a chair before her, as children do who are unable to walk alone.

She speaks freely of her fortune in this world, which has in some respects, been a severe one. Once at the height of prosperity, she is now almost in the extreme of pover ty. She is the daughter of one who in his day was reckoned among those merchants who are princes.' She attended in her youth with a select few the Academy which dispensed the best instruction and taught the highest accomplishments that could be commanded. She has now a sampler beautifully worked when she was but twelve years of age. She is nearly eighty years old. Her father's wealth has long since taken to itself wings. The golden visions, that dazzled her mind, have vanished forever. Yet, let it be marked, her good Education yet remains, a thing substantial and indestructible. Her whole manner and language indicate the excellent_training of her mind. She has long been under the influence of the Ministry at large, which she values beyond all things else left her in this world. Of him who commenced this work and apostleship in our city (a name loved and honored by a great multitude) she speaks in terms of the strongest affection and reverence. When last there, I noticed a piece of paper carefully pinned upon the wall. The old lady took it down, and I found it to be a copy of some verses strongly setting forth the Savior's love. She said it was brought to her by some little girls who lived near her, and were, until they left the city, her constant visitors. They were only ten and thirteen years of age. Yet would they leave their sports, and with the greatest delight go in and minister of their full affections to her weary heart, and with their young voices sing this story of the Savior's love. And now, when they come into town, they gladly call to see her whom they once gladly comforted and blessed. She speaks of their kindness with an enthusiasm that kindles every feature. I introduce this little account not because it is in any way connected with the operations of the Ministry at large. It is not thus connected. It is only the ministry of little girls. But that is one of the most important of all ministries, and no other ministry on earth can sup

ply its place. If they should see this account of the good they have done, let them be incited by it still to do likewise!' And let any little girls who may chance to read it, think, if they have never so thought before, that they have a mission to accomplish as truly as any apostle who ever went forth preaching the word of God.

It

I can only give a hasty sketch of one other case. is that of an old, infirm woman, left almost entirely alone in the world, except that the Father is most truly in a real presence with her. A younger person, herself feeble, has been for some time employed to take care of her. She has been visited by the Ministry at large for about three years. She has already received two paralytic shocks. For the kindness with which she has been treated, both in things temporal and spiritual, she is most grateful. Indeed I should hardly have thought the sentiment of gratitude could be so strongly expressed in human features as it is in hers. Though sick, she is happy. She is willing to remain,-though she believes and feels that to depart and be with Christ, when God brings the time, will be far better. Social religious meetings have been held at her house, as also in other places, under the direction of this ministry. And the old crumbling walls of her garret have echoed to heaven the music of devotion in tones as sweet and fervent as ever go up from the most splendid of our temples.

Other cases are in my mind. But these must suffice. To any healthy and tender mind no proof is needed of the blessedness of this provision for the inward wants of the aged Poor. Yet I am bound in conclusion to say, that those who visit them feel, not only that they are richly ministering, but most richly ministered unto,-and that a reward far beyond their deserts comes to them, in the high examples God permits them to see, of a patience and power and moral beauty, that pierce with outshining splendor the rags and weakness, the sickness and suffering, the deformity and decay of poverty bowed under the weight of many revolving years.

THE SICK.

I shall now consider the influence of this Ministry upon the Sick. There may be those who think the Poor need nothing in sickness but the drugs proper to excite a right action in the animal system. To such the subject now proposed may have no interest. They think the Dispensary dealing out its vegetable or mineral compounds, is infinitely more important than any ministry of things spiritual. Perhaps, however, some credit, even in this respect, might be allowed to this Ministry for the certificates it presents, as to those who are proper subjects of Dispensary relief.

