28 F 29 S vii.... viii. ix... W Th F Joshua i. 10-18, ii...................... LD M Joshua v. 10-15, vi........1 Cor. xvi. 11 Tu W 13 Th xxxii. 44-52, xxxiii... .xii.27-31,xiii.,xiv.1-5. 4 277 27 4 26 7 28 .xv. 1-34. 4 24 7 30 .xv. 35-58. 4 22,7 31 Psalms. 4 20 7 33 4 19 7 35 .Acts xix. 23-41, xx. 1. ..2 Cor. i. 1-22. 4 17 7 36 4 16 7 38 .iii. 4 12 7 41 S xi. 10-23, xiv. ..iv. 4 11 7 42 xi. 12-40, xii. 1-7....Acts xx. 1, 2, Rom. i. 1-25. 3 557 59 A CONVERTED ATHEIST. His THE first time that I met him was atings, he had no knowledge of the lanhe house of his son-in-law, a gentle- guage by which such thoughts are man of piety and intelligence. usually expressed. The effects produced appearance was that of a decrepid, dis- by his conversion were as followsconsolate old man. In the course of stated at one time to myself, and upon conversation he unhesitatingly expressed another occasion to one of the most his unbelief of the existence of a God, eminent medical practitioners in this and his suspicion of the motives of country :-One of the first things which most of those who professed religion. he did after his conversion, was to love, I learned from others that he had ceased in a practical manner, his worst enemy. in some measure to have intercourse There was one man in the village, who with men-had become misanthropic in had, as he supposed, dealt treacherously his feelings, regarding mankind in the with him, in some money transactions light of a family of sharks, preying upon which had occurred between them. On each other; and his own duty in such a this account, personal enmity had long state of things, he supposed to be, to existed between the two individuals. make all honest endeavours to wrest When converted, he sought his old from the grasp of others as much as he enemy-asked his forgiveness; and encould. He used profane language, op- deavoured to benefit him by bringing posed the temperance reformation, and him under the influence of the gospel. looked with the deepest hatred upon the ministers of religion. His social affections seemed to be withered, and his body, sympathizing, was distorted and diseased by rheumatic pains. 1. This old man had for years been the subject of special prayer on the part of his pious daughter and his son-inlaw; and he was finally persuaded by them to attend a season of religious worship in the church of which they were members. During these services, which lasted several days, he passed from a state of atheism to a state of faith. The change seemed to surprise every one, and himself as much as any other. From being an atheist, he became the most simple and implicit believer. He seemed like a being who had waked up in another world the sensations of which were all new to him; and although a man of sound sense in business affairs, when he began to express his religious ideas, his language seemed strange and incongruous, from the fact that, while his soul was now filled with new thoughts and feel YOL. X.-FOURTH SERIES. 2. His benevolent feelings were awakened and expanded. His first benevolent offering was twenty-five cents. in a collection for charitable uses. He now gives very liberally, in proportion to his means, to all objects which he thinks will advance the interests of the gospel of Christ. Besides supporting his own church and her benevolent institutions, no enterprise of any denomination which he really believes will do good, fails to receive something from him, if he has the means. During the last year, he has given more with the design of benefiting his fellow men than he had done in his whole lifetime before. 3. His affections have received new life. He said to me, in conversation upon the subject, "One part of the scriptures I feel to be true-that which says, 'I will take away the hard and stony heart, and give you a heart of flesh.' Once I seemed to have no feeling; now, thank God, I can feel. I have buried two wives and six children, but I never shed a tear-I felt hard and unhappy-now my tears flow at the 2 P recollection of these things." The tears at that time wet the old man's cheeks. It is not probable, that, since his conversion, there has been a single week that he has not shed tears; before conversion he had not wept since the age of manhood. An exhibition of the love of Christ will, at any time, move his feelings with gratitude and love, until the tears moisten his eyes. 4. Effect upon his life. Since his conversion he has not ceased to do good as he has had opportunity. Several individuals have been led to repent and believe in Christ through his instrumentality. Some of these were individuals whose former habits rendered a change of character very improbable in the eyes of most individuals. (One of them, who had fallen into the habit of intemperance, is now a respectable and happy father of a respectable Christian family). He has been known to go to several families on the same day, pray with them, and invite them to attend religious worship on the sabbath. And when some difficulty was stated as a hindrance to their attendance, he has assisted them to buy shoes, and granted other little aids of the kind, in order that they might be induced to attend divine service. When converted, one of his first acts, although he had heard nothing of any such act in others, was to make out a list of all his old associates then living within reach of his influence. For the conversion of these he determined to labour as he had opportunity, and pray daily. On his list were one hundred and sixteen names, among whom were sceptics, drunkards, and other individuals as little likely to be reached by Christian influence as any other men in the region. Within two years from the period of the old man's conversion, one hundred of these individuals had made a profession of religion. 