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together like children. Though jogging along in no very interesting plight, I felt that St. Paul's language was not inapplicable to us-God "hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

When we had passed the first nine miles, the night was falling fast; and what was infinitely worse, we began to falter among those patches of quicksand so frequent and so dangerous in some of the western prairies. After plunging into a number of these, Jeddy dismounted, to relieve the danger by lessening the burden of the horse. We had not got twenty yards further before the poor animal sunk above his knees in the mire, and only extricated himself by the utmost violence. Though accustomed to greater difficulties, the fatigues of the day had so affected me, that I began to show less courage than the poor slave who guided me. Dismounting, I leaned wearily against my horse, and expressed a disposition to return, rather than risk the perils and fatigues of the remaining distance.

"No, massa," replied Jeddy, "be not discouraged; there be rest at home for you."

There was something either in the tone of Jeddy's voice, or my mood of mind, which gave the expression at once a double sense. "Yes," I involuntarily exclaimed, "thank God, there is a home for us, Jeddy, where the weary are at rest."

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"O yes, massa," said the old labour-worn negro, as the tears started in his eyes, often tinks of dat-me hopes to get dere some day."

"There is rest at home"-the sentence gave me new energy, and has often done so since, in many a harder trial. We jogged along, but ever and anon were struggling in the bogs. Wearied at last, we sat down on a small protuberance of the prairie, too fatigued to proceed.

"How old are you, Jeddy?" I inquired. "Seventy-three, massa; me be getting toward dat home,' massa."

"Have you a wife, Jeddy?"

"Yes, massa; but me know not where she be. Former massa love not God, and sold her far away."

"Have you children ?"

Yes, massa."

"And where are they?"

"All gone, too, massa; me know not where. But we all served God, massa, and hope to meet in dat home where be rest."

The tears started afresh in the old man's eyes. I could inquire no further. My feelings overpowered me. What, thought I, are my sufferings compared with those of this poor, sorrowstricken servant of my Master! "There is rest at home," said I involuntarily, and motioned to proceed.

It was very dark; the rain was falling, and my horse limped with lameness. I was compelled to lead him by the bridle the remaining ten dreary miles. Through rain, and mud, and quicksands, we plodded on; nerved against them all by the thought which ever recurred with refreshing influence to my mind, that "there was rest for us at home." At last the glimmer of a distant light fell on our course. "Dat is home, massa," exclaimed Jeddy, with ecstacy. So I have often thought, since then, gleams the light of hope over the valley and shadow of death to the Christian pilgrim.

I was received about midnight at the log cabin, wet and weary, yet as an angel of God. The table had been spread with every thing good the house could afford for my refreshment. After many congratulations, a prayer, and a song of praise, I laid me down to rest. Rest, thought I, what a sweet word! Never did I. feel its significance more than in the slumbers of that night, sweetened as they were by beautiful visions of that better land, where "there remaineth a rest for the people of God." The phrase of my aged guide wove itself into all my dreaming thoughts, and yet with such effect as not in the least to disturb my repose. At one time, I thought I was reclining my head on the breast of a seraph, and dying-nay, it was falling asleep in Jesus-pervaded from head to foot with the most delicious sensations-a feeling of profound repose, which I never felt before or since. At another I was gliding in the air, up over the hills, down into the valleys of heaven, without touching the soil, and wrapt in unimaginable ecstasy; an ecstasy intense and yet strangely tranquil. At another, I was sweetly sleeping under a leafy tree, near one of its streams, on whose margin all varieties of flowers were bending and blushing, as if at the reflection of their own charms; and though asleep, yet it seemed that my eyes were open, drinking in all the indescribable scenery, while music, slow, sweet and subdued by distance, flowed like a soft breeze of the south over my charmed spirit, and ever and anon a seraph glided by, smiling with unspeakable love, and uttering as he passed, "REST THEE, BROTHER," and leaving behind him a very wake of fragrance, like the odour of June roses. These were fantasies, but how sweet were they!

THE PROGRESS OF JESUS.

