daily ministrations to a suffering multitude, that the earnest reality of sympathy is most surely to be found.”** Christianity enlarges the heart: selfishness contracts it. These two are as opposed to each other as light and darkness, life and death, a marble statue, and an animated person. Selfishness may shed tears when disappointed, or when bright hopes are blasted but Christianity can not only weep over the sufferings and ills of others, but wipe away tears from the distressed, and minister the balm of consolation. Where selfishness reigns supreme, there, all the angry and diabolical passions of depraved humanity prevail; but, where Christianity is allowed to exert its benign influence, there peace, joy, and happiness emit their rays. It was this which animated Paul and his companions, when they performed miracles, preached to the multitudes, reasoned and taught in the synagogues, stood to take their trials before the Jewish Sanhedrim, or the Roman governors; this, it was, which made their dungeons the gate of heaven, inspired them with moral courage to brave the dangers of the deep, and when necessary, rather than be burthensome work in the night for their own subsistence; and, when martyrdom itself stared them full in the face could be unmoved. What beautiful language is this which Paul addressed to the Elders of Ephesus! "Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which ** Bishop Wilberforce.

befel me by the lying in wait of the Jews; and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befal me there; save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts xxiv. 18-24). "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." (II. Tim. iv. 6-8.) Paul ably preached, nobly defended, consistently lived, according to the Gospel; in death, he experienced its blessed sweetness; and, in heaven, in concert with the patriarchs, prophets, and all the faithful in Christ who have passed away to their reward, he is enjoying the end of his faith.

44

'There is nothing definitely arranged yet."

"You know my father? Well, you will, perhaps, not think it too much trouble to call upon him when you reach home to night? I want you to deliver a message to him from me." "That I will do, with pleasure," said the little gentleman. "I wish you to tell my father that there is nothing definitely arranged yet; it is likely that I shall have to go to London before anything further can be done; but, tell him that they are all right at the Bank. My father will know what I mean ;" and the tall man moved off on the platform-and wept-for the fountain of his heart was broken up when he recollected the pressing wants of his poverty-stricken family. He was a fine tall athletic man who had seen better and brighter days, at whose table many of the gay sporting world had been regaled, who had assisted in bringing about that fatal indifference to business which had, at length, resulted in abject poverty. His noble bearing and sprightly gait still lingered; and, at the same time, the mighty and overwhelming pressure within was visible in the bending of the head, the rounding of the back, the eyes fixed on the ground, and his tremulously hastening away from the gaze of persons of respectability to the tavern, or the dram shop to gulp the inebriating draught to nerve him for the next emergency.

On the day when Paulus had the foregoing conversa

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tion with this dejected one, the draught and the dram had been very freely indulged. It was clear to Paulus why Orlando had thus indulged in stimulants; that it was to produce a few pleasing, though fleeting sensations, which would, by and by, be found to have increased the pressure within: and in the same proportion, to have diminished the resistant force. Well, would it have been for Orlando had he followed the course of simple diet and beverages with which he commenced his business career, he then gathered around himself true friends, such as neither dishonoured man nor God; but, no sooner did he exchange the humble Sabine wine for the fiery dram than future probabilities were lost sight of, and his only concern was about the sporting gaieties of the present. The day of reckoning at length arrived, and he found himself deserted by his Bacchanalian friends. This was not to be wondered at; for those who get their inspirations at the riotous board, where they profess to be and to do such glowing impossibilities always subside into a state of cold indifference and apathy. Such, Orlando found to be the case. As long as the sun of prosperity illumined his path, and fortune smiled upon him. he was surrounded and courted by a host of gay parasites. Now, (for he is still living) he dare not think of the past, and thoughts of the present overwhelm him, and, respecting the future there is nothing definitely arranged. His sins and follies are ever arrayed before his mind as so many fiends and gnawing worms; the once (to him) bright heavens are mantled with the blackest and most fore

boding gloom, and the fiery terrors of the law, insulted justice, and unimproved mercies meet him at every turn; for, he is without God, without an interest in Christ, and consequently he has no hope. The sands of life are fast trickling through the small aperture of his existence and treasured up in the phial of the Infinite, each laden with its own burden and testimony, reserved for the final account. Cut off from God, he may well wander about as an outcast. Sad, indeed, is his condition! for nothing remains, on which his bewildered vision can gaze but the blackness of darkness, and the fire of blighted hopes, wishes, expectations, and insatiable lusts. Let us hope, that, before Orlando shall quit his earthly tabernacle, he may be led by the Holy Spirit to cast himself upon Christ, and obtain that peace which the world can neither give nor take away. May the Church in her intercessions at the throne of grace, bear him and all such in her arms before the mercy seat, and watch, guide, admonish, and speak words of comfort and heavenly soothing to them, that so she may prove her mission to be divine.

The motto at the head of this brief sketch is deeply suggestive and full of warning. No one questions the necessity and propriety of having worldly affairs definitely arranged; and to do this satisfactorily, legal documents are most carefully drawn up, duly signed, and witnessed. If it be considered of so great importance in things pertaining to this life, what shall we say of the importance of such care being taken in things concerning eternity?