night; and you are locked up in believe it will be the best job that ever came to me coming to Wakefield; it will be ten shillings a week to me every week that I work. There is about three hundred prisoners in at this present time. JAMES CLEGG." [This letter, let it be remembered, was written spontaneously, without any idea that it would ever be seen but by the person to whom it was addressed. Would that all whose wicked hearts send them into such trouble, might find in the dark silence and quiet of a prison, a time of reflection, conviction, and conversion to a Saviour, who can wash away all the guilt of their past lives, and make them holy and happy for ever!] HOME. his windows open? Does he not intrude upon There is a Ir was a royal city, magnificent in its buildings, and of vast extent. All the powers of art had been secured for its embellish-reason for this. See whatza ment; and within its walls were the terraced gardens celebrated in ancient history, as one of the wonders of the world. Truly did its most powerful monarch, in the pride of his heart, call that splendid city," Great Babylon!" But I have nothing to do at the present moment with him, or his haughty people. There was, at the time of which I am writing, one spot in that large and noisy city, where a serious and solemn stillness reigned unbroken, save by the voice of prayer. A solitary man knelt in his lonely room, and from his lips burst forth the words of sup'plication, and the more lofty incense of thanksgiving. Why are longing gaze he fixes on the fading distance hear how ear nest is his prayer, as he looks forth from his chamber. Per chance you might bear the word "Jerusalem." Ah! that unravels the mystery; the noble exile is thinking of his country--the casements are open towards his home! In the midst of the gaieties and frivolities of a licentious city, and the more attractive honours showered upon him by a sove reign who knew his value-the prophet Daniel could not forget Jerusalem; his prayer three times a day drew his thoughts towards his God and his beloved home! Again, let us look at the capital of the Assyrian empire; see that majestic river that rolls by the walls, and brings wealth upon its waters. There are many little groups on its shore variously employed, but observe that one surely composed of foreigners, for the dress and manners are totally different to the haughty citizens of Babylon. ness of returning to the homecircle after an absence, however short it may have been. In all our wanderings, whether in distant lands, or in the pleasant paths of Old England, we still turn with affectionate interest to the one spot, the centre of all our love, our home. Just such feelings should be ours with respect to the city not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. We are pilgrims, and we do well to remember the fact: They look cast down and sorrowful; and why do the tears gush forth when asked for one of Zion's "pleasant songs?" Alas! alas! once it was their own land, but now in the hands of the in prosperity we should whisper enemy, and the exiles weep when they remember their home! They cannot sing in Babylon those glorious songs that echoed among the mountains of Judah; their harps are hung on the willows, for they are in a strange land, and the melodies of Zion would too painfully remind them they are banished from their country. to our souls, "Arise, depart, for this is not your rest!" And in adversity, the Christian, though resigned, and it may be even rejoicing in his Father's will, is forcibly reminded that "to depart and be with Christ is far better." Ah! that we could all look to heaven as our home. How small would the things of earth appear, how transient its every joy and sorrow; moreover how vile would sin be in our sight, for the con stant contemplation of the holy abode of Jesus and his saints could not be connected with the toleration even in thought, of anything that defileth. Let us, then, follow the example of the holy Prophet Daniel, and in the midst of our daily avocations turn many a prayerful glance to our distant home, many an earnest petition, that we may be made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. STRIKING FACTS. IN, thinking what we are doing for others, it is safer to look at what is left undone, and yet might be done, and what the world still needs, than at what is really effected. Then, though we shall not fail to be thankful for all our success, we shall also be roused to greater exertion and more earnest prayer. The following are, indeed, startling | vast empire of China has not had facts: 1. The income of all our Missionary Societies does not equal a hundredth part of the sum raised in Great Britain in taxation, nor does it amount to a tenth part of the sum annually spent in tobacco, or to a hundredth part of the cost to the country of intoxicating drinks. 2. The income of persons in Scotland and England who have more than 150l. a year, amounts to more than 250,000,000. Were they each to give one fifth per cent., 4s. for every 1007. of income (one twelfth of the present income-tax), the amount of their contributions would exceed all that is now raised for the support of our Missions. 3.-Taking the number of professing Christians in England at only 3,000,000, a penny a week from each, for the conversion of the world, would raise nearly one half more than is now raised. 4. Or look at the wants of the world. In fifty years the British and Foreign Bible Society has issued 25,000,000 copies of the Scriptures, in various languages. Of these, 15,000,000 were in England, and have been circulated chiefly at home. In all Europe the issues of the Bible Society, and of fifty-four European Bible Societies, have not exceeded this number; all Europe, therefore, has not had more in fifty years than we deem necessary for ourselves. In British India there is a population of 150,000,000. All that has been done there in the circulation of the Scriptures in fifty years, amounts to scarcely 3,000,000 copies of the Scriptures, or parts of them. The in all 130,000 copies of any part of the Bible. Africa, with its 150,000,000, has not had more than 50,000 copies. 5.