Chapter M: E. C (1)

FORWARD INTO LIGHT AND LIBERTY.

"JESUS ONLY."

When Father Chiniquy reached his much-loved people, after he had left the Church of Rome, it was on a Sabbath morning, and they were assembled for worship. The bishop had telegraphed to them to turn away their priest, but when they saw him, they received him joyfully, and crowded round him to know what the bishop had really said. Entering the chapel, he told his large congregation how and why he was a priest no longer, assuring them that he would leave them, but not until they bade him depart. All were deeply affected, but no one spoke, and when he again appealed to them to bravely rise and tell him to go away, he saw their countenances beam with love and joy more eloquent than words; and when he offered to remain with them--the free Christian minister of a Christian people, united by the love of God and His Word--they all arose in token of their approval, and a thousand people left the Church of Rome on that eventful day. And still the movement spread, till nearly all who had loved and followed him as he had gradually taught them the truths of the Gospel, followed him seeking the full light and liberty of God's Word, leading him, and all who heard of it, to exclaim, "This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes."

As might have been expected, they did not see everything at once. There was a splendid group of statues, representing the Virgin Mary learning to read at the feet of her mother, and before these statues both priest and people had often prayed. Chiniquy longed to remove them, with the pictures and crosses which hung on the walls of the chapel, but was afraid to do it too quickly. One Sunday, however, after preaching from the text, "Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image," he remained behind to pray, and, looking up at the images, he said, "My good ladies, you must come down from that high position. God Almighty alone is worshipped here now. Your reign has come to an end." A thin, strong, silken cord secured them on their pedestals. He cut the cord, and, as he expected, the very next Sunday, when the people knelt to pray, the images gave a couple of jerks, and then fell down, and were smashed to fragments on the floor, the people laughing, and saying to one another, "How foolish to pray to these idols to protect us, when they cannot take care of themselves!" The other images, crosses, and pictures were soon cleared away.

The most of the people soon learned to reject purgatory, but some still clung to their old belief, and Chiniquy would not too suddenly disturb it. When "All Souls' Day" came round, and collections were usually made for those in purgatory, two boxes were provided--a white one to receive contributions for the widows and the fatherless children, and a black one for offerings for the dead. But those who put money into the black one were asked kindly to say how their gifts could be conveyed to their dead friends, as in every case he had yet heard of, the priests had kept them for their own bread and butter. A general smile followed that announcement, and thirty-five dollars were put into the white box for the living, and nothing at all into the black one for the dead.

So, one by one, all the false doctrines of Rome were renounced, and a few months after, six thousand were banded together under the name of "Christian Catholics."

Rome, however, would not thus easily lose so many of its children, and another bishop thought he would try to win them back again. He appointed a day to visit them, with a number of priests, and found a strong, large platform prepared for his reception, and a great number of people assembled together to see and hear. As he approached, the American flag was hoisted over the chapel, and the people shouted, "Hurrah for the flag of the free and the brave!" This alarmed the priestly visitors, but Chiniquy hastened to assure them that they would not be injured, but they, on the contrary, would be received in the most courteous way.

The bishop then alighted from his carriage, the priests gathered round him, and his grand vicar told the people to kneel down and receive their bishop's benediction. No one moved. He repeated his request still more loudly, when some one answered, "Do you not know, sir, that we no longer bend the knee to any man? It is only before God we kneel"; and all the people said, "Amen."

Forbidding their own beloved Pastor Chiniquy to speak, the bishop then tremblingly addressed the crowd. He was evidently staggered by the people's courage. Having abused the "wicked, rebellious priest" who had led them away from Rome, he concluded by begging them to return to their holy Mother Church, and asked who would guide them in the ways of God if they forsook the Church of their fathers? After a solemn silence, an old farmer, raising his Bible over his head, exclaimed, "This Bible is all we want to guide us in the ways of God. We do not want anything but the pure Word of God to teach us what we must do to be saved. As for you, sir, you had better go away, and never come here any more."

The bishop having failed to gain the people, tried to forcibly prevent Chiniquy from speaking. This was too much for the congregation, and it was only for his sake, and at his urgent request, that they allowed the unwelcome visitors to depart unmolested. They retired, defeated and annoyed, and the bishop soon afterwards became a lunatic.

Thus God preserved His servant and His people in the hour of trial, and though many other difficulties arose, His Word continued to accomplish His purposes of love and grace; and like another Luther, Pastor Chiniquy, though often in peril and doomed to death, has lived on to a ripe old age, covered and shielded by the shadow of the Almighty. There may we also live and rest.--_Jottings on_ "_The Life and Work of Father Chiniquy_," _by Cousin Susan_.

RARE AND COSTLY BIBLES.

