ing him with fresh applause, then the hour of his ignominy and shame was fully come. In a moment the approach of death dissipated his delusive dreams, and filled his guilty soul with inexpressible horror. As if moved

by magic, conscience started from her long slumbers, and unfolded before him the broad extended roll of all his crimes. Ah! whither shall he fly for relief? Fury and despair succeed each other by turns, and he has more the appearance of a demon than a man. To his physician he said, "Doctor, I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months life." The doctor answered, "Sir, you cannot live six weeks." Voltaire replied, "Then shall I go to hell, and you shall go with me;" and soon after expired.

Chap. ix. ver. 4.—I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work.

"Having some business," says Mr Cecil," to transact with a gentleman in the city, I called one day at his counting house; he begged I would call again, as I had so much more time to spend than he had, who was a man of business. 'An hour is nothing to you!' said he. 66 You seem little to understand the nature of our profession. One hour of a clergyman's time rightly employed, Sir, is worth more to him than all the gains of your merchandise."

Chap. ix. ver. 28.-Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple: but we are Moses' disciples.

One day as Mr Whitefield walked along, a sailor apparently a little intoxicated, but it would seem wishing to appear more so, frequently stumbled in Mr Whitefield's way, who, notwithstanding, took no notice cf him; at length he so much interrupted the way as to prevent Mr Whitefield getting forward. On which he took him by the shoulder, and thrust him to one side. "What do you mean ?" said the sailor," don't you know I am one of your disciples ?" "I am afraid of that," replied the good man; "had you been one of my Master's, I should have had better hopes of you."

Chap. x. ver. 1.-Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

The celebrated Mr Alexander Henderson, who lived in the seventeenth century, was presented by Archbishop Gladstanes to the parish of Leuchars in Fife. His settlement was so unpopular, that on the day of ordination, the church doors were shut and secured by the people, so that the ministers who attended, together with the precentor, were obliged to go in by the window. Shortly after, having heard of a communion in the neighbourhood, at which the excellent Mr Bruce was to be an assistant, he went thither secretly; and fearful of attracting notice, placed himself in a dark corner of the church, where he might not be readily seen or known. Mr Bruce having come into the pulpit, paused for a little, as was his usual manner, a circumstance which excited Mr Henderson's surprise; but it astonished him much more when he heard him read as his text, these very striking words, He that entereth not in by the door, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a THIEF and a ROBBER;-which words, by the blessing of God, and the effectual working of the Holy Spirit, took such hold on him at that very instant, and left such an impression on his heart afterwards, that they proved the very first means of his conversion unto Christ. Ever after he retained a great affection for Mr Bruce, and used to make mention of him with marks of the highest respect.

Chap. x. 3, 4, 5.-The sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

"I have met with an illustration of a passage of Scripture," says Mr Hartley, missionary in Greece," which in

H

terests mc. Having had my attention directed last night to the words, John x. 3, the sheep hear his voice, and he calleth his own sheep by name,' &c. I asked my man if it was usual in Greece to give names to the sheep; he informed me that it was, and that the sheep obeyed the shepherd, when he called them by their names. This morning I had an opportunity of verifying the truth of this remark. Passing a flock of sheep, I asked the shepherd the same question which I had put to my servant, and he gave me the same answer. I then bade him call one of his sheep; he did so, and it instantly left its pastu rage and its companions, and ran up to the hand of the shepherd with signs of pleasure, and with a prompt obedience, which I had never before observed in any other animal. It is also true of the sheep in this country, that a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers. The shepherd told me, that many of his sheep are still WILD; that they had not yet learned their names; but that, by teaching, they would all learn them. The others which knew their names, he called TAME. How natural an application to the state of the human race, does this description of the sheep admit of! The good shepherd laid

down his life for his sheep; but many of them are still wild; they know not his voice. Others have learned to obey his call, and to follow him; and we rejoice to think, that even to those not yet in his fold, the words are applicable, Them also I must bring; and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.”’

Chap. xi. ver. 25.-Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

While a naval officer was inspecting one of the schools in the island of Barbadoes, containing two hundred negro boys and girls, a sign was made by one of the children, (by holding up its hand,) intimating that he wished to speak to the master. On going up to the child, who was past eight years of age, the master enquired what was the matter. "Massa," he replied, with a look of horror and indig

nation, which the officer said he should never forget, and pointing to a little boy of the same age, who sat beside him, "Massa, this boy says he does not believe in the resurrection." This is very bad," said the master; "but do you, my little fellow, addressing the young informer, believe in the resurrection yourself ?" "Yes, Massa, I do." "But can you prove it from the Bible ?" "Yes, Massa; Jesus says, 'I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live ;' and in another place, Because I live, ye shall live also!" The master added, "Can you prove it from the Old Testament also ?" "Yes; for Job says, ' 1 know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God!" And David says in one of his psalms, I shall be satisfied, when I awake with thy likeness ?"" But are you sure these passages are in the Bible? Here is a Bible, point them out to us. The little boy instantly turned up all the passages, and read them aloud.

Chap. xi. ver. 57.-Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

Mr Gilbert Rule was minister of Alnwick in Northumberland during the time of the persecution. When he was forced to leave his charge at Alnwick, he went to Berwick, where he practised surgery for the support of his family. His enemies continued their persecutions. They engaged some of the baser sort to way-lay him. That he might be brought into this snare, a messenger was dispatched at midnight to request him to visit a person in the country whom he should represent as very ill. The good man expressed so much sympathy for the sick person, and shewed such readiness to run to his relief, though at midnight, that the messenger's heart relented, (for he was privy to the plot,) and was so filled with remorse, that he discovered the whole affair to Mr Rule, which happilý prevented his meeting a premature death.

Chap. xii. ver. 18.-He that eateth bread with me, hath lifted up his heel against me.

Anne Askew, the second daughter of Sir William Askew of Kelsey in Lincolnshire, was married against her inclination to a gentleman who had nothing to recommend him but his fortune, and who was a most bigoted papist. No sooner was he convinced that his wife favoured the Reformation, than, at the priest's instigation, he drove her from his house, though she had borne him two children, and her conduct was unexceptionable. Abandoned by her husband, she came up to London, in order to procure a divorce, and to make herself known to that part of the court who professed to be favourers of Protestantism; but as Henry VIII. with consent of Parliament, had just enacted the law of the Six Articles, commonly called the Bloody Statute, she was cruelly betrayed by her own husband, taken into custody, and examined concerning her faith: when, after suffering various acts of cruelty, she was condemned and burnt.

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Chap. xii. ver. 35.-Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you; walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

From the notion which some entertained of St Columba being able to foretell future events, a man asked him one day, how long he had to live. If your curiosity on that head could be satisfied," said the saint," it could be of no use to you. But it is only God, who appoints the days of man, that knows when they are to terminate. Our business is to do our duty, not to pry into our destiny. God in mercy hath concealed from man the knowledge of his end. If he knew it was near, he would be disqualified for the duties of life; and if he knew it were distant, he would delay his preparation. You should therefore be satisfied with knowing that it is certain; and the safest way is to believe that it may be also near, and to make no delay in getting ready, lest it overtake you unprepar

ed."