1838.] THE CHORISTER. 367 children in the way they should go. But it is of the youngest son, William, that I am now going to write. He was very young when his father died. The other sons being either at school or apprenticed to some trade, this child was the chief companion of the widowed mother, in the days of her bereavement and affliction; and he often stood by her as she prayed for resignation to the will of Him who had ordained her trial. She told me that, in order to reconcile her own mind to her affliction, she used to talk to her little boy of the power and goodness of God, and that He would be a parent to her dear children, now their father was dead. It was by such repeated conversations, that William's mind had been early led to that religious temper which was so remarkable a feature in his character when I became acquainted with him; and which under God's blessing brought his infant mind to a closer attention to God's word, than one generally sees in such young persons. He would sometimes himself try to comfort his mother; and, seeing the tears running down her cheeks one evening while doing her work, he said, "Don't fret, mother; you have often told me God would be a father to me; and I am sure He will be a husband to you." Thus reminding her of that gracious promise "He is the Father of the fatherless, and the God of the widow." At seven years he was put into the free grammar school, and was placed in the Choir of the Cathedral. At this time I first became acquainted with William. It has long been my practice to attend occasionally the weekly prayers in the Cathedral; and here I cannot help observing that I wish it were a more general practice. The Church is opened, and the prayers are offered three times each day, to give every one an opportunity of joining with their fellow creatures in the worship of the great Creator of all. My own avocations leave me always at liberty in the afternoon; and, whenever I take my recreation, whether it be to walk or perform any office of social kindness, I must say, I account it a great blessing that I can at three o'clock on any day enter the house of my God, there hear His word read, and join with others in the prayers of our devotional Church service. To me it is a great help during the week to be able to retire from the 1 bustle and noise of the town into the quietness of the Cathedral, and there give up, for the short space of three quarters of an hour, my heart and affections, my thoughts and feelings, to that which alone can spiritualize the mind-communion with God. I do not mean to say that others who retire into their chambers, and seek it, do not as effectually find it; I only advise an occasional attendance at the weekly prayers of the Church in addition; for I thank God, such an attendance has often been my strong help and comfort. When I first saw William amongst the choristers, I was struck with the sweet expression of his countenance, and his deep attention to the service, so unusual at his early age. In a short time he was sufficiently taught, to be able to take a part in the anthems and services; and, having a decided talent for music, and a very sweet voice, he was employed to sing at the choral meetings. I continued to watch my young friend, week after week; till, one evening, I missed him; and, not seeing him the following day or two, I asked the boys what had become of their companion; they told me he was ill, and I directly went to his mother's house, where I found William suffering from cold and inflammation on the chest. He soon however recovered from this attack, and was able to return to the school and choir. At fourteen years he was placed with the organist to perfect himself in music, and to fit himself for gaining his living; but ill health now frequently interrupted his studies, and I missed my young friend only too often; but I had made his acquaintance, and was too much interested about him, not to follow him to his own home. He was at this time about fifteen, and his repeated attacks of illness were so entirely of a consumptive nature, that it grieved me to see, that I must indeed part with my young friend. I visited him frequently, and, latterly, daily; and I never saw him otherwise than meek and patient, under very severe sufferings, for his attacks were spasmodic. It was truly affecting, but most consolatory to see so young a person calmly looking on death, and placing his trust there, whence humble confidence alone can arise. From the beginning of this last seizure, he never expected to recover, and always said to his mother 1838.] THE CHORISTER. 369 when she planned any thing for his future days, "Wait, dear mother, till I do recover." He always in sickness (as it had been his constant practice in health) read daily a portion of the Scriptures; and still he would persist in this, when he was in great pain; latterly, however, his mother used to read to him. And he always selected the chapters, hymns, prayers which related to his present state, or to that which he expected soon would follow.