this nature; very possibly your address however short in comparison of the cause, may be quite long enough in the apprehension of many; but that your address, even though occupying half or three quarters of an hour, may really appear short, it should be clear, well arranged, and all bearing directly upon the one point of promoting the Society's interests; and this will require attention to various particulars.

1. There should be a clear and succinct statement of the Society's nature and object; and this should exactly accord with the Society's fundamental rules, which you can either quote or state in your own words. Never take it for granted that the whole meeting are well acquainted with the Society. This is generally a great mistake. Old subscribers die off. Fresh faces continually appear: many come from novelty, or as companions in a party; some from mere curiosity or amusement. Take care that all such shall know the real character of your Society. Most of the objections raised, especially in modern times, arise from ignorance of the fundamental laws of our several Institutions. People talk of the Bible Society having been formed to conciliate and unite Dissenters; but its sole object was to circulate the Holy Scriptures. Conciliation and union was for a time a most gratifying though unexpected result. That less harmony prevails now than formerly only evinces how much ignorance of Bible principles still remains, and should stimulate us to increasing zeal in the Bible cause, and more fervent prayer for the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit by whose inspiration the Bible was written, and whose grace is indispensable that men may read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the sacred word. So people speak of the Church Missionary Society as professing to be an institution established by Church

authority, instead of being as it really is, a Society for Missions, conducted by Ministers and Members of the Church of England, and employing churchmen, whether lay or clerical, to make known in distant lands those truths and ordinances which are established amongst us. Our Church, as a Church, has never established any Mission among the Heathen.

But take care not to dwell on these points. Point out as plainly and briefly as may be the Society's real object, and proceed :

2. Clearly to state the Society's operations.

Now here beware of entering too much into detail. No one can attend Bible, or Church Missionary Meetings, without often feeling that the travelling agents attempt too much. You cannot reduce all the matter in the world into a nutshell. Let therefore your general outline of operations be brief. The Home and Foreign exertions of the Bible Society may be summarily stated. The eleven Missions of the Church Missionary Society may be recounted. The receipts and expenditure, the number of Bibles and Testaments in English or Foreign tongues, the distribution in Ireland; on the continent, in the East Indies, &c. the number of missionaries, congregations, schools, may be summed up in short space. If you mean to produce effect, you must here study brevity, and prepare your outline carefully before hand. But when you have given this brief and general view of the Society's operations, proceed :

3. To state more particularly what is doing in some one important field. This field you can vary in different places, and by bringing forth the latest and most interesting intelligence from the field to which you advert, will produce a deep impression. Most probably you may be able to bring forwards some striking instance of success; some encouraging anec

dote ; or some apt illustration which may interest your hearers far more than any statements or arguments which you may advance. But take care not to preface your anecdotes with any statement of their being very striking or interesting, perhaps your audience may not view them in the same light ; beware also of making long extracts from letters, or what is still more wearisome, from printed documents which may be in your auditor's possession. If you use such materials at all, carefully confine yourself to the leading points, omit all the unnecessary parts, and take only those particulars which may produce effect. For this purpose, study your anecdotes before you come to the platform; and if you write out a few on slips of paper in a clear and legible hand, you may at any time recur to them, and by selecting such as are appropriate to the field on which you are enlarging, will find that an old tale well told is always acceptable.

4. I should not advise any direct reference to objections, unless there is reason to suppose they prevail to any extent in the particular neighbourhood. When the real nature, object, and operations of our great Societies are stated, these petty objections vanish. There are doubtless spots in the sun, but they rarely if ever affect its glorious light and heat. You should at the same time be prepared with a mild and temperate answer, or explanation on all the leading objections; friends will sometimes feel embarrassment, or difficulties which you may be able to explain; and enemies will sometimes obtrude, whose opposition may generally afford an opening for more strongly recommending the Society for which you plead. Many of the old objections are indeed answered by circumstances. The necessity for the Bible Society was once denied on the plea of the

plenteousness of Bibles. The circulation of eleven millions of Bibles or Testaments by that Society; together with the immensely increased distribution of the Christian Knowledge Society, have not yet diminished the demand. While those who really reverence the episcopal order, will pause in censuring the Bible, the Church Missionary, the Jewish, the Hibernian, or other Societies, when they perceive that some twenty or thirty of our most intelligent, active, pious, and learned prelates, have publicly patronised and advocated those several institutions; our Church may surely be safely trusted in the hands of a Porteus, a Barrington, a Ryder, a Burgess, a Magee, Trench, Sumner,

&c.

It may be well for you to have a private list of the prelates who have supported, and of those who have opposed our great institutions, which you may privately exhibit to an objector, and put it to his own judgment to decide, which party are most deserving of confidence. But this should be in private confidence; opponents of rank and authority must be cautiously handled at all times, and especially on the platform, lest we should unwarily speak evil of our rulers.

5. When you approach the close of your speech, never begin again. I forgot is a bad expression. Remember you cannot say every thing; perhaps what you have omitted, may be taken up by another. If not, and it is really important, you may be allowed a few sentences towards the close. Indeed, if your first speech is short, there will often be time for a few closing remarks; for explanation of things imperfectly or erroneously stated by others; for an interesting anecdote or two which may fix in the mind of the auditory before they separate. The late Rev. J. Owen was a master in this respect; I never knew his equal; he has scarcely left a suc

cessor; but his second speeches were worth two of his first. In correcting anything which has been misstated, great delicacy is required to avoid giving pain; it will often be advisable to make no reference to the speaker, but to explain the matter as a circumstance which has sometimes been misunderstood.

It is important to attend to manner as well as to matter. Many speakers err exceedingly in the management of their voice; they thus exhaust themselves, distress others, and often defeat the end they have in view. I know a very able man, whose speeches are always to the point, who has every qualification of a good and efficient speaker, but the modulation of his voice; and this is to me so painful as to be scarcely endurable. He preaches in a large church, but he speaks with the same intenseness in a room of thirty feet, as in a church of one hundred and fifty; he thus exhausts himself and annoys others. Guard against this. Begin low and leisurely, gradually raise your tone if necessary; but speak slower in proportion as you speak louder; and in a room of any size, sustain your voice well at the close of your sentences. Have suitable pauses in your address, and begin a little lower each time; by this means you will command attention far more than by being obstreporous.

Do not dwell on small and unimportant words, but try to render those emphatical, which are really of consequence. You may not succeed at once; but in proportion as you are master of your subject, and obtain a certain degree of self-possession, you will gradually acquire a simplicity of manner, which will enable you to speak with more effect and less physical exertion.

In advocating your cause in the pulpit, you may perhaps derive hints from the preceding ob

servations. Bring forward the truths of the gospel plainly and clearly, but do not dwell on topics which the minister, whose place you occupy, continually inculcates. Remember you are to advocate a particular cause, and strive to render your audience fully acquainted with its nature and merits, and consequent claims for support, "Your friend,' said a correspondent to me on one occasion,' preached an admirable sermon at our church last night, but it had nothing to do with the society. Had it not been for the bills announcing the institution, I do not believe the congregation could have conjectured whether they were giving their money to the Hibernian Society, the Reformation Society, or the collection for the distressed Irish.' This is a great mistake.

In the pulpit, on the platform, or in the parlour, maintain the same character. Be serious, devout, cheerful, patient, prayerful. You may be called to lead the family devotions, let your expositions be short but very plain; and try as much as possible to select your portion of scripture from one of the lessons for the day; in your prayers, embrace the cases of all around;-the society, your host and his partner, the dear children; don't forget the servants; pray especially for grace and wisdom at, and a blessing upon, the meeting, sermons, &c. Take with you a few useful books or tracts, and give freely, especially to children and servants. You may thus cast bread upon the waters, which may be found after many days.

The Lord give you grace, and wisdom, and abundant success. GAIUS.

P.S.-Take care as soon as you arrive at one station, to enquire about conveyances, and secure a plan for the next town in your route; by this precaution you may sometimes save the society the expence of a postchaise, or yourself the danger of travelling outside, when you are perhaps feverish from over exertion.

IF, on reading this little narrative, any poor person should learn the duty of industry and honesty, from the reference to the miracle wrought for one of the sons of the prophets, who lamented the loss of his axe, not only because he could not proceed with his work, but because it was the property of another, and he had not wherewith to replace it; and if any distressed soul, whatever may be the distress, should be encouraged to call upon God, with whom nothing is small if it relate to the glory of his name, and the good of those who trust in him-or, if any Christian have his faith confirmed in a particular providence, and in the marvellous condescension of the Most High in listening to prayer; and so continue to trust in him at all times, to pour out his heart before him, to show him of his trouble, and to make him his refuge. Or, if any visitor of the poor and needy, and ignorant, be led to speak a word in season to their neighbours, and to direct them to the Holy Scriptures, that, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, they may come to the knowledge of themselves and the knowledge of their Saviour, and then to desire to honour his holy name. If these effects, by the divine blessing, be produced, the Christian friend who visited this poor woman will not have communicated the interesting fact in vain.

There are some things in Christian experience, and in the interposition of divine providence, of which it may be said, "Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God, and be thankful." But, though some minds may regard this as a case of that description, it is at the same time so encouraging to prayer, that it appears desirable to preserve it in print.

Ann Tucker, the subject of this short story, camé under my notice, about the year 1822; in consequence of my taking a missionary district, which had been previously visited by a lady, who was obliged to resign her office, by reason, I believe, of ill health, or some domestic impediment. I found the subscribers for the most part punctual in their payments, but none more so than Ann Tucker, whose penny was always safely deposited in a tea cup, on the shelf, ready for my calling: this surprised me the more, because I found her perfectly ignorant on the subject. I therefore inquired, how it was, that her penny was always ready; to which she replied, that her husband desired her, when the ladies called for the penny for the commissioners, to be sure always to have it ready.

It was my general practice on these occasions, to lend some tract or book, which I exchanged weekly; thus securing, in most instances, its perusal. On asking Ann Tucker one morning, for the tract I had lent her, and observing that she produced it from rather a secluded corner, I thought it possible that she might have been too much occupied to read it; and I said, if you have not quite done with it, I can leave it another week;' to which she replied, ́ O yes, maʼam, read it! yes to be sure, I always read it the first thing; I like the books. I've got a very good heart.' Indeed, said I, that is more than I can say, and I think if you were to look more into your heart, you would not find it so good. Do you know what God's word says about our hearts? If you will hand me your Bible, I will shew you what it says. I then found out for her that verse in Jer. xvii. 9. "The heart is deceitful above all things,

and desperately wicked, who can know it?" Also that text in Mark vii. 21. "For from within, out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness all these evil things come from within, and they defile the man." I then proceeded to shew her how the heart became so defiled and polluted; and the absolute necessity of its being cleansed, purified, and renewed, before it could enter heaven; because God's word also said, ،، without holiness, no man shall see the Lord."

The following Monday and Tuesday were very wet, and some domestic engagement occurring the two following days, it was Friday afternoon before I visited my dis

trict.

On shaking the latch of Ann's humble dwelling, I heard not the approach of footsteps, nor even the usual welcome, come in.' I lifted the latch gently, and looked in, and seeing no one, I advanced a few steps; thinking she might be in the little yard, at the back of the house; but still could see no one. At length I heard heavy footsteps descending the creaking stairs, which I found to be those of a kind neighbour, who said, as she came into the room, ، Well, I thought we should have lost her. I never thought she would have got up again. I have just made her bed, but she was too weak to sit up at all. On inquiring into the nature of her illness, I found that a most rapid and alarming inflammation had taken place, which had brought her apparently, so near the borders of the grave, that the medical man who attended her, had expressed the utmost surprise at her surviving it. I told her neighbour I was very sorry she had been ill so many days, without our being acquainted with the circumstance; as we should have been glad to

have sent her such things as would have been acceptable, and were indeed necessary for her; and having requested her to send down to us for some gruel, &c., I left the house, not thinking it prudent to attempt an interview, as she had just experienced the fatigue of having her bed made; and therefore, promising to call the next day.

I was permitted to fulfil my promise, and found her in a most reduced state. I told her how sorry I was to hear how ill she had been; spoke to her of the uncertainty of life, and remarked how soon, in the midst of health, we might be laid on a sick bed, as had been the case with herself. 'O,' said she, I have been ill indeed. I never suffered such pain before.' And then in a tone and manner peculiar to herself, added, the pains of my body were nothing, nothing to what I felt in my mind. All you said about my sinful heart, came into my head, and I thought I was going-dip into. hell! O, I can't tell you what horror I was in. O, it was dread ful, it was dreadful!'

6

How different, said I, would have been your feelings, if, instead of fearing hell, you had been sure of heaven. O, but that would have been impossible,' was her reply, no one can tell how it will be, till it is all over. You are quite mistaken, I said; many of the Lord's people are so certain of future blessedness, and so full of joy at the thought of being for ever with the Lord, that they have scarcely felt their pain. I once had a brother who died of a similar disease, as that by which you have been suffering, after only six days illness, and yet he could look round upon us, and exclaim with a smile, I'm going to glory, through the blood of the Lamb. There I shall sing for ever, free grace and dying love. rock, I'm on the rock.'

I'm on the