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Pure fell the beams, and meekly bright,
On his gray holy hair,

And touched the book with tenderest light,
As if its throne were there.
But oh! that Patriarch's aspect shone,
With something lovelier far-
A radiance all the Spirit's own,
Caught not from sun or star.

Some word of life e'en thus had met
His calm benignant eye;
Some ancient promise breathing yet
Of immortality.

Some heart's deep language where the glow
Of quenchless faith survives,
For every feature said, "I know
That my Redeemer lives."

And silent stood his children by,
Hushing their very breath,
Before the solemn sanctity

Of thoughts o'erspreading death:
Silent-yet did not each young breast,
With love and reverence swell?
Oh! blest be those fair girls-and blest
The home where God is felt.

MRS. HEMANS.

SATURDAY EVENING.
"And the Sabbath drew on."

THE hours of evening close;
Its lengthened shadows drawn
O'er scenes of earth invite repose,
And wait the Sabbath dawn.

So let its calm prevail O'er forms of outward care; Nor thought for "many things" assail The still retreat of prayer.

MRS. CONDER.

Passing Events.

THE fact that Mr. Gladstone should have proposed to license railway carriages for the sale of drink, is suggestive of the vigilant watch which the friends of temperance and order need to keep over matters affecting the welfare of society. The pressure brought to bear upon the Government from all parts of the country compelled the abandonment of the measure. It was because of this outside pressure that to use Mr. Gladstone's own word-the proposal was "killed."

ANOTHER achievement over which the Christian people in the Principality may well rejoice, is the passing of the second reading of a Bill to close public-houses on Sundays in Wales. The second reading of this bill was carried by a majority of nearly 10 to 1; the numbers being, for the measure, 163; against it, 17.

A DEPUTATION from the Council of the Anglo-Jewish Association have had an interview with Earl Granville on the subject of the outrages upon Jews committed in various parts of the Russian Empire. Mr. Serjeant Simon, M.P., and other influential Jews stated the case as one of deplorable cruelty and hardship. In various parts of Russia "houses had been wrecked, and Jewish soldiers and civilians had been slain without interference from the authorities, whose duty it was to prevent such outrages.' Earl Granville was careful and guarded in his reply to the deputation. There is no doubt the Foreign Secretary will keep his eye upon all such matters, and as far as possible do his utmost to mitigate the sorrows and sufferings of God's ancient people. As to that remarkable race, there appears to be various influences at work that portend change. O, for the tearing away of their "vail !"

THE Norfolk News has been complaining of the "incongruity" of the conduct of the House of Commons in adjourning the business of the House on Ascension Day to go to church, and then a few days after doing the same thing in order to give Honour.

able Members an opportunity of going to the Derby.

THE great matter of the last month has been the issue of the Revised Version of the New Testament. Local Preachers will, to a very great extent, be interested in the criticisms of the Revisers. As the result of the joint labours of so many learned men, it must be regarded as a help to the meaning of the Divine Word.

THE Archbishop of Canterbury has issued an address to the clergy and laity of the Church of England, in which he calls attention to the efforts of the Liberation Society to disestablish and disendow the Church. He advises that the agents of the Liberation Society should be followed by others employed by the Church Defence Institution. The victory will have to be gained by the Liberationists outside of Parliament first. Parliament is not likely to take any steps in the matter till the people first declare their mind.

A DEPUTATION headed by Lord Nelson has been waiting upon the Upper House of Convocation to call the attention of the Bishops to the large amount of positive unbelief in this country, especially among the more educated classes. The artisans and labourers also were represented as being in the condition of persons "from whose life belief is fading out."

It might be expected that William McArthur, as Lord Mayor, would signalise his year of so distinguished an office by doing something unusual. No more appropriate thing was ever done than to honour a veteran missionary like Dr. Moffat. On May the 7th a banquet was given in the Egyptian Hall of the Mansion House, to which Dr. Moffat, with the Earl of Shaftesbury, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and many friends of the various missionary societies, were invited. This Gospel pioneer to Bechuana land set sail to South Africa when he was twenty years of age, and devoted fifty years of arduous missionary toil to the great work of converting the heathen. Now, at the great age of eighty-five years, and with faculties unimpaired, he can

reflect with exceeding joy on his successful labours.

It is indeed to be regretted that a noble race of men like the New Zealanders should be liable to extinction, and that the chief cause should be the introduction and sale of strong drink. Sir Wm. Fox, as one of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the subject, says: "The grog river still flows, and as far as the poor Maories are concerned, will, I fear, flow on for ever. About half & century will probably suffice for the extinction of the Maori, and when the last of the race is laid in the grave, his record may be, Rum did it. I see no hope for them; it is only a question of time, and not a long one." When Sir Wm. Fox was over in this country a short time since, the writer had conversation with him upon the subject. The number of natives in these interesting islands at the Antipodes was at one time 400,000. These have already been reduced to 40,000. Can nothing be done to save this remnant of a noble race of men?

