have grown proud. I was very fond of reading, and I should perhaps have thought too much of knowledge; I might have been puffed up, and therefore the temptation was mercifully taken from me. The Lord knew that I needed some trial, and he chose this for me. I am glad he did, for I should not have known what to have chosen for myself; I am sure I should not have chosen this. What, be blind! No; for then I should not be able to read, or to go about. I should not have chosen anything that was painful. I sometimes think," she continued, "how many trials this keeps me from, which I should not have known how to bear!"

(c) THANKFUL FOR BLINDNESS. A blind boy, who belonged to the Institution in Dublin, when dying, assured a correspondent of the Tract Magazine, that he considered it as one of the greatest mercies of Heaven that he had been deprived of his sight; because this was the means the Lord employed to bring him under the sound of the gospel, which was now the joy and rejoicing of his soul. So much wisdom and truth is there in the beautiful language of the poet:

"Good, when he gives, supremely good,
Nor less when he denies;

E'en crosses, from his sovereign hand,
Are blessings in disguise.'

(d) MARTIN LUTHER'S WILL. -In the last will and testament of this eminent reformer occurs the following remarkable passage:-" Lord God, I thank thee that thou hast been pleased to make me a poor and indigent man upon earth. I have neither house, nor land, nor money, to leave behind me. Thou hast given me wife and children, whom I now restore to thee. Lord, nourish, teach, and preserve them, as thou hast me."

(e) A TOKEN OF GOD'S FAVOUR.—Mr. Newton had a very happy talent of administering reproof. Hearing that a person, in whose welfare he was greatly interested, had met with peculiar success in business, and was deeply immersed in worldly engagements, the first time he called on him, which was usually once a month, he took him by the hand, and drawing him on one side, into the counting-house, told him his apprehensions of his spiritual

welfare. His friend, without making any reply, called down his partner in life, who came with her eyes suffused with tears, and unable to speak. Inquiring the cause, he was told she had just been sent for to one of her children, that was out at nurse, and supposed to be in dying circumstances. Clasping her hands immediately in his, Mr. N. cried, "God be thanked, he has not forsaken you! I do not wish your babe to suffer, but I am happy to find he gives you this token of his favour."

(f) KISSING THE OPPRESSOR'S HANDS.-It is related of one, who, under great severity had fled from the worst of masters to the best, (I mean he had sought rest in the bosom of Jesus Christ, the common friend of the weary and the heavy laden,) that he was so impressed with a sense of the benefit he had derived from his afflictions, that lying on his death-bed and seeing his master stand by, he eagerly caught the hands of his oppressor, and kissing them, said, "These hands have brought me to heaven." Thus many have had reason to bless God for afflictions, as being the instruments in his hands of promoting the welfare of their immortal souls.

(g) THE ROAD TO HEAVEN.— Mr. Benn, of Highgate, had long been the subject of a severe affliction, which at length terminated his valuable life before he had, to human appearance, reached its meridian. The evening before his departure, he desired all his children to come into his chamber; and, placing them around his death-bed, thus addressed them: "You all know that I am soon going to be removed from this world to a better;, and I trust that you are walking the same road, and will soon follow me."

To his eldest son he observed, "When you go into the world, and are exposed to persons who, perhaps, will ridicule the Saviour's name and the Bible, do not listen to them. Seek that society which will help you to practise your Bible; this book will provide comfort for you when friends forsake you.Every other comfort in this world has its drawback, and is transitory. When you are in pain or suffering, write upon it, The road to Heaven.'

15. CONVERSION OF THE AGED.

(1) THE YOUNG CONVERT

AND HIS AGED MOTHER.-At a

village, in the Hastings circuit, (says the Wesleyan Methodist Magazine,) where the Gospel was introduced by the Methodist preachers, a poor labouring man was induced to hear the Gospel. By the blessing of God it proved effectual to his salvation. Having felt the power of Divine grace himself, he was anxiously concerned for the spiritual

welfare of others. One of the first ob

jects of his solicitude, was his mother. She was upwards of ninety years of age; deaf, dim-sighted, and very infirm; totally in the dark as to the nature of true religion, and altogether unconcerned about her best interests. The preaching was removed to her son's cottage, which was situated about a mile from his mother's residence; he wished to bring her under the sound of the Gospel; but her infirmities, and his poverty presented considerable difficulties. She could not walk;-he had no