The special feature at the recent sale of the Earl of Crawford's library was the disposal of old and rare editions of the Bible in various languages. The most important lots were as follows:--

The "Bishops'" Bible, a revision of the "Great Bible" undertaken by Archbishop Parker and eight other bishops, black letter, folio, 1568. It is sometimes called the "Treacle" Bible, from the words, "Is there no _tryacle_ [instead of 'balm'] in Gilead?" L70 [sold to] (Quaritch). Second edition of the German Bible, _circa_ 1466, L86 (Quaritch); first edition of Luther's Bible, L51 (Quaritch); the Mazarin Bible, or the Gutenberg Bible--the first edition of the Bible, and the earliest book printed with movable metal types; a rare and much-sought book, two volumes, printed by Gutenberg and Fuest about 1450, L2,650. This book was put up at L695, for which price this particular copy was sold thirty years ago. The book will remain in this country. Sir John Thorold's copy, a few years ago, fetched L3,900. Another Latin Bible, two volumes, first edition, with a date beautifully printed upon vellum, folio, 1462, L1,025 (Quaritch); Biblia Slavonica, the Ostrog edition, 1581, L73 (Quaritch); the Virginian Bible, by John Eliot, with Psalms in metre, two volumes in one, quarto, 1685 and 1680, L40 (Quaritch); first edition of the Welsh Bible, from the Wepre Hall Library, 1588, L60 (Quaritch); Block Book, Apocalypsis Sancti Johannis, forty-eight leaves printed from wooden blocks, in colours, and the xylographic text in brown ink, bound up with other matter in the old oak boards, folio, _circa_ 1430. This rare and curious volume is generally considered as being the second attempt in xylographic printing, the priority being given to the Ars Memorandi. Block books are supposed to have preceded by nearly twenty-five years the discovery of printing with metal types, and the workmanship is attributed to the press of Laurence Coster at Harlem. This specimen was put up at L100, and after a keen competition between Mr. Ellis and Mr. Quaritch, it was secured by the latter for L500. The day's sale realized upwards of L7,000.

A NEW TELEPHONE.

The _Times_ Paris correspondent describes some telephone experiments between Paris and Brussels with a new apparatus known as the "microtelephone push-button," which he believes to be the most perfect yet produced. As its name indicates, it has the form of an ordinary electric push-button. When the button has been pushed in, and has made a sound at the other extremity, it is taken out, and is found to be attached to a long electric wire. There is thus exposed the telephonic plate, which is extremely sensitive, so that when it is necessary to speak at short distances, it is not necessary to come close to the instrument. For communications in the same street, or the same house, the operator places the upper part near himself, and without changing his position he can speak with the correspondent at the opposite extremity. He is not obliged to put his ear to the part which contains the button and brings back the reply. Thus, for short distances, those who make use of this apparatus speak in their ordinary tone, without changing their customary attitudes. They may sit or walk about, and speak just as if those they are addressing were present. When great distances intervene, in which the speakers and hearers are separated by two hundred miles, it is necessary to come nearer to the apparatus, but without being obliged to speak quite close to it. What makes this apparatus the most successful of telephonic instruments is, that it can be made for half-a-crown, that is to say, for not more than the price of the ordinary push-button. As it can be fitted to the electric wire of the ordinary ringing apparatus, it follows that it introduces a complete change in our ordinary modes of intercourse. The railway companies are making experiments with this apparatus as a means of communication between compartments of carriages, and it is being fitted up on trial in hotels. The inventor is Dr. Cornelius Herz.

"ASK ON."

(1 KINGS ii. 20; JOHN xiv. 13.)

I hear "a voice from heaven"--
I hear my Sovereign say--
"Ask on" (He speaks to me);
"I will not say thee nay."

I would not doubt His word,
For truth in Him abides;
I would not doubt His power;
In Him the Godhead hides.

And since I know He gave
Himself, Himself, to move
Jehovah's curse from me,
I would not doubt His love.

And so I'll breathe my wish
To Christ, my King, to-day;
And rest me on His word--
"I will not say thee nay."

ISA.

"IS NOT A MAN BETTER THAN AN EGG?"

"Bacon! bacon! bacon! always bacon! Why don't we have eggs sometimes, like we used to?" was the discontented question of a little boy, one morning, as he surveyed a rasher of bacon on his plate.

"May you never get anything worse to eat, my boy, than this nice streaky bacon," remarked his father, looking up from his newspaper.

"Little boys should eat what is put before them, and be thankful that they have food to eat," observed a severe-looking maiden aunt.

"Ralph is not very well to-day," said his sister Nellie, in a low tone. "His appetite has not been so good lately as it used to be. He never seems to get on with bacon; and there have been very few eggs brought in for some time. Do you think the fowls have left off laying, papa?"

"Hardly, my dear; this is just the time of year they lay most freely. I suspect they are hiding them, and making nests for themselves in some secret place."

"_I_ suspect, John, that the stable-boy takes them. It is not at all likely that fourteen or fifteen fowls would hide their eggs, whatever one might do," said the severe aunt.

"Hens choose curious places to lay their eggs in sometimes," said Mr. Thorn,[11] laughing. "I remember one fine Spanish bird that invariably laid hers on the top of a wall."

[11] The real names are, of course, suppressed throughout.

"What a queer place, papa! Did not the eggs get broken?"

"They did, my dear, to the great distress of the poor fowl, who no doubt wished to make a nest in that strange, out-of-the-way place. I used to listen for her cackling, in order, if possible, to save the egg; but it always tumbled off the wall before I could get to it. Another, a Cochin-china fowl, laid hers on a heap of stones, and----"

"Those must have been very badly managed fowls, John," interrupted Miss Thorn. "Now, yours, on the contrary, are well cared for, and properly housed."

