PREFATORY ADDRESS. The Editor to his Agents and Readers. Dear Friends,—Having been permitted, through the favour of Divine Providence, to complete the TWELFTH VOLUME of this humble periodical, we desire to return you our best thanks for the assistance and support you have rendered us. We commenced the present volume at a time when a serious money panic was doing great mischief in the country, throwing thousands out of employment, and causing great alarm, anxiety, and apprehension. Notwithstanding these very unfavourable circumstances, through the active efforts of our AGENTS, our sales were not only kept up, but extended a few hundreds beyond those of the previous year. Now things are again in a promising position. We have been favoured with a plentiful harvest; the panic has passed away; money is again in circulation; employment is found on every hand; and trade is revived. May we not, then, reasonably hope that we shall be permitted to share in these advantages? We shall, if all our Agents, Readers, and Friends will, during the present month of December, kindly favour us by showing a copy of the Pioneer to their neighbours, and try to persuade them to take it for 1859. We advise them not to use the copy for December for that purpose, as that would not be a fair sample. We would most earnestly urge this upon our friends at this favourable time, and for one good reason. Our circulation has never yet been what it ought to be. Now, by a prompt and decisive effort it may be made so. And we need scarcely remind you that by circulating a humble publication like this, not one number of which appears without the GOSPEL in it, you are making yourselves HOME MISSIONARIES to your neighbours, many of whom might not be reached or benefited in any other way. We cannot do more in this matter ourselves, than say what we have said. We now cheerfully leave ourselves in your hands. Only, what you do, do quickly; we repeat, in this present month of December, ready for January, 1859, when we hope that, though we see you not and know you not, we shall feel the benefit of your active and disinterested efforts for the wider circulation of the PIONEER; and we promise you that our best efforts, as long as God permits, shall be put forth to sustain its character as an interesting and useful monthly cottage visitor. Leicester, Dec. 1, 1858. THE EDITOR. POETRY. Who is old? 84 5 What I am, what I wish to be 84 17 The Preaching Tinker 93 ... 29 The Death of a Worldling... 93 41 Early Triumphs of the Gospel 94 94 65 A Pious Old Man 89 101 Luther's last Will and Prayer.. 95 95 95 .... 113 Price of a Bible 137 Looking from Self to Christ.. 107 108 108 Pages, 9, 22, 70, 92, 106, 118, 129 Voice of a Glorified Spirit. ANECDOTES & SELECTIONS. Sceptical Sailor Convinced Gilpin's Fall........ God less Critical than Man Awful Visitation Howard's Opinion of Swearers 23 Dying Christian A Good Old Man's Rebuke ...... Drowsy Hearers Religious Liberty Value of a Living Power of a Bible The Power of a Sixpence. An Aged Mother Value of Time Look at the Lord Jesus Dreaming and Acting. Old Bishop Latimer .... Wesley and the Papist Butcher The Friceless Book What Sin has done 24 Captain Sir John Franklin 24 The Learned John Selden.... 141 THE SOLDIER'S STORY. DURING the winter of 1825, meeting a pious soldier of the 3rd regiment of Foot Guards in London, he inquired if I should like to attend a Soldiers' Prayer Meeting; and having answered in the affirmative, I was led to a large upper room, where I found about thirty soldiers, and some of their wives, with one or two pious sailors, assembled. I was most kindly received into this company of good soldiers of Jesus Christ, and, being instantly recognised by many, I was asked to conduct the meeting; but, anxious as I was to observe what method a body of pious soldiers brought together had been led to adopt, I declined doing so; and three of the soldiers in turn gave out a hymn, and after each had done this, all fell upon their knees, while he who had announced his hymn, proceeded most solemnly and appropriately to implore the Divine blessing. I rejoiced that I was in a corner where I could secretly enjoy my own feelings, and silently pour out my soul to God. Never was I more devoutly affected. The scene, the singing, the persons, the locality, and the indistinctly-smothered sighs of so many broken hearts, was really altogether overwhelming. At the conclusion of the last soldier's prayer, a humble soldier gave out another hymn. He then said,-"Comrades, please to sit down, and I will furnish you with some particulars that may be profitable to us all, respecting the two last lines we have just been singing. Some of you may have heard me say, that during the last war I belonged to à foot regiment, in which there were a few christian soldiers. William, my beloved friend, was one of that number. We met as regularly as we could for prayer and praise; and as William generally conducted the meetings, he would often close the services with holy joy and rapture, singing, Then we'll march up the heavenly street, "When Lord Wellington took the command of the British army in the Peninsula, our regiment was ordered to embark for