EXTRACTS FROM THE PUBLIC NEWSPAPERS, &c. INSANITY FROM INTEMPERANCE.-On Monday last a car-driver in this town, named Brien, became insane, and was obliged to be confined and watched, in order to prevent him doing harm. His insanity is attributed to his having broken the temperance pledge, on which on Sunday last he was not only expelled from the Mathewite Society in this town, but dismissed from his employment.-Nenagh paper. MURPHY, the weather-prophet, noted Sunday last for rain and snow showers! No fairer day could be desired in the very lap of summer.— Globe. BETHNAL-GREEN CHURCHES.-Yesterday two sermons were preached at Christ Church, Clarence-street, Regent's Park, and collections made after each service, in aid of the funds for the erection of ten churches, parsonagehouses, and schools, in that destitute portion of the metropolis, the parish of Bethnal-green. The sermon in the morning was preached by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of London, to a numerous and highly respectable congregation, and his earnest appeal to their philanthropy and Christian duty was responded to by a most liberal contribution, amounting to 584l. 9s. 11d. The sermon in the evening was preached by the Rev. W. F. Hook, D.D, vicar of Leeds, and the collection amounted to 106l. Os. 6d.: the amount of the two collections being 6901. 10s. 5d., and a jewelled gold ring put in the plate in the evening.-Globe. LONDON IN OLDEN TIMES.-The houses in London were mostly thatched with straw, but in this reign (Henry III.) it was ordered that all houses in the city should be covered with tiles or slates, more especially such as stood in the best streets, which were then very few, when compared with modern London; for where Cheapside now stands was a field, the principal part of the city lying more eastward. From Temple Bar to the village of Westminster was a country road, having gentlemen's houses adjoining it. This was the case for many years subsequent.-Ince's Outlines of English History. VIRTUE OF WATER.-If people would but accustom themselves to drink water, they would be more free from many diseases, such as tremblings, palsies, apoplexies, giddiness, pains in the head, gout, stone, dropsy, rheumatism, piles, and such like; which diseases are most common among those who drink strong drinks, and which water would generally prevent.-Pratt on Mineral Waters. POSTAGE LABELS.-These stamps adhere firmly to almost all kinds of paper, except that very highly glazed, with which they should not be used. -Globe. POSTAGE STAMPS.-The public should bear in mind that the postage of no letter above the half-ounce weight can consist of an odd number of pence. There can be no postage, for instance, which requires three or five penny adhesive stamps only. After the first ounce, each step ascends by twopence.-Globe. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. We have received the communications of L. S. R.; E. A.: C.; J. A.; Y.; J. C. G.; F. B.; J. C.; F. S.; H.; F.; and "A Bee-Keeper." ON THE COLLECT FOR ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST'S DAY. THE next day, when Charles and I entered our blind friend's cottage at the usual hour, we found little Jane very much perplexed at discovering in the large Bible a picture of St. John, "quite different," as she said, from what she had seen in the housekeeper's room at the hall, where he was painted sitting by the side of a river, clothed in a garment of camel's hair, with a staff in his hand. Charles saw her mistake, and turning to the Col- lect in the Prayer-Book, told her to read the title of it, which she did, "St. John the Evangelist." "The St. John Saviour. To-day," added Charles, "is St. John the Evangelist's day; and, if grandmother likes, I will tell you his story." "But you must first tell me what an Evangelist means; -one that preached the Gospel?" "Yes; but it also means one who wrote the Gospel. There are only four now called Evangelists, though in ancient times all who preached were so called. Can you tell me who wrote the four Gospels?" "Yes; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Oh! now I understand that this St. John wrote the Gospel called by his name.' "You are right," said Charles. "He was the son of Zebedee, and the brother of St. James; and it was for them that their mother begged of Jesus places at His right hand and His left in His kingdom. They were at first only fishermen ; but the Holy Spirit gave them power to do many wonderful works, and to bring many to the knowledge of Jesus. St. John in particular, by his writings, has instructed the Church for nearly two thousand years; and we ought to be very thankful for the light which they have given us, and diligently to read and meditate upon them, in order to reap all the benefit they were intended to convey to us. It struck me to-day," continued Charles, turning to me, when little Jane was gone to school for the afternoon," as we were in church, while the minister was reading the Collect, the sun beamed very strongly through the window, and I thought how exact