licious beings,-from the white-robed Gabriel to our arch and deadly foe, he who as a roaring lion is going to and fro in the earth, and walking up and down in it, seeking whom he may devour.

And yet this is a contemplation, perhaps even more salutary than the other. It is well to have our minds penetrated with the idea that, in our conflict as soldiers and servants of Christ, we wrestle not merely against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Were this idea present oftener than it is, how carefully should we guard the avenues of our hearts! Were we to regard the vain, and rebellious, and unhallowed thoughts that enter there as the baleful whisperings of a malignant and deceitful spirit, who, in his untiring, and implacable, and restless enmity to our soul's welfare, spreads these, apparently, gossamer snares, to lure them to destruction; could we picture to ourselves the fiendish triumph with which Satan exults over the poor deluded victims he has blinded, how earnestly we would watch and pray lest we enter into temptation; how unceasingly we would look up to Him, who "in that he hath suffered being tempted, is able to succour them that are tempted."

No one that watches closely the workings of his own mind, for but one day, can be ignorant of the wily devices of Satan. The poor, simple peasant, who told his minister he was afraid to repeat his prayers aloud, lest the devil should overhear him, seems to have been better aware of the nature of the dark "principalities and powers," than many a more educated Christian. Who is it that has not felt,

while on his knees, a sudden coldness steal over his heart, that perhaps a moment before was raised warmly and prayerfully toward the throne of grace? Who has not, at such times, been often startled by a flash of thought, some old long-forgotten memory, perhaps, summoned from the silent cell where it had lain buried, and brought to harass his mind and disturb his devotions, by him who

trembles when he sees

The weakest saint upon his knees.'

Oh! let us beware how we give way to these seemingly trifling temptations; they are but the beginnings of sorrows. The downward path is a slippery one, and we are apt to be too secure.

Never can I forget the impression made on me by a fearful tale of one sold under sin,' a wretched slave of Satan, who, doubtless, once promised fair for this world and the next. Never before, was I so aware of the sort of communion (if I may use the expression) which evil spirits maintain with those who give themselves up to do their work; how they haunt their miserable victims with ceaseless terrors, surround their dying couches, and give them, at that despairing hour, a foretaste of the dreadful hell to which they are about to drag them!

It was an awful picture! that woman's death-bed scene; but I must not anticipate.

M. F. D.

[We have received from the writer a subsequent note, stating that when the above was written she had not seen the paper of R. H. F. in our last number. We are the better pleased at the coincidence of thought.-ED.]

IRISH SCHOOLS IN ST. GILES'.

SEVERAL of our kind contributors having expressed a wish for some information as to the progress of the school which they have so generously patronized, we gladly respond to the call.

These Irish free schools, situated in George-street, St. Giles, were first brought under the notice of our readers in the Chapters on Flowers' that recorded the zealous labours of our beloved friend Mr. Donald, in that dark and deserted quarter. The Georgestreet schools were the only institutions of the kind existing in the Irish district, until, some years after their establishment, other excellent schools were opened in connexion with the Irish chapel in Weststreet, which lies on the other side of Holborn, at a considerable distance from our schools. The Georgestreet institution, however, flourished until it pleased God to call to Himself the honoured instrument of incalculable good in that worst, and most desperate quarter of the place; while most of the young gentlemen who had ardently assisted him in the Sunday school, and who were principally Irish students, keeping their terms at our Inns of court, were removed to the sphere of their professional labours at home.

Every effort was made, by the few who remained, to keep the schools together, and those of the boys and infants were still supported: but that for the

girls completely failed. The District Visiting Society did their utmost to save it; but their funds were exhausted: and their powerful, energetic pleader, Mr. Howels, had gone to join his beloved friend Donald before the throne of the Lamb.

It was then that we ventured on making our appeal, towards the close of 1835; for the deserted school-room was more than we could bear to look upon, knowing that its hapless inmates were cast into the surrounding desert, reeking with moral pollution in every form. At the very same time, and without any communication or concert whatever, a dear friend of our own, Miss Gordon, came forward in the spirit of love and faith, from a very distant part of the metropolis, opened the door, and assembled twelve girls. She wrote to apprize us of what she had done; and we, in reply, conveyed to her the first fruits of our appeal, just published. The Lord gave a signal blessing; contributions poured in; an excellent mistress was procured, Miss Gordon still vigilantly superintending, and the number increased, in a short time, to ninety girls, regular in their attendance, neat and orderly in their appearance, and improving beyond the most sanguine hope of their anxious friends. The District Visiting Society continued to devote their attention, and to share the general school-fund most liberally, rejoicing over the work and it is a striking proof of what has been done, that we, having promised to add a penny to every weekly penny regularly deposited by the girls, for decent clothing and bibles, have, far beyond the utmost extent of our calculations, been called on for between five and six pounds for this delightful purpose.

On the 22d of December, a little treat of milk and bread and butter, was given to our girls, previously to their separating for a short Christmas holiday. We were prevented from attending; but received a letter from an invaluable friend to poor St. Giles', whose time, thought, talents, means, and professional skill have been unreservedly devoted to that miserable district for a long course of years. He writes, "You would have rejoiced to see the wellregulated and well-taught children Miss Gordon has assembled together: her energies are directed into a happy channel, and the mistress, Miss Pechini, has carried out admirably the system of instruction. There were between 60 and 70 girls; their good behaviour and their cleanly appearance would raise a doubt in the mind of a spectator of their being inhabitants of the wretched district, and yet they are: and when listening to their ready and scriptural answers to the questions proposed, one looked upon them as so many little missionaries or seed-vessels, sent out to carry the word of God into their dark and barren neighbourhood. Our infants and our boys made a goodly show; altogether nearly two hundred children out of the moral cess-pool of the metropolis! The rectors of the two parishes, Mr. Tyler and Mr. Short, were present at the examination, and expressed their satisfaction.'

Now this precious work is really and truly the work of the supporters of the Christian Lady's Magazine, stirred up by the Spirit of God to provide those means which, at the same time, He also stirred up others thus effectually to apply. The part of St. Giles' in which our school opens its inviting doors, is that which few, very few respectable persons ever ven