Lisbon. We had many blessed meetings on board, notwithstanding all the scoffs and sneers of the sailors; but after a few storms in running over the Atlantic, we disembarked, and were ordered to Belem Tower. Other regiments arrived also, and as we had a prospect of marching up the country, if THE SOLDIER'S STORY. we could force the enemy out of Portugal, we were the more earnest in our prayers that God would have mercy upon all the officers and soldiers in the British army, and graciously prepare every man for the events of his providence, through which we might be called to pass. We have often stolen away to a retired spot, near Belem Tower, and William would cheer us all up by saying, 'Fear not, comrades; whether we live or die in camps or hospitals, or on the field of blood itself, we'll sing with joy,'-and here he repeated his favourite lines. But not to detain you too long, I should say that we marched through Portugal and Spain over the very bodies of our comrades, driving the enemy before us; and, notwithstanding all the drunkenness, blasphemy, and licentiousness, so common in the army, we were successful in almost every battle. Many a day, after a long march, when we halted in the evenings, fainting with hunger, have we hastily prepared for refreshment with the camp kettle, and then withdrawn to the banks of some river, and by the light of the moon held our prayer-meetings. William would often address us at the close of the meeting, saying, 'Ah! comrades, we shall soon have done with marching and counter-marching, with fatigue parties and trenches, with fields and camps, and blood and slaughter; and then, oh then, to depart and be with Christ! Oh! what glory-washed in his precious blood-justified by his glorious righteousnessand accepted in the beloved! Oh, comrades, look up, for your redemption draweth nigh!' At length we were hurried pell mell into the battle of Barossa. It was a day of blood, indeed, that will long be remembered by every survivor. At the close of the sanguinary conflict, our company had advanced to some short distance from the field of battle, and when the word was given to halt, a soldier ran up to inform me my comrade William was dying. I instantly hastened thither, and found him lying on his back, with his right hand upon his left breast, and the paleness of death spread over all his features. I eagerly grasped his left hand, and called out, William, William.' He opened his dying eyes, and exclaimed, Ah, comrade, is that you? How could you have found me out in this slaughter-house of groans and blood? you have only just come in time.' I grasped his hand with affection, as a pious friend and brother in the Lord, and as the tears rolled copiously down my cheeks, I said, Where are you wounded, William ?' 6 THE SOLDIER'S STORY. He rolled his eyes in anguish, and replied, 'Oh, Ive a musket ball through my left breast, and I feel it will not be long before my soul will leave this agonized frame; life is ebbing fast, and stingless death, through Christ my Lord, is coming upon me.' 'Are you in much pain, William?' He pressed his hand to his breast, and cried out with bitter anguish, 'Oh, comrade, the pains of my body are greater than I can possibly express.' I paused and wept over him, and, waiting a moment until he could recover, as his breath became shorter, while the blood was coming out of his wound, I said, 'William, how is it with your soul? Are you happy in the Lord? Is Christ now precious to you? We have fought in many battles-we have marched over many a waste-howling wilderness-we have encountered many enemies-we have held many blessed meetings in Spain-you have often told us the Lord was with you in camps, in trenches, on guard, or on the march. Is Christ with you now, William ? Is your soul comfortable in the enjoyment of his love, and the foretaste of heaven?' great surprise, he made a mighty effort, and sprang up, so as to occupy a sitting posture, while he lifted up his hand to heaven, and cried out, Ah, comrade, the joys of my soul are greater than all the pains of my body; yes, indeed, he is precious, and I now prove, that having loved his own, he loveth them to the end. Adieu, comrade, I am now indeed going to be with Jesus;' and then waving his hand, and gazing around him, he cried out with a peculiar tone of voice that I shall never forget, while I held my hand to his wound, Farewell marches and trenches; farewell fatigue-parties and midnight revellings of drunken comrades; farewell fields of battle, and blood, and slaughter, and farewell sun, and moon, and stars, and'-he paused, almost exhausted with his feelings; but, turning to me, he cried, 'Yes, farewell, beloved comrade in Christ Jesus; meet me in glory, for oh, in a few minutes more my soul must depart, and then, yes, Then I'll march up the heavenly street, To my His head sank upon my shoulder; and suddenly the bugles sounded to call in stragglers from the field on some special duty. I was compelled hastily to run to our company, and fall in for duty; but in a little while a soldier from the field came up to me, saying, Briery, I dug a small pit, and have just put your comrade William into it. He was a good fellow; |