If there was one thing more impressed on Captain Hammond's mind than another, it was this deep sense of the necessity of separation from the world. All his correspondence shews this; and a remark that he made to a younger brother, in reference to this subject, deserves mention. They were dining together, after Captain Hammond's return from Canada, with another friend. The latter said, "I wonder, if I was to go to the theatre now, whether I should enjoy it?" Captain Hammond replied, "If you found yourself there, a sight of the Saviour on His cross would take away all relish for it."

That he felt the necessity of living "out of the world" as far as its pleasures and follies go, and above it and beyond it, even in its duties, occupations, and ties of every nature, may be gathered from the next letter.

"December 6, 1849.

"I am praying for a greater measure of contentment. We need this much; there is a natural craving after something earthly which we think would fill up our cup of happiness. Oh, to be a weaned child! in whatever state we are therewith to be content; anxious only to please our Lord and Master; to glorify Him in our bodies and spirits. I have been thinking more lately on the subject of the Lord's second appearing. The more I meditate on it, the more deeply practical does it appear. Did we live in the light of His second coming, how detached would our hearts be from all that now binds them to earth. How jealous should we be of taking too much thought for the cares, and the pleasures, and the schemes of this world, seeing that all these things shall be dissolved. With one

when He shall appear we may have confidence' (1 John ii. 28). In the love of Jesus, your most affectionate, "M. M. H."

The next extracts were written to a lady, whose husband fell a self-sacrifice to his ministering zeal during the fatal fever at Montreal, and whose loss was deeply felt by his congregation at Trinity.

"MY DEAR MRS W -I was much grieved to hear from D✶✶ ✶ so bad an account of dear Trinity. My heart yearns with peculiar affection to those walls, so hallowed in my remembrance. What a lesson is taught us from the history of that little church, during the last two years, to 'cease from men.' You must doubtless feel the sad change very keenly. Who would have thought in the spring of 1847, that a cloud so dark would have burst on that then flourishing little church. But blessed be God, the believer in Jesus does not sorrow as those without hope. Soon will sorrow be exchanged for unclouded bliss, and all tears wiped away. Soon shall we join the company who have reached the heavenly Jerusalem, and join our voices with those loved ones who have gone before us, and with them take up the notes of eternal praise. "To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood.' 'Yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and shall not tarry.' Indeed, these are words of comfort with which to cheer and comfort one another as we journey through this lonely wilderness. Some are called upon to pass through the deeper waters, and to

drink a larger measure of the cup

of sorrow. But how

precious to them is He who bears them up; how deep is that joy which succeeds the night of weeping.

"I have seen Mr H * * * more than once, and have been much pleased with the little I have seen of him; such earnestness, such charity, such humility-with love to Christ such as one does not often meet with. He seems to realise the promise, that those who give up all for Christ shall receive a hundredfold for all they lose for His sake. . . .

"What of Montreal? and other spots so hallowed in my recollection in Canada? I cannot refrain from writing at greater length than perhaps I ought: yet why should apology be necessary when it is of the Lord's people and the Lord's work that we speak? Surely it is our privilege to speak of common interests, common hopes, common joys, and common sorrows, and then to realise our communion in Jesus"

"There is an outer world, and there is an inner centre; And many varying rings concentric round the self.

For first about a man-after his communion with heaven

Is found the helpmate even as himself; the wife of his vows and affections.
Wheel in wheel, and world in world, come the band of children,

And tender nest of young soft hearts; each to be separately studied;
And a man blest with these hath made his own society."

PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY.

It was natural to a mind daily increasing in spiritual growth, daily sitting looser to the things of the world, that the ordinary habits of barrack life, and the tone and conversation of a mess-room should become less and less congenial. It could not well be otherwise; and at Parkhurst, where the depôt of several regiments were united, and the society of the mess-room was not even that of his own regiment, Maxy Hammond began to feel strongly the chilling influences around him, and to yearn for a home of his own. He remembered, with a grateful heart, how, in the home of a brother officer, he had first drunk in those truths which had been the pole-star of his after-life; and he longed to have an opportunity of offering to others a welcome, which had conferred so great a blessing on himself. It was his ardent desire to be the head of a

Christian household. The text that he used often to allude to as describing this was Psalm cxviii. 15, “The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous." Captain Hammond looked forward to marriage, therefore, as the means of realising this happiness. He had a very high view of its blessedness, as illustrating the union between Christ and His Church. In a note to his brother, he says, "I trust, if it be the Lord's will, there will be a way opened up in His providence towards the attainment of my wishes. But I desire to remember that the time is short, and that we must learn to sit loosely to earthly hopes and prospects, though it is lawful to desire a Christian companion, coupling the desire with if the Lord will.' Oh! for a more realising sense of the presence and all-sufficiency of Jesus! we should then look less to the creature, and feel that He is enough." At an earlier time, speaking of another's marriage, he said, "The great thing is character;' such a character, I mean, as is described in the last chapter of Proverbs." Accordingly, early in June 1850, he writes to announce to his numerous friends the happy change which awaited him:—

June 12, 1850.

"MY DEAR MRS H * * -I am resolved not to let another day pass without announcing to you an event of great importance as regards myself—that I am going to be married (if the Lord will). I feel sure that you and your dear husband will unite with us in the earnest prayer, that our union may be in the Lord; that it may be our first and great desire that the name of Jesus may be glorified in it."