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its very confines I have been conducted by my guide, my lamp, my Saviour, who is gone before me to prepare me a place in the house of his father, where there are many mansions. will soon come and receive me, that, where he is, I may be also. This is to me the one thing needful, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, (Phil. iii. 13.)

I thank thee, Lord Jesus, thou author and finisher of my faith, that, though by a thousand devious ways I have gone further from the end of my journey and have been detained by a thousand times ten thousand obstacles and matters of secondary importance, yet thou hast at last brought me, imprudent wanderer, so far that I stand now at the confines of the heavenly country, and that, though I have still to pass through the Jordan of death, yet I see already beyond it in he delightful fields of my blissful home, and behold myself placed within them. I will without ceasing praise thy divine providence, O my Saviour, that thou hast not given me upon earth my country and my home, but hast appointed the earth to be only the land of my exile and pilgrimage, in order that I might say with David: "I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner,' though I cannot say with Jacob: Few have the days of the years of my pil grimage been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers' (Genesis_xlvii. 9.) For thou hast prolonged my life to a longer period than that of my father and grandfather and of many thousands of my companions in exile who died during the forty years of our wanderings in the wilderness.* Why thou hast done so, thou knowest best, O Lord; into thy hands I commit myself. But as thou didst to Elijah when he once wandered through the wilderness, so thou hast also done unto me; thou hast always sent me an angel with a morsel of bread and a draught of water in order that I might not perish of hunger or thirst. Thou hast also kept me from that

* When Amos Comenius wrote this book, about 40 years had elapsed since the banishment of the Pastors of the Brethren in Bohemia and Moravia from their coun try..

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error which is but too common among mortals, to take acci. dentals for essentials, the way for the goal, motion' for rest, an inn for the dwelling house, a strange country for my home. On the contrary thou hast conducted or rather driven me to thy Horeb. Blessed be thy holy name!

But though I have wandered about every where like a fool, ish traveller, always occupied with the things of this world, with things of secondary importance, not with the chief thing needful, yet behold, Lord, now I cease from it, and resolve to do at the end of my life, like that merchant, who was seeking goodly pearls, and when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matt. xiii. 45.) Thou, Lord Jesus, shalt be from henceforth my pearl, my treas sure, mý all in all.

Thee alone I will seek and buy, and all the things which I have and which I have not, I will sell or leave to others. And what the world counts gain, I will count but dung in order that I may soon win thee, my Christ. (Phil. iii. 8.) The last labour of my life will be to learn to die unto this life, and to be born for the life to come.

Lord Jesus, if I am still to do any good upon earth, enable me to do it; and after it has been done, enable me cheerfully to exclaim with Simeon, • Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace!" (Luke ii. 29.) But if thou wilt let me sooner arrive at the end of my life than at the end of my labours (so that, on leaving this world I should have to say, like that wise man of old, I have nothing ready but myself,') - I will also be content therewith, provided I be not taken away unprepar ed, as alas! it happens to most men. I will for ever praise thy mercy that, previous to my death, thou hast delivered me from death, and hast shewn unto me the path of life.

But to you, O Christians, I say: Strive to be delivered in like manner, whilst you hear the voice of the Captain of our salvation still speaking unto you: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' (Matt. xi. 28.) Answer with one mind and one voice: Behold, Lord, we come, look-upon-us in mercy, receive us, lift us up, assist those

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who fight, relieve the heavy laden, refresh the weary, lead us from the steep heights and precipices into the quiet depths of things that the adversary may not find an opportunity to throw us down, but that thy grace may exalt us, if it should please thy fatherly goodness. We will rather live despised and in the lowest condition in thy house, if it be but with thee in thy house, than dwell in the greatest splendour in the palaces of sin. Lord, being ever in danger to go astray we stand continually in need of a guide, being ever engaged in many troublesome labours, we want continually a helper; being ever hungry and thirsty, we want continually a supply of spiritual food and drink. But we know and acknowledge, that the world cannot supply those wants, though it promises to do so; for how should it be able to give what itself does not possess? To thee alone therefore we look; thou art our only hope! Among men there is none who does not like ourselves go astray, who is not like ourselves weary, and hungry, and thirsty. Therefore, O eternal truth, do thou save those who err and go astray! O eternal virtue, do thou support the wavering! O eternal fountain of all goodness, do thou bless us with thy blessings! And because thou dost already help me,, the meanest of thy servants; because thou dost already support and bear and satisfy me, therefore I rejoice in thee and will praise thy name for ever and ever.

