"THEY say it is an ill mason that refuseth any stone; and there is no knowledge but, in a skilful hand, serves either positively as it is or else to illustrate some other knowledge. He condescends even to the knowledge of tillage and pasturage, and makes great use of them in teaching, because people, by what they understand, are best led to what they understand not."-GEORGE HERBERT.

THE NEW CYCLOPÆDIA

OF

ILLUSTRATIVE ANECDOTE.

ADMONITION AND REPROOF.

Prov. ix. 8, x. 17, xv. 10; Gal. iv. 16; Ephes. iv. 15; Col. iii. 16; 1 Thess. v. 14; Titus i. 13.

1. Blasphemer Disgraced.Charles Wesley was very bold in admonishing his hearers, and so often woke up their ire. Preaching once, a scene occurred which shows not only the rudeness of primitive times, but the familiarity of pastoral addresses. Speaking against Sunday revels, one of his auditors contradicted him, and, in his anger, used blasphemous language. Wesley inquired, "Who is it pleads for the devil?" Tho blasphemer hotly answered, "I am he that pleads for the devil." Wesley says, "I took occasion to show the revellers their champion, and the whole congregation their state by nature. Then I set myself against his avowed advocate, and drove him out of the Christian assembly."

the fountain-head-to the person of the principal influence in the meeting, the Prince of Wales." The venerable Bishop was wrapped in flannel and carried to Carlton House, where he requested the honour of an audience and a personal conference with the Prince on the subject. He very graciously granted it, and the Bishop had a conversation with him of more than half-an-hour. His Highness entered immediately into his views, and confessed that he saw reason for holding the meeting on Sunday more than any other day of the week, and voluntarily proposed that the day should bo changed from Sunday to Saturday, for which he gave immediate

orders.

no

2. Fearless Reproof. When 3. Frivolity Rebuked. The Rev. near death, Bishop Porteus felt that W. Romaine was one evening inhe could not depart in peace till he vited to a friend's house to tea. had expressed his disapprobation After the tea-things had been of the profanation of the Lord's removed, the lady of the house day, then exceedingly prevalent in asked him to play at cards, to his diocese-London. "I had, for which he made no objection. When some time past," he says, "ob- they were produced, however, and served, in several of the papers, an all present were ready to commence account of a meeting, chiefly of play, the venerable minister said, military gentlemen, held at a hotel "Let us ask the blessing of God." in the west end of the town, every "Ask the blessing of God!" said other Sunday during the winter the lady, in great surprise; "I season. I determined that it never heard of such a thing beforo should not pass without reproof, a game of cards." Mr. Romaine and thought it best to go at once to then inquired, "Ought we to

engage in anything on which we cannot ask His blessing?" This gentle reproof put an end to the card-playing.

in his company, said he had a great favour to ask him. The young officer replied, "I will take great pleasure in obliging you, for I am sure you will not make an unrea4. Happy Rebukes.-Mr. Hersonable request." "Then," said vey, we are told, had a very happy Wesley, "as we have to travel method of reproving the vices of together some distance, I beg that, his parishioners, in his mode of if I should so far forget myself as to publicly catechising their children swear, you will kindly reprove in his church. Some of them me." The officer immediately saw having lain in bed one Sabbath the motive and felt the force of the morning longer than he approved, request, and, smiling, said, "None others being busy in foddering but Mr. Wesley could have contheir cattle when he was coming to ceived a reproof in such a manner.' church, and several having fre- The reproof acted like a charm. quented the alchouse, he thus catechised one of the children before 6. Locke and the Three Noblemen. the congregation:-"Repeat me-John Locke having been introthe fourth commandment. Now, my little man, do you understand the meaning of this command ?" "Yes, sir." "Then, if you do, you will be able to answer me these questions: Do those keep the Sabbath day holy who lie in bed till eight or nine o'clock in the morning, instead of rising to say their prayers and read their Bibles ?" "No, sir." "Do those keep the Sabbath who fodder their cattle when other people are going to church?" "No, sir." "Does God Almighty bless such as go to alehouses on the Sabbath, and do not mind the instructions of their minister ?" "No, sir." "Do those who love God read the Bible in their families, particularly on Sabbath evenings, and have prayers every morning and night in their houses?" "Yes, sir." A great variety of such questions he would ask, in the most engaging and familiar manner, as he thought most conducive to the improvement of his people.

5. John Wesley and the Officer.John Wesley once, when travelling, had for fellow-passenger in a coach an officer who was intelligent and very agreeable in conversation; but there was one very serious drawback-his profanity. When they changed vehicles, Wesley took the officer aside, and, after expressing the pleasure he had enjoyed

duced by Lord Shaftesbury to the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Halifax, these three noblemen, instead of conversing with the philosopher, as might naturally have been expected, on literary subjects, sat down to cards. Locke, after looking on for some time, pulled out his pocket-book, and began to write with great attention. Observing this, one of the company took the liberty of asking him what he was writing. "My lord," said Locke, "I am endeavouring, as far as possible, to profit by my present situation; for, having waited with impatience for the honour of being in company with the greatest men of the age, I thought I could do nothing better than write down your conversation; and, indeed, I have set down the substance of what you have said this last hour or two." The well-timed ridicule had its desired effect; and these noblemen, fully sensible of its force, immediately quitted their play, and entered into conversation moro rational, and better suited to the dignity of their characters.

7. Looking at the Clock.-While the Rev. R. Watson was preaching one Sabbath morning at Wakefield, in Yorkshire, he observed a man rise from his seat to look at the clock in the front of the gallery, as though he wished to give the