or ah! she has made a blessed ex-lost my hold, and was sent underchange. The heart bleeds, without neath the boat and came up on the doubt; it is natural that it should; other side. I reached the boat but the spirit, the immortal spirit, again, but felt very exhausted. The rejoices. Happy are those who brief moments between the breakers die young. Children do not doubt, were spent in crying to God and they believe; with them all is trust; hailing the other boat. Several they fall asleep." When the funeral times we were standing on the took place, and the people were 'aumas;' then the breakers would assembled to convey the body to precipitate us with awful fury into its last home, some friends said the deep again, and the boat get they sympathised for him in his dashed against another 'auma.' affliction. "Be not sorrowful for Every moment we expected the me," he replied; "I have sent a boat to be dashed to pieces; the saint to heaven. Oh, may we all die paddle and steer-oar were lost. such a death! Gladly would I The boat broken to pieces, then all accept it now." hope was gone! But we were fast nearing the iron coast, which, like Sinbad's 'mountain of loadstone,' would soon have decided our fate. It was fearful in the extreme. No 'thoughts that breathe words that burn' can depict the awful reality of our danger. For forty-five minutes no sight nor sound could be caught of the Tafua boat. Was it ahead of or behind us, I asked. No one knew. 'Oh, why did you not obey me, and keep close together!' I exclaimed, in the greatest agony. Through your negligence, your and my life are lost. Oh, those cries to Heaven for mercy which burst from our lips as each time we ascended from the watery grave in which the breaker had entombed us! Oh, those agonising cries of some of the crew to me! O Misi! O Misi! pray for me, pray for me!' Oh, those eager death-starings from every eye, piercing the deep darkness, coupled with Come, come, come,' from every voice! Oh, that cry- Faafetai lava i le atua na san le vaa!'—(Thanks be to God, the boat is come!)—what strength it poured into our exhausted frames! Our minds were now relieved; our great fear was that the Tafua boat had gone on before, and would not hear us. In that case, we knew that there was no hope for us. The sharks are very plentiful,-another source of danger. I was got safe on board the Tafua boat, and then the Tafua crew helped my crew to 1228. Missionary Trials. The following is extracted from the letter of a famous missionary: "Well, we set out, I in my own new boat, a present from the Rev. W. Slatyer's Sabbath-schools, Redfern, Sydney. I gave my crew strict orders to follow and keep close by the Tafua boat, as they were best acquainted with the coast. It was a quiet night, smooth sea, no wind astir. I felt very tired, lay down, and was fast asleep in a few minutes. I awoke in the sea, drowning fast. I struggled amongst the breakers with all my strength, and managed to swim to my boat, which was a good way off. The crew were in search of me, and did not discover me, nor hear my cries amidst the dark and confusion. The boat was upset; we all held on by the keel. We had got amongst the 'aumas,' or sunken rocks, off Puleia, within half a stone-cast of the iron coast. Unfortunately I had been using my life-preserver for a pillow, instead of sleeping with it on. I was lamenting its loss, when the teacher sighted it, and went after it. I got it fastened on me, and found much support from it while floating in the water. We clung to the boat as drowning men only can. The tremendous breakers kept sweeping over us every minute; now and then so violent was the force of the breakers, that we were all severed from the boat; once I save my new boat. They got it towed off out alongside of the Tafua boat, then righted it, and baled the water out, and we went back as quickly as possible to Satupaitea. I had lost hat, shoes, and rug, and felt very ill. We got back in safety to Satupaitea, where we received the greatest possible kindness and attention." 1229. "Only the Chiselling."A Christian mother lay dying. Beside her a loving daughter stood, smoothing from the death-damp brow the matted hair. Prolonged suffering had made deep lines on the once beautiful face, but still there rested on those features a calm, peaceful expression which nothing but a hope in Jesus could give. Tears fell upon the pallid face from eyes that were closely watching the changing of the 66 countenance." Conscious of the agony that caused them to fall, the mother, looking heavenward, whispered, "Patience, darling, it is only the chiselling." Protestantism. Accordingly, with a heart almost broken, she was dismissed, unattended and friendless, to go on shipboard to sail for a distant and strange land. When she arrived, she went directly to her brother, resolved, ere receiving his protection, she would disclose her conversion and declare her adherence. As soon as the first warm salutations were over, with herself to the task of telling her a palpitating heart, she addressed brother that she was a Protestant, expecting to be instantly turned out of doors. Her words were brief; for the brother suddenly face for a moment, while she stood lifted his hands, and covered his trembling in expectation of the fell upon her neck, and said, terrible blow; when suddenly he Mary, it is but three weeks since I too have renounced Roman Catholicism, and have found peace in coming directly to Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour.'" 1231. Strength in Weakness.1230. Romanist Persecution.