he questioned the prisoners how they had been led from the path of honesty to commit such crimes. In answer to thesc inquiries, one of the unhappy men declared that his first step to ruin was taking a halfpenny out of his mother's pocket while she was asleep. From this sin he was led, by small but fatal degrees, to the crimes for which he was so soon to suffer a shameful death.

Chap. i, ver. 27.-Pure religion, and undefiled, before God and the Father, is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

A little girl, who used to read the Bible to a poor sick woman, who could not read herself, was asked by a gentleman in the Sabbath School at which she attended, why she visited this woman?" "Because,

sir," said she, "I find it said in the Bible, 'Pure religion, and undefiled, before God and the Father, is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction.'

Chap. ii, ver. 11.-For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now, if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, ́thou art become a transgresser of the law.

When Dr. Donne took possession of his first living, he took a walk into the church-yard, where the sexton was digging a grave, and throwing up a scull.The doctor took it up and found a rusty headless nail sticking in the temple, which he drew out secretly, and wrapt it up in the corner of his handkerchief.He then demanded of the grave-digger whether he knew whose scull that was. He said it was a man's who kept a brandy shop, an honest drunken fellow, who one night having taken two quarts, was found dead in his bed next morning. "Had he a wife?" "Yes." "What character does she bear?" *A very good one: only the neighbors reflect on her be

cause she married the day after her husband was buried." This was enough for the doctor, who, under the pretence of visiting his parishioners, called on her: he asked her several questions, and among others, what sickness her husband died of. She gave him the same account he had received; upon this he suddenly opened the handkerchief, and cried in an authoritative voice, "Woman, do you know this nail?" She was struck with horror at the unexpected demand, instantly owned the fact, was tried, and executed.

Chap. iii, ver. 17.-But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

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Peter the Great frequently surprised the magistrates by his unexpected presence in the cities of the empire. Having arrived without previous notice at Olonez, he went first to the regency, and inquired of the governor how many suits there were depending in the court of chancery? "None, sire," replied the governor. How happens that?" "I endeavor to prevent law suits, and conciliate the parties; I act in such a manner that no traces of difference remain on the archives; if I am wrong, your indulgence will excuse me. "I wish," replied the Czar," that all governors would act upon your principles. Go on, God and your sovereign are equally satisfied."

Chap. iv, ver. 11.-Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law; but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

Dr. Waugh being in company with a number of ministers, the bad conduct of a brother in the minis

try became the subject of conversation, and every gentleman in the room joined warmly in condemning him. Dr. Waugh sat for a time silent. At last he walked up to his companions, and said, "My dear friends, surely we are not acting in accordance with our profession. The person you speak of is one of ourselves, and we ought not to blow the coal. But do you know that he is as bad a man as he is represented? and if he is, will railing against him do him any good? It is cowardly to speak ill of a man behind his back; and I doubt if any of us would have sufficient courage, if our poor friend were to appear among us, to sit down and kindly tell him of his faults. If there be one here who feels himself quite pure, and free from error, let him throw the first stone; but if not let us be silent, and I confess that I feel that I must not say one word." He resumed his seat, and the company looked at each other, struck silent by this rebuke from one so good and mild.

Chap. v, ver. 1.-Go to now, ye rich men; weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

Monsieur Foscue, one of the farmers general of the province of Languedoc, in France, by grinding the faces of the poor, had amassed an immense sum of money, which being known to the government, he was ordered to raise a considerable sum. Not being inclined to comply with this demand, he pleaded extreme poverty; and lest the inhabitants of his province should give information to the contrary, he resolved to hide his treasure in such a manner as to escape the strictest search. He dug a kind of cave in his wine-cellar, so deep as to require a ladder in going down to it. At the entrance was a door with a spring lock, which on shutting, fastened of itself. Sometime afterwards he was missing, and, though diligent search was made, he could no where be found. At length his house was sold, and the purchaser, making some improvements on the property, discovered a door in the cellar. Going down, he found

Mons. Foscue lying dead on the ground with a candlestick near him, and on searching farther, he found his hidden wealth. It was supposed he had gone into the cave, and the door by some accident shutting after him, he was out of the call of any person, and perished for want of food. He had eaten the candle, and even gnawed the flesh off both his arms! “Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death."

Chap. v, ver. 12.-But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath; but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay, lest ye fall into condemnation.

The late excellent Mr. J-, of G―, was remarkable for the cheerfulness as well as the fervor of his piety. When he administered a reproof, it was frequently accompanied with a kind of pleasantry, which fixed the attention and disarmed the resentment of the person whom he addressed. Being once in company when a gentleman occasionally embellished his discourses with the names of devil, deuce, &c, and at last also took the name of God in vain"Stop, Sir," said the old mau; "I said nothing while you only used freedoms with the name of your own master, but I insist you shall use no freedoms with the name of mine."

I. PETER.

Chap. i, ver. 8.-Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.

John Lambert suffered in the year 1538. No man was used at the stake with more cruelty than this holy martyr. They burnt him with a slow fire by nches; for if it kindled higher and stronger than

they chose, they removed it away. When his legs were burnt off, and his thighs were mere stumps in the fire, they pitched his poor body upon pikes, and lacerated his broiling flesh with their halberts. But God was with him in the midst of the flame, and supported him in all the anguish of nature. Just before he expired, he lifted up such hands as he had all flaming with fire, and cried out to the people with his dying voice," None but Christ! None but Christ!" He was at last beat down into the fire, and expired.

Chap. i, ver. 18, 19.-Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

The late Rev. Mr. Latrobe visited a certain nobleman in Ireland, who devoted considerable sums to charitable purposes, and among other benevolent acts, had erected an elegant church in his parish at his own expense. The nobleman took particular pleasure in showing Mr. L. his estate, and among other things, pointed out to him the church which he had built; at the same time saying, "Now, sir, don't you think that will merit heaven?" Mr. L. after a moment's pause, said, "Pray, my lord, what may your estate be worth a year?" "I imagine," said the nobleman, "about thirteen or fourteen thousand pounds." "And do you think, my lord," answered Mr. Latrobe, "that God would sell heaven even for thirteen or fourteen thousand pounds?"

Chap. ii, ver. 12.-Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; that, whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, by your good works which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.