prayer, for Christian Families; with Of fices of Devotion for particular Occasions. Alnwick: W. Davison. THIS selection of prayers is well calculated to deepen and confirm devotional impressions-to make us sensible of the duties, and remind us of the conditions and prospects of humanity, with constant reference to the one great point of religious convergence: viz. the contemplation of our relation to the God of our worship, obedience, and hope. Besides prayers for Sunday mornings and evenings, Monday mornings, and Saturday evenings, it contains a considerable number of prayers for the morning and evening, which have each a distinct subject of meditation which it more especially dwells upon, such as Religion, Industry, Temptation, Providence, Faith, Heavenly mindedness, Tender - heartedness, Hope, Truth, Confession, &c. To these are added, prayers for the Communion, times of Sickness, Death, &c. and a General Prayer from the Litany of the Church of England, very well modified and arranged; as well as another General Prayer from Baxter's Liturgy, &c. This little publication, we think, on the whole, will be useful in reminding readers of their duties, and keeping alive and strengthening a true devotional spirit-that spirit which continually recognises the hand of the Omnipotent Father, seeks to do his will, and resigns itself to his appointments, and truly believes and trusts in his promises. There are some few expressions in it, which in our estimation too much approximate to the peculiar phraseology of orthodoxy. Yet notwithstanding this, we do not hesitate to recommend the work, which, from its exceeding cheapness, will be accessible to the humblest classes. Hints to the Charitable; being Practical Observations on the Proper Regulation of Private Charity. Intended principally for the use of those who take an active interest in Village Economy. By the Hon. and Rev. S. G. Osborne. THE author of this work, who has also published others of a similar nature, writes of what he himself has seen and superintended in the parish of which he is Vicar. The result of his experience, in conjoining prudence with benevolence, in relieving the difficulties which the poor labour under, and in encouraging in them a spirit of industry, providence, and independence, he has given to the public in these "Hints," and his other similar publications. A truly Christian work has he superintended as a minister, and is promoting as an author; and he will have his reward in the satisfaction of an approving conscience, in the pleasure of doing good in a way which can be followed by no drawbacks arising from the method pursued, which confers charity, without encouraging idleness, improvidence, or a dependent spirit. The work contains a letter on the "Coal Fund,"- —an institution supported by regular contributions from the poor in summer, to which is added, by the rich of the parish, whatever more money is needed to supply the members with a certain amount of coals in winter, whatever may be the price of that needful article of consumption; by which plan the poor are encouraged to provide for themselves out of their own industrious gains, while they are aided by a charity on the part of their more wealthy neighbours, which is not thrown away. Similarly, letters are written on the "Wives' Society," providing in like manner for the season of their confinement; and on the "Penny Clothing Club," for providing children with raiment. There are also letters on the "Benefit Society," "Loan Fund," "Children's Endowment Society;" for the nature of which we refer our readers to the work itself. Every poor man ought to read this book for his own interest; every rich man, or whoever is placed in comfortable circumstances, ought to purchase this work and lay to heart its "hints," if they would wish to be proper stewards of the gifts with which a kind Providence has more highly favoured them. MONTHLY RECORD. IRISH UNITARIAN CHRISTIAN SOCIETY.-The tenth anniversary of this institution was held in Dublin, Sunday and Monday, April 26 and 27. The religious ser |