mighty! he whose tongue was engaged in the work of charity, whose bosom was appointed the seat of brotherly love, and heart the emblem of pity-did he refuse to stretch forth his hand, and to take the mantle from his shoulders to cover the nakedness of woe? If he refused, if the shepherd himself went astray, was it to be wondered at that the flock followed?" The next day, when the river was much increased in height, a boy was swept overboard from a small boat by the force of the current. Many people were assembled, but none of them attempted to save the boy, when Mr. Kelly, who was dressed in his canonicals, threw himself from his chamber-window into the current, and at the hazard of his own life saved that of the boy. peachment. His son, a youth about not even the servant of the Aleighteen years of age, was no sooner apprised of the affecting situation to which his father was reduced, than he flew to the judge who had pronounced the fatal decree, and throwing himself at his feet, prayed that he might be allowed to suffer in the room of a father whom he loved, and whose loss he thought it was impossible for him to survive. The magistrate was amazed at this extraordinary procedure in the son, and would hardly be persuaded that he was sincere in it. Being at length satisfied, however, that the young man actually wished to save his father's life at the expense of his own, he wrote an account of the whole affair to the King, and his Majesty immediately sent orders to grant a free pardon to the father, and to confer a title of honour on his son. This last mark of royal favour, however, the youth begged leave with all humility to decline, and the motive for the refusal of it was not less noble than the conduct by which he had deserved it was generous and disinterested. "Of what avail," exclaimed he, "could the most exalted title be to me, humbled as my family already is in the dust? Alas! would it not serve but as a monument to perpetuate in the minds of my countrymen the remembrance of an unhappy father's shame ?" His Majesty the King of Sweden actually shed tears when this magnanimous speech was reported to him, and sending for the heroic youth to Court, he appointed him to a confidential office. 1144. Public Spirit. In the reign of Charles I. the fees of Sir Henry Vane's office as Treasurer of the Navy, though but fourpence in the pound, by reason of the Dutch war amounted to £30,000 per annum. Of this circumstance he had the magnanimity to acquaint the Parliament, and, observing that such profit was a shameful robbery of the public, offered to give up his patent, which he had obtained from Charles I., and to accept in lieu, for an agent he had bred up to the business, a salary of £200 a year. The Parliament readily assented to the proposal, and as a reward for his public virtue settled on Sir Henry an annuity of £1,200. 1145. Ready to Perish.-A husbandman of the name of Altemade, a native of Holland, who had lived 1143. Preaching and Practis- from his early youth a rural life in ing. A Scotch minister, the the Dutch colony at the Cape of Good Rev. Mr. Kelly, once preached an Hope, happened to be on horseback excellent sermon from the parable of on the coast at the very point of the man who fell among thieves. time that a vessel was shipwrecked He was particularly severe on the by a dreadful tempest. The greater conduct of the priest who saw him part of the crew perished in and ministered not unto him, but the waves; the remainder were passed by on the other side, and struggling with death on the shatin an animated and pathetic flow tered planks that still floated on of eloquence he exclaimed," What! the surface of the water. No boat could be sent out in such a dreadful Kléber with four thousand men was storm for the deliverance of these completely surrounded by an overpoor people; the humane and in- whelming force of the enemy, and trepid Hollander undertakes to save saw no other way of saving his them; he blows brandy into the little band, except by stopping for nostrils of his horse, and fixing a short time the passage of the himself firmly in his stirrups, he Vendeans through a narrow ravine, plunges into the sea, and gaining which was all that was between the the wreck, brings back to the shore two armies. He called an officer two men of the crew, each of whom to him, for whom he had a particuheld by one of his boots. In this lar friendship and esteem. "Take," manner he went and returned seven said he to him, "a company of times, and thus saved fourteen of grenadiers; stop the enemy before the passengers. But the eighth that ravine; you will be killed, time, on his return, a rapid and but you will save your comrades." immense surge threw down his horse, the heroic rider lost his seat, and was swallowed up with the two unfortunate men he was endeavouring to save. What a noble death in such a cause! 1146. Soldierly Devotion. "General, I shall do it," replied the officer, who received the order to immolate himself with as much calmness as if it had been a simple military evolution. The prediction of Kléber was but too fatally verified. The brave officer arrested the In enemy's progress, but perished in the war of La Vendée, General the achievement. SALVATION. 2 Sam. xiv. 14; Isaiah i. 18, lv. 1-3, 6, 7; Matt. xi. 28-30; John iii. 16, 17; Rom. i. 16; 1 Tim. ii. 5, 6; Rev. iii. 20. 1147. Besieged City.-In the when-oh, delightful sight!-they year 1683, Vienna, the capital of saw something bright on the mounAustria, was besieged; a great army tain side, and discerned the lances of Turks, who were then making and armour of the brave Poles, war with the nations of Europe, marching to the rescue. That very lay before it. When it was known day Sobieski fought a battle, dethat they were near Vienna, the feated the Turks, and set Vienna Emperor of Austria fled from the free. city, and the poor people in it were left in sad fear and distress. The only person they thought likely to save them was the King of Poland, John Sobieski, and they sent entreating him to come to their help. They knew that he could only come to them over the northern mountains, and day after day they rose early, and watched for the first morning light, in the hope of seeing the Polish army on the mountains. It was anxious waiting, but hope sustained them. The siege began in July; on the 11th of September some weary watchers were looking out from the ramparts to the mountain of Kalimburg, 1148. Bible Shield.