ous seditionist, robber and murderer, Barabbas-adjudged Him to the death of a slave, and shamefully nailed Him to the cross between two thieves!

What a variety and fullness of sufferings have we here! Remember, too, how these were crowded together. He suffered all these things within the space of about fifteen hours-from 12 o'clock Friday morning till 3 o'clock Friday afternoon. From the time He was taken in Gethsemane, which was near midnight, He was hurried from council to council, from hand to hand, from insult to insult, and from agony to agony. It does not appear that He slept or rested from the time of His betrayal till He closed His eyes in death. Worried and weary, wounded at heart by insult, wounded in body by blows, He is urged on in the way of sorThe strokes fall heavier as He grows weaker. Blows from the hand are superseded by blows with the scourge. From insult to His dignity they pass on to insult of His agony; from wounding His head with thorns, to piercing His hands and feet with nails; from spitting in His face to putting gall to His burning lips.

row.

Thus was He taken and by wicked hands Crucified and slain!

THE BATTLE-FIELD OF WATERLO0.
BY AN EYE WITNESS.

BY REV. D. WILLERS.

I LEFT you the last time on the evening of the 17th of June, 1815. The armies of Wellington and Napoleon were both wrapped in deep slumber. If the angel of sleep and the angel of death had appeared on the battle-field, the latter would have envied the former for strewing the seeds of sleep and slumber over thousands, and giving sweet repose, whilst he was destined for the next day, to change the field of life into a field of battle, and destruction, and to make so many tens of thousands, far from their parental roof, breathe their last. A noble soul like Marcellus, would have been moved by deep grief and sorrow, and with streams of tears, under the consideration that so many thousands, who slept there so sweetly on the battle-field, overtaken by fatigue, would, the next evening, be numbered among the dead.

The incessant rain continued nearly till daylight. It is a philosophical remark, that it rains frequently where battles are fought, as by the discharge of the cannons, rifles and muskets, the air is impregnated with saltpetre and sulphur. Towards daylight the rain ceased, but the sky was loaded with flying clouds. At half-past 3 o'clock, a. m., we were called to arms. The several battalions were drawn up in closed columns. About 4 o'clock hostilities commenced again, and Napoleon made the attack. It was Sunday, the day in commemoration of our risen Lord and Saviour. In the kingdom of the Prince of Peace, death again com

menced his destructive work, early in the morning of the Lord's day, which brought life and immortality to the world. Napoleon forgot the fourth commandment: "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." We have several examples in history, where great nations and generals commenced battles on the Lord's day, and were defeated. The British forces attacked General Andrew Jackson, at New Orleans, on the Lord's day, and were defeated. Napoleon attacked Wellington at Waterloo on Sunday, and he lost the battle. This should teach the rulers upon the thrones, and the leaders of armies, as well as their subjects, to rest on the Lord's day, and to devote it to his divine service. The two armies were perhaps a mile apart from each other, and as it was cloudy, in the morning, we could scarcely see the French army, which was the more natural, as they had their position below a hill. The Avant Guards of both armies, however soon opened a rifle and musket fire, and by six o'clock in the morning, became so engaged, that every once and a while, we were visited by a French musket ball. There was no connon fire early in the morning. The artillery was not yet able to move, and the muskets were in so miserable a condition, on account of the past heavy rains, that many of them did not discharge any more. Besides this, there was a want of proper life in the soldiers to fight, on account of their wet clothes and their empty stomachs. It was necessary for both armies, that the rifle and muskets should be cleaned, and the battle field dried off, for the operation of the artillery. At 8 o'clock, therefore, an armistice was declared, which gave both armies a chance for preparation. It was but of a short duration. And now, every body was brought into activity. Cannons, rifles and muskets were cleaned. We tried to cook our veal and some peas, but the little wood which we obtained, was wet, and before the water got warm the soldiers grasped into the kettle and eat the veal and the peas raw and as officers and soldiers wanted to partake, it was more of an aggravation; than an eating. And what availed such a little provision amongst so many? Between eight and nine o'clock the first rays of the morning sun visited the battle-field. About ten o'clock each individual was ready for battle, though both armies were not yet drawn up, in proper order. As we had now a little time of rest, several remarks were made, that it was now a proper season for divine worship. We had preaching on the Sabbath, previous to the battle. But, on the battle-field, the Chaplain was not to be found. Had he been asked to be there, he would have answered, as once a Chaplain expressed himself to his Colonel, who invited him, to remain in battle. He said:

The call is but to you, ye striving,

And not to me, who am but Pastor here;

I stay not now, but onward driving

To yonder mountains near:

Like Moses there in prayer I spend
My time, until the battle end.

