avoid all display. But there was no choice. On either hand the crowd drew back, opening out a lane wide enough to allow of three, or at most four, walking abreast; and so in steady ranks the procession moved on its way, while all around they were met with expressions of the deepest emotion.

The writer of this book was not a member of Assembly, but in that part of the House allotted to ministers not members he was in a favourable position, where all that went on could be fully seen. After the movement had been made, he remained for some time, side by side with Dr. Horatius Bonar, to witness the departure of friends, and especially to note the effect on the Moderate party who remained behind. At first, Dr. Cook and his friends were all complacency, but as the full extent of the Disruption began to disclose itself, there came an expression of perplexity, which in not a few instances seemed to deepen into bewilderment and dismay.

"On leaving the church and falling into the line of procession, it was evident that amidst the crowd the first sensation was over, though tears were seen in many eyes, and other signs of emotion could be observed. But what showed most strikingly the magnitude of the movement was the view from that point in George Street where you look down the long vista toward Tanfield, and where one unbroken column was seen, stretching, amidst numerous spectators, all the way till lost in the distance.

"Of the procession Mr. Dunlop says: True and great dignity and moral power impressed awe, which spoke in the silent language of respectful observance; and every now and then, as some more venerable father, or some tried champion of the cause, passed down, might be seen a head uncovered and bent in quiet reverence.' This struck Mr. Duncan, of Kirkpatrick-Durham, as the deepest touch of all, showing that earnest solemnity and the spirit of prayer had its place in the gazing throng.' 'There were hats raised from venerable heads, and words such as these dropped into the ears of the passing ministers: "The Lord be with you! "God guide you!" "May he strengthen you and bear you through!"'

"Here and there, as the child or wife of some outgoing minister caught sight of a husband or father's form, accomplishing an act which was to leave his family homeless and unprovided, warm tear-drops formed, which, as if half-ashamed of them, the hand of faith was in haste to wipe away.

"And sometimes, under the impulse of the moment, there were yet more demonstrative expressions of feeling. As Dr. Landsborough moved in the procession, an aged minister was a little ahead of him. On a sudden the crowd broke, and a young lady sprang forward and caught the hand of the venerable servant of God, raised it up, kissed it, and then allowing it to drop, fell back into the crowd; while the old man seemed so much occupied with his own thoughts as scarcely to have noticed what had been done.'

"Nor were such feelings confined to those who were out on the street. Elsewhere in the city, Lord Jeffrey was sitting reading in his quiet. room, when one burst in upon him, saying, 'Well, what do you think of it? More than four hundred of them are actually out!' The book was

flung aside, and, springing to his feet, Lord Jeffrey exclaimed, 'I am proud of my country. There is not another country upon earth where such a deed could have been done.""

The reader will observe that we have borrowed much of our article, and we have done so on purpose to introduce the book from which we have quoted a lengthened passage, and also obtained our engraving,— viz, "The Annals of the Disruption." By the Rev. Thomas Brown, F.R.S.E. Edinburgh: Macniven and Wallace, 132, Princes Street; or London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co. It has done our heart good to read this story of a brave deed. We are sure it would be for the health of many in this degenerate age to study this record of what was done some. forty years ago. When a boy, we remember the enthusiasm of the Independent Congregation with which our family was connected. collection made when the Scotch minister preached for the Free Church exceeded anything on record. Certain of the Disruption men have been among our choicest friends, and we like to think of all they did and suffered for the truth's sake. God bless the Free Church, and keep it faithful! A perusal of this record may help in that direction, and therefore we are glad to bring it before our readers, many of whom dwell in the "land of brown heath and shaggy wood." The volume is

The

of goodly size, and contains countless anecdotes and memorials, and yet the price is only five shillings. Every Scotchman should read it, because he knows the great influence which the event had upon his country's spiritual life, and every Englishman should read it because he ought to know what his northern brethren have done.

These men only began the war upon the day when they left all for Christ. How much they suffered, and how bravely they triumphed we may try to tell next month. Meanwhile, many of our subscribers will be eager to get the book for themselves.

A

44

You believe it, but don't preach it."

FTER Mr. Haynes was dismissed from his charge, in Rutland, Vermont, which he had held more than twenty years, he was employed about two years as a stated supply to the Congregational Church at Manchester. In this town was a Universalist society, which was supplied with only occasional preaching; but, as in most other cases, its adherents were very fond of discussing their sentiments with other denominations. One of these took frequent occasion to dispute with Mr. Haynes; and though he generally, not to say always, came off second best, he seemed determined to renew the controversy on every convenient

occasion.

At the close of one of these interviews, apparently under the full conviction of his own inferiority, he said, " Mr. Haynes, you are a learned man, and I cannot argue with you; but I expect one of our ministers here before long, and I intend to bring him to see you; he will be able to defend our doctrine." Mr. Haynes replied, "Oh, well, bring him along; I shall be pleased to talk with him!"

