filled, and what is infinitely better, the seals to his ministry may be numbered by thousands. As none of the chapels placed at his service were at all adequate to accommodate the crowds who thronged to hear him, he was induced to make his appearance on Sunday, Jan. 31st, on the stage of the Surrey Music Hall. This immense hall, which seats upwards of 3,000 persons, and which is devoted on week days to purposes very much disapproved by the religious portion of the population, was crowded long before the time of service, so much so, indeed, that Mr. Caughey was unable to penetrate the throng, and had to be conducted to the stage by a subterranean passage, terminating in a trap-door behind the curtain. During the day upwards of seventy persons professed to obtain salvation. On Sunday last the hall was again devoted to the same purpose, and as I arrived in Sheffield about halfpast five, I hurried towards the place, but found, to my dismay, the gates locked, and guarded by policemen, uttering the peremptory order of "Move on," to the vast crowd who were eager to obtain admission. I at length excited the sympathies of one of these functionaries, so far as to induce him to allow me to enter. I tried first the boxes, then each of the galleries in succession, but could not get even a standing place within sight of the preacher. However, by dint of pertinacious elbowing, and taking advantage of every movement of the crowd, I succeeded at length in getting a tolerably good, though excessively warm position. The place seemed a queer one for a religious service, but a rich unction accompanied the singing of that beautiful hymn, "Before Jehovah's awful throne," &c. At last the text was announced (Rom. ii. 7-9), and a death-like stillness pervaded that vast assembly whilst, for about an hour, the preacher addressed them on their immortal interests. There was a remarkable simplicity in all that he said, yet the attention of the audience was riveted upon his words, and every now and then a mighty shout of "Hallelujah" arose from hundreds of voices, like the sound of many waters. I came away more than ever impressed with the belief that the gospel, if preached with wisdom and energy, will attract the people. Such a sermon as the one I heard would warrant the humble boast of Paul, "I, brethren, when I came unto you came not with

excellency of speech, or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God; for I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." There was a manifest anxiety to honour Christ, and many were the signs which the audience gave of deep and solemn feeling.

It is to be feared that many preachers who labour honestly and hard, labour with little or no success, from the simple but startling fact that they do not preach the gospel. They preach about the gospel; they show its adaptation to human nature; they prove its divine origin; they descant upon its sublimity; they portray its advantages; they give clever dissertations upon the message of mercy; but all this is preaching about the gospel, not the gospel itself. Let a man open his eyes to the terrible state of his hearers; let him feel that their salvation or damnation may depend upon his efforts; let him declare with glowing heart, and burning words, the one hope of salvation which the gospel affords, and whilst in humility he will groan, "Who is sufficient for these things?"—a divine impulse will enable him to say, 66 Our sufficiency is of God;" and the result, under ordinary circumstances, will be in accordance with that remarkable declaration of Christ, "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.' LAZARUS.

Feb. 10th, 1858.

ECHOES OF A MOTHER'S VOICE.

THERE was once an obscure and pious woman living in the south of England. History is silent respecting her ancestry, her place of birth, and her education. She had an only son, whom she made it her great business to train in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. In the seventh year of his age, his mother died; and, a few years later, the lad went to sea, and engaged at length as a sailor in the African slave trade. He was soon an adept in vice, and though amongst the youngest of the crew, he was the most proficient in guilt. But his mother's instructions sent their echoes to him; and, though at first he sought to defend himself from them, they grew louder and louder, until, listening to them at last, he became a fervent Christian, a successful preacher, the author of books which the church will never let die, and the writer of hymns the use of which is co-extensive with our tongue.

This wayward son, whom his mother, though dead, addressed and reclaimed, was the means of the conversion of Claudius Buchanan, so distinguished for his labours in the East Indies; and the "Star of the East," a book published by Mr. Buchanan, first called the attention of Mr. Judson to the missionary work, and sent him an apostle to Burmah.

The sailor, turned preacher, was also the means of delivering the Rev. Thomas Scott from the mazes of ruinous error, and of introducing him to the way, the truth, and the life. Mr. Scott prepared the Commentary known by his name, and which still continues its mission of converting and sanctifying power.

The influence of this same minister and author, in connection with that of Doddridge, was principally instrumental in making Wilberforce the Christian he was. To Wilberforce's "Practical View of Christianity" the conversion of Legh Richmond may be ascribed, and Legh Richmond wrote the "Dairyman's Daughter," and other tracts, which have contributed to the salvation of thousands of souls.

