THE BIBLE ILLUSTRATED.

also may fear."-1 Timothy v. 20.

death was as his life had been. The

SOME years ago a party of gentle

men was travelling on the Ohio river in America, when the boat stuck fast on a sand-bank, and all the efforts

of the captain and his men, who used much profane language, were unable to move the boat into deep water. "At length," writes one of the party, "a cable was made fast to a tree on the opposite shore, and a last effort was made to

draw off the boat. But with all the heaving and swearing, it still remained unmoved. In this state of things, the captain asked three or four persons who were standing near, to help them turn the capstan. Now was my time. On one condition,' said I. Any reasonable condition,' replied the captain; 'what is it?' 'Only that I be allowed to swear the next oath.' Without waiting for a reply, I threw off my coat and sprang to the work. We had not gone half round before one of the men near me uttered an oath. I im

mediately left my handspike, and exclaimed: Hold on, my good fellow, I have not sworn yet; and unless you. allow me to do so next, I will not help.' He looked at me for a moment, and then said he would swear no more. Nor did he, nor did I hear another profane word while I remained on the boat."

"Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily, I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them."-Luke xii. 37.

THE REV. Robert Bruce was a man who lived in a state of constant preparedness for death, and always spoke of the heavenly state as though it were but passing out of one room into another. His

you may bring me another egg." He was silent for a moment, and then said, "Hold, daughter, hold, my

Master calls me." As he said these As he said these words his sight failed him. Calling for his Bible, he said, "Turn to the eighth chapter of the Romans, and set my finger on the words-I am persuaded that neither death nor life, etc., shall be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord." It being done as he wished, he added,

that the cause had given him great uneasiness. The deacons asked

him what he thought was the cause. The minister at once replied, “The loss of my prayer-book." "Your prayer-book!" said the oldest of the party, "I never knew you used one." one." "Yes," said the minister, "I have enjoyed the benefit of one for many years, till lately; and I attribute my want of success to the loss of it. The prayers ple were my prayer-book; and it has caused me much grief that they have laid it aside."

of my peo

"Gau any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord: do not I .

payen and earth ? ”—Jeremiah xxiii. 21.

DURING the revolutionary war in America, a young British offer was one day walking out at sunrising, when he saw a grey-headed Indian, who seemed to be taking aim at some game. As he came nearer he asked the old man what he was about. He made no reply, but waved his hand for the young man to stand at a distance. He again asked, "What are you I am worshipping the Great about?" when the Indian replied, "I be found?" To which the vener Spirit!" Why, where is he to

wounded his hand as he escaped by the window. The policeman flashed his lantern upon the spot. Drop by drop the blood stained the able man answered, "Soldier! pavement. They tracked it on where is he not?" and with so and on, till their silent guide conmuch energy that the officer reducted them along an open pas-membered it to his dying day. sage, and up a flight of steps, stopping at the door of a house. They broke in, and there they found the pale and bleeding criminal with his booty.

"Men ought always to pray, and not to faint."Luke xviii. 1.

THE pastor of an Independent congregation in America, at a meeting of the deacons, was speaking of the little success that seemed to follow his preaching, and said

"Train up a child in the way he should go and

when he is old, he will not depart from it."-Fronta

xxii. 6.

A YOUNG man, when about to be ordained as a Christian minister stated that at one period of his life he had been nearly led into infi delity; "but," he added, "there was one argument in favour of Christianity which I could neve? get over, that was, the consistent conduct of my own mother!"

1

HEAVY LOADS.

No wonder that I stoop!" said the Back in a complaining tone one day. "No wonder!" "None at all," answered his friend

Wisdom. "Weren't you made to bend? In my opinion, the greater wonder were if you really could not stoop."

"Ah, you have no feelings! said the poor Back, with a sigh. "Indeed but I have," replied Wisdom," and most truly sympathise with you under all your grievances."

"Ask the Shoulders if I have not just cause for stooping?" said the

Back.

"Why?" inquired Wisdoin. “Why, because of the burdens that I have to carry day after day," answered the groaning Back.

"I dare say; but, after all, I judge it is the Shoulders that take the weight," said Wisdom.

"Which themselves are supported by me," observed the Back quickly

"Well, of course; and I am well aware, too, that loads cause suffering. Burdens are galling things," kindly remarked Wisdom.

"Can you think upon any plan to help me?" asked the Back; | which was loudly seconded by the Shoulders themselves.

burdens feel much lighter upon the Knees. While on the Shoul

ders you will guin no case; but immediately you take them upon your Knees, believe me, comfort will be felt."

"Let us hearken to the advice

of our friend Wisdom, and do as he recommends," said the willing Shoulders.

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philip. iv. 6). "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. xi. 28). "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may tain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. iv. 16).

ob

66
"HOW FAVOURED I AM!"
PASTOR tells the following story

of one of his flock :-She was a poor widow, and supported herself with the most rigid economy by knitting.

I saw her in the intense cold of last winter. The house was one upon which time had made such

"On the Knees!" exclaimed Shoulders and Back together in surprise.

"Why not?" said Wisdom; "it is the better, casier, and only proper method."

"On the Knees!" again exclaimed the bended Back.

"Knees are as necessary as Shoulders," said Wisdom; "and

could now be inhabited; and in that she dared not have a fire when the wind blew hard, because the chimney had become unsafe.

been at home nights almost all winter, and he could get my wood and

water when there was so much snow that I could not get out."

"But do you not feel very lonely while Joseph is away?"

"O no; I get along very well through the day (her Bible lay on the table by which she was sewing), and when I can see the neighbours' lights in the evening, they are company for me. I have thought a good deal about sick people this winter; and then I think how favoured I am that I can go to bed and sleep all night in health."

I saw her again to-day. Rheumatism had disabled one foot, and she sat still sewing, with a swollen, painful limb raised upon a cushion. "How favoured I am!" she exclaimed; "when my poor Lydia was alive, I lost the use of both of my feet for a time, and she took care of me; but now I can get about by moving my foot upon a chair, and I make out to do my work, and get Joseph's meals ready nicely. What if it had been my hands? How favoured I am!"

A BUNDLE OF OLD PROVERBS. HE loseth nothing that loseth not God. A handful of good life is better than a bushel of learning.

God heals, and the physician hath the thanks.

Never had ill workman good tools.

He is not poor that hath little, but he that desireth much.

Better suffer ill, than do ill.

Were there no hearers there would be no backbiters.

A man's discontent is his worst evil.
Fear nothing but sin.

One enemy is one too much.

Life is half spent before we know what it is.
The shortest answer is doing.

If a good man thrive, all thrive with him. They that avoid not small faults, by little and little fall into greater.

Pardon all but thyself.

He that swims in sin, must sink in sorrow. Ill ware is never cheap.

Remember always thy end, and how that