Sarah, to see you so ill.' 'Yes, sir, I'm very ill,' she replied,' but I trust I'm ready to die.' 'Well, Sarah,' I rejoined, and what makes you feel ready to die?' She replied-' Because I'm resting on Jesus, who died for sinners, and I know that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.' Much more did she say during this visit, which I have not room to write down here. But what I have told you, proves that she was very happy, and that the sweet truth about Jesus dying for her sins, made her thus happy. After reading and explaining to her, very simply, part of John iii. about the brazen serpent, I prayed by her bedside, and then left her, rejoicing that our labours in the sabbath school had been thus rewarded in preparing this dying girl for glory. The next day, Thursday, I went to see her again. As I entered the sick chamber, I found her with a beautiful flush upon her cheek, leaning over her open Bible, evidently enjoying its precious truths. 1 caught a glance of her before she perceived me entering, and truly it was a most interesting sight. Ah! what would not painter or poet have given for such a picture as this! A little hymn book was lying by her side, along with that precious narrative of the good Leigh Richmond, the Young Cottager, in which she had been reading. I had been reflecting, as I walked along, upon the traces of the love of God in nature; and now I felt it to be more delightful still to trace the same love, in his kindness to this young Christian, in preparing her for a better world, and in enabling her to wait patiently for the happy hour of dismission from this. 'God is love,' that is, entirely love-love itself. He can as soon cease to be, as cease to love. All his works testify to his love; but his great saving work, the re demption of our world by Jesus Christ, is the fullest manifestation of that love. It is love embodied. After inquiring about Sarah's health, I said-'And what are you reading there, Sarah ?" Shre then pointed out some parts of Scripture, and after doing so, took up the hymn book, saying, 'I've been thinking of this hymn, sir, which ends every verse with the words, "Dear Lord, Remember me."' Two of the verses of this hymn are as follows:Distressed with pain, disease, and grief, This feeble body see; Grant patience, rest, and kind relief, The hour is near, consigned to death, Often did she utter these last words of the dying thief. They were, with her, especially favourites. She felt that she could embody all her wants for time and for eternity in the short prayer Lord, Remember me.' And how many, like this dear dying girl, have uttered these words, till they have sweetly blended with, or rather been changed to the song 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain !' After committing her to God, I left; but not without the promise, in answer to her request, that I would call again in a day or two. (To be concluded next Month.) SUNDAY SCHOOL PROCESSIONS. -A little girl who has long been anxiously seeking the way of life, but who, from peculiar circumstances in her family, is not connected with a sabbath school, expressed a strong desire to join in the Floral Procession. Permission having been obtained for her to accompany a school near her father's residence, her mother, though in feeble health, and burdened with many cares, and One of the little ones remarked, 'But, sister, they may not all talk so foolishly.' 'No, but I may be placed under the care of one of those very ladies, and what could she teach me that I ought to know.' Imagine that mother's feelings. Here were all the hopes that had sustained her through two days of excitement and fatigue beyond her strength, dashed to the ground, by the worse than frivolous conduct of those who profess to anxieties, animated not only by the wish to gratify her daughter, but also by a hope arising from some remarks made to her younger sisters, that she would become a member of the school, and eventually of the church, gladly laid aside all her employments, and took a long fatiguing walk to procure flowers, and the next day, after spending the whole morning in preparation, accompanied her little girls to the church, and even walked with them in the procession, they feel-gather the young lambs, and lead ing unwilling to go without her them to the good Shepherd. among strangers. During the whole walk, from the church to the school, two young ladies, immediately behind the mother and the eldest of her three daughters, kept up an incessant conversation, of so light and trifling a character, as would have suited a ball room or theatre, much better than a religious festival. The child's eye frequently sought her mother's, with a meaning not to be misunderstood. After depositing their floral offerings, they took their way homeward alone, when the following conversation ensued: Child.