PEACE OF MIND.

A FRIEND once asked Professor Francke how it came to pass that he maintained so constant a peace of mind. The benevolent and godly man replied, "By stirring up my mind a hundred times a day. Wherever I am, whatever I do, I say Blessed Jesus, have I truly a share in thy redemption? Are my sins forgiven? Am I guided by thy Spirit? Thine I am; wash me again and again. By this constant converse with Jesus I have enjoyed serenity of mind and a settled peace in my soul."

THE AUSTRALIAN EMIGRANT'S HYMN.

O THOU, who know'st not change of place,
Nor feel'st the flight of time,

Accept my thanks for all thy grace

In many a varied clime!

Thou heard'st me breathe my childhood's pray'r

In Albion's distant isle;

Thou hear'st me still invoke thy care
Where southern woodlands smile.

Lord! send me faith, a Father's hand
In all thy works to see;

And make this moral waste a land
Where praise is paid to thee.

Let Christian temples glad the eye
On every mountain's brow;
And Christian hymns ascend on high,
Where all is silent now.

Ungodly yet, though thousands live,
Who here thy kindness prove,
Propitious springs and harvests give,
And win them by thy love.

For me, a pilgrim's lot is mine,-
I ask but pilgrim's fare;

The daily bread vouchsafed to thine

A crust perchance to spare.

But oh! while life's short years revolve,

My soul in safety keep;

And grant me, when earth's ties dissolve,
In Christ to fall asleep!

R. HUIE.

OCCASIONAL MEDITATIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS. UPON THE TOLLING OF A PASSING BELL.

How doleful and heavy is this summons of death! This sound is not for our ears, but for our hearts; it calls us not only to our prayers, but to our preparation; to our prayers for the departing soul; to our preparation for our own departing. We have never so much need of prayers, as in our last combat; then is our great adversary most eager, then are we the weakest, then nature is so over-laboured, that it gives us not leisure to make use of gracious motions: there is no preparation so necessary as for this conflict; all our life is little enough to make ready for our last hour. What am I better than my neighbours? How oft hath this bell reported to me the farewell of many more strong and vigo rous bodies than my own; of many more cheerful and lively spirits! And now what doth it, but call me to the thought of my parting? Here is no abiding for me; I must away too. O thou, that art the God of comfort, help thy poor servant that is now struggling with his last enemy;* his sad friends stand gazing upon him, and weeping over him, but

The passing bell used to be tolled when any one was at the point of death; now it is rung some hours after death.

TRACT MAG., THIRD SERIES, No. 108, DEC., 1842. N

they cannot succour him; needs must they leave him to do this great work alone; none but thou to whom belong the issues of death, canst relieve his distressed and over-matched soul; and as for me, let no man die without my consideration. As I die daily, so teach me to die once; acquaint me beforehand with that messenger, which I must trust to. O teach me so to number my days, that I may apply my heart to true wisdom.

UPON THE SIGHT OF A DARK LANTERN.

THERE is light indeed, but so shut up, as if it were not; and when the side is most open, there is light enough to give direction to him that bears it, none to others: he can discern another man by that light which is cast before him, but another man cannot discern him; right such is reserved knowledge; no man is the better for it, but the owner; there is no outward difference betwixt concealed skill and ignorance; and when such hidden knowledge will look forth, it casts so sparing a light, as may only argue it to have an unprofitable being, to have ability, without will to good; power to censure, none to benefit; the suppressing, or keeping to ourselves, of those helps which God would have us to impart, is but a thief's lantern in a true man's hand. O God, as all our light is from thee, the Father of lights, so make me no niggard of that poor rush-candle thou hast lighted in my soul; make me more happy in giving light to others, than in receiving it into myself.

UPON THE SIGHT OF A HEAP OF STONES.

UNDER such a pile it was, that the first martyr was buried none of all the ancient kings had so glorious a tomb; here, were many stones, and every one precious. Jacob leaned his head upon a stone, and saw that heavenly vision of angels ascending and descending. Many stones lighted upon Stephen's head, in the instant of his seeing the heavens opened, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Jacob, resting upon that one stone, saw but the angels; Stephen being to rest for once under those many stones, saw the Lord of the angels. Jacob saw the angels moving; Stephen saw Jesus standing. As Jacob therefore afterwards, according to his vow, made there an altar to God, so Stephen

Lo,

now in the present, gathers these stones together, of which he erected an holy altar, whereon he offered up himself a blessed sacrifice unto God: and if there be a time of gathering stones, and a time of casting them away, this was the time wherein the Jews cast, and Stephen gathered up these stones for a monument of eternal glory. O blessed saint, thou didst not so clearly see heaven opened, as heaven saw thee covered; thou didst not so perfectly see thy Jesus standing, as he saw thee lying, patiently, courageously, under that fatal heap. Do I mistake it, or are those stones, not flints and pebbles, but diamonds and rubies, and carbuncles, to set upon thy crown of glory? Bp. Hall.

THE GRAVE.

FEAR not the grave, aged, weak, afflicted, dying Christian, for though thou canst not conquer it, neither can it conquer thee.

The stone, though it was a very great one; the seal, though no doubt attached to it with care; and the watch, with all their watching, could not keep thy crucified Lord in the grave, neither can all the powers of death and darkness keep thee there.

"Thy risen Lord almighty is to save,

Up dying saint, and chase away despair!

An angel's arm can't snatch thee from the grave,
Legions of angels can't confine thee there!"

THE CHILDREN IN THE STORM.

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN.

THREE children of my parish, about eleven or twelve years old, says a pious minister, were out keeping cattle, in a retired part of the country. They had made a fire near an old hollow wild cherry-tree, as the weather was very cold and windy. Each of them had a little book containing some religious lessons; and as they stood warming themselves round the fire, they talked together about their books, and repeated and sung one of their little hymns, about the happiness of loving the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe it was :"May I a little pilgrim be,

Resolved alone to follow thee,

Thou Lamb of God, who now art gone
Up to thine everlasting throne."

While they were thus employed, a boisterous wind arose, and shook the hollow tree, so that the trunk fell, but it just missed the children, and not one of them was in the least hurt.

The next Sunday they came to me for instruction as usual, and I asked them how they felt when they were out in the storm, and whether they knew they might have lost their lives; also, how they felt when the danger was over, and they were mercifully spared. "Oh, sir," they answered at once, the great branch of the tree came all round us, and we thought it was to remind us that Jesus, of whom we were learning, was watching over us, with his angels, and would not suffer us to be hurt." I could not but be thankful for the childlike confidence which these children appeared to place in God.

"He will sustain our weakest powers

By his almighty arm;

And watch our most unguarded hours
Against surprising harm.

"He guards thy soul, he keeps thy breath
When thickest dangers come;

Go and return secure from death

Till he commands thee home."

E. H.

"YE WILL NOT COME TO ME, THAT YE MIGHT HAVE LIFE," JOHN v. 40.

So spake Jesus to the Jews of old, and the words are applicable to multitudes now. The Lord Jesus Christ alone has power, authority, and will, to give life to sinners. He says, "I, even I, am Jehovah; and beside me there is no Saviour," Isa. xliii. 11. Man is condemned for sin, and miserable through sin; he is wicked and weak, having neither will nor power to deliver himself; and without a Saviour his eternal destiny will be fearful. But mercy has provided, employed, and sent the Lord Jesus into the world, that we may have life through him. He only has power, authority, or love sufficient for the work; as being the selfexistent, omnipotent, and omnipresent God. He can reverse the sentence of death which is passed; he has power to forgive sins; and authority to bestow a title to everlasting life. And he invites sinners to come to him that they may live.