Brown never gave away a poundnote in his life, and everything he puts his hand to prospers!"

"Our neighbour is having his good things in this life. I thank God that he is not leaving us to the same fate," said the good wife.

"If I could only understand it ! " ejaculated Mr. Hastings.

"You don't want to understand it, sir," came in sharp tones from the outside of the sitting-room door, which poor simple Sam had left ajar. "You don't, you won't understand it, though the Master is tellin' you in words plain enough for even poor me!"

Sam had just enough sense to forbid his standing by the fire and listening to the conversation of his superiors; but not enough to prompt him to go away altogether. So he had placed his ear to the crack, and stood listening to what so deeply interested him. "Taint no mystery to me," he added, almost unconsciously. "I'se been watching the Lord, how he was managin' you ever since you were converted. I see just what he means."

'Well, come in, then, and let's hear your judgment of the matter, my poor friend," said his master, in a softened tone. "What does all this mean?"

"It means, sir," said the simple creature, "turn right about; stop lovin' money, stop making it for yourself; but earn it as fast as you can for the Lord. If you'd 'a sold the hay we didn't need, without waitin' in hopes 'twould rise, 'twouldn't 'a been burnt in the barn; so, too, with the meal you had stored in the lofts, when the flood came and carried away our mill. So again with the new horse; we didn't need him no more nor we want a fifth wheel to the wood-cart; and the forty pounds, if you'd given it away, would 'a been a savin'; for then it wouldn't eat nothin'! But though there aint no wood here to keep Widow Blake's fire burnin', nor no meal to prevent Brown's motherless children from starvin', there's lots of everythin' to keep a fancy horse on, just to look at, and to make poor folks stare and hate you as you ride

along to church. They say if you was a Christian, you'd be more like Christ, who humbled himself and tried to raise other folks. Last night, when I went to the saddler's shop to git the harness mended, the men in there was talkin' 'bout you. Smith said, "Twas like pullin' teeth to get his wages from you;' and Jones said, 'You'd never get into heaven, 'cause you wouldn't try, 'less you could take the mills and farm with you.' And so on they abused you. They call you awful selfish for a rich man."

"Sam, did you listen to all that, and never speak a word for me? Couldn't you deny it? Couldn't

you tell them I had a large family, and that I must lay up something for them?"

"No, sir, no, sir; I couldn't say, ‘he minds not his own things; ' be bears other people's burdens; he gives from one hand as fast as God puts into the other; I couldn't tell 'em you must lay up for the children, for they may die 'fore you. I couldn't say nothin'; but I'll tell you what I thought. thought. Long time my master slipped on pretty easy, as if there wasn't anybody but himself in the world. Then he was nobody's child, and nobody looked after him; but by-and-by God took him into his family; and now he's gettin' attended to. God will show these men soon whether he's a Christian or no.' One loss has come after another, and I watched you, master, to see if you woke up to what he was doin'. I'se been tremblin' lest you'd fly up some day and say to your soul, Curse God and die;' but you haint yet. But I'll tell you, sir, God bears long, and saves a house or a city for the sake of one righteous soul;" and Sam turned his eyes towards the meek woman, who, doubtless, stood between the wounded Saviour and her offending husband.

"Sam!" exclaimed his master, "do people really call me a covetous man ?"

แ Yes, sir," replied the candid hireling, without any softening com

ments.

"I covetous! Do you hear that, my dear? I a reproach to the cause I love! It cannot be!"

But it was, for all that; and the Lord who loved him did not remove the chastening hand until he saw, confessed, and forsook his sin. This mighty victory over selfishness was not accomplished so easily as by the removal of produce and mills. These were but the beginning of the process of weaning from the world. For a season they had their effect, but it was only as the early cloud and the morning dew. He was often reproved; but, plunging again into the world, he hardened his heart, and forgot God's hand in his prosperity. But, for all that, he was not cast away, but was still alternately wooed by mercies and chastened by judgments. True, for the time it was not joyous but grievous, but in the end-and that was not till his sun was well-nigh set-it brought forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness. It was not until much of his treasure had been spent for medical attendance, for coffins and graves; not until the bright little heads were missed one by one from their prayerhallowed pillows; not until four mounds were covered with fresh sod in the little family cemetery, that he really believed that he was indulging in "covetousness, which is idolatry." And even then he tried to compromise with conscience by giving a little more now, and promising a great deal when he should die; but it was of no avail. God had begun to break down the unhallowed gold spirit in his heart; and he never leaves his work half done.