5. Effect upon his happiness. In a social meeting of the church where he worships, I heard him make such an expression as this, "I have rejoiced but once since I trusted in Christ-that has been all the time." His state of mind may be best described in his own characteristic language. One day he was repairing his fence. An individual passing addressed him, “Mr. work all alone." -, you are at "Not alone," said the old man, "God is with me." He said that his work seemed easy to him, and his peace of mind continued with scarcely an interruption. I saw him at a time when he had just received intelligence that a son, who had gone to the south, had been shot in a personal altercation, in one of the southern cities. The old man's parental feelings were moved, but he seemed, even under this sudden and most distressing affliction, to derive strong consolation from trust in God. 6. Physical effects of the moral change. As soon as his moral nature had undergone a change, his body, by sympathy, felt the benign influence. His countenance assumed a milder and more intelligent aspect. He became more tidy in his apparel, and his "thousand pains," in a good measure, left him. In his case, there seemed to be a renovation both of soul and body. This case is not exaggerated: the old man is living, and there are a thousand living witnesses to this testimony.Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation. YATES'S LAST VOYAGE TO INDIA. THERE had been a birth on board, | a supper on the occasion. . . . . But which was followed by a christening. while they were feasting and singing The captain stood god-father, and gave indecent songs, the wind began to rise, and soon awakened the waves from their previous slumber, while the darkened horizon portended a coming storm. Most of the carousers became dreadfully ill from their previous revelry, and the whole ship's company betrayed symptoms of an extraordinary panic. This raging tempest continued to increase for two nights and two days, and at length became a tremendous hurricane. The wind seemed to rush from all points of the compass at once-the sea and sky were mingled in a common massthe waves around the ship were lashed into foam as white as snow-and rain fell in fearful torrents. Five men were stationed at the helm, but through the thick darkness of the atmosphere, they could not see the compass, and the most awful thunder prevented their hearing the voice of command. A violent sea swept away their boats the vessel would not answer the helm. Such was the strength of the wind, it was with difficulty an axe could be lifted or a single blow given to cut away the mizen mast; but when at length the shrouds and ropes were severed, the strong teak mast snapped like a stick, about half a yard from the poop, and carried ruin with it! The maintop-mast split-and the main-mast sprung in two places. The foretop-mast and jibboom broke, and the deck was strewed like a wreck -when, as if no longer of any service, the tiller broke and left them to the absolute mercy of the winds and waves! The hinder and side cabins were now knocked down to fix another tiller, and the water was ancle deep in the cabin between the decks; while the females, with frequent cries and shrieks, endeavoured to resign themselves to their fate, expecting every moment to be their last! All faces were pale with fright-every one exhausted with fatigue -and most hearts quailed before the terrors of such a death! In this awful extremity, Mr. Yates, with two others who knew the value of prayer, called upon God in their distress :-"To Him, most solemnly, we committed our souls. Never before did I so feel the value of the atonement, and never shall I forget with what feelings I uttered the words, 'Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to thy cross I eling.'" A strong persuasion then came over him that God would interpose for their deliverance; and while the hearts of others melted within them, he was enabled to plead with a Father in heaven for preservation. Just as they had finished prayer, a voice was heard proclaiming an unusual and rapid rise in the barometer-a sure presage of the subsiding of the storm! "I did not believe that we should sink, and prayed in faith that the storm might cease; and the first words we heard after prayer were those