not merely reproved him for his cowardly intention of leaving his flock, but had scourged him, as the king might see by looking at his marks. The king was so alarmed that he begged him to remain, with the promise, which he fulfilled, of avowing himself a Christian. We are pained by meeting with similar appearances of fraud in some of the later missionaries of the middle ages, of whom better things might be expected. Happily no such suspicion attaches to the men who in glorious succession were foremost in raising the standard of the cross among the heathen nations of Europe, and whose names deserve to be cherished with reverence and love. So far as they seemed to exercise miraculous power they did so most sincerely, from the highest motives and for the best ends, and we have little difficulty in seeing in what they supposed to be miraculous gifts the special aid which God promises to His servants when engaged in His work, and which they have experienced in all ages.

The contrast between medieval and modern missionaries in reference to miracles is such as might be expected from the different influences amidst which they have been brought up, and the different ages in which they have lived. The history of

modern missions abounds with instances of remarkable providential interpositions, showing most impressively God's watchful care of His servants. Danger has been averted, supplies have been obtained, sicknesses have been subdued, and in innumerable forms help has been received in a way which has led the missionaries and others to say, This is the finger of God. A volume

might easily be filled with details of these remarkable events in missionary life. I must satisfy myself with adducing two or three.

Mr. Kicherer, a missionary in South Africa at the beginning of this century, was enticed by Bushmen, with the object of plundering him of his cattle, to undertake a journey through an extensive desert, under the false report of rain having fallen. For three days the travellers had not a drop of water, and when on the fourth day they came to a small pool they found it was poisoned. They and their cattle were in the utmost danger of perishing. Mr. Kicherer, and his companion, Mr. Scholtz, threw themselves on the mercy of that God who had so often delivered them. They prayed fervently for rain, and although when they commenced there was no appearance of rain, in the course of a few hours such plentiful showers fell that they were saved.

Daehne, a Moravian missionary in South America in the last half of the eighteenth century, led a very adventurous life. This good man, contrary to the customs of the Moravians, lived alone in a little hut in the depth of the forest, uncheered by the society of brother, wife, or child, and toiled for the spiritual good of the wild Indians around him, amidst the greatest privations and sufferings. On one occasion a party of Indians surrounded his hut for the purpose of killing him. He at once perceived their object, and came forth to meet them with the utmost calmness. They were astonished at his composure, and the chief of the band coming up to him said, "Do you not know that the Indians intend to kill you?" He replied, "I have heard so, but how can I be

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Daehne was often in danger from wild beasts and serpents. On one occasion, when suffering from paroxysm of fever, he saw a large serpent descending from the roof. The creature stung and bit him in two or three places, and as if to strangle him twined itself as tightly as possible round his neck. Expecting death, he had the presence of mind to write with chalk on the table, "A serpent has killed me," to prevent his brethren from supposing. that the Indians had murdered him. Suddenly the words came to his mind, "They shall take up serpents without being hurt by them." Encouraged by this declaration he grasped the serpent, tore it from his body, flung it away, and went peaceably to sleep, from which he awoke refreshed and well. We cannot see anything of the miraculous in this,

but the good man was stirred up by the promise of miraculous help to put forth the effort which saved him.

When we consider the trying circumstances in which modern missionaries have often been placed, and the constant demand for a sign made by the heathen, it is surprising to observe the sobriety of mind which has kept them back, not only from believing that miraculous gifts had been obtained by them, but even from deliberately wishing to possess them. They have had as a class a deep conviction that miraculous gifts were conferred at the beginning of the Gospel for a special purpose, and were to cease when that purpose was secured. They have believed that God has most wisely withdrawn these gifts from His Church, and they have therefore neither desired nor expected them. They have been at the same time assured that God is as really with His people to watch over, guide, uphold, and protect them, as He was at the period when He manifested His presence by signs and wonders, and to Him as a present loving Father they have looked, amidst the various scenes through which they have been called to pass.

