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be on my head or my heels.-Having attracted his attention, by thus changing my position, he immediately worked his way to my couch; and, reclining on that which I had just vacated, so that his head and mine were in the same corner, he, in an agony of fear, of which I had hitherto formed no adequate idea, exclaimed

"Oh! what a dreadful night-the waves are higher than the deck."

Whilst he yet spoke, one of them broke over the vessel, with a heavy crash fell upon the deck, and like the rush of many waters swept its way into its native element. Loud and fearful as was the noise, it did not drown the voice of the despairing sinner, for, in the midst of all, he cried with a terrified gutteral tone, as if death personified had already grasped him for his prey.

"Ah! I am afraid to die !"

"Ah, my friend!-this is the time when the Christian feels the value of his religion."

"I never felt the terror of death before."

"He that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live,' is the promise of our Lord, and such as, through faith, possess resignation to his will, are prepared to go hence or to remain; so that, when the storm comes, they are helped to feel the power of the words, 'Thy will, Father, not mine be done.'" "Oh!" exclaimed he, "what it is to be a Christian!-I now see its value: nothing but that divine principle could produce such calmness in this dangerous situation. But (as if excusing himself for being so alarmed) I have a wife and three children."

"And I have a wife and five children; but my Father says 'Leave your fatherless children, I will keep them alive, and let your widows trust in me.'" "Ah! but what can I do ?-I am not fit to die."

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"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved!-His doctrine is, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' If you truly repent there will be sorrow for the past a determination, with the Lord's help, never to do those things whereof you are now ashamed-and a resolve to undo the evil as far as in you lieth."

"I am indeed sorry for my past offences, and no longer desire to continue therein; but I cannot undo the evil I have done.-Surely, I should do some works worthy of a follower of Christ, before I can be received."

"You are justified by faith and not by works, lest you, or any man should boast. What if the vessel were to sink with us, and in half an hour you were food for sharks! Where then would be the time for works ?-Now is the accepted time-even now may you be justified if you believe that through Christ so much mercy is to be obtained in such a simple way, as repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ."

"I would gladly do so, but I fear that my repentance is not sincere; for I have heard of many who, in the hour of the terror of death, repented, and again turned to their unbelief."

"I know that such lamentable occurrences have happened, but it does not follow that their repentance was, at the moment, insincere. They might in many, if not all instances, have been backsliders, which, I trust will not be your case!" -He was silent for some time, as if he had forgotten the danger he so much dreaded; and at length said :

"You have laboured much in the cause of religion, but be assured that you have now turned one poor soul to Christ." Then bursting into tears, he threw his head upon my pillow and wept.

I could say no more,-the tears were flowing down my cheeks-my soul was turned to Him who was with me, offering praise and thanksgiving, that that peace of heaven should have been observed in me by one who so much required à sign; and my heart inwardly prayed, saying:

"Father, I have been accustomed to storms, battlefields, and bold enterprises;

is it then hardihood engendered by habit, or is it faith in thy promises that makes me appear thus calm in the midst of the jarring elements. Teach me, Father, to know my own heart."

He again referred to my calmness and fortitude, and no wonder, for I was indeed absent in prayer; but, hearing this call of poverty, I turned to him and said :

"Yes, my friend!-I may, indeed, be calm, since I am assured that every hair of my head is numbered; and although I have a wife and five children, yet I feel satisfied that, if I were now taken, it would be for the benefit of their souls; and that he who called me hence to some higher sphere of action, would provide for the widow and the orphans."

The recollection of the monitions of the Spirit which, contrary to my own understanding, led me to take a passage in the steamer to Hull, instead of going by the coach, induced me now to believe, that the purpose of my mission to this vessel was accomplished. My mind was therefore led to believe, that all danger was at an end; and this expectation was strengthened when my attention was turned to the storm, which appeared to have abated. I then said to him, I have faith to believe that we shall arrive safely in Hull, and that this has been the means adopted to bring you to Christ; but I warn you, if you turn a deaf ear to the requisitions of your God, your trials will be twofold more

severe.

