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JOHN HOWARD'S PHILANTHROPIC LABOURS. THE great philanthropist, John Howard, after inspecting the receptacles of crime, of poverty, and of misery throughout Great Britain and Ireland, left his native country, relinquished his own ease, to visit the wretched abodes of those who were in want and bound in fetters of iron in other parts of the world. He travelled three times through France, four through Germany, five through Holland, twice through Italy, once through Spain and Portugal, and also through Denmark, Sweden, Russia, and part of Turkey. These excursions occupied (with some short intervals of rest at home) the period of twelve years.

Never before was such a considerable portion of the life of man applied to a more benevolent and laudable purpose. He gave up his own comfort that he might bestow it upon others. He was often immured in prison that others might be set at liberty. He exposed himself to danger that he might free others from it. He visited the gloomy cell that he might inspire a ray of hope and joy in the breasts of the wretched. Yea, he not only lived, but died in the noble cause of benevolence; for in visiting a young lady, who lay dangerously ill of an epidemic fever, in order to administer relief, he caught the distemper, and fell a victim to his humanity, January 20th, 1790.

HEIRS OF GLORY.

"If you be heirs of glory, the kingdom of God is within you,' by virtue of your regeneration and union with Christ. The kingdom of heaven has the throne in thy heart, if thou hast a right to that kingdom; Christ is in thee, and God is in thee: and having chosen Him for thy portion, thy soul has taken up its everlasting rest in Him, and gets no true rest but in Him; as the dove, until she came into the ark. To Him the soul habitually inclines, by virtue of the new nature, the divine nature, which the heirs of glory are partakers of (Psa. lxxiii. 25.) 'Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth

I desire beside thee.' The laws of heaven are in thy heart, if thou art an heir of heaven (Heb. viii. 10.) 'I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts.' Thy mind is enlightened in the knowledge of the laws of the kingdom, by the Spirit of the Lord, the instructor of all the heirs of glory; for whoever may want instruction, surely an heir to a crown shall not want it. It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God' (John vi.45.)—Therefore though father and mother leave them early, or be in no concern about their Christian education, and they be soon put to work for their daily bread; yet they shall not lack teaching Withal, thy heart is changed, and thou bearest God's image, which consists in 'righteousness and true holiness' (Eph.iv.21.) Thy soul is reconciled to the whole law of God, and at war with all known sin. In vain do they pretend to the holy kingdom, who are not holy in heart and life; for without holiness no man shall see the Lord (Heb. xii. 14.)” Boston.

SHOW ME YOUR
CONVERTS."

A party of officers were assembled at the mess-table in India, a few years ago. One of these, on the subject of missions being named, commenced a tirade against all missionaries. "I don't believe a word of their accounts of conversion," he said: “I don't believe there is a true convert in all India. I have been out here many years, and I know I have never seen one. Where are they? Show me them, I say!" A gentleman who had hitherto taken no part in the conversation, now observed: "Excuse me, captain, but have you not often spoken to me of the exemplary conduct of your native servant, the man who was just now behind your chair?" Yes, Sir, I have; and I repeat it, he is a faithful, honest, excellent fellow; I could trust him with gold. I should like to see one of your Christians half as good as he." "Perhaps, then, Sir. you are not aware that that man is a Christian convert?" The captain looked extremely foolish, and dropped the subject as soon as possible.

POETRY.

BULWER ON POVERTY. BULWER says that poverty is only an idea in nine cases out of ten.-Some men, with ten thousand dollars ayear, suffer more for want of means than others with three hundred. The reason is, the richer man has artificial wants. His income is ten thousand, and he suffers enough from being dunned for unpaid debts to kill a sensitive man. A man who earns a dollar a day and does not run in debt is the happiest of the two. Very few people who have never been in debt will believe this, but it is as true as God's word. There are people, of course, who are wealthy and enjoy their wealth, but there are thousands upon thousands with princely incomes who never know a moment's peace because they live above their means. There is really more happiness in the world among working people than among those who are called rich.

THE MYSTERY OF MUSIC. WHAT a mystery is music-invisible, yet making the eye shine; intangible,

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yet making all the nerves to vibrate
floating between earth and heaven ;
falling upon this world as if a strain
from that above, ascending to that
It is
as a thank-offering from ours.
God's gift, and it is too lofty for
anything but His praise; too near
to the immaterial to be made the
minister of sordid pleasure; too
clearly destined to mount upwards to
be used for inclining hearts to earth.
Oh that the Churches knew how to
sing; making music a joy, a triumph,
a sunshine, a song of larks, as well
as a midnight song of the nightin-
gale!-Arthur's Italy in Transition

ONE THOUSAND SABBATHS.
FOR every twenty years of our lives,
we enjoy upwards of one thousand
Sabbaths; these all must be ac-
counted for in the Day of Judgment.
Remem-
How important, then, to
ber the Sabbath-day to keep it holy,"
and to seek on that day, especially,
all the improvement it is caluculated
to afford.

Poetry.

THE CRY OF THE PILGRIMS. "There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary be at rest."-JOB. iii. 17. Though life is dark with sorrow,

And often fall our tears,

Upon the far horizon

The star of rest appears,

For there is freedom from the woes

With which we are opprest;

There the wicked cease from troubling,
The weary are at rest.

But Christ for us hath suffered,

And we must suffer too;

His footsteps we must follow,

The darkest trials through;

Arm'd with His mind, this hope shall grow,
Brighter within each breast;
There the wicked cease from troubling,
The weary are at rest.

This hope is for the bravest,

Who faint not in the fight;

To them through cloud and darkness,

The haven is in sight;

For though the grave looks dark and cold,
With all its terrors drest;

There the wicked cease from troubling,
The weary are at rest.

The grave is but the entrance

To the bright rest of God;

The soul shall then be crown'd with joy,
When suffering's path is trod;

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When our foes and fears alarm us,
And the heart with grief o'erflows;
Then how sweet the voice that bid us
On the Saviour's love repose!

Weep we may, rebel we must not,

Though by thousand cares oppress'd;
Low we're brought, but sink we cannot,
While we lean on Jesus' breast.

Do the ills of life perplex thee?
Well may faint a heart like thine;
Burden'd soul! thy Saviour loves thee,
On His gracious arm recline.

Cast thyself, thy load, thy sorrow,
Where the lov'd Apostle lay;
Lean on Christ, to-day, to-morrow,
Soon He'll smile thy woes away.

By the Rev. E. Mannering, late Minister
C. F.
of Holywell Chapel, London.

CONTENTS.

VOL. XXXII.-THIRD SERIES, 1864.

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