trial, no sorrow, no gloom and heaviness of spirit to which it is not adapted, and to which it is not fully adequate for all the relief that it is best for them to receive. Journeying through this vale of tears, they must needs pass through many a dark and gloomy avenue. Storms, yea, tempests of sorrow and distress will assail them, and beat upon them. From the dark cloud that is over them, the thunders will be heard and the lightning-flash be seen. Bow to the storm they must; its violence will admit of no effectual resistance. But look! battered and wayworn traveller, as thou liest prostrate in the dust by reason of the violence of the tempest; direct your sight beyond the dark and frowning borders of that cloud which is bursting with all its violence, upon you. See! there is a streak of clear sky beyond, of golden light, diffusing its thousand splendours abroad. I do not speak of the radiance of the natural sun, with his cheering beams, but of the more splendid radiance of the Sun of Righteousness, spreading far and wide around him celestial glory, such as beams from the throne of God. That Sun will shine, when darkness and storm, when all other suns and stars shall have passed away. It will beam on your path, and conduct you and cheer you onward to that blessed place where the Lord Jesus will be your everlasting light, and the Saviour God a glory that will a thousand hills-not our children made to pass through the fire to some bloody Moloch-not our bodies given to be burned-not anguish on man's part like that of Juggernaut, nor the terrible penance of the superstition-stricken devotee. The exclusive, the Divine method of reconciliation is the blood of Christ shed on the cross, which guides us first to God's favour upon earth, and then to a crown of glory in the skies. But how? What is the mighty virtue of that atonement? How does it make those nigh who were before afar off? It was written, "The soul that sinneth shall die." The Saviour died the Substitute of his people, and so became their peace. It was written again, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all the law.” Man did not continue in it; but the Saviour kept it, he magnified it, he bore its curse, he exhausted its penalty; and so again he is our peace; we are brought nigh by his blood. Alienated once, we are reconciled now. At enmity once, we are constrained by love now. Darkness once, we are now light in the Lord. Once far from God, and far from righteousness, we are at length restored to our long-lost rank by Him who was man that he might endure, and God that he might give infinite worth to his endurance. Here, then, is the pillar and the ground of the believer's hope. Here, he may rejoice with a portion of the joy which is unspeakable and full of glory. Being washed in the fountain opened for sin, he is prepared to walk with God again in spirit and in truth; and while he sojourns, a pilgrim and a stranger here, his life is hid with Christ in God; his heart is in the better country, his Father's home on high. THE UNITY OF THE BIBLE. As in Beethoven's matchless music, there runs one idea, worked out through all the changes of measure and of key-now almost hidden, now breaking out in rich, natural melody-whispered in the treble, murmured in the bass, dimly suggested in the prelude, but growing clearer and clearer as the work proceeds, winding gradually back till it ends in the key in which it began, and closes in triumphant harmony; so throughout the whole Bible there runs one great idea: Man's Ruin by Sin, and his Redemption by grace in a word, Jesus Christ the Saviour. This runs through the Old Testament, that prelude to the New -dimly promised at the fall, and more clearly to Abraham-typified in the ceremonies of the law-all the events of sacred history paving the way for his coming-his descent proved in the genealogies of Ruth and Chronicles-spoken of as Shiloh by Jacob, as the Star by Balaam, as the Prophet by Moses-the David of the Psalms-the Redeemer looked for by Job-the Beloved of the Song of Songs. We find him in the sublime strains of the lofty Isaiah-in the writings of the tender Jeremiah -in the mysteries of the contemplative Ezekiel-in the visions of the beloved Daniel-the great idea growing clearer and clearer as the time drew on. Then the full harmony broke out in the song of the angels, Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace, good will towards men." And evangelists and apostles taking up the theme, the strain closes in the same key in which it beganthe devil, who troubled the first paradise, for ever excluded from the second; man restored to the favour of God; and Jesus Christ the keynote of the whole. A WORD IN SEASON. A military company in H― was called out for review. One of the officers, whose duty it was to serve the official citation or warning, was a devoted soldier of the Cross. Having called at a shop, and delivered the customary warning to the senior clerk, who was a member of the company, a younger clerk, who was quite thoughtless on the subject of religion, playfully accosted him with the inquiry," Well, G-, have you not a warning for me, too?" With a look of affectionate and serious solicitude, a tone of mingled solemnity and tenderness, and a winning manner, he replied deliberately, "Yes, HI have a warning for you-I warn you to flee from the wrath to come." This unexpected answer and address was an arrow of conviction; it went to the heart of the youth as a message from heaven, and resulted in his conversion and consecration to Christ. An event, over which "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God," was the fruit of a single faithful remark, uttered in the performance of a service which would naturally present as few opportunities as any other for the exhibition of the spirit which prompted it. "A word spoken in due season, how good is it!" Biography. MR. JOSEPH HOLLAND. MR. JOSEPH HOLLAND, solicitor, these impressions, and he returned to Ross, not only much improved in bodily health, but, at the very least spiritually considered, "not far from the kingdom of God." On the following Lord's-day morning, he intimated to his mother, who has for many years been a member of the Congregational church, that it was his intention to go with her; a communication which was received with an equal measure of surprise and delight, for he had not been within the chapel where she worshipped for many years. She supposed, however, it might be only an occasional visit; but it proved far otherwise, for from that period, until he left Ross for a season, he was scarcely ever absent from the services of that sanctuary. The impressions which had been previously was born at Ross, in the county of Hereford, in the year 1825. Although he was blessed with a pious mother, and received from her the best of advice, he gave no indications of piety during his youthful years. When he attained the age of manhood, although by no means an immoral character, he was evidently a young man of the world, seeking his enjoyments from earthly and carnal rather than spiritual and heavenly things. He was accustomed to