It is the last stroke that breaks the rock. This poor earth-laden brother had always one refuge, one arm of flesh to lean upon when smitten. He seemed to feel that his wife-the pure in heart-dwelt securely in the "cleft of the Rock," and that, for her sake, and in answer to her prayers, he should be guarded through life and upheld in death.

This last strong support failed him; a fifth mound was raised beside the rest; and he then felt that he was alone, so far as earthly succour went. His two youngest boys still claimed his care; the rest of his loved ones were safely folded above, free for ever from sorrow, sin, and death.

Much of his treasure had flown, as God had said it would; and as he looked back upon the past, he mourned that his life had been so nearly useless, and that the gold he had lost had not been secured in the Bank of Heaven. Frail and selfish as he had been, he rejoiced to believe that he should yet come off conqueror; often quoting, for his own comfort, "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."

Better far to devise liberal things, and to execute generous deeds, that we may ever walk beside and imitate Him who "giveth liberally and upbraideth not." The converted victims of covetousness" shall be saved so as by fire," but they lose much of the heaven begun below.-Mrs. J. D. Chaplin.

A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF PASSING EVENTS. SAD and melancholy was the close of 1866 to numbers of families in West Yorkshire and North Staffordshire. Though some weeks have passed since the dread disaster, yet to keep up our continuous journal of events it must have a permanent record in our pages.

The occurrence of two appalling calamities in one week, thrilled the heart of the nation with sorrow, and called forth the deepest sympathy on behalf of the multitude of bereaved ones. Frequent as colliery explosions unhappily are, that which occurred at the Oaks pit, near Barnsley, has far surpassed, as to the loss of life, every similar calamity of modern times, and, so far as we know, of any time, in English history. Even the sudden blocking up of the New Hartley pit, through the breaking of the engine-beam, in January, 1862, by which 204 colliers met with an untimely end, was not very much more than half as fatal as this terrible explosion. More than 350 of our fellow-creatures were severed from all they held dear on earth, and hurried into eternity by the sad catastrophe. To add to the distress, about a score of brave men, who descended the mine in the hope of rescuing some from death, were also sacrificed by succeeding explosions

which set the mine on fire, and excluded all hope of rescuing the survivors. Several of these volunteers were men of position, as viewers, stewards, and engineers of various collieries. Many_of_the_bodies are still in the pit. To complete the sad catastrophe, only some five or six of those extricated from the pit are now alive, and it is doubtful whether any of these will ultimately recover. Many of the bodies found were dreadfully mutilated; but some had died from suffocation, and were not disfigured. Some were found locked in each other's arms; others seemed to have been struck lifeless whilst bidding a last farewell to each other; and not a few, thank God, were in the attitude of prayer, thus showing that they did not forget, in this overwhelming extremity, to cry for the Divine mercy. The most intense and painful excitement prevailed throughout the locality, and the most heartrending scenes took place on the pitbank, on the roads leading thereto, at the homes of the bereaved, and at the funerals of the recovered bodies. The accident near Kidsgrove, North Staffordshire, was similar in character, and scarcely less fatal, it is stated, in proportion to the number in the pit. Nearly a hundred lost their lives, and a considerable proportion of them were married men with families. These startling tragedies unlocked the charity of all classes throughout the length and breadth of the land. The Queen manifested her wonted sympathy and benevolence by heading the subscriptions with a handsome donation; and ample funds for the support of those who have been made widows and orphans by these sad calamities have been promptly supplied. May God succour and comfort the bereaved!

