shouting at the top of his voice, and throwing his arms about wildly, came to the conclusion that the man must be drunk or mad, and instead of stopping the train, blew his whistle and signalled him out of the way. Finding that all his efforts were unavailing, and that the train, instead of stopping, kept thundering on towards the place of peril, the man was at his wit's end. He knew that something must be done instantly if the train and its passengers were to be saved from destruction; and so, as a last resource, the brave fellow deliberately laid himself down across the metals. The dangerous expedient proved successful. The driver supposing that the man was intent upon self-destruction, instantly shut off the steam, applied the breaks, and ere long brought the train to a stand. The man was soon on his feet, imparting to the driver by word of mouth the information which he had failed to convey by signal. It was with a thrill of horror and gratitude that he heard that the bridge, which he had approached so near, and over which he was expecting to pass in perfect safety, was broken down. We can easily conceive how heartily and warmly he thanked the man, whom just before he had accounted mad or drunk, but who, as he now found, had nobly, and at the risk of his own life, saved that entire train of carriages from absolute destruction. We cannot help admiring the conduct of this Savoy labourer, who, that he might save his fellow men from destruction, so bravely risked his own life. It was indeed a noble act, and is deserving of commemoration. We feel that, by thus interposing in their behalf, he earned, and doubtless secured, the warmest gratitude of all who were conveyed by that train. Speaking after the manner of men, they owed their lives to him. Had he been less prompt, less heroic, they might have all miserably perished. We have our admiration kindled as we read the brief record of an act like this. But what after all is such an interposition as that to which we have referred, compared with the gracious and condescending intervention of our Divine Redeemer in our behalf, who, becoming our substitute surety, laid down his life for us. To save us from otherwise inevitable destruction he interposed his own precious blood. Knowing all that was before him, every pang, every agony to be endured, our Saviour was straitened till his work for us was accomplished. "This was compassion like a God, How beautiful is Christ's own testimony to this fact! "I am the Good Shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." "I lay down my life for the sheep." "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life that I may take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." "Which of all our friends, to save us, Could, or would, have shed his blood? But the Saviour died to have us This was boundless love indeed! Not less distinct is the testimony borne by the great apostle of the Gentiles: "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He Our safety from otherwise inevitable and hopeless destruction we owe entirely to the gracious and effectual interposition of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. stepped in between us and ruin, between us and death. To Him we owe our lives. To Him we owe all that we enjoy here; all that we hope to enjoy hereafter. Nothing can be more express and unmistakeable than the testimony of Scripture on this point: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."t The warmest affections of our hearts are called forth towards the Saviour of sinners, as we believingly contemplate that love which is commended to us in so unexampled a way by his sufferings and death in our stead. "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he † John iii. 14, 15. *Rom. v. 6-8, died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.' As redeemed sinners-sinners redeemed by "the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot' -we shall never forget what we owe to Him who died that we might live. Throughout eternity our song of praise will be ever the same: "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." And even then shall we feel that the theme of our song surpasses our powers of comprehension. "Oh! never, never can we know The Saviour's deep mysterious woe; When he for us vouchsafed to die. Yes, man for man perchance may brave For, fainter than the pale star's ray All thy seeking for thy Saviour Then take courage, sad and mourning, As thy heart cries, "O my Father!" H. L. H. BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW. REV. XXI. 5. LESSED promise! Gracious Lord, 2 Cor. i. 20. BLE In our souls fulfil this word; Luke i. 38. Work in us to will, to do, Philip. ii. 13. And in truth make all things new. 2 Cor. v. 17. Give us hearts by thee renewed, Ezek. xxxvi. 26. Zech. i. 17.* Thou new comfort canst impart, John xiv. 27. Ezek. xxxvi. 25. Take from us our sin and shame, Heb. vi. 19. Entrance, Lord, to us be given 2 Peter i. 11. E were very poor-worse than poor; we were destitute. Three children were around us, crying silently, and still crying with hunger. We had no food, had had no food for twelve hours. It was one Sunday morning of which I am telling on the previous evening our last piece of bread had been divided among us five for supper' DECEMBER, 1862. N |