MOST persons, it is supposed, know that individuals are employed in Ireland, to travel its length and breadth, for the purpose of making known the existence and the contents of the word of God, and are called "Bible Readers." They not unfrequently carry in their pockets an Irish and an English Bible, so that they may be prepared both for those who cannot speak English and for those that can, well knowing, moreover, that the Irish, almost universally, will attentively listen to any thing in their own language, which many more are able to read than is commonly supposed. Among these Bible Readers, is a man named William Moore, but generally known by the appellation of Billy Moore. He is a faithful and humble follower of his Lord and Master, has been for many years in his service, and is now 82 years of age.

Not very long ago, he knocked at a cabin door, in the County of Meath, where the lower class are almost all Papists, between twelve and one o'clock, saying, "Can you give a stranger a drop of milk?" It is one of the redeeming points of "the finest peasantry in the world," as they are often called, that they are truly and thoroughly hospitable -ready and willing at all times to give a portion of their "bite and sup "to all, and

especially strangers, who apply to them. Immediately, in answer to his petition, Billy heard a voice say, " Come in, stranger, and welcome." On lifting the latch, the family were discovered at their frugal and scanty meal of potatoes and salt, accompanied by a noggin or little wooden mug of milk, which was handed round from one to the other. Mr. Dudley mentioned that the family consisted of a father, mother, elder son, and elder daughter (Mary), with other children. The wife peeled a potatoe, and handed it with some salt to the stranger: after he had taken as much as he wished, and expressed his gratitude to God, and to them for their kindness, Billy said, " And now would you like to drink a little out of my bottle of milk?" "What, have you," asked Mary, "a bottle of milk? "I have," he replied; and introducing his Bible, he read to them about buying wine and milk without price, and exhorting them as "new born babes, to desire the sincere milk of the word, that they might grow thereby;" adding other passages bearing a similar meaning. They seemed much pleased with what they heard, and the father asked what book it was; Mary at the same time saying, "Oh, it is beautiful! Stranger, where can we get a book like that?" Billy told them it was

and Pat, such answers as cheered him, from believing they had received the truth in the love of it. After pressing and urging them to a steady and open confession of the Lord Jesus, and having committed them in prayer to God, he departed.

Some five or six weeks after this, Billy

About twelve months after this a knock was heard about the same time of day, at the same cabin door, and a voice said, "Can you give a stranger a little meat?" Billy, for it was he who knocked, heard some one say from within, "It is the blessed stranger!" and immediately the father said, *Come in, thou blessed man." Moore entered, and was received with peculiar marks of welcome from the father, Mary, and the elder son. He again partook of their food, and when they perceived he was satisfied with eating, (for many of the poorer Irish, and Scotch also, manifest a delicate attention, in this respect, to the hunger of the needy, a lesson which all would do well to learn and copy,) Mary said, "Stranger, you asked if we had any meat; have you got any?" "I have," was the answer; "but before I present it to you, I must ask a few questions: Have you read the book I gave you?" "Yes, we have, and much too; oh, it contains blessed truths and promises." "Well," says Billy, "I am glad you have, and that you like what you have read. But have you made any confession of your faith!" Here the heads dropped, the cheeks blushed, and Mary's tears began to flow; but all were silent. Billy then produced the Bible, and said, "I will now give you some meat, and it is strong meat too: Whosoever is ashamed of me and of my words, in this sinful and adulterous generation, of him will the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with his holy angels.' No man putting his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God:"" adding other strong passages, declaring the same truth. They were deeply affected; but, conversing with them further, he drew from the father, Mary,

At no great lapse of time afterwards, six men were taken up on suspicion of being concerned in this diabolical attack on a peaceful and unoffending family. And now, reader, mark the lovely, the unearthly effect which the knowledge and the love of "the truth as it is in Jesus," produced in the mind of the daughter Mary. No sooner did she hear of the imprisonment of these characters, charged with the commission of a crime by which her filial feelings were wounded to the quick, her domestic comfort destroyed, and her earthly means of support reduced to what might be truly called the shadow of a shade, than she set off, applied to the High Sheriff, and having obtained leave to visit the prisoners, walked two and thirty miles to the county gaol to which they had been committed; and having procured a lodging in the town, for eighteen weeks did this humble and therefore lovely Christian daily visit these men, (strongly suspected of having caused the death of her father, to whom she was fondly attached, had endangered the lives of her mother, self, and family, and had destroyed their little worldly property), to read to them the words of the living God, which announce and promise pardon and eternal life to every penitent believing sinner, through faith in Christ Jesus.