Few names are more fragrant among the Congregational Churches of Australia, or more justly esteemed by our own, than that of the lamented and beloved brother whose familiar form and face will be recalled by the title of this page. It is quite possible, that by some of the many friends to whom his memory is endeared, both

here and in Australia, a more extended memorial may be reared than these pages can furnish; in the meantime, the readers of the Christian Witness will gladly welcome even this brief sketch.

John Legg Poore was born at Carisbrooke, in the Isle of Wight, 10th January, 1816. His parents appear

to have been pious and wise, and to have judiciously trained their boy for future active service. In a letter written to his mother on his fortythird birthday, dated "S.W. Corner of Australia, 10th January, 1859," occur some touching reminiscences of her and of his father, from which it is evident they both sought to train their children in the good and right way, and had secured as the result their deepest affection and reverence. If we may credit his own account of himself, his first years were "sufficiently wilful and wayward." They were evidently full of activity. "A good deal of hard work," he says, 66 attended my first great division of life, but I remember also joyous days, not a few, wandering about the castle and shrubberies, gardening and bird's-nesting, school play and wild ridings, and that work itself was often play to me. has often been of value to me in after times, to use a spade, to handle a scythe, to shake a saw, and to smite with the axe (early learnt accomplishments), to ride without fear, and to put forth the top of my strength. These were things not unknown to the boy, and have proved of worth to the man.'

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father driving him to Ryde and taking him over to Portsmouth, he started for a situation in Rochester, "seated on the coach behind the coachman;" his father saying with a full heart, as he took leave of him and shook him by the hand, "Good bye, my boy, God bless you, take care of yourself," while his own heart was ready to burst, with the grief of leaving home and going to dwell with strangers. Shortly after this he was engaged as a teacher at Canterbury, where he had to pass through a good deal of difficulty, "a hard fight it was sometimes;" then in another situation in Shrewsbury, and then came "the great change to Yeovil and Highbury."

At college he remained the usual time, passing through his course with satisfaction to his tutors, and towards its close preaching in various pulpits with considerable acceptance. In the year 1839 he went to Bedford as a probationer, but in the same year accepted the invitation of the Church at Salford, where he subsequently enjoyed "fourteen and-a-half years of happy toil and useful service."

Of his labours in Salford and its neighbourhood many on earth and not a few in heaven could bear grateful and cordial testimony. In a circle there of devoted colleagues, amongst whom were many "workmen not needing to be ashamed," Mr. Poore was ever regarded as a man of peculiar energy, tact, and consecration. Multiplied proofs of this occurred in the course of his lengthened pastorate, in the onerous and responsible duties to which he was called in the town and country; noble testimony was also borne to it in the review which was taken at its close when a yet wider sphere was prescribed to him.

In the year 1853, overtures were made to Mr. Poore and his esteemed friend, the Rev. R. Fletcher, of Manchester, by the Colonial Missionary Society, to leave their respective spheres and to reside in Australia. As may be supposed, such an application occasioned anxious and lengthened deliberation, which, however, at last terminated in their mutually seeing it their duty to go. Before leaving, a public valedictory service was held in Grosvenor Street Chapel, which was deeply touching and solemn throughout. It is interesting at this distance of time to read the addresses which were then delivered by Revs. Dr. Raffles, T. Binney, T. James, and James Parsons, as well as the statements in reply of the two selected brethren. They were commended to God in earnest prayer by the Rev. Dr. Halley, and "the sympathy of the vast audience was frequently expressed in sobs and tears."

At a more private meeting of his own Church and congregation an address, ornamentally written and enclosed in an elegant gold frame, was presented to Mr. Poore, together with In the a purse containing £250.

month of December, the brethren set sail from Scotland in the "Thomas Fielden," and landed in Melbourne in the following March.