This was quite true, for Mr. Thorn's fowl-house was large and airy, and well supplied with every necessary convenience. Indeed, so true a fancier was he, that his extensive fowl-house was partitioned off, so that his Brahmas, Cochin-chinas, Houdans, and other breeds should be in no danger of mixing.

It was Mr. Thorn's custom always to collect his eggs himself, the first thing after breakfast; and he never allowed any one to go into the fowl-house on any pretence whatever, unless in his company. Owing to this precaution the fowls were all very tame, while some would testify their pleased sense of his presence by stretching out their necks and uttering a little note of welcome. He was the more surprised, therefore, on the morning on which our story begins, to notice that all the fowls were in a state of intense excitement. To his astonishment, he found some of the doors communicating with the various sections of the house wide open, and the cocks, that he had supposed were safely guarded from each other, fighting together fiercely. Evidently his sister was right. Some other hand had collected the eggs.

As he was coming out, after having with some difficulty restored order, his little boy came running up to him, with his bag of books on his back, on his way to school, saying eagerly--

"I don't want to be dainty, papa, only it is tiresome to have nothing but bacon, when there are such lots of eggs."

"How do you know there are lots of eggs, my boy?"

"Because I hear the hens cackling every day, papa. This morning there was such a noise before I got up."

"Where did the noise come from, Ralph?"

"From the hen-house, papa."

"Are you quite sure, Ralph?"

"Quite, papa! Oh, I know they don't lay anywhere else, for I have looked so often to see if any of them laid their eggs in the garden. I looked this morning before breakfast."

"Very well, my boy; run off to school now. Perhaps we may find out soon where the hens do lay their eggs; but you had better not say anything about it to your schoolfellows."

* * * * *

"I tell you what it is, Bob--I don't believe you come honestly by that money. You never do any work to speak of, and yet every now and then you bring in a lot of money," said a pale-looking young woman to her husband, one morning, as he slouched in to breakfast, and threw a handful of silver on the table.

"A deal you know about it, Jane! If I get odd jobs that bring me in an odd shilling or two, what business is it of yours, I should like to know? If you and the little 'un have enough to eat, that's all you need trouble about."

"'Taint no concern of mine, Bob, and yet I can't help feeling a bit uncomfortable when I hear folks say that Mr. Thorn gets no eggs now."

"What do you know about Mr. Thorn's eggs?" asked her husband, roughly.

"Well, that gossiping Mrs. Smith told me that Mr. Thorn said as how his hens had taken to hiding their eggs of late. She said he thought they had nests somewhere, but he couldn't find them, and then she looked at them eggs I was frying for dinner so suspicious-like that I got quite red, for fear you had taken 'em."

Bob made no reply, but ate his breakfast in sullen silence. As he went out, his wife called after him--

"You try to get a reg'lar job, Bob, and don't go loafing about."

That evening Bob came in earlier than usual, and going up to his wife, who was rocking the cradle, said in a husky voice--

"Jane, my gal, I'm goin' to turn over a new leaf."

"Bless the man!" exclaimed Jane in alarm, as she saw unwonted tears in her husband's eyes. "Are you took bad, Bob?"

"No, Jane," he replied gently; "but I've been bad. Listen, old gal, and I'll tell you all about it. You were right when you said the money I brought you lately weren't all honestly come by."

"Oh, Bob!"

"Hush, my gal; don't interrupt me. It's hard on a fellow to have such a tale to tell. You know, Jennie, how long I've been out of reg'lar work, and how hard I tried to get some of the farmers round to take me on; but they all said they had nothing for me to do. Well, when you was took bad, I got desperate like; and one mornin', when I was doin' an odd job o' digging in Mr. Thorn's garden, I heard his hens a-cackling; and as I knowed when he collected the eggs, I got up early next day, and managed to slip in afore he was about; and as I wasn't found out, I did it again and again; and as I had nothing to do after the diggin', I walked to Market Littleton and sold 'em; and so I did many a time. Well, this morning I met Mr. Thorn in the village. I tried to skulk out of his way, but he walked up quite friendly-like, and says he, 'I wish I had known you were so fond of eggs. I'd have given you some,' says he, 'and welcome.' Well, I tried to brave it out, and swore I knew nought of his eggs, but he went on quite friendly in his funny way. 'Bob,' says he, 'you shall have as many as you like, only let me have the pleasure of getting them for you. It's a pity for you to get up so early, and have all the trouble of getting over the fence, and opening the door with a bit of wire, when I could send them to you without any fuss.' Well, Jane, I went down on my knees then, and I said, 'If you'll forgive me this time, sir, I'll never do it again; only don't send me to jail. 'Twould break my gal's heart, it would'; and then he puts half-a-crown into my hand, and he goes with me to a friend of his, and gets me taken on with the horses."

"Oh, Bob, how could you?" said Jane, crying; "and Mr. Thorn such a nice, kind-spoken gentleman! And oh, if anybody else knows, you'll get the name of a thief!"

"No one else does know, my gal, and I am sure that Mr. Thorn will keep it close. He said he 'spected me the day afore yesterday, when he seed me at Market Littleton sellin' some eggs, and says he, 'I didn't like to 'spect you, Bob; but after my 'spicions was roused, I watched yesterday mornin' and this mornin';' and as I was a-coming out of the hen-house this mornin', he seed me, and says he, ''Tis an ill deed that has to be done in the dark, Bob.'"

