THE CHRISTIAN.

FAITH.

SOME years ago, an officer in the army, who was a pious man, was drafted abroad with his regiment. He accordingly embarked, with his wife and children. They had not been many days at sea, when a violent storm arose, which threatened the destruction of the ship, and the loss of their lives. Consternation and terror prevailed among the crew and passengers; his wife also was greatly alarmed. In the midst of all, he was perfectly calm and composed his wife observing this, began to upbraid him with want of affection to her and her children, urging, that if he was not concerned for his own safety, he ought to be for theirs. He made no reply, but immediately left the cabin, to which he returned in a short time with his sword drawn in his hand, and with a stern countenance pointed it to her breast; but she, smiling, did not appear at all disconcerted or afraid. "What!" said he, 66 are you not afraid when a drawn sword is at your breast?" "No," answered she, "when I know that it is in the hand of one who loves me." "And would you have me,” he replied, "to be afraid of this storm and tempest, when I know it to be in the hand of my heavenly Father, who loves me?"

LOVE FOR THE BIBLE.

A VERY poor woman in Edinburgh, who was so nearly blind as not to be able to peruse the Bible, could get no one to read it to her. She was greatly distressed to live day after day without the comfort and direction of this blessed book. She thought of many plans, and made many inquiries, but all in vain. At last she made a bargain with another woman to read to her a chapter every night; and for this service she paid her a penny a-week out of her scanty pittance.

PRINCESS AMELIA.

A LADY who was in the habit of close attendance on the Princess Amelia, during her last illness, described some of the latter intercourses which took place between the princess and her royal father George III., and which seldom failed to turn on the momentous topic of the future world, as being singularly affecting. "My dear child," said his majesty to her, on one of these occasions, "you have ever been a good child to your parents-we have nothing wherewith to reproach you; but I need not tell you, that it is not of yourself alone that you can be saved, and that your acceptance with God must depend on your faith and trust in the merits of the Redeemer." "I know it," replied the princess mildly, but emphatically, "and I could wish for no better trust."

LIGHT AFTER DARKNESS.

MR. WHITE, on the power of godliness, says: "A precious holy man told me of a woman that was six years in desertion; and, by God's providence, hearing Mr. Rollock preach, she of a sudden fell down, overwhelmed with joy, crying out, "O, he is come whom my soul loveth!" and so was carried home for dead, and for divers days after she was filled with exceeding joys, and had such pious and singularly ravishing expressions, so fluently coming from her, that many came to hear the rare manifestations of God's grace in her; and amongst the rest that went to hear, there was one that could write shorthand, who yet a great while stood so amazed at her expressions, that he could not write; at last, recovering himself, he wrote a whole sheet of paper; which this minister read, and told me, that of all the expressions that ever he read in the Book of Martyrs, or elsewhere, he never read any so high as the lowest of them."

DR. GIFFORD AND THE PRISONER.

He

A YOUNG Woman, whom Dr. Gifford visited in prison, and who was to be tried for her life, heard him speak a good while in an awful strain, not only unmoved, but at last she laughed in his face. then altered his tone, and spoke of the love of Jesus, and the mercy provided for the chief of sinners, till the tears came in her eyes, and she interrupted him by asking,

"Why; do you think there can be mercy for me?" He said, "Undoubtedly, if you can desire it."

She replied, "Ah! if I had thought so, I should not have been here. I have long fixed it in my mind that I was absolutely lost and without hope, and this persuasion made me obstinate in my wickedness, so that I cared not what I did."

She was afterwards tried, and sentenced to transportation, and Dr. Gifford, who saw her several times, had a good hope that she was truly converted before she left England.

MRS. ROBINSON.

MRS. ROBINSON was born at Dundee, in Scotland, August 27th, 1749. In the seventh year of her age, the instructions of her pious mother, and the good counsels of a Christian friend, led her seriously to inquire, "What must I do to be saved?"

In reading the sacred Scriptures, especially those parts of them which describe the sufferings of Christ, she was deeply affected. When she was twelve years of age, she became more decided in favour of religion, and resolved never to rest until she found that peace of God" which passeth all understanding." Satan now perplexed her mind with doubts, and brought her into great distress. Had she consulted her minister, or some pious and judicious friend, she might have obtained an early deliverance. In this unhappy state she continued eighteen months, till at length she opened her mind to her mother. Anxious to see her daughter

brought into the liberty of the Gospel, this excellent parent united with a few serious persons in prayer to God, and never ceased to intercede with him in her behalf till the dark cloud was dispersed, and Divine light began to shine upon her mind. By a powerful application of the words of the prophet, "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near,” she was much encouraged to persevere in prayer. Her soul was soon filled with joy and peace in believing, and she saw and felt that Christ was mighty to save. For some years after this she went on her way rejoicing; but an unguarded step which she took in forming a matrimonial engagement, was a source of grief to her parents, and brought darkness and condemnation upon her own mind. When adverting to this circumstance in future life, she often expressed deep regret.

In the year 1774, she accompanied her husband, who was in the army, to America, and on June 4th landed safe at Boston. The prayers and conversations of a black man were made a blessing to her, and she experienced a revival of religion in her soul.

"At length," she says, "the fatal day of battle arrived. Then it was that I began to think of my disobedience to my parents, and of my departure from God. A succession of domestic afflictions added to my distress. In the course of one week two of my children were taken ill and died."

At length she received the heart-rending intel