the day of his coming? or who shall stand when he appeareth?" "The day cometh that shall burn like an oven." The loud peals of the last terrific morn, seem to come from a distance, and fill our ears with the sound, "Arise ye dead, and come to judgment!"—

"The plague, and dearth, and din of war,

Our Saviour's swift approach declare."

O! what will sinners do when he comes? Christians are expecting him, they anxiously wait to see him appear, and faith exclaims,

"His chariot will not long delay,

We hear his rumbling wheels, and pray,
Triumphant Lord, appear!"

"The coming of the Lord draweth nigh;" therefore, "watch and pray that ye may be accounted worthy to escape those things that are coming to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." When he comes he shall separate the tares from the wheat; say of the former, "Bind them in bundles and burn them;" and of the latter, "Gather the wheat into my barn." The impenitent "shall go away into outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth;" and the righteous shall be received into everlasting habitations, where there is "fulness of joy, and pleasures for evermore." "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"

EDWIN WOTTON.

ARISE AND PLEAD!

O, WHAT need to pray! Our spiritual life is low, our faith languishes, our love is chill, our zeal has evaporated into form and bustle, our warmth is become too much that of excitement, instead of the fresh glow of souls filled with the Holy Ghost. There is much levity, little solemnity; much worldliness, little deep spirituality; much form, little power; much of earth, little of heaven or of Christ in our walk or ways. We are not selfdenied, meek, lowly, heavenly, holy, but much the opposite. We make little progress personally. Our souls are dry. The life that is in us is but languid, as if utter death were at hand. We are not much blest to others. Our words have little power and our example less. The dead lie still around us in the valley mouldering and unquickened. Few awake and arise. The gospel comes not unto ns, as it used to do, in mighty power. Discord among the saints does not diminish. Breaches are not healed. Unity is little prized. Iniquity overflows the world. Error increases, Superstition, licentiousness, infidelity, are rolling on like a torrent. The earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof. Surely, then, the summons is not unneeded,

"Arise and call on thy God." To your tents, O Israel. To your closets and to your knees, ye saints of the Most High God. Plead, cry aloud, stay not, weary not. What is to be done must

be done soon, for the storm is gathering and the sky is blackening, and the shadows of the world's last evening are falling in gloom over the hills and valleys of this doomed and defiled earth.

Let us, then, arise and plead. Let us league together for solemn intercession. Let us, as one family, bend the knee before the mercy-seat, and with our finger upon the Lord's gracious promise to united prayer, let us send up into the ear of our God one long, one earnest, one believing cry, such as He loves to hear, and such as He will most assuredly answer. We need much; let us ask much. We have many arguments, let us order them before Him and give Him no rest. We have little time remaining; the night cometh. Let us lose not a moment; let us go at once into His presence-chamber, not to leave it till we have found Him whom our soul loveth, and till we have secured the answer from his lips.-British Messenger.

CONSTRAINING LOVE.

Of all the forces on earth, the influence of love is the most potent! Fear repels-love attracts; severity awes-tenderness WOOS. There is no heart insensible to the genial influences of disinterested love. It distils like the dew, and gladdens like the sunshine. Wherever love reigns, there must be peace and prosperity. The mother's power, lies in the mother's love. Love has found its highest embodiment in the Lamb of God! Influenced by this belief the apostle exclaims, "the love of Christ constraineth us." This love was in his heart the impelling power. An appreciation of its depth and purity led the intrepid apostle through all his sorrows and sufferings, and made him "more than conqueror" in every encounter. Love is the sublimest theme of the saints on earth, and of the redeemed in heaven. It thrills our hearts with joy, and sustains the melodious songs of ransomed millions in the celestial temple. will be found, at all times,

"A sovereign balm for every wound,

A cordial for our fears."

It

An experimental realization of redeeming love is the highest privilege on earth; and is closely allied to the felicities of heaven. Ask the Christian and he at once replies that no treasure would tempt him to forego his prize. It is his morning joy, and his evening delight; his balm in affliction-his staff in weakness his light in darkness-and his abiding confidence at all times. One peculiarity of this love when we truly realize it, is that it gives a colouring and a life to all our actions.

It

begets a principle of love and service within our souls and proves truly constraining. We may measure ourselves by this standard, Is our love a vital power reigning in the soul, adorning the whole deportment? The entire result for eternity hinges on this simple question. Reader! measure thy love to Jesus by thy obedience! Wherever that love is found, it will vent itself in holy action it will sustain the minister in the pulpit, aid the teacher in the Sabbath-school, inspire the tract distributor ín his arduous enterprise, and uphold the sick-visitor in his labour of faith and affection. Love must labour! Though our different capacities must determine our several spheres of influence, we shall labour if we love! We love Him practically because we believe that He thus first loved us. Then by the solemnities of eternity-the uncertainty of time-the reality of judgment, but most of all by the love of Calvary, we counsel you to awake now and serve the Lord! Do what you can— give your mites--double your talents-multiply your labours, resting assured that the love which constrains you here will gloriously reward you in the endless ages of eternity! "Be ye, therefore, followers of God as dear children, and walk in love as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us." "If a man love me he will keep my words. If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love." Reader, remember at all times that your obedience is the only expression of your love," for this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments."-British Messenger.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF THOMAS DENNIS.

BY MATTHEW ROBINS.

