FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY.

MAN IS LIKE A BOOK that begins and ends with blank leaves-infancy and imbecility.

DOING WRONG pays bad interest at the end of life. It brings a harvest of regrets, but no fruits.

DAILY BREAD is needful for us all, so we may pray for it. And we always have the best supply when God is the

carver.

SOME PEOPLE are ever indulging vain expectations. What is this but like trying to carry water in a sieve, or catch the wind in a net.

TRUTH AND PEACE.-That is the way in which they should stand: truth first, then peace. For there can be no real peace where truth is not.

Gems.

MISERY AND MERCY.-The proper object of God's mercy is the misery of man. We have much misery, but, blessed be God, he has far more mercy. EMPTYING AND FILLING.-This is God's way with us. First emptying our hearts of all self-righteousness, he then fills them with the knowledge of the righteousness of Christ.

COME AND WELCOME are pleasant words, and we are as welcome to come to God's throne of grace on earth, as angels are to come to his throne of glory in heaven.

ONE PROMISE which God has made to them that obey him may well make us wonder. What is it? This-" their sins will I remember no more." Think of that. God will not even remember them.

OUR PRAYERS should always be in agreement with the promises which God has made to us, or we shall be only like bold beggars who ask for what they cannot expect to receive.

READING THE BIBLE always does us good; but we should not only read, we should think; and not only think, but pray; then we may expect a full benefit.

Poetic Selections.

BETTER THAN GOLD.

BETTER than grandeur, better than gold,
Than rank and titles a hundred fold,
Is a healthful body, a mind at ease,
And simple pleasures that always please.
A heart that can feel a neighbour's woe,
And share his joy with a genial glow—
With sympathies large enough to enfold
All men as brothers, is better than gold.
Better than gold is a conscience clear,
Though toiling for bread in an humble sphere,
Doubly blest with content and health,
Untired by the longings or cares of wealth.
Lowly living and lofty thought
Adorn and ennoble a poor man's cot;
For mind and morals on nature's plan,
Are the genuine tests of a gentleman.
Better than gold is the sweet repose
Of the sons of toil when their labours close,
Better than gold is the poor man's sleep,
And the balm that drops on his slumbers deep,
Bring sleeping draughts to the downy bed
But a simpler opiate nature deems
Where luxury pillows its aching head;

A shorter road to the land of dreams.
Better than gold is a thinking mind
That in realms of thought and books can find
A treasure surpassing Australian ore,
And live with the great and good of yore;
The sage's lore, and the poet's lay,
The glories of empires passed away,
The worlds great drama will thus unfold,
And yield a pleasure far better than gold.
Better than gold is a peaceful home,
Where all the fireside comforts come,
The shrine of love and the heaven of life,
Hallowed by mother, or sister, or wife.
However humble that home may be,
Or tried with sorrow by heaven's decree;
The blessings that never were bought or sold,
And centre there, are better than gold.
Better than gold in affliction's hour
Is the balm of love with its soothing power;
Is the hand that pillows a sinking head.
Better than gold on a dying bed
When the pride and glory of life decay,
And earth and its vanities fade away,
The prostrate sufferer need not be told
That trust in CHRIST is better than gold.

ON a Sabbath afternoon, a little boy, eight years of age, was in the chamber of his afflicted father, reading aloud a chapter in the Bible, when two persons called to see the father. They requested that the child might be permitted to finish the chapter, and this being done, one of the visitors praised him highly for his reading, and gave him sixpence, desiring him to go and buy some cakes, and divide them with his brothers and sisters. What, to-day!" exclaimed the child, for he had been taught to reverence the Sabbath; "none but wicked people keep open shop to-day, and I must not go and buy them."

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"But mother will give you leave for once," returned the visitor, "because you have been such a good boy and read your chapter so well." The parents, of course, expressed their objection to such a practice, and the child steadily refused to receive the money. On the persons taking their leave, the little boy was desired to go down stairs with them and open the street door; when his mistaken friend renewed her temptation, slipping the sixpence into his hand, saying, "There, now you can run and buy what you like, your mother will not miss you." ! 66 No," replied the child, "but if she should not, it is God's commandment, 'Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.'" So saying he laid the sixpence on the step, and shut the door; there it was found by the servant, some hours afterwards; when, on enquiry being made, the little boy confessed that the visitor had again offered him the money and that he had refused it. It was from the other lady, who was grieved at the impropriety of her friend's conduct, while she admired that of the child, that the parents were afterwards informed of his firm and proper reply. The boy's next concern was, how to return the money; for the idea of retaining it for his own use, even on another day, seemed never to have entered his mind. After a little consideration, he inquired if it would be right to purchase with it a book on keeping holy the Sabbath-day; his proposal being agreed to, a suitable book was named, but as the price was a shilling, the boy cheerfully paid the other sixpence from his own little store; and the following day the book was purchased, and sent to his mistaken friend.

Now that boy was a noble little fellow-and gave hope to his parents that he would grow up to be a good man.

THE BOOK OF SPORTS.

LET not the reader be alarmed by these words. We are not about to advocate sporting, such as races, hunting, shooting, fishing, or anything of the sort, but to tell you about a small old book with this title, published by Royal Authority years ago.

