would allow. Among the survivors is a worthy man, who has long wished to be connected with us, and in whom we have felt much interest. He applied about a year ago to have his son admitted into our high school, but he was then too young. When I left Beiroût, it was my intention to bring this lad with me on my return, should he be alive; but alas! the afflicted father has to mourn not his death only, but that of his mother, and of all his beloved family but one.

"The earth continues to tremble and shake. There have been many slight and some very violent shocks, since we arrived. About three o'clock to-day, while I was on the roof of our building, nailing down boards, we had a tremendous shock. A cloud of dust arose above the fallen ruins, and the people all rushed out from them in dismay. Many began to pray with loud and lamentable cries; and females beat their bare breasts with all their strength, and tore their clothes in despair. The workmen threw down their tools and fled. Soon, however, order was restored, and we proceeded as usual. I did not feel this shock, owing to the fact that the roof of the shed was shaking all the time. Once, however, the jerk was so sudden and violent, as to affect my chest and arms precisely like an electric shock.

"Jan. 20th. Having finished our work, collected the wounded, distributed medicine and clean bandages for dressing the wounds, and hired a native physician to attend the hospital, we left Safed at half-past one o'clock, P.M., and after a pleasant ride of five hours and a half encamped before the ruins of Tiberias. This town had been also destroyed by the earthquake, but the loss of human life was not so great, as it is built on a level plain, and not, like Safed, on the side of a mountain."

Let us not listen to this sad account as an idle tale, and allow it to pass from our minds without leaving one salutary impression behind. While we acknowledge the power and justice of God in such wonderful manifestations, and pity the objects of such a calamity; while we admire the zeal and disinterested kindness shown by the Missionary, who risked his own life in behalf of his

suffering fellow-creatures; and while we offer up a prayer of thanksgiving, that in our favoured land we have no reason to fear any such scene of horrors being spread before us, let us not forget to improve the lesson still farther, and ask ourselves if death does not oftentimes come, as suddenly, as awfully to single individuals, as it did to the men of Safed?—and if it be not our duty to stand prepared-if not for an earthquake, yet for death, in whatever form the summons may come. Surely it seems to us that those who live in countries subject to such visitations as that at Safed, should keep their lamps trimmed and themselves ready to meet the bridegroom at any moment and any hour. But why should we make sure of time for longer preparation ourselves? We hear daily of one and another carried off as quickly, as instantaneously, as those who were buried under the ruins of Safed; and shall we still venture to delay the work of repentance ? Shall we still allow ourselves to say, “To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain : Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away1." Rather let us remember the warning of our Blessed Lord, "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of

man 2"

CHRISTIAN LIBERALITY REWARDED.

"He that watereth shall be watered also himself." In one of the western counties there was exhibited a short time ago a remarkable example of Christian munificence on a very large scale. A gentleman of rank and fortune, who is well known for his liberal charity and piety, made an unusual sacrifice for the support of a 1 James iv. 13, 14.

2 Luke xxi. 34-36.

large number of labourers who were deprived by accident of their means of subsistence. The following account will show in how remarkable a manner his generosity was afterwards rewarded:-The directors of a railway company had advertized for a large number of labourers to be ready by a certain time to commence the works. When the day arrived, and they were all assembled, having left their homes and families in distant counties, they were most unexpectedly informed that the work could not commence for another month. No provision was made for their support in the meantime, and nothing lay before them but the prospect of want and starvation, or a return to their distant homes. Even this last alternative would be attended with very great loss and much suffering. When 300 men were reduced to this miserable extremity, a gentleman of rank in the neighbourhood, pitying their destitution, determined, with the most noble generosity, to support the whole number of labourers until the time that they should be employed on the railway! He had a large place prepared near his house, where the whole number were supplied with regular and abundant meals; and he directed the farmers and tenants in the neighbourhood to give them lodging for the night. He himself superintended the execution of these merciful orders, and saw the large company whom he feasted every day as they went to their dinner. Standing near the entrance of the room, he endeavoured to address a few words of Christian advice and exhortation to each of them before they went in, and holding in his hands a collection of useful tracts for their reading, presented them at the same time. In addition to this, he provided them with the means of public worship and instruction, by having separate services performed in the church for their especial benefit. It is said that the manner in which all these good works were done was most exemplary and beautiful. His advice to the men was highly touching and appropriate, calculated to win their hearts as well as instruct their minds.

The time at length arrived when the railway company commenced their works, and the men were all employed. So many of them were of hardened character and long

inured to vice and unfeelingness, that all the gratitude was not afterwards evinced, by their conduct, which the kindness they had received so well deserved. But the reward of good and holy works, done in the faith and love of Christ, comes from the Lord himself, and not from man. The Apostle would have rich men exhorted to "do good, to be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." But there was also, in this instance, a singular and beautiful illustration of the passage, "He that watereth shall be watered also himself." The labourers employed in the railway were occupied for a long time in making a cutting through some high ground on the property of the gentleman who has been mentioned, and not very far from his hospitable mansion. His house had always been considered to be deficient in only one thing, and that was a good supply of water. They had never been able to discover hitherto any good springs of water in the neighbourhood, and much inconvenience was felt on that account. But while the labourers were employed in cutting through the hill, there gushed out a fine spring of excellent water, which is now conducted to the house, and forms an abundant supply. Thus was this noble act of Christian hospitality rewarded by a most unexpected and welcome provision of one of the great necessaries of life, and a small stone memorial has been erected on the spot, to mark the manner in which this bounty of Providence was given.

THE VOYAGE OF FAITH.

THE gallant vessel scudded on
Before the springing breeze,
The sun upon her white sails shone,
And danced upon the seas.

Right cheerily she sailed away,
Foresaw no gathering cloud,

And thought not of the close of day,
Of shivered mast or shroud.

The sun had set "for many days,"
Nor sun, nor moon, nor stars,
Nor gale, her drooping sails to raise,
Were granted to her prayers.

E.

A still and heavy mist arose,

While thus becalmed she lay;
She heard the firing of her foes,
As though they passed that way.
And when they sunk the sounding lead,
They felt the rocks were near;
Her spirit sunk, her joy was fled,
Hope trembled into fear.

Then suddenly a lurid light

Foreboded danger's hour,

And while more gloomy grew the night,
The hurricane gain'd power.

Up sprung a hard, rough, eastern gale,
And round her wildly raves,

And rushing, rent her furling sail,
And roused the sleeping waves.
The rapid lightning's vivid flash,
The roaring thunder's roll,
The raging billows' awful dash,
Might shake the firmest soul.

And are you fain to know at last
How well she steered through all,

And where, when all her toils were past,
She let her anchor fall?

How could she patiently endure

That cheerless death-like calm?

How ride through raging storms secure?
She bore a hidden charm.

A light within which never died
'Mid changing scenes and hours,
By that she sought a mystic guide
With eye of piercing powers.

The light of grace, the word of life,
And faith's unsleeping eye,

These bear the soul when storms are rife,

And frames and feelings die.

Until the haven full in sight,

Where tempests never shock,

She rests in glory's cloudless light,
Fast anchored on her "rock."

A WORD TO CHILDREN.

C.W.P.

"WE must endeavour to imitate Christ in his obedi

ence,

and in the exercise of those graces with which it was attended. At every period of his age, and in every circumstance of his life, the Son of God was obedient. Whilst a child he continued subject unto his parents. What a beautiful example this to children! If the Son