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17 THE ORIGIN OF LANGUAGE.

Language cannot he contrived without thonght and knowledge ; hut the mind cannot have thought and knowledge till it has language ; therefore language must be previously taught before man can hecome a rational creature, and none could teach him but God.

BENEFIT OF SMALL TRACTS.

At a late missionary meeting, Dr. Waugh related the following interesting fact :-One of his hearers, a Scottish girl, was servant to a family in the city ; and having the charge of some children, she often, in a private manner, conversed with them upon religious subjects, and read some religious tracts which she had received from the Tract Society. One day while thus employed, she was surprised by her lady coming unexpectedly into the room, who inquired what she was doing, and requested a sight of the hook she was reading to her children. The scrvant was afraid, hut could not withhold a sight of the hook. The mother having perused the tract, instead of being offended, praised the servant, inquired what minister she attended, who were her parents, and what their circumstances. Being informed that they were old and poor, and that she sent them all she conld spare of her wages, the good lady sent for the Dr., and gave him five pounds to transmit to the aged parents, which she engaged to repeat yearly, as long as they lived.

THE TRUTH OF THE BIBLE.

There are four grand arguments for the truth of the Bible. The first is, the miracles it records. 2. The prophecies it contains. 3. The goodness of the doctrine. 4. The moral character of the penman.

The miracles flow from divine power, the prophecies from divine understanding, the excellence of the doctrine from divine goodness, and the moral character of the penman from divine purity. Thus Christianity is built upon these four immovcable pillars, the power, the understanding, the goodness, and the purity of God.

The Bible must he the invention either of good men or angels, had men or devils, or of God.

It could not be the invention of good men or angels, for they neither would nor could make a book, and tell lies all the time they were writing it, saying, " Thus saith the Lord," when it was their own invention.

It could not be the invention of bad men or devils, for they would not make a book, which commands all duty, forbids all sin, and condemns their souls to all eternity. I therefore