conveyance, and could not afford to hire one. His intense desire for her salvation, however, surmounted all hindrances. He borrowed a cart; put himself in the place of a horse; and regularly

drew her to his house on the Sabbath

morning, and back again to her home in the evening, when the weather would permit. Being thus brought to hear the word of reconciliation, divine light shone into her mind; her conscience was awakened, after a slumber of ninety years; and she began to "call upon the name of the Lord." The God of all grace hearkened to her cry; lifted upon her the light of his countenance; and made her happy in the enjoyment of his salvation. It is a singular fact, that the great change wrought in her mind was the occasion of producing such a change in her appearance, that she looked several years younger than

she did a few months before.

(b) CONVERTED AT FOURSCORE.-The son of a wealthy gra

zier, in Rutlandshire, England, was providentially led to a place of worship, where he was deeply and savingly impressed with the love of God. Afterwards he became a frequent attendant, miles. The old man, his father, just though living at the distance of twenty which had taken place in his son, who, then fourscore, perceived the change on inquiry, told him all the circumstances, and the signal blessings which heard. "Son," said the old man, "I had attended the preaching he had wish I could hear the man myself; do you think I can ride as far ?" "Father," said he "if you will go to cousin W.'s over-night, I think you could." The horses were saddled, and off went father

and son on Saturday night. On Sunday they both went to church, and the Lord blessed the very first discourse to the old man's heart, and from that day he began to confess Jesus Christ as his strength and Redeemer. During two summers he attended at the same place of worship; but infirmities confining him to his bed, he requested the clergy

'Mr.

where he found him with tears running man to visit him at his own house, down his cheeks, whilst he spoke of the tender as that of a little child. hardness of his heart, though it seemed C.," said the minister, "how old are you?" "Little more," said he, “than two years old; for I can only reckon my life from the time I knew the Lord Jesus; the fourscore years before were departed, full of faith and hope, and enbut a life of death." At eighty-four he tered into the joy of his Lord.

(c) CONVERSION OF THE AGED RARE.-In a sermon to young Philadelphia Institute, Dr. Bedell said, men, delivered at the request of the

I have now been nearly twenty years in the ministry of the Gospel, and I here publicly state to you, that I do not believe I could enumerate three persons, over fifty years of age, whom I have ever heard ask the solemn and eternally momentous question, What shall I do to be saved?" "

16. REVERENCE FOR THE AGED.

(a) THE CHILD'S INQUIRY.— A certain farmer in Connecticut, possessing a small estate, was persuaded by his only son, (who was married and lived with his father,) to give him a deed of the property. It was accordingly executed. Soon the father began to find himself neglected; next removed from the common table to a block in the chimney corner, to take the morsel of food reluctantly given him. At last the unnatural son resolved one day, to try to break the afflicted heart of his sire. He procured a block and began to hollow it. While at work, he was questioned by one of his own children, what he was doing: "I am making a trough for your grandfather to eat out of," was the reply. "Ah," said the

child, "and when you are as old as grandfather, shall I have to make a trough for you to eat out of?" The instrument he was using fell from his hand; the block was cast on the fire; the old man's forgiveness asked, and he was restored to the situation

to which his age and worth entitled

him.

(b) THE OLD WOMAN'S BLESSING.-A gentleman was once passing through a village, and happened to see a poor, feeble old woman let her stick fall, and stand a moment in perplexity, not knowing whether she durst stoop to pick it up, or attempt to reach her home without it. Just by the spot where the accident happened, a group of boys were playing at marbles; some of them took no notice, others rudely marked the poor old woman's distress; but one kind-hearted lad threw down his marbles, ran to her assistance, and helped her into her house. She thanked him, and said, "God Almighty's blessing be upon you, for your kindness to a poor old woman!" The gentleman saw and heard the whole, and made inquiry after the lad, in whom he felt deeply interested. He found that he was already in the Sunday-school, and, in all probability, had there learnt the Scriptures, that inculcate reverence to the aged. From that time he had him instructed in writing and accounts at an evening school; when old enough, he

assisted in apprenticing him, and in course of time had the satisfaction of tradesman. seeing him a respectable and flourishing