* * * * *

A night or two afterwards, as Bob was passing a building where services were being held, he fancied that he heard Mr. Thorn's voice, and he went into the porch to listen. Yes, it was John Thorn's voice. He was praying, and it seemed to Bob that he was praying for him. He prayed for those who were sorely tempted, and who had no strength to resist--who had never savingly heard the voice of the Lord, and who never used His name but in oaths. "That's me," said poor Bob, with a groan. After the prayer, the hymn, "Just as I am," was sung, and then a short address was given by the preacher.

"Needy sinners, come just as you are," said the preacher. "Jesus died for sinners. Come with all your sins upon you. Don't try to wash off some of the biggest ones; you will only make the dirty stains worse. Come just as you are. You perhaps think of others--your old companions who will laugh at you, and so you are ashamed. Were you ashamed of that mean act you did in the dark the other morning?"

"He knows all about it," thought Bob, and he covered his face with his hands. At that moment of supreme misery, some one touched him on the shoulder, and looking up in terror, Bob saw the man whom he had robbed gazing down upon him, with his kind eyes full of pity and compassion for the poor sorrow-stricken man.

"You've bin and told him," hissed Bob.

"My poor fellow, I have told him nothing. God forbid that I should tell any one of the sin which you have confessed to me. Come in, Bob."

"I am so bad and so dirty."

"Your clothes are dirty, Bob," replied Mr. Thorn, glancing at Bob's soiled and shabby garments. "I wonder that you go on wearing them. They are too dirty to be washed."

"Too dirty to be washed, sir!" exclaimed Bob in amazement. "I have no others to change with, or my gal would very soon have them in the wash-tub."

"Very true, Bob. You have no clothes to change with, but if I gave you a clean coat, you would soon put it on, aye?"

"Yes, indeed, Mr. Thorn."

"Then, if you by faith come to Christ, in your filthy rags, just as you are, He will wash you in the fountain of His blood, and will cover you with the robe of His righteousness."

And Bob came. He felt his guilt and misery, and like a little child he asked for mercy. Need we say he found it? We do not pretend to fix the exact day and hour of his conversion, but this we know--the once dishonest man is now, and has been for years, a man of the strictest probity; the blasphemer now worships the Saviour whom once he despised; and among that little band of Christians in L----, there is none more devoted to his Master's service, none more loving and gentle to wife and children, and to all within the sphere of his influence, than Bob.

"And under God, I owe it all to Mr. Thorn," he would say. "Had he, a professing Christian, sent me to prison then, could I have believed what he said of God's mercy? Mr. Thorn was to me the living witness of God's mercy in Christ."

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you."

"Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come!

"Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come!

"Just as I am Thou wilt receive;
Wilt strengthen, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe;
O Lamb of God, I come!

"Just as I am--Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come!"

--_From a Tract._

SUCCESS.--There is a glare about success which is apt to dazzle men's eyes. When we see a man rising in the world, a foolish high opinion is formed of his merits. It is said, "What a wonderful man this must be to rise so rapidly!" forgetting that straw, dust, and feathers--things without value or weight--rise the soonest and easiest. It is not always the good and great man who rises rapidly into wealth and notice.

A GOOD EXAMPLE.

The following notice, headed, "To the Workmen of Stoke Works," was recently issued by Mr. J. Corbett, M.P.:--

"It has been to me a matter of great pain and regret to receive from time to time complaints from grocers, bakers, and other tradesmen, that the men employed at the works ask for credit, and then refuse to pay their lawful debts, thereby bringing a bad name upon the works, and no good repute upon me as an employer. Now, considering that the men employed here obtain higher wages than at any other salt works in England, and receive their wages weekly, I consider such conduct simply disgraceful, particularly when evidence is brought before me that the money which should go to pay tradesmen for provisions for the wife and family is expended in drink, too often leading to drunkenness. I contend that workmen who receive their wages weekly should never get into debt, and tradesmen ought to know that if men who regularly have their wages every Saturday cannot pay one week, they are in no better position to pay the week after. I am determined to try to remove this stigma from Stoke Works, and hereby give notice that any man or men who expend their wages in drinking or otherwise, instead of paying their lawful debts, are no men for these works; and I do hope that any such men will take advice intended with the best feelings for their good and the comfort of their families. A copy of this notice will be sent to the tradesmen of Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, Droitwich, and other places. This is, of course, only intended to apply to those men who are guilty of the conduct herein complained of.--(Signed) JOHN CORBETT, Stoke Prior Salt Works."

IT is better to be nobly remembered than nobly born.--_Ruskin._

THE DUTCH AND THEIR COUNTRY.

The enemies with which they had to contend were three--the sea, the lakes, the rivers. They dried up the lakes, imprisoned the rivers, drove back the sea.

In order to drain the lakes they made use of the air. The lakes and ponds were surrounded by dams, the dams by canals. An army of windmills put pumps in motion, which turned the water into the canals, which conducted it to the rivers and to the sea. Thus vast spaces of land buried under water were transformed as if by enchantment into fertile, smiling plains, populated by villages. From 1500 to 1858 the amount of land reclaimed was 355 miles.