It is freely admitted, that the medical attentions provided for the Poor are a great and absolutely needful charity. And they are attentions for the most part faithfully bestowed by the appointed Physicians. Names might be mentioned of those who have been not only just but generous in their work, and have soothed the pains of the Poor, and sustained their weak, aching heads, with the same kindness and tenderness they would show towards the wealthiest and highest. May they still act nobly! They need no reward other than they gain!-But what I chiefly wish to say is, that I differ entirely from the view mentioned, whether holden theoretically, as perhaps it is by few, or carried into practice, as it is no doubt by thousands, in that I regard medical care as by no means the only, or even the most important thing the Poor need in sickness. It is an indispensable thing, of course, to their continued existence, as food is to every body's. But a drug, no more than bread, can ever be considered the chief want of a spiritual being. Life and health themselves are appointed for spiritual purposes,--and when disease and death break in upon them, the intention is but to present more clearly, and urge more strongly, these same purposes. This is true of all men in all conditions.

Accordingly one great object and continual effort of this Ministry is to explain to the minds of the sick Poor the moral meaning of sickness, and press its moral de

signs upon their hearts and consciences. If this be effected, it is thought a work is done a thousand-fold more important, than when the best medicines have wrought the most perfect cure.

And, if I may add another general remark, there is one special reason, why the Poor can be made to see and feel these moral bearings of sickness, and be profited when they are strongly and kindly set before them. They are obliged to meet the calamities of life in the very shape and character in which they come. Weakness and pain are very simple, unmixed, intelligible things to them. Thus they are able rightly to understand their meaning, to carry out their design, and gain the good, they naturally work in the soul. Especially are they able to do this under the influence of spiritual teachers. This is a benefit lost to those who find at once for any trouble a thousand modifications and alleviations, which almost entirely change its character.

On this topic 1 would refer to the commencement of Miss Martineau's Essay on the Genius of Scott. To her fine remarks I am myself indebted. And I believe the closest observation of actual life, whatever minor additions it might make to her views, would verify the main thought from which they spring. It is true, as she says, that the experience of actual life is the great nourishing aliment of Genius, and that the cottage child is left wiser by a fever than the lordling's infant.

The first case is that of a person who has been known to our Ministry for a short time only,--but with great joy welcomes its influence. Though for many years filled with pains and diseases, she affirms there was never one, which she thinks she could have done without! Having expressed this sentiment to me, she went on to say, God has placed his furnace on the earth, and in it purifies his children from their sins, and prepares them for glory! Suffering has been my salvation.

No one, who should see and converse with this woman, could doubt that affliction has in great measure sanctified her spirit, and that she is far happier too than those who have no joys flowing from a higher source than any fountains sunk in this earth.

The next case is that of an old lady, who has been feeble for nearly twenty years, and has for a considerable part of the time been under the care of this Ministry. For the last year or two she has been quite unwell, and the pastoral visits, with the influences they awaken in her mind, have become very dear to her. She now sits all the day long in her little room, unvisited by the shows of earth; yet it is wonderful what a serene joy sits on her features, as on a throne from which it could never be driven. I lately asked her what she thought of all these long days and weeks spent away from the world's scenes and excitements. 'Oh,' said she,' I think enough!' But of what? I asked. She looked down, and said she could not tell. A friend, who has long been her nurse, was sitting by, and informed me that this seemed to be one of the effects of her illness. She had received first, many years ago, and lately, again, a palsy-stroke. And it seemed to have taken from her the power of expressing her ideas. However rich her experience had been, and though, as she herself said, she did think enough, she could not collect her thoughts so as to utter them freely and continuously, and to give in brief the history of her mind. I asked her if, notwithstanding her pains, the goodness of God had been a frequent thought with her. She immediately said 'yes,'-and her whole manner testified that she did not say so as a matter of course, but from an inward knowledge and living conviction.

And is it not-I ask every reader-a precious thing, a most touching charity, when the brain, the mind's dwelling, is thus shattered by disease, to introduce in bright forms into its loneliness and darkness the thoughts of God's goodness and wise designs in the appointment of suffering,-so that, taking up a perpetual journey through the soul's chambers, they may shed sweetness upon its sorrows, and make its desolation blossom as the rose? Is it not an affecting, a blessed service, when weakness prevents deep study of interesting subjects, and the forms even of outward things fail and vanish, to fix the heart in undoubting, untroubled Faith on the one supreme good-Our Father-Spirit? These thoughts have been kept in motion in her mind. And the soul has