Psa. xlviii. 14; Titus i. 1, 2, 3; Jude 20, 21, 24, 25. The word and Spirit of God encourage us to trust and not be afraid; for he is faithful who promised. Is this my hope? Have I begun the year with waiting thus upon God? It is very high worship, and the most honourable that can be to God's promises. Oh for many, many such worshippers; they need not fear the raging storm, threatening destruction to the earth. They have embarked all their hopes with their Almighty Jesus, and he has engaged to bring them safe to the haven where they would be, Heb. vi. 16--20. W. Romaine.

THE TRACT MAGAZINE.

66

It is now about eighteen years-and that is a considerable portion of human life-since I formed one of a number of striplings who met weekly in the vestry of our little chapel, as the "Young Men's Improvement Society." We had a small library, and were continually adding to its treasures by religious magazines and other publications. Amongst the former I well remember" the Tract Magazine" being introduced to my notice as a very good thing" by a modest member of the said society; and who, I may just name, is still a modest, though useful member of the church of Christ. From this recommendation I was led to examine it more closely. I found it sustaining the character given it. I then took a copy of it myself, and month after month, feeling interested with its perusal, I thought of recommending it in my turn to others. I did so, and for a time with but little success; but despising discouragement, I showed it to others, and made up my mind to an effort for its wider circulation. I put down on a slip of paper some of the likeliest persons in the congregation to take it. A few consented. I then thought of the villages where there were Sunday-schools and meetings that I sometimes went to, and there I got a few more subscribers, till at length the number amounted to fifty. At present I send out upwards of sixty copies, besides a number of other sundry publications of the Religious Tract Society, which, with other religious periodicals, amount to three hundred and fifty, comprehending nearly twenty different kinds, varying in price from a half-penny to six-pence each; but

THE TRACT MAGAZINE.

11

of all the others, I have often said, and still see no cause to retract, that the Tract Magazine, in my humble opinion, is most calculated for general spiritual usefulness, alike to young and old, rich and poor, saints and sinners; hence I recommend it most; whilst I have reason to believe that under the blessing of God it is doing good, which growing impression, it will be admitted, justifies this public statement, put forth with a view to induce others to try the simple plan; and this would seem a proper time for considering it, so as to commence, if spared, with the new year. It may be as well to state that I have no connection with the book trade, so I am perfectly disinterested in thus promoting the sale of books having a moral and religious bearing. A very encouraging revival of religion has taken place in some villages where the Tract Magazine has been steadily circulated for a length of time; and in one of them there is reason to hope, that the minds of a few persons have been thus prepared for hearing and receiving the gospel.

Another thing deserving of notice in connexion with this work, is the door thus opened for further usefulness to the parties receiving these magazines. You become more acquainted with them, feel more interest in their spiritual condition; calling personally with them occasionally, affords a most desirable opportunity for profitable conversation and prayer; and in sending them at other times-how easily can an affectionate note be written and enclosed. And often has the writer, on sending out the little monthly parcels, been led to his closet on the behalf of the parties, that the rich and effectual blessing of God might accompany the publications, and sanctify their reading to the real, spiritual, and eternal warfare of those to whom they go. This work is of course attended with some little trouble it requires promptitude and perseverance, and moreover involves some little pecuniary loss; for it is not very easy to collect so many little accounts, and so widely scattered, at the year's end. But it is a good work; I have got to like it, and mean to stick by it. Oh yes; and while others of the Lord's servants are commendably engaged in the Bible and missionary cause, some in Sabbath schools, some in advocating temperance, or rather total abstinence from all that intoxicates; and not a few in various other

departments of public and private usefulness, it has long appeared to the writer, that circulating the Tract Magazine and other religious periodicals, forms, among the rest, one way of doing good, glorifying God, and serving our generation. Often have I felt refreshed and encouraged at the thought, while folding them, of thus, in a quiet and unobtrusive way, placing in so many families monthly, and especially where there are dear young people, the periodical digest of rich, pure gospel truth, which is contained in the Tract Magazine, prominently and uniformly setting forth the fundamental doctrines of our holy religion, namely, man's ruin by sin, redemption by Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit; and necessarily evidenced in a holy life and godly conversation, as absolutely essential to his present peace and future happiness. And now, that this paper may obtain the serious consideration of Christians wishing to be useful, and that it may especially have the approbation and blessing of God through Jesus Christ, is the humble desire and hearty prayer of the writer.

A Secretary to a Tract Society.

THE SPIRITUAL CHEMIST.

