able to youth, than by sitting and telling them pleasant and profitable stories. I will then," thought he, "during my youth, endeavour to store my mind with all kinds of knowledge. I will see and hear, and note down everything that is rare and wonderful, that I may sit when incapable of other employment, and entertain my descendants; and thus shall my company be rendered pleasant, and I shall be respected, rather than neglected, in old age. Let me see, what can I acquire first? O! here is the famous Methodist preacher, Whitfield; he is to preach, they say, to-night-I will go and hear him."

From these strange motives the young man declared he went to hear Mr. Whitfield. He preached that evening from Matt. iii. 7, "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, 0 generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?"

"Mr. Whitfield," said the young man, "described the Sadducees' character; this did not touch me; I thought myself as good a Christian as any man in England. From this he went to that of the Pharisees. He described their exterior decency, but observed that the poison of the viper rankled in their hearts. This rather shook me. At length, in the course of his sermon, he abruptly broke off; paused for a few moments; then burst into a flood of tears, lifted up his hands and eyes and exclaimed, Oh, my hearers! the wrath's to come! the wrath's to come!' These words sunk into my heart like lead into water; I wept, and, when the sermon was ended, retired alone, and for weeks I could think of little else. These awful words followed me wherever I went, 'The wrath's to come ! the wrath's to

come!""

The issue was, that the young man soon afterwards made a public profession of religion, in a little time became an eminent preacher, and he himself related these circumstances to the late Rev. Andrew Fuller, of Kettering.

APRIL 21. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. (1 Cor. xv. 1-23.) SUBJECT: "THANK GOD FOR THE EVIDENCE OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION." General Hamilton's Confession. A young lawyer, in conversation with Bishop Chase, related the following fact respecting General Hamilton, which had occurred but a short time before. The young lawyer had been an infidel, but his mind was now changed, and the following narration was given in answer to Bishop Chase's inquiry how the change was brought about. "In pur

suit of his professional duties, General Hamilton passes from New York to Albany, to attend the highest courts, and Poughkeepsie is his stopping-place for rest and social chat. We young lawyers delight to meet him at Hendrickson's tavern, and there breathe together the atmosphere of wit and satire. Not long since, when he passed by, we gathered round him, and he greeted us with his usual cordiality; but there was something altered in his wit-it was solemn, yet more affectionate. At length, to break the spell, I ventured, as erst, a story, the edge of which was ridicule against Christians and their creed. As I finished the anecdote, instead of the loud laugh and responsive tale, the general gravely asked me if I knew what I had been talking of? Confusion is the best name I can give my feelings and behaviour before the great man at such a question from his lips. Seeing my embarrassment, he said he did not design to give me pain, but, by his question, to call my attention to his own case.

"Not many months ago,' said he, 'I was, as you are, doubtful of the truths of Christianity; but some circumstances turned my thoughts to the investigation of the subject, and I now think differently. I had been in company with some friends of a similar sentiment in New York. I had indulged in remarks much to the disadvantage of Christians and in disparagement of their religion. I had gone further than ever before I had done in this way. Coming

home, I stood, late at night, on the doorsteps of my house, waiting for my servant. In this moment of stillness, my thoughts returned to what had just passed at my friend's, especially on what I had said there. The thought arose, "And what if the Christian religion be true, after all?" This thought was certainly natural, and it produced in my bosom the most alarming feelings. I was conscious that I had never examined it not even with that attention which a small retaining-fee requires in civil cases. In this I hold myself bound to make up my mind according to the laws of evidence; and shall nothing be done of this sort in a question that involves the fate of man's immortal being? Where everything is at stake, shall I bargain all without inquiry? Wilfully blinding my own eyes, shall I laugh at that which, if true, will laugh me to scorn in the day of judgment? These questions did not allow me to sleep quietly. In the morning I sent to my friends, the clergy, for such books as treated on the evidence of Christianity. These I read, and the result is, I believe the religion of Christians to be the truth, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he made an atonement for our sins by his death, and that he rose for our justification.'

"This is the substance of General Hamilton's declaration to me at Hendrickson's, and you may judge how I have felt since. As I have followed the general in many other respects, so would I imitate him in this."

Sir Isaac Newton and Halley.-Sir Isaac Newton set out in life a clamorous infidel; but on a nice examination of the evidences for Christianity, he found reason to change his opinions. When the celebrated Dr. Edmund Halley was talking infidelity before him, Sir Isaac addressed him in the following or like words: "Dr. Halley, I am always glad to hear you when you speak about astronomy or other parts of the mathematics, because these are subjects you have studied and well understand; but you should not talk of Christianity,

for you have not studied it. I have ; and am certain that you know nothing of the matter." This was a just reproof, and one that would be very suitable to be given to most of the infidels of the present day, for they often speak of what they have never studied, and of what they are, in fact, entirely ignorant. Dr. Johnson, therefore, well observed, that no honest man could be a Deist, for no man could be such after a fair examination of the proofs of Christianity. On the name of Hume being mentioned to him, "No, Sir," said he; "Hume owned to a clergyman in the bishopric of Durham that he had never read the New Testament with attention."