It is to be regretted, that Mr. Dudley either did not know, or omitted to add, whether any favourable results were the consequence of Mary's work of faith and labour of love. But as we are told in God's book, that " a man is accepted according to that he hath, and not according to that he hath not," "her record is on high," for "she did what she could:" and there is a day coming, when "the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed," and when " every one will be rewarded according to his works: " then will it be said to her, "It was well it was in thine heart."

Reader! hast thou not reason to be thank

ful, that thy lot is cast in a land where thou mayest freely and openly possess thy Bible, without fear of being burned in thy house for reading and believing it? The precepts of Jesus not only warrant thy having, but command thee to search the scriptures; telling thee, by one of his sent servants, that 'by faith they are able to make thee wise unto salvation." Dost thou ask what this wisdom is? where it comes from? The apostle James will answer both thy questions:-"The wisdom which is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." Did not Mary prove she was a possessor of this wisdom? Did not Mary prove she had learned of Christ meekness and forgiveness? to love her enemies, to forgive injuries, and not to return evil for evil; but to endeavour to overcome evil with good? Is not this to POSSESS THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST? And does not the apostle Paul say, "If any one have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his," let his professions of doctrine, his outward godliness, or his morality be what they may? Once more reflect on and copy Mary's unweariedness in doing good: in this also she followed Christ, who "went about doing good."

HYMN.

Father of mercies! in thy word,

What endless glory shines! For ever be thy name adored,

For these celestial lines. Here, springs of consolation rise, To cheer the fainting mind; Here, thirsty souls receive supplies, And sweet refreshment find. Oh! may these heavenly pages be My soul's sincere delight; And still new beauties may I see, And still increasing light. Divine Instructor! gracious Lord! Be thou for ever near; Teach me to love thy sacred word, And view my Saviour there.

CABINET.

Jesus Christ is the only desirable good. The common vote and voice of the world is this, Who will show us any good?-(Ps. iv. 6.) But why do you not say, who will show us Jesus Christ, who is indeed the only needful good, the all-sufficient good, the soul-satisfying good? Assure yourselves nothing under heaven can do you good with

out Him; nothing under heaven can be of good if you want him. What are riches without Jesus Christ? What is gold and silver without Jesus Christ, but rotten stinking dung? What are the most royal robes that ever were put on by the greatest Emperor without Jesus Christ? what are they but polluted clouts? What is the most princely palace without Jesus Christ, but a pest-house? What are birth, endowments, education, without Jesus Christ, but glittering sins? So your choicest comforts and accommodations without Jesus Christ, they are no better than gilded damnation. What are all your outward blessings without Christ? no better than curses.

POETRY.

THE MARTYRDOM OF RIDLEY AND LATIMER.

AT OXFORD-OCTOBER 16TH, 1555. [The spot where they suffered is still pointed out, in Broad Street, opposite Balliol College, and is marked by a cross.]

THEY stood beside a stake;

Their look was calm and high,
And no sign of fear from either brake,
Though there they stood to die.

Dark faces scowled around,

Loud curses rent the air;
But reck'd they not of sight or sound,
While moved their lips in prayer.

Within their bosoms glow'd

A pure and living flame;
And all erect and firm they stood,
To die for Jesu's name.

"My friend, be of good cheer,

And seek the man to play;
For never, I trust, will the fire be quench'd
That we'll kindle here to day!"

Three hundred years have pass'd,
That flame still blazes bright;
Nor hand of power, nor stormy blast,
Hath quenched that beacon-light.

And let it still burn on;

Let it blaze more bright more high;
For England's glory would be gone,
If e'er that flame should die.
Ay, mark with a cross the spot

Where those mitred men were led ;
And let not their names be e'er forgot
Amid England's honour'd dead.

Ye may rear the pile, if ye will,

To the holy martyrs' fame;

But the church for which they died is still A witness to their name.

And more high their record yet

They labour'd in God's word; Their hands unto his truth were set, And their work is with the Lord.

INTELLIGENCE.

"PRAY WITHOUT CEASING."-1 Thess. v. 17.

The Southwark Operative Protestant Association held their Whitmonday Festival in the National and Parochial School-room, Borough-road. As on the last occasion, the room was tastefully decorated with flags, and the words "No Popery" were beautifully festooned in choice flowers across the front of the platform. There was an excellent provision of tea and cakes, with their usual etceras; and after the feasting was over, the tea things were removed, and a meeting was held. The Rev. Henry O'Neal, M.A., in the chair. The meeting was addressed by the Rev. M. H. Seymour, Mr. Chapman, Mr. E. H. Stogden, and Mr. Sykes. A feeling of deep interest and satisfaction seemed to pervade the entire assembly.

