Eckius then asked him what revenue he had he told the cardinal he had that house and garden, and fifty livres per annum, besides an annual present of some wine and corn, on which he lived very contentedly. Eckius told him that a man of his parts deserved a better revenue, and then renewed his invitation to come over to the Romish Church, promising him a better stipend if he would. But Calvin, giving him thanks, assured him that he was well satisfied with his condition. About this time dinner was ready, when he entertained his guest as well as he could, excused the defects of it, and paid him every respect. Eckius, after dinner, desired to know if he might not be admitted to see the church, which anciently was the cathedral of that city. Calvin very readily answered that he might; accordingly, he sent to the officers to be ready with the keys, and desired some of the syndics to be there present, not acquainting them who the stranger was. As soon, therefore, as it was convenient, they both went towards the church; and as Eckius was coming out of Calvin's house, he drew out a purse, with about one hundred pistoles, and presented it to Calvin. Calvin desired to be excused; Eckius told him he gave it to buy books, as well as to express his respects for him. Calvin, with much regret, took the purse, and they proceeded to the church, where the syndics and officers waited upon them, at the sight of whom Eckius thought he had been betrayed, and whispered his thought in the ear of Calvin, who as sured him of his safety. Thereupon they went into the church; and Eckius, having seen all, told Calvin he did not expect to find things in so decent an order, having been told to the contrary. After having taken a full view of everything, Eckius was returning out of the church; but Calvin stopped him a little, and calling the syndics and officers together, took out the purse of gold which Eckius had given him, telling them that he had received that gold from this worthy stranger, and that now he gave it to the poor; and so put it all in the poor-box that was kept there. The syndics thanked the stranger, and Eckius admired the charity and modesty of Calvin. When they were come out of the church, Calvin invited Eckius again to his house, but he replied that he must depart; so thanking him for all his civilities, offered to take his leave, but Calvin waited on him to his inn, and walked with him a mile out of the territories of Geneva, where, with great compliments, they took a farewell of each other. RELIGION AND TEMPERANCE. Is it not fearful that Britain spends, in intoxicating liquors, fifty millions of money every year? We often complain of our high taxation, and sometimes grow nervous at the National Debt: but here is a tax for which we cannot blame our rulers,—a tax selfimposed and self-levied,—a tax for which we can only blame ourselves,— a tax which would pay the interest of our National Debt twice over,—and a tax as large as the entire revenue of these United Kingdoms! We thought it a great sum to pay in order to give the slave his freedom. We thought the twenty millions given to the West India proprietors a mighty sacrifice: and certainly it was the noblest tribute any nation ever paid to the cause of philanthropy: but large as it looks, half-a-year of national abstinence would have paid it all. Some grudge the eight millions which Ireland lately got, seeing it failed to set our neighbours on their feet; but it was eight millions given to save a famishing people, and large as the grant to Ireland seems, two months of national abstinence would have paid the whole of it. But tremendous as are the fifty millions which, as a people, we yearly engulph in strong drink, the thought which afflicts and appals us is, that this terrible impost is mainly a tax on the Working Man. The lamentation is, that many an industrious man will spend in liquor as much money as, had he saved it, would this year have furnished a room, and next year would have bought a beautiful library; as much money as would secure a splendid education for every child; or, in the course of a few years, would have made him a landlord, instead of a tenant. Why, my friends, it would set our blood a-boiling, if we heard that the Turkish Sultan taxed his subjects in the style that our British workmen tax themselves! It would bring the days of Wat Tyler back again; nay, it would create another Hampden, and conjure up a second Cromwell, did the Exchequer try to raise the impost which our publicans levy, and our labourers and artizans cheerfully pay! But is it not a fearful infatuation? Is it not our national madness, to spend so much wealth in shattering our nerves, and exploding our characters, and ruining our souls? Many workmen, I rejoice to know, have been reclaimed by teetotalism, and many have been preserved by timely religion. In whatever way a man is saved from that horrible vice, which is at once the destruction of the body and the damnation of the soul, "therein I do rejoice; yea, and will rejoice." Only you cannot be a Christian without being also a sober man; and the more of God's grace you get, the easier will you find it to vanquish this most terrible of the Working Man's temptations-INTEMPERANCE.