generous and devoted countrymen, rallying around them in the hour of their darkest trial. No one can say what multitudes were brought to God in the course of that fearful struggle, what a harvest of souls was reaped for heaven in those fields of blood; how many, long halting between two opinions, or unawakened to any feeling at all on the subject, were won to Christ by the conversation, by the faith, patience, endurance of his tried servants. No one can say, how, in the midst of his infernal exultation over the writhing bodies of the martyrs, the fiend was tortured by seeing heaven's golden portals thrown wide to receive a host of contrite spirits, called, justified, glorified, with the rapidity that marked the dying malefactor's conversion on Calvary, rendering the scene of his apparent triumph one of aggravated loss, defeat, and shame.

66

These are among the secret things that belong to God alone; but that they do occur we have many delightful intimations. Except a man be born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." This we know, and we watch for evidences of that new birth into the heirship of heaven; and we know them by their fruits, who have thus passed from death unto life. But the moment at which a soul is so born, who shall determine? It is some moment known to the Father of spirits it is some point of time, when it can be said, "This thy brother was dead, and is alive again ;" some moment when the angels of God burst into a song of joy, because a sinner has repented, believes, and is put in possession of everlasting life. It is done before man can perceive any trace of it: Ananias, a just man, a believing, obedient servant of the Lord, favoured with revelation too, was utterly staggered when told to go and greet Saul of Tarsus with a message of love. He

even expostulated; but the answer was conclusive, "Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto me." Oh the depth of the riches of redeeming love! We should stand amazed indeed, could we trace all that is wrought by it in the world around us; and more, we should become careless, presuming, neglectful of our own great work in using means for the accomplishment of what the Lord has willed to do. Yet it is a cordial, good in such seasons of trial to our faith, as this to the melancholy details of which we are reluctantly drawing nigh. It is good to remember that the Lord's little flock had been, as the testimony of their enemies abundantly shews, disseminating the truths of the gospel on every side, among friendly listeners, who were able to test the doctrine by the daily walk of those who proclaimed it ; and to whom it was now to be given to witness the power of God in them, triumphing over death and hell; while that foul system against which they had steadily protested, was made to stand forth in the utmost hideousness of its naked atrocity, a combination of all that was diabolical. Alike the dying prayers of the innocent victims, and the yells of their infuriated murderers, must have spoken a language that few hearts could resist, "Come out of her, my people ! "

Yes, many did come out of her, who died with a rosary at their girdle, and a crucifix in their bosoms, before they had time to cast them off. Many, and we delight to believe that Raymond Roger was among them, learned in the darkness of a dungeon to rest in the bright beams of a Saviour's love. These, had they survived, would have formed a body of firm and fearless protesters against all the abominations of the system from which they were delivered; but it was the will of God that in this instance the beast, making war

upon the saints, should also overcome them in the sight of man; for they were delivered into his hand, and hence the harvest was not allowed openly to ripen till the sickle of death was prepared to be put in. We can see, dimly and imperfectly, the outline of a very mighty work; we can comprehend how the garner of heaven was replenished when the pleasant scene of an earthly growth was laid waste, and trampled down, and destroyed. God's work is too equal for our unsteady eyes to follow close on its unwavering line; but the day is at hand when in its magnificent beauty it shall be fully revealed, and our purified vision shall be strengthened to gaze upon it; and our lips shall be opened to utter with understanding the predicted song of praise: "Marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty just and true are thy ways, O King of saints!"

C. E.

MARK XIV. 38.

"WATCH ye and pray !" O wise command!
We're trav'ling thro' a dang'rous land;
Pit-falls and snares are oft concealed,
But here is our defence and shield.

The world with bland and luring smiles
At one time tempts us with its wiles:
Then with a dark and frowning face
Would drive us from our resting-place.

The flesh now tries what it can do ;-
'There's nothing got by living so:
Relax, and learn how sweet is ease;
Besides, a compromise will please.'

Then comes the Devil, worse than all,
Planning unceasingly our fall;
Now as an angel fair he comes,
Then as a roaring lion roams.

But "watching, praying," we shall be
Unharmed by all their subtlety.

Tho' they may plan, and league, and plot,

Their malice will, must, harm us not.

If watching, we are on our guard

Tho' warm the kiss, or smooth the word;

And knowing the device full well,

We fly the path that leads to hell:

If praying, we that help obtain
By which we must the vict'ry gain :
No longer is it we who fight,

But God, who clothes us with his might.

Are three against our peace combined ?
Remember three are also join'd

To help, to save us to the end;

Their word is pledg'd; on them depend.

Then when the world its net hath spread,
Remember GOD himself hath said,
That they who love the world and sin,
Are foes and enemies to Him.

And when the flesh puts in its claim,
Subdue it in the SAVIOUR's name;
Each sinful member crucify,

That would that Saviour's pow'r defy.

And know, when hung'ring for his prey
The Devil tempts thee night and day,
The SPIRIT of the Lord hath pow'r,
To make the monster rage no more.

Courage, then, Christian! "Watch and pray,"
Maintain the struggle day by day;
The Triune God is stronger far,
Than all who seek thy ruin are.