The Ritualistic controversy goes on. There is much said on the subject, both from the pulpit and through the press. Several bishops have, in their charges, spoken out tolerably plainly against ultra-ritualistic practices, and these practices are denounced and condemned, not only by the religious, but by the secular press generally. Still, AnglicanPopery is not abashed. It lifts up

its head, and does its best to defend itself against its assailants. Dr. Pusey has lately taken up, in the columns of the Times, the defence of "Auricular Confession and Direction," as a part of the discipline of the Church of England, and has said enough to make every healthy mind in England revolt against the practice. S. G. O.," who, by his able and vigorous letters, is doing good service to the cause of Protestantism, belabours the doctor, both with logic and facts, in a way that is evidently anything but pleasant or agreeable to his antagonist. We doubt not but good will come out of the discussion.

We entertain a very high regard for the Earl of Shaftesbury. His ability, his sound Protestantism, his benevolent labours, his connection, more or less, with almost all the great Christian institutions of our country, command our profound respect and admiration. We are always sorry when we have to differ from him, as is sometimes the case. An instance of this kind has recently arisen. In a letter in the Times, his lordship states that he holds that the Established Church is the grand and only effective bulwark for the maintenance of the Reformation against the unceasing efforts, the indissoluble combinations, and methodical eucroachments of the Papal See; and he expresses his firm conviction that, if the Establishment were swept away; or, in other words, the Church separated from the State, the most disastrous and ruinous consequences, as to religion, would follow. Highly as he appreciates "the zeal, learning, talent, and principle of several of the Nonconformist bodies," he thinks they would be quite unable to present an effectual barrier to the insidious encroachments, the policy, and the ultimate ascendancy of Popery. We must beg to dissent from his lordship's views in toto. We venture to assert that the Establishment is no bulwark at all, either against Popery on the one hand, or infidelity on the other. Is not this, indeed, a transparent fact? Is it not as clear as light that the Establishment is harbouring both

Popery and infidelity at the present moment? Why this commotion? Why this controversy, in which his lordship is taking part? Whence comes it? Does it come from within or from without the Church Establishment? And where is the Church's power to deal with erroDeous teaching and superstitious practices? Is it not notorious that she lacks this power? Have not late occurrences demonstrated this? That which Lord Shaftesbury seems to regard as the Church's strengthher connection with the State-is her great weakness. Let the Church of England be freed from her trammels -from her subjection to State authority and control, and she would at once become a great power for good, and would be in reality a "bulwark" against Popery. What would England have been at this moment but for those Nonconformist bodies referred to by Lord Shaftesbury? It is to them, and not to the Establishment, that we must, at present, chiefly look for the inaintenance of a pure faith, and an effectual resistance to Popery and other forms of

error.

The Sunday Opening Question has been once more agitated in the shareholders' meeting of the Crystal Palace Company. The advocates and abettors of Sabbath desecration have, we regret to say, obtained another triumph. It is evident a majority of the shareholders have no objection to dividends made out of the profanation of the Lord's day. Whether such gains will, in the end, prove a blessing or a curse is another thing. It is clear we are not yet a nation of Christians. It will be for those shareholders who have a proper regard for the sanctity of the Sabbath, to decide on what they will do. Can they consistently remain in the company? A destructive fire broke out on Sunday, December 30, and consumed the tropical section of the Palace, destroying property to the amount of £120,000. Better, by far, the whole building should be burned to ashes, than it should become a theatre for national Sabbath desecration!

The Rev. C. H. Spurgeon's church

is a marvel of success.