—I had some time previously given him a little book of prayers, as an assistance when he knelt down to address his heavenly Maker; and I was much affected on opening it one day, to observe it particularly marked at one page, where there was a prayer for "meekness and resignation ;"-it made me value William's chastened mind; for I could not but feel convinced that the meek spirit with which he bore his sufferings, came through the grace of God by prayer. But William's sufferings were soon to come to an end. One morning I went to the house; I found him lying in his bed, breathing with much difficulty, but whenever he could speak, uttering what consolation he could to his afflicted mother. I stayed some time; for I saw that my young friend's last hour was speedily approaching; he suffered a good deal from exhaustion, and said, "Mother, perhaps the doctor could give me something to soften my pains till my appointed time comes," and the next moment added "but I put my trust alone in God." He then lay quiet for a few hours, when he uttered in a low, earnest tone, "My Lord, my Saviour!" -and breathed his last. 1 Who shall describe the mother's anguish ?—I cannot,though I witnessed it: but I also witnessed her pious resignation, which quickly followed the first burst of grief, and heard her exclaim, "The Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord."—This good mother is now in her grave, and the four sons whom I have not particularly mentioned are living, and fill the different stations, in which they are placed, with credit to themselves, respected by their neighbours, and trusted by their employers; proving, I think, the advantage of a good bringing up; and that it is the duty of all parents to inculcate those Christian principles which will fit their children "to do their duty in that state of life unto which it has pleased God to call them," however short, or however long, that time may be, in which they are to "work out their own salvation," and will afford them that peace and comfort which can arise only from real faith and trust in that gracious Redeemer who is with His faithful people in every time of need. F. CATECHISM ON THE NEW TESTAMENT. WE have received from a correspondent a copy of a very useful little volume just published with the above title. The following extract will serve as a specimen of the work, and also be of use to those of our young readers, who will learn, to answer the questions without the book: Question 1. Of how many books do the writings collectively called the New Testament consist? Answer 1. Of twenty-seven books. Q. 2. Were these composed by the same person and at the same period? A. 2. No; they were composed by eight different authors, and at different times and places. Q. 3. What are the names of these books? A. 3. The four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; the Acts of the Apostles, the fourteen epistles of St. Paul, the seven Catholic* Epistles, (as they are called,) and the book of Revelation of St. John. Q. 4. What do these writings contain? A. 4. The history of Jesus Christ and of the first propagation of His religion, together with the principles of Christianity, and various precepts or rules of life. Q. 5. To whom were they addressed? A. 5. To the different churches which their authors had established in different parts of the then known world, and also to a few private individuals. ST. MATTHEW. Q. 6. Who was St. Matthew? A. 6. The author of the gospel which is placed first in the New Testament, and a native of Galilee. *Catholic means general. These are called general Epistles, to distinguish them from those which were written to particular people. 1838.] CATECHISM ON THE NEW TESTAMENT. 371 Q. 7. What was his profession and station in life? A. 7. Though a Jew, St. Matthew was a publican or tax-gatherer under the Romans; and his office seems to have consisted in collecting the customs due upon commodities which were carried, and from persons who passed, over the Lake of Genesareth. Q. 8. What was the manner of his call to the apostleship? A. 8. Our Saviour commanded him, as he was sitting at the place where he received these customs, to follow Him. He immediately obeyed, and from that time he became a constant attendant upon our Saviour, and was appointed one of the twelve apostles. Q. 9. What became of Matthew after the ascension of our Saviour? A. 9. He continued with the other apostles to preach the gospel for some time in Judea; but, as there is no further account of him in any writer of the first four centuries, we must consider it uncertain into what country he afterwards went, and likewise in what manner and at what time he died. Q. 10. To whom did Matthew write his gospel? A. 10. Matthew wrote his gospel for the use of the Hebrew believers, and, as is supposed by some, in their own language, about five years after the ascension of Christ. Q. 11. Were any of the other gospels written in Hebrew ? A. 11. No. This book is the only part of the New Testament which is believed to have been written in Hebrew; but as it existed very early both in Hebrew and Greek, it is concluded by judicious writers that it was translated into Greek either by Matthew himself, or under his direction. ST. MARK. Q. 12. Who was St. Mark? A. 12. An early convert to Christianity, and, as is supposed, through the preaching of St. Peter. Q. 13. When do we first hear of him in the New Testament? |