I shall give you now a view of the battle-field. Our position was before the village of Waterloo, from which the battle derived its name. The field was so large, that, with the naked eye, we could not see its end, in length, and in breadth it extended from the forest of Soignes to the woods of Ohaim. The farm of La Haye Sainte and Mount St. Jean, was occupied by the left wing of Wellington's army, whilst Na

poleon was in possession of La Belle Alliance. The field was partly level, and partly hilly, and the valleys low, which made it difficult for the artillery to move. By the woods of Ohaim, Wellington kept open his communication with Blucher, who already at 11 o'clock, near St. Lambert, sent General Bulow with 30,000 men. At half-past 11 o'clock the sun shone brightly over the whole battle field, over friends and foes, and Napoleon now drew up his lines of Infantry and Cavalry, who rode along with unsheathed swords, and as the sun brightened the steel, they made a frightful appearance, for:

"Each horsemen drew his Battle blade."

Here was applicable, what a terrified Greek said, who, from a distance, saw the infinite number of Persians, near Thermopyla. The sun cannot be seen on account of the number of their spears. So much the better, said a Spartan, then we will fight in the shade.

With 122,400 men, and 350 pieces of cannon, Napoleon had commenced battle on Blucher and Wellington; but he was now, according to French authors, reduced to 91,000 men, of which 36,000 were detached under command of General Grouchy, to keep the Prussians in check, and the rest, 65,000 men, were under command of Napoleon. The English forces are estimated at 90,000. Wellington's loss during the 16th and 17th of June was at least 25,000 men. And his forces at Waterloo did not amount to more than 80,000, whilst English authors estimate the forces of Napoleon at 120,000 men. But Wellington's army, composed of English, Germans and Belgians, could not be reckoned more than 50,000 good soldiers, whilst the rest, thirty thousand, were "Landwehr," or such troops as had never fought, and were not at all trained for battle. These formed the rear guard, and were merely used to fill up the place. Napoleon's army was drawn up in eleven columns. Wellington's Avant Guard was united to his main army. As a wise mariner at sea will draw in all his sails when a storm appears, so Wellington prepared for the storm. He had the best position, mostly on elevated ground. As Napoleon in former battles was used to break the center, this part of his line was well fortified, by the best English, Hannoverian and Belgian troops. Wellington's army was drawn up in closed columns, the artillery interspersed with the infantry, and behind them the cavalry. At some distance behind was the second line, or the 30,000 of inexperienced troops. It was now 12 o'clock, the sun shone bright over the whole battle field. But, hark! The report of a French cannon is heard. The artillery can move, though with difficulty. It is the sign for commencing battle.

ALL'S WELL.

THE clouds which rise with thunder, slake

Our thirsty souls with rain;

The blow most dreaded falls to break
From off our limbs a chain;

Our very sins and follies make.

The love of God more plain;

As through the shadowy lens of even
The eye looks farthest into heaven,
On gleams of stars and depths of blue
The glaring sunshine never knew.

WHAT WOMEN HAVE DONE FOR CHRISTIANTY.

FROM THE GERMAN OF HESSENMULLER.

BY THE EDITOR.