"Henceforth," said he, "I desire to devote myself to God, but you must not leave me, until you have introduced me to the Lord's people. You must know where they are to be found; I never saw a Christian before." "Our heavenly Father says: 'Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils.' He will be your teacher-He will be your shepherd, and you shall not want."

GEO. PILKINGTON, late Captain, Corps of Royal Engineers.

DECISION OF CHARACTER.

AN INDIAN BOY.

At a meeting of a missionary society in Philadelphia, at which two Indian chiefs were present, and addressed a very large audience, the Rev. Mr. Finley, in the concluding part of his speech, related one or two very interesting anecdotes, to show the progress of the revival, and the depth of solid piety among the Wyandots. In one of his tours he took with him an Indian youth of zeal and piety. On setting out, he told him it was possible, when he got among sinful and wicked company, that he might forget his God, and again betake himself to the paths of folly and sin. "But," said he, calling him by his name, "I would rather preach your funeral sermon than see you depart from the paths of piety." They proceeded, and in their tour came to the house of a very wealthy merchant, where they remained for some time. The merchant had two or three clerks who were given to frolic, and were destitute of piety, and even seriousness. Into the room with these clerks the Indian boy was put to sleep. Before retiring to bed, he knelt down to pray. The others began their frolic with a design to disturb, if not torment him; but he heeded them not. This continued for some time at length, one night when they were become so bad as to disturb him very much, the youth remonstrated, pointed out the wickedness of their conduct, and concluded by saying, that they were really worse than any Indian in all the Wyandot tribe of Upper Sandusky, observing, that Indians would be ashamed of such conduct, as they had more common sense, virtue, and piety. This appeal came home with keen conviction to the hearts of the young

men.

The effect was deep and lasting, and they became, through that reproof, the subjects of awakening and justifying grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

SAYINGS OF THE FATHERS.

THE CHRISTIAN'S DEFENCE.

"Thus then while we are stretching forth our hands to our God, let your tormenting irons harrow our flesh; let your gibbets exalt us, or your fires lick up our bodies, or your swords cut off our heads, or your beasts tread us to the earth. For a Christian upon his knees to his God, is in a posture of defence against all the evils you can heap upon him.”—Tertullian, (A. D. 200.)

TRUTH.

"Truth alone is the thing to be had in the highest honour, and to hold the first place in our affections, and the ancients are not to be followed one step further than they are followers of truth.”—Justin Martyr, (A.D. 150.)

LOVE STRONGER THAN DEATH.

"It is in our power at any time to escape your torments, by denying the faith when you question us about it; but we scorn to purchase life at the expense of a lie; for our souls are winged with the desire of a life of eternal duration and purity, of an immediate conversation with God the Father, and maker of all things; we are in haste to be confessing and finishing our faith, being fully persuaded that we shall arrive at this beatific state, if we approve ourselves to God by our works, and express by our obedience our passion for that divine life which is never interrupted by any clashing evil."-Justin Martyr, (A. D. 150.)

AN APOLOGY FOR CHRISTIANITY.

"But allowing our tenets to be as false and groundless presumptions as you would have them, yet I must tell you, that they are presumptions the world cannot be well without; if they are follies, they are follies of great use, because the believers of them, when under the dread of eternal pain, and the hope of everlasting pleasure, are under the strongest obligations possible to become the best of men. It can never therefore be a politic expedient to cry down doctrines for false and foolish, which it is every man's interest to presume true, it is upon no account advisable to condemn opinions so serviceable to the public."Tertullian, A. D. 200.)

IS OWEN AMONG THE PROPHETS?

