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 "General, I shall do it," replied horse, the heroic rider lost his seat, the officer, who received the order and was swallowed up with the two to immolate himself with as much unfortunate men he was endeavour- calmness as if it had been a simple ing to save. What a noble death military evolution. The prediction in such a cause! of Kléber was but too fatally verified. The brave officer arrested the 1146. Soldierly Devotion.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 1148. Bible Shield.-An English only person they thought likely to soldier named Samuel Proctor alsave them was the King of Poland, ways carried a small pocket Bible John Sobieski, and they sent en- in one pocket and his hymn-book treating him to come to their help. in the other. He took part in the They knew that he could only struggle on the plains of Waterloo come to them over the northern in 1815. On the evening of June mountains, and day after day they 16th, in the tremendous conflict on rose early, and watched for the that day, his regiment was ordered first morning light, in the hope of to dislodge the French from a wood seeing the Polish army on the of which they had taken possession, mountains. It was anxious waiting, and from which they annoyed the but hope sustained them. The Allied Army. While thus engaged, siege began in July; on the 11th he was thrown a distance of four of September some weary watchers or five yards by a force on his hip, were looking out from the ramparts for which he could not account at to the mountain of Kalimburg, the time, but when he came to engaged in boiling their rice for an offering, when one of them who went for water fell into the well. As soon as the circumstance was made known to the crowd, they rushed to the well, and among them was the priest of the temple, who, as soon as he had gratified his curiosity, returned to the temple. None among them manifested the least concern for the unfortunate man who was sunk in examine his Bible, he saw, with overwhelming gratitude to the Preserver of his life, what it was that had thus driven him. A musketball had struck his hip where his Bible rested in his pocket, and penetrated nearly half through that sacred book. All who saw the ball said that it would undoubtedly have killed him, had it not been for the Bible, which served for a shield. "That Bible," said Proctor, "has twice saved me instrumentally-the water. Not an individual first from death in battle, and second from death eternal." 66 seemed to think assistance could 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 some one to dive into the water, of the Rev. C. Simeon, he had been which any person accustomed to 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 priest, who was known to be an greatly blessed to enlighten his 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 the well. After repeatedly diving, not bear them one moment longer.' he found the body, and raised it to Accordingly, I sought to lay my the surface of the water, from sins upon the sacred head of Jesus, which it was taken by the byand 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! From that hour peace flowed 1150. Courage of a Convert.A multitude of worshippers assembled at a temple in Ceylon were 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. 1151. Daring Exploit.-In the year 1819, a Mr. Budlong, his wife, child, sister, and brother-in-law, were returning in a sleigh on the 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. 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 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 drawing himself again on to the firm ice, he plunged again to the 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 broke with such violence as to boat pushed off, and reached the 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, tion in the cause of humanity, their sense of this undaunted exerand that the current had carried him below the aperture, with a sword of the value of two hundred presented Captain Hood with a degree of presence of mind seldom equalled, straining every nerve, he guineas. 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 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 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 perfected praise '?" rejoined the youth; upon which the preacher quitted the pulpit in wrathful confusion, breathing out threatenings against the poor boy, who was instantly thrown into prison, "where he still lies," says the writer of the letter giving this account, which was dated on the 31st of December, 1546. well imagine that I did not con- them to purchase heaven by the sider this was the proper time for merit of their good works. A boy admonition. The disposition of who was present exclaimed, “That's our poor young friend was such blasphemy, for the Bible tells us that nothing was left for me but to that Christ purchased heaven by pray silently to Him who is able to His sufferings and death, and beraise from stones children unto stowed it on us freely by His merits." Abraham, and to soften and melt A dispute of considerable length the heart of man, to open his under- ensued between the youth and the standing, and to touch his heart. preacher. Provoked at the perFrom that day till he left Ireland tinent replies of his juvenile opwith his regiment, he never ceased ponent, and at the favourable relaughing and joking on the same ception which the audience gave subject, telling us at the same time them, "Get you gone, you young that he was very sorry not to think rascal!" exclaimed the monk; "you as we did. He loved us, indeed, as are but just come from the cradle, we loved him, and parted from us and will you take it upon you to with tears in his eyes. His regi-judge sacred things which the most ment was ordered to the West learned cannot explain ?" "Did Indies, and two years or more fol- you ever read: 'Out of the mouth lowed without our hearing anything of babes and sucklings Thou hast of him. But one day a mourning letter, bearing the West Indian post-mark, was put into my hands. It was in an unknown handwriting. Alas! it was from the Colonel of the regiment of our young friend, who had been carried away prematurely from the scene of this world of sorrow. His Colonel told us that he had the sorrowful privilege to be by the bedside of the young officer when he was called to a better world, and had received from him the commission to write to his parents, friends, and principally to us, after his death. Write,' he said, 'to my dear friend. Tell him that I have learned to go to the waters to buy without money and without any price, wine and milk; that those very words which formerly excited so much my contempt and mirth are the very words which latterly, and now in this serious hour, give me peace and comfort; for I understand now that salvation is the gratuitous gift of our God, that we have nothing whatever to give for it, and that happy, very happy are those who, in the simplicity of their hearts, accept this precious gift."" 1155. Good Works.-An Observantine monk, preaching one day in Imola, told the people it behoved 1156. Grace of God.-An officer during an engagement received a ball which struck him near his waistcoat pocket, where a piece of silver stopped the progress of the nearly spent ball. The coin was slightly marked at the words "Dei gratia. This providential circumstance him to read a tract, which his bedeeply impressed his mind, and led loved and pious sister gave him on leaving his native land, entitled "The Sin and Danger of Neglecting the Saviour." This tract it pleased God to bless to his conversion. 1157. "He Redeemed Me."— The tears of a slave girl, just going to be put up for sale, drew the notice of a gentleman as he passed through the auction mart of a Southern Slave State. The other slaves of the same group, standing in a line for sale like herself, did not seem to care about it, while each knock of the hammer made |