JESUS discovered, doubtless, in his early child hood, the solemn destiny for which he was born. To the ordinary lessons of piety, Mary his mother would add the history of those angelic announcements which preceded his birth, and those prophetic intimations that followed it; and he would feel an early impression that he was born to some special office of importance; nor would this conviction of a special and high destination produce, on his holy and perfect mind, any other effect than a deeper sense of responsibility. To the study of the Mosaic writings and prophetic Scriptures would he have recourse; and, while studying these, he would discover in his lineage, in the place of his nativity, in the time of his appearance, the tokens, and ascertain the fact, of his own Messiahship. Now would he give intenser application to the study of sacred Scripture, that he might ascertain the work and duties of Messiah; and uninfluenced by the carnality of the Jews, he would soon perceive that an arduous and agonizing office devolved on him. O, it is an interesting and touching thing to contemplate him, ere he was twelve years old, pondering the records which taught him how he was to suffer. Death, a terrible, a sacrificial death, was before him. In every offering prescribed by the law, in Isaac bound for sacrifice, in David's prophetic personations, in Isaiah's victim, "brought as a lamb to the slaughter," in Daniel's "Messiah cut off" by a violent and untimely death, he beheld his

own sorrows shadowed forth. Those hands, with which he grasped the prophetic roll, must be pierced; that heart, which throbbed audibly in the hour of stillness and meditation, must be broken; those words which he read at the head of the twenty-second Psalm, "My God, my God! why hast thou forsaken me?" were to be adopted in their truest emphasis by him. The tear would start as he conducted studies like these, while his countenance would assume the aspect of meek and heroic self-devotion; his "Father's business" would become the absorbing theme of his soul.

With such anticipations, a peculiar character would be given to his every movement and exercise. When, at twelve years old, he came up to the temple, how totally different would his emotions be from those of all other youth, and of all other worshippers. His first glimpse of Moriah's heights, his first view of Jerusalem, would be associated with the impression that he was approaching the arena of conflict, the destined scene of his own immolation. When he entered the temple-court, and saw the sacrificial lamb quivering beneath the knife, and consumed in the altar-flame, he would recognise the symbol of his own sacrificial suffering. Whilst joining in the sacred Psalm, he would adopt as his own, those sentiments which the people at large could only chant, as expressing another's self-devotement. When he sat amid the doctors, his questions would be designed to elicit ampler information as to the duties of that office, of the responsibility of which he was inly conscious.

The time at length arrived when he was to enter upon the sacred mission; and then he presented himself to John to be baptized of him; but how different must have been the spirit in which he yielded himself to the sacred rite, from that with which others, even the most pious, received it. It betokened faith in Messiah's near approach: conscious that he was himself the Messiah, the rite was to him an inaugural service; he yielded himself to the arduous duties of the office which then he solemnly assumed, and with which he was invested by the anoint

ing of the Spirit. Henceforward, he was ever found anticipating his death. He looked upon "the temple of his body" as doomed to be destroyed. He fixed his eye upon "the sign of the prophet Jonah," the type of his own entombment. He regarded himself as "a grain of wheat," which "must die" in order that it may germinate. To the Jews at large, he proclaimed "that the Son of Man must be lifted up;" and to his immediate disciples he foretold, in so many words, the very manner of his death.

Emotions still more intense were awakened; as he approached the time of his immolation. He spoke more frequently of it to his disciples. It was his theme on the mount of transfiguration. His last journey to Jerusalem was characterized by a pressing and an earnest speed, which filled the twelve with surprise, while it indicated how powerfully he was affected by his work, and how entirely he was devoted to it. It was but six days prior to his death that he uttered, publicly, that solemn soliloquy and devout appeal, "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour." It was on the very night on which he was betrayed, that he said to the twelve, "With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you, before I suffer." When instituting the sacramental supper, he spoke of his death, as if it had already been consummated,-of his "flesh" as already" broken,"-of his "blood," as already "shed." Then it was that he prayed, saying, "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that the Son also may glorify thee." Having offered this prayer, he visited, for the last time, his favourite resort; and, in Gethsemane, consecrated himself, for the last time, to his atoning work; but his innocent and sensitive nature shrunk from the idea of expiatory suffering, even while he voluntarily dedicated himself to its endurance; the crasis of his blood was broken, for the unparalleled anguish produced by the bare anticipation of atoning agonies, wrought an unparalleled effect. His betrayal, his arraignment, and his crucifixion, immediately followed. JOHN ELY, Winter Lectures.

Lessons by the Way; or, Things to Think On.

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1. Did you ever know a laudable purpose, formed with a hearty good will, and no way found to accomplish it?