VENTILATION OF THE CHAPEL ROYAL, ST. JAMES'S, FOR THE MarRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL.-The successful efforts of our esteemed friend Mr. Watson, of Halifax, to rid our dwellings, our manufactories, and our places of public resort of the deleterious carbon, and afford them a healthful supply of fresh air, are exceedingly gratifying. The benefits of his discovery are now appreciated by royalty, and were recently called for on a great state occasion. We have much pleasure in placing on permanent record the following fact: The ventilation of the chapel royal, the state rooms, and the corridors through which the procession passed, and where sat England's noble and fair daughters, was intrusted to Mr. Charles Watson, of Halifax, who was present by special request at the palace on the 25th inst., superintending the process, being privileged and honoured with permission to enter all the apartments. Her Majesty requested the temperature to be kept at about 58 degrees, and so faithfully were the Queen's commands obeyed that, at the close of the ceremony, the temperature throughout all the apartments was only 58 degrees. The external air was 37 degrees. Although there were about

1,500 spectators inside the palace, and the corridors, staircases, the chapel royal, and other portions of the palace had been painted and varnished, not the least unpleasant smell was felt, nor moist perceived on the columns, walls, railings, or furniture, during the entire day, and general satisfaction and comfort seemed to be enjoyed. At the close, Mr. Watson was highly complimented by the master of the ceremonies, who, we are informed, pronounced the ventilation by his patent ventilators to be perfect.

THE WORLD'S ONLY HOPE.-If a reformation is to take place on earth, and the world to experience a golden age, Christianity alone can produce it. For, tell me what is wanting to make the world a kingdom of heaven, if that tender, profound, and selfdenying love which we see Jesus practise and recommend, were paramount in every human heart! But the whole of religion consists in this, that Christ performed, in every individual. Think what it would be, if every one exhibited a living mirror of the "fairest of the sons of men," and loved God and the brethren like him. Oh, really, the loftiest and most glorious idea of human society would then be realized. Be convinced, therefore, that you are invited and allured by Jesus, not merely to be happy in heaven, but that the earth may be again transformed into a paradise: for you see in John's case, that he who casts himself, by living faith, on Jesus' breast, soon imbibes from thence his love.-Krummacher.

BEARING CROSSES.-The crusaders of old, we are told, used to bear a painted cross upon their shoulders; it is to be feared that many among us take up crosses which just sit so lightly; things of ornament, passports to respectability; a cheap exchange for a struggle we never made, and a crown we never strove for. But let us not deceive ourselves. None ever yet entered into the kingdom of heaven without tribulation; not, perhaps, the tribulation of fire, cross, or rebuke, or blasphemy, but the tribulation of a bowed spirit and a humble heart; of the flesh crucified to the spirit, and of hard conflicts with the power of darkness; and, therefore, if our religion be of such a pliable and elastic form as to have cost us neither pains to acquire, nor self-denial to preserve, nor effort

to advance, nor struggle to maintain holy and undefiled, we may be assured our place among the ranks of the risen dead will be with that prodigious multitude who were pure in their own eyes, and yet were not washed from their filthiness.-Rev. Dr. Moore.

A LIVELY EMBLEM OF HEAVEN. Oh what cheerfulness, strength, and pleasure did the primitive Christians reap from the unity of their hearts, in the way and worship of God! Next to the delight of immediate communion with God himself, there is none like that which arises from the harmonious exercise of the graces of the saints in their mutual duties and communion one with another. How are their spirits delighted and refreshed by it! What a lively emblem is there of heaven! The courts of princes afford no such delights.-Flavel.

THE CHRISTIAN. I reckon him a Christian, indeed, that is neither ashamed of the gospel nor a shame to it. While God is just and holy, and we are guilty, it is necessary that we have a righteousness wherein to appear before him; and blessed be God! there is such righteousness brought in by the Messiah-the righteousness of faith.

BENEVOLENCE.-I would so live, as if I knew I had received my being for the benefit of others.-Seneca.

TRUE RICHES.-My riches are my opportunities to do good, and those illuminations of my mind which furnish me for it.-Mather.

HUMBLE USEFULNESS.-If the world seems not the better for us, it might be worse without us.- Cutler.

AT THE CLASS MEETING.-" How is it you are always at your class meeting, let it blow hot or blow cold?" asked one young man of another.

"Because I go upon the principle, that if it is right to have a class meeting, it is the duty of the church to attend. If it is right for one to stay away for small causes, it is right for all; and the meeting will be likely to fall through. If it is the duty of one to go, it is just as much the duty of another; and therefore

I can seldom see any good reason to break through this general principle, and stay away."

"But do you always feel like it ?"

"I am sorry if I do not; but as feelings are variable, I dare not trust them. I take counsel of my church obligations, rather than feeling. If I don't feel to like going, I shall not, probably, feel more like it by staying away. There is always a blessing to be found at the class meeting."

ENERGY OF CHARACTER.—I lately happened to notice with some surprise an ivy which, being prevented from attaching itself to the rock beyond a certain point, had shot off into a bold, elastic stem, with an air of as much independence as any branch of oak in the vicinity. So a human being, thrown, whether by cruelty, justice, or accident, from all social support and kindness, if he has any vigour of spirit, and is not in the bodily debility of either childhood or age, will instantly begin to act for himself, with a resolution which will appear like a new faculty. -Foster.