spend a great part of the sacred day of God in travelling or worldly festivity; and when he attended the public worship of God, which was then in connection with the Established Church, it was with him only a form; he scarcely knew what was uttered, for he paid no devout attention to religious observ-made, were deepened, evidently isances. He was "alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that was in him," seeking death by the error of his ways. Thus was he until the hand of affliction was laid upon him, and he was led by Divine Providence to repair to Malvern, that by its invigorating breezes his wasted frame might be restored. While wandering amidst its magnificent scenery, he accidentally met with a small tract on religious subjects, and its perusal first impressed his mind with their infinite importance. Conversation with a Christian friend at Worcester, a short time afterwards, greatly strengthened suing in saving conversion to God. Seldom has greater decision of character been displayed. He did not hesitate or vacillate, but completely carried out into action the convictions of an enlightened conscience, by separating himself from all his former associates, coming out from an ungodly world, and choosing for his companions the followers of the Lamb. He ever treated those associates with kindness and courtesy, but had not the slightest inclination for their society. After a short time he became a Sunday-school teacher, and on January 7, 1849, he was received into communion with the Congregational death was very gradual, and occa church, of which he afterwards proved a useful member For about a year he took up his residence in the city of Gloucester, and felt it a privilege to attend the ministry of the Rev. J. Hyatt, for whom he felt a high respect; but Divine providence having called him to return to Ross, he received a respectful dismission from the church under the pastoral charge of Mr. Hyatt, and re-united with his old friends. Although belonging to a profession but few of the members of which are associated with the ranks of Nonconformity, in the morning of his days he hesitated not to cast in his lot among a section of the people of God not unfrequently despised by more than a few, at the same time cherishing a very kind feeling towards other parts of the church of Christ. Scarcely had he commenced the full exercise of his profession in his native town, when he was attacked by the disease which, in less than eighteen months, terminated in dissolution. sionally his system would in some degree rally, so that apparently he did not entertain any serious apprehensions of the termination of his disease until a little before his departure. As soon as he was told decisively of the hopelessness of recovery, he diligently "set his house in order ;" and although his deportment had appeared to be most consistent, with much humility he expressed his deep regret that he had not been more devoted to the Lord, and zealous in his cause. Few men had more powerful inducements to desire the continuance of life. He was young; he had connections greatly beloved; and his earthly prospects were flattering. But he was enabled, at the close of his course, entirely to acquiesce in the Divine will, expressing that his desire for life had been for the sake of his wife and children, but that now he could with confidence commit these into the hands of the Most High. The last two interviews which his pastor had with him have left an impression on his mind that can never be effaced. He evidently felt that his end was rapidly approaching. While he was the subject of all that solemnity which such a situation ought to inspire, his faith was built on the Rock of Ages, the great Sacrifice of the cross; and a blessed serenity of mind was its result. With death immediately before him, and his icy hand pressing heavily upon him, he said, "I have no desire to live," declaring also, in reply to a question that was proposed to him, His descent to the chambers of that he would not renounce his hope Men of the world, as well as Christians, have readily borne testimony to his integrity and uprightness. Of his humility also there were many delightful proofs. Had he been spared, there is great reason to believe he would have been no inconsiderable blessing to the religious community of which he was a member, as well as to the town in which he resided; but the Lord has seen fit to take him to a higher and holier scene. in a precious Saviour for a thousand worlds. He was evidently the subject of a very powerful emotion when he lifted up his eyes and hands to heaven, declaring the holy confidence of his soul. His departure took place on the morning of Lord's-day, September 14, 1856. The sun arose that day with peculiar splendour; and low as he was brought, he evidently beheld it with no small degree of admiration, remarking at the same time to those who watched around his dying bed, that beautiful as it was, he should soon see a brighter Luminary than that; evidently referring to the great Sun of Right The Lord pre eousness himself. served to him the proper exercise of his intellectual powers to the very last, so that when a Christian friend, a little before his departure, quoted the passage," O Grave! where is thy victory?" he immediately added, "O Death! where is thy sting?" and a little afterwards gently breathed out his spirit into the hands of the Saviour whom he loved. His pastor, the Rev. W. F. Buck, by whom he was held in high esteem, improved his death at the Congregational chapel, Ross, to a numerous audience, on Lord's-day, September 28, from Luke vii. 12th, and following verses. W. F. B. Popery. THE HARDEST RELIGION. AMONG the compliments which our brethren of the church of Rome pay to their religion, this is one: they say it is the hardest religion-that no other religion requires so much of its votary. Hence they would have it inferred that theirs must be the Divine and only true religion. The yoke being so hard, and the burden so heavy, they must of course be Christ's. I shall examine this claim to the precedence in point of difficulty. And something I am prepared to concede to the church of Rome on this score. There is a part of her faith which I acknowledge it is exceedingly hard to receive. It requires a powerful effort, doubtless, to believe the doctrine of transubstantiation, namely, that the bread and wine of the sacraments are changed into-what? The body and blood of Christ? Not that alone, but also into his soul and divinity! Yes, it is hard to believe it is so, when one sees it is not so, and knows it cannot be so. It is hard to disbelieve at will those long-tried and faithful servants, the senses; and especially that first of the five-the sight. There is difficulty in the Catholic religion truly. It puts a tremendous strain on the mind. There is also her doctrine about the necessity of baptism to salvation, which some of us find it very hard to believe. One reason of our difficulty is, that that doctrine bears so hard upon the heathen, and particularly on the immense multitude of infants who everywhere die without |