POETRY.

Poetry.

ONWARD!

Nows the time-nor longer stay-May we seek to be more like him,

GLORY!

BY A SCOTCH OFFICER.

ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

Anecdotes and Selections.

THE RUSTY OLD LOCK.-One sabbath evening, returning from a village about five miles distant from my home, I was accompanied part of the way by an aged countryman, who had been one of my hearers that evening while preaching from Ezekiel xviii. 32,-"For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God; wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye." He appeared to be much impressed with what he had heard, and said, "He could compare his heart to nothing else but a rusty old lock, which would not turn either way." The remark made a deep impression on my mind, and being concerned for the spiritual welfare of the man, before we separated, I again exhorted him to seek earnestly that change of heart which is so necessary, and without which we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. I am sorry to add, though it is near seven years ago since the above remark was made, and the man has felt strong convictions under other sermons since then, yet he has given no evidence of a changed heart, and is still an unconverted man. Whenever the circumstance recurs to my mind, I feel that it was truly said by Dr. Watts, in one of his hymns for children— ""Tis easier work if we begin

To fear the Lord betimes."

Let the young, then, take care to seek the Saviour whilst their heart is yet tender, and before it becomes like “a rusty old lock.” J. D.

The

A BOLD PREACHER.-The boldness of Samuel Davies (a qualification so important that even Paul requested the christians to pray that it might be given to him) will be illustrated by a single anecdote. When President of Princetown College, he visited England for the purpose of obtaining donations for the institution. King (George II.) had the curiosity to hear a preacher from the "wilds of America." He accordingly attended, and was so much struck with his commanding eloquence, that he expressed his astonishment loud enough to be heard half-way over the house, in such terms as these: "He is a wonderful man! Why he beats my bishops!" Davies observing that the King was attracting more attention than himself, paused, and looking his Majesty full in the face, gave him, in an emphatic tone, the following beautiful rebuke:- "When the lion roareth, let the beasts of the forest tremble; and when the Lord speaketh, let the kings of the earth keep silence." The King instantly shrunk back in his seat, like a school-boy that had been rapped over the head by his master, remained quiet during the remainder of the sermon. The next day the Monarch sent for him, and gave him fifty guineas for the institution over which he presided; observing at the same time to his courtiers, "He is an honest man-an honest man."

and

ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

THE SCOLD CONVERTED.-The late Rev. John Wesley relates the following circumstance in his Journal of 1741 :-"Wednesday, 9th, I rode over to a neighbouring town, to wait on a justice of the peace, a man of candour and understanding, before whom, I was informed, their angry neighbours had carried a whole waggon-load of these new heretics, the Methodists. But when he asked what they had done, there was a deep silence; for that was a point their conductors had forgot! At length, one said, "Why they pretend to be better than other people; and besides, they pray from morning to night." Mr. S. asked, "But have they done nothing besides ?" "Yes, Sir," said an old man, “an't please your worship, they have converted my wife. Till she went among them she had such a tongue, and now she is as quiet as a lamb!" Carry them back, carry them back," replied the justice, "and let them convert all the scolds in the town if they will."

66

A DESERVED REPROOF.-Mr. Meikle, late a surgeon in Carnwath, Scotland, being called to a gentleman who had been stung in the face with a wasp or bee, found him very impatient, and swearing wrathfully, under his pain. "O, Doctor," said he, "I am in great torment; can you any way help?" "Dont fear," said Mr. Meikle, "all will be over in a little." The gentleman still persisting in his curses and oaths, Mr. Meikle became quite uneasy, and wished to reprove him. "I see nothing," said the Doctor, "only it might have been in a better place." "Where might it have been ?" asked the gentleman. 'Why, my good friend, on the tip of your tongue."

SAYING AND DOING.-A hearer having returned home from a place of worship, perhaps somewhat sooner than usual, was accosted by one of the family who had not been there, saying, "Is all done?" "No," said the man, "all is said, but all is not done." No, indeed, saying and doing are two things. How little is done of all that is said, however well said. Nevertheless, blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it; and if ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW.-Say what we will, one to-day is worth a dozen to-morrows. Waste silver, waste gold, waste pearls, waste diamonds, rather than waste time, which is of greater value than them all. To-day is; to-morrow only may be, is a thought worth committing to memory. And above all things remember that "Now is the day of salvation."

