blessed to Mr. Wilberforce, that he was revolutionised; he became a new man; and the witty songster, the joy and crown of Doncaster races, proved the Christian senator, and at length became the able advocate for abolishing the slave trade.

necessary a duty?" The landlord confessed that he had never thought of doing such a thing. "Then, sir," said Mr. R., "I must beg you to order my horse immediately." The landlord and family entreated him to stay, observing that the storm was as violent as when he first 170. Dreaming Convert.-A cancame in. "May be so," replied didate for admission to Church Mr. R., "but I had rather brave membership under the Rev. Row- the storm than venture to sleep in land Hill being required to give a house where there is no prayer. some account of his first impressions Who can tell what may befall us as to the evil of sin and the need before morning? No, sir, I dare of the Gospel, related a dream by not stay." The landlord at last which he had been affected and said he should have no objection led to serious inquiry, to the hear-to "call his family together," but ing of sermons, &c. When he had he should not know what to do ended, Mr. Hill said, "We do not wish to despise a good man's dreams by any means; but we will tell you what we think of the dream, after we have seen how you go on when you are awake."

when they came. Mr. R. then proposed to conduct family worship. He called for a Bible, but no such book could be produced. However, he was enabled to supply the deficiency, as he always carried a small Bible in his pocket. He read a portion of Scripture, and prayed with much fervour and solemnity. When he rose from his knees, almost every individual present was bathed in tears, and the inquiry was awakened in several hearts-" Sir, what must we do to be saved? Much interesting and profitable conversation ensued. The following morning, Mr. R. again conducted family worship, and obtained from the landlord a promise, that however feebly performed, it should not in future be omitted. This day was indeed the beginning of days to that family; most, if not all of them, henceforth became decided and devout followers of the

171. Family Prayer. The Rev. John Ryland, of Northampton, being on a journey, was overtaken by a violent storm, and compelled to take shelter in the first inn he came to. The people of the house would fain have showed him into the parlour, but, being very wet and cold, he begged permission rather to take a seat by the fireside with the family. The good old man was friendly, cheerful, and well stored with entertaining anecdotes, and the family did their utmost to make him comfortable; they supped together, and seemed mutually pleased with each other. At length, when the hour of rest approached, the stranger appeared uneasy, and looked up every time a door opened, as if expecting the appearance of 172. Infidel and Prophecy.something essential to his comfort. Lord Rochester was for many years His host informed him that his of his life an avowed infidel, and chamber was prepared. "But," said a large portion of his time was he, "you have not had your family spent in ridiculing the Bible. together." "Had my family to-One of his biographers has described gether! for what purpose? I don't know what you mean," said the landlord. "To read the Scriptures, and to pray with them," replied the guest: "surely you do not retire to rest in the omission of sọ

Lord Jesus Christ.

him as "a great wit, a great sinner, and a great penitent." Even this man was converted by the Holy Spirit in the use of his Word. Reading the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, he was convinced of the

truth and inspiration of the Scriptures, the Deity of the Messiah, and the value of His atonement as a rock on which sinners may build their hopes of salvation.

melted his heart to repentance, and caused him to linger at the spot in a state of mind which he only who compares the wretchedness of guilt with the happiness of former innocence can truly feel. He said he never left the place without increased fears of futurity, associated as ho was, although I believe by force, with a band of the most desperato villains that ever annoyed the Florida coast. At length he was induced to escape from his vessel, abandon his turbulent companions, and return to a family deploring his absence. After paying a parting visit to those wells, and listening

Zenaida dove, he poured out his soul in humble supplication for mercy, and once more became an honest and religious man.'

173. Infidel and the New Testament. A converted sceptic writes the following:-"My father, who was frequently reading the New Testament, and had long observed with grief the progress I had made in infidelity, had put that book in my way in his library, in order to attract my attention, if it might please God to bless his design, though without giving me the least intimation of it. Here, once more to the cooings of the therefore, I unwittingly opened the New Testament, thus providentially laid before me. At the very first view, as I was deeply engaged in other thoughts, that grand chapter of the evangelist and apostle presented itself to me, In the beginning was the Word,' &c. I read part of the chapter, and was so affected that I instantly became struck with the divinity of the argument, and the majesty and authority of the composition, as infinitely surpassing the highest flights of human eloquence. My body shuddered; my mind was all in amazement; and I was agitated the whole day that I scarce knew who I was. Thou didst remember me, O Lord my God, according to Thy boundless mercy, and didst bring back the lost sheep to Thy flock.' From that day God wrought so mightily in me by the power of His Spirit, that I began to have less relish for all other studies and pursuits, and bent myself with greater ardour and attention to everything which had a relation to God."