-"The other day," says Dr. M'Leod, The Rev. Dr. Dill, of Ireland, relates the following fact, which sets forth in a strong light the bitter persecutions to which converts from Romanism in Ireland are exposed by the fury and insolence of the priests: "A girl of about twenty years of age had renounced Romanism; and being steadfast, she was, by order of the priest, turned out of her father's house. A Protestant neighbour took her in. The priest, being disconcerted by her good fortune, advised her parents to take her into their house again, and try by every kind and conciliatory means to win her back to the church. But she was still steadfast; and at length the priest required her parents to send her to America to her brother, whom he knew to be exceedingly bigoted, and exceedingly fierce and violent in his temper and conduct. He had been the terror of the neighbourhood in Ireland. The priest said he would cure her of her "I was requested by a brother minister, who was unwell, to go and visit a dying child. He told me some remarkable things of this boy, eleven years of age, who during three years' sickness had manifested the most patient submission to the will of God, with a singular enlightenment of the Spirit. I went to visit him. The child had suffered excruciating pain; for years he had not known one day's rest. I gazed with wonder at the boy. After drawing near to him, and speaking some word of sympathy, he looked at me with his blue eyes-he could not move, it was the night before he died-and breathed into my ear these few words, I am strong in Him.' The words were few, and uttered feebly; they were the words of a feeble child, in a poor home, where the only ornament was that of a meek and quiet and affectionate mother, but these words seemed to lift the burden from the very heart; they seemed to make the world more beautiful than ever it was before; they brought home to my heart a great and blessed truth. May all of us be strong in Him.' 1232. Support in Trial. - The dreadful accident at Brierly Coalmine, where a party of miners were buried for four days and five nights, affords strong illustration of the sustaining power of faith and prayer. One of the number, an old man, lost his reason and perished, but the others tried to comfort and preserve him. After their supper on the Tuesday night they had nothing to eat, and about mid-day on Wednesday their last candle went out. They were in darkness, but, as one of them afterwards said, with true emotion, "the light was not gone out in heaven." They held many prayer-meetings, and found the consolations of religion an unfailing source of hope and comfort. deny Christ. If you confess Him, you will have a crown of glory." His wife crying bitterly, he said all he could to comfort her. "Oh, remember, my dear wife, if you die you will go to Jesus, and if you live Jesus will be with you. If any of the missionaries are alive, they will take care of you after my should all die, Christ lives for ever. death; but if the missionaries Even if the children are killed be "Tell us what fore your eyes, do not deny Christ." 66 66 1233. Witnessing for Christ.us,' some cried out in An English officer, Colonel tones. Others said, Wheeler, used to preach in the Turn to Mohammed, and we will bazaar of the great city of Delhi. let you go." No, I never, never A Mohammedan, Wilayat Ali, was will!" the faithful martyr cried; persuaded to give up the false "my Saviour took up His cross prophet, and to believe in the true and went to God, and I will lay Saviour. He was baptized, and, down my life and go to Him." in spite of the sufferings he had to The scorching rays of the sun endure in consequence, became a were beating on the poor sufferer's preacher in the bazaars. At last head. With a laugh one of the he came to live at Delhi, where he wretches exclaimed, "I suppose often preached, and thousands you would like some water." "I flocked to hear him. A great do not want water," replied the Prince, Mirza Hajee, used to creep martyr. "When my Saviour was like Nicodemus, in the dark even- dying, He had nothing but vinegar ings, to Wilayat's house, to hear in mingled with gall. But do not secret about Jesus. One Monday keep me in this pain. If you morning a friend rushed into the mean to kill me, do so at once." house, crying, "The sepoys! the Another sepoy coming up lifted his sepoys! They are murdering the sword; the martyr called aloud, Christians!" Wilayat called Fa- 'Jesus, receive my spirit!" and tima his wife and his seven child- with one stroke his head was ren around him, and prayed: "O nearly cut off. Fatima, standing Lord, we have fallen into the fiery under a tree, beheld the stroke; trial! Oh, help us to confess our she shrieked with agony, and ran dear Lord, that if we die we may back to her house. But she found obtain a crown of glory!" He it on fire and surrounded by people then kissed his wife and children, who were plundering it. Then and said, "Whatever comes, don't she fled to Prince Mirza Hajee's house, where she discovered her fatherless children. At the end of three days, Mirza Hajee came to Fatima, and said, "I dare not keep you any longer; but if you will become a Mohammedan, you will be safe, and I will give you a house, and three pounds a month for your support." But Fatima would not give up her Saviour. No one attempted to kill her, for very few knew she was a Christian. After ten days she escaped with her children out of the town of Delhi, and went to a village forty miles off. After three months, hearing that the English had taken 66 But Delhi, she returned there. SOUL. Eccles. iii. 21; Matthew x. 28, xvi. 16; 1 Cor. xv, 53, 54; Col. iii. 4. 1234. Auction for the Soul.