As the dear man related these things to me, his countenance shone, while he blessed and praised the Lord for his great goodness to such poor unworthy creatures.

How true it is,

"The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower,"

THE JUVENILE MOURNER.

"What occasions that melancholy look?" said I to one of my young favourites, one morning. He turned away his face, to hide a tear that was ready to start from his eye. His brother answered for him: "Mother is very angry with him because he would not say his prayers last night; and he cried all day, because a sparrow died of which he was very fond." The little mourner hastily turned round, and looking at me, exclaimed, "I could not say, Thy will be done,' because of my poor bird." I took him by the hand, and pointing to his schoolfellows, “Mark this observation,” said I, "from the youngest present, only six years old, for it explains the nature of prayer, of which perhaps some of you are ignorant; many persons repeat words, who never prayed in their lives. My dear boy, I am very glad to find you were afraid to say to God what you could not say truly from your heart; but you may beg of him to give you submission to his will!"

THERE being a great mutiny among the soldiers of Alexander the Great, he first spoke to them in a conciliating manner, but perceiving that such language rather exasperated than allayed their fury, he leaped from his throne and ran his sword through some of the most mutinous, upon which the rest relented, and begging his pardon complied with his commands. When my affections prove mutinous and rebel against grace, there is no arguing the case with them for they gather strength by treaty: the right way is to fly in the face of them by an immediate detestation, there being no expedient in this case like a speedy resolution.

OUR LITTLE

'JIREH" AT EAST BERGHOLT.

N Easter Monday, I saw "Jireh" chapel, in East Bergholt,

country, I never beheld:

perfect little Gospel tabernacle, in

Many of my readers know that Mrs. E. Baldwin has, for years, cried to God to enable her to erect a house for prayer and preaching in that Papistical, but very beautiful village, called East Bergholt. All sorts of opposition assailed her; but still her faith lived, and it laboured too; her heart grew warm with holy fire, and kindled with a pure desire-and give it up she could not. Two or three times I went down there, and preached in the Primitives' chapel; and I preached also in a waggon, in a field; and I preached in a cottage; and several good brethren came to strengthen the hands of our sister. Mr. Poock, of Ipswich, is her pastor, and he and some of his friends came over to Bergholt, to preach and pray, and sing, and talk together; and the late Mr. Matthews, of Hadleigh; and Mr. John Plaw, once of Hadleigh Heath; and that red-hot soldier of the cross, A. Baker, of Tunstall, and many more, gathered round that praying mother in Israel; and now I hope we may say, God has heard her cries, answered her prayers, and has enabled her to build a house to His praise and honour. Dr. Zimpel, who wants to lay down a railway from Jaffa to Jerusalem, to carry Jews and Gentiles home to that land of promise, has just sent me his book, wherein he says, "Any one familiar with history knows how often the greatest consequences have been brought about by trifling circumstances or instruments." So, in this case, a single female, in a large, out-of-the-way village, is laid on a bed of affliction-on that bed her heart is moved to pray unto the Lord to help her to build a sanctuary for the Gospel. She was raised up. The desire never left her. Prayer never ceased. Satan roared-the flesh feared-professors sneered - friends Booled-all things seemed against it; but God was for it.

Mr. Baldwin had a piece of land, which he allowed his beloved wife to have; and on it this sweet little Jireh is erected.

On Easter Monday, when I sat down for the first time in the platform seat, my mind was led to that spacious and glorious prophecy of Joel, the second chapter-and the words there twice repeated"My people shall never be ashamed "—were most precious to me and I believe they were expressly for the dear saints of God at East Bergholt. To them, the cheering words were sent, "Ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied; and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you; and my people shall never be ashamed!" Ah! they often fear they shall be ashamed. Of themselves they are ashamed; but, when the Church of God stands in the perfection of the Saviour's work-when she stands in the beauty of his righteousness-and in the glory of his kingdom; then, oh! then, shall sin, and shame, and sorrow, flee for ever-never to return.

I must plead for the cause at East Bergholt; they have a large sum to make up every month; and they are all poor. I hope the Lord and his people will help them. I most gladly would; but I am only a very little VILLAGE PREACHER.

THE ancients tell of a certain dry island near to Athens, that the inhabitants bestowed much labour to draw into it a river to water it and make it more fruitful, but when all the passages were opened, and the receptacles prepared, the water came in so plentifully, that it overflowed all, and at the first tide drowned the island and all the people. "They that will be rich," saith the apostle, "fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." It is said of the plain of Sodom that it was well watered everywhere; surely no country ever produced a more rank harvest of sins. Adversity is a blessing in disguise; and prosperity is often a curse in a mask. Lord, thou shalt choose mine inheritance for me.

THE Persians being invaded by the Turks, burnt up all that might be of use to sustain man or beast; that those who could not be overcome by force might be weakened by famine. Not to make provision for the flesh is a great assistance towards abating the strength of lust.

LIVING IN JESUS.

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VOL. XV.

JUNE, 1865.

No. 164.

A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT, AND A HEAVENLY

SAYING.

HE Sabbath is a mercy great indeed! After toiling all last week, I sat down quietly on Saturday evening, waiting on the LORD, for a message for the people next day. I do enjoy sometimes a thought or two upon the little green spots which even in this desert I have found. Last Monday, after attending to a few things in the city, I set off for Wooburn Green, and for Prestwood Common, to fulfil three engagements I had made, and wherein I appeared, through the Lord's mercy, in my homely character as A VILLAGE PREACHER. I was honourably attended to the Railway Station by my dear wife, and my eldest son: and pleasant associations, natural affections, and sympathising interchanges of good feeling for one's safety and welfare, are like little coals of fire which warm a poor solitary soul like mine; and make me, for the moment, almost forget the heavy sorrows which only weigh upon my spirits; and which, surely, but for sustaining grace must long since have sunken me either into despair, or mental darkness dreadful to think of. Down the Great Western line, to Wooburn Green, at this time of year, is a short, sweet, and pretty journey, to those who can, while gazing on creation's lovely forms, look through them all to their GREAT AUTHOR, and in the goings forth of faith, exclaim

Abide with me! fast falls the eventide,

The darkness thickens, Lord, with me abide ONE HALFPENNY.