—Dr. James Hamilton, London. Biography. ELIZABETH E A BRIEF record of the departed may often be made known, with benefit, beyond the circle in which, during their life, they moved. The poor in this world, who are rich in faith, and heirs of the promises, are ofttimes instances of the triumph secured for the saint by Jesus over the last enemy. Death has slain his thousands; yet by some of these slain he has been himself con quered. They bowed to the unbending law which required the dust to return to the dust as it was; but whilst they bowed, they robbed death of his laurel, and with a taunt inquired, "O death! where is thy sting?" Elizabeth E- was an instance of this victory gained by the saint over the last enemy. A young wife and mother, at the early age of twenty eight she was summoned from the comforts and attractions of the circle in which she moved, and the duties and ties which seemed to bind her to the earth, and yielded to that summons with calm placidity and holy peace. Moving in the lower ranks of life, yet esteemed by all who knew her; an example of holy consistency, and an ornament to the church on earth, she was early gathered, as the ripe corn for the garner. In early life she gave herself to the Lord, and was one of the eight of whom the church at P she yet manifested the same desire for God's glory; and when, through the necessary cares of the family, she was compelled to do less publicly, we have reason to believe she did more privately, and constantly prayed that the dew of heaven might descend on the hill of Zion with which she was again identitied. By her uniform deportment the gospel was adorned, whilst Jesus was magnified by her lips and in her life. Early last spring symptoms of pulmonary consumption showed themselves; but when informed by her was formed. With them she walked, medical attendant that such was the and first of them she has mingled her case, she expressed no sorrow, but praises with the first pastor of the little calmly and prayerfully resigned her. church, who was himself removed to self to the will of God, and sought, by glory eighteen months after his ordi- earnest importunity, for grace to enable nation. Her heart was fixed, satisfied her to yield her husband and her babes that God, in all his dealings, was a God to the fatherly care of Him who seemed of love, as well as righteous and kind. to be calling her to himself. The flatShe felt it her privilege to do all she tering disease by which she was attacked, could for the Saviour she loved, and in as usual, varied; sometimes a bright the various offices of Sunday-school and then a dark interval. Her friends teacher and tract-distributor she ac-wished and hoped, in submission, that tively adorned the doctrine of God her she might yet be spared. She said, Saviour. Of her it might be said, "I dare not express a wish either way: "She did what she could," and though the Lord is mine; he doeth well: I unable to render much pecuniary aid am his, and let him do as he pleases. to the cause of God, the manner in If I am to live, I will strive to glorify which she collected for Home Missions, him; and if I am to die, I will hasten and the readiness with which she to praise him for ever." Throughout gratuitously attended to the cleaning the whole of her illness, whilst the of the chapel, &c., showed that her disease was making its insidious way, heart was intent on her Master's work. first partially and then entirely conNor has what she did been forgotten fining her to her chamber and her bed, by Him who notices the drop of cold the same calm pervaded her mind. In water given to a disciple, in the name her appearance and conversation plaof a disciple. cidity and peace were always displayed. Nor was this a false peace: it arose from entire self-renunciation, from 2 hatred of self-righteousness, from a thorough surrender to Jesus Christ, on whom she rested, and in whom alone She diligently and perseveringly pursued this course till her removal from the village, on her marriage; and on her return, some short time after, with the increased duties of wife and mother, she trusted. None but Jesus could do her good, and to none but Jesus would she look. The uniform state of feeling exhibited to her pastor was that of a peaceful and calm spirit reclining on the bosom of her Saviour, and may be seen from the remark she made to one who visited her, and who said, "It is a melancholy thing to die." "Oh! no," she said; “I have had my struggles, I have felt the ties of a mother, of a wife, of a daughter; but I acquiesce in His will." And on referring to this in a subsequent conversation with her pastor, she said, “Sir, can this be dying? I feel I am getting weaker, but I have no pain, no anxiety; for I know whom I have believed, and 'A guilty, weak, and helpless worm, On his kind arms I fall."" The fulness of Christ, his atonement, his intercession, were the themes on which she loved to dwell, in converse with her pastor, on his periodical visits to her dying bed; and often has she cheered his heart by her deep anxiety and her fervent expression of faith and prayer for the prosperity of his soul, and the success of his labours in the cause of God. The Sabbath dawned which was to end her days on earth: she felt she was departing, and calling her friends