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money which had been thus bequeathed to him. To such a length, indeed, did he latterly go in his intemperate habits, that the furniture of his house was actually exchanged for whisky. Some time after the establishment of a Temperance Society in the village where he resided, he was induced to become a member of it. Since that time he has, in consistency with its principles, entirely abandoned his former habits; and a great part of the furniture which had been pledged for spirits has been redeemed.

Happening to notice a man who was notorious for absenting himself from the place of worship, become a regular attendant on divine ordinances, I became anxious to ascertain the cause of so sudden a change. I inquired of his wife concerning the circumstance, who replied, "well, sir, ever since our man joined the Temperance Society, he has been like a new man; and our family is like a new family. Our Saturday nights, and our Sabbath days, are spent in quite a different manner from what used formerly to be the case.

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Another woman asked me if I had taken any notice of who is attending church regularly? "Yes,' person," said she, can conceive of the really happy change which has been wrought on that man and his family. Oh, I think they have much to answer for who oppose or refrain from encouraging a Temperance Society!" She added, that she had been informed of three other families where the same blessed results had taken place.

Mrs. called on me a few weeks ago, and said to me, my husband has used you very ill, in not paying you what he has so long owed you; but he has given up with company that tipple and drink, and is applying himself to his work ;-will you take 1s. 6d. a-week? I think that in a month he will be able to attend the church." To encourage him, I told her that I would drop half the sum, and would not ask the balance till he could appear at church. To my satisfaction, they were both in the house of God next Lord's day.

A few weeks ago, a weaver from a neighbouring village came to a warehouse here with his cloth. His employer remarked, that he had not been working so much of late as he had seen him do at times. He replied that he did not need to work so hard now. Has any person left you money? it was asked. No, said he, but I do not need to buy whisky-I have joined the Temperance Society. He then gave the following account of the matter:

"Mr. Collins came to our town one evening, and gave an address on Temperance Societies. I went and heard him, and after coming out, I put the question to myself, Now, are you a rational being or not? If you are, you must admit what Mr. C. has said is true-if you are not, then just continue to drink, and ruin both soul and body. I made up my mind, and joined

the Society, and now feel the comfort of it." The same individual observed, that he had been calculating how much he had spent on drink for the last ten years, and found it nothing short of one hundred pounds.

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Another weaver, from the same place, on being quarrelled with for the inferior workmanship of one of the pieces, replied, that he was aware of it, but that if the rest were examined, they would be found fully better than usual; for," said he, "I have joined the Temperance Society when I began to weave that piece, and for some time I was so much on the fidgets, from the want of my usual stimulus, that I could not sit on the loom. I reasoned the matter with myself, whether or not I should keep the resolution I had made; and judging of the danger I ran, in resuming my former habit, by the difficulty I felt in breaking it off, I continued the struggle until I effected my freedom.”

Another friend informed me, that one of his weavers was so addicted to intemperate habits, that he was constantly in advance of his wages, which he drew in small sums; and at one time he was brought to the warehouse in custody, from the police-office, with a charge of 10s. expenses for curing his drunkenness-but that having joined the Temperance Society some months ago, he had become a steady workman, and his appearance is greatly improved. His wife is now looking cheerful and contented-the wages are allowed to lie over till the web is finished, and they have opened an account in the savings bank.

HYMN.

Oh! may I dwell with raptured faith
On heaven and call its glories mine;
And long with sweet delight for death,
To soar to mansions so divine:
Alas! I am not meet for heaven,
Unsanctified from earthly dross;
The crown above is only given

To those who meekly bear the cross.

My spirit may not join the song
Of triumph, ever echoing there;
To me the accents still belong

Of humble penitence and prayer:
Yet, I may wait with patient hope,
The mystery of redeeming love,
Till angels bear my spirit up,

And waft me to their home above.

Then, when the hand once pierced for me,
Shall crown his weak disciple's brow:

How full of shame and love shall be

The heart so faint and faithless now:
Then, midst the bright rejoicing throng,
That fill the blessed courts of heaven,
Loudest shall rise the exulting song
Of one who had so much forgiven.

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The labours of another year are now drawing to a close: how, and with what effect, is a serious question: how many called from their wanderings to their God and Saviour by this little messenger; how many built up and established in the peace and holiness of the Gospel! It is a seriously responsible thing, for any one to undertake in any measure the

religious guidance of his fellow-creatures; and it is a seriously responsible thing, for people to have enjoyed religious advantages, however simple. Dear readers, of our connection together we must hereafter give an account to the Judge of quick and dead. I have honestly and truly wished to be a "Friendly Visitor" amongst you, directing you to your soul's best health and welfare for time and for eternity: He who knows the heart, knows that it has been my sincere desire to help you forward to heaven; but sin and imperfection mingle with our best motives and principles, as well as with our best actions; and I have need to pray that God would pardon all that has been wrong and wanting in me, all the "sins, negligences and ignorances" which have attended my labours amongst you during the year.

But may I not hope that there have been some who have lighted their lamps at mine; some who have got a little more light amidst nature's gloom; the smoking flax kindled into a flame; the bruised reed bound up, and the songs of Zion more fully sent forth? Are there not some, whose heedless steps have been arrested by a Friendly Visitor; who have begun to pause and reflect in the career of life, and to feel the value of a word spoken in season by a faithful friend? Yes, blessed be God, through his rich mercy, the Editor is permitted to know of many such instances to encourage him to go forward on his way; and he ventures to indulge the hope, that many more unknown to him now, will be disclosed in that great day, when God will fully manifest his own glory by clearly revealing the weakness and insufficiency of the instruments by which it has pleased him to carry on his own work in the world.

And now let us all pray that we may go forward with increasing evidences and fuller manifestations of the divine favour and presence. We are hastening into times in which we may well expect the most marked and momentous events. Oh! that we may all be on our watch-towers; discerning the signs of the Saviour's coming to destroy his enemies and establish his kingdom. Oh! that every pen may be taken in hand with a deep and increasing conviction of the need of spiritual guidance and influence! Oh! that every book may be sent forth into the world with tearful supplications to Him who alone can give the increase. Oh! that every sermon may be delivered under the solemn and full conviction, that it is a "message from God." And oh! that all, whose privilege it is to live in a Christian country and to enjoy religious advantages, may have a larger faith vouchsafed to them, leading them to expect as well as desire fuller communications of a Saviour's grace. Then amidst the anxieties which future prospects may well occasion, we need fear no evil. The spiritually minded shall have life and peace amidst all the changes of this world: for though "life is like yon portentous cloud, fraught with thunderstorm and rain; religion, like those streaming rays of sunshine, will clothe it with light as with a garment, and fringe its shadowy skirts with gold."

CONTENTS.

Affliction

A few of the believer's privileges: from Ephesians I.
A few hints on reading the Bible

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Answer to the inquiry, what can I do for the heathen?
Benevolent schoolmaster

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Christianity recommended by an Infidel

Church Missionary Society

Clothing fund fer hard times

Concluding Address

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Colonel Martin's address to an American Temperance Society 118

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Conversion of a Hindoo woman through the Scriptures

189

183

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Kneeling in Prayer

Last moments of Mr. Evarts

Death of a New Zealand Convert

Extracts from Rutherford

Kilpin's Life

Memoir of Rev. J. Merry

John Fox the Martyrologist, on the power of the religious press 82

Letter from Dr. Steed to Mr. Cary

117

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Letter to a young Christian friend on Christian watchfulness 115

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Missions to the heathen in England 7, 14, 47, 63, 146, 158 180

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