venerable chairman, Dr. Waugh, in tones of unaffected kindness, and with a patriarchal benignity of mien, acquainted him that the committee did not feel themselves authorized to accept of his services on a condition involving uncertainty as to the term; but imme diately added-"We think none the worse of you, my good lad, for your dutiful regard for your aged parent. You are but acting in conformity to the example of Him whose gospel you wished to proclaim among the heathen, who, as he hung upon the cross in dying agonies, beholding his mother and the beloved disciple standing by, said to the one, Woman, behold thy son!' and to John, Behold thy mother!' My good lad, we think none the worse of you."

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Chap. xx, ver. 31.-But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

A man who had been very much connected with infidels was taken dangerously ill; and feeling that he could not recover, became alarmed for the safety of his soul. He found that his infidel principles gave him no comfort. He began, for the first time, to examine into the Christian religion. He embraced it, and found it to be the power of God to salvation, enabling him to triumph over the fear of death. In the mean time, his infidel friends bearing of his sickness, and that he was not expected to recover, showed a degree of feeling and integrity, which, it is hoped, may prove the first happy step to their own conversion. They were not aware that their dying friend had become a Christian. They called to see him; and actually told him that they came on purpose to advise him now to embrace Christianity; because, said they, if it be false, it can do you no harm; but if it should prove true, you will be a great gainer.

Chap. xxi, ver. 16.-He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

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Mr. Newton once paid a visit to a minister who affected great accuracy in his discourses, and who, on that Sabbath day, had nearly occupied an hour in insisting on several labored and nice distinctions made in his subject. As he had a high estimation of Mr. Newton's judgment, he inquired of him, as they walked home, whether he thought the distinctions just now insisted on were full and judicious? Mr. N. said he thought them not full, as a very important one had been omitted. "What can that be?" said the minister," for I had taken more than ordinary care to enumerate them fully." "I think not," replied Mr. N. "for when many of your congregation had travelled several miles for a meal, I think you should not have forgotten the important distinction which must ever exist between MEAT and BONES."

Mr. Christopher Richardson, minister of Kirk Heaton in Yorkshire, was much followed a neighboring minister, whose parishioners used to go to hear him, complaining once to him that he drew away his flock, Mr. Richardson answered, "Feed them better, and they will not stray."

ACTS.

Chap. i, ver. 18, 19, 20.-Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called, in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and, his bishoprick let another take.

The Duke of Buckingham, baving by an unfortunate accident lost the army which he had raised

against the usurper Richard III, was forced to flee for his life without page or attendant; at last he took refuge in the house of Humphrey Bannister at Shrewsbury, who, being one of his servants, and having been formerly raised by him from a low condition, would, he trusted, be ready to afford him every possible protection. Bannister, however, upon the king's proclamation, promising £1,000 reward to him that should apprehend the duke, betrayed his master to John Merton, high sheriff of Shropshire, who sent him under a strong guard to Salisbury, where the king then was, by whom he was condemned to be beheaded. But divine vengeance pursued the traitor and his family; for, on demanding the £1,000 that was the price of his master's blood, king Richard refused to pay it, saying, "He that would be false to so good a master, ought not to be encouraged." He was afterwards hanged for manslaughter; his eldest son soon fell into a state of derangement, and died in a hog-sty; his second became deformed and lame; his third son was drowned in a small pool of water, and the rest of his family perished miserably.

Chap. ii, ver. 4.—And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utter

ance.

The Rev. Pliny Fisk, in a letter to the Society of Inquiry respecting Missions at Andover, soon after his arrival at Smyrna, writes-"I beg leave to submit to you one remark which seems to me important respecting the qualifications of a missionary. It is this; more knowledge of languages should be acquired. I say more knowledge of languages, rather than a knowledge of more languages. To have such an acquaintance with Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, as will enable you not only to read them with familiarity, but to speak and write them, would be of very great utility in this country, and I presume, in any part of Asia, probably in any part of the world. And let me add,

that it would be well if the wife of a missionary were to know Italian, French and Latin."

Chap. ii, ver. 17.-And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

Although little or no attention is to be paid to dreams in general, it cannot be denied that they are sometimes remarkable, and followed by striking effects. The following is an instance of this kind, in the case of a lame boy who had been very wicked and undutiful.-Adjoining the room where he lay, was a passage. He dreamed that this was on fire, and thought it was hell. He imagined that he saw many devils flying about in the flames, and that they were coming to take him away. Awaking in great terror, he attempted to alarm his mother; and put out his hand to her, but in vain. Though he said nothing of his dream for several months, a great alteration had been remarked in his temper. He was very desirous that his mother should read the Scriptures to him, and some hymn books. He delighted in reading, as he could, the Scripture texts on the reward tickets, which his brothers and sisters obtained at a Sabbath school. So great was the pleasure he derived from the word of God, that he would say in an evening, “I could keep awake all night to hear my mother read the Bible."-His mother sitting by his bed-side, he said to her, "Mother, though I am in so much pain, I am happy;" she replied, What makes you hap-. py, my dear?" "Because," said he," I am not afraid to die." My dear, do you know that death has a sting?" "Yes," he replied, "but Christ has taken it away."-A little before his departure, he was heard saying, "He will never, never forsake me.' Soon after, he looked up, and exclaimed, " Jesus, and his angels! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord!"

Chap. iii, ver. 6.-Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.

Thomas Aquinas, surnamed the Angelical Doctor; who was highly esteemed by Pope Innocent IV, going one day into the Pope's chamber, where they were reckoning large sums of money, the Pope addressing himself to Aquinas said, "You see the church is no longer in an age in which she can say, 'Silver and gold have I none.' "It is true, holy father," replied the Angelical Doctor," nor can she now say to the lame man, Rise and walk."

Chap. iii, ver. 15.—And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

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A Jew, in a letter to one of the same nation, writes:-"One day I overheard your worthy gardener, William, tell another Christian servant, that the sermon had been that morning on these words, 'Ye have killed the Prince of Life!' Fears what would become of me if that were true, so agitated me the whole night, that, after a short and suddenly interrupted sleep, I arose early to walk in your garden; there I soon met William, who, with honest and undissembled goodness, asked me, What vexes you? Often when you imagined you was not seen, I have observed you in the garden sighing, wringing your hands, and lifting up your eyes to heaven. Are you unhappy?' 'I am as wretched as possible!' 'How sir? You are a man of fortune, and being unmarried, have no kind of family distress!' 'Yes, but I am a Jew!' Well, you are not at all the worse on that account. Thousands of your nation live merrily! • But if it is true what your minister preached yesterday!'-William, leaping back some paces, asked, full of surprise, 'How know you what my minister preached?' 'I

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