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ed, but rather, by its very confinement, is forced into some shape more crooked, and becomes to society more unsightly and more troublesome. Amid a variety of disgusting characters, it is refreshing to meet now and then with one of a simple, modest, gentle, disposition, like Sally of the Sunday School.

It was perhaps somewhat conducive to this temper, that she had for several years been lame; a diseased hip obliged her to walk with a stick, and sometimes with a crutch. If this infirmity prevented her from habits of boisterousness, it kept her by that means from much sin. Good health is very often a great temptation; and leads the young into mischief by mere joyousness of spirits, and power to be active; for activity if not well directed becomes serious harm. If pain and suffering gave to Sally something of her gentle and obliging carriage, it was then, in another way, of great service toward forming her character into so pleasing an appearance. She may find her infirmity of body well made up to her in the advantages it yields to her mind and temper. And if, beyond this, affliction has made her more willing to listen, to learn, and to pray then who can say how great a blessing this illness has been made. She may have occasion to say with the prophet, "it was good for me to bear the yoke in my youth.”

When speaking to the children, I have sometimes endeavoured in vain even to catch their attention, and fasten it down to what I was saying; but I had no difficulty with Sally; her modest eye was always directed to me, and a tear in it would sometimes say she felt the word, and thanked me for trying to impress her with it. May the lessons she has so freqently felt be deeply, be divinely imprinted upon her heart: they will save her from many a temptation as she comes more to mingle in the world; and feels the strength of its gay or its sorrowful associations.

I have wondered sometimes when I considered her infirmity, to find her always one of the earliest at school. She had nearly a mile to walk; and to her that was no small labour; yet I was sure to find her in her place, unless, as at times, she was quite unable to come. Her heart was in it. Where there is a willing mind there will in general be a punctual attendance; and where the mind is also desirous of instruction, we are sure no little obstacles will hinder, no trifling difficulties will even delay. They who are in earnest to seek God will seek him early.

I much admire, especially in childhood, a simplicity of character which seems to lay itself quite open to your inspection without disguise. Some children when they give you an answer never look you in the face; their countenances are cast down, not with bashfulness, but with consciousness of some evil feeling which they want to hide. The cross, the sly, the sulky, do not wish to discover to you what they know their faces will betray. Sally had nothing to hide. You might look her countenance through and through without her ever suspecting what you were doing; a better symptom of a clear conscience that means no harm to any one can scarcely be found. And when you contemplated her mild face so

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Sully of the Sunday School.

full of feeling, all the lines were simple. There were her features for you to look at, just as nature made them; not one of them twisted into proper form for your inspection; or twisted out of proper form by the consciousness of being inspected. No half shut eye retiring from view; nor broadly open, fixed into a confident stare, determined to endure examination without detection. No corner of the mouth dragged down to give a demure look; nor turning up ready to quiz you as soon as released from so close a Burvey.

But a

There is a mode of receiving favours which marks the character with great precision. Some are very loud in their thanks, who as evidently do not feel grateful; what you give is not half what their covetousness expected. They durst not refuse to receive it, lest they cut off all hope of something better another time. little inquiry or observation afterwards will show that your gift was undervalued, neglected, or perverted to some base use. It was a double pleasure to give Sally any thing; you saw she thanked you by a countenance illuminated with grateful feelings; you knew your gift would be put to its proper use; would be well taken care of; and though but an old thing, would be repaired and worn, and might be seen upon her many a day afterwards.

Sally's lameness had rendered her unable to be useful to her mother or to others in any laborious way. Being obliged to sit still much, she had therefore plied her needle well; and became expert, especially as to neatness of workmanship, above many older girls. There is always something which the willing and industrious can do. Those who are shut out by Providence from some modes of employment, can, if they will, find other methods of usefulness. Even an inability may become an advantage, if it lead us the more strenuously to cultivate such faculties as are left to us. Sally is better qualified for a respectable situation by this means, than if, able to romp and run, she had spent her time hoydening with birds nesting boys.

Though Sally was lame for a long while, yet for two years at least, she has been quite recovered, and has had no occasion for even a stick to help her. I have no reason to think that her recovering her powers thus, has had any bad effect upon her mind and character; which is a great mercy. Not unfrequently do we see health regained, give the power, and also become the occasion, of running into sin.