A GREAT TRUTH ILLUSTRated. -The late Rev. T. Toller of Kettering, in discoursing from Isaiah xxvii. 8-"Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me"-remarked: "I think I can convey the meaning of this passage, so that every one may understand it, by what took place in my own family within these few days. One of my children had committed a fault for which I thought it my duty to chastise him. I called him to me, explained to him the evil of what he had done, and told him how grieved I was that I must punish him for it. He heard me in silence, and then rushed into my arms and burst into tears. I could sooner have cut off my arm than have struck him for his fault. He had laid hold of my strength, and he had made his peace with me."-Memoirs of Mr. Toller.

Loss AS GAIN.-A poor, simple man once said, "I have lost all my property; I have lost all my relatives; my last son is dead. I have lost my hearing and my eyesight; I am all alone, old and poor; but it makes no difference-Christ never grows old. Christ never is poor. Christ never dies; and Christ never will forsake me."

SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE.-"I think," said the Rev. John Brown, of Haddington, "this having a distinct purse for the Lord is one of the most effectual means of making one rich. I have sometimes disposed of more this way than it could be thought I was capable of, and yet I never found myself poorer against the year's end."

THE HUMBLE HOME.-Are you not surprised to find how independent of money peace of conscience is, and how much happiness can be condensed into the humblest home? A cottage will not hold the bulky furniture and sumptuous accommodation of a mansion, but if God be there, a cottage will hold as much happiness as might stock a palace. Rev. C. Hamilton.

THE SCRIPTURES ALWAYS FRESH. -The venerable Dr. Woods, in addressing the students at Andover,

said that when he commenced his duties as Professor of Theology, he feared the frequency with which he should have to pass over the same portions of Scripture would abate the interest in his own mind in reading them; but, after more than fifty years of study, it was his experience that with every class his interest increased.

LOVE.-We may die without the knowledge of many truths, and be carried to Abraham's bosom; but if we die without love, what would knowledge avail us? Just as much as it avails the devil and his angels. I will not quarrel with you about my opinion; only see that your heart is right toward God, that you love the Lord Jesus Christ, that you love your neighbour, walk as your Master walked, and I desire no more. I am sick of opinions, I am weary to hear them, my soul loathes their frothy food. Give me solid, substantial religion; give me a humble lover of God and man, a man full of mercy and good fruits-a man laying himself out in works of faith, the patience of hope, the labour of love.John Wesley.

Low SPIRITS.-I do not remember to have felt lowness of spirits one quarter of an hour since I was born.-Wesley.

THERE's a shadow on the spirit,

But though it darkly clings,

O never, never fear it,

There's morning on its wings. For the shadow on the fountain Is sunshine but in gloom, And the sadness on the spirit Doth herald joy to come. Gloomy days were not created To last above their day,

Hearts were never rendered gloomy To be in gloom alway.

Light aye follows upon darkness,
Song-birds carol after showers,
And sad bosoms spring to gladness,
Like the merry-hearted flowers.

So it is, and ever has been,
So it will be, never fear,
Wait one moment, joy is coming,
Shades are fleeing-day is here!

Japan Opened. Compiled chiefly from

the Narrative of the American Expedition to Japan in the years 1852-4. London: The Religious Tract Society.

WHAT a remarkable age we live in. Deserts once deemed impassable are explored; the ice-bound cliffs of the Arctic circle are traversed; regions north and south, on which the eye of civilized man never gazed before, are penetrated by the adventurous traveller; the Atlantic is crossed in a few days; Continents are intersected and nations braced together by the iron way; mountains are tunneled and yawning precipices bridged over, that the fiery horse, swifter than the fabled Pegasus, may speed his course; the lightnings are made to convey man's thoughts across the world; stagnant nations are shaken and convulsed by the foot-tread of enterprise; and antique peoples wrapped in mystery for four thousand years, and excluded by stern law from foreign inter

course, are compelled to yield to the more powerful force of modern mind and commerce. Countries once barred and sealed as fast as a Mohammedan harem against the eye of inquiry are now laid open to our view, and the barriers which an ignorant or selfish prejudice had reared around their coasts, are levelled with the ground.

Japan-that insular China-with its singular customs, primitive civilization, ingenious people, and ignorant superstitions, is at length opened to European and American intercourse. Three centuries ago, indeed, the Portuguese were permitted to trade and settle in Japan, but papal usurpations and cupidity led to their expulsion, attended by a most bloody persecution against the Christians. At a later period, English merchants were allowed for a short time to visit one of the islands; but, with the exception of a very limited intercourse with the Dutch, Japan has been a