City of London Tradesmen and Operative Protestant Association.-A Sermon will be preached (D.V.) on behalf of this Association, at St. Luke's Church, Old Street, by that uncompromising champion of the cause of truth, the Rev. R. J. McGhee, on Wednesday Evening, July 5th, 1843. Divine service will commence at half-past 6. A collection will be made at the doors.

ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. -The late pious and learned Bishop Burgess of Salisbury, as will be remembered by our clerical readers, addressed to the clergy of his diocese (St. David's) a letter, entitled "An Inquiry into the Origin of the Christian Church, and particularly of the Church in Britain," in which he clearly established, by the most abundant and satisfactory authorities, a few important facts, which, for the information of those who sometimes read the "page of history" the wrong way, it may not be amiss to transfer to our columns:-1. That St. Paul preached the Gospel of Christ in Britain about the 14th year of the reign of the Emperor Nero, A. D. 68. 2. That he appointed Aristobulus, mentioned in the Epistle to the Romans, as the first bishop, and established a complete episcopal form of church government. 3. That the Church of Britain thus established, was senior to that of Rome; Linus, the first bishop of the latter place, being appointed by the joint authority of Peter and Paul, in the year of their martyrdom, after his return from Britain. 4. That the church of Britain continued to be governed by its own bishops for 600 years, independent of any foreign church, and was found in the same state by Austin, the Pope's first missionary; at which time they had schools and churches, and a learned clergy, and were in a flourishing state, and utterly refused subjection to the Pope or his emissaries. 5. That the British church was the first Protestant church in the world, having, so early as 900 years before Luther, strongly protested against the errors of the Church of Rome, and refused to hold communion with that church. Their simplicity and purity of worship was such, that they would not even sit at the same table nor lodge under the same roof with the followers of Austin, on account of their superstitious and idolatrous ceremonies. These items are commended to the especial notice of those who talk of the Church of England beginning a "dubious existence in the reign of Henry VIII." Salopian Journal.

the direction of
ASSOCIATION,

PROTESTANT DEPOSITORY at 11, Exeter Hall;

And R. GROOMBRIDGE.

[Gilbert-street.

No. 41.

CONVERSATION

BETWEEN TWO FRIENDS ON THE DOCTRINES AND CEREMONIES OF THE CHURCH OF ROME.

(Concluded from p. 51.)

Mr. A.-You see we must first be in Christ as true believers, or in other words, we must be born again. "If any man be in Christ, (said the Apostle Paul,) he is a new creature ; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor. v. 7.) We are then saved; and because he has saved us, we begin to bring forth the fruits of good works to the glory of his name, and serve him to the utmost of our power to the end of our days. You know the gardener grafts a tree, not because it has borne good fruit, but in order that it may do so in future. Just so the believer is taken from a state of nature, grafted into Christ, the true vine, and planted in the garden of the Lord, to bring forth the fruits of the spirit while he remains below, and then to be transplanted to his kingdom above. Thus the moral image of God is restored to the soul, though subject to the opposition of the old nature, which requires the watchfulness, and constitutes the warfare, of the Christian; while from first to last, in the plan of salvation, God has all the glory. Now notice once more how the

VOL. IV.

Church of Rome has entirely reversed this the procuring cause of the favour of God, order; and by placing good works first, as she falls back again to all the inventions of self righteousness, that prevailed in the world before the light of the gospel was given to it. Can the Church of Rome then be the true Church, and the Spouse of Christ?-or is she Antichrist?

Mr. B.-I must confess she seems to have many of the marks of Antichrist; but I must look a little more into the word of God; I never thought it was so simple and plain before.

Mr. A.-Yes; and now, my dear friend, I leave you to search the Scriptures, which are able to make you 'wise unto salvation.' By the sick, the lame, and the blind, of whom we read in the New Testament, who prayed and entreated Christ to heal them, we are taught what we are to do-as they sought health for the body, so, he that would be saved, must seek health for the soul; and we know they never asked in vain. They were first healed, then told to go in peace and sin no more. I would advise you to read the gospels and epistles frequently and regularly through; and remember what we have recorded in St. Luke's Gospel, that the Saviour did for the disciples when he joined them in going to Emmaus; in the 24th chapter and 45th verse it is written,