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THE Methodist Recorder of June 3rd had a long article on "Preaching for the Times." The writer of the article contends that we want "deep truths clearly expressed," such as will lead the hearers to a verdict condemning sin and justifying Christ." This paragraph is not designed to be a homily on preaching, but the writer just wishes to say that the first consideration with a preacher should be to gain attention. He has no faith in laying down any particular style or plan for universal or general adoption-let every man be himselfevery man in his own order. There is great force as well as simplicity in the words, "able minister of the New Testament."

THE death of the Rev. W. O. Simpson, at the age of fifty, is, humanly speaking, a great loss to Methodism, and especially so as following upon so many similar bereavements, so many remarkable men having been taken to their reward in the midst of their career of usefulness.

Literary Notices.

Heaven: its Hope; its Inhabitants; its Riches; its Happiness. The certainty of God's promise of a life beyond the grave, and the rewards that are in store for faithful service, as gleaned from sacred Scripture. By D. L. MOODY. London: Morgan and Scott. 1s. 6d., limp cloth,

119 pages.

THE title expresses fully what the book contains. How many doubting souls have had their doubts removed by reading the fourteenth chapter of John's Gospel. This book of Mr. Moody's is well calculated to remove doubts and impart consolation.

Life more Abundant and other Addresses. By THEODORE MONOD. London: Morgan and Scott. Cloth, 1s. 6d., 128 pages. THESE addresses are admirably calculated to urge the believer on to higher attainments, and we believe this has been one of the drawbacks to Church prosperity, that Church members are content with a faint assurance that they are in the favour of God, and do not go on to perfection. There must be a growing up into Christ in order to bring forth the fruits of righteousness. There must be progression or the goal of attainable perfection cannot be reached. These addresses, if carefully read, must do good.

Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Meeting of the American National Association of Local Preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, held at Baltimore, October 16 to 19, 1880, with an Appendix, containing Essays, Memoirs, &c.

ABOUT 170 delegates were present, among them our Brother Jameson.

Via, Veritas, Vita: Discursive Notes

on Preaching, and on some Types of the Christian Life. By a Presbyter. London: Elliot Stock. 94 Pages. Price 1s. 6d.

THE printing, paper, and getting up of this pamphlet is all that can be desired. As it regards the matter,

we read the first sheet, and it was not to our taste; it might suit others, but what good end can be answered by its publication, we fail to see.

Miscellaneous.

PROMPTITUDE.

To be prompt in action, is a most invaluable qualification. The man who is constantly in doubt is incapable of managing great affairs. His knowledge may be extensive, his penetration quick, his understanding enlarged, his imagination vigorous; he may be candid and courteous, generous and noble-minded; he may possess every quality which is calculated to fascinate in conversation, and be able to explain difficult cases with such plausibility as to make all who hear him believe there is nobody better fitted for business: still he is worse than useless in action. He sees clearly the advantages that must result from the success of a scheme; but then he perceives with equal distinctness the obstacles which stand in the way of its execution. He weighs the one against the other, and over again weighs them; and he cannot arrive at a decision. No man understands all the niceties-the logical distinctions-of a question half so well, or deliberates half so profoundly, as he does; but nobody can be less the better for a piercing reach of thought, and a painful exercise of the faculties of judgment: for with him the end of all is the hopeless "What to do, I cannot exclamation, tell!" In the meantime, opportunity flies and he enters upon the consideration of some other matter with the same unprofitable waste thought. It is extremely hazardous to employ persons of this description in any transaction of importance, unless their part in it be such, that, like sailors, they are told "they have no business to think; " but as companions or counsellors, their value is considerable, because they drop numerous hints, which, used by those who know how to use them in time, turn out to be of infinite consequence.

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In war, irresolution is especially disastrous. The general, sitting in his tent with his principal officers, may "deliberate in cold debate," until the enemy enter, and call upon them to surrender. Julius Cæsar used to say that great exploits ought to be executed without waiting for consultation, lest the contemplation of danger should cool the first ardour of courage. Promptitude of decision and of action are, besides, indispensable in commanders, inasmuch as their motions and actions are for the most part sudden, on account of the daily occurrence in a campaign of events and vicissitudes which could neither be foreseen nor provided against. In these circumstances, presence of mind is of greater advantage than a head more sagacious but slow in its operations, and often achieves the most splendid victories. Great conquerors have commonly possessed this quickness of capacity in an eminent degree; as may be instanced in Cæsar, and, above all, in Bonaparte. A readiness of repartee is also of no small consequence, on some occasions, to the leader of an army. Two or three words aptly thrown out in the heat of the moment, produce much more effect upon soldiery than a studied and stately harangue. "England expects every man to do his duty was far more inspiriting than all the speeches in Livy would have been, if they had actually been delivered.