which announced the rise in the glass. I was enabled to sing with composure, the hymn, 'Begone unbelief, my Saviour is near, The "perfect peace" evinced by Mr. Yates during this tempest, and his serene and heavenly aspect when he came forth from communion with God, to contemplate the terrific scene, struck so powerfully on the mind of a Mr. Hunt, one of the passengers, as to lead ultimately to his conversion. He described himself as, at that time, a worldly and thoughtless young manwas going to India to seek some musical engagement-and, but for the tempest, would, in all probability, have pursued his gay course till interrupted by death. A gracious God had decreed otherwise, and when overwhelmed with consternation, by means of the contrast which true religion produced in his fellow voyager, effectually turned his heart.-Hoby's Memoir of Yates. REVIEW S. The Domestic Constitution; or, The Family Circle the Source and Test of National Stability. By CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON. London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co. 12mo. pp. 466. The English Matron. By the Author of "The English Gentlewoman." London: Henry Colburn. 8vo. pp. 246. THE subject which these works discuss is of the gravest importance, and deserves far more attention than it generally receives. The constitution and government of families, and the duties thence arising, affect nearly all mankind; to understand the former requires all the wisdom of the philosopher, and the discharge of the latter will exhaust the piety of the saint. They deserve encouragement and esteem who strive to arrest general attention to a topic, the discussion of which promises very little popularity or emolument. Of "The Domestic Constitution," it is not necessary to say much. Its author is well known and highly esteemed; and the fact that this is the second edition of his work will testify how well the public appreciates it. We could have wished that the style had been more uniformly condensed and vigorous. We think, moreover, that the illustrations are too numerous, and not always sufficiently apt. Still it is an excellent work, containing much solid information and judicious advice. We unhesitatingly recommend it. "The English Matron " appears to be written by a lady; is addressed rather to the higher than to the middle classes; contains many minute, shrewd, and even fascinating views of womanly duty and character, though it is painfully deficient in evangelical sentiment, and assumes the church of England to be the standard of theology and piety. It will augur well for the prospects of society if the great subject of our domestic relationships be generally and earnestly considered. We confess that we look with apprehension on the peculiar tendencies of the present day in relation to the development of the family constitution. It is not unnatural or improper to study the "signs of the times." On this theme innumerable discourses have been delivered, and by it many have been roused to alarm and activity who would have slumbered under all the appeals of ordinary truth and duty. They look only for that which is obvious and startling, for the great crisis of public affairs. They should rather regard the plot than the catastrophe; they should rather watch the sky when its atmosphere grows heavy and the clouds are gathering, than wait for the lightning's blaze and roar. "The day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night," in silence and darkness. The true sign of great changes, like all God's angels, treads a noiseless path. It may be seen if faith seeks it, and it advances according to fixed and universal laws. It may be found in the prevalent sentiment of the thinking few; in the habits of the acting many; or in the quiet usages of domestic life. If family religion and the habits which promote it are being undermined, sooner or later the greatest calamities must follow in the history of the church and the world. Personal piety is undoubtedly the first thing. The devotion of the closet is the secret fountain whence the streams of holy beneficence flow. If this is intermittent or heartless, all else will be vain. Society may be excited, active, noisy; but if there is no intimate and lively fellowship with God, that excitement is only the hectic of consumption, which feeds the hope of life while it rushes to speedy death. If, on the other hand, piety is sound, humble, watchful, holy, loving; if it be as the divine nature dwelling in man, then the church may be persecuted or applauded, exiled in the desert or enthroned in the palace, and it will fulfil its mission and take no harm. Each Christian is thus not only a part of the universal church, but a type of its state and prospects. He knows his own spiritual condition, and what that entails; nor has he much right to conclude that others are better or less endangered than himself. Next, however, in importance is the state of our families. The family is the mould in which mind and character are formed; here the several parts of the |