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his pleasure in the acquaintance he daily obtained with God's word, were only indications that his character was rapidly ripening for the kingdom of heaven. But one day before my arrival in this place, he was seized with sickness, which on the second day was very threatening in its symptoms. He seemed to know that his sickness was unto death, and told his mother that he should not get better. He sent a request to his teacher, for special prayer to be made for him in the School. He was much beloved by all his fellow pupils, and many earnest prayers were offered for him by these young Christians. He then called his mother to his bedside and tried to impress upon her that though he was about to die, she must not weep for him, for he would be happy with Christ, and that she must try to think of him as in heaven and try to meet him there. He very earnestly begged of her, not to use any superstitious ceremonies at his funeral, not even to the burning of a piece of paper, nor to allow any of the neighbours or friends to do so.

As you love me mother, as your son, said he, you will attend to this request of mine. Let me be buried as a Christian. Then he changed the subject, and pleaded with her and his elder brother most earnestly to leave the Roman Catholics, and join themselves to our Church; so powerful were his urgent requests, and the reasons he gave for them, that all present were deeply moved, and the influence upon his mother an brother, is shewn in the action which they have now taken.

In every interval of freedom from great pain, he was either engaged in prayer or reading his New Testament. A neighbour who was in to give him medicine. noticing his reading, begged him to put the book down and rest, and tried to take it from him, he clutched his book with eager grasp and said, "No this is the word of life, this is food for my soul, it tells me of Christ and the things of heaven which I hope soon to enjoy, this book is my only greatest treasure.

When he heard of my arrival, he immediately sent a request for me to visit him. As I entered the room, I

was struck with his haggard face, and saw the hand of death was on him, His face lighted up with a flash of joy when he saw me, which however the convulsive throbs, which had already set in soon dissipated, my worst fears were realized, from what had been told me, I thought it was typhoid fever, and such it was in one of its severest types, unfortunately I had no suitable medicine with me, and if I had, he was too far gone to be benefitted by its adminstration. At the urgent request

of his mother I gave him a little soothing mixture, but he only requested that I should pray for him. very shortly after he became unconcious and died that same night. May 31st. His fellow students carried him to his grave, and according to his request, only Christian rites were observed at his funeral.

Last Sunday a most effective and impressive reference was made to him in the Chapel, by the school teacher, who is also one of our native assistants. He addressed the congregation after the admission of mother and brother to our fellowship. He spoke of his known piety, his love of the Scriptures, his earnestness in the service of Christ, and his happy death. Then he said "this youth's career shames some of us, who have been in the Church many more years than he has." Some of us have been ten, some seven, some five years connected with the Church af Christ, and have not made so much progress in spiritual life, as he who had only been one year in the Church. If the Lord had called one of us, instead of him, should we have been ready, God speaks to us all in this event, and urges work while it is called to day, for the night cometh when no man can work. I was much pleased with the old man's testimony, and trust that God will impress it upon the hearts of all who heard it.

While we deplore the loss to the Church of one so promising in ability, for usefulness, we still rejoice in the hope that he is ever with the Lord. His death, too, may be the occasion of quickening and salvation to many who are left. J. INNOCENT,

A MISCONCEPTION CORRECTED. SOME friends, looking at the large balance in our fund at the last Conference, think that we have a surplus of money, and are relaxing their efforts. This is a great mistake. Take out of the balance the sum which belongs to the Training Institution, with one or two other sums, and not more than £1300 remains, which is scarcely sufficient to enable the Treasurer to meet demands till remittances come in from the circuits. Our utmost efforts must be made both at Anniversaries and amongst collectors, or, with our increasing expenditure, we shall be in debt and difficulty.

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THE METHODIST

NEW CONNEXION MAGAZINE.

DECEMBER, 1876.

OUR BURDENS: AND WHAT TO DO WITH THEM.

How slow we are to learn the most important lessons, even those on which our highest happiness for time and eternity depends. How much has the aptest scholar yet to learn of the gracious character of God, the depth and tenderness of His fatherly kindness, and the fulness of His pity and love; and how much also of the peace and rest, the joy and strength, and the hope and love, which are the purchased privilege of His people.

Ever learning, how. few of us truly come to the full knowledge of the truth. Hence it is that so many fail to see that, while God is holy and just, He is also infinitely gracious and merciful; and that, while He denounces wickedness in the strongest terms, and threatens the impenitent with "the vengeance of eternal fire," He is also "ready to forgive," "He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy"; and that while He is glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders," He is no less our Father, our Saviour, and our Friend. The consequence of this failure is hard thoughts of God, low and unworthy views of Him, and the want of that trust in Him, and of that love and joy which would be better than silver or gold, or earth's rarest and richest gems.

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Yet how strong are the proofs of His pitying tenderness, and of His desire not only to save us from final destruction, but also to make us unspeakably happy here, and then translate us to the glory of Heaven. We have these proofs in overwhelming demonstration in what He has done for us, in the Redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, and also in what He has said to us, in His exceeding great and precious promises. Among the most gracious and touching indications of what He wants to be to us, and of what

He would have us be to Him, are the words of the Psalmist, "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee." (Ps. lv., 22.)

Taking these words in the simplicity of faith, they open to us a precious privilege which words are not adequate to describe, and reveal a depth of Divine condescension and graciousness surpassing even our mental conceptions.

Burdens: alas, how prevalent they are! Who has not bowed low beneath their weight? We have all had burdens to carry, and we have, perhaps, striven to bear them ourselves to our great discomfort, to our deep sorrow, if not to our thorough distraction. Yet, in the light of these Divine words, we see that we have either been ignorant of the duty and privilege of casting them upon the Lord, or we have borne them in God-dishonouring distrust and disobedience. Possibly it has been the former as much as the latter. But surely this ignorance is culpable, since God has spoken so frequently and so earnestly upon this point.

The Psalmist says in another place, "Commit thy way” (or, as in the margin, Roll thy way)" unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." The Prophet says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is staid on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee." Jesus says, after showing us how fruitless is our anxious care, "Take therefore no thought for the morrow." And to the burdened and heavy-laden he says, "Come . . . . and I will give you rest." Paul says, "Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God," adding, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." And Peter says, "Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you." Nothing, therefore, can be more clear than that we may pass the waves of life's rough sea in freedom from all distracting care, and all oppressing burden, by casting all upon the Lord, who promises to sustain us.

Can we fail to mark how comprehensive is the statement? "Thy burden," whoever the burden-bearer may be, and whatever be the nature of the burden that is borne.

Is your burden the Sin of a Mis-spent Life?-Has the Spirit of truth convicted you of sin, and brought to your memory all your past transgressions, your guilty opposition to God, your disregard of Christ, and your neglect of His great salvation? Do you see how hateful sin is in the sight of a holy God, and how you stand condemned by His holy law? Do you so realise your guilt and helplessness as to cry out "Oh, wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body this death?" It is by His light you have

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