-An English soldier named Samuel Proctor always carried a small pocket Bible in one pocket and his hymn-book in the other. He took part in the struggle on the plains of Waterloo in 1815. On the evening of June 16th, in the tremendous conflict on that day, his regiment was ordered to dislodge the French from a wood of which they had taken possession, and from which they annoyed the Allied Army. While thus engaged, he was thrown a distance of four or five yards by a force on his hip, for which he could not account at the time, but when he came to examine his Bible, he saw, with engaged in boiling their rice for an overwhelming gratitude to the Pre- offering, when one of them who server of his life, what it was that went for water fell into the well. had thus driven him. A musket- As soon as the circumstance was ball had struck his hip where his made known to the crowd, they Bible rested in his pocket, and rushed to the well, and among penetrated nearly half through that them was the priest of the temple, sacred book. All who saw the ball who, as soon as he had gratified said that it would undoubtedly have his curiosity, returned to the killed him, had it not been for the temple. None among them maniBible, which served for a shield. fested the least concern for the "That Bible," said Proctor, "has unfortunate man who was sunk in twice saved me instrumentally-the water. Not an individual first from death in battle, and seemed to think assistance could second from death eternal." or ought to be rendered, till one of 1149. Blissful Awakening. For exerted all his influence to induce the head men came to the spot; he a long time before the conversion of the Rev. C. Simeon, he had been which any person accustomed to some one to dive into the water, in the deepest distress, envying swimming might have done with even the dogs that passed under perfect safety; but his efforts were his window. But his preparation in vain. He then sent for the for receiving the Lord's Supper was greatly blessed to enlighten his priest, who was known to be an dark mind. It was in Passion-week of the head man he came, but expert swimmer. At the command that he met with the expression in excused himself from the act of "Bishop Wilson on the Lord's Supper," "that the Jews knew what that he could not absent himself so mercy required of him by saying they did when they transferred long from the duties of the temple their sins to the head of their offer- without sustaining a loss. Just at ing." "The thought rushed into this moment came to the place a my mind," says he, "What! may I young man, unknown to the crowd, transfer all my guilt to another? who, as soon as he learned that a Has God provided an offering for fellow being was drowning, threw me, that I may lay my sins on His aside his garment, and leaped into head? Then, God willing, I will not bear them one moment longer.' Accordingly, I sought to lay my sins upon the sacred head of Jesus, and on the Wednesday began to have a hope of mercy; on the Thursday that hope increased, and on Friday and Saturday it became more strong; and on the Sunday morning (Easter Day) I awoke early with those words upon my heart and lips, 'Jesus Christ is risen to-day! the well. he found the body, and raised it to After repeatedly diving, the surface of the water, from which it was taken by the by standers. As soon as the noise and confusion occasioned by taking out the lifeless body had subsided, a loud whisper passed along the crowd, "Who is that young man? Who is that good man?" They were not a little surprised, and some of the enemies of Christianity confounded, when they were told that this was Azel Backus, a despised convert to the Christian faith. our From that hour peace flowed in rich abundance into my soul, and at the Lord's Table, in chapel, I had the sweetest access to God, through my blessed Saviour." 1151. Daring Exploit. In the year 1819, a Mr. Budlong, his wife, 1150. Courage of a Convert.-child, sister, and brother-in-law, A multitude of worshippers assem- were returning in a sleigh on the bled at a temple in Ceylon were ice from a visit to a friend living insensible and apparently lifeless body of his sister; both were drawn from the water by the assistance of some persons who had arrived on the shore, alarmed by the cries of his brother. They were all carried to a neighbouring house, where the women and child were with some difficulty resuscitated. Upon measuring the depth of the water where the sleigh had broken the ice, it was found to be fourteen feet. near the Chippewa Bay, on the St. Lawrence River. They had experienced some difficulty in getting on the ice from the shore, and Mr. B., having wetted his feet, seated himself in the sleigh for the purpose of taking off his stockings, giving up the reins to his brother, who, from inattention, or ignorance of the road, drove on to a place on the ice where there had recently been an air-hole, and which was not yet frozen sufficiently strong enough to bear; the ice broke under them, and the sleigh upset Sir Samuel Hood, when command1152. Drowning Men Saved.and sank, with the two women and child. Mr. B. sprang from ing the Juno on the Jamaica station the sleigh while sinking, exclaiming, "We are all lost!" and fortunately reached the firm ice. The young man who was driving was unable to swim, but struggled until he was reached and drawn out of the water by Mr. B., who retained his hold upon the solid