of the school, took the chair. The sum collected and contributed by the children was £1 1s. 5d. In the evening another service was held, when our esteemed minister, the Rev. J. R. Welham, presided, and spoke on the character and claims of missionary work. The secretary, Mr. J. Hartshorn, then gave the report, interspersing the same with appropriate remarks, which greatly interested the meeting. Several suitable hymns and pieces were afterwards sung and recited by the children; and at the close a collection was made, amounting to 18s. 11d., making £2 Os. 4d., being upwards of two-thirds in advance of last year. The meeting was a very pleasing and profitable one, and all separated resolving to work more earnestly for the missions during the coming year. LIZZIE MERCER. Biography. WE regret to say that Lizzie, for most of her life, was a neglecter of salvation. Her attendance at the Sabbath-school was very regular, and her conduct in the class unexceptionable. She attended the house of God with similar regularity; and she was so amiable in temper, and exemplary in conduct, as to be a favourite with many. Yet, alas! like the young man in the Gospel, she "lacked one thing"-the most valuable of all. She often had been asked to give her heart to Jesus, and knew from experience what the Lord means when he says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock;" but, sad to relate, it was not until during her last illness that she opened her heart to admit him. Blessed be God! though late, the last knock at the door of her heart caused her to open to Jesus. God, in his mercy, laid his afflicting hand upon her very gently, it is true, at first; but it was evident from her over-bright eyes and pale cheeks, mounted with bright crimson, as well as from her "tickling cough," that fell consumption had seized her as his victim. At first, as was natural, she clung to life, and did not at all imagine that death was so near. And alas! during the first stages of her disease, her indifference to spiritual things remained, which was a cause of great uneasiness to her family, and to the numerous Christian friends who visited her. This indifference may not have continued quite so long as we thought at the time. Her excessive reserve may have prevented us from seeing the happy change earlier. She began to realize gradually the solemnity of her circumstances, and then she whispered her desires after salvation, and joined in prayer when it was offered in her behalf. Her interest, too, in earthly things grew less and less, until she became wholly engrossed with the one mighty concern of salvation. Though becoming weaker every day, she did not suffer much pain, and was not confined to bed at all, being able to sit up to THE BIBLE AT DEATH. 81 almost the last hour of her life. She felt that God dealt very mercifully with her in giving her time to think and pray. When the decisive change, conversion, consequent upon her believing in Jesus, actually had passed upon her, she did not freely confess it. It was during the night season, when unable to sleep from the cough, that she most freely opened her mind to her dear mother, who was always with her; and on one of these nights she first began to speak lovingly of Jesus; and afterwards she fully confessed him before all. A kind friend, who was resolved to be fully satisfied about her state, spoke to her kindly, but very plainly, telling her he thought it her duty to speak out for the satisfaction of the numerous friends who were SO anxious about her salvation. This had a good effect upon her, and shortly after she was asked, "Lizzie, do you feel you are a sinner?" She replied, "Yes." "Do you believe Christ is your Saviour?" Again she replied, "Yes." "Well, can you trust in Christ for salvation ?" She said she could. Similar questions to these were put to her afterwards, and she replied to them all in the same satisfactory manner. It was deeply solemn and affecting to see her beckoning one after another of her dear family to her bedside-father, mother, sisters and brothers-to bid them all a long farewell, and to exhort them to meet her in heaven. During this time it was said to her that salvation was without money and price, and she said, "If money would buy it, people would not part with their money for it." At length the messenger came, and after a momentary struggle she quitted life for immortality. She died near Priesthill, her native place, on Sabbath the 19th of July, aged eighteen years. "She died in Jesus, and is blest: How sweet her slumbers are! A mother who had laughed at and ridiculed religion and religious people, was seen restless and miserable on her death-bed. She desired that her children should be called. They came. In impassioned accents she addressed them : Oh, My children, I have been leading you in the wrong road all my life. I now find that the broad road leads to destruction. I did not believe it before. seek to serve God, and try to find the gate to heaven, though you may not see your mother!" Her lips were closed for ever, and her spirit departed to its account, while the household looked on terror-struck. Mother, father, would you die thus? Oh, no! Then point to heaven and lead the way.-Union Bible Society. racter, will show itself sooner or later, and bring harm if not ruin." "I'll risk it in this case," answered Ben; and he worked away, laying more bricks and carrying the wall up higher, till the close of the day, when they quitted work and went home. The next morning they went to resume their work, when behold, the lie had wrought out the result of all lies! The wall, getting a little slant from the untrue brick, had become more and more untrue as it got higher, and at last in the night had toppled over, obliging the masons to do all their work over again. Just so with ever so little an untruth in your character; it grows more and more untrue, if you permit it to remain, till it brings sorrow and ruin. Tell, act, and live the exact truth always. CONSCIENCE.