timents, or making known her resolution finally to leave it.

"The manager of the theatre called upon her one morning, and requested her to sustain the principal character in a new play which was to be performed the next week for his benefit. She had frequently performed this character to general admiration; but she now, however, told him her resolution never to appear as an actress again, at the same time giving her reasons. At first he attempted to overcome her scruples by ridicule, but this was unavailing; he then represented the loss he should incur by her refusal, and concluded his arguments by promising, that if to oblige him she would act on this occasion, it should be the last request of the kind he would ever make. Unable to resist his solicitations, she promised to appear, and on the appointed evening went to the theatre. The character she assumed required her, on her first entrance, to sing a song; and when the curtain was drawn up, the orchestra immediately began the accompaniment; but she stood as if lost in thought, and as one forgetting all around her, and her own situation. The music ceased, but she did not sing; and supposing her to be overcome by embarrassment, the band again commenced. A second time they paused for her to begin, and still she did not open her lips. A third time the air was played, and then, with clasped hands, and eyes suffused with tears, she sang, not the words of the song, but

'Depth of mercy! can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?'

"It is almost needless to add, that the performance was suddenly ended; many ridiculed, though some were induced from that memorable night to 'consider their ways,' and to reflect on the wonderful power of that religion which could so influence the heart and change the life of one hitherto so vain, and so evidently pursuing the road which leadeth to destruction.

- was as

"It would be satisfactory to the reader to know, that the change in Miss permanent as it was singular; she walked consistently with her profession of religion for many years, and at length became the wife of a minister of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."

From this beautiful and touching narrative it is seen how little truth suffices, where the hand of God is present to subdue the spirit and recover a lost soul. It is pleasing and encouraging also to observe how Providence works to the conversion of the objects of its eternal choice. Scarcely could any one have been more completely excluded from all reasonable hope of conversion than the lady of whom we have been speaking, her profession, her society, the habits and character of all around her was in the fullest sense of the expression, worldly, everything was steeped in the world, and largely soaked with sensuality and varied sin; yet we see how a simple couplet issuing from the chinks of a cottage window were able to pierce the heart as the sword of God, and commenced that change which issued so happily for herself and for others. The smallest portion of truth carried home with the Spirit of the Lord may suffice for the awakening, but the awakened soul may remain for a considerable time unenlightened. It does not appear that this lady, when she left the stage was enlightened to the extent of understanding the ground of human hopethe glorious gospel; but she was enlightened to the extent of seeing the guilt of sin, the danger of her own course, and the necessity of fleeing for refuge to the Divine mercy. matters of experience this is a very important point-a little truth under the influence of the Divine Spirit will go a great way to work mighty results; and whenever there is life there will be penitence, and such penitence will not fail to issue in faith, with the peace, hope, joy, and complete salvation which it brings.

In

"TRAIN UP A CHILD," ETC.

We do not know when we have felt the truth contained in the sentiment of the above proverb more distinctly, than in listening to the conversation of a gentleman a few evenings since, who related several anecdotes of the great men of our country, Among others, he mentioned that the late John Quincy Adams stated to his minister a few months before his decease, that he had never failed, before going to sleep, to repeat the little prayer taught him by his mother in infancy :

"Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
If I should die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take."

IMPORTANT HINT TO PARENTS. Few parents realize how much their children may be taught at home, by devoting a few minutes to their instruction every day. Let a parent make the experiment with his son of ten years old, for a single week, and only during the hours which are not spent in school. Let

him make a companion of his child, converse with him familiarly, put to him questions, answer inquiries, communicate facts, the result of his reading or observation, awaken his curiosity, explain difficulties, the meaning of things, and the reason of things, and all this in an easy, playful manner, without seeming to impose a task, and he will himself be astonished at the progress which will be made.

MY MOTHER'S VOICE.
My mother's voice! how oft doth creep
Its cadence on my lonely hours,
Like healing sent on wings of sleep,
Or dew on the unconscious flowers.
I might forget her melting prayer
While pleasure's pulses madly fly;
But in the still, unbroken air,

Her gentle tones comes stealing by-
And years of sin and manhood flee,

And leave me at my mother's knee.

