About the year 1855 he seemed to enter a cloud, his health, prospects, and spiritual privileges much failing, and he communed in the chamber of his soul, humbling himself under the mighty hand of God, and praying that affliction, which he knew to be good for his soul, might be sanctified to him. He pondered over the patience and hope of Job, in his words exclaiming," Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me;" and his devoted mother and friends gathered around him, endeavouring to alleviate his severe trials. A little before his lamented death his sorrowing wife writes, "His soul appeared to look beyond his troubles, and he would ask me to read the sublime anticipations of Isaiah, or one of Dr. Cumming's evangelical lectures; the last read was, 'The Followers of the Lamb.' I was speaking to him on one occasion of the natural fear of death; he did not assent, but reminded me that 'To die is gain,' and 'Absent from the body, present with the Lord.' On another occasion, some one expressed perplexity as to the destination of those kind, benevolent persons who also pay outward respect to religion, but think so much more of the welfare of the body than of that of the soul; and he recalled the Saviour's words, 'What is that to thee? follow thou me.' He was fond of reading edifying books to his family. A few evenings before he was taken worse, as we were retiring, he began singing the hymn, the last verse of which seemed a presentiment of the bliss he now participates: "Soon shall I see, and hear, and know, He enjoyed some interesting conversations with the Rev. W. Campbell. In the last interview he calmly communicated that his physician had pronounced his case dangerous, and expressed his entire willingness to submit to the will of God for life or death. On Sunday, the 21st September, although very ill, he would read his dear Bible himself; and when obliged to lay it down, there was read the sixth chapter of St. John. On one remarking how startling was the miracle to produce ready-made bread instantaneously for such a multitude, he replied, "Startling! I should call it comforting;" showing how he trusted in the great power of Christ. After this, violent hæmorrhage came on, and he was supposed to be dying; he believed so himself, and, in perfect consciousness, was undismayed. Having long sought and trusted his Redeemer, he knew the everlasting arms were around him. He took an affecting leave of his friends, giving them parting advice. He revived a little after this, and spoke with entire composure of feeling his end approach. Suitable passages of Scripture were read, which seemed to soothe him, and he nodded assent when asked if Christ was precious. The Lord made all his bed in his sickness; his sufferings seemed to abate, and so gently he breathed out his spirit, that one could scarcely note the last breath; and there settled on his features such an angelic expression of calm peace, that even a young child looked on his face of death without dread, and said, "It is just as though he was asleep!" Roses and fuchsias were laid over him, himself the choicest flower, with an imperishablel The Letter Bar. SELF-IMPROVEMENT. A portion of our readers are impa-, father was about seventy years of tient for fresh Counsels touching age. He received his first lessons "self-improvement." They profess in reading from his father, who to have been encouraged and pro- drew the letters of the alphabet on fited by many of our previous ad- the board of an old wool card, with dresses; and we trust the present the end of a stick burnt black. He article will not be without its use in soon learned both to read and write, prompting to that redemption of in this way, all the letters of the time and steady application without alphabet. His next book was a which no real progress in useful catechism, which, in a month or knowledge can be effected. Import- two, he was able to read; and he ant lessons on this subject are never continued to amuse himself every so efficiently taught as through the day by copying the printed letters medium of example. On the pre- on his board. When he was seven sent occasion, therefore, we shall years old, his father gave him a furnish an illustration, one of the hymn-book. He soon got many of most impressive that can be supplied the hymns by heart, and longed for by the history of Modern Times. a new book. But the Bible, which was read every day in the family, he was not allowed to use; and the rest of the books were put up in chests. But he longed to read the Bible; and finding an old loose-leafed Bible in the house, he carried it away, a few leaves at a time, and devoured its contents. On these he pored in secret for many months, and soon astonished the neighbours by repeating large portions of Scripture, which he had learned by heart. Alexander Murray, although he died in the thirty-eighth year of his age, was one of the most learned men that ever lived. He understood nearly all the languages of Europe and Asia, both ancient and modern. When he died, he held the office of Professor of Oriental Languages in the University