By the substitution of steam instead of windmills, the great lake of Haarlem was dried, the furious tempests of which threatened the cities of Haarlem, Amsterdam, and Leyden with destruction; and the Dutch, in 1883, seriously contemplated the prodigious undertaking of reclaiming the land buried under the Zuyder Zee.

The rivers did not cost much less labour than the lakes, but the most tremendous struggle was with the ocean. A great part of Holland is below sea-level, and the land has to be defended by dykes. If these wonderful bulwarks of earth and of wood and granite were not there as monuments to attest the courage and perseverance of the Dutch, no one would believe that the hand of man, even in the course of centuries, could accomplish so great a work.

Holland is an impregnable fortress. The mills are the towers of its immense bastions, the cataracts the gates, the islands the advanced forts; and she shows to her enemy, the sea, only the belfries and roofs of the edifices.

Holland is a fortress, and the Dutch, like people in a fortress, stand on a perpetual war-footing with the sea. An army of engineers, dependent on the Minister of the Interior, spy upon the enemy continually, watch over the state of the internal waters, provide for ruptures in the embankments, advise and direct new works of defence to strengthen and support the old.

The danger is constant, the sentinels ever at their posts. At the first assault of the sea they give the cry of alarm, and Holland sends arms, materials, and money. Even when there is not a great battle raging, there is always a slow, silent struggle. The innumerable mills are never quiet, always pumping the rain-water into the canals. Every day the cataracts of the canals and rivers shut their huge gates against the rising tide, which struggles to precipitate itself into the heart of the country.

But Holland has done more than defend herself from the sea, and master it. The waters were her scourge, but she has made them her defence. When a foreign army invaded her territory, she opened her sluice-gates, unchained the sea and the waves, and let them loose on the enemy, defending internal cities with a fleet. The water was her poverty; she made it her wealth.

"Nature," says a Dutch poet, "refused all her gifts to Holland. Men had to do everything in spite of Nature."

It is enough to look at the monuments of the great struggle with the sea to understand that the distinctive characteristics of this people must be firmness and patience, accompanied by a calm and never-failing courage.

YOU can outlive a slander in half the time you can out-argue it.

THE soul that cannot entirely trust God, whether man be pleased or displeased, can never long be true to Him; for, while you are eyeing man, you are losing sight of God and stabbing religion at the very heart.--_Manton._

SUNDAY SCHOOL INTELLIGENCE.

CLIFTON SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY.

Special services in the above place, on behalf of the Sunday School, were held on Sunday, July 22nd.

Two sermons were preached, in the morning and evening, by the Pastor, Mr. Frederick Marshall; also an address was given by him in the afternoon. Text in the morning, Deuteronomy vi. 6, 7. He spoke of the good of Sunday Schools in the cases of many that have left them and gone out into the world to earn their living. It was his prayer that the Lord would bless the labours of the brethren and sisters in the good work, and that they might not be weary in well-doing, for they have the promise, "they shall reap if they faint not." He could rest assured that what was taught in the school was according to the Scriptures. He warned the young people to flee from temptations and from the appearance of evil, and directed them to diligently search the Scriptures, and take them for a guide.

In the afternoon, in the presence of a goodly number of parents, teachers, and scholars, he spoke from the little word "One." He said that there must be a oneness between teachers and scholars, or the school could not succeed. He also said that each boy and girl, as well as the teacher, had his or her individual duty to do, and he said that they all ought to try to do that duty well, out of school as well as in.

In the evening, the text was Romans xvi. 26. The sermon was listened to very attentively by a good congregation. Suitable pieces for the occasion were sung by the children.

On the following Thursday the children had their annual treat. On account of the previous wet weather, it was feared that not a very enjoyable day was in store; but He who is still the Answerer of prayer was pleased to stay the rain, so that a very pleasant day was spent by all present.

A SCHOLAR.

PROVIDENCE CHAPEL SUNDAY SCHOOL, BURWASH.

The first public meeting took place on Wednesday, August 8th. The meeting was opened at two p.m. by singing, and then the Superintendent read Proverbs iv. 1-13, and spoke in prayer. The children then amused themselves for a time in the adjoining field. They were called in again at four o'clock, and after reading and prayer, eight of the senior scholars recited from fifteen to thirty verses each of Scripture, and some hymns, for which they were presented, six with the Clifton Hymnal, one with "The Sack and its Treasure," and the other with "The Morte Stone," kindly presented by Mr. J. Wilmshurst, of Cranbrook. Three of the junior scholars also said a few verses, for which they were presented, two with a New Testament, and one with the Psalms.

At five o'clock about thirty persons sat down to tea, most of whom were children.

In the evening Mr. J. Jarvis, of Mayfield, preached a very impressive and encouraging sermon from Hebrews xii. 24.

The Sunday School was opened on the last Lord's Day in April with three scholars. It now has eighteen, and we trust that the Lord will still prosper the good work.

S. H. JARVIS.

CARMEL CHAPEL, FLECKNEY.