Her recovered strength enabling her to seek some more active employment, she has been helping at different houses. The last time I met her, I was glad to find her able to undertake some light service, where attending a child, or assisting with her needle, might enable her to maintain herself in a decent family. I trust that Providence which has favoured her so far, will guide her ways, guard her first entrance into life, and especially by His own grace secure her young heart to Himself.

It will not pass as a trifling trait in her character, that she left the school handsomely. In most cases, leaving school is, first

74th Methodist Conference in England.

399

loitering and becoming inconstant in attendance, and at last ceasing to come. Then we never hear any more of them; or if we inquire, receive some ungrateful reply. It was otherwise with Sally. Getting better in health, as I have stated, and being near fifteen, she wished for some situation; she therefore called to say she was very thankful for the kindness shown her so long, and now would not trouble the school any more. This showed a feeling, and a propriety of conduct. which promise well. The ungrateful mind is a base one And although what seems ingratitude, is often only want of thought, or want of manners; yet these are great wants, and do much mischief. Her having the thought to do so, raises her character; her having the manners to do so, will recommend her to a better place than she could hope for, if she had shown deficiency in this respect; and if the action sprung from a superior source, from a principle of grateful feeling, it will promise well for her future behaviour. Principle is solid, and will last; it is general, and will spread; it is honourable, and will ex. alt the character in which it rules.

Her conduct in this respect was reported to our ladies' working party, who felt so well pleased, as to make her a present of a piece of stuff for a gown. green She could make it herself, there was no need to do that for her. The lady under whose direction this was done, gave something to have it of a better quality than is usually given in such cases, that it might do her good service. With much pleasure I perceived upon her the other Lord's day, this reward of her good character and pleasing conduct. May her character continue good, and her conduct pleasing; I trust she will find many an instance yet in future life of the advantages these procure.

Should this account meet the eye of young girls now under instruction; I shall be happy, were it so far to gain their attention, as to show the advantages of being simple, honest, modest, tractable,-like Sally of the Sunday School.

METHODIST CONFERENCE IN ENGLAND.

On Monday last the Seventy-fourth Annual Conference of the people called Methodists, commenced at Sheffield :—the Rev. John Gaulter was chosen President, and the Rev. Jabez Bunting, Secretary. About three hundred preachers have assembled. The last week was occupied by the Committee for Stations, and by the Committee for Examination and Finances of the numerous Missions of the Connexion. Various interesting accounts have recently been received from St. Domingo and Ceylon; and notwithstanding the great pressure of the times, upwards of seventeen thousand pounds have been raised by this religious body in the course of the last year, for the support of Missions among the Heathen.[Liverpool paper of Aug. 4.

* More than seventy-five thousand Dollars.

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New Auxiliaries to American B. S. &c. Poetry.

Auxiliaries to the American Bible Society.

"The Branch B. S. of the town of Great Barrington," (Mass.) instituted 21st Jan. 1817. Moses Hopkins, Esq. President; John Whiting, Secretary; D. Leavenworth, Treasurer.

"The B. S. of Adams and its vicinity," in Berkshire county, (Mass.) formed 21st March, 1817. Dea. Otis Blackington, Pres.; Rev. Elijah F. Willey, Secretary, at Lansingburgh, (N. Y.); James. Cumming, Esq. Treasurer.

"The Cambridge Juvenile B. S." formed 9th May, 1817. Thomas R. Ingalls, Secretary, at Cambridge, (N. Y.)

"The Xenia Auxiliary B. S." (Ohio,) formed 3d July, 1817. Francis Pringle, jun. Corr. Sec.

"The Herkimer B. S." formed 5th May, 1817. Hezekiah N. Woodruff, President, Little Falls, (N. Y.)

"The Springfield Auxiliary B. S." (Ken.) Richard Cocke, Sec. These make the number of Auxiliaries, one hundred and eight.

Donations to the Biblical Library.