-THE SWEEP AND THE COUNTESS. A POOR chimney-sweeper's boy was employed at the house of a lady of rank to clean the chimney of her chamber. Finding himself on the hearth of the lady's dressing-room, and perceiving no one there, he waited a few moments to take a view of the beautiful things in the apartment. A gold watch, richly set with diamonds, particularly caught his attention, and he could not forbear taking it into his hand. Immediately the wish arose in his mind, Ah, if thou hadst such a one." After a pause, he said to himself, "But if I take it, I shall be a thief; and yet," continued he, "no one sees me. No one? Does not God see me, who is present 66 everywhere? Should I, then, be able to say my prayers to him after I had committed this theft? Could I die in peace?" Overcome by these thoughts, a cold shivering seized him. "No!" said he, laying down the watch, "I had much rather be poor and keep my good conscience, than rich, and become a rogue." And instantly he hastened back into the chimney. The countess, who was in the room adjoining, having overheard his soliloquy, sent for him the next morning, and thus accosted him: "My little friend, why did you not take the watch yesterday?" The boy fell on his knees, speechless and astonished. "I heard everything you said," continued her ladyship. "Thank God for enabling you to resist this temptation, and be watchful over yourself for the future. From this moment you shall be in my service; I will both maintain and clothe you-nay, more, I will procure you good instruction, that shall ever guard you from the danger of similar temptations." The boy burst into tears, and was anxious to express his gratitude, but could not. The countess strictly kept her promise, and had the pleasure of seeing him grow up a pious and intelligent man. 'THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT. Ar one time Archbishop Usher visited Scotland, and hearing much of the piety of the Rev. Samuel Rutherford, resolved on being a witness of it. Disguised as a pauper, on a Saturday evening, he solicited lodging for the night. Mr. Rutherford took him in, and directed him to be seated in the kitchen. Mrs. Rutherford catechised the servants, as a preparation for the sabbath; and having asked the stranger the number of the divine commandments, he answered eleven. The good woman hastily concluded him ignorant, and said, "What a shame it is for you, a man with grey hairs, in a Christian country, not to know how many commandments there are! There is not a child six years old in this parish, but could answer the question properly. Lamenting his condition, she ordered his supper, and directed a servant to show him a bed in the garret. Mr. Rutherford having heard him at prayer, and finding out who he was, prevailed on the archbishop to preach for him, which he agreed to do on condition that he should not be made known. Early in the morning, Mr. Rutherford changed his clothes, suffered him to depart, and afterwards introduced him to breakfast as a minister on a journey. When in the pulpit, he announced his text "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another;" and remarked that this might be reckoned the eleventh commandment. Mrs. Rutherford, remembering the answer she had received the night before from the stranger, was astonished, and, looking at the preacher, almost imagined he might be the pitied traveller. The two holy men spent the evening in delightful conversation, and the archbishop departed undiscovered early on the following day. SLOW AND SURE. THE American river Amazon, the longest river in the world, and which discharges into the sea the largest quantity of water, is at the same time the slowest. It falls but one foot in fifty miles, yet it would be just as difficult to stop its course, or prevent its flowing into the ocean, as it would to dam up the Niagara. That one foot in fifty miles is just as good as though it were a hundred. What an image the mighty flood presents of a resolute will determined to accomplish a certain purpose! Let but the will be formed, and it matters not how slow the means may be, the object will be accomplished sooner or later. In these fast days, when everything seems to have received a sudden impetus, and great enterprises are taken up and executed with a flash, it is very well to bear in mind that the greatest things that have been accomplished in the world have been done by slow and patient movements. The brilliant result may have suddenly burst upon the world, but the processes by which it was accomplished have been deliberately planned and slowly executed. The electric telegraph is now the type of rapidity; but consider by what slow and patient steps it was brought to perfection. It took a full hundred years of plodding thought, of patient experiment, of slow, deliberate movements, to reach that ultimatum of rapid progress. There are no great things done in a hurry. It is a very good thing to be fast when, as Davy Crockett said, "you are sure you are right." But it is much better to be slow and sure, for then there will be no danger of overshooting your mark. BEESTON, NOTTINGHAM CIRCUIT.-We held our annual Juvenile Missionary Meeting on December 28th. After partaking heartily of tea, the friends assembled for the meeting, at which Mr. J. Watson, one of the teachers, presided. The Revs. H. L. Thompson and E. Hall, with Mr. Stephens, superintendent of the school, gave very instructive and edifying addresses. The children also contributed to the enjoyment of the evening by singing, in good style, several hymns, and reciting the pieces, "Welcome to Christmas," by Herbert Spray; "The best Use of a Penny," by Elizabeth Lees; "A Plea for the Home Mission,” by Emma Wheatley; “The Little Missionary," by Fanny Mann. A collection of 12s. 2d. was made at the meeting. The children collected by cards during the year £1 8s. 5d., thus making our juvenile effort £2 0s. 7d., which is considerably in advance of last year.-W. LIMB, Secretary. YOUTH ENCOURAGED.-The season of youth is the most favourable for acquiring knowledge; and this applies to the knowledge of the Gospel; but how rarely are young persons in earnest in this concern! Thank God, there are happy exceptions to this too general neglect, and we invite our young friends to go forward. Be not disheartened at the difficulties of the way, or at the slowness of your progress; you have committed yourselves to an able Guide; to a good Teacher. Sit at his feet, and hear his words; listen to the "still small voice" of his Spirit. How kind his promise: "I am the Lord thy God, who teacheth thee to profit!" How rich your encouragement: "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord!"-Thornhill Kidd. |