as you that he most delights to work. It is the foolish, the weak, the base, and the despised things of the world that God has chosen to confound the wise and the mighty. Even Paul could glory in his infirmities, and say, "For when I am weak, then am I strong." The work can be done, and it appears to me that no one who believes the redemption of his own soul has been purchased at the cost of his blessed Master's sufferings and death, can wish to do less. How glorious would be the result if only this simple plan could be carried out, and every member of the church be made the instrument, during the year, of saving one soul! What rejoicing in heaven! what power of influence given to the cause of Christ on earth! How many tender friendships would be formed! How the cause of Bibles, and tracts, and missions would be prospered! Biography. MEMOIR OF AN AFFLICTED CHRISTIAN. THAT striking paradox contained in "As frequently, if not "always rejoicing." Their possessions in this world so inconsiderable and scanty, that with propriety they may be said to have "nothing;" but having a personal interest in Christ, a "good hope through grace," a place in heaven preparing for them, they may lay claim to "all things" as "Theirs to enjoy, With a propriety that none can feel Still, it is but seldom that such a com- In a low cottage, with but two apartments, both on the ground, and the floors of brick, in a retired part of the little village of Feering, in the county of Essex, lived an old man, "poor and afflicted;" but he was a real Christian, a man of God, rich in faith, abounding in patience, cheerful and grateful, even a member of the church at Coggeshall, under the pastoral care of the Rev. John Kay. The cause of his suffering, and subsequently of his decease, was a cancer on the left side of his face. It first manifested itself near the eye; in a comparatively short time the left eye was completely eaten out: it proceeded until one half of the nose and the entire side of the face were gone, and the lips had parted asunder. For nearly a year and a half previous to his decease he had been unable to open his mouth. He received liquid through a reed, which was inserted where he had previously lost some teeth, and could manage to press through that aperture some small pieces of bread that had been thoroughly soaked. He could articulate, but very indistinctly; in fact, he was quite unintelligible to any but those accustomed to converse with him. But he did not murmur: he knew that his "times" were in God's hand; he had long believed that all things were working together for good;" and the "trial of his faith" did not shake it, for it was founded upon the "Rock of ages:" and upon this strong foundation he built not "wood, or hay, or stubble," but "GOLD;" and the fire that tried it proved it, and made it shine. 66 We often visited him. In the earlier stages of the disorder he would be found seated in his cottage, with his back to the light; on the table was his Bible, from which his aged wife would be sometimes reading to him; from the window might be seen the setting sun -a glorious sight! what can be finer? -but it was but a type of what actually existed beneath that humble roof, and it had no glory compared with the glory that excelled it. Here was an heir of heaven being "made meet" for his inheritance; a saint undergoing a fiery trial. He who "sitteth as a refiner and purifier of silver" had placed the precious metal in the crucible, and was himself carefully watching it. The heat is intense, though tempered by his own wisdom and love; the fire is continued long and fierce, but the work is at length accomplished, and shall be found unto "praise, and honour, and glory, at his appearing." Upon one occasion since he was confined to his bed, a Christian brother and myself had an interview with him. It was but too evident that his sufferings were extreme, and my friend began to commiserate him. He took not the slightest notice of the allusions to his sufferings, but pointing towards a chest of drawers upon which his Bible was placed, he said, though but just intelligible, yet with much emphasis, "But there are great promises in that precious book; and when the mind is prepared to lay hold on them, 't is sweet." It was more eloquent than the finest rhetoric, to hear an "unlearned and ignorant" man express himself with such precision, at once so condensed and full of meaning,-"There are great promises in that precious book:" and notwithstanding "wearisome days and nights were appointed him;" notwithstanding the loathsome nature and aggravated form of the disease, yet one source of enjoyment remained untouched and undiminished: he knew what it was to "lay hold" on the promises, and found it "sweet" employ. Does not the case furnish a perfect parallel (with merely verbal modification) to that fine passage in the writings of the Apostle Paul, "I suffer trouble as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound?" So might this suffering Chris-preter. Allusions had been made to the Saviour: "Tell Mr. Kay," he said, "I can trust my naked soul in his hands." tian have said, and he did say in effect, "I am indeed suffering even unto corruption and decay; but that precious word, in all its freshness, and vigour, and power to comfort and sustain, endureth for ever." My friend asked him if he had any doubts? He replied, "I can't say that I have. I don't always feel alike. I hope that when I am called hence my soul will be found in Him." I rejoined, "It has been in his hands' for a long while." He assented, and added with an air of exultation, "I don't need another refuge, and I am hoping soon to be with those that have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." This was the time and the place for us to feel the supreme importance of "unseen" things. All beside seemed poor and little. What could compare with the unutterable preciousness of Jesus Christ-the stability of the promises the value of the Bible-the blessedness of the Christian's hope? We saw them put to an extreme test. Ye votaries of pleasure, and worshippers of Mammon, what have ye to say to this? Here is a man in poverty, tortured with pain, and placed, by the very nature of his sufferings, beyond the possibility of receiving much relief from his fellow-creatures. What could your gods avail in such a case? But the God whom he served in health is all-sufficient: the promises he has rested on have "never failed, nor will they fail him now." At another time, when his pastor saw him, as it was exceedingly difficult to understand him, his wife (whose devoted attention to him has been most deservedly admired) acted as inter Yet, in spite of this happy sense of security, he would at times endure "heaviness" and "sorrow of heart." There was that which pressed more upon him than all his bodily sufferings: he "beheld the transgressors, and was grieved." His "sons walked not in his ways;" his neighbours were ungodly; and for these things he wept. He could suffer pain, and be