PREFACE. SECOND SERIES. THE favourable reception given by the Public to the First Series of Useful Hints to the Labourer, and the testimony inferred from the rapid sale of nearly Five Thousand copies, have induced the Committee of the LABOURERS' FRIEND SOCIETY to concur in an arrangement for the publication of a Second Series, which they trust will be found as instructive, interesting, varied, and useful as the former. In this humble effort to benefit the labouring classes, it has been the object of the Committee to unite in these publications, in such a form as to induce their perusal, moral admonitions, attention to which tends to their improvement, to increase their self-respect, and to make them better members of society; various suggestions relating to their domestic comfort, and the welfare and happiness of their families; useful receipts for daily purposes, together with such religious instruction as is calculated to make them acquainted with the most obvious duties and the plainest doctrines of the Gospel. The Alphabetical Arrangement has been adopted in the present as in the former series, being found the most convenient, and the best adapted to the capacity of that class of readers whose welfare it is the design of these publications, and of all other efforts of the Labourers' Friend Society, to promote. Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread; but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding, -PKOVERBS. USEFUL HINTS. SECOND SERIES. ACQUAINTANCE WITH GOD. THERE is no such thing as looking death in the face with a holy and yet humble boldness, without an acquaintance with God in Jesus Christ. Acquainted with God we must be; but we cannot be acquainted with him as the Prince of Peace, the eternal and all-sufficient good; we cannot live to any really good purpose on earth; we cannot die in any good hope; we cannot enter the glories of heaven, except we are first made humble disciples in the school of Christ. Thus, the best blessings, temporal, spiritual, and eternal, shall be the portion of that man alone who is scripturally acquainted with his God. Acquaintance with God demands a walk of light and holiness. Acquaintance with God brings with it its own reward. But acquaintance with God brings with it the highest and holiest responsibilities. You must not be conformed to this world, but being transformed by the renewing of your minds, prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.-Cottager's Monthly Visitor. ADVICE TO COTTAGERS. LET this be your first rule, that whatever you do, you do it well, you do it thoroughly; many a man is tempted to undertake too much, to engage in too many things, and consequently, to do nothing well. He incurs too often B |