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enough to leap at once to the summit, in order to avoid the labour of ascending step by step. There are undoubtedly some events which promote a man's fortunes more than others, and seasons when his affairs begin to prosper better. But the wise man knows that these seldom happen fortuitously. What is "the nick of

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time? It is the moment when the iron is hot enough for hammering; the industrious smith knows it well, and brings it about for himself hundreds of times in a day. When is the tide fortunate? Whenever it flows deep enough to carry the ship out of harbour; the prudent merchant knows its periods, and has his vessel ready loaded to sail with it. These, and such as these, are the lucky eras" in the affairs of men:" they present themselves, not once in the "threescore and ten years," nor once in a year, but daily, hourly, every minute; they who embrace them, thrive; they who neglect them, never do well. "The nick of time," we might have said, is nothing else but the present time, which always brings with it something needful to be done, some duty, manual or mental, to be performed. If these be not in their turn regularly accomplished, we not only miss "the nick of time now, but throw ourselves out of all reckoning with regard to it for the future.

The man who finishes his work-of whatever kind it may be-in due season, need scarcely fear that he will ever experience any disadvantage from the want of presence of mind. He is always unembarrassed, and whatever comes to his hand, he is ready to execute. Few emergencies harass him, because he is prepared for them beforehand. On the con. trary, he whose indolence or folly causes him to procrastinate, is always in a hurry, and never does anything well. He can never extricate himself from confusion; and a small thing is to him an emergency, inasmuch as, when the time for undertaking it arrives, he is never ready to begin. The business of to-day he puts off till to-morrow; and when to-morrow comes, finding he has the work of two days on his hands, and that to go tain in the hope of acquiring agility through it would cost him unusual

Indecision and irresolution fail in all; the power of deciding in sudden emergencies, and vigour in action, gain a part; but it is only forethought and prudence that secure permanent benefits. People are too apt to imagine, that what is called "the nick of time" is a period which arrives, unexpectedly, but once in a man's life; that "the tide, which, taken at its height, doth lead to fortune," offers to the adventurer no more than a single flow; they sit down accordingly, and "wait to see what will cast up," resolved that no minor occupation shall engross their attention, and prevent them from snatching the grand opportunity when it comes. This conduct is as foolish as it would be to remain at the bottom of a moun

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labour, he says to himself once more, "It will be time enough to-morrow," and postpones all till the third day. Thus he proceeds, accumulating in his progress a multitude of dilemmas, from which no earthly prudence or presence of mind is capable of extricating him. We have known men of this kind, who led far more laborious lives, everything considered, than those who did three times as much work. They would forfeit their sleep two nights in the week, slaving and toiling at a business, which, if taken in proper time, and by proper arrangements, could have been very easily accomplished. To act wisely, therefore, in the business of life, we must always combine forethought with promptitude-we must bring mind into play. A well-disciplined mind, which, at a glance at all sides of a subject, can see where the difficulties lie, and how they are to be surmounted, is seldom at a loss in acting promptly and yet prudently. Promptitude without forethought, or the power of acting wisely on the spur of the moment, is of no use, or worse than useless, for it amounts to precipitancy; besides, it is often necessary, in human action, to proceed with deliberate caution-to go on patiently for a time in a dull routine of duty before the period arrives that is to produce the glorious result we anticipated. This is eminently the case in all that relates to works of art. The famous Michael Angelo, who was very long about his works, said, "that in arts haste was good for nothing, and that as nature takes much time in forming what is to last long, so art, which strives to imitate nature, ought to work leisurely; it being impossible for man to do any thing that is excellent in haste." Thus, even in some of the higher departments of art, where genius comes into play, long labour and careful execution are indispensable to success. Those who work at ordinary professions may likewise be assured that prudence and persevering industry are no less necessary in their case, and that the only way to hit "the nick of time" is, to be constantly busy in their employments.Chambers's Journal.

WILLIAM DAWSON'S POPULARITY. INSTEAD of his labours being confined to his own and the neighbouring circuits and districts, his calls for special service now extended to the neighbouring counties. The friends in one of the principal towns in the kingdom, being about this time (in 1815) disappointed of some of their leading men on a missionary occasion, Mr. Dawson was proposed by a member of the committee to supply the lack in the emergency. But though fame ran high, yet as he had never visited the place-as only one or two of the less influential members had heard him as great expectations were raised, and they were not to be realized by the brethren who had been solicited, it was agreed instead of a letter for no time was to be lost -that a deputation should be sent forthwith to Leeds and Barnbow. On the arrival of the gentlemen at Leeds, they tried what additional help could be obtained there; but were unable to secure any. They then inquired, with some anxiety, respecting the suitability and the abode of Mr. Dawson. The very

man for you!" was reiterated in different quarters. Thus encouraged they took a post-chaise and drove on to Barnbow. On their arrival, they inquired of Mrs. Dawson, to whom they were introduced, for her son. A chaise in the cross road to Barnbow was rather an unusual thing. They soon advertised the old lady, however, of the object of their visit. She told them that her son was in the fields; but having no boy at hand, and the gentlemen being wishful to go in quest of him themselves, they proceeded in the line directed. The visitants coming up to a person in crossing the fields, who was engaged on the farm, paid their respects to him, and inquired," Are you Mr. Dawson, Sir?" An answer in the negative was humbly and respectfully returned; the man adding,"Master is in a close down there," pointing in the direction where he wished them to go. It was not long before they saw a person busily engaged in hedging and ditching; and being pretty near him before they

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