justice. Thus did the vengeance of God speedily overtake them, and they were all hung in chains, for a warning to all that should dare to trifle with a great and jealous God.

POWER OF GOD.-MUNGO PARK.

WHEN Mungo Park was travelling in Africa, he was seized by a banditti, plundered, and left almost destitute of clothing. In this situation he looked around him with amazement and horror. "In the midst of a vast wilderness, in the depth of the rainy season, naked and alone, surrounded by savage animals, and men still more savage, five hundred miles from the nearest European settlement," no wonder that his spirits began to fail him. "At this moment," says he, "the extraordinary beauty of a small moss, in fructification, irresistibly caught my eye. I could not contemplate the delicate conformation of its roots, leaves, and capsula, without admiration. Can that Being, thought I, who planted, watered, and brought to perfection, in this obscure part of the world, a thing which appears of so small importance, look with unconcern on the situation and sufferings of creatures formed after his own image? Surely not! Reflections like these would not allow me to des

pair. I started up, and disregarding both hunger and fatigue, travelled forward, assured that relief was at hand, and I was not disappointed."

FIDELITY.-ZEBA.

AFTER a long residence in one of the West Indian Islands, Zeba's mistress announced her intention of going to England. The poor negress prayed not to be left behind; her mistress' country should be hers. Some years after her return home, the mistress was unexpectedly entirely deprived of her property, which, though not large, had been sufficient to support her in comfort, and she would apparently have been obliged to go to the workhouse had it not been for her attached Zeba, who brought forward all her little savings, and insisted on sharing everything

39

she had with her dear mistress. The circumstance becoming known, a small collection was raised, sufficient to maintain the poor lady and her humble friend, who tried by her attention to alleviate the distress into which one she loved so well was 80 suddenly plunged. The friend who related this fact had heard of the death of the mistress, and, on revisiting the town where she lived, went to seek her companion. A humble neighbour hearing her enquire where she was to be found, said, "I can show you, ma'ma ;" and leading her to the churchyard, and pointing to a sodded grave exclaimed, "There is poor Zeba."

FAITHFULNESS REWARDED.

DURING a single week, in 1842, there were six conversions in one class of ten or twelve boys, in the Pearl-street Baptist School, in the city of Albany. The teacher, G. J. E., had for three or four weeks felt an unusual anxiety for their salvation, which led him to be faithful in his instruction, and fervent in prayer for them. He had several prayer-meetings at his house with them, to which other scholars were invited, and at one or two meetings they continued almost "all

night" in prayer. One Sabbath, one of them, who had found peace the night before, called on the teacher at four o'clock in the morning to tell him how joyful he felt in loving the Saviour, and that he was so happy he could not wait until he should see him in the Sabbath School. When the school assembled in the morning, they all came forward and told what the Lord had done for them, and affectionately invited their associates to come to the Saviour and taste the joys they felt. Such a scene and such a circumstance would be interesting at any time, but at that time more particularly so, from the fact that in the rest of the school and the church there was a lamentable coldness; the ways of Zion mourned, and few came to her solemn feasts.

FIDELITY OF A DOG.

One

SIR HARRY LEE, of Ditchley, in Oxfordshire, had a mastiff which guarded the house and yard. night as his master was retiring to his chamber, attended by his valet, an Italian, the mastiff silently followed him up stairs, and, to his master's astonishment, presented himself in his bed-room. Being deemed an intruder, he was instantly turned out; but the poor animal began scratching violently at the door, and howling for admission. The servant was sent to drive him away. He, however, returned again, and was more importunate than before to be let in. Sir Harry, weary of opposition, bade the servant open the door that he might see what he wanted. This done, the mastiff, with a wag of the tail, and a look of affection at his lord, deliberately walked up, and crawling under the bed, laid himself down, as if desirous to take up his night's lodging there. To save further trouble, this indulgence was allowed. About midnight the chamber door opened, and a person was heard stepping across the room. Sir Harry started from his sleep; the dog sprung from his covert, and, seizing the unwelcome disturber, fixed him to the spot. All was dark; and Sir Harry rang the bell in great trepidation, to procure a light. The person who was pinned to the floor by the courageous mastiff, roared for assistance. It was found to be the valet, who little expected such a reception. He endeavoured to apologise for his intrusion, and to make the reasons which induced him to take this step appear plausible; but the importunity of the dog, the time, the place, the manner of the valet, all raised suspicion in Sir Harry's mind, and he determined to refer the investigation to a magistrate. The Italian, terrified by the dread of punishment, and soothed with the hopes of pardon, at length confessed that it was his intention to murder his master and rob the house.

A full-length picture of Sir Harry, with the mastiff by his side, and the words "More faithful than favoured," are still to be seen at the family seat

at Ditchley, a monument of the gratitude of the master, the ingratitude of the servant, and the fidelity of the dog.

FIDELITY.