2. Did you ever know a religious community prosper, who were accustomed to transact secular business on the Lord's day?

3. Did you ever know an united and affectionate community, where all were willing to lend a cheerful helping hand, either unhappy or unblessed? Or contrariwise?

4. Did you ever know a person, distinguished for pious excellency, who was backward to make a sacrifice for his Redeemer's cause and claims?

5. Did you ever know the benign influence of

consistent and amiable piety altogether lost upon unconverted persons, and especially upon the youth of Religious Families?

6. Did you ever know a careless, selfish, or wayward professor of religion, honourable, useful, happy, or beloved?

7. Did you ever know a praying people, attached to their minister, really for his work's sake, complain of unprofitableness in his ministrations?

8. Did you ever know persons who make extensive provision for pleasures, or personal indulgence, not laying aside the same amount of cost for the service of religion, who were not "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God?"

9. Did you ever know rich persons in a religious community, lovers of money and niggardly, who were not a bane to its interests?

10. Did you ever know a person to actually

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SET it down as a fact to which there are no exceptions, that we must labour for all that we have, and that nothing is worth possessing or offering to others which costs us nothing. Gilbert Wakefield tells us that he wrote his own memoirs, a large octavo, in six or eight days. It cost him nothing; and what is very natural, is worth nothing. You might yawn scores of such books into existence; but who would be the wiser or better? We all like gold, but dread the digging. The cat loves the fish, but will not wade to catch them.-Todd.

PRAYING WITH ALL PRAYER.

EACH individual may contribute his share to a better order of things. In the night and desolation of Jerusalem no voice was heard but that of the solitary suppliant: "Awake, awake, O arm of the Lord!" He alone can waken the watchmen that are slumbering upon the walls. When they are aroused from their repose and rest, they will give no rest to the Lord, and no repose to Jerusalem, till the cry of all its inhabitants goes forth in one united and continued supplication, and the arm of the Lord is stretched forth, as of old, conquering and to conquer. In one kind of prayer there is no deficiency of frequency and vehemence-in the prayer which asks for the removal of bodily pains and temporal inflictions. That is a supplication which is continuous and persevering, and will not cease till it has obtained its request. Could we infuse the same energy into our request for spiritual and eternal blessings, we should be Israelites indeed, each acting upon the all-overcoming principle, "I will not let thee go except thou bless me." Did this spirit prevail, then the millennium were begun. For what is the millennium but a pouring out of the Divine Spirit without restriction or measure? and what is the latterday effusion of the Spirit but an answer to perpetual and universal prayer ?-Douglass on Revivals.

CHRIST.

CHRIST is "the bright and morning star" in the day-dawn of the soul; and in the noon of grace the " Sun of righteousness."-Scripture Readings

A CHILD'S IDEA OF SIN.

THE following beautiful evidence of discrimination in a child only six years old is found in "A Widowed Mother's Memorial of a beloved Child:"

"An infant sister, in consequence of disobedience on her part, had caused a plate to fall from the table. An individual present said, 'Had you broken the plate, my dear, you must have been corrected.' Then little Willy, raising

his expressive eye with astonishment, said, 'You would not have punished her for breaking the plate, but because she was naughty.''

How many of the most learned and illustrious triflers, both of modern and ancient times, might have envied the knowledge of this infant pupil of the Saviour! Those schoolmen and theologians who have wasted their whole lives in discussions on the greatness or insignificance of Adam's transgression, might have learned from him that the sin of our first parent lay not in eating an apple, but in disobeying God. We fear that too many children of a larger growth imagine that sin lies more in the exposure it meets with, or the consequences it entails, than in the motive or commission of it.

TREASURE IN HEAVEN.

GOD has been pleased to bless the reading and circulation of De Sacy's Bibles and New Testaments. I will relate one fact. A gentleman in Paris, who was not a Christian indeed, but had been educated in the Roman Catholic faith, succeeded to a very large fortune by the death of an uncle who had belonged to the Roman Catholic faith. This gentleman became a Christian, in consequence of reading De Sacy's New Testament, and he considered it his duty to join the Protestant Christians in Paris; but he thought within himself had his uncle known that he would be converted to the Christian faith, he would not have given him his money. Very well," said he, "I must hand over that money again to my uncle's family, and remain the faithful believer of the pure doctrines of Christianity."-F. Martin.