-' Mother! were those sabbath school teachers who followed us in the procession !' Mother. I suppose they were, they had charge of a class.' C. 'I thought sabbath school teachers were always Christians.' M. 'I believe they are most generally, at least I think they ought to be C. Do you think those young ladies are members of the church?" M. 'It is most probable they are.' C. Why, mother, they were talking of the attentions they received from gentlemen, and making remarks upon people's dresses.' ་ After a considerable pause, the child resumed, 'I thought I would like to join that school, but there is no use in going there, if that is the sort of teachers they have.' I never saw those individuals before, and never may again, until we meet at the dread tribunal of the Most High, to give an account not only of the deeds done in the body, but of every idle word spoken while on earth. But should these remarks ever meet their sight, I pray them to take heed, lest having assumed the responsibility of hand guides, to point others to the ark of safety, they be not themselves left out, exposed to the windy storm and tempest' of Divine wrath, which shall pour with unceasing fury upon the defenceless heads of all those, who shall have proved themselves unprofitable servants. -American Correspondent. ANOTHER MAN.A vessel bound for a distant port, was sailing on the mighty deep. Suddenly a storm arose, the thunder rolled, the lightning flashed, the billows raged with fury. All on board became alarmed, on finding themselves threatened with destruction. In the midst of the excitement, one of the crew climbed the mast, whence he descried in the distance an object, apparently of human form, tossed on the boiling waves. Moved with sympathy for a fellowcreature in distress, he urged the captain to steer in the direction of the object. On arriving at the spot, they found a shipwrecked mariner, and took him on board. Many passengers eagerly crowded round him, and all supposed that he was dead. They, however, employed all the means usually made use of to restore persons apparently drowned. For a time their efforts seemed in vain; but at length he showed symptoms of returning life. He opened his eyes, and cast them with stedfast gaze towards the spot where they took him up. He next lifted his hand, and pointed in the same direction. He then attempted to speak, but could not. He sighed. He groaned. He tried again, and gasping for breath, he exclaimed,-A mananother man-there is another man! The captain returned to the place, but his spirit had fled. Christian brethren! Sabbath school teachers! Learn a lesson of benevolence from this dying seaman. You were sinking in the ocean of despair. The Saviour saw you, and pity moved him. He saw you, and on the wings of love he came to the rescue. You are saved. Heaven is before you. But look around on the sea of life; mark how men are perishing. And shall they perish without any effort on your part to save them? God forbid ! D. S. COUGHING IN SCHOOL.-If a person who feels an irresistible desire to cough, will endeavour to draw a long breath, what would be a paroxysm, will generally terminate in a single cough: when the irritation in the throat is very great, it may generally be relieved also by rubbing the lips, tip of the nose, or eyelids with the fingers, or slightly scratching some part of the face with the nails, so as almost to produce pain. A fit of coughing may very commonly be prevented either by taking a long breath, or thus irritating the nerves of the face. The Senior Class. remorse, his passions would gain the mastery, and what was done at first timidly, by stealth, and in darkness, would finally be perpetrated without fear and without shame. Such had been the fact in the case of the young man Potter, recently executed. Ten years ago he was a pupil in the preacher's sabbath school at New Haven, and received from his parents religious instruction.About four years ago, he united with the church in New Haven, of which the preacher was then pastor. For a time he attended the communion, and gave reason to hope that his profession was sincere; but gradually he fell into delinquencies, for which he was admonished; but to admonition he gave no heed, and in due time was excommunicated. Vicious men became his companions, and by them he was finally led to a house of infamy, froin which he at first retreated with disgust, but to which he again returned, and there became transformed as by the cup of the sorceress. VICE PROGRESSIVE: SOLEMN WARNING.