gospel to overcome. And he earnestly pressed the saving remedy. One, a widow with five small children, was an excessive drinker, but was reformed and made the subject of the grace of God. She attended a class of Mr. Miller's, and learned to read and write. She became a member of a Christian Church, and in the course of three years was the means of bringing eleven more to the house of God. Other cases also rewarded his labours. City missionaries and ministers of the gospel, poor-law officers and magistrates, all agree in regarding drunkenness as the chief obstacle to religion, and virtue, and industry, and the chief promoter of vice, poverty, and crime. Would that some legal restraint were put upon the sale of intoxicating drinks throughout the land; and that our Queen and government refused to draw revenue out of the vices of the people by prohibiting the traffic altogether.

The evening ragged schools of London were the suggestion of Roger Miller. "Within an area extending but little beyond the immediate scene of his labours, there were 2,746 youths of this class, at from seven to fourteen years of age, of whom 972 attended no school whatever, except the Sunday evening ragged school in the neighbourhood with which he was connected, and where the instruction given was, very properly, almost purely religious. But few of them attended this." These were ragged, wretched, and criminal, growingup pests to society, to fill our jails and penal settlements. Mr. Miller endeavoured to awaken interest in their case, and found a response in the valuable aid of that great patron of ragged schools, and of every good work, the Earl of Shaftesbury. His lordship visited, with Mr. Miller, for several days, from house to house in the most degraded parts of the district; saw for himself the amount of misery which existed, and resolved to attempt its amelioration. A

building was obtained, and scholars soon filled it. But to curb the wildness of such youths was no easy work. Skill and kindness, however, prevailed; and the boys made efforts, even sacrifices, to attend the school. They learned to read, to mend, and then to`make their own clothes. The average attendance, out of 283 admissions, was 124. "The expenses

of this establishment," said Lord Shaftesbury, "are moderate, the entire cost, including wages to master tailor, master shoemaker, and mistress of the needle-girls, being only about threepence a-week for each child." Good fruit resulted.

"In misery's world there are beings who stray,

With no beacon to cheer and encourage their way;
They are squalid, unnurtured, despised, and forlorn,
And the polish'd pass by them with loathing and scorn.
But let the door open, and welcome them in,

Let the work of their rescue from evil begin;

Be they taught, be they fed, and a gleam will yet shine

To prove in their nature a part is divine.

The torch may be turned toward earth; but the flame
Rises ever to heaven,-for from heaven it came."

Roger Miller's career in the mission was short, but a lifetime's labours were crowded into those seven brief years. His zeal in reforming others equalled his self-ruining efforts of former days. The gospel made him a new man, and also a philanthropist. It blessed him and made him a blessing. Reader, is this its effect on you?

On the death of his mother, in 1847, Mr. Miller left London for Manchester to attend the funeral. As the train came near Wolverton an accident happened, by which he was killed on the spot. Though in a railway car, "his ruling passion was strong in death." He had just united the passengers in the carriage in singing the evening hymn that they might close the day with devotion. The praise arose amidst the noise of the train :

"Teach me to live, that I may dread
My grave as little as my bed;
Teach me to die, that so I may

Rise glorious at the judgment-day ;"—

and the music became, with one at least, the heavenly hallelujah, as the collision bore Roger Miller to glory.

His death was severely felt in London. "Devout men carried him to his burial, and made great lamentation over him." Broadwall shut its shops that day, and the tears of many fell as the friend of the poor was laid in the grave.

READER ! need I point a moral? This sketch can scarcely fail to suggest questions to your conscience. May it not

save a soul alive?

"I OBTAINED MERCY, THAT IN ME JESUS CHRIST MIGHT SHEW FORTH ALL LONG-SUFFERING FOR A PATTERN TO THEM WHICH SHOULD HEREAFTER BELIEVE ON HIM TO LIFE EVERLASTING."

CHAPTER V.

WILLIAM REEVES, THE COACH-BUILDER.

"Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul."--Ps. lxvi. 16.

Whatever my state, be it weak, be it strong,

With honour or sweat on my face,

This, this is my glory, my strength, and my song,-
I stand like a star in MY PLACE.

"THERE is," says Dr. James Hamilton, "such a thing as a denominational zoology. There is a certain temperament, there are certain mental tendencies, from which, if a man is not content to remain a Presbyterian in Scotland, or an Episcopalian in England, it may be predicted which other section of the Christian community he will join. The

Wesleyan body is the great absorbent of warm hearts and fervid spirits. In the frequency of its devotional meetings; in the frankness and unreserve of its Christian intercourse; in the vigour of its responses, and the soaring rapture of its hymns; and in the benevolent vivacity which finds a post and an employment for every member; it meets many cravings of the young and ardent convert." Thus its converts have been so numerous, and the world has been so largely indebted to the labours of its agents. Its earliest efforts were among the humblest of the people; and though "not many mighty, not many noble," have at any time lent it influence, it has never wanted energy and devotion to carry on its work of benevolence. From the lowliest of its membership have arisen numbers who, by reason of their turning many to righteousness, shall shine as the stars for ever and

ever.

WILLIAM REEVES was one of these, and a sketch of his life and labours may prove both edifying and encouraging to our readers in all sections of the church. He was born in the parish of Cudham, in Kent, December 15, 1779. Sent to service on a farm as soon as he was able to work, he received no education in his youth; and mixing with godless company, he speedily attained a similar character. His father, though not evangelical in his sentiments, frequently gave him the advice, "Will, do not forget God; always say your prayers, wherever you are;" and he testifies, in an autobiographical fragment published in his memoir, that he could never forget the impression it made upon his mind. So deeply do the counsels of parents fall into the youthful heart.

In 1801 he was apprenticed for three years to a wheelwright; but in 1805 entered the service of a coach-builder, which was a better business. In October of the same year,

he married. During this period he was in the habit of private prayer, frequently felt convictions and made promises; yet, alas! like Felix of old, postponed decision to a "more convenient season." But God had mercy on his soul and visited him with affliction, which proved the means of his own eternal blessedness, and of his wife's also. His partner was long confined to bed by severe suffering; he became seriously ill himself; and poverty fell upon him. "But," says he, "this was not the greatest of my affliction; for then all my sins and unpaid vows came before me, so that I saw and felt, if I died, hell must be my portion. O, the agony of soul I then felt." He was restored to health; and in order to obtain peace, went from one chapel to another, seeking one of Mr. Wesley's, when he was providentially led into Lambeth Chapel, where he heard a discourse on Rev. iii. 20, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock." He was arrested by the word, and, trembling and anxious, sought the counsel of the man of God. Directed to the cross, he could at first find no comfort; but by means of the class-meetings of a Mr. Shaw, which he attended, he found peace to his burdened soul. The crisis was over, his bonds were loosed, he became a freeman in Christ Jesus. Great change! The most momentous and most necessitous of all!

Reader! have you experienced it? If not, let me stay to urge you to flee from the wrath to come, and to believe on Jesus Christ. Your sins must condemn you; God is just. But Jesus can save you; God justifies the ungodly that believe in Him. "TURN YE, TURN YE, WHY WILL YE DIE?” When William Reeves became serious, he sought his Bible, and spelled out its words on his knees, so anxious was he; and wept for his sins, and told his wife of his state and hers before God. He began to pray with her, and soon had the happiness of seeing her on the way to Zion with him.