Protestantism. Accordingly, with a heart almost broken, she was dismissed, unattended and friendless, to go on shipboard to sail for 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. Ia distant and strange land. When 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 countenance." Conscious of the agony that caused them to fall, the mother, looking heavenward, whispered, "Patience, darling, it is only the chiselling." 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 Ca tholicism, 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, re- "I was requested by a brother lates the following fact, which sets minister, who was unwell, to go forth in a strong light the bitter per- and visit a dying child. He told secutions to which converts from me some remarkable things of this Romanism in Ireland are exposed boy, eleven years of age, who by the fury and insolence of the during three years' sickness had priests: "A girl of about twenty manifested the most patient subyears of age had renounced Ro- mission to the will of God, with a manism; and being steadfast, she singular enlightenment of the Spirit. was, by order of the priest, turned I went to visit him. The child out of her father's house. A had suffered excruciating pain; for Protestant neighbour took her in. years he had not known one day's The priest, being disconcerted by rest. I gazed with wonder at the her good fortune, advised her pa- boy. After drawing near to him, rents to take her into their house and speaking some word of symagain, and try by every kind and pathy, he looked at me with his conciliatory means to win her back blue eyes-he could not move, it to the church. But she was still was the night before he died-and steadfast; and at length the priest breathed into my ear these few required her parents to send her to words, 'I am strong in Him.' America to her brother, whom he The words were few, and uttered knew to be exceedingly bigoted, feebly; they were the words of a and exceedingly fierce and violent feeble child, in a poor home, where in his temper and conduct. He the only ornament was that of a had been the terror of the neigh- meek and quiet and affectionate bourhood in Ireland. The priest mother, but these words seemed to said he would cure her of her 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, about the head and face with their "I 1233. Witnessing for Christ. 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." 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 Anne 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. 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 possible, so that she might hear is worth more than that; for she I 6 405 'I 1235. Dr. Guthrie's Bells.will live when the riches, honours, and pleasures of the world have "When Lady L. was staying in passed away like a snow-wreath Edinburgh," a contemporary writer You tells us, "she noticed a very lofty beneath a vernal shower. cannot have her. The next bidder attic in the High Street, near Dr. The thought is the Devil. Well, and what will Guthrie's church. 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 Knockanother bidder, and who is that? the poorest people lived. Why, 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 Well,' rejoined pected; just the noble generosity no inviting tone. 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 Lady Anne, who had listened to this bold and adventurous digression with the commingled emotions of wonder and alarm, the speaker, with inimitable address, exclaimed, “Madam! madam! do you object to this bargain? Remember you are Jesus Christ's property from this time henceforth and for evermore. Heaven and earth have attested the solemn and irreversible contract! Remember, you are the property of the Son of God. He died for your rescue and your purchase. Can you, will you, dare you object ?" The arrow thus sped at a venture, under the guidance of the Divine Spirit, found its way to the heart of Lady Anne, and she was shortly afterwards submissively led to the cross of Messiah. She became subsequently identified with Lady Huntingdon in her deeds of noble charity, and, having served her day and generation, she, like her illustrious associate, sweetly fell asleep in Jesus. contained enough furniture for the The was too abstract. Snatching his watch from his pocket, he said, "James, what is this I hold in my hand ?" "A watch, sir." "A 66 66 "Do and Sundays were all alike and dark to me. I never went anywhere. I lived just as if I had no soul. And thus I should have lived and died, had not the Lord little clock," says another. had mercy upon me.' And how you all see it ?" "Yes, sir." did He awaken you from your "How do you know it is a watch?" state of spiritual death?' 'By "It ticks, sir." Very well. Can Dr. Guthrie's bells,' replied the any of you hear it tick? All listen old woman. 'When they rang on now.". After a pause, Yes, sir, Sundays, I used to wish they would we hear it." He then took off the leave off-they troubled me. They case, and held the case in one hand, seemed calling to me, till at last I and the watch in the other. "Now, could not bear it any longer; so children, which is the watch? one day I put on my shawl and You see there are two which look went into the church, just to get like watches." "The littlest one, peace, as it were, from the bells.' in your right hand, sir." "Very Well, and how did you like what well. But how do you know that you heard?' 'Not at all. I came this is the watch ?" Because it home very angry with Dr. Guthrie, ticks." Very well again. Now for, as I stood in the crowded aisle, I will lay the case aside-put it he preached all his sermon about away, there-down, down in my me, and I determined never to go hat. Now let us see if you can and hear him again. But when hear the watch tick." "Yes, sir, the next Sunday came, the bells we hear it," exclaimed several tormented me more than ever. I voices. "Well, the watch can was forced to go; and again I came tick, and go, and keep time, you home feeling what a great sinner I see, when the case is taken off and was; and thus I continued from put away in my hat. So is it with week to week, and then I had a you, children; your body is nothing dream, which cut down all my but the case, the soul is inside. hopes. I seemed to be in a square The case-the body-may be taken place, where a number of flowers off and buried in the ground, and in pots were standing, and in the the soul will live and think, just as middle of them I saw Dr. Guthrie well as this watch will go, as you with a watering-pot. He went see, when the case is off." This round and watered every plant un- made it plain, and even the youngest til he came to one, which I thought went home and told his mother meant me; and then he stood that his "little thought' would still, and said, in a solemn voice, tick after he was dead." "It is no good watering this, for it has no roots," and he passed me 1237. Materialist's Loss." A by. And when I awoke, I felt French materialist," says Mr. Barwhat a dreadful state I was in.' ing Gould, "relates the following And thus the arrow of conviction incident. He visited an almshouse entered this poor sinner's heart, till He who had wounded her in love was pleased to heal her wound with the atoning blood of Jesus Christ." for old women, in which was an aged relative whom he had not seen for many years. He found her bowed down with pain and the weight of age, and nearly stone deaf. As he walked with her in 1236. Immortality of the Soul. the little court, he perplexed his -An eminent divine was once mind with the question how he trying to teach a number of children should console her. He could not that the soul would live after they promise her youth and health, nor were dead. They listened, but a prospect of recovered hearing; evidently did not understand: he and the old woman's tears flowed |