The anniversary of the Sabbath School in connection with the above place of worship was held on Sunday, July 29th, when two sermons were preached by Mr. Read, who has now preached on these occasions for thirteen years. Both school-rooms and chapel were crowded. Special hymns were sung by the scholars, and at the close of the sermon in the evening, twelve handsomely-bound Bibles were presented to six girls and six boys, it being a custom to give one to each scholar at the age of sixteen. Mr. Read spoke very appropriate words as he presented the Bible to each scholar.

Collections were made at the close of each service, amounting in the whole to L16.

The school, which now numbers 190 scholars, was commenced about thirty years since, when our esteemed Superintendent, Mr. J. Garner, was the only teacher, with five scholars.

The preaching of the truth of God in our village was begun by our beloved minister, Mr. Deacon, thirty-four years ago, in a cottage, which has given rise to the building of two chapels, and it is thought that the present one, which has only been built ten years, will have to be enlarged. We are constrained to say, with one of old, "What hath God wrought?"

A READER.

"A SOFT ANSWER."

A person went to the late Mr. Longden, of Sheffield, one day, and said, "I have something against you, and I am come to tell you of it." "Do walk in, sir," he replied. "You are my best friend. If I could but engage my friends to be faithful with me, I should be sure to prosper. But, if you please, we will both kneel down, in the first place, and ask the blessing of God upon our interview." After they rose from their knees, Mr. Longden said, "Now, my brother, I will thank you to tell me what it is that you had against me." "Oh," said the man, "I really don't know what it is. It is all gone; and I believe I was in the wrong."

OUR BIBLE CLASS.

ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA.

(ACTS v. 1-16.)

In the second chapter of Acts we learn how the Holy Spirit was, on the Day of Pentecost, just after Christ's ascension, poured out upon the apostles, how they preached the Gospel in languages they had never learned before, and how three thousand of their hearers were led to confess their sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. These were baptized according to His commandment, and added to the company of disciples at Jerusalem, partaking of the Lord's Supper as He had bidden them, and continuing in fellowship and prayer. But besides all this, they made a rule for themselves which Jesus had not actually laid down for them. The richer members gave up their money and goods, and all shared alike. Thus beautifully did they obey the spirit of His new commandment, "Love one another, even as I have loved you" (John xv. 12).

But this happy state of things did not long continue. Satan and sin soon interrupted its trustful, unselfish course, and we never find again that they that believed had all things common, after the events recorded in Acts v.

A man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira joined the Church, and seeing that others parted with their possessions, they also sold a piece of land, and laid a portion of the price at the apostles' feet, pretending that they had given up the whole of the money received. Peter, being divinely inspired, detected the falsehood, and Ananias fell down dead at his feet, was carried from the place of meeting, and buried immediately. Sapphira, ignorant of the dreadful fact, came to a later service, and repeating the lie to Peter, she also was struck with death in a moment, and was borne to her husband's grave.

His seems to have been an _acted_, hers a _spoken_ lie. In each case the falsehood was partly true, but the intention was to deceive, and this is the very essence of a lie. It was hypocrisy. They "played a part," like actors on the stage. They pretended to be different people from what they really were, and they wanted to be thought of as loving, sincere, and generous Christians, while they were false-hearted and hollow all the time.

May we never try to deceive others, to make a false impression--to seem better than we are. God sees and knows us altogether. May it be our chief desire to have our hearts and lives right with Him.

But why did such a terrible doom fall upon these two false ones at the very beginning of the Christian era? In the olden time God's judgments fell upon transgressors in a sudden and fearful way, but under the gracious reign of Jesus we might scarcely have looked for such a display of wrath. Yet, though "God is love," He is also "a consuming fire," and there is not all that difference between the old dispensation and the present one which might at first appear. David was forgiven ages before, and these sinners were destroyed in Gospel times. Then, "God was greatly to be feared in the assembly of His saints," and still He must "be had in reverence of all them that are about Him."

But what were the effects of this awful occurrence? "Great fear came upon the Church, and upon all who heard these things." This is just what we should have expected. "And of the rest" (of those who were not true and whole-hearted) "no one dared to join that company." So much the better, just as the disciples were better off without Judas Iscariot. A decaying corpse in the house injures the health of the living inmates, and false professors have never done good, but rather harm, to the true Church of God.

Yet another result followed which we might not have hoped for--a large increase of believing converts. "Multitudes of men and women, believing on the Lord, were the more added to the Church." "The more." Yes, for this very reason--they saw and felt that "the Lord was there," and loving Him, they wished to dwell in His presence, and enjoy His protection and care.

Oh, how important motives are! A thief in the company of innocent people may, like them, offer to be searched, in order to avoid suspicion, as Judas asked, "Lord, is it I?" when all the disciples had first put the question to Jesus, but he could not thus escape the searching eyes that read his heart, or the words of condemnation that fell upon his ears. Are we willing to be searched and tried by God?

But, if we do desire to belong to Jesus, and follow Him, need we, should we, hesitate to unite with, or remain among, His people? Oh, no! Though He is angry with the wicked every day, and terrible to the hypocrites, He is gracious and full of compassion to all who seek His grace. "Will He plead against me with His great strength? No, but He will put strength in me," said Job (chap. xxiii. 6). And while He burns up all who rebel against Him, as the fire consumes briars and thorns, they who would be at peace with Him shall find peace by His own strength (Isa. xxvii. 4, 5) and love.

