to it. May it make us willing to take up, and bear any cross for him, who bore his cross and expired upon it, for us men, and for our salvation. Thus it was with this pious, suffering pair. Though he was disinherited by his father, and she was deserted of her friends, yet, they looked to him and were lightened, and their faces were not ashamed. She was now become the great comforter and encourager of her husband. O the influence of faith. . Believing for ourselves, that God will never leave, nor forsake us, how it brings the Christian, amid adversity, to be content with such things as he has.

He, who sees the end from the beginning, viewed this day of extremity, and provided a little oil and meal, sufficient to keep the sufferers from perishing. She had two hundred pounds in her own hands, left her by her grandmother. Providence had provided, and preserved this for its appointed season and use. The sum was, indeed, comparatively small, but as the wise king observes, "a little, that a righteous man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked :" On which passage, Bishop Horne justly remarks, that a little, with the blessing of God upon it, is better than a great deal, with incumbrance of his curse. His blessing can multiply a mite

into a talent, but his curse will shrink a talent to a mite.

Mrs. S. though a lady who had been highly bred, did not feel herself scandalized when seen in her red waistcoat and milking her cows. All, we find, was done exceeding cheerfully. She bore up under her trials, not from a proud sto

ical apathy-that senselessness and stupidity of disposition, which produces a total unconcern respecting our condition or situation. Oh no! Hear and admire the principle, God, saith she, hath had mercy on me, and any pains taking is pleasant to me. Instead of being ashamed, rather let us glory in tribulation, when it is endured in so noble a cause as that of Christ and a good conscience; "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my father which is in heaven." If God be for us, who can be against us?

As gold is proved by the fire, so the truth and excellency of religion is made evident by the support which it yields under heavy afflictions. This worthy pair, lived in comparative adversity for some years, with much comfort. The end of their sufferings being accomplished, which was, that they might in a higher degree be made partakers of his holiness,

they are delivered out of the furnace, and afterwards enjoy the mercies which were in store for them, with a higher sense of their excellence, than they would, had they not been thus purified. God never acts in an arbitrary and tyrannical manner. His proceedings should never be suspected and censured, for he ever wills, and acts for our advantage.

Though we can see no immediate way of escape from our trials, God is never at a loss for instruments to deliver us in his adpointed time; and the means, which he employs, are often the last we should have supposed. The tenants of the estate unexpected and unsolicited, came forward and enabled Mr. S. to regain his right. Thus God led these distinguished servants of his, by a right, though a perplexing and distressing way, to a city of habitation.

We are unstable as water. The wind is not more variable than are our feelings. Mrs. S. who so nobly endured the rigours of the northern blast, now sinks into dejection, while the southern gales waft plenty to her door. Though crowned with loving kindness and tender mercies, she sinks into despondency, and because replenished in her basket, and her store, trembles lest her heart should be found destitute of spiritual blessings. She, it is

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observed, fell into a way of questioning the truth of her grace, because of outward prosperity. This is a dart, with which the devil now often wounds those believers, who are placed in easy or affluent circumstances, and it is over-ruled for their good. It prevents them from becoming intoxicated with prosperity, and from falling asleep in the arms of indiffe rence, and of false security.

How true was the remark of Dean Swift, "Small causes, says that shrewd observer of mankind, are sufficient to make a man uneasy, when great ones are not in the way. For want of a BLOCK he will stumble at a straw." God rebuked this good woman for her unthankfulness. He took her child from her by a dreadful death, and she was instructed. "Hear ye the rod, suffering christians, and who hath appointed it" for as good Mr. Henry observes, "Every rod has a voice, and it is well for them that understand the language of it." He adds, "Every rod is appointed, of what kind it shall be, where it shall light, and how long it shall lie.' Then, hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!

MORTAL JACK.

J. S. a private in the 15th. Light Troops, had contracted such a habit of prophane swearing, and was so accustomed to d-n his mortal limbs, that he was generally known by the name of mortal Jack. In this respect his conduct became proverbial, "You are as bad as mortal Jack." Which was the common adage by which the most prophane swearer in the regiment was reproved. On April 24th, 1794, at Cambray, while asleep in his tent, he disturbed his fellow soldiers by making an unusual and dismal noise On being with difficulty awaked, he said, "I have been dreaming, that I was reaping corn with my father, in a field where I once beat him, because he would not supply me with money; and I thought, that a number of venemous creatures fixed upon me: and a large one flying over the corn, seized me by the throat: my father seeing the danger I was in, strove to drive them away. I imagined that the earth shook, trembled, and opened; and that the venemous creature which held me by the throat, dragged me into an opening chasm, or pit, when the earth immediately closed upon me; and this day I believe, I shall be in hell!" He