Still the dreamer dreams. The Socialist leader believes that his millenium is near at hand; and wishes us to believe the same, but without giving us any evidence. The falsification of previous predictions, the confusion of Harmony Hall, the breaking up of Tytherly, Queenwood, Mania Fen, and other communistic schemes, and the passing out of Socialist hands of the halls built in large towns at so much expense, have all failed to convince the doting old man, that there is no hope of securing for his system, the sympathy and support of the working classes. But still he seems to think that his day of triumph is near at hand. Whether spirit-rapping has roused him again to this conviction we cannot tell; but certain we are that if the spirits have anything to do with his predictions, they are neither veracious nor wise.

We sincerely wish that the announcement at the head of his manifesto were true; "The permanent happy existence of the human race, or the commencement of the Millenium in 1855;" but we have no hope of its being attained by any such means as he propounds. In November last, he issued an address, inviting "all governments, religions, classes, sects, and parties, in all countries, to appoint and send delegates to a meeting to be held in St. Martin's Hall, London, on the 14th May next, to sit at the feet of this "wise" man, and hear explained, "Good tidings of great joy to all mankind." This precious document we here subjoin for the edification and amusement of our readers.

"All Governments, Religions, Classes, Sects, and Parties, in all Countries, are in, vited to appoint and send delegates to a Meeting to be held in the metropolis of the Brit

ish Empire, on Monday, 14th May next, in St. Martin's Hall, to hear explained the 'Glad Tidings of Great Joy to all Mankind,' which will include the principles and the plain and easy practice by which all Governments may make, with the aid of their respective religions, every one from birth, good, intelligent, wise, united to all, and permanently prosperous and happy.

And, as a preliminary measure the UNITED TRADES OF THIS METROPOLIS are invited to elect and send delegates to a meeting to be held in St. Martin's Hall, January 1st, 1855, at 7 p. m., to have explained to them, that they may explain to their constituents in London and to their fellow-workmen over Great Britain and Ireland, the course which will be recommended them to adopt at the Great Meeting of Universal Delegates to be held as stated 14th May, on which day will be declared a coming change in the condition of the human race without revolution or violence, to be effected in peace, with order, wise foresight, and without injury to any one of any class in any country, but with high lasting benefit to all who shall from birth be placed within these conditions.

Let all who shall attend these two meetings, come in the spirit of pure charity for all men, and a right good will to aid and benefit them, regardless of their class, creed, country, or colour.

There will be no deception or secrecy in these proceedings, but the whole will be conducted with 'Truth without mystery, mixture of error, or fear of man.' And the glory of this elevation of mankind to a new phase in their condition, will be alone to the God of the Universe, who evidently worketh all things in regular progress for the ultimate good and happiness of man.

London, 25th November, 1854.

ROBERT OWEN.

This document reminds us of a saying of a friend of Owen's, in the volume of the "New Moral World" for 1840. "The Socialist phrenologists who have examined Mr. Owen's head, say that self-esteem is very largely developed!" Whether the craniological development be large or not we cannot tell, but if we may judge from his manifestoes and addresses, he could spare a considerable share of it to some modest and timid creature whose services are likely to be lost to the world from sheer excess of diffidence.

The first and preparatory meeting was held on the day appointed, in St. Martin's Hall, Long Acre. Crowds of people flocked to it, much as they have flocked to see the hippopotamus at the Zoological Gardens. They wanted to hear what this egotistical dreamer would say. He had to explain to them the precise means by which his long-promised Millenium has to be inaugurated in May next, and curiosity might well be excited, especially when he announces that the total change in the condition of the human race has to be brought about at that period, not by revolution or violence, but by pacific means, and the general consent of mankind. He dwelt, however, as he was wont to do in cloudland, and except in some common place points there was no making out his methods. Though he told all persons to come in the spirit of charity; he seemed to think that he might be an exception, and in the strongest terms denounced all existing governments, religions, and parties as degrading to our race, and as tending to produce unmitigated wickedness, falsehood, and misery. In his address he invited all ministers to join him, and yet he distinctly declared that all the now existing religions on the face of the earth are founded in error, and that not one of them was fitted to instruct the people or ameliorate their condition. He broadly assured his audience that so long as the present system existed, happiness would be banished from the world. The labours of philanthropists, statesmen, philosophers, and ministers of religion, were useless, and the poor, dying world must come to him for the medicine for its wounds. It was of no use attempting any mending of human affairs, they must be new-made, and could be new-made only by Robert Owen. On the 14th May next, he would put into operation a universally attractive system, which would draw all peoples and nations into one harmonious unity. Nothing was awanting to it, but the carrying out of those plans; they were all "cut and dried," and would be carried out in the present year. He was perfectly certain that his system would put an end to