THE FIRESIDE.

The Fireside.

TOO LATE FOR MY CHILDREN.

AN aged mother once made this statement:-"Oh, had I known the Saviour when I was young: then I had not trained up a numerous family without God, and without Christ. I am now nearly sixty years old, and it is only ten years since I found the straight and narrow path that leads to life.

My six sons are young men grown; and most of them have families of their own. They are manly, intelligent, and dutiful, and appear to love and respect their mother as they should do. But when I would speak to them of a Saviour's love, and would fain persuade them to obey his commands, or impress upon them their obligations to obey Christ, it is as if I recommended some new religion.

My own early neglect of the great salvation, to my unspeakable sorrow, I now find is, in the hands of my impenitent children, the most powerful weapon of defence against the convictions of truth and duty. They tell me that religion becomes me in old age, and is the staff upon which I should lean as I descend to the grave; but that I did not think as I now do when I was young and had health and spirits to enjoy the world.

As I did not make religion the great business of my life when my children were young, I can now, in my old age, but seldom make it the subject of conversation with any of them. If they are ever taught the knowledge of the great truths of the bible through my instrumentality, I shall be compelled to use great caution. No human being, save a mother, can tell my fears and anxieties, lest some, perhaps all, of my children should die impenitent, and never meet me in the kingdom of heaven."

The Penny Post Box.

SUNDAY FEASTS.

You have had letters on Swearing and Drunkenness. I venture to write a few lines on a practice which, in country places, leads to the commission of those sins and many others. It is a kind of state-church anniversary, termed a wake, feast, or revel. Sabbath afternoon is spent in ringing the bells, if there should be no service; when other ringers from neighbouring villages attend and try who can ring best. In the evening they repair to the beer-house, which is generally full, on snch occasions, of swearers and drunkards,

THE PENNY POST BOX.

breaking the sabbath, and indulging in sin. This feast day is looked forward to with delight by many poor ignorant creatures. So many years ago to-day, they say, our church was consecrated; and so we ought to have a feast. And a pretty feast they have in some places, where such things are done on the sabbath as are a disgrace to the land. If I were to tell all that I know to be done in some places I might scarcely be believed. But these disgraceful customs are kept up chiefly by the publicans and beersellers. The landlord affords every accommodation by taking down the bedsteads, clearing the rooms, and unhanging doors. And it is surprising how many people will throng to these places, so ruinous alike to body and soul. Oh that the light of divine truth may be shed abroad through all the villages and hamlets of our land, that such evil practices may soon be numbered amongst the things that were! R. B.

ON TELLING LIES.

PERMIT me to say a word or two against this hateful sin, at once so dishonourable and so disgusting. And before I say anything else, let me remind all who read this that it was by a lie that the world was ruined, and hence came sin, guilt, misery, sorrow, suffering, and death. How much, then, ought a lie to be avoided and hated by all of us. The devil, who told the first lie on earth, is the natural father of all liars, and all liars must have their home with him at last. God is the God of truth, and all who love the truth are the objects of his high approbation.

Lying has ever been held by good men in abhorence. David said, "I hate and abhor lying. He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight." I once went to visit a friend, who, to deter those who came to his house from lying and slander, had the following lines pasted up in his dwelling:

"I have no house-room for the accursed swearer,
Nor any welcome to the false tale-bearer;
The liar shall not in my presence dwell,
Such guests as these are only fit for hell."

And yet some men will plead for lying through covetousness. Surely covetousness and lying are twins. I once heard an opulent tradesman make the remark, that a lie was very useful in the way of trade, and he added, "It is a pity that it should be a sin." Poor sordid man! and so might Gehazi think, when he followed Naaman to take a gift which his master, Elisha, had refused, and for his sin was made a leper white as snow. And were not Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, struck dead, for lying and covetousness. Well would it be for us all to take advice of Paul: "Wherefore putting away all lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour; for we are members one of another."

J. H.