And because this solemn confession which I make as in the presence of God respecting my choice of the one thing needs ful, is to supply the place of my last will and testament, therefore I would call upon all of you who belong to my family, all my sons and daughters, and grand children, to hear the voice of your father; I would fain still lead you by my hand to the Father of fathers, before I am gathered to my fathers. I do not leave you any other inheritance except this one thing needful, to fear God and to keep his commandments; for in this all things are contained which a man stands in need of. If you do ac cordingly, the Lord will be your inheritance, and your shield, and your exceeding great reward.

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The same I say unto you, ye distant and dispersed brethren,

Love the Lord and serve him with your whole heart; be not ashamed of his cross which you have borne hitherto, and which you will bear to the end, if God give you wisdom. I recommend to you always the inheritance of Christ, poverty and the cross; thereby you will be led to eternal riches and glory, if you continue steadfast to the end. (Luke xxii. 28-30.)

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But thou, O Lord, who once spakest to thy beloved Peter; When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren,' do thou speak also effectually to me thy servant: since thou hast turned from vain and useless pursuits to the one thing needful, teach thy brethren to do so likewise.' But I call all those my brethren who call upon the name of Christ, and not only those, but also all those who, like unto myself, are partakers of flesh and blood, and are descended from Adam and dwell upon the terrestrial globe.

Thus far Comenius. He in this speaks unto us also and di. rects us to the one thing needful. May the Lord, our Saviour, bless his words and bring them powerfully home to our hearts. Amen.

ANNUAL MEETINGS IN LONDON.

(Continued.)

Home Missionary Society. The fourth Anniversary of this Society was held on Tuesday evening, May 20, at Spa-Fields chapel; Wm. Walker, Esq. in the chair. The Gypsies had been visited by the Agents of this Society in their tents and fugitive dwellings, and received their visits kindly. Thirty more villaand two new stati

ges are visited (making in the whole 189,) ons are established. The gospel is preached to 15,000 persons, and 28,000 children are enrolled in the Sunday-schools. The total expenditure of the year was £4,266 11s. 1d. the total receipts £4,311 is. 9d.

The Continental Society.-The fifth Anniversary of this Society, whose object is "the diffusion of religious know

ledge over the Continent of Europe," was held on Wednesday. May 21, at Freemasons' Hall; Sir Thomas Baring. Bart. M. P. President, in the chair: Rev. Mr. Saunders (Rector of St. Ann's, Blackfriars,) read the report, which briefly stated the progress of the Society on the Continent. In the South of France the principal agent of the Society is a Protestant Swiss` Minister, who has established meetings on the first Monday of each month, for communicating information respecting the spread of the gospel, which are resorted to by great numbers, and excite much interest. He is diligent too in distributing the Scriptures, amongst both Protestants and Catholics. In the north

of France, it was hoped no less than three hundred souls had been converted by the instrumentality of one active minister, who has formed a circle of seven churches. In Germany, the Bible was working its way; but the Missionaries of the Society had not yet gained access to Spain. In France, the Society had made great use of the colporteurs, or hawkers, by whose means they had extensively circulated the Scriptures, and, in short, had made them Missionaries instead of colporteurs. Much opposition had been encountered by the Society's agents, even from the Protestant preachers; and one of the agents who had ventured to preach in a field, was severely fined and imprisoned. The funds were in a good condition.

London Society for mitigating and gradually abolishing the State of Slavery throughout the British dominions.--The objects of this Society cannot be more clearly and comprehensively defined than in the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted at the first meeting: That the individuals composing the present meeting are deeply impressed with the magnitude and number of the evils attached to the system of slavery, which prevails in many of the colonies of Great Bri tain; a system which appears to them to be opposed to the spirit and precepts of Christianity, as well as repugnant to eve ry dictate of natural humanity and justice. That they long in. dulged a hope, that the great measure of the abolition of the