-Look at our Missions. There is in Bengal a population of more than 20,000,000, and including its dependencies, of 70,000,000, that province contains some of the principal seats of British influence, and several central Missionary stations, -as Calcutta, Benares, Orissa, Krishnaghur, and Mirzapore. The number of Missionaries, European and American, is about 100; of native preachers and teachers 120. This proportion gives to each Missionary a population of 200,000. A similar proportion would give to London ten evangelists, and to Great Britain 125. In fact, whole districts containing 1,000,000 of souls have no Missionary. 6. The number of Missionaries supported by all English Missionary Societies, does not reach 1,100,—a number not larger than the number of Chris-. tian ministers labouring in London alone. The amount expended in all Europe by English Missionary Societies is under 12,000l.,-though it is certain that openings for usefulness may be found on every hand,—and then the Man of sin is to be overcome. India, with its millions, has fewer labourers than the county of Lancaster; while in China, Africa, Hayti, and South America, our work has only begun. Who can dwell upon these facts, and not be deeply impressed with a sense of his responsibility, in regard to the talents God has entrusted to his care? W INTERPRETATIONS OF HARD TEXTS. "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and He shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he shall pray for it."-JOHN v. 16. WHICH may be thus paraphrased. If a man see his brother fall into, and continue in such a sin, as may be capable of forgiveness, let him earnestly pray to God for the pardon of such an offender; and God who is great and infinite in mercy, shall, for his dear Son's sake, graciously incline his ear to his prayers, and give remission and life to him. There is indeed "a sin unto death;" for which there is no forgiveness with God, because there is no capacity of repentance in the man who commits it. I mean the sin against the Holy Ghost, Matt. xii. 31, 32; when a man having received the knowledge of the Gospel by the enlightening of the Holy Spirit, and professed the belief of it, shall at the instigation of the devil, and his own corrupt heart, wilfully blaspheme and persecute that known truth, I do not give you permission to pray for the pardon of this sin. "By which also he went, and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient; when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is eight souls, were saved by water."-1 PETER iii. 19, 20. 66 THIS is one of the passages of Scripture perverted by the Papists, in order to prove their false doctrine of purgatory. But how little does it prove anything of the kind, when simply and faithfully interpreted! By the which," refers to the Holy Spirit, the last words mentioned in the foregoing verse. "He," refers to Christ. "The spirits in prison," are stated to have lived "in the days of Noah;" and to have been "disobedient;" "while the ark was a preparing." Who can these have been but the contemporaries of Noah, who, disobedi ent to Noah's preaching, were fast bound in the chains of their sins, and are now fast bound in the prison of hell? To these disobedient ones, then, Christ preached by his Spirit, through the mouth of Noah. And so we have it confirmed elsewhere, that Noah was a preacher of righteousness," 2 Pet. ii. 5; and that God's Spirit at the time of the flood, did "strive with man," Gen. vi. 3. C. THE BEST OF NEWS. AN aged Christian, now dead and gone to heaven, when accosted, in the common parlance of the day, "What's the news?" would always answer, "The best of news, brother: Jesus has died for sinners." This is the best of news-indeed, the newest news, the greatest news, the most im portant and ever welcome news that ever came from heaven to earth. Reader, hear the newsJesus has died for sinners ! A DYING WORLD. WHERE can we get rid of the conviction, that "in the midst of life we are in death?" It is not only in the hospital that this is forced upon us, nor in the parish, where the minister has to do daily with the sick and dying; but on the journey, and whereever we go, we come to the same conclusion. Now I will tell you what hap- | pened to myself in the space of one short year, and then you will see how even a traveller, going from place to place, only moves about to find he is ever and anon in a dying world. I had no sooner arrived at Interlachen, last summer, than I was told of a young English lady who had gone up a high mountain behind the Hôtel, where few venture. She got to the top; and there, pleased, no doubt, with her success, kept the record of it in her name, which she cut on the bark of a tree. But on trying to descend on the other side, she fell to the bottom, and was dashed to pieces! Just four weeks after, I followed to the grave a young Englishman, heir to a nobleman, who was shot by accident when chamois-hunting on the Alps. He was laid by the side of the young lady. Soon after a gentleman from England, whom I had known in London, called on me, and I saw him several times. We talked about our families, and of the blessings we had in our respective families. He was full of his praises of a son at college. Alas! both that father with whom I so pleasantly conversed, and that son whom he so dearly loved, are now both gone to their long home! Then at Interlachen, one of the principal men was Hoffstetter, master of the Hôtel Des Alpes, He had prospered greatly in this world, and was very rich; he had an only daughter, whom report says is engaged to be married to a German noble. But what avails all this! there have been terrible floods in Switzerland lately; the river was much swollen. He was standing on the bridge, near the post-office; suddenly it was swept away by the flood, before he and some others could escape! Oh, what lessons! What a dying world! Where can we make a covenant with death? Oh, no where but in the death of our Redeemer! There we have our life; there the sting of death is taken away: there we learn not only to endure, but to welcome all that solemnly tells us, we live in a dying world. W. "POWER OF LITTLES." omnibus fares in London is about three millions sterling. What might not Christians do by a combined and conscientious hus THE "mileage" paid to the Excise by each omnibus in London is said to be, on an average, 91. per month; and the gross amount paid by all the omni-bandry of littles for the treasury buses, 324,000 per year. The of God! gross annual amount paid for |