around, she embraced them, and said, "Good bye," and sweetly fell asleep in Jesus. The Saturday following her remains were deposited in the silent tomb, near to the place she had attended as a door-keeper, and for the prosperity of which her last prayers were offered; and her pastor improved the event of her removal from the language of triumph which her case exhibited, in the victory she had gained over death, as expressed in 1 Cor. xv. 55-57. A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF MR. For Thirty-five Years one of the Deacons quently visited him, thus writes: "It was my pleasure and privilege to visit him several times during his illness. He discovered a calm resignation to his heavenly Father's will. He would often say, while pleading the soul-sustaining promises of his covenant-keeping Father, 'It's all right;' 'Not one stroke too many;' 'It will be all over soon And then, O how pleasant His whole heart and soul was full of God's truth. He was indeed 'wise unto salvation. last time but one I saw him) he said, 'I am so glad to see you; sit down and spend an hour with me. I have had such revelations of God's love! Oh! why did he arrest me in my mad career of sin, and show me such glorious realities? Why me-why me? Oh! what do I owe to God for converting grace, for preserving grace, and now, now, in the article of death, dying grace! Oh! one moment of the Spirit's teaching, of the Spirit's light, of the Spirit's gracious influence, is worth more than this world in which we dwell. I cannot command these heavenly influences; it is not always light about me, yet I am wonderfully sustained by God's grace.' After reading and prayer I left him, apparently resting upon the bosom of Jesus Christ, who rose from the tomb, and ascended on high, in proof of bliss beyond the grave. On one occasion (the "I saw him again a few hours before his death he could hardly articulate. I pointed him to some of the promises of God's word, especially to one passage, Your life is hid with Christ in God.' In a moment there was a heavenly smile upon his countenance; his whole soul seemed to be, as it were, lit up with the joy of the blessed, while he, with all his dying strength, said, 'God never changes; and all his attributes are like himself-immutable. It is all right; the conflict will soon be over, and then I shall wear a blood-bought crown, and exclaim, Victory, victory, through the blood of the Lamb!' He expired in a few hours after, and his end was peace. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." The Letter Box. THE DEATH DANCE; OR, THE BISHOP'S BALL.-A BURLESQUE ON RELIGION AND PHILANTHROPY. SIR, Feeling assured that anything connected with the Apostles Peter and Paul, either directly or indirectly, and anything tending to throw a light upon their character, actions, and example, will prove acceptable to many of your readers, and tend to open the eyes of some as to the true character of "Mother Church," I send you the following, to make what use you please of it. My habitation has been for a short time in the city of Gloucester, noted in days gone by for its staunch adherence to Church and State, in the times of the great Oliver. Whether Peter or Paul, or any other of our Apostolic Fathers, ever visited its splendid cathedral, it would be hard to tell; but certain it is that on one of its pinnacles is a crucifix-an image of Christ suspended on a cross. In the records of the place it is not mentioned which of the apostles put it there, or the work of what man's hand it was no one now can tell. A few Sundays ago, the Lord Bishop being at his palate in the city for a few days, I thought I would go to the cathedral, thinking that possibly I might hear him preach; but I was disappointed. There sat the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop on his throne; he did not preach, but slept! I eat just opposite to him, and therefore could not mistake. Throughout the sermon the good man kept up a 66 continual nodding. This did not surprise me much; but I was surprised a few days after by seeing huge bills, nearly eight feet long, posted on several of the principal churches in the city. The variety of their hue, and the taste evinced in the "display" of some of the principal lines, such as 66 Messiah," Elijah," "Calvary," &c., and the unusual sight of a bill of any size, but especially such a bill, posted on a church, attracted my attention, and induced me to stop an instant to scan it. But I soon found so curious a collection, that I passed on, determining, the first opportunity that occurred, to take a pencil and just dot down some of the leading features, in order that I might not be mistaken. The bill commences thus: "Hereford Musical Festival, September 11, 12, 13, and 14, &c. For the benefit of the Widows and Orphans of the Clergymen in the three Dioceses of Hereford, Worcester, and Gloucester." Then fol lows a list of the Stewards, in very conspicuous letters. Three noble Lords first come, and then three Apostolical Successors. The noble Lords I made no memorandum of, being an every. day occurrence; but in order to prevent any mistake with Peter's relatives, I copied their names, which are as follows: "The Rev. Dr. Ogilivie, Canon of Christ Church; the Rev. W. P. Mus |