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"PAID THE DEBT OF NATURE."

No; it is not paying a debt; it is rather like bringing a note to a bank, to obtain solid gold in exchange for it. In this case you bring this cumbrous body, which is nothing worth, and which you could not wish to retain long; you lay it down, and receive for it, from the eternal treasures, liberty, victory, knowledge, rapture.— Foster.

PREACHING TO SELF.

LET us preach to ourselves with all our might; let us say with a distinguished and devout hero, on the eve of a battle, "Perhaps I cannot inspire a generous ardour into those around me; but at least I will make sure of one. Let us pray fervently; let us read the book of God; let us embrace the salvation of Christ; let us exhort our friends to go to heaven; let us lead and show the way. There is a God of love; our sins can be pardoned through the sacrifice of the Redeemer. There is a Holy Spirit to guide us, a watchful Providence to protect us, and palms at last for the hands of conquerors of this sinful world to bear. What a glorious prospect then before us! Adieu to vanity! adieu to sloth! adieu to all unchristian fears, distrustful of the care and the strength of our blessed Father above. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."" Foster.

Essays, Extracts, and Correspondence.

COLONIAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY. URGENT WANT OF RESOURCES AND PROGRESS.

In the last Number of the WITNESS the "statements and appeals" of the Committee, on behalf of this very interesting and important department of Christian missions, were inserted. Let brethren in the colonies now be heard. They have a testimony to bear. They know the facts, they witness the scenes, they share the hardships of colonial life. They see clearly what requires to be done, and what might be done, by the Congregational churches of the parent land for advancing the glorious cause of Christ in the colonies, were they but to exert their energies effectually in this, perhaps, prospectively, the most important of all fields of missionary enterprise. Then, also, this voice of appeal and entreaty comes, in many instances, from brethren in far lands, who went forth thither at the call of this Society, and therefore their claims to support and aid are very powerful. But let this cause be fully stated, and fairly advocated before the churches, and the result can hardly be doubtful.

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One thing, however, must never be lost sight of: men are greatly wanted suitable men- self-denying, able, courageous men. For these, the Lord of the harvest must be sought. He only can provide them, send them, and prosper them. May He graciously do his work, and move his churches effectually to do theirs!

The reflections and views of Dr. Ross, at Sydney, are expressed as follows:

"I am grieved at the scarcity which prevails in our body of disposable ministers adapted to the times-of right-hearted, sound-thinking, prudent, vigorous, devoted men. With a few such we might, with the help of God, do wonders in this colony. One or two such you must try to find. When I look at my beautiful chapel,-when I see the numbers that are attending it, of all classes, and from all parts of the colony,-I am cast down when I think of the consequences that might result were I to be removed. I have no lease of my life. It is as frail and uncertain as that of others. What an omission, what a neglect, on the part of our body at home, may it not be considered to leave New South Wales with only one minister in it, and that too at a time when there is so much to encourage and excite!"

VOL. IV.

The Rev. J. C. Gallaway has again and again, with equal feeling and urgency, applied for a co-worker in St. John, Newfoundland; and for two or three brethren to labour in Nova Scotia, where there is an inviting field. Here follows his account of the class of men needed for colonial missions:

For

"You ought to have the best men you can get for such places as Quebec, Montreal, Halifax, &c. But your best men are not the best men for second and third-rate colonial stations. these we want the hard-working, the self-accommodating, the prudent, the patient, the ardent men. We want men that can put up with a log-hut now and then-eat salt meat-groom their own horses-even wade through a stream -value men for what is in them, not on thembe content with foundation-work-quite free from party spirit-sound in the faith, but not tied to human systems or human phraseologyardent for the conversion of souls-devotees of religious freedom-more learned in things than in words-better acquainted with men than with books. Just keep this portrait before you when you look out again for colonial missionaries."

The closing sentence of an extract from a letter acknowledging some seasonable assistance granted by the Committee to a very devoted minister in one of our colonies, will show what kind of reputation English Congregationalists have acquired abroad by their long neglect of their colonial interests and cause, and by their too feeble efforts now they have at last awoke to some care for that work:

"This help will be useful in more ways than one. It will be of service as money; but it is also an evidence of the sympathy of sister churches in England, of the care which they have of churches in other lands, and of the ability they possess to help forward the cause of Christ in the world. The idea here is, that our churches in the parent land are few, feeble, coldhearted, and inactive; and I, at least, am anxious to undeceive even a small community like ours."