There are two old publications which bear this name. The first, issued by King James I., is a coarse-looking document, a few pages in length, printed on such paper and with such type as may be seen in the lowest ballads, and having for its title, "A Declaration to encourage Recreations and Sports on the Lord'sday." The composition of this production is attributed to Bishop Moreton. It is dated, Greenwich, May 24th, 1618, and states that, For his good people's recreation, his majesty's pleasure was, that after the end of divine service they should not be disturbed, letted, or discouraged from any lawful recreations; such as dancing, either of men or women; archery for men, leaping, vaulting, or any such harmless recreations; nor having of Maygames, Whitson-ales, or Morrice dances, or setting up of Maypoles, or other sports therewith used; so as the same may be had in due and convenient time, without impediment or let of divine service; and that women should have leave to carry rushes to the church for the decoring of it, according to the old customs; withal prohibiting all the unlawful games to be used on Sundays only; as bear-baiting, bull-baiting, interludes, and at all times (to the meaner sort of people prohibited) bowling."

It should be observed that this "people's recreation" was denied to Roman Catholics, under the designation of recusants; to such as were not present at the whole of divine service; and to such as did not keep to their own parish churches.

Fuller, the author of the Church History, informs us that when this declaration was published, "It is not so hard to believe, as sad to recount, what grief and distraction thereby was occasioned in many honest hearts." Great, however, as were the "grief and distraction" produced by this declaration when first issued by James, it was not until its republication in the next reign that its bitter fruits were ripened, and their deadly effects were experienced throughout the country. Opposition was made by archbishop Abbot, who was then at Croydon, and who "flatly forbid its being read there."

Many of these "lawful recreations" are too well known in our

THE BOOK OF SPORTS.

own day to need description; but as some of them are now forgotten, except in the most obscure parts of the country, it may be as well to give such brief notices of a few of them as may assist the reader to know the nature of the amusements in which it was the pleasure of king James the First that his subjects should not be "letted" (hindered) after divine service.

An author who lived in the reign of queen Elizabeth tells us, that " In certain townes where drunken Bacchus bears 'sway, against Christmas and Easter, Whit-Sunday, or some other time, the churchwardens of every parish, with the consent of the whole parish, provide half a score or twenty quarters of mault, whereof some they buy of the church stoke, and some is given to them of the parishioners themselves, every one conferring somewhat, according to his ability; which mault being made into very strong ale, or beer, is set to sale, either in the church or in some other place assigned to that purpose. Then, when this nippatum, this huffe-cappe, as they call it, this nectar of life, is set abroach, well is he that can get the soonest to it, for he is counted the godliest man of all the rest, and most in God's favour, because it is spent upon his church forsooth."

The carrying of "rushes to the church for the decoring of it," originated in the use of rushes for covering the floors of houses and the pavement of the churches previous to the introduction of carpets and matting. At the period under consideration, this practice was turned into an exciting amusement. The women went in procession, and the occasion was marked by a great amount of noisy and intemperate mirth.

The only prohibited amusements which require a word of explanation are the interludes. They are described as consisting of facetious or satirical dialogues calculated to promote mirth, and were generally performed by strolling minstrels, jugglers, tumblers, dancers, and jesters. A tragical occurrence at the Paris garden in Southwark, in the reign of Elizabeth, was considered by most people to be a judgment from God, and had occasioned a general prohibition of such pastimes on the Lord'sday. On the occasion in question, "a prodigious concourse of people being assembled together on a Sunday afternoon, to see plays and a bear-baiting, the whole theatre gave way and fell to the ground; by which accident many of the spectators were killed, and more hurt."

For twenty-five years this disgraceful edict was the cause of

THE BOOK OF SPORTS.

great distress and suffering to faithful christian ministers and their people, wherever it was put in force; until, on the 5th of May, 1643, it was burned by the hands of the common hangman in Cheapside, as well as in other places. All persons, too, having any copies of it in their hands, were required to deliver them up to the sheriffs of London to be burned-a circumstance which will account for the rarity of this notorious "book," of which most people have heard, but which comparatively few have seen.

In the year 1633, under the advice of archbishop Laud, the Book of Sports was issued by Charles I., "out of a like pious care for the service of God, and for the suppressing of those humours that oppose truth, and for the ease, comfort, and recreation of his majesty's well deserving people." At this period, as on the former appearance of the royal command to violate the christian sabbath, a controversy prevailed throughout the country respecting the proper observance of the Lord's-day. Great numbers of the people were fond of the most ungodly recreations, and the justices of the peace had petitioned the king against the revels, which not only introduced a great profanation of the Lord's-day, but "riotous tippling, contempt of authority, quarrels, and murders." It is very remarkable that these sinful amusements were defended by not a few in high stations in the church, on the plea which we have frequently heard of late adduced in favour of opening the British Museum, the National Gallery, and the Crystal Palace-their tendency to civilize the multitudes. In direct opposition to the petitions of magistrates, who had prayed the king to suppress these amusements, it was declared as his express will and pleasure that the feasts and wakes should be observed, and "that all neighbourhood and freedom with manlike and lawful exercises be used;" and the justices of peace were commanded not to molest any in their recreations, "having first done their duty to God, and continuing in obedience to his majesty's laws."

The seven years which followed the revival of the Book of Sports, witnessed the severe persecution of all who would not yield to its sinful requirements. The sober part of the nation had the pain of seeing the youth of the country spending the later hours of each sabbath in revels, morrice-dances, maygames, church and clerk ales: while the royal proclamation was sustained by corresponding example, for the court was the scene of balls, masquerades, and plays, every Sunday evening.