MEDITATION I.-UPON A MOTE IN THE EYE.

Он, what a strange temper is the eye, which a small mote can so extremely trouble, and a wide world cannot satisfy! And what a strange vanity is the world, a single dust of which is more powerful to afflict and torment, than an entire confluence of all its pleasures can be to give ease, or to delight! For were the globe of the whole earth turned into a delicious paradise, that the eye might behold nothing but a perpetual spring of beauty, and that every sense might be continually feasted with the choicest objects that such a garden could produce; yet, alas! a corn of its sand, an atom of its dust put or lodged accidentally in the eye, would create such violent shootings, such keen prickings and burnings, as would soon force a man to send forth complaints that his anguish is far above his pleasure, and that he had much rather forego the one, than undergo constantly the other. Oh, what a weak and empty bubble is all worldly happiness, which breaks and vanishes into nothing, by the power of a small dust! And what a match

ALEXANDER DUNN.

13 less difference is there between heavenly and earthly comforts, when a drop of the one can sweeten a briny sea of sorrow, and a world of the other cannot assuage the anguish which ariseth from a single mote! Lord, therefore let not me be among the number of those who receive their good things in this life: I ask only a pittance for my passage, but not an abundance for my portion in them; yea, though thou shouldest give me no kid to make merry with, yet will I not murmur at thy bounty to prodigals, if thou wilt say-Son, all that is laid up is thine, though thou hast little or nothing of what is laid out; but I will pray-Turn, Lord, mine eyes from beholding, and my heart from affecting earthly vanities, and fix all my desires upon heaven; that I may look and long for it, in which there is nothing that can offend, but everything that will delight and satisfy to eternity. Spurstowe.

ALEXANDER DUNN.

[The following narrative has been authenticated so as to justify the insertion.]

"TRUST in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed," Psalm xxxvii. 3. The foregoing promise was fulfilled in a striking manner to Alexander Dunn, commonly called Alastair Og. Alexander Dunn, the subject of the following brief narrative, lived in Sutherlandshire, at a time when food was extremely scarce in that part of the country; he was a hand-loom weaver by trade, and was one of those who believed that" in the days of famine they shall be satisfied" by the bountiful hand of Him" who feedeth the young ravens," and who "will never suffer the righteous to be forsaken." Alexander upon one occasion was reduced so far, that there was nothing in his house but water; his wife began to murmur; but Alexander said, "My Father will send me something; so, my dear, let us trust in him ;—bring me a jug of water, and let us ask his blessing. He fed five thousand with a few loaves, and can impart nourishment to us by means of this water, if that is to his glory and our good; or he will relieve us in some other manner, which to his infinite wisdom may seem fit." Now during the time that Alexander was asking the blessing, a noise was heard at the door of the humble cottage of the sincere petitioner,

and when he finished, his wife went to the door. There was a sack containing something, and at a distance from the door was seen a stout labouring man sitting on the back of a strong grey horse, trotting down the moor. The sack was taken in and opened. There was a quantity of oatmeal, some cheese, some meat, and some dried fish; so Alexander and his wife sat down with grateful and cheerful hearts, to a hearty meal. "Did not I tell you that my Father would think of me; he never failed me yet. So let us now return thanks to him for his goodness.”

Some years after this incident, the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was being administered in the parish of Dornock; and it is common in the north of Scotland for people to go thirty or forty miles upon such occasions to hear the sermons delivered; and also those who are communicants, upon receiving a token that they are so from their own parishes, can partake of the same holy sacrament in other parishes. Upon these occasions in the parish of Dornock, the noble and pious duchess (at that time countess) of Sutherland (grandmother to his grace the present noble duke) entertained many of the clergy in her house; and as many of the communicants came from far, she lodged them in her own castle. And among those who came upon the occasion to which we refer, was Alexander Dunn. After the evening refreshment, they used to assemble in the great hall, and relate with gratitude the goodness of God to themselves; and while so engaged, Alexander among other things related the instance of Divine goodness which we have just mentioned; when the pious countess exclaimed joyfully, "Thanks be to God who directed these his mercies your way, and I am extremely glad to hear it." This led to the following explanation from the noble countess :

"When the late great scarcity of food was so severely felt in this part of the country, I was one day going to begin dinner, when I saw my table covered plentifully with all manner of substantial food. It struck me that there might be many of God's children at that moment without a morsel to eat. This thought so distressed my mind, that I felt determined to endeavour to find out and relieve as many as I could. But in case some were in immediate want, I ordered one of my servants to fill a sack partly