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Waterloo or all other battles whatever, -the soul was at stake; an impetuous, torrent was to be turned into an opposite course. 6. trut quid So dreadful was his despair, that at one time he took the razor into his hand to end his wretched life! At length in deepest agony he exclaimed, "what profit is there in my blood when I go down to the pit ? Shall it declare thy truth? Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper." He sank down ex hausted; he could say no more. That prayer was heard, and a voice from heaven seemed to reply, “I will help thee, I have seen thy struggles, and I will now say to thine enemy, hitherto thou hast come, but no further. Our space will not allow our entering upon the nature of the fearful conflict upon which Hall entered at this time. For this we must refer the reader to the autobiography itself. Suffice it to say that he gained a complete victory over his besetting sin, that he remained a total abstainer from all intoxicating drink from the latter end of the year 1816, that though often tempted, and urged at last by physicians to use stimulants, he died an abstainer, and grateful that he could do so, in 1860, in his eighty-seventh year. food and It is very pleasant to turn to the second portion of Vine Hall's life, and through his autobiography: to glide. over the hallowed tract of more than forty years' most unpretending but most fervent zeal in the kingdom of Christ. Asca.converted man, heat once began very earnestly to lay him self out for the good of others. Of course, as was to be expected, the force of his old life followed quickly after him in the new path on which he had entered, the power of his former

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habits vexed him night and day, but I the longer he lived the further was he getting away from their old tyranny.! To temptations the most flattering that would have alluringly brought him face to face with his old enemy he always gave a firm but courteous refusal; whether the invitation was to join a dinner party of grand jurymen, or a select party in which he was to: be chiefly honoured, the answer was the same,"No." To have praised him for this, would in his ears have sounded like blasphemy, and he would have answered, I will praise THEE, O Lord, for Thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.' His home was made completely happy, and his bodily health, which was aạng daily burden to him, if we can use such an expression with regard to health became superlatively good. For this loving tender care over his children, his interest in all their little wants, and the manner in which he trained them for heaven,in brief, for all that shows him the Christian father and one of the most affectionate of husbands, we must again direct the reader to the autobiography itself, while in the space that remains to us we allude to the steady purpose with which he laboured to mark his sense of the grace and mercy he had received

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Beginning with those of his own household he manifested a deep interest in the spiritual welfare of his servants and workmen, and for some time was diligent in his efforts to benefit the prisoners confined to Maidstone County gaol. In connexion with the Church of which he was a deacon, he was his minister's fellow helper, always being in his place at the week evening prayer-meeting and

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lecture. It became a motto with him, • God® first business next pleasure last.' He was a constant visitor of the poor, and never empty-handed. When he gave tracts to the poor he wrapped up pence in them, and after his death his coat pockets were found stored with this ammunition of love, without which he never went out of the house. Deceived many times in the objects of his generosity, he never theless continued most willing to render service to others until the day of his death. While always courteous, he was instant in season and outs of season in speaking to others about their eternal welfare, now in the streets and lanes, now in omnibuses and steam-packets, and again by letters to private individuals, written in the most moving and convincing language. We arent told, indeed, that all his letters except those of a merely business character contained some holy counsel, of devout sentiment. In regard to the publication of the Sinner's Friend," a work which, however unpretending, mast be regarded as the most important of his life when the results attached to it are taken into consideration, the origin of its composition we feel sure will not fails to interest the reader. A favourite book with him was Bogatzky's Golden Treasury." Reflecting upon the upon the benefit he had himself received from the perusal of this book, he was deeply concerned that books of this nature were not more easily attainable by the poor. After hesitating several days, and searching his own heart that what he might resolve to do should be with a single eye to the glory of God, her fixed upon thirty portions, from Bogatzky, writing two portions himselfs by way of introduction, and put

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the whole to press. In the first in// stance he had not thought of printing more than five hundred copies, but thinking that he should find the number insufficient for giving away, he went to press with a thousand, and on the 29th May, 1821, his little book d appeared, in a neat blue cover, bearing the title of "THE SINNER'S FRIEND!?' On the morning of its publication, he” set out for the purpose of distributing: the tract. He put three dozen in his pockety and he presented the first copy to an old associate at cards and dissi..! pation. The next was to a spoor woman, who received the tract with kindliness in her countenance, and who promised to deliver ten copies to her neighbours. He soon got rid of all his stock, and returned home for more, which in the course of the day he distributed to advantage. This one day" in Mr. Vine Hall's life is a specimen of many, many such days in a long life spent in the service of his Master. It was through the instrumentality of his little book that he became in hise own circle of influence a most energetic and successful missionary of the truth. It was an appeal that he placed without hesitation in the hands of rich and poor, learned and ignorant. The book was composed, published, distributed, and its advancing circulation witnessed with many an anxiousyet believing prayer. The first edition was given away, and applications poured in for another edition, which was soon issued. As the tract became more and more public, gradually its author withdrew the passages from Bogatzky and added portions of his own, until at last, with the exception of a word to the poor," the tentire composition could be regarded as this own heart stirring appeal to the dis-i

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tressed and careless. This little missive of mercy, as we have said, he himself would distribute everywhere, and by every available means. gave them to servants, to coachmen, to soldiers, sailors, to poor old travellers whom he might meet on the road side; he would drop them on the London Road while taking an evening walk; he would have them placed in the hands of constables and convicts; he would present them to the lame and the dumb; he would not omit Rowland Hill himself, to whom he presented twelve copies; neither should Wilberforce be forgotten, who, having received a copy of the tract, shook the author kindly by the hand as a brother in Christ. As edition after edition multiplied, it is extremely interesting to note the humble and devout spirit of the author. "This morning," he writes in his diary, "the eighth edition was published. I laid the first copy before the Lord, pouring out my heart before Him in thankfulness for past mercies, and entreated Him to keep me exceedingly watchful and humble, that I might not be lifted up with pride and self-complacency, and thus forfeit His future protection of my little book, which I had dedicated anew to His tender care. O may His Holy Spirit ever preserve me in a humble, watchful, penitent and believing frame of mind, that I may live unceasingly to His glory."

The prayer we believe was abundantly answered. Translations of his simple words to sinners have been made into nearly thirty languages,languages spoken by millions of people. It has been adopted by both the London Tract Society and American. It has reached a circulation of nearly two millions of copies.

The number of its readers who can compute ? Its usefulness who can tell? During many years its pious author received the most gratifying testimony that the work which had been begun and continued with so many prayers, was directing the distressed and conscience-stricken of many lands to the Sinner's Only Friend. And we doubt not the little book is doing its gracious work still, and will continue to do so in every circle and in every land where its simple message of mercy comes.

When we have alluded to this important work of Mr. Hall's, and pointed out his labours amongst the poor, the criminal, the formal, and self-deluded, day after day, we have indicated the sum and substance of his converted life. We might speak of special efforts and of special instances of good, of intercourse with ministers, noblemen, and church dignitaries; but his whole life after his conversion was simply the life of a Christian man of business, who while diligent in business was fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. For its usefulness and thorough devotedness to the cause of Christ, one day in his life closely resembles another until the tranquil close of all. The autobiography of Vine Hall, while it shows us what the grace of God can do with the weakest will and foulest heart, shews us as clearly what any Christian may hope to be and do, when, forsaking his sins, he gives himself unreservedly to the Saviour. In closing the book, we feel that while we may not be taking leave of a man of brilliant powers and gifts, we are parting company with one far more useful to us than many such,- a good man, full of faith and of the Holy Ghost," with

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