labourers into his harvest; that he may remove every strange prejudice, make every heart bow before him, and every tongue confess that he is God. A few more extracts were then read, tending to show the value of our own privileges; and then our new friend, in a most emphatic manner, spoke from the history of Naaman the Syrian and the little maid. How shall we say, 'It is not my duty, and it is not my place, thus and thus to counsel; my interference is not needed, and will not be thankfully accepted?' Hush! it was but a little Israelitish serving-maid, who was made the means of the lofty Assyrian's cure. It might be that Arbana and Pharpar were to outward appearance better than all the waters of Israel,-broader, and fuller, and clearer; yet in them the leader of the Assyrian captain's host might have washed in vain; he had never been clean. During the time-the short time, then, that we have, let us use every opportunity to point to those around us the one fountain opened for sin and uncleanness; and above all, let us come there with our own otherwise incurable disorder, every day and every hour. Another very earnest prayer, and another very beautiful hymn, poetical as to the words, and spirit-stirring

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and well sung as to the tune, closed our interesting service; and before we parted with thankful minds and open hearts, you would have been pleased to see our poor people-many of them at least-come quietly up to the table, and humbly and cheerfully lay their offering of pence, or half-pence as it might be, in the plate. The plate was not held at the door, for we found that it much distressed many who had nothing to give at passing; and we should have been grieved indeed for any one to give grudgingly or of necessity, seeing our God loveth a cheerful giver. Such, as long as we live, let us be; and let us hail it in these days as a token for good to our own beloved church, that she is every day more and more exerting herself as a preacher of righteousness, even to the heathen. Let us rejoice that she no longer abides idly listening to the bleating of the flocks, but that she is now come to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.

Come, bring us the good news; a weary band,
Faint, weak, and trembling, in a desert land
Are gathered, as around a fountain's brink,
A desert fountain, pause the flock to drink.

Come, tell us, do his conquests fly abroad?
We long to hear; this Conqueror is our God.
And have the heathen learnt his name to own?
O tell us this; He is our hope alone.

Sinful, he ransom'd us from death and hell;
Sorrowing, he dried the tear-drop ere it fell;
Weary, how oft he strengthen'd; and he fed—
Hungry we were—with earth's, with heav'n's own bread.
Say, have they heard—the lost in error's night—
How great his mercy, and his truth how bright?
And does he at his font their babes receive,
And bid the long-devoted victims live?

To him are children taught the knee to bow?
And does he sanctify their marriage vow?
And does he smooth the rough road's latest stage,
And crown with glory the white hair of age?
O tell us all; from Satan's bondage freed,
Brethren we own, and free men hail indeed.
This is our Master's work; then speed along
Thy chariot wheels, and let thy sword be strong!
Hasten, O Lord! till north and south proclaim
The glorious triumphs of the Saviour's name!
Hasten, O Lord, till east and west shall know
What mighty conquests to thy cross we owe!
Till all earth's noblest round thy throne shall fall,
And thou be hail'd the crowned Lord of all;

And O not one be absent in that hour

When thou shalt reign with undivided power,

Not one be absent from thine own fair land

Of this poor worn, and weak, and weary band.

November 22, 1835.

138

THE CHURCH IN AN HOSPITAL.

It was once my pleasure to attend a kind friend in his ministerial duties at a large city hospital.

I have admired and I hope profited by the spiritual services of our church, in various times and under divers circumstances. I have been in the noble cathedral when it was crowded with worshippers, and have felt the delight of paying my vows in the courts of the Lord's house, in the presence of all his people, in the midst of Jerusalem; and in the chill, and gloomy, and rainy winter day, I have walked up the echoing aisle of the damp country church, and though sorry that so many were absent, comforted myself with the feeling, that being gathered together in His prevailing name, if only two or three were present, there was He in the midst of us. I have listened many times to the voice of consolation, that spoke of hope to the mourners round a tomb.

Often at the font I have looked on, not doubting, but stedfastly believing that the kind Saviour would graciously receive each present infant. I have followed with deep interest, as the band of her young members confirmed in their own persons the promises made in their baptism for them: and most of all, when the young men, rejoicing in their strength, with all energy and all good gifts of body and mind, have knelt at her altar, and took their ordination vows, my heart has swelled to the glorious service, and for my brethren and companions' sake I wished her prosperity.

It yet remained for me to see her, like the angel at the pool of Bethesda, conveying the message of healing to the lame, the blind, the halt, and the withered. It was an afternoon in early spring, just awaking from the effects of a very chill winter. I had been a prisoner for many weeks to a sick room, and to this hour can realise the delightful feeling of returning strength with which I breathed the fresh soft air; and. how peculiarly lovely the aconite and snow-drop of that spring were to me. Perhaps my visit to the hospital was made particularly interesting, because I could so well sympathise with the sufferers there: certainly the kindness that had