Some weeks afterwards the Universalist minister arrived, and the parishioner embraced the first leisure hour to take him up to the village

to see Mr. Haynes. On their way they were met by one of the brethren of their own faith, who, after learning whither they were bound, advised them to turn back; "for," said he, "he is an old fox, and you can't get to the windward of him." They, however, persisted in their purpose, and soon arrived at the parsonage.

Mr. Haynes was called from the study to receive the visitors without knowing or receiving the least intimation who they were. As he entered the room, the parishioner, after exchanging compliments, said, "Mr. Haynes, this is Mr. - -, my minister, whom I promised to bring to see you." "How d' do, how d' do?" said Mr. Haynes, taking the minister familiarly by the hand; "well, you are the man, then, who preaches that men may swear, and lie, and get drunk, and commit adultery, and all other abominations, and yet go to heaven after all, ain't you?' "No, no," said the Universalist minister, "I don't preach any such thing." "Well," said Father Haynes," you believe so, don't you?"

This was a blow that completely annihilated all desire for theological discussion, and well nigh took away the power of utterance from both the minister and layman. After a few remarks on the state of the weather, and the pleasant situation of the village, the minister said to his attendant, "Is it not time for us to be going?" and both withdrew, apparently satisfied to dispense with all farther intercourse.-Arvine.

I

Earthly things unsatisfactory.

66

HAVE read a story of a man whom Chrysostom did feign to be in prison. "Oh," saith he, "if I had but liberty, I would desire no more!" He had it; and then cried, "if I had enough for necessity, I would desire no more." He had it; and then cried, "had I a little for variety, I would desire no more." He had it; and then cried, "had I any office, were it the meanest, I would desire no more." He had it; and cried again, "had I but a magistracy, though over one town only, I would desire no more." He had it; and cried again, were I a prince, I would desire no more." He had it; and then sighed, "were I but a king, I would desire no more." He had it; and then cried, "were I but an emperor, I would desire no more." He had it; and then exclaimed," were I but emperor of the whole world, I would then desire no more." He had it; and then he sat down with Alexander, and wept that there were no more worlds for him to possess. Now did any man come to enjoy what he is said to desire, it would be but a very mean portion compared with God. We may truly say of all the honours, riches, greatness, grandeur, and glory of this world, compared with God, as Gideon sometime said of the vintage of Abiezer, "Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?" So the very gleanings, yea, the smallest gatherings of God, are far better, and more excellent and transcendent, more satisfying, more delighting, more quieting, and more contenting, than all earthly portions are, or can be.-Thomas Brooks.

Billy Durrant.'

HE work of the early Methodist preachers in the benighted villages

The rustic beauty of the quiet hamlets formed too often a striking contrast to the degraded condition of the inhabitants. The ale-house and the card-table created idle habits, and fostered low passions; and the young men lived a life of drunkenness and brutality under the very shadow of the square church-tower, and within the sound of the pleasant church-bells. When this dense ignorance and ungodliness were broken in upon by earnest, if but half-educated, preachers, the effect was often very great. The preacher was like a red-hot bolt shot out of heaven. He dealt equally in the law and the gospel: he alternated the terrors of the Judgment-day with the allurements of the Cross; and villagers, whose depraved and animal life had never before been interrupted by any knowledge of the gospel, listened with amazement and conviction. It was preaching of this kind that led to the conversion of Billy Durrant, the story of whose life, in a lively and readable little book, lies before us. He was born in 1808, the son of a Norfolk labourer. His youth was spent in the abandoned style too common in those days. At the age of nineteen he left home and went to sea from the port of Lynn, in a stout brig called the Lively Nelly, where he spent fourteen months, and was five times swept overboard and narrowly escaped drowning. "The master and men of the Lively Nelly, though quiet and good tempered enough when sober, were very bad men when under the influence of strong drink; indeed, they were devils incarnate. At that time they were certainly, from the captain to the cabin-boy, the worst set of blasphemers," said Billy, "I ever heard, with one exception, namely, Denis Bowles, who was a member of the Wesleyan Society; and if I had been ruled by him I should have been a very different youth."

Leaving the sea, he returned to his native village, to follow agricultural pursuits, and live the life of a sot. The ale-house was his favourite place. For two years not a Saturday night passed that he was not in a state of intoxication. A drunkard, a Sabbath-breaker, a swearer, a dishonest man, a cheat, he spent his substance with other idle and dissolute fellows in riotous living. One Christmas-time, he was returning on his wagon, in a drunken state, from the White Horse, at Holme, when he fell from the shafts all along the wheel rut, and the wheels passed over him. He sustained fearful injuries, and for two months his sufferings were beyond description. But he took to reading the Bible, and that spring proved to be the time of his conversion. "About the middle of April, James Pole, a mighty man of God, came and took his stand under the trees off the Frogmarket Street, and began to warn sinners to flee from the wrath to come. He certainly was such a preacher as I had never heard before." This was the style of the preaching; the young man supported by a

A Memoir of Billy Durrant, Local Preacher, Bookseller, and Poet. By Richard S. Blair. London: Ralph Fenwick, Sutton Street, Commercial Road, and Bible Christian Book Room, Paternoster Row.