all wars, divisions, and strifes between nations and individuals, and give us a perfect paradise in this lower world. The old system manufactured nothing but demons, his system would manufacture wholesale, angels without wings. The delegates who have to assemble in London in May next, must fix a time, when metal and paper money shall be done away with, for they were sources only of poverty, and financial embarrassment. His system, nobody must doubt, would be productive of boundless wealth and endless prosperity to all classes. Children should be trained to the use of fire-arms to resist foreign invasion, but were not likely to use them in any other way; and the delegates to the May meeting were to take measures for securing universal peace. Ye Aberdeens and Clarendons! ye Brights and Cobdens! all ye diplomatists and peace-men, hide your diminished heads for a greater than you has arisen with the only specific that can save Europe from its troubled and distracted state. But he does not intend dispensing his specific for some months to come, therefore you must wait his sovereign pleasure, and though he does not tell you how he will accomplish his schemes, you must not doubt his word. All his previous projects have vanished into thin air, but you must believe that his foundation this time rests on eternal truth. Means also have to be adopted for promoting a perfect equality among all classes of society, according to age; but he must be pope. Patiently must we wait until it pleases our English Socialist to introduce us all to these fine realities.

After speeches from Mr. Atkins, civil engineer, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Wilkins, Mr. Pemberton, and others, on reforms, religious, political and social, the meeting was adjourned till the 14th of May, when the "new moral world" has to rush into being at the bidding of the great Socialist dreamer.

THE CREDULITY OF THE SUNDERLAND SECULARISTS.

In a small pamphlet, entitled, "Infidel Challenges," by J. H. Rutherford, the Secularists of Sunderland are charged with credulity or connivance. The circumstances were these:-Mr. Joseph Barker delivered two or three lectures against the Bible, in Sunderland, some time in June last. Mr. Rutherford, unable to attend them, lectured in reply on three successive Tuesday nights. Mr. Barker not availing himself of an opportunity afforded of rejoinder, Mr. Charles Southwell, a name of infidel notoriety, came to the rescue. At Mr. R's. first lecture, there were so many disappointed at not being able to get into the Assembly Hall, that there was a loud outcry for a larger place. The Lyceum was named; but it was found that, on the only night on the following week during which Mr. R. was free, that place had been engaged for Mr. Southwell, It was suggested that there might be room for all, and that both sides might be heard. For the sake of the people, who seemed almost suffocated in a room capable of holding from eight hundred to a thousand persons; Mr. R, expressed his willingness to enter into any reasonable arrangement, which would secure for the audience greater comfort at the second lecture, and, though he would prefer meeting one who had more the confidence of Secularists in general, he would not object to stating the case against Mr. S. on that occasion. The arrangements fell through; and when the society of so-called free-thinkers knew that Mr. R. was out of town and unable to attend, they issued large placards headed, "Now, or never," challenging Mr. R. or any other minister to reply to Mr. C. S. at his lectures. This did not succeed in bringing satisfactory audiences, and on the Thursday evening, an anonymous communication, was read to the meeting, stating that Mr. Rutherford would be present on the following evening to reply. These are the facts; and the charge was this; "The Sunderland Secularists are guilty of credulity if they believed an anonymous communication rather than Mr. R's. positive statement that Tuesday was the only

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