SO

175. Renewed Heart.-A clergyman, having made several attempts to reform a profligate, was at length repulsed with, "It is all in vain, doctor; you cannot get me to "I do not change my religion." want that," replied the good man; "I wish religion to change you."

176. Scoffer Smitten. - When Whitefield was addressing an immense crowd with his accustomed fervour and eloquence, under the shade of a tree in the meadows at Edinburgh, a man, thinking to turn him into ridicule, had perched himself on one of the overhanging boughs right above the preacher's head, and, with monkey-like dexterity, mimicking his gesticulations, endeavoured to raise a laugh among the audience. Guided by the looks of some of his hearers, Whitefield caught a glance of him, but, without seeming to have noticed him, continued his discourse. He was ex174. Pirate and the Doves.-An patiating at the moment on the eminent naturalist says:-"A man power and sovereignty of Divino' who was once a pirate assured me grace. With gathering force and that several times, while at certain earnestness he told of the unlikely wells dug in the burning shelly objects it had often chosen, and sands, the soft and melancholy cry the unlooked-for triumphs it had of the doves awoke in his breast achieved. As he rose to the climax feelings that had long slumbered, of his inspiring theme, he suddenly

paused, and, turning round and pointing slowly to the wretch above him, exclaimed, in a tone of deep and thrilling pathos, "Even he may yet be the subject of that free and resistless grace." It was a shaft from the Almighty. Winged by the Divine Spirit, it struck the scoffer to the heart, and realised, in his conversion, the glorious truth it contained.

left the place, while he himself remained to the end. Now, mark, my brethren," continued the preacher, with much emotion, "what were afterwards the several fates of these young men. The first was hanged many years ago for the crime of forgery; the second is now lying under sentence of death for murder in the gaol of this city. The third, my brethren"-and the speaker's agitation here became excessive, while he paused and wiped the large drops from his brow-"the third, my brethren, is he who is now about to address you-listen to him."

177. Scoffing Youths. An eminent minister recently went to preach at a little town on the West Coast. After the usual prayers and praises, the preacher read his text, and was about to proceed with his sermon, when he suddenly paused, 178. Sermon to One Hearer.leaning his head on the pulpit, and The well-known American divine, remained silent for a few moments. Dr. Beecher, once engaged to It was imagined that he had be- preach for a country minister on come indisposed; but he soon exchange, and the Sabbath proved recovered himself, and, addressing to be one excessively stormy, cold, the congregation, said that before and uncomfortable. It was in midentering upon his discourse he winter, and the snow was piled all begged to narrate to them a short along in the roads, so as to make anecdote. "It is now exactly the passage very difficult. Still fifteen years," said he, "since I the minister urged his horse through was last within this place of wor- the drifts, put the animal into a ship; and the occasion was, as shed, and went into the little rural many here may probably re- chapel. As yet there was no person member, the very same as that in the place, and, after looking which has now brought us together. about, the preacher took his seat in Amongst those who came hither the pulpit. Soon the door opened, that evening were three dissolute and a single individual walked up young men, who came not only the aisle, looked about, and took a with the intention of insulting and seat. The hour came for commenmocking the venerable pastor, but cing service, but no more hearers even with stones in their pockets appeared. Whether to preach to to throw at him as he stood in the such an audience was a question pulpit. Accordingly, they had not attended long to the discourse, when one of them said impatiently, 'Why need we listen any longer to the blockhead ?-throw!' But the second stopped him, saying, 'Let us first see what he makes of this point.' The curiosity of the latter was no sooner satisfied than he too said, 'Ay, confound him, it is only as I expected-throw now!' But here the third interposed, and said, 'It would be better altogether to give up the design which has brought us here.' At this remark his two associates took offence, and

and it was one that Lyman Beecher was not long deciding He went through all the services, praying, singing, preaching, and the benediction, with only ong hearer. When all was over, he hastened down from the desk to speak to his "congregation," but he had departed. Travelling in Ohio, twenty years afterwards, the doctor alighted from the stage one day in a pleasant village, when a gentleman stepped up and spoke to him, familiarly calling him by name. "I do not remember you," said the doctor. "I suppose not," said the