By the Russian Bible Society, forwarded by Mr. Paterson :-the Russian Bible, Old and New Testaments, in the Slavonian dialect, royal 8vo.; New Testament, do. do. ; Do. Persian, 4to.; Do. Armenian, do.; Do. Polish, 8vo.; Do. Finnick, do.; Do. French, Sacy's translation, do.; Do. Esthonian, 12mo.; Do. do. 24mo.; Do. Laponian, 12mo.; Gospel of St. Matthew in the Calmuc or Mongolian language, 4to.; the Annual Reports of the Russian Bible Society for 1813-14-15-16; and several other publications.

1041

THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER'S DEATH.

To the memory of the late Rev. THOMAS TAYLOR, by J. MONTGOMERY, of

Sheffield,

Servant of God! well done,
Rest from thy lov'd employ;
The battles's fought, the vic'try won,
Enter thy master's joy;
The voice at midnight came,
He started up to hear;

A mortal arrow pierc'd his frame,
He fell--but felt no fear.

At home amidst alarms,

It found him in the field;

A veteran slumbering on his arms,
Beneath his red cross shield;
His sword was in his hand,

Still warm with recent fight;
Ready that moment at command
Through rock and steel to smite.

It was a two-edg'd blade,

Of heav'nly temper keen;
And double were the wounds it made
Where'er it glanc'd between;
'Twas death to sin-'twas life

To all that mourn'd their sin;
It kindl'd and it silenc'd strife,
Made war and peace within.
Stout hearts before it fell,

Subdu'd by wrath and love; 'Twas dreadful as the flames of hell, Bright as the beams above.

(England.)
Heroes were wont to name

The weapons of their might;
This was a brand of matchless fame,
The word of God, in fight.

Oft with its fi'ry force

His arm has quell'd the foe;
And laid, resistless in his course,
The alien armies low:
Bent on such glorious toils,

The world to him was loss;
But all his trophies, all his spoils,
He hung upon the cross.

At midnight came the cry,

"To meet thy God prepare"-
He 'woke he caught his captain's eye,
Then strong in faith and prayer,
His spirit with a bound

Burst its encumbering clay;
His tent at sun-rise on the ground
A darken'd ruin lay.

The pains of death are past,

Labour and sorrow cease;
And life's long warfare clos'd at last,
His soul is found in peace.
Soldier of Christ, well done!

Begin thy new employ;
Sing while eternal ages run,
Thy master and his joy.

THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.

VOL. III.] Saturday, September 20, 1817.

[No. 26.

LONDON SOCIETY FOR EVANGELIZING THE JEWS.

By the last Report of that Institution, it appears that a great field of usefulness is opening to their labours in Poland and Russia. It was estimated, that in the former country there were upwards of four hundred thousand of that nation, and in all the dominions of the Emperor Alexander the number of them was not less than two millions. The Committee had turned their attention to those countries, and proposed to send missionaries among them; and if some could be sent to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover, the Gospel might be preached to Jews of as many different nations as on the day of Pentecost.

It might be said that these were extensive plans, and called for extensive funds; but on this point the Society did not feel disposed to be discouraged; as other societies had found that the only way to accomplish great things was to attempt them with a humble dependence on the Divine blessing for success.

At the Anniversary Meeting the Right Rev. Bishop of Gloucester, on moving the acceptance and printing of the Report, remarked, that this cause was chiefly supported by the same individuals that were engaged in the other great benevolent institutions, which bad met on the preceding week, and that though it had not to boast of triumphs so conspicucus as some of them, it was no less worthy of support. But Christianity had always been exposed to trials, and in the present case they might be expected from the prejudices of the Jews, from the opposition of the world, and from false friends-it was through these that it advanced to victory, as in the instances of our Lord himself; and whenever the conver sion of Israel should take place, it would be no less than a resurrection, or in St. Paul's words, "life from the dead."

THO. BABINGTON, Esq, M. P. who seconded the preceding mo. tion, was fearful lest any thing he might say should lessen the effect of their excellent Report, or of the remarks of the Right Rev. prelate, to several of which he briefly and respectfully adverted. He added, that the Jews abroad had not been inattentive to the wars and commotions which had lately afflicted Europe; that their thoughts had been directed to the advent of the Messiah, and the benevolent exertions of Christians, especially in the distribution of the Scriptures, had favourably impressed them, and led them to inquire into the character of our Saviour: this was particularly the case, he observed, in Poland and in Russia.

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