nions the amnesty which he was assured would be accorded to them, could he but himself fairly plead a cause that he knew to be righteous and just. The legate's bait was, therefore, presently taken: Raymond Roger asked and obtained a safe-conduct for himself and such companions as he should bring with him, into the presence of the legate; and back to the city if their negotiation failed. Solemn oaths confirmed the pledge, on the part of the crusading leaders, who all joined in the legate's guarantee; and, thus assured, the young lord of the desolated Beziers placed himself at the head of three hundred chosen knights, and marched forthlambs into an assemblage of wolves; unsuspecting birds flying into the snare of the fowler !

In the legate's pavilion all the principal leaders were assembled ; and they masked their foul design, and gazed with concealed triumph on their innocent prey, while, in a speech full of the noblest sentiments of princely and chivalric devotion, if no higher and holier principle was set forth in it, he defended his own conduct, and pleaded the cause of his people. He ceased, and awaited the legate's reply: it was given, as Rome generally replies to the plea of reason and conscience. In a moment the overpowering rush of armed men decided the matter: Raymond Roger was disarmed, bound, and delivered as a traitor to the custody of the dark and merciless Simon de Montfort. His knights were in like manner seized, and within sight of the agonized citizens of Carcassonne all were led away in captivity: to what fate might easily be conjectured. The shout of anticipated triumph, of unbounded vengeance, rose high from the perfidious camp towards the walls of the city that should on the morrow reek with such blood, and blacken under such flames as had recently swept through

Beziers. But such was not the Lord's will: an ancient subterranean passage of several leagues in length existed, known but to a few of the most trusty burgesses; and wholly unsuspected by the enemy. In the darkness of evening, the whole population entered this cavern, and closing after them its secret mouth, they journeyed on; in darkness, and in silence, and in sorrow; weeping the fate of their beloved chief, and the rending of many a fond tie never to be re-united on earth: but they went safely; and the morning sun shone on the deserted towers of Carcassonne, lighting the ravenous eagle on his path, not to seize the prey, and revel in his wonted feast of blood, but to ascertain that, by means wholly inexplicable, that prey had escaped; and the only vital streams he might hope to drain were those of his noble, his betrayed captives of yesterday.

C. E.

PRAYER.

DEAR CHRISTIAN FRIENDS,-I would now address a few words to all who call upon the name of the Lord, and more especially to those whose circumstances give them time at command, whose sex may restrain them from much intercourse with others, or whose health in some measure incapacitates them from bodily exertion. Have we no opening for usefulness? Oh think again; has God's door of mercy been shut, or does it not rather stand more steadily open now than ever, when possibly the period may have arrived, that latter day, that time of the latter rain, in which we are told to ask, "So the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field." (Zech. x. 1.) We have heard very much about the anticipated Parliamentary Grant, of fresh buttresses to the strongest hold, which judging humanly, we regard Satan to be in possession of. His influence is, we are aware, every where, and his individual empire, but too consciously existing in our own hearts; but taking things in a more general and political sense, count we not, that Rome is the present earthly seat of the beast?

It seems to me to be futile and unreasonable, to express astonishment at the anxiety on the part of government to render aid to Irish Romanists. Let us blame as we may the versatility of statesmen, and their yielding to what they consider expediency,-the friendly offerings to Maynooth are but the natural

sequence to the original bill in favour of Roman ascendancy, known as the 'Catholic Emancipation Act.' I would that our efforts had been more successful, that God had seen fit to vouchsafe an arrest in the progress of motions, so detrimental to us nationally; but since it has been otherwise, let us seek to bring down blessings from on high, to enable us to withstand the opening of the flood-gates of evil, that having done all we may stand, for we take unto us the whole armour of our God. I regret, that in thus alluding to party opinions, (for too many of us I fear, are unwilling to admit what I have asserted regarding the city seated on seven hills,) I have necessarily made a breach, and ranked myself, not as it were among the people of God generally, but one of a small body, lightly accounted of. Dear Christian friends be it, that in this matter we differ, herein I trust we shall agree, that sooner or later a day is coming, when evil, under whatever head or characteristics, will assume increasing sway; if you believe in Christ to salvation, it can hardly be that you have not some impression of a predominance greater even than now, of infidelity and atheism. The safety under such circumstances of all who love the Lord, seems to lie in nearness to that gracious Lord, that He Himself may be a covert to us, a house of defence. God has been very full of love towards us, in so recently permitting us to hold intercourse with one another at our anniversary meetings; and now that the ministers of the Gospel, are returned to their several spheres of action, let us remember to make ours increasingly the hallowed privilege of asking for rain in the time of the latter rain. Reverting to my own peculiar views, I would say, this is that very time, its signs are too strong to be mistaken, and why are we not more earnest for the Spirit's

outpouring. We can only stand in the strength of the Lord; and, while our clergy are speaking, let us be praying, praying for every ministering servant throughout the world, and God will give showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. I do not despond; God's mercies to us, in a spiritual sense, have not yet, to my limited apprehension, diminished; but we must not be slack in our efforts, even as He is not slack concerning His promise. We are, I fear, grievously, as a nation, offending Him, yet in spite of all this He will hear and answer our prayers. When the enemy comes in as a flood, and as he gains strength daily, we know not how soon this may be, our only strength is the power of God's Spirit. Yes, my dear friends in Christ, let us as a body, (I speak more particularly to those of us who have leisure, and we who have, must supplicate for those who have less), besiege the throne of Divine grace; Jesus Christ our Lord, sits upon that throne, and marvels at our little concern for His interests. The devil is getting all his apparatus ready for the grand conflict, and that with untold subtilty are Christ's people equally full of energy? Are we preparing for what we know must come, such a snare as shall deceive, if it be possible, even the very elect? My brethren, let us I say, in God's name, give Him no rest until He make the joy and the praise of the whole earth, Jerusalem and let us not pray this blindly, but with our eyes open, knowing the trials, (of whatsoever sort they be), through which this glorious consummation shall be attained. In God's Spirit, we in Him and He in us, we are and shall be alone safe: let us, as it were, be compassing the moral Jericho, with our unceasing prayers; others are speaking, and thus blowing the trumpets, are we walking round and round it in prayer JULY, 1845.

C