APRIL 28.-JESUS AND NICODEMUS. (John iii. 1-21.)

"EARNESTLY BEG OF GOD." Good Reason for Praying.-A little girl, about four years of age, being asked, "Why do you pray to God?" replied, "Because I know He hears me, and I love to pray to Him." "But how do you know He hears you?" Putting her little hand to her heart, she said, "I know He does, because there is something here that tells me so."

Secret of the Negro's Comfort.-A negro slave in Virginia, whose name we will call Jack, was remarkable for his good sense, knowledge of the leading truths of the Gospel, and especially for his freedom from all gloomy fears in regard to his future eternal happiness. A professing Christian, a white man, who was of a very different temperament, once said to him, "Jack, you seem to be always comfortable in the hope of the Gospel. I wish you would tell me how you manage to keep steadily in this blessed frame of mind." 66 "Why, massa," replied Jack, "I just fall flat on the promise, and I pray right up." We recommend Jack's method to all desponding Christians, as containing, in substance, all that can be properly said on the subject. Take ground on the promises of God, and plead them in the prayer of faith-pray "right up."

APRIL 7.

Fifth Sunday in Lent.

SUBJECT:-THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. HEBREWS ix. 11.-"Christ being come an high priest."

The object of the Epistle to the Hebrews is to show that the priesthood under the law was typical of the priesthood of Christ.

In the Epistle for the day that priesthood is set before us as including the offering which it presented, the intercession founded upon it, and the results which follow.

I. THE OFFERING. "Christ, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God." II. THE INTERCESSION FOUNDED UPON IT.

"For

Sixth Sunday in Lent.

SUBJECT: THE HUMILIATION OF CHRIST A LESSON TO US.

PHIL. ii. 5.-" Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."

Christ is all our salvation: we have in Him all we can desire. In the great work which He wrought for us the spirit in which He performed it is presented for our imitation. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." Those who love Jesus will try to be like Him. Let us, then, inquire what the mind of Christ was, that we may seek to possess it for ourselves. The mind of Christ is seen in his great and wonderful humiliation. We have, then, first to look to Jesus in his humiliation, and then to see in what respects we may imitate Him. L CHRIST'S HUMILIATION.

I His divine glory. "He was in the form God, and thought it not robbery to be equal with God."

2. His humiliation. "But made himself of no reputation." "He humbled himself."

3. His exaltation. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him.”

IL OUR IMITATION OF CHRIST. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."

1. We cannot imitate Christ in the facts of his humiliation.

"In vain might lofty princes try

Such condescension to perform." We cannot be baptized with the baptism of suffering wherewith He was baptized.

2. But we may imitate Christ in the spirit of his work-it is to this specially that the text refers. "Let this MIND be in you." "He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death."

If therefore, we would follow Christ, we must humble ourselves in complete obedience to all the will of God.

"To do his heavenly Father's will

Was his employment and delight;
Humility and holy zeal

Shone through his life divinely bright.
Thy fair example may we trace,

To teach us what we ought to be;
Make us by thy transforming grace,

Dear Saviour! daily more like Thee." 3. This humility with Christ will be followed by exaltation with Him."

Jesus himself said, "He that humbleth himself shall be exalted." And Paul has taught us that "If we suffer with him, we shall be also glorified together."

Good Friday.

APRIL 19.

SUBJECT:-THE DEATH OF CHRIST. JOHN xix. 30.-" He said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." Christ's death was

I. FOREORDAINED. "Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God." He was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." "We see Jesus, made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death."

II. FORETOLD. "The Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ." "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things?"

III. VOLUNTARY. "I lay down my life." "No man taketh it from me.'

IV. CAUSED BY SUFFERING UNDER SIN. soul is exceeding sorrowful, even death."

V. THE COMPLETION OF HIS OBEDIENCE.

"My

unto

"Jesus

knowing that all things were now accomplished." "He said, It is finished': and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." "Obedient unto death."

EPH. iv. 8. "When he ascended up on high he gave gifts unto men."

St. Mark was an Evangelist who wrote the second Gospel, and was employed in preaching, teaching, and spreading it.

He was a living illustration of Christ's bounty to his Church.

That bounty was bestowed immediately after Christ's entrance upon his kingdom-" When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men."