a resemblance its rays bore to that blessed light which brings healing to the soul, the light of the Sun of righteousness; the true light which lighteth every one that cometh into the world. The dark corner of the church where I sat was lighted up by the sunbeams, and it seemed to me an image of my own sinful heart, before the grace of God had opened my eyes, and turned me from darkness to light, showing me the evil of my nature, the sins of my daily life, and my need of a Saviour to redeem and cleanse me from my guilt. The sudden brightness at first dazzled me, for the day had before been gloomy; and it brought to my mind my first imperfect notions of religion, my doubts and fears and perplexities, which, after a time, it pleased God to remove; and by His help I have been since enabled to walk in the light of His truth,' weakly, indeed, and with many hindrances from Satan and from the strivings of my inward corruption, but still without a wish to forsake the path." "The path of the just," said our aged friend, "is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day." 66 True, friend," said Charles, "and I doubt not, though your bodily eyes are closed against the light of day, you enjoy that better light within, which can make your darkness to be light; and you can look forward to that glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour, when He shall call all His redeemed people to those mansions which He is gone to prepare for them in that city which hath 'no need of the sun neither of the moon to shine in it; for the glory of the Lord doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.' NOTES BY A COUNTRY CLERGYMAN. L. S. R. "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead."-St. Luke xvi. 31. MEN are very apt, when in the midst of health and prosperity they are living a careless, ungodly life, to flatter themselves that whenever sickness, troubles, old age, or any other warning shall come upon them, they will, as a matter of course, turn to God and be saved. The daily experience which a large parish affords me serves more and more to convince me how true it is, that if men resist the ordinary means of grace and daily warnings which all must see around them, there is little reason to hope that extraordinary means would do more for them. Two instances which have come under my notice during the past month have deeply impressed the awful truth of the text before me upon my mind. I have long had an anxious eye fixed upon a certain master-builder in my parish, who, though I have every reason to believe him to be an honest and upright man in the world's estimation, was habitually absent from his place in church. Being in full employment, and enjoying robust health, he was not easily to be found at home; and whenever I met him abroad he was. 66 always evidently most anxious to avoid any thing like serious conversation; so that I had for some time given up all hope of leading him to make any preparation for another world, to which his years were fast bearing him, unless it should please God at any time to deprive him of the means of getting about his worldly calling. Upon my return home after a fortnight's absence, I learnt that Mr. had been suddenly seized with a paralytic stroke, and had been for some hours in imminent danger, but was now somewhat recovered. Now, thought I, the time is come when I may hope, under God's blessing, to make some impression upon this man. I called, and at once proceeded to the room where I understood he was sitting. My visit was evidently not a very welcome one. I am better, much better, I thank you," he continued to repeat, looking at the same time the lie which his lips uttered; "I am in no danger now; I shall soon, I hope, be able to get to my work again." "I am truly glad to hear that you are not in immediate danger," I replied; "for, indeed, it would be an alarming thing to think of dying in so unprepared a state as I fear you must be. I trust, Mr. no second attack would find you equally unprepared to meet your Judge." "O no, Sir, I trust it will not, though I have not been one of those wicked characters; only too careless, I confess. But, Sir, you must excuse my talking more about religion now; my head is not sufficiently composed: indeed, I fear it might bring on a fresh attack." He was now become so agitated, that I really feared further conversation at present might produce this effect, so I left him, resolved, however, to return upon the morrow, in the hopes I might find him in a better mood. I did -so. He was out. I suspected he might have gone out on purpose to escape me; at all events, it was before he ought to have ventured. He had another stroke that night; and when I called next day, was speechless: the following night a third stroke carried him off. I learned from his attendant, that when sensible he had the greatest horror of meeting death, and almost as great alarm at the idea of my being sent for. Thus passed the season which he had probably often looked forward to, (when he thought at all,) as the seed-time for eternity! |