The pastor

The

is an extraordinary man, and his labours for the salvation of souls and the glory of God have been extraordinarily blessed. Not only is the membership of the church unprecedentedly large, but the agencies which have been brought into operation in connection therewith are truly wonderful and admirable, and are accomplishing a very large amount of good. In addition to agencies of a more ordinary character, all of which are very energetically and vigorously worked, there is a class of young men who meet every Sunday afternoon for prayer, exhortation, Bible study, &c. class is presided over by one of the elders of the church, and is attended by over 200 young men, most of whom are engaged in open-air preaching, house-to-house visitation, and other evangelistic work. Who can calculate the extent of good which an agency like this will effect? The College for the training of young men for the ministry is a marvel. At a public meeting held a few evenings ago at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Mr. Spurgeon stated that, since the establishment of the College, seven years ago, 106 brethren had settled in different pastorates. Five of these had fallen asleep in Jesus, but not without fruit. Ten settled pastors were still in College completing their term of study. Five evangelists had been sent out, and were labouring successfully in different parts of the country. From reports supplied to him last March, he found that during the previous twelve months the settled students of the College had baptised 1,235 persons, and that there had been a clear increase of 1,461 members in their churches. Some of the students had gone abroad. Mr. Cother had been labouring successfully in the island of St. Helena; Mr. Gillett had sailed for India; and Mr. Stokes had been sent to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Funds had flowed in amazingly. During the time the College had existed, there had invariably been money in hand when it was wanted. Mr. Spurgeon thanked all who had taken an in

If

terest in sustaining the College, and observed, that if they could only get young men of earnest, devoted piety, they could see no limit to their usefulness. At the same meeting, he made an announcement with reference to his intended Orphanage buildings. He said he had purchased two and a-half acres of land near Clapham Common, on which to erect the Orphanage. A lady had given them £20,000, out of which £8,000 would be spent, and the remaining £12,000 placed out at interest, which would yield £600 per annum. possible, they would maintain fifty orphans, which would probably soon swell to 100, and then they would raise the number to 200, perhaps 300. He believed the members of the congregation would make the clothes for the boys to wear, and he hoped they would find tailors and cloth-dealers who would supply the stuff. The working men, he said, might help by giving a portion of their time to the work of erecting the buildings. He also announced that the almshouses and day-schools, which were to be built close by the Tabernacle, would be sufficiently advanced to enable their venerable friend, Mr. Thomas Olney, to lay the stone very shortly. This is, indeed, and of a truth, Christian work. Theologically we differ from Mr. Spurgeon; but we honour him for his talents, his earnestness, his great usefulness. A thousand Spurgeons would soon turn the world upside down.

The New Year's Day deliverance of the Emperor Napoleon, to which great importance is always attached, was more than ordinarily concise, but decidedly pacific in its tone. This is both hopeful and gratifying, and especially as the proposed remodification of the French army was regarded as pointing in a somewhat different direction.

The French troops have left Rome. The Emperor has fulfilled his promise, and honestly carried out the terms of the convention. It now remains to be seen what the result will be. The Pope delivered a parting address to the French officers, in which he reproached their master, the Emperor,

for having deserted him. The old man evidently feels his helpless position, and looks on his temporal power as being virtually gone. It is only a question of time. The heart of Italy pulsates with joyous feeling. Victor Emanuel has made a capital speech to his Parliament.

The position of matters in America remains much the same. The reconstruction of the United States is among the most vexed of unsolved problems. We hope for the best.

"The

Whilst, however, there is a large amount of unpleasant political excitement in the States, the existence of which is to be deplored, the cause of the Redeemer, we are thankful to say, continues to prosper. churches of this country,' says a New York correspondent of Evangelical Christendom, "are fully alive, as never before, to the great task which God in his providence has laid upon them. In faith and works they are outstripping all that they have done before. The war has not left our churches weak and distracted, but rather firm and vigorous. They are more compact, and, as a whole, better organized than before. And this is the case with each and all the denominations. The increase in membership, from the revivals of the last spring, has been 102,925 souls; but the increase in zeal and working power has been much larger. The Methodist Centenary collections, which at first were put at a million of dollars, is expected to amount to one million pounds; and a very large proportion of this amount will be given to their institutions for academical, collegiate, and ministerial training; and this sum does not include the large amounts raised to pay off the encumbrances on church property; They will soon have a well-appointed theological school near this city; one gentleman, Mr. Samuel Drew, has promised some 250,000 dollars for this purpose. The Baptists, within a few years, have received, from private benevolence, very nearly a million and a quarter of dollars for colleges and theological schools, and movements are in progress which will demand about half a million more, for like objects in this energetic de