of Edinburgh. A knowledge of the way in which he came to be so distinguished will encourage any of our readers who love learning to make great and persevering efforts to obtain it. He was the son of a shepherd, in Scotland, and was born when his When Alexander was seven or eight years of age, his father sent him into the hills with the sheep. He was, however, fonder of books, and of writing on boards with coals, of this he immediately laid out in than of tending sheep. There was books. One of them was an arithno school nearer than five or six metic, from which he learned, in miles from his house, and his father two or three months, the four prinwas too poor to board him in the cipal rules, and advanced as far as village. But at this time one of his the rule of three, without a teacher. uncles offered to send him to school About the same time, he borrowed a little while. Here he was laughed some old magazines of an acquaintat for his awkwardness, but in a ance, which he read, and treasured little time was the first in his class. up their contents in his memory. However, before the end of three months, he was obliged to leave school, on account of his health. He was then left again for nearly five years his own instructor. He was again sent into the field to tend sheep. But this did not abate his thirst for learning. He spent every sixpence he got in buying ballads and penny histories. Bundles of them he carried in his pockets, and read them when sent to look for cattle on the wild hills and along the banks of Loch Greanock. The Bible and these ballads formed his only reading. But even with this little library, he got the reputation among the simple inhabitants of his native glen of being very learned. Some said he was a "living miracle," and he puzzled the deacons of the church with his recitals of Scripture, and discourses about Jerusalem. His father now removed nearer the village, and he was allowed to go to school three days in a week, which he made the most of. He came about an hour before school time, which he employed in reading all the books brought by the other children. He seldom joined in any play, but read during the intermission. But this opportunity only lasted six weeks. When he was fifteen, he again attended school about three months and a half. By seeing quotations from the ancient languages in the books and magazines which he read, he formed the design of learning them. He had now taken it into his head to go out as clerk to the West Indies, and he spent a few weeks in the study of French; and he would spend the time at noon, while his companions were at play, comparing together the different grammars used in the class. One of his class-mates told him that he had once studied Latin a fortnight, and still had his first book. Alexander eagerly borrowed it, and examined it with great care four or five days. One day he made a mistake, and put his Latin book in his pocket instead of his French. When his teacher saw it, he said, "Sandy, I shall try thee with Latin ;" and When Alexander was about twelve years of age, he borrowed Josephus' History and a grammar of geography. From this last, he got an idea of geography and universal history, and learned to copy the maps; and from that to make maps of his native glen and its neighbourhood. He now engaged as a teacher in the families of two neighbouring farmers, and for his services during the winter received sixteen shillings. A part before the vacation, he had caught up with a class that had been some time on Latin, and had ridiculed him for being behind them. He would compare the French and Latin, and so improve himself in both. And while proceeding with these, he would sit at noon-time, and pore over another school fellow's Greek grammar. The whole career of this wonderful man constitutes a lesson from which persons of every condition may profit; for, although every man may not become a Murray, every man may become a well-informed citizen. Murray is, in divers points, more to our mind than any man, of later times, we are able to name. The Counsel Chamber. COUNSELS AND CAUTIONS TO YOUNG MEN. INSTANCES of late have been multiplying of lamentable unfaithfulness on the part of young men placed in responsible situations. Some of these have been of a character the most infatuated, as well as culpable and disgraceful. In some cases, bad companions have been the main cause, and in others, inherent propensities to evil. Several of the more flagrant perpetrators of this crime and folly appear to have madly closed their eyes and rushed upon their prey with a recklessness which almost implied temporary derangement. Although they might have been sure their sins would find them out, yet, solely intent on gratification, they appear to have banished all thought of consequences. Persons so born and bred that better things might have been expected of them, have covered their families with confusion, and plunged themselves into permanent dishonour, embittered by misery. There is no security, but "the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom." The subjoined Articles, if attended to, will prove a word in season to every reader. EARLY PIETY. 