ANECDOTE. A Priest in Moscow, having lost his all in 1812, through the French invasion, went to market, and purchased an old feather-bed for his family. On taking off the cover, to have it cleaned, he found a packet of bank-notes among the feathers, amounting to 705 Rubles. Notwithstanding his poverty, the honest man went and made known this circumstance to Government, which appointed to him the third part of this sum as his lawful property; but even this the good Priest could not think of applying to the relief of his wants, but transmitted the whole sum, which was 235 rubles, to promote the object of the Russian Bible Society. THE VILLAGE IN THE MOUNTAINS. We stated some time ago, that the Collection for the French Villagers was closed. The Editor sent £25 to Paris; and expects shortly to receive particulars of its disposal. The kindness of friends, however, obliges him to open a new account: he has since received as follows: From Barnoldswick, by the Rev. S. Blythe From Brockden, £. s. d. 1 2 6 1 2 6 by do. The following are extracts from letters, which the Editor has received from France. The first is from a Protestant Minister in Paris. Oct. 1, 1822. "Mr. C. mentions, that you have procured some funds, for the purpose of contributing to the edification of our poor people in the mountains; and that you desire inforination of the situation of these retired worshippers, as well as of the best mode of appropriating the produce of your kind and christian exertions. I have visited these people, since the tract was written, as well as my friend M- the merchant. We are increasingly pleased by their teachableness-their application to the means of instruction furnished them-their knowledge of divine things-and their desire for more ample, more regular, and more public assistance in the apprehension and profession of the Gospel of Christ. I course. passed a remarkable Sabbath amongst them; and from morning till night, the truths and triumphs of the Gospel were the subjects of our animated and affectionate interI have promised them a minister, and they are well disposed to receive one; as they feel for themselves and their children, the want of more systematic instruction, and of pastoral oversight and aid. We have sent them repeatedly Bibles, and books of devotion-sermons--histories -reports of societies, &c. all of which they devour; and of which they desire continually further supplies. As soon as we obtain a person, really devoted to God-a Frenchman -and possessed of the necessary qualities for the peculiar station, he will be sent ; and a portion of your money might be applied to that object: the remainder, to the purchase of Bibles and books of religious instruction. We wish to send a parcel very soon, as we are now in arrears with our supplies; and the increasing calls on Christians in France, for help and exertion, render our private means less equal to the work before us.' -The merchant, mentioned in the tract, says in a letter dated, Paris, Oct. 18, 1822, "If i can only be the secret and humble instrument of promoting the glorious cause of our dear Redeemer among those interesting people, I am satisfied. Let my name remain unknown. As these good people are in want of more Bibles, and as their numbers have increased to six hundred, and as Mr. W's name was attached to the first communication, I thought it best that he should reply; and his letter, I presume, has been received." The Editor will take care to give his readers any further intelligence, which may be sent to him. Before he closes this article, he wishes to express a hope, that none of his readers misunderstood a passage in the history of these villagers. At page 44, the widow speaks of serving God as acceptably in a mountain, cave, or chamber, as in the finest church. The reader of course bears in mind, that she is speaking of the Popish church. It is no doubt true, that God may be as acceptably worshipped, and as delightfully communed with, in the most retired and humble places, as in his public temple. But yet, if that temple be open to us, as it is in this happy land, and we neglect its worship, we cannot expect a blessing upon our private ordinances. The widow's view was right in her particular situation: but it would shew a wrong state of mind in those, who are blest with the public ordinances of the Protestant religion. LINES ON THE DEATH OF A LITTLE GIRL. "Come hither, dear George, take a seat by the fire," On Saturday last, she was visiting us ; Going home she caught cold, and grew afterwards worse; As her fever was burning, and aching her head, 'My Jesus will hasten and fetch me,' she said. "The Minister ent'ring, said, 'Mary, my dear! I am sorry to see you lie suffering here:' 'Do not weep, sir,' she said, 'for my Jesus is good, He has cleansed me from sin by his own precious blood.' You love the Lord Jesus then, Mary,' said he, Tears came-she smiled and said, 'He first loved me; I shall praise and behold his dear countenance soon, In the place where there needs not the sun or the moon.' "He prayed, while we all of us knelt round the bed, And, rising, we thought little Mary was dead; But she opened her eyes, filled with heavenly peace, And calling her mother, she gave her a kiss. "Farewell, dearest mother!' we all heard her say, "And thank you for telling me Christ is the way; Farewell, my dear Jane !-tell Georgey for me, That in glory I pray we may each of us be.' "Then she bade all farewell; when turned on her side, On this little George could no longer refrain, L. H. was not received till the end of November. munications of a similar nature will be very acceptable. More com. The Editor will not trouble "A Constant Reader," to make the Extracts he mentions, as he has the work. Several useful papers have been received, and will be inserted as soon as possible. The unfortunate insertion of a "not," would be perceived in the first page of some copies of the December number. Printed by A. Foster, Kirkby Lonsdale, FRIENDLY VISITOR. No. LIII. FEBRUARY, 1823. VOL V. Price one penny, or 7s. per hundred. PRINTED AND SOLD BY A. FOSTER, KIRKBY LONSDALE; And sold by Seeley, Fleet Street, London; Timms, Grafton Street, Dublin; the Religious Tract Society, at their Depository in East Register Street, Edinburgh; and by all other Booksellers: Of whom may be had, in stiff printed covers, the four first Volumes; 1s. 4d. each: also the numbers for the four first years, bound in two volumes, sheep and lettered, 3s. 4d. each. AN ACCOUNT OF THE DEATH OF W. M. It Every death that we witness, and hear of, is a voice to us. It speaks louder than the loudest preacher. It bids us cease to love this world. tells us to set our affections on things heavenly, spiritual, and eternal; to make sure of a crown of glory; to seek in earnest to have the soul converted, sanctified, and made meet to dwell with God and all the company of heaven for ever. May all listen to this voice, in reading the following account of the death of an uncle of mine! He was always through life an outwardly moral character; a regular attendant at church, and the Lord's Table. Yet he was a stranger to the power of godliness, till within about six months of his death. The change in his principles and conduct took place as follows: being prevented by illness from attending church as usual, he desired his wife to read the liturgy to him at home. While she was reading it, he had such a view of its importance and spirituality, as led him to see that he had never B |