-Outline of a Sermon lately delivered in New York, by the Rev. J. P. THOMPSON, to improve the untimely end of a young man named Potter, just executed at New Haven. FROM the words of the prophet Isaiah, Woe unto them who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope,' the preacher showed the progress of vice in the young, both it and its sure punishment drawn upon the soul, at first by silken and attenuated cords, but constantly increasing in number and strength, until they bound their victim as with a cable, and consigned him to inevitable ruin. He described the promising youth first soiled in his imagination by evil communications, more and more excited by wanton companions, licentious books, or immodest pictures; induced to partake of intoxicating liquors, to visit the theatre and other places of amusement, to take a sabbath excursion in violation of parental This led to the murder of which command and his own moral he paid the penalty with his life. sense, and finally by a gradual The young man whom he murprocess, prepared to take a last dered was his early companion and generally fatal step in vice, and friend. From him he borrowed by entering the doors of her a gold watch, which he gave to whose house is the way to hell, the base woman he visited, and going down to the chambers of being requested by the owner to death. If from this step of vice, return it, he promised to meet there were ever returns and refor- him at a certain place in the mations, all experience as well as evening and do so, but instead of Scripture proved them very rare. this he met him but to take his Human passions were not like life. This was on Sunday eventhose of inferior animals, self-ing; and having sunk the body regulated, but to be restrained in the stream they were crossing and governed by law and reason, at the time of the murder, he which once renounced, the youth went to church, and thence to was thrown out upon a tumultu- the abode of his disgrace and ous sea, becoming more furious ruin. When the body was disevery hour, without compass or covered with marks of violence, rudder, and his shipwreck became and inquiries excited in the cominevitable. His love of excitement munity, a young man presented grew by every new gratification, himself to the police, with the and while he might find an occa- information that at such a time sional check in the horrors of he had seen the murdered youth, One fortnight ago, said the preacher, I kneeled in prayer by the side of this unhappy youth, in company with his parents, brother and sister, who came to see him for the last time. It was an awful scene. One fortnight ago to-morrow, I saw him on the scaffold-heard his warning to young men. It was an awful scene; but not so awful as the sins which led to it, as the murder of his friend for which he died. I asked myself whether I had neglected any duty to this young man while he had been of my congregation; and I then resolved that no other youth who might sit under my ministry should destroy himself without the warnings of my voice. is a chance of future misfortune.' One of his biographers, Bourienne, adds, that these remarkable words afford the maxim which formed, in a great degree, the rule of his conduct. Well did he understand the value of time; even his leisure was attended with some exertion of mind. If this soldier of the world found as he did, numerous advantages resulting from a careful use of time, should not the young Christian soldier obey the injunction of his Master-' Redeem the time?' AND WHAT NEXT?-A gentleman riding near the city, overtook a well dressed young man, and invited him to a seat in his carriage. And what (said the gentleman to the young stranger) are your plans for the future?" "I am a clerk,' replied the young man, and my hope is to succeed and get into business for myself.' 'And what next?' said the gen.. tleman. Why, I intend to marry and set up an establishment of my own,' said the youth. 'And what next,?' continued the interrogator. 'Why, to continue in business and accumulate wealth.' And what next?' 'To retire from business and enjoy the fruit of my labours.' 'And what next?' 'It is the lot of all to die, and I of course cannot escape,' replied the young man. 'And what next?' once more asked the gentleman; but the young man had no answer to make-he had no purposes that reached beyond the present life. With such a scene before me, can you wonder that I solemnly warn all young men whom 1 address, against the wanderings of a licentious imaginationagainst the beginnings of evil habits and vicious associationsagainst intemperance — against dangerous books-the theatre, and all other places of evil resort, and against her who hath 'cast down many wounded-from whose How many young men are in house those who go, return not precisely the same condition ?— again for the dead are there, and their plans embrace only this life her guests are in the depth of what pertains to getting wealth hell.' and enjoying life. What pertains to the world to come, has not place in all their plans. NAPOLEON'S VALUE OF TIME. -Napoleon Bonaparte having one day visited a school, said to the scholars, on his leaving them, My lads, every hour of lost time BE ACTIVE. There is more fun in sweating for an hour than in yawning for a century. |