IN writing religious biography, it is, perhaps, generally desirable to give as faithful a moral picture as can well be drawn under the circumstances; but it may be doubted whether occasional interviews with any human being is sufficient for this purpose. In order that men may be fully and faithfully represented, they must be seen under all their varied circumstances, and in all their different relationships in life, and not only their actions, but the motives for those actions must be seen and understood. It is perhaps, therefore, too much to expect a strictly faithful delineation of character from any man, except when under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It sometimes, too, happens, that our partialities and prejudices warp our judgment, and cause different persons to view the same individual in a different light. Without therefore intending it, we may, in the judgment of others, and in reality, fall into error in attempting to draw the moral likeness of a fellow creature. Should this prove to be the case in the present instance, the foregoing remarks must be our apology.

As far as I have been able to ascertain, THOMAS DENNIS was born at Hicksmill, in the Parish of Lewannick, in the year 1781. His Parents, WILLIAM AND CATHERINE DENNIS, possessed a small estate, and kept a Public House at this place, and were for some time in comfortable circumstances; but by some means, in after years they became reduced. Formerly they attended the parish church, but more recently the ministry of Dr. Cope, at Polyphant, and finally that of the Bible Christians, and it seems there was some hope in their death. Thomas Dennis, however, did not become the subject of converting grace, till some years after his first marriage, which took place July 1st, 1810. Some time after this, he and his wife came to Hicksmill to reside, and attended the ministry of Dr. Cope at Polyphant, and for years regularly took the preachers to their house to dine and tea; and during this time, Mrs. Dennis derived so much benefit under the word as greatly to regret the discontinuance of the preaching when it took place. I know not how long after this it was the Bible Christians established preaching and formed a society in the neighbourhood; but Mrs. Dennis was induced to yield her heart to God, and identify herself with his people; and after somewhat preparing the mind of her husband by her christian deportment, she prevailed on him to cast in his lot also with the followers of Christ. Having thus started on pilgrimage for glory they unitedly went forward till January 10th, 1828, when, in the course of Divine providence, Mrs. Dennis was summoned to her rest. She died full of immortal hope.*

For some time Thomas Dennis pursued his lonely way as a widower, and lonely it must have been, to one who had lost such a partner and christian companion. But lonely though it were, on he went looking to the Most High for consolation and support.

In 1830 he entered a second time into the marriage state, and found in MRS. MARY DAVEY, widow of MR. WILLIAM DAVEY, a helpmeet for him. This person now survives to mourn her loss.

Thomas Dennis was not "a reed shaken with the wind," nor "a man clothed in soft raiment." He was a firm, steady, constant, untiring christian, possessed of a generous heart and liberal mind. He was not one of those christians, so called, who never look beyond their individual interests, nor concern themselves about anything that has not an immediate bearing, according to their own peculiar views, on their personal salvation. He looked abroad on the world, and deeply sympathized with all that concerned the welfare of the denomination with which he stood connected, and the interests of the Redeemer's cause in general. I remember he was surprised at one time at my asking him if he meant to continue the Magazines the coming year, as though that were a matter of course. And it was quite unnecessary to tell him that the Minutes of Conference, or Missionary Reports, had come to hand, for he would generally be looking for them before they arrived; and when they came he generally suspended ordinary matters till he had looked them over and seen how things were. As far as I can judge, Thomas Dennis was a honest-hearted, simple-minded christian. He was not what

* A memoir of Mrs. Deunis appeared in a former volume of the Bible Christian Magazine.

some would call a first-rate singer, but if no one else were there to take the lead in that department, he was ever ready to do his best, and if he failed, once and again, in raising the right tune, he would not sit down as if ashamed and confounded at failing in his first attempt, but try, try, and try again.

For the entertainment of the servants of God, Itinerant or Local, his door was always open; and for helping forward the good cause, his hand was ever ready. More than once has he contributed by far the greater portion of a Missionary collection, and that too, not at his own little place, which he kept open for preaching at his own expense, but at an adjacent chapel, where other respectable farmers, members of the Society there, were present. The manner in which this was done showed that he wished no notice to be taken of what he did. Among all the pounds he has given to the Missionary cause-and he has given pounds a year-Was there ever a donation placed to his account in the Report? This remark is not intended as a reflection on those who are set down as donors, by any means; for it was my opinion, as indeed I have learnt it was that of some others, that Mr. Dennis would have subserved the interests of the cause more fully, if he had come out in his true light, and allowed others to stand in theirs; but his heart was jealous of itself. And while I am on this point I may as well relate a little incident that once occurred under my own notice. A Missionary Meeting was to be held, and persons were invited to become collectors. One individual remarked, "What is the use of so many collectors? two or three are quite sufficient: besides, I shall give my five shillings whether I am a collector or not." I replied, "It will be an example to the rest." "Then," said he, "I will collect." He did so, and the first individual to whom he held the plate, after placing his own five shillings on it, was a farmer possessing his thousands, and he, liberal soul, dropped in a penny! My friend, the collector, had done with example at Missionary collections after that.

It was my lot to spend three years in the Launceston circuit, and during those three years I was often cordially entertained by many of the kind friends in that circuit; but to no house could I go with greater freedom and pleasure than that of Thomas Dennis. Here you were always welcome, and at home. He had seldom any fault to find, and was always so fond of the preachers' company, that he usually spent a large portion of time with them while at his house. You might be sure not to find a damp bed, nor a cold heart there. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dennis manifestly felt a pleasure in entertaining the servants of God, and everything in reason was done to make them comfortable. In many cases, in soliciting financial aid for any department of the work of God, you feel as if you were touching a tender point. Not so here. You felt free to ask, and felt assured that, if convenient, your request would be granted.

The Christmas Quarterly Meetings were regularly held at his house, and that he might give free scope to his full and generous heart in entertaining the poor of the neighbourhood, he would provide it at his own expense. I have heard it said that he could afford

it. No doubt he could; for he was not the man to be generous and not just; but how many others could afford it equally well, if they had but the flow of soul that he had! At the last Christmas,