OUR Saviour had foretold His disciples: The time cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doeth God service. The time came! Fearful persecutions broke in upon the Christians. Whatever shocking and painful things could be devised, poison, rack, and torture, came over those who professed christianity. It cost persevering conflict, till finally the powers of darkness quailed before the victories of faith, secured by the Martyrs. True, many yielded through weakness. But they purchased their lives only by disgrace and sorrow to themselves. Yea, it came to pass that sometimes they recovered themselves by new strength, like that woman named Biblis, who had denied the faith, but who when they sought to induce her to calumniate her fellow-believers, grew strong under the most fearful tortures, and breathed out her life in a joyful confession of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Many names of heroes crowned with victory are recorded in the Book of Life; nor are the females behind in sharing this honor. Thus, in an epistle, written by the churches of Lyons and Vienna to the churches in Asia, and preserved by Eusebius, in which is given an account of the martyrs who suffered in those cities in the year A. D., 177, it is said: Most violently did the collective madness of the mob, the governor and the soldiers rage against the holy Deacon of Vienna, and against Maturus, a new convert indeed, but a noble champion of the faith. Also against Attalus, a native (of Pergamus, who was a pillar and foundation of the Church there. Against Blandina, also, in whom Christ made manifest that the things that appear mean and deformed and contemptible among men, are esteemed of great glory with God, on account of love to Him, which is really and powerfully displayed, and glows not in mere appearance. For whilst we were trembling, and her earthly mistress, who was herself one of the contending martyrs, was apprehensive lest through the weakness of the flesh she should not be able to profess her faith with sufficient freedom, Blandina was filled with such power, and her ingenious tormentors, who relieved and succeeded each other from morning till night, confessed that they were overcome, and had nothing more that they could inflict upon her. Only amazed that she continued still to breathe after her whole body was torn asunder and pierced, they gave their testimony that one single kind of the torture inflicted was of itself sufficient to destroy life, without resorting to so many and such excruciating sufferings as these.

But this blessed saint, as a noble wrestler, in the midst of her confession itself renewed her strength, and it was to her rest, refreshment, and relief from pain, to repeat: "I am a Christian, and no wickedness is carried on by us."

Blandina was afterwards found and suspended on a stake amid the gladiatorial exhibitions, and thus exposed as food to the assaults of wild beasts; and as she thus appeared to hang after the manner of the cross, (she was suspended in the shape of a cross,) by her earnest prayers she infused much courage into the other contending martyrs. For, as they beheld her in the contest, with the external eyes, through their sister they contemplated Him that was crucified for them, to persuade those that believe in Him, that every one who suffers for Christ, will forever enjoy communion with the living God. But as none of the beasts then touched her, she was taken down from the stake, and remanded back to prison again to be reserved for another contest; so that by gaining the victory in many conflicts, she might render the commendation of the wily serpent irrefragable, and though small and weak and contemptible, but yet clothed with the mighty and invincible wrestler, Jesus Christ, might also encourage her brethren. Thus she overcame the enemy in many trials, and in the conflict received the crown of immortallity.

Finally, on the last day of the shows of gladiators, Blandina was again brought forth, together with Ponticus, a youth about fifteen years old. These were brought in every day to see the tortures of the rest. Force was also used to make them swear by their idols; and when they continued firm, and denied their pretended divinity, the multitude became outrageous at them, so that they neither compassionated the youth of the boy nor regarded the sex of the woman. Hence they subjected them to every horrible suffering, and led them through the whole round of torture, ever and anon striving to force them to swear, but were unable to effect it. Ponticus, indeed, encouraged by his sister, so that the heathen could see that she was encouraging and confirming him, nobly bore the whole of these sufferings, gave up his life. But the blessed Blandina, last of all, as a noble mother that had animated her children, and sent them as victors to the great King, herself retracing the ground of all the conflicts her children had endured, hastened at last to them, with joy and exultation at the issue, as if she were invited to a marriage feast, and not to be cast to wild beasts.

And thus, after scourging, after exposure to the beasts, after roasting, she was finally thrown into a net and cast before a bull, and when she had been well tossed by the animal, and had now no longer any sense of what was done to her by reason of her firm hope, confidence, faith, and communion with Christ, she too was despatched. Even the Gentiles confessed, that no woman among them, had ever endured sufferings as many and great as these!

We have also a beautiful example of the christian spirit in the mother of Symphorianus, a youth of a noble family, who on account of his faith was led forth to death. On his way to the torture his mother called after him: "My son, my son, keep the living God in your heart, and be firm. We need not fear death, which leads so certainly to life. Let your heart be above, my son. Look to Him who reigns in the Heavens. To-day life will not be taken from you; it will only be glorified in a better. By a blessed exchange, my son, you this day pass over into the life of heaven!