Let this page also give utterance to the affecting statement of a devoted Congregational Christian in Kingston, Canada West, who has repeatedly applied to the Committee that a minister might be sent for that important town and neighbourhood; and whose appeals

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would have been long ere this responded to, had it been in the power of the Committee to send such a man as ought to be sent, and to support him when there as he ought to be supported:

and have

"I am now in my sixty-fourth year, been in Canada twenty-three years. As to worldly matters, I have no complaint to make; but, my dear sir, I have been deprived of the fellowship of God's people for the above long period. I left a happy few that composed the Congregational church in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, under the ministry of the late Rev. Mr. Begg, a faithful servant of Christ. It has often been a question with me whether I did right in leaving such precious privileges as we enjoyed. I have long hoped to be permitted to be in some measure the instrument of assisting to establish the cause of God here, and should it please the Lord to favour me in this respect, I think I could say, 'Now let thy servant depart in peace.' I have frequently been informed by the Rev. J. Roaf that your Society had a desire to supply this place, if a suitable minister could be found. I trust the Lord will put it into the heart of some one of his faithful servants to come out and help us-one that is wholly devoted to his Master's work."

Here follows the application of Henry Hopkins, Esq., for a minister to itinerate among the widely-scattered settlers in the interior of the colony named Port Philip, or Australia Felix-a beautiful and prosperous region. The letter of Mr. Hopkins speaks for itself:

"It is about nine years since I first visited this place. I then felt the necessity of the gospel being sent to this rapidly rising colony, and wrote to you on the subject. You sent a minister, Mr. Waterfield, whom I then intended for the interior; but finding this town, Melbourne, rapidly increasing, we thought it desirable to fix him here. And now after various difficulties and changes, I am happy to say there is a good congregation and church, with a sabbath and daily-school. My object in writing now is to provide for the inhabitants of the interior of the country, over which are scattered about eighteen thousand British subjects, and not one minister of religion among them. Many are well-educated men, and some the sons of pious parents, who were once taken to the house of God, and taught to fear him. You can easily imagine the effect it has on them to be thus deprived of the means of grace. I will mention one instance that came under my own

notice. I met a young man whom I had known for some years in Hobart Town, and had frequently partaken of the Lord's Supper with him. I asked him how they spent the sabbathday. He replied they knew no difference, except a clean shirt, a shave, and a plum-pudding. I have conversed with many of the settlers here, and they are desirous of having a minister among them, and are willing to contribute to his support, but will not engage till they see him among them. I inclose a bill for one hundred pounds towards the outfit and voyage of a minister to either Melbourne or Hobart Town. The service will require a young man of strong constitution, as he must ride over a very considerable distance of ground. I should recommend him to come by way of Hobart Town, and I will pay all his expenses thence to Port Philip, and perhaps go across with him and while he remains at Hobart Town, my house shall be his home."

The Rev. T. Q. Stowe thus appeals to the Committee with most enlightened views, and on the justest grounds :

"I have laboured at Hindmarsh for seven years, and to leave it now is more than I dare do. I have held on there at a great expense of physical toil, and personal comfort. I greatly doubt if I shall keep in health with this extra work still pressing on me. I have many fears Adelaide will claim

and anxieties about it. more and more of my attention, as we are decidedly growing. Though I have often mentioned Hindmarsh, yet I believe I have never used unseasonable or unseemly importunity. Nor will I now. I only tell you my deep perplexity on this matter. I am hastening off your funds to offer the facility of sending a second missionary, and certainly I shall be most grievously disappointed, if I am left without a co-adjutor."

Subsequently Mr. Stowe writes that failure of strength had compelled him to lessen his labours at Hindmarsh, and adds,

"I hereby pledge myself to use my influence to form a society in aid of your agents when you send them out. The late census confirms all my views as to the importance of Hindmarsh, and its vicinity."-" You will learn about the time this reaches you, the brilliant discoveries of Dr. Leighhardt on the north of Sydney, up to Port Essington. It will be the Australian highway to India and China, and the gospel will travel up that course. Not a settlement should be formed along that whole line without a mis

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