O thoughtless slumberer, wake, arise, And bat a step 'twixt it, and thee. Rise! and a heavenly guide implore, By which alone the prize is won. A clear, unerring map is given, To guide the wanderer's feet to heav'n ; It will point out a holy path, Where ceaseless watchings, earnest pray'rs, 'Tis far unlike that flow'ry road, (Which leads to death) by sinners trod ; Saviour, for mine, this path I take, To thee, thy child commits her way, Her wants, her dangers, through the day; Wilt thou my ev'ry want supply, And be in ev'ry trial nigh? This day I fain would take my seat, O let thy smile my solace be, Thy Spirit's powerful aid impart, Which can transform and cleanse my heart, And, trusting in thy glorious name, Acting for God in all I do, Keeping the heavenly path in view: DAILY TEXTS FOR DECEMBER. Evening. 1 Tim. 3. 16 1 Chron. 29. 18 Col. 2. 6. Hosea 2. 19, 20 Morning. M 2 Zech. 8. 21 Tu 10 2 Chron. 20. 20 1 Cor. 1. 31 Gal. 1. 4 1 Thess. 5. 24 Col. 1. 17 Heb. 9. 15 2 Tim. 4. 1 Eph. 2. 13 Rom. 4. 17 1 Cor. 1. 30 1 John 2.8 Phil. 1. 19 Heb. 11. 26 Rom. 1. 3, 4 1 John 4. 14 Heb. 10. 19, 22 Eph. 4. 13 Rom. 8. 15 2 Cor. 14 1 Pet. 1. 8 2 Cor. 8. 9 Heb. 2. 17 Phil. 2. 6, 7 Rom. 9. 5 John 4. 3 Col. 3. 11 Rom. 12. 2 2 Chr.30, 18, 19,201 Gen. 1. 3 TH 26 Ps. 139. 3 T 31 Is. 55. 3. 29 Is. 31. 6 1 Thess. 5. 23 1 Cor. 10. 31 Jude 24. 25 Arthur Foster, Printer, Kirkby Lonsdale. THE FRIENDLY VISITOR. No. CLXXXIII.] DECEMBER, 1833. [VOL. XV. PROVIDENTIAL DELIVERANCE. The family to whom this Narrative refers, lived in Waterford in Ireland; but removed to Warrington in Lancashire, where the father of the family, Mr. Patrick B-, exercised his profession as a surgeon, and his wife established a respectable school; but the family were afterwards severely afflicted with the typhus fever, which carried off two of their children, and left the mother in so weak a state, that she was for almost a year and a half unable to attend to her duties; and a great deal of distress arose in that manufacturing district, which tended to prevent the re-establishment of the school. This, in connection with other reasons, led them to remove to London. With this view they resolved to take a situation, which was advertized, and appeared to promise great advantages; but after their arrival in London, they discovered that they had been deceived by a gang of advertizing swindlers. They took, however, a house in St. Saviour's Parish, Southwark, and were enabled to establish a respectable day school, having upwards of thirty scholars, at from 10s. to 15s. per quarter. Their property at this time consisted chiefly of a good stock of clothes and household furniture. Unfortunately, their want of experience led them to omit the necessary inquiries whether there were any arrears of taxes due; and just before the first half-year's rent became due, they found themselves compelled to apply all the reserve they had made for paying their rent to the discharge of a large arrear of taxes, incurred by the previous tenant. Mr. B. went into the country to obtain a loan from a friend to meet this need; but in his absence the landlord sold most of their furniture under a distress, and they were obliged to take shelter in a low back street, near their former dwelling. Here another school was collected, composed of children of an inferior class, and Mr. B. was compelled to travel through the N country, selling religious tracts, to earn what did not even support himself. At this period he was induced to come to Ipswich, in the hope of finding some employment with a gentleman, who had formerly given him some. Being disappointed in his expectation, he was under the necessity of making personal application for relief at the house of a clergyman in Ipswich, whose name had been mentioned to him, The clergyman and his wife were both absent, but he saw a member of the family, who was struck with his appearance and the artless recital of his distress. Being desired to wait the arrival of the mistress of the house, an equally favourable impression was made on her mind; and he obtained present relief, together with a recommