THE PENITENT PRISONER.

pertained to his immortal interests. I was prevented from attending the trial by a fall from my horse on the preceding day, so that it was nearly a week before I was able to visit the prisoner, and then it was with great difficulty I reached the condemned cell. At this interview, I was agreeably surprised to find that a cheerful hope, blended with deep contrition, had taken possession of his mind. On my entering his apartment he said, "Blessed be God for permitting you to come again; I feared you would not be able to visit me any more, but even then God could have supported me. I have so much hope in his mercy, that I feel as though I could die willingly to-day. O that it may be thus, when my dying day shall come!" "That," I replied, "will soon come, for you have only eleven days to live." True," said he, "every hour shortens my life; but, if God will but receive me, I do not wish to prolong it. I had a thousand times rather die this death, than be set at liberty and left to my own wicked heart, to run into the temptations of the world again: God, who knows the secret thoughts of my heart, knows that this is the truth." I added, "He has given you then repentance unto life, and while men believe that you are sincere, He knows it."

66

The day appointed for the execution was Monday, March 25. On the preceding Friday, Davis was told that the applications for mercy, which had been made without his knowledge, had all failed; upon which he replied, "It is all right, and I hope all will be well." At this period, the visits to the prisoner were confined to myself and one friend (Mr. Steane) whose truly christian attention to the convict and to myself, it is impossible I should ever forget. For the last four days, one of us was almost constantly with him from morning till about six o'clock, when he was locked up in his cell. My spirits now became greatly oppressed with the weight of my charge. The dying man earnestly entreated that I would go on the platform with him, and stay by him till the last moment; and to comfort him, I promised that I would do so. His gratitude towards me, his praises a thousand times addressed to God that he had ever seen me, his growing hope that I had been to him a messenger of grace, affected me far more deeply than any terror could have done: I dreaded the parting moment; and the prospect of the awful scene that was approaching occupied every hour and almost every thought.

[That "awful scene" will form the contents of another paper.]

POETRY.

Poetry.

SABBATH MORNING.

"TIS Sabbath morn, awake my soul and sing
The victory of our great Redeeming King.
Let heaven's wide arch re-echo while we tell
The eternal triumph gain'd o'er death and hell!
Behold the face of nature; how serene,

How calm its aspect, how composed the scene.
Life's busy tumult hushed to silent peace;
Emblem divine, when mortal life shall cease,
Of that blest sabbath, where no doubts or fears
Distress the soul now vexed by trifling cares.
The verdant fields, the lovely dell, how fair;
How truly eloquent do these declare,

And own that mighty God whose power hath wrought
Creation's frame, and man's salvation brought.
Behold the opening flowers, the limpid streams,
The radiant orb of day, whose brilliant beams
Disperse the misty darkness of the night,
By pouring forth its floods of cheering light.
How like that Sun Celestial, whose bright ray
Our mental night afar has chased away;
Whose milder lustre shines through all the road
That leads the pilgrim to his blest abode.
The feathered songsters mount aloft and sing,
In seeming transport, as their flight they wing,
And all conspire harmoniously to raise
One grateful tribute to their Maker's praise.
But oh, my soul, shall all creation sound
A hymn of praise, and thou be silent found?
When all appears supremely pure and bright,
So emblematic of that world of light,
Whose fields their living verdure will retain
Through endless ages changeless, still the same;
Whose living streams eternally will roll,
To quench and satisfy the thirsting soul;
Whose light proceeds not from a solar sun,
But from the glory of Jehovah's throne;

Whose songs of praises sound from tongues divine,
No mortal tongue can sing those songs sublime.
Haste then, my feet, to Zion's holy hill,

Thy thanks to pay, thy duty to fulfil;
Nor let one energy be absent found,
Or fainting, tire, but all with zeal redound
To glorify that Name which we adore,

To whom belongs might, majesty, and power;
By whose great grace we hope one day to rise,
And spend an endless sabbath in the skies.
Southampton.

W. A.

ANECDOTES, SELECTIONS, AND GEMS.

THE HOME OF JESUS.

"Master, where dwellest thou ?"-John i. 38.

THE home of Jesus! Is it so?
Did Jesus find a home below?
No; to enquiring friends he said,
He had not where to lay his head.

The home of Jesus! Strangers' care,
For him uncertain meals prepare;
E'en when he bless'd the Paschal
board,

A stranger entertain'd the Lord.

The home of Jesus! Did he thus
Earth's choicest bliss forego for us?
A stranger and a pilgrim he,
Then earth can be no home for me.

The home of Jesus! Tho' he knew
No home, he sought a home for you:
For saints, the objects of his care,
Mansions on high he will prepare.
The home of Jesus! Where is this?
Where happy spirits dwell in bliss,

Where saints in high seraphic lays, With angels chant the Saviour's praise.

The home of Jesus! Wondrous grace!

The contrite heart's his dwelling-
place:

Oh may my self inspecting eye
Gaze inward, and his rest descry.

The home of Jesus! I would fain
The dear inhabitant retain;
For those must be supremely blest,
Who entertain the heavenly guest.

The home of Jesus! Reign alone,
My sov'reign king, my heart thy
throne,

Till every wish, till every thought,
Be unto glad obedience brought.

Anecdotes, Selections, and Gems.

Anecdotes.

PIOUS FORTITUDE.-A short time ago I heard an eminent minister of the gospel relate the following circumstance:-"I was present," said he, "at one of our courts of justice in the town of G- -r, when a widow woman was called into the witness box to give evidence against three men who were accused of breaking into her house, robbing her of her property, and threatening to take away her life. Upon being questioned by one of the barristers if she was sure that the prisoners were the identical men who committed the outrage, she firmly answered-"Yes: I could not be deceived, they were not masked, nor did they take any precaution to disfigure their faces-I also distinctly remember their voices. One held an open razor in his hand, the other a rope, and told me they had a cart outside the gate with three bodies in it, going to the neighbouring town of W- -n to be sold for the purpose of dissection, and unless I delivered up my keys, and told where my property was to be found, I should go to. My keys were given to them, and I also informed them where they would find my money; and having obtained what they desired, they soon departed." The barrister now inquired if she was not very much agitated and alarmed at the

ANECDOTES, SELECTIONS, AND GEMS.

thought of being killed and sold for dissection? was it not, therefore, very probable that, in her agitation and alarm, she might be mistaken about the men before her, who might be innocent of the charges brought against them? She again affirmed, "They are the men"-and with uplifted hands and a placid countenance, observed, "I was not afraid to die, sir, for I knew that my Protector was in heaven." The lawyer turned away, apparently astonished, asked no more questions, and resumed his seat. So far only is this circumstance mentioned that the reader may be asked, has death lost its terror to you? Can you confidently say, "My Protector is in heaven ?" Do you believe that all things are under his wise and gracious control-that not a sparrow falleth to the ground without his notice-if you can, happy are you; but if not, lose no time in seeking for mercy from God, through Jesus Christ, and thus prepare, without delay, to meet your God. Remember how uncertain human life always is, and set it down to be the highest wisdom to be always ready for your great change.

Chester.

J. E. E.

INFLUENCE OF A SMILE.-It is related in the life of a celebrated mathematician, William Hutton, that a respectable looking countrywoman called upon him one day, anxious to speak with him. She told him with an air of secrecy, that her husband behaved unkind to her, and sought other company, frequently passing his evenings from home, which made her feel very unhappy, and knowing Mr. Hutton to be a wise man, she thought he might be able to tell her how she could manage to cure her husband. The case was a common one, and he thought he could prescribe for it without losing his reputation as a conjurer. "The remedy is a simple one," said he, "but I have never known it to fail. Always meet your husband with a smile." The woman expressed her thanks, dropped a curtsy, and went away. A few months afterwards she waited on Mr. Hutton, with a couple of fine fowls, which she begged him to accept. She told him, while a tear of joy and gratitude glistened in her eye, that she had followed his advice, and her husband was cured. He no longer sought the company of others, but treated her with constant love and kindness. Wives, remember this.

DENOMINATIONS THEIR MUTUAL TREATMENT.-Rowland Hill once said, "That the wolves should bark at the sheep is very natural, but that the sheep should bark at each other is too bad." Some one replied to him, "it is only a constitutional cough that the sheep have got." To which he instantly retorted, "Then it's a proof they're rotten, sir."

"BLESSED ALMS-HOUSES."-Rowland Hill was a quick discerner of spirits. An aged female, who had lately attended his chapel, and seemed to wish to put herself in his way, at length went to him, and in a canting strain, said, she wished to join his "blessed society." "Have you not heard that we have some blessed Almshouses," was the reply.

ANECDOTES, SELECTIONS, AND GEMS.

Poetic Selections.

THE CROSS.

BEHOLD the cross, the suffering Saviour's cross,
For which the christian counts all things but loss;
The Saviour's cross! behold, and there adore ;
The sufferer see-he bleeds at every pore!
Hark! 'twas his voice-the sun conceals his rays,
Earth to her centre trembles with amaze;
Admiring angels throng Mount Calvary's hill,
Cling to the spot, and weep and wonder still.
Awful suspense-darkness o'er all the earth!
No notes of joy, no tuneful songs of mirth,
Till, from the cross, the expiring Saviour cries,
Hear-"It is finished!"-bows his head and dies!

ON AFFLICTIONS.

As cloth unbleach'd is not for whiteness prized,
No christian's good till he has been chastised;
Frankincense will not smell before 'tis lit,
Nor flints, before they're struck, the fire emit;
Grapes yield no wine till in the presses trod,
And saints no fruit till they have felt the rod;
Cloves will, when pounded, give a stronger scent;
The palm will grow the more for being bent;
Vines will, by cutting, more luxuriant rove;
And saints, for their correction, better prove.

LIFE UNCERTAIN.

WE come into the world one way alone,
But by a thousand mortals hence have gone;
Death came to Abel while he walked abroad,
And met with Rachel when upon the road;
Belshazzar, joining with the festive train,
While in his cups, was seized upon and slain;
When Dives in his robes a figure made,
Death came ard took him in his vain parade;
And when the fool had built his barns anew,
Death came and all his splendid schemes o'erthrew.

CRITICAL HEARERS.

ON some slight flaws triumphantly they harp;
Their wit is blunt, but their ill-nature sharp:
They do not hear to profit, but condemn;
Hence good to others is not good to them;
Not doers of the word, but judges these,
Whom none can profit, and but few can please.

CHARLES WESLEY TO GEORGE WHITFIELD.

FOR whether I am born to "blush above,"
On earth suspicious of electing love;

Or you o'erwhelm'd with honourable shame,
To shout the universal Saviour's name;
It matters not; if all our conflicts past,
Before the great white Throne we meet at last!