BUKED.-There was once a man who (c) THE UNKIND SON REkind, and gave everything that he had. had an only son, to whom he was very When his son grew up and got a house, he was very unkind to his poor old father, whom he refused to support, and turned out of the house. The old man said to his grandson, "Go and fetch the covering from my bed, that I may go and sit by the wayside and beg." The child burst into tears, and ran for the he said, "I am going to fetch the rug covering. He met his father, to whom from my grandfather's bed, that he may wrap it round him and go a-begging!" Tommy went for the rug, and brought it to his father, and said to him, "Pray, father, cut it in two, the half of it will perhaps you may want the other half be large enough for grandfather, and when I grow a man and turn you out of doors." The words of the child diately ran to his father, and asked forstruck him so forcibly, that he immegiveness, and was very kind to him till he died.

(d) THE RUSSIAN PRINCESS.A Russian princess of great beauty, in company with her father, and a young French marquis, visited a celebrated Swiss doctor of the eighteenth century, Michael Scuppack; when the marquis began to pass one of his jokes upon the long white beard of one of the doctor's neighbours who was present. He offered to bet twelve louis d'ors that no lady present would dare to kiss the dirty old fellow! The Russian princess ordered her attendant to bring a plate, and deposited twelve louis d'ors, and sent it to the marquis, who was too polite to decline his stake.

The fair Russian then approached the peasant, saying, "Permit me, venerable father, to salute you after the manner of my country," and embracing, gave him a kiss. She then presented him with the gold which was on the plate, saying, "Take this as a remembrance of me, and as a sign that the Russian girls think it their duty to honour old age."

(a) THE SCOFFER CONFOUNDED.When the late Rev. Joseph Hughes, A.M., was once travelling in the service of the Bible Society, he found by his side, upon the coach, a grave and respectable-looking person. In conversing on topics of general attention, they soon came to the Bible Society. His companion launched forth, in vituperative terms, on its Utopian character, and especially on its lavish expenditure; noticing, in a marked way, the needless and extravagant travelling expenses of its vaunted secretaries, as well as their enormous salaries. No one, from Mr. Hughes's countenance and manner, could have conjectured that he was a party concerned. "But what," he mildly expostulated, "would be your conclusion, were you informed that their services were gratuitous; and that, with a view of curtailing as much as possible the expense of travelling, they usually, even in very inclement seasons, fix on the outside, as," he added, "one of them is now doing before your eyes?" Need it be added, that both the fact and

e tone

in which it was announced, with the friendly conversation that ensued, converted an enemy into a friend?

(b) ROBERT HALL AS AN AGENT.-The late Rev. Robert Hall, of Bristol, was much grieved with the want of economy in managing the finances of some of our public institutions. "When you consider, sir," said he, "the sources from which these moneys are derived, and the objects to which they are intended to be appropriated, there ought to be no improvident expenditure of any kind. I know Mr., who is employed in travelling and collecting for the Bible Society; he puts up at the principal inn in the place where he happens to visit, and rather than exert himself to rise early and travel in the stage-coach, I have heard that he takes a post-chaise at the expense of the Society. These things ought not to be countenanced. I invariably endeavour to travel on such occasions, sir, outside of the coach, and when, from indisposition, I am compelled to hire a post-chaise, I pay the extra expense out of my own pocket."

(a) THE WRESTLER'S REFLECTION.-Philip, king of Macedon, as he was wrestling at the Olympic games, fell down in the sand; and when he rose again, observing the print of his body in the sand, cried out, "O how little a parcel of earth will hold us, when we are dead, who are ambitiously seeking after the whole world whilst we are living!"

(b) PYRRHUS AND THE PHILOSOPHER. When Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, was making preparations for his intended expedition into Italy, Cineas, the philosopher, took a favourable opportunity of addressing him thus:"The Romans, sir, are reported to be a warlike and victorious people; but if

66

God permit us to overcome them, what use shall we make of the victory?" "Thou asketh," said Pyrrhus, "a thing that is self-evident. The Romans once conquered, no city will resist us; we shall then be masters of all Italy." Cineas added, And having subdued Italy, what shall we do next?" Pyrrhus, not yet aware of his intentions, replied, "Sicily next stretches out her arms to receive us." "That is very probable," said Cineas, "but will the possession of Sicily put an end to the war?" "God grant us success in that," answered Pyrrhus, "and we shall make these only the forerunners of greater things, for then Lybia and Carthage will soon be ours: and these things being com

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