182. Swearing Soldier.-As the 180. Speaking a Word for Christ. Rev. William Wilson, of Perth, was -Dr. Payson, an American minister, passing one evening along the was once going to one of the towns streets of that town, three soldiers in Maine for the purpose of attend- happened to walk behind him who ing a ministers' meeting, accom- were indulging in the utterance of panied by a friend, when they had the most profane and blasphemous occasion to call at a house on the language. One of them, on some journey, where Dr. Payson was frivolous account, declared it to be unknown. The family had just his wish that God Almighty might sat down to tea, and the lady of doom his soul to hell to all the house, in the spirit of genuine eternity. Mr. Wilson immediately itality, invited the strangers turned round, and with a look of

On

dignity and compassion, said, "Poor go in without being observed. man, and what if God should say opening the door he was struck Amen, and answer that prayer?" with awe at the solemn silence of Mr. Wilson passed on. The man the place, though it was much seemed to stand petrified, and, on crowded. Every eye was fixed on the going home to his quarters, was in preacher, who was about to begin such distraction of mind and feeling, his discourse. The new-comer's that he knew not whither to turn attention was caught by the text, for relief. He was soon afterwards "I discerned among the youths a seized with fever, under which he young man void of understanding." continued to suffer the most awful (Prov. vii. 7.) His conscience was forebodings of eternal misery. smitten by the power of truth. His case was so singular that many He saw that he was the young man Christians went to visit him, to described. A view of his profligate whom he invariably said he was life passed before his eyes, and, for sure of being beyond the reach the first time, he trembled under of mercy, and that God had sent the feeling of sin. He remained His angel to tell him so. One of in the church till the preacher them asked him to describe the and congregation had passed out; appearance of the person who had then slowly returned to his home. pronounced this doom upon him. He had early received infidel He did so, and the visitant, at once principles, but the Holy Spirit, who perceiving that he must have seen had aroused him in his folly, led Mr. Wilson, inquired if he would him to a constant attendance on wish again to see him. "Oh," the ministry of Dr. B., who had said he, "I would wish above been the instrument of awakening everything to see him, but he will his mind. He cast away his benot come near a wretch like me." setting sin, and gave himself to Mr. Wilson was soon brought, and a life of virtue and holiness. told him the way of salvation through Christ crucified, and encouraged him to flee to Him for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope set before him. His words being accompanied by Divine power, the poor soldier was enabled to believe in Christ, and thus found peace and

comfort to his troubled soul.

184. Two Soldiers. Some years ago, two soldiers, belonging to one of the regiments of the British army stationed at Gibraltar, were brought to a saving knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. While living in this secluded spot, with few opportunities of hearing the Word preached, they were led to 183. Thoughtless Youth Ar- read it together, and the voice of rested. While the Rev. Dr. God, speaking in His written Word, Bedell, of Philadelphia, was con- touched one of their hearts. The ducting Divine service one Sabbath conversion of the other soon folmorning, a young man passed by lowed. One evening, these two with a number of companions as soldiers were placed as sentries at gay and thoughtless as himself. the opposite ends of a sally-port or One of them proposed to go into long passage leading from the Rock the church, saying, "Let us go and to the Spanish territory. One of hear what this man that every- them, as we have already seen, was body is running after has to say." rejoicing in God his Saviour, while The young man made this awful the other was in a very anxious answer, "No, I would not go into state of mind, and, under strong such a place if Christ Himself was conviction of sin, earnestly seeking preaching." Some weeks afterwards, pardon. That evening, an officer he was again passing the church, of the garrison, returning home at and being alone, and having a late hour, came up to the sentry nothing to do, he thought he would outside the sally-port, who was the