The epistle for the day shows us at once the diversity and the design of those gifts. I. THE DIVERSITY OF THE GIFTS.

"And He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers." 1. Apostles. Eye-witnesses divinely-authorised and qualified messengers from Christ to the whole world.

First Sunday after Easter.

SUBJECT:-THE APOSTOLIC MISSION-ITS AUTHORITY, ITS QUALIFICATION, AND ITS POWER. JOHN XX. 21, 22, 23.-" As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained."

I. THE AUTHORITY. "As my Father hath sent
me, even so send I you."
II. THE QUALIFICATION.
Ghost.'

"

III. THE POWER.

"Receive ye the Holy

"Whosesoever sins ye remit,

they are remitted, &c."

The following is the comment on the 23rd verse by the Rev. D. Whitby, D.D., formerly of St. Mary's Church, Salisbury: "Christ sent them to preach repentance and remission of sins in His name to Jew and Gentile (Luke xxiv. 47), and here adds that whosesoever sins theythus assisted by the Holy Ghost-declared remitted by virtue of the Gospel Covenant, ratified in His blood shed for the remission of sins, should be remitted; and hence they preached remission of sins to all that believed in His name, and justification, or exemption from the guilt of them (Acts ii. 38-xiii. 38, 39). And whose sins soever you retain, declaring to them that, according to the tenor of the Gospel, they still lie under the guilt of them, they shall be retained; and hence they declared to all that believed not on Him, or lived not according to His laws, and sought not for justification by faith in His blood, that they were yet in their sins (1 Cor. xv. 17), and could not be justified (Rom. x. 4-ix. 32)."

SHOREHAM, SUSSEX.-Protestant Free Church.-Very interesting services were held on Monday, February 11, in connexion with the recognition of the Rev. Christopher Knowles, late of Bath, as pastor. The proceedings commenced with a tea-meeting in the Public Hall. The attendance was very large for the place, more than 200 persons being present; and it is considered to be the largest and best tea-meeting that has ever been held in Shoreham.

After tea, the people assembled in the church, under the able presidency of the Rev. W. S. Edwards, Cliftonville, Brighton. The place was crowded, about 400 being present, and several of the speakers said they had never before seen so large an audience assembled together in that church. There was present a very able choir, composed of friends from Brighton and Henfield, who, at intervals between the addresses, sung several anthems, which greatly conduced to the edification of the hearers, and added much to the interest of the meeting. The proceedings were opened by the singing of a hymn, and prayer by Mr. Spong.

The Chairman then requested Mr. Knowles to give them an account of the leadings of Divine providence, and the reasons generally which had induced him to accept of the charge of the Church.

Mr. Knowles, in compliance with this request, related the particulars of an interview which he had with the Rev. J. B. Figgis, B. A., of Brighton, which induced him to consult the Chairman, the Rev. W. S. Edwards, in reference to the vacancy at Shoreham. After several other steps had been taken, he obtained the appointment. He also mentioned several remarkable instances of the leadings of Divine providence, which had made it evidently appear to Mr. Knowles himself, and to others, that the call had come from God.

The choir then sang the anthem, "How beautiful upon the mountains."

The Chairman replied to the statement of Mr. Knowles, having had the pleasure of knowing him for some years. For between five and six years Mr. Knowles had been his assistant at the Vineyard's Church, Bath, and during the whole of that time there had existed between them the happiest friendship, harmony, and goodwill. When he himself resigned the pastorate at Bath, intending to settle at Brighton, he felt very anxious to have Mr. Knowles near him, and therefore he must say that he had done all he could do to promote and ratify his settlement over this Church and congregation, and he was glad it had been accomplished. He then urged the Church to rally around, and to help and encourage their pastor in his work, and he felt assured that he would prove himself to be a kind and sympathising friend, a zealous, warm hearted, faithful, and useful pastor.

The choir then sang "I will lift up mine eyes."

Rev. R. V. Pryce, M.A., LL.B., of Union street Chapel, Brighton, addressed the meeting on the relations existing between pastor and people, and urged upon them the necessity of holding up the hands and cheering the heart of their minister in his arduous work. He explained the responsibilities and advantages of the Christian ministry; and concluded by fervently praying that God might speed both pastor and people. The choir sang "OLord, our Governor." Rev. B. Price, of Worthing, spoke of the necessity and advantage of prayer, and the mutual co-operation between pastor and people in everything relating to the welfare of the Church. He prayed that Almighty God would bless the preaching of the Word, so that the place might soon become too strait for them.

The choir sang "In Jewry is God known."

The Rev. R. Hamilton, of Londonroad Chapel, Brighton, delivered a very