Yes, and not only so--it is a blessing for us that He does know us altogether. We are sometimes afraid to confess some secret fault to an earthly friend, lest we should be loved less when the wrong thing is known; and if we could hide ourselves from God, how we might shrink from telling Him some of our thoughts and feelings, and this secrecy might ruin and destroy us. But He does know all, and knowing, loves His children still, so that we may pour out all our heart before Him; and while it will be an unspeakable relief to us, it will be no news to Him. A sense of our own unworthiness will only precede the joyous assurance of pardon and blessing. Peter once said, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" and Isaiah cried, "Woe is me, for I am undone" (Isa. vi. 5); but Peter's fear gave place to the clinging words of love--"Lord, to whom shall we go [but unto Thee], for Thou hast the words of eternal life?" (John vi. 68); while Isaiah's cry of sorrow changed to the gladsome song, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid" (Isa. xii. 2).

Oh, that we may be helped to cast ourselves by faith and prayer entirely upon Him, and, like Peter, say, "Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee." Amen.

Our next subject will be, _The Good Shepherd, His Lambs and Sheep_ (Isa. xl. 11).

Yours affectionately,
H. S. L.

BIBLE ENIGMA.

An officer of Pharaoh. A city built by Cain. A son of Solomon. A precious stone. The mount where Joshua built an altar. A queen of the Ethiopians. The land of Haran's nativity. One of the seven Churches of Asia. A duke of Edom. One whom the Lord raised up to deliver Israel. A daughter of Zelophehad.

The initials of the words do show What Christ on earth had to pass through; And all His people may prepare, While in this world, to have their share.

THOMAS TYLER
(Aged 13 years).

_Potton, Beds._

ADVERSITY borrows its sharpest sting from our impatience.--_Bishop Horne._

PRIZE ESSAY.

THE BLESSINGS CONFERRED ON ENGLAND BY THE ACCESSION TO THE THRONE
OF WILLIAM OF ORANGE, AND BY THE PROTESTANT SUCCESSION THEREBY
SECURED TO US.

The blessings conferred on England by the accession of William of Orange ought long to be remembered by all those who love to worship God in the way their conscience tells them is right.

He came to England at a time in its history when it was especially in need of help. He restored liberty, both civil and religious, and backed up Protestantism. The Protestant people were greatly burdened by the cruelties of James II., who, it is said, had a mind more devoted to the infliction of pain than had been since the Romans conquered England. Here he persecuted those who held fast to the "common prayer," and in Scotland put to death as many as would not adopt it. He had two women tied to stakes and drowned in the Solway Firth, because they would not repeat the Apostles' Creed.

By these incidents of his cruelty, we plainly see the great blessing of liberty which God, through William III., bestowed on England, and the great blessing which Protestantism is to the land.

James having thus shown himself to the people, and his cruelties being so great, it is naturally to be expected that they would readily accept this new sovereign, who was a good man, and who had supported the Protestants of Holland all his life. He had a right to the crown by his marriage to Mary, the daughter of James II.

England received a great blessing in the year 1701, the Act of Settlement being passed by the consent of William and his Parliament, which shut out from the English throne all persons who were Roman Catholics, or persons married to Roman Catholics.

The successor to him was Queen Anne of Denmark, and when she died, leaving no child, another agreement was formed, placing the crown on Sophia, Dowager-Electress of Hanover, and her posterity, if they were Protestants. Since this Act was passed there has been no Roman Catholic on the throne. If it had not been passed, several Romanist sovereigns might have reigned.

The Protestant religion is a great blessing, and the main cause of the prosperity of our nation. Romanism greatly impoverishes all countries which are its victims, such as Ireland, where Popery predominates. Never has the accession to the throne of a Protestant king been more needful than it was then.

It is since then that England has won a name as a great nation and a brave people. If Protestantism is such a standing religion, which "has been through the water, and not been overflowed," and "through the fire without being burned," surely we ought to labour hard for the overthrow of that false religion which is the main curse of many nations in the world. By the important incidents we plainly see God's overruling providence guarding us and our religion, and, as Wickliffe said, after one of his trials, so say we again with still greater force, "The truth shall prevail."

WILLIAM ERNEST CRAY
(Aged 11 years).

_Pearl Cottage_, _Carlyle Road_, _Forton_, _Gosport_, _Hants._

[We are sorry that no more of our young friends have sent Essays for this month, but our young friend has thereby the advantage of taking a second prize.]

[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of "The Reformation and its Heroes."

The subject for November will be, "Lessons to be Derived from the History of Daniel," and the prize to be given for the best Essay on that subject, a copy of "Cowper's Poems." All competitors must give a guarantee that they are under fifteen years of age, and that the Essay is their own composition, or the papers will be passed over, as the Editor cannot undertake to write for this necessary information. Papers must be sent direct to the Editor, Mr. T. Hull, 117, High Street, Hastings, by the first of October.]

"THE NAILS ARE GONE, BUT THE MARKS ARE LEFT."

A little boy, whose father desired to see him a good child, was told one day that a nail should be driven into a post whenever he should do an act that was wrong; and when he should do a good deed, he might pull one out.