calm; but to see the Saviour dishonoured, and the souls of men hazarded, bowed down his spirit. Christian Reader! bear with a passing remark. This feature of piety is sadly too rare. There is by far too much selfishness amongst the professed followers of the Lord Jesus. But where the image of Christ is reflected in its fair and comely proportions, there must be intense regret that the Saviour should be despised, and a melting compassion that will manifest itself in habitual effort to turn sinners from the error of their ways. This good man could scarcely do more than weep; and his tears would not pass unnoticed by the Searcher of hearts. You may have health-mental energy-time-money -all at command. Let the tears of this suffering Christian remind thee of the words of thy Master, addressed to thee when he "broke thy yoke, and burst thy bonds." Did he not then say to thee, "Go, work to-day in my vineyard;" "Be faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life ?" But to return to the narrative. During the last four months his sufferings greatly increased. He occasionally expressed a wish "to depart and be with Christ." Throughout his long affliction it may, with truth, be said of him that he has been willing to go, but content to stay. Often has he said, alluding to what might be the end contemplated by the trial, "Perhaps 't is to humble me, and lay me low." While, at the same time, his graces seemed so matured, we could not but be reminded of that line, hortation. Your circumstances may be altogether the reverse of this poor man's. You may be young and healthy, and in the possession of much that the world values: but your youth is fast passing away; health is uncertain ; riches may "take to themselves wings and fly away;" or suppose they travel with you to the grave-you must part company then! Have you "treasure "For us they languish, and for us they in heaven?" Is your soul safe? Have die." As we left him after our last interview, our feelings found expression in those pensive words, "Too deep to sound with mortal lines, But his "warfare is now accomplished." and is comforted in his Saviour's bosom. And earth exchanged for heaven." And what a change! His miserable cottage for a mansion in his Father's house; the garb of mortality, vile and loathsome, for the "fine linen, clean and white;" the feeble, though tender and constant, services of his wife and daughter, for a convoy of ministering spirits; pain and torture, for perfect rest; the inactivity of a sick bed, for service day and night in the temple above; the feeble efforts of his 66 'poor lisping, stammering tongue," for his full share in the "new song;" partial and interrupted communion with the Saviour, for the vision of his unclouded glory; and this for ever-to be for ever with the Lord! you committed it into the Saviour's hands? laid hold of the hope set before you in the gospel? If not, whatever be your possessions in this world, you are miserably poor. Will you travel the dark valley alone? Oh ! miserable man, that leaves his all behind him when he dies! that on his death-bed, forsaken and alone, exclaims, "They have taken away my gods, and what have I more?" Then "flee from the wrath to come;" take refuge beneath the cross of Jesus Christ; seek your happiness in the service of God; and then, in the valley of the shadow of death you need fear no evil, for he will be with you there. Afflicted Christian! take comfort. Be encouraged by the preceding instance of Divine support in a case of unusually severe and protracted suffering. Listen to the voice of thy Saviour, who, in all thy afflictions, is also afflicted: he saith to thee while in the furnace, "The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine;" and though not "joyous, but grievous," it is a blessed process that makes thee "partaker of his holiness." Then press Dear Reader! suffer the word of ex-on, and look above thee: "Though rough and thorny be the road, It leads us homewards to our God; And when our Father's house we gain, 'T will make amends for all our pain." Coggeshall, Nov. 10, 1849. J. B―. It was the happiness of J. B-to choose, as her portion, the one thing needful in early life, and to connect herself with the people of God when yet young. She became a member of the church worshipping in Fish-street, Hull, thirty-five years ago, and continued such until the formation of the church in Albion-street, in 1842. There was nothing remarkable in her religious experience, but by the grace of God she was enabled to maintain an outwardly consistent course throughout. For the last two or three years, however, there was evidently manifest to those who knew her best a more subdued, child-like spirit, and a growing conformity, in temper and feeling, to the mind and character of the blessed Redeemer. This became still more distinctly marked about the time when the first symptoms of the illness which terminated her earthly course appeared. She had, under previous afflictions and trials, manifested some degree of impatience and anxiety for the removal of the affliction, not altogether consistent with an entire acquiescence in the will of God, and a confiding trust in his faithfulness and love. But all this fretfulness and repining was now completely hushed, and, with a cheerful At an early period of her illness, when she was suffering considerable inward pain, she one day said, "It's a purifying process; this is the furnace; it's only drop by drop that the silver is purified; and if God but gives me patience!" The intimation conveyed to her, as the opinion of her medical adviser, that she could not possibly recover, created no alarm, but, on the contrary, satisfaction and thankfulness. She said she was fully prepared for the intimation, and dwelt with much pleasure on the thought, that though the earthly house of her tabernacle were dissolved, she had “a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." From that time to the period when her happy spirit, emancipated from the clay tabernacle, took possession of her house above, she never once expressed a fear or an anxiety of any kind. There was no returning of the clouds after the rain. All was sunshine with her-an unbroken peace, confidence, and joy. On it being remarked to her, by a friend, that in heaven all tears would be wiped away, she said, "Mine are all wiped away already." She delighted to dwell on portions of Scripture and experimental hymns, with which her memory had been stored in the season of health. One night, after repeating the hymn, "Jesus, lover of my soul," her sister said to her, "We have often sung that together;" she replied, "Yes, and in a short time we shall sing together again, and loud, resignation, and an unshaken trust," Then shall we sing more sweet, more she was enabled to commit her whole self-body, soul, and spirit-into the hands of Him whom she felt was fully able to keep all unto the great day. And Christ shall be our song."" To the same sister, who had been her constant companion for many years of |