questions, it was found difficult to prefix to each its appropriate anecdotes, it is hoped there will be few, if any, altogether misplaced. Care has been taken to admit, as far as possible, only those of a religious nature, which may, with propriety, be related by a pious parent or teacher, when instructing his children or scholars on a Sabbath evening.

Though this little volume is to be viewed as chiefly adapted to the use of parents and Sabbath School teachers, yet it may not be uninteresting to the general reader. The questions under which they are arranged, will serve as a guide in selecting anecdotes suited to particular circumstances; and something may be found fitted to please and to instruct.

A few miscellaneous anecdotes have been added, several of which were selected after most of the sheets had gone through the press. Some of these, it is presumed, will appear new and striking.

If, through the Divine blessing, this work in any measure serve the purpose designed, the compiler will rejoice that his humble labours have not been in vain.

Edinburgh, July 28, 1825.

I. WHAT is the chief end of man?

A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.

The late Lady Glenorchy, in her diary, relates her being seized with a fever, which threatened her life. 66 During the course of which,” she says, "the first question of the Assembly's Catechism was brought to my mind,-What is the chief end of man?" as if some one had asked it. When I considered the answer to it, "To glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever," I was struck with shame and confusion. I found I had never sought to glorify God in my life, nor had any idea what was meant by enjoying him for ever. Death and judgment were set before me; my past sins came to my remembrance; I saw no way to escape the punishment due unto them, nor had I the least glimmering hope of obtaining the pardon of them through the righteousness of another." From this unhappy state

she was shortly after delivered, by believing on the Lord Jesus as the only Saviour of the guilty.

Such was Mr. Hervey's strict piety, that he suffered no moment to go unimproved: when he was called down to tea, he used to bring his Hebrew Bible or Greek Testament with him; and would either speak upon one verse or upon several verses, as occasion offered. 16 This," says Mr. Romaine, was generally an improving season. The glory of God is very seldom promoted at the tea table; but it was at Mr Hervey's. Drinking tea with him, was like being at an or dinance; for it was sanctified by the word of God, and prayer."

An eminent minister, after having been silent in company for a considerable time, and being asked the reason, signified that the powers of his mind had been solemnly absorbed with the thought of eternal happiness. "O my friends," said he, with an energy that surprised all present, "consider what it is to be for ever with the Lord. for ever, for ever, for ever!"

A French officer, who was a prisoner upon his parole at Reading, met with a Bible; he read it, and was so struck with its contents, that he was convinced of the folly of sceptical principles, and of the truth of Christianity, and resolved to become a protestant. When his gay associates rallied him for taking so serious a turn, he said in his vindication, "I have done no more than my old school-fellow Bernadotte, who has become a Lutheran." 66 Yes, but he became so," said his associates, "to obtain a crown." "My motive," said the Christian officer, is the

same; we only differ as to the place.-The object of Bernadotte is to obtain a crown in Sweden, mine is to obtain a crown in heaven."

Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?

A. The word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.

A gentleman, travelling in a stage coach, attempted to divert the company by ridiculing the Scriptures: As to the prophecies," said he, "in particular, they were all written after the events took place." A minister in the coach, who had hitherto been silent replied, Sir I beg leave to mention one particular prophecy as an exception, 2 Pet. iii. 2. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the latter days Scoffers.' Now, sir, whether the event be not long after the prediction. I leave the company to judge.' the mouth of the scorner was stopped.

The learned Salmasius said on his death-bed, "O! I have lost a world of time! If one year more were added to my life, it should be spent in reading David's Psalms, and Paul's Epistles."

Mr. Locke, a little before his death, being asked what was the shortest and surest way for a young gentleman to attain a true knowledge of the Christian religion, made this reply: "Let him study the holy Scriptures, especially the New Testament; therein are contained the words of eternal life. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error. for its matter."

It was customary in Cromwell's time for his soldiers to carry, each a Bible in his pocket.

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Among others, a profligate young man, who was ordered to attack some fortress. During the engagement a bullet had perforated his Bible, and gone so far as to rest opposite these words in Ecclesiastics: Rejoice, O young man in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment." The words, so appropriate to his case, powerfully affected his mind and proved, by the blessing of God, the means of his conversion. He used to observe, that the Bible had been the happy means of saving both his soul and his body.

A person in Birmingham, who lived in the neglect of the worship of God. and of reading the Bible, was, on a Lord's day. sitting at the fire, with his family; he said that he thought he would read a chapter in the Bible, not having read one for a long time: But, alas! he was disappointed; it was too late, for, in the very act of reaching it from the shelf, he sunk down, and immediately expired.

Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?

A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of

man.

Dr. Elliot was well acquainted with Colonel Allen, a celebrated infidel in America, and made him a visit at a time when his daughter was sick and near death. He was introduced to the library, where the Colonel read to him some of his writings with much self-complacency, and asked, "Is not that well done?" While they were thus employed, a messenger entered, and informed