- every word that he uttered. AcThe celebrated Rowland Hill was cordingly, in a few moments she preaching in the open air in that found herself accommodated imthen suburban portion of London mediately in the rear of the temdenominated Moorfields. An im- porary pulpit from which the mense assemblage was present. speaker addressed the listening His text was taken from the Song throng, that being the only unof Solomon i. 5, "I am black, but occupied position within reach of comely." The text he regarded as his voice. The splendour of the having application to the Church, equipage and the illustrious perwhich, in the estimation of the sonage that occupied it turned the world, was black-black as the attention of many of the people tents of Kedar"--but, in the esti- away from the sermon. The obmation of her glorified Head, servant eye of Rowland Hill soon comely, comely as the curtains detected the diversion, and his inof Solomon." While discussing ventive mind at once suggested a these themes with his accustomed hazardous but an effective remedy. earnestness, it so happened, in the Pausing in the discussion of his providence of God, that Lady Annę subject, and elevating his voice Erskine, in an equipage corre- beyond its usual pitch, he exsponding with her high position in claimed, "My brethren, I am society, passed that way. Seeing now going to hold an auction or the immense multitude, she asked vendue, and I bespeak your atone of her attendants the cause of tention for a few moments. I this assemblage. She was informed have here a lady and her equipage that the renowned Rowland Hill to expose to public sale; but the was preaching to the people. Lady lady is the principal and the only Anne replied she had often wished object, indeed, that I wish to disto hear that eccentric preacher, pose of at present, and there are and she would avail herself of the already three earnest bidders in present opportunity to gratify that the field. The first is the World. cherished desire, and requested her Well, and what will you give for charioteer to place her carriage as her? I will give riches, honour, near to the preacher's stand as pleasure.' That will not do. She ossible, so that she might hear is worth more than that; for she 'I will live when the riches, honours, 1235. Dr. Guthrie's Bells.and pleasures of the world have "When Lady L. was staying in passed away like a snow-wreath Edinburgh," a contemporary writer beneath a vernal shower. You tells us, "she noticed a very lofty cannot have her. The next bidder attic in the High Street, near Dr. is the Devil. Well, and what will Guthrie's church. The thought you give for her? I will give all struck her mind that there might the kingdoms of the earth and the be some poor lonely creature living glory of them.' That will not do; in one of those upper storeys whom for she will continue to exist when no one visited; so, lifting up her the kingdoms of the earth and the heart to God for His guidance and glory of them have vanished like blessing, she began her investigathe shadows of the night before the tion. After ascending the almost orient beams. You cannot have innumerable stairs of the house, her. But list, I hear the voice of she reached the top storey, where another bidder, and who is that? the poorest people lived. KnockWhy, the Lord Jesus Christ! Well, ing at one of the doors, she was what will You give for her? I answered by an old woman, who, will give grace here and glory here- opening it very cautiously, asked after; an inheritance incorruptible, what the stranger wanted. undefiled, and that fadeth not away.' want to see you,' said Lady L. Well, well," said the preacher,No one ever comes here or wants "blessed Jesus, it is just as I ex- to see me,' replied the old woman, in pected; just the noble generosity no inviting tone. Well,' rejoined which Thou art wont to display. the kind stranger, that is just the I will place her at Your disposal. reason why I wish to see you.' She is black, but comely,' and You Then the cautious old woman shall be the purchaser. Let heaven opened the door and let the lady and earth authenticate this trans- into her little room, which only action." And then, turning to contained enough furniture for the Lady Anne, who had listened to bare necessities of its aged inmate. this bold and adventurous digres- The only seats were a rockingsion with the commingled emotions chair and a stool, and Lady L., of wonder and alarm, the speaker, taking the stool, made the old wowith inimitable address, exclaimed, man seat herself over the fire in “Madam! madam! do you object her rocking-chair. After a few to this bargain? Remember you are kind words, which opened the poor Jesus Christ's property from this woman's heart, Lady L. said, 'I time henceforth and for evermore. am not going to ask you, my friend, Heaven and earth have attested if you know the Lord, but I should the solemn and irreversible con- like to hear if you can tell me anytract! Remember, you are the thing to show me that the Lord property of the Son of God. He knows you, and has found you out died for your rescue and your pur- in your little lonely room.' chase. Can you, will you, dare old woman's face brightened up at you object?" The arrow thus sped once. 'Yes, I can,' she replied; at a venture, under the guidance and I will tell you all about it, of the Divine Spirit, found its way though I have never told any one to the heart of Lady Anne, and she before. If He had not known and was shortly afterwards submissively sought me, I should never have led to the cross of Messiah. She known Him, for I lived like a became subsequently identified with heathen in this room. I have had Lady Huntingdon in her deeds of many troubles, and lost my all; noble charity, and, having served and not having a friend or any one her day and generation, she, like to love, I shut myself up in my her illustrious associate, sweetly own misery, and did not want to fell asleep in Jesus. know any neighbours. Week-days 6 The |