PARENTAL PRAYER.

It is related of the parents of the Rev. Dr.

Finley, that it was their practice, soon after the birth of each of their children, to set apart a day for prayer that it might be an heir of eternal life; and that they had the happiness of seeing their eight children-seven of whom were sons-distinguished by their piety in youth, and growing in grace as their years increased. "Most of them lived to an advanced age, were useful in their several spheres, and greatly respected and beloved on account of their Christian character."

MY FATHER BLESSED ME.

My father raised his trembling hand,

And laid it on my head:
"God bless thee, O, my son, my son,"
Most tenderly he said.

He died, and left no gems or gold,
But still I was his heir-

For that rich blessing which he gave
Became a fortune rare.

Still, in my weary hours of toil

To earn my daily bread,

It gladdens me in thought to feel
His hand upon my head.

Though infant tongues to me have said,
"Dear father!" oft since then,
Yet when I bring that scene to mind,
I'm but a child again.

OUR STEWARDSHIP. "Our children," says Bishop Horne, "relations, friends, honours, houses, lands, and endowments, the goods of nature and fortune, nay, even of grace itself, are only lent. It is our misfortune," and he might have added, our sin, "to fancy they are given. We start, therefore, and are angry when the loan is called in. We think ourselves masters, when we are only stewards, and forget that to each of us it will one day be said, 'Give an account of thy stewardship.'"

THE WORK OF PARENTS.

The father and mother of an unnoticed family, who in their seclusion awaken the mind of one child to the idea and love of goodness, who awaken in him a strength of will to repel temptation, and who send him out prepared to profit by the conflicts of life, surpass in influence a Napoleon breaking the world to his sway.

A THOUGHT FOR PARENTS. It is poor encouragement to toil through life to amass a fortune to ruin your children. In nine cases out of ten, a large fortune is the greatest curse which could be bequeathed to the young and inexperienced.

"THY WILL BE DONE."

Dr. Payson, when racked with pain, exclaimed, "O, what a blessed thing it is to lose one's will: since I have lost my will, I have found happiness. There can be no such thing as disappointments to me, for I have no desires but that God's will may be accomplished." To live thus obedient to Divine Providence, is to have the spirit of the prayer, "Thy will be done on earth," and the practice of those who do" as it is in heaven."

HOW TO LIVE.

So live, that when thy summons comes to join

The innumerable caravan, that moves

To that mysterious realm, where each shall take

His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go, not like the quarry slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but sustained and
soothed

By an unfaltering trust in Him who came
To guide thee to immortal joys above!

TEN RULES OF LIFE.

1. Never put off till to-morrow what can be done to-day. 2. Never trouble others to do what you can do yourself. 3. Never spend your money before you have it. 4. Never buy what you do not want because it is cheap. 5. Pride costs as much as hunger, thirst, and cold. 6. We never repent of eating too little. 7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly. 8. How much pain those evils cost us which never happen! 9. Take things by their smooth handle. 10. When angry, always count ten before you speak.

AN EXCELLENT RULE.

In the memoir of the late Dr. Milner, one of his resolutions, as stated, is, "To adhere religiously to a determination which I formed at the moment of commencing business, never to incur a debt which I have the remotest apprehension of being unable or even finding it inconvenient to discharge; and, in order constantly to possess the means of keeping this resolution, whatever my income may be, always to live within it."

IDLE VISITS.

The idle levy a very heavy tax upon the industrious when, by frivolous visitations, they rob of them of their time. Such persons beg their daily happiness from door to door, as beggars their daily bread, and like them sometimes meet with a rebuff. A mere gossip ought not to wonder if we are tired of him, seeing that we are indebted for the honour of his visit solely to the circumstance of his being tired of himself.

VALUE OF A RELIGIOUS SERVICE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. The late eminent philanthropist and wealthy banker, Joseph John Gurney, says, "I have reason to be thankful that I was trained, from very early years, in the habit of uniting with my friends in public worship in the middle part of the week, as well as on the Sabbath-day. Thus to break away from the cares and pursuits of business at a time when the world around us is full of them, I have found to be peculiarly salutary; and can now acknowledge with truth, that the many hours so spent have formed one of the happiest, as well as the most edifying portions of my life."

EXTERNAL EVIDENCE.

Prophets of old, events foretold

Ages ere they transpired;

Each word fulfill'd, as God had will'd,
Proclaims they were inspired.

Wild tempests hush'd; hell's counsels crush'd ;

The dead to life re-given;

All set their seal, that God's own will
Christ hath reveal'd from heaven.

INTERNAL EVIDENCE.

A man of subtle reasoning ask'd
A peasant, if he knew
Where was the internal evidence
That proved the Bible true.
The terms of disputative art
Had never reach'd his ear;
He laid his hand upon his heart,
And only answer'd, "Here!"

PRAYING AND GIVING.

The venerable Father Sewall, of Maine, once entered a meeting in behalf of foreign missions, just as the collectors of the contributions were resuming their seats. The chairman of the meeting requested him to lead in prayer. The old gentleman stood, hesitatingly, as if he had not heard the request. It was repeated in a louder voice; but there was no response. It was observed, however, that Mr. Sewall was fumbling in his pockets, and presently he produced a piece of money, which he deposited in the contribution box. The chairman, thinking he had not been understood, said loudly, "I didn't ask you to give, Father Sewall; I asked you to pray." "O, yes," he replied, "I heard you; but I can't pray till I've given something."

THE GOSPEL ADAPTED TO MAN. When Dr. Duff read to the intelligent Hindoo youth for the first time the precept of the Saviour, "I say unto you, Love your enemies: bless them that curse you;" one of them could not restrain himself from speaking out his feelings: "O, how beautiful!" For days and weeks he could not cease repeating, "Love your enemies; bless them that curse you.' How beautiful! Surely this must be the truth."

THE MISERY OF IDLENESS.

A man who is able to employ himself innocently, is never miserable. It is the idle who are wretched. If I wanted to inflict the greatest punishment on a fellow-creature, I would shut him alone in a dark room without employment.

POWER OF A GOOD MAN'S LIFE.

The beauty of a holy life, says Chalmers, constitutes the most eloquent and effective persuasive to religion, which one human being can address to another. We have many ways of doing good to our fellow-creatures; but none so efficacious as leading a virtuous, upright, and well-ordered life. There is an energy of moral suasion in a good man's life, passing the highest efforts of the orator's genius. The seen but silent beauty of holiness speaks more eloquently of God and duty than the tongues of men and angels. Let parents remember this. The best inheritance a parent can bequeath to a child is a virtuous example, a legacy of hallowed remembrances and associations. The beauty of holiness beaming through the life of a loved relative or friend, is more effectual to strengthen such as do stand in virtue's ways, and raise up those that are bowed down, than precept, command, entreaty, or warning. Christianity itself,

I believe, owes by far the greater part of its moral power, not to the precepts or parables of Christ, but to his own character. The beauty of that holiness which is enshrined in the four brief biographies of the Man of Nazareth, has done more, and will do more to regenerate the world, and bring in an everlasting righteousness, than all the other agencies put together. It has done more to spread his religion in the world, than all that has ever been preached or written on the evidences of Christianity.

CONVERSION OF THE AGED.

In a sermon to young men, Dr. Bedell said, "I have now been nearly twenty years in the ministry of the Gospel, and I here publicly state to you, that I do not believe I could enumerate three persons over fifty years of age, whom I ever heard ask the solemn and eternally momentous question, What shall I do to be saved?'" Another distinguished, and still living divine of our country, has said, "I will not say that none are converted in old age, but they are few and far between, like the scattered grapes on the outermost branches after the vintage is gathered! Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth."

ANECDOTE OF PATRICK HENRY.

When the celebrated Patrick Henry of Virginia was near the close of his life, and in feeble health, he laid his hand on the Bible, and addressed a friend who was with him: "Here is a book worth more than all others printed; yet it is my misfortune never to have read it with proper attention until lately." About the same time he wrote to his daughter, "I have heard it said that Deists have claimed me. The thought pained me more than the appellation of Tory; for I considered religion of infinitely higher importance than politics, and I find much cause to reproach myself, that I have lived so long and given no decided public proof of my being a Christian."

LIGHT OF ETERNITY.

What scenes does eternity present!-the years of life past-early connections dissolvedthe secrets of all hearts laid open-souls saved or lost-Christ a frowning Judge or a welcome Saviour-all mistakes and errors in religion at an end--every false foundation undermineda world in flames and consumed as though it had never been-time itself no more--eternal ages on ages rolling on in ceaseless bliss or woe. Who is sufficient to speak, even, on these things?

CHARACTER.

As they who, for every slight infirmity, take physic to repair their health, do rather impair it; so they who, for every trifle, are eager to vindicate their character, do rather weaken it.

TRUE KNOWLEDGE.

The excellent John Newton, on being asked his opinion on some topic, replied, "When I was young I was sure of many things; there are only two things of which I am sure now : one is, that I am a miserable sinner, and the other that Jesus Christ is an all-sufficient Saviour." This is the sum of all saving knowledge, and he is well taught who gets these two lessons by heart.

THE MAN AND THE CHRISTIAN. Prayer is the vital breath of faith,

Which makes the soul to heaven arise; Neglecting this, the man may live,

But O, how soon the Christian dies.

THE CHRISTIAN AND HIS BIBLE. He knows, and knows no more, his Bible true, A truth the brilliant atheist never knew; And, in that volume, reads with sparkling eyes, His title clear to mansions in the skies.

MAKE YOUR WILL.

The Rev. Dr. Raffles, in preaching the funeral sermon of the late Rev. Dr. Hamilton, of Leeds, England, said, "In connection with the important subject of preparation for death-for we have all to die, and the sooner we distinctly understand what it requires to do so, honourably and safely, the better-allow me to mention, first, a wise and equitable arrangement of your temporal affairs. Have you made your

will? There is an admirable tract with this title. I wish it were better known, and more generally read. He who has property that will survive him, and a family possessing indisputable claims on his remembrance, ought not to give sleep to his eyes nor slumber to his eyelids, till he has made such a testamentary disposition of his estate as shall be to the honour of his Christian character, and save his family from contention, litigation, and strife, in the event of his removal."

AN INDIAN'S THEOLOGY.

A white man and an Indian were both brought under conviction of sin about the same time. The Indian, whose conviction was pungent, soon found joy and peace in believing, while the white man continued in darkness and distress for a long time. Seeing the Indian one day enjoying the sweet consolations of religion, "Why," says the white man, "should there be such a difference? Why has God forgiven your sins, while I go mourning? I have done all that I can do, but find no comfort." "Suppose," says the Indian, "that you come along to a great prince. He holds out to you a suit of clothes, and says, 'Here, take these, and welcome.' You look around, feel ashamed, and say, 'No, my clothes are pretty good yet, they will do a little longer, thank you, sir.' Then the prince, rather angry, says, Here, Sam, take the suit.' I look, my old blanket all rags, cold and dirty: Thank you, thank you, kind sir.' Poor Indian now be warm and happy."

A PERTINENT QUESTION.

A lady was engaged in domestic affairs, when some one rang the street-door bell, and the Catholic servant-girl was bidden to say her mistress was not at home. She answered, "Yes, ma'am; and when I confess to the priest, shall I confess it as your sin or mine?"

BE FIRM.

There

The wind and the waves may beat against a rock planted in a troubled sea, but it remains unmoved. Be you like that rock, young man. Vice may entice, and the song and the cup may invite. Beware, stand firmly at your post. Let your principles shine forth unobscured. is glory in the thought that you have resisted temptation, and conquered. Your bright example will be to the world what the lighthouse is to the mariner upon a sea shore: it will guide others to the point of virtue and safety.

HOWARD, THE PHILANTHROPIST.

He was a singular being in many of the common habits of life: he bathed daily in cold water; and, both on rising and going to bed, swathed himself in coarse towels, wet with the coldest water: in that state he remained half an hour or more, and then threw them off, freshened and invigorated, as he said, beyond measure. He never put on a great-coat in the coldest countries; nor was ever a minute under or over the time of an appointment for twenty-six years. He never continued at a place, or with a

person, a single day beyond the period prefixed for going, in his life; and he had not, for the last ten years of his existence, ate any fish, flesh, or fowl, nor sat down to his simple fare of tea, milk, and rusks, all that time. His journeys were continued from prison to prison; from one group of wretched beings to another, night and day; and when he could not go in a carriage, he would walk. Such a thing as an obstruction was out of the question.

Some days after his first return from an attempt to mitigate the plague at

Constantinople, he favoured me with a morning visit to London. The weather was so very terrific, that I had forgot his inveterate exactness, and had yielded up the hope of expecting him. Twelve at noon was the hour; and exactly as the clock struck he entered my room; the wet-for it rained in torrents-dripping from every part of his dress, like water from a sheep just landed from its washing. He would not have attended to his situation, having sat himself down with the utmost composure, and begun conversation, had I not made an offer of dry clothes. "Yes," said he, smiling, "I had my fears, as I knocked at your door, that we should go over the old business of apprehension about a little rain-water, which, though it does not run off my back as it does from that of a duck, does me as little injury, and after a long drought is scarcely less refreshing. The coat that I have on has been as often wetted through as any duck's in the world, and, indeed, gets no other cleanng. I assure you, a good soaking shower is the best brush for broad-cloth. You, like the rest of my friends, throw away your pity upon my supposed hardships with just as much reason as you commiserate the common beggars, who, being familiar with storms, necessity, and nakedness, are a thousand times (so forcible is habit) less to be compassioned than the sons and daughters of ease and luxury, who, accustomed to all the enfeebling refinements of feathers by night and fires by day, are taught to shiver at a breeze. All this is the work of art, my good friend: nature is intrepid, hardy, and adventurous; but it is a practice to spoil her with indulgences from the moment we come into the world. A soft dress and a soft cradle begin our education in luxury, and we do not grow more manly the more we are gratified; on the contrary, our feet must be wrapped in wool or silk we must tread upon carpets; breathe, as it were, in fire; and fear the least change in the weather. You smile," said Mr. Howard, after a pause, "but I am a living instance of the truths I insist on. A more puny young ster than myself was never seen. wet my feet I was sure to take cold. I could not put on my shirt without its being aired. To be serious, I am convinced, that what emasculates the body, debilitates the mind, and renders both unfit for those exertions which are of such use to us social beings. I therefore entered upon a reform of my consti

If I

tution, and have succeeded in such a degree that I have neither had a cough, cold, the vapours, nor any more alarming disorder, since I surmounted the seasoning. Formerly, mulled wines, and spirits, and great fires, were to comfort me, and to keep out the cold, as it is called; the perils of the day were to be baffled by something taken hot on going to bed; and before I pursued my journey the next morning, a dram was to be swallowed, to fortify the stomach! Believe me," said Mr. Howard, "we are too apt to invert the remedies which we ought to prescribe for ourselves. Thus we are for

ever giving hot things, when we should administer cold. We bathe in hot instead of cold water; we use a dry bandage when we should use a wet one; and we increase our food and clothing when we should, by degrees, diminish both. If we would trust more to nature, and suffer her to apply her own remedies to cure her own diseases, the formidable catalogue of maladies would be reduced to one-half, at least, of their present number."-Pratt's Gleanings.

CROMWELL'S PURITAN ARMY. "THE army which now (1647) became supreme in the state," says Thomas Babington Macaulay, in his eloquent "History of England,' 66 was an army very different from any that has since been seen among us. It was raised for home service. The ranks were composed of persons superior in station and education to the multitude. These persons, sober, moral, diligent, and accustomed to reflect, had been induced to take up arms, not by the pressure of want, not by the love of novelty and license, not by the arts of recruiting officers, but by religious and political zeal. The boast of the soldiers, as we find it recorded in their solemn resolutions, was, that they were freeborn Englishmen, who had, of their own accord, put their lives in jeopardy for the liberties and religion of England, and whose right and duty it was to watch over the welfare of the nation which they had saved.

"A force thus composed might, without injury to its efficiency, be indulged in some liberties which, if allowed to any other troops, would have proved subversive of all discipline. In general, soldiers who should form themselves into political clubs, elect delegates, and pass resolutions on high questions of state, would soon break loose from all control, would cease