66 ONE inestimable advantage attend. ing the blessings which early religion would give you is, that these shall never be taken away from their possessors. Mary," said the Lord, 66 hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her." As for the lovers of this world, their all is here, and shortly their all will be for ever lost to them. Soon may it be said of the young, the vigorous, and the gay, who know not God, Where are they? Gone from the world they loved so well. Where their health and youthful bloom? Gone, for ever gone. Where their gaiety and delights, their hours of thoughtless merri ment, their frivolous amusements, their vain companions? All gone. There is not one earthly treasure of which its possessors can affirm that none shall separate them from it. Alas! poor creature! ye gay, ye wealthy, ye lovers of pleasure, what vain things are they that you embrace and cleave to! Whatsoever they be, soon must you part. Can you say of any of these, Who shall separate us? Nay, you may even live to see and seek your parting. At last you must part, for you must die; then farewell to vanity, merriment, and pleasure; farewell, if you had even sat on thrones, to parks and palaces, gardens and honours, crowns and kingdoms, dearest friends and nearest kindred, all must be parted with, and what have you besides? If you, my young reader, are a lover of this world, what will you have left soon? But if a possessor of early religion, you may say, "Not thus fleeting are my treasures. Thou art my portion, O Lord. Others have parks, palaces, and crowns, or wealth, gaiety, and pleasure; this is their portion; but thou, the God of heaven and earth, art mine; and mine for ever. When the miser shall have lost his wealth, and crowns have fallen from the heads that wear them; when the man of this world shall have left the world he idolized, and all their delights shall have forsaken the young, the pleasure-taking, and the gay, thou wilt still be mine; thou wilt be my support when rocks crumble into dust, mountains tremble to their base, and when the sun shall shine no more, and when the earth itself shall have vanished like a falling star, that blazes and expires, thou wilt be mine still; my God, and my portion for ever." And now were it possible to call from the dead some that have died in youth, oh! what a confirmation would they give to all that has been urged upon you here! They who have followed Jesus while young might say to you, "Follow him we followed. We soon embraced his Gospel, yet not one hour too soon. Early as we began with religion, we began much too late; and could we have felt grief in heaven, we should have grieved that we did not sooner know, and love, and serve our Lord. Death cut us down in the morning of our days, yet we did not die too soon, for we had bowed betimes at the feet of Jesus, and had found eternal life in him. He washed our sins away, he renewed our hearts, and prepared heaven for us, and us for heaven. He taught us to set our affections on things above. We saw others engaged with all their hearts in the shadowy concerns of time; we pitied them, and trod the path of life. We smiled in death. Divine grace made us conquerors over the grave, and now we rest from all our labours. Heaven is a long, long, happy home. Follow our Lord, and he will be your Lord. Receive him, and he will receive you. Commit your souls to him, and all will be well with you for time and for eternity." AVOIDING BAD COMPANY. PARENTS can hardly be too careful to guard their children against the influence of bad company and bad examples. There is scarcely any way in which the young and tender minds of children can be so rapidly corrupted and injured as by associating with others of their own age, whose language and conduct is immoral or profane. The minds of youth often suffer more injury in one day or one week under the influence of bad associates, than parental instructions, and counsels, and prayers can repair in a year. Indeed, injuries are often done in this way which are irreparable. The seeds of evil habits or evil principles are thus sown in the virgin soil, which spring up in after years and bring forth a prolific crop of mischief, and sorrow, and ruin. Let all parents, then, be watchful over the companions of their children, and let boys especially, who are much exposed, read the following hints. There are seven classes of company to be avoided: 1. Those who ridicule their parents, or disobey their commands. 2. Those who scoff at religion. 3. Those who use profane or filthy language. 4. Those who are unfaithful, play truant, and waste their time in idle ness. 5. Those that are of a quarrelsome temper, and are apt to get into difficulties with others. 6. Those who are addicted to lying and stealing. 7. Those who are of a cruel disposition, who take pleasure in torturing and maiming animals and insects, robbing birds of their young, etc. All these classes of company are to be avoided, for if you associate with them, they will soon make you like themselves. |