ice. This was no sooner accomplished than Mr. B., throwing off his coat and hat, declared that he would save the others or perish in the attempt, and accordingly plunged into the water in search of those most dear to him. The first that he found was the child, which grasping, he rose to the surface, and brought it within reach of his brother; then in 1791, exhibited a noble instance of intrepidity and humanity. The ship was lying in St. Anne's Harbour, when a raft, with three persons upon it, was discovered at a great distance. The weather was exceedingly stormy, and the waves broke with such violence as to leave little hope that the unfortunate men upon it could long surdered out one of his ship's boats vive. Captain Hood instantly orto endeavour to rescue them, but the sea ran so high that the crew declared the attempt impracticable, and refused to expose themselves to what they considered certain destruction. The Captain immedrawing himself again on to thediately leaped into the boat, declarfirm ice, he plunged again to the ing that he would never order bottom, and finding his wife, rose a second time with her in his arms, but apparently lifeless, leaving her in the care of his brother, who was calling aloud for assistance from the shore. After taking breath for a moment, Mr. B. again plunged would not himself venture. The them on any service in which he effect was such as might be expected; there is no danger that a British sailor will not share The with his captain; all now were still clung to it. The House of their sense of this undaunted exer into the water in search of his sister, whom, after groping on the river bed, he found; but in rising again to the surface he struck his head against the ice. Sensible of the extreme peril of his situation, and that the current had carried him below the aperture, with a degree of presence of mind seldom equalled, straining every nerve, he redoubled his exertions, and was 1153. Emblem of Atonement.so fortunate as to again reach the The Rev. A. A. Bonar relates the folopening, bringing with him the lowing:-"Once there was a deaf tion in the cause of humanity, sword of the value of two hundred presented Captain Hood with a guineas. and dumb boy who was taught his task by a kind friend. This kind lady could speak to him only by signs and pictures. She drew upon a paper a picture of a great crowd of people, old and young, standing near a wide, deep pit, out of which smoke and flames were issuing. She then drew the figure of One who came down from heaven, and this was to represent Jesus Christ the Son of God. She explained to the boy that when this Person came, He asked God not to throw the people into the pit, if He Himself agreed to be nailed to a cross for them, and how, as soon as He bowed His head on the cross and died, the pit was shut up and the people saved. The deaf and dumb boy wondered much, but he made signs that the Person who died on the cross was but One, and the crowd very many. How could God be contented to take One for so many? The lady took off her gold ring and put it beside a great heap of withered leaves of flowers, and asked the boy which was the best, the one gold ring, or the many, many dry leaves. The boy clapped his hands with delight, and spelt the 'One! one!' And then to show that he knew what this meant, and that Jesus was the One who was worth all the rest, he ran and got his letters, and looking up, spelt the words 'Good, good One!' He had learnt that day that Jesus alone had saved the crowd of people, or sinners, and he stood wondering at His love." same time very simple mode of life. Many at first accepted my invitation, but very soon discontinued their visits, and we completely lost sight of them. A young officer, however, attached himself to my family, and was glad of every opportunity of spending a few days with us. We indeed loved him for his amiability, frankness, cheerfulness, and sweetness of disposi tion, but, in spite of all these amiable qualities, he wanted the one thing needful. He was not in possession of the pearl of great price, and had no wish for it. God was unknown to him, the love of Christ was nothing to his soul, and he did not know that he was a lost sinner. It was sad, very sad, and grieved us exceedingly. All our anxiety was to bring before his eye the truths of the Gospel; but, though he listened patiently, it was too evident that he remained unmoved, and was glad when we ceased our entreaties to turn away from the path of folly, and to follow the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Great was my astonishment one evening when he asked leave to accompany me to a religious meeting in one of the houses of the village. I joyfully consented, and did not change the text on which I intended to meditate. It was the first verse of the fiftyfifth chapter of Isaiah, Ho! every one,' &c. He listened attentively during the meeting, but when it was over, and we were left alone on the road, he burst out laughing, and taking hold of my arm, said, My 1154. Free Gift.-An old Eng-dear friend, pray do tell me what lish clergyman, well known for his in the world made you speak on piety, was fond of relating to his such an odd subject to those good friends, whenever he thought it people? Buy without money, withmight encourage them in their out any price! My good friend, it ministerial work, a very interesting is too good a thing to be true. Do circumstance which happened to you know that it would suit me him during his ministry in Ireland. admirably? I am not rich, and "My parish," he used to say, was to get everything without money situated about three or four miles would indeed be much to my taste. from the Barracks, and I usually I shall never be able to keep serious invited the officers to visit us as whenever I think of this. Do not often as they were inclined to enjoy be angry with me, please, but I our cheerful fireside, but at the really cannot help it.' You may 66 |