The little fellow tried to be good, and, though there were a number of nails driven into the post, after a while not one remained.

How happy must Benny have been when he saw the last nail disappear from the post!

His father was greatly pleased, and was congratulating his son, when he was surprised to see that he was weeping; and very touching was the remark he made--"Ah! the nails are all gone, but the marks are left!" Was not this contrition?

BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER.

Sept. 2. Commit to memory Isa. viii. 12. Sept. 9. Commit to memory Isa. viii. 20. Sept. 16. Commit to memory Isa. viii. 13. Sept. 23. Commit to memory Isa. viii. 14. Sept. 30. Commit to memory Isa. viii. 17.

Interesting Items.

"GOD save the Queen" is now sung in eighteen languages.

THE cost of making a bank-note for any amount is less than one halfpenny.

EIGHT million baskets of peaches are expected from Delaware and Maryland this season.

THE Pool of Bethesda has, according to the quarterly statement of the Palestine Exploration Fund, been authoritatively discovered.

IN the whole sky an eye of average power will see about 6,000 stars. With a telescope this number is greatly increased, and the most powerful telescopes show more than 60,000,000. Of this number, not one out of each hundred has ever been catalogued.

THE oldest newspaper in the whole wide world is the _King Pau_, or _Capital Sheet_, published in Pekin. It first appeared A.D. 911, but came out only at irregular intervals. Since the year 1351, however, it has been published weekly and of uniform size. Now it appears in three editions daily.

ON an average each Englishman writes forty letters a year, each Scotchman thirty, and each Irishman sixteen. The average Italian only posts six, and the American twenty-one. It must be remembered that in the country letter-writing is a rare pursuit, and that the bulk of letters are written by business men.

THE tomato is, perhaps, used more as a relish than for its nutritive value. Uncooked, it forms the prince of salads, and it is one of the most appetising, palatable, and popular vegetables we have. Violent heat destroys the delicious flavour of this half fruit, half vegetable, so when you cook them, be most careful to use only moderate heat.

SAVING THE BUFFALO.--The buffaloes on the American prairies were thought to be nearly extinct, thanks to the reckless destruction of big game in recent years; but a happy find has been made of a herd nearly one hundred strong in a remote and uninhabited part of Texas. To prevent any danger of their annihilation, an expedition of trained huntsmen is being sent to Texas to drive the buffaloes into a given enclosure, where the breed will be carefully preserved.

THIRTEEN thousand boxes gone astray, thirteen thousand umbrellas left in railway carriages, sixty-seven thousand different items of property lost on the railways of the United Kingdom during the single month of August, 1887! The railway companies are not responsible for this property, but to their credit be it said, they afford every facility for its recovery.

POPERY IN PORTUGAL.--A correspondent in Oporto describes the Romish ceremony of washing an image of Christ in Lisbon, and adds--"If those who are drifting Romewards could only see the depths of greed, hypocrisy, and deceit to which the Church descends in these countries where she holds sway, and how immorality, infidelity, and spiritual darkness rule among the people, from high to low, they would surely hesitate to introduce Popish mummeries into free England."

TO CURE FEATHERS.--The following recipe gained a premium from the Society of Arts. Mix a quantity of lime-water in the proportion of one pound of quicklime to a gallon of water, mixing well, and pouring off the clean lime-water for use as soon as the undissolved lime is precipitated. Put the feathers in a tub, adding enough of the clean lime-water to cover them to a depth of three inches. Stir them about until well moistened, when they will sink. Leave for three or four days, and then pour the whole through a sieve to get rid of the foul water. Wash well in clean water, and dry upon nets in a room where the air can be admitted. Cabbage nets will do well, the feathers falling through the meshes as they dry. About three weeks will finish the feathers, which will only need beating afterwards to get rid of the dust.

CURIOUS CUSTOM AT A CITY CHURCH.--The following extract from the last will and testament of Peter Symondes, mercer, dated April 24th, 1586, refers to a curious custom still observed on Good Friday at All Hallows Church, Lombard Street:--"The parson and churchwardens shall every year, upon the same Good Fryday, divide the same raisons into threescore parts in papers, and when the children of Christ's Hospital shall come upon Good Fryday as aforesaid, then the said parson and churchwardens shall give unto every child a part of that so appointed; and although this gift may be thought very frivolous, yet, my mind and meaning being hidden, may, notwithstanding, be performed, praying God to make all those children happy members of this Commonwealth. Amen." Under directions in the same will, each of the sixty boys also receives a new penny. An Easter card is also given by the churchwardens from the parish funds.

THE EARWIG.--The old-fashioned idea of the much-dreaded earwig is little more than a fallacy. The original English word "ear" signified an undeveloped flower-bud, especially among corn, and "wic" commonly stood for a hiding-place; so that familiar insect (formerly written "ear-wig"), through seeking its favourite dwelling beneath the closely-shielded bud "ears," has been universally accredited with propensities so deadly injurious to mankind of which it naturally stands wholly innocent. In this manner popular superstition has often thrown a mantle of evil and dread upon surrounding objects, harmless in themselves; and so long as the vulgar lend credence to ill-founded traditions without instituting intelligent inquiry, so long must such discrepancies continue to hold sway over the public mind.