It would be far beyond our limits to detail the particulars of Mr. Poore's colonial life or even to present it in outline, but none who have been able to form an opinion of it can doubt its vigour and success. In its prosecution he laboured diligently and perseveringly, enduring "hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." Between 1853 and 1863, he crossed the ocean no less than six times on behalf of the colonies

and in the interest of the Society. Directly or indirectly he was the means of introducing to the colony a large number of accredited ministers; the amount he raised for the college was very considerable; while his influence in Sydney, Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Tasmania, and likewise in New Zealand, was felt in various ways and by many individual Churches. In the year 1864 he was invited, on the retirement of Rev. T. James, to take the Secretariat of the Colonial Missionary Society, which temporarily he did. While sustaining this office he visited Upper and Lower Canada, and spent some months in conferring with the ministers and agents of the Society, and in seeking to set in order some things which were wanting. In this work he was occasionally brought into collision with interests difficult to conciliate and arrange, but his habitual firmness and tact secured, if not universal satisfaction, yet valuable and important results, while of his uprightness and singleness of purpose none entertained a doubt.

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About Midsummer, 1866, he, for the last time, as it has proved, left his native country for Melbourne, and with characteristic energy took his passage (his ticket being No. 1) in the first vessel by the Panama route. subsequently published, in the Melbourne Argus, a graphic and interesting account of his voyage. Before he left he had experienced a severe attack of gout, and was evidently suffering from over taxation of his powers. was hoped alike by himself and his friends that the voyage would recruit him, and that after the accomplishment of his mission and the settlement of some private affairs he would be able to rejoin his beloved partner, who, with

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true Christian fortitude, consented to remain behind. For a short time after his arrival, familiar services, attached friends, and congenial work, had the anticipated cheering effect, but it soon became evident that his course was nearly finished, and his summons at hand.

The following details of his closing labours and last illness, written by his attached and faithful friend, Rev. E. Day, of Castlemaine, Victoria, to Mrs. Poore, in ignorance of her previous departure from England, will be read with mournful interest :-"The last and only time he preached on his last visit to the colonies was on the 16th September, 1866, in my church. We had our anniversary sermons on that day. He preached in the morning from Luke xix. 12, and in the evening, when I read and prayed, from Isaiah xxx. 21. He attended and spoke at our soirée on the following Tuesday. He gave an address at the Lord's table at St. Kilda; and he went to Adelaide to preach, but I think he was too unwell to take any service there. We were much delighted and edified both with his sermons and speech. His changed appearance and weak voice, combined with the old earnestness of his spirit, increased our interest in him."

Of his last sickness Mr. D. says:"When I sat up with him on Tuesday night, 20th November, he requested me as soon as Mrs. Kingsmill had retired to rest, and when he had composed himself in his chair, and all was quiet, to give him a long and full account of a public farewell tea meeting at Mr. Lewis' Chapel, at Brighton; when this was done he asked me to read the Scriptures and pray. As soon as I had finished he commenced praying,

but he had not gone on for more than a minute or two before he grew drowsy; he stopped and slept for a minute or so, then on awaking he took up the prayer just where he broke off, without confusion or repetition. Again and again the same thing occurred, and only towards the close of a long and very excellent prayer did he seem to lose the immediate thread of it. I was astonished as well as delighted. The remainder of the night was passed in conversation and reading, in these momentary snatches of sleep, in the changing of position, in the pacing up and down the room for a little exercise, and in the rubbing of benumbed parts, caused by lying in one position." Referring to a subsequent interview Mr. D. writes:-"The last time I saw him was the 1st February, when he signed our college trust deed as one of the trustees. I took tea with him, he being propped up in bed. Amongst other things he said, 'It was well that Mrs. Poore did not come out, for if she were here she would strive to do things beyond her power and would suffer. In mercy she is spared."" How little he imagined that after months of painful suspense she was then on her journey to him in the hope, alas, how vain! of seeing his face once more.

A short time before his departure, our friend had an irrepressible desire to visit his own home at Chichengurk, Schnappor Point, Victoria. This, by the kind arrangement of his friend, Mr. Wisewold, and the concurrence of his medical adviser, Dr. Tracey, was comfortably secured. "He reached Schnappor Point," says Mr. W., "about twelve, and seemed intensely delighted. A few days after his arrival he was driven round the grounds, admiring the views and the