JAMES MAXWELL was pilot on board a fine steam vessel, called the Clydesdale. One evening, after setting out on the voyage across the Channel, with between 70 and 80 passengers, about twelve at night the master sprang on deck, exclaiming, "The vessel is on fire!" James calmly enquired, "Then, shall I put about?" The order was to proceed. Maxwell struck one hand upon his heart as he flung the other above his head, and with uplifted eyes uttered, "O that I may be enabled to do my duty." Whether it was the thoughts of the dreadful nature of the coast, girdled as it was with perpendicular masses of rock, which influenced the master in his decision to press forward, we cannot tell; but as there was only the wide ocean before and around them, the pilot did not long persist in this hopeless course. He put the boat about, sternly subduing any expression of emotion, and standing with his eyes fixed on the point for which he wished to steer. The fire, which the exertions of all the men could not keep under, soon raged with ungovernable fury, and, keeping the engine in violent action, the vessel, at the time one of the fleetest that had ever been built, flew through the water with incredible speed. All the passengers were gathered to the bow, the rapid flight of the vessel keeping that part clear of the flames, while it carried the fire, flames, and smoke backward to the quarter galley, where the self-devoted pilot stood like a martyr at the stake. Everything possible was done by the master and crew to keep the place on which he stood deluged with water, but this became every moment more difficult and more hopeless, for in spite of all that could be done the devouring fire seized the cabin under him, and the spot on which he stood immoveable became intensely heated. Still, still the hero never flinched. At intervals the motion of the wind threw aside the

intervening mass of flame and smoke for a moment, and then might be heard exclamations of hope and gratitude as the multitude on the prow got a glimpse of the brave man standing calm and fixed on the dreadful watch. The fierce fire still kept the engine in furious action, impelling the vessel onward; he ran her into an open space and alongside a ledge of rock, upon which every creature got safe on shore, all unscathed except the self-devoted one to whom all owed their lives. Had he flinched for a minute they must all have perished.

FRAILTY OF MAN.-" MASSA, YOU NO UNDERSTAND IT."

THERE once lived, in one of our large cities, a poor coloured woman, named

41

you no understand it. Dare be two great things to do for the church; one be to pray for it, toder be to act for it. Now, massa, God keep me alive to pray for de church, and he keep you alive to act for it. Your great gifts no do much good, massa, without poor Betty's prayers."

For a few moments, Mr. B. and his friend stood silent, thrilled, and astonished. They felt the knowledge, the dignity, the moral sublimity of this short sermon. It seemed to draw aside the veil a little, and let them into heaven's mysteries. "Yes, Betty," replied Mr. B., in the most serious subdued tones, " your prayers are of more importance to the church than myalms." This short sermon preached by poor Betty, was never forgotten

ness for nearly twenty years. By the few friends that knew her, she was familiarly called "poor Betty." She had seen comfortable days, but had long been blind, and was said to be 105 years old. Mr. B. was a man of wealth and business in the same city. His signature was better than silver on the exchange, because it was more easily transferred. His sails whitened the ocean; his charity gladdened many hearts; and his family gave impulse to many benevolent operations.

Notwithstanding the pressure of business, Mr. B. often found time to drop in and see poor Betty. His

66

voice, and even his step, had become familiar to her, and always lighted up a smile on her dark, wrinkled face, as he often said some pleasant things to cheer this lonely pilgrim on her way to Zion. One day Mr. B. took a friend from the country to see Betty. As he stopped and entered the cottage, he said, "Ah! Betty, you are alive yet." "Yes, tank God," said Betty. Betty," said he, "why do you suppose God keeps you so long in this world, poor, and sick, and blind, when you might go to heaven and enjoy so much?" While Mr. B.'s tone and manner were half sportive, he yet uttered a serious thought which had more than once come over his mind. Now comes the sermon. Betty assumed her most serious and animated tone, and replied, "Ah, massa,

them more prayerful, more submissive in afflictions.

IDOLATRY.-A YOUNG GIDEON. A BOY belonging to one of the schools established by the missionaries in the South Seas, had heard so much of the sin and folly of idolatry, that his confidence in idols was shaken, and he longed to know for a certainty whether the images he had been accustomed to worship were really possessed of power or not. One day his father and mother went out, and left him at home alone. He had spent some time in reading his tasks and thinking over what he had been taught at the school the day before. At last the idea came into his mind that it would be a good thing to burn the idols. He was, however, afraid, partly on account of his parents, and partly from the dread he had of offending the gods, and bringing down upon him swift destruction. In this difficulty he knelt down and entreated the God of the Christians to take care of him and help him. He then rose, and taking one of the smallest idols, he put it on the fire; the flames kindled about it, and in a short time not a vestige of it remained. The child looked on with astonishment; but no sooner Iwas the first consumed than he threw on another, and another, and another, till, like Gideon of old, he had thoroughly cleansed his father's house. When'

D

however, the flames had subsided, and all was over, the boy became alarmed at his own temerity. He had no more fear of the gods of wood and of stone, but he trembled at the thought of what his father might say, and he was half inclined to repent of his rashness. In this extremity he shut up the dwelling and went into the woods, and there, in the best way he could, he devoted himself to God, promising that if God would befriend him, and be his God, he would serve him all the days of his life. While he was there, his father and mother returned, and, missing at once the idols and the boy, they feared some spirit had come and taken them away altogether. As soon as they could recover themselves a little, they went to the missionary, and asked him if he knew anything about their son. He said he did not; but, suspecting what had been done, he offered to accompany them and find him out. After going in various directions, they bent their steps to the wood, and there, at some distance, under the shadow of a large tree, they saw the lad kneeling before God. The parents were so thankful to find that he was not hurt, that they were persuaded to renounce their heathenish customs, and gave themselves up to the study of the Holy Scriptures. The boy, encouraged by the Divine goodness, was confirmed in his resolution to be the Lord's, and afterwards became a zealous teacher in the schools, and a preacher of the Gospel. among his brethren.

A BECHUANA'S VIEW OF IDOLATRY. A BECHUANA man, says a missionary, once came into my house, and sat himself down. He took up one of our missionary sketches that was lying near him; having looked at it, he concluded that the figures upon it

ugly ones represented living animals. It never entered his mind that man could make a thing that never existed. He asked my little daughter Mary, “What game is this?” She said, "They are not game; there are nations that worship these things." "Oh !" said he, "how you tell fibs." She replied, "I am not telling fibs; I heard mamma say so, and my mamma does not tell fibs." He asked

her again what game they were, and she again told him that they were things that were worshipped, for they have no name for idols. He burst out into an exclamation of wonder, questioned her again, but received the same answer-that people worshipped these things the same as her papa wished them to worship Jehovah and Jesus. The man was full of amazement, and repeated that she was telling fibs; but she maintained the truth of what she said, and told him to go to her papa. He came to me and said, "Look at that; your daughter says so and so. Is it true?" I said, "It is." Having looked at me with astonishment, he said, "I know you do not tell lies ;" and laying the paper down upon a piece of timber that I was planing, he looked at it, put his hands to both sides of his head, and waving it backwards and forwards, said, "The people that make these things of wood and stone, have they got heads like Bechuanas?" Yes," I replied, "they have heads." "Have they got legs?" "Have they got a pair of bellows to breathe through ?" (he meant lungs.) "Yes." The man's wonder continued to increase, and he then asked, "Can they talk, and think, and speak? Can they explain a difficult thing? Can they reason? Can they speak in a public meeting, like our senators?" being told that they could do all these things, he said. "After this, never say that the Bechuanas are either foolish or ignorant." Taking from his neck a whistle made of ivory, and carved with some device, perhaps a man's head, or a buffalo, or a giraffe, he looked at the whistle with great reverence, and nodding his head in a very solemn way, he said, "What would my people think if I were to worship that?" Just at that moment, while he was talking with much animation, his staff dropped from his hand. He grasped it, and pointing to the picture, he held up his staff and said, "This looks as well as this monster, and I might as well worship my staff just as you worship Jehovah. What would my people think if I were to do so? They would think I was a madman, and would throw me over a precipice, and cover me with stones."

On

ADELPHI CHAPEL, HACKNEYROAD.

SUNDAY SCHOOL.

ON Tuesday and Wednesday, the 27th and 28th December, 1859, the Scholars' Annual Social Meetings were held in the School-rooms. On both evenings the children and young people, about 600 in number, partook of a bountiful tea, liberally provided by the teachers and friends.

On the first evening, the Rev. W. Woodhouse, the pastor and president, in a very affectionate manner addressed the young people, stating that on this occasion he wished more especially to direct their attention to the important subject of the missionary work as an object worthy of their deepest interest-showing how all, even the youngest, might do a little, either by becoming subscribers or collectors, to promote the knowledge of the Saviour in heathen lands-directing their attention to the West African Mission as a most interesting field of labor, and one deserving their sympathy.

Mr. Woodhouse then called upon the Rev. Mr. Trotter, who was pre sent, whom he said could from personal experience, bring the cause and claims of that mission before them more fully. Mr. Trotter then addressed them, and, in a most interesting manner, explained the past and present state of the missionary work in Western Africa, and also what yet remains to be done. He related many incidents in connexion with the period of his own labours there; showing the blessed results of a knowledge of God, manifested in the lives of those who had embraced the Gospel, and turned from dumb idols to serve the true and living God. An ardent desire seemed to be created in the minds of the young to engage in this good work.

The result was that a Juvenile Auxiliary to this mission was formed, with the hope that the result would

IN connexion with Spa-Fields Chapel, the above schools were established about two years ago, in one of the most degraded and wretched portions of the swarming court-andalley districts, so numerously spread throughout this great metropolis. Friends of the destitute will be happy to hear that this effort has been crowned with the most heartcheering success: the result of the self-denying and laborious efforts of a devoted band of teachers, who now richly reap the reward of their labours in the strikingly ameliorated condition of the poor children, who are instructed in reading, writing, singing, and useful knowledge, suitable to their station in life, and in the truths of Christianity, whereby they may become wise unto salvation, and thus be better fitted to resist the temptations by which they are surrounded. To help this good work there is a sewing class, in which about thirty girls are taught to make up their own clothing. There is also a Sabbath evening service conducted for the benefit of the parents and friends ; with weekly lectures on various interesting and instructive subjects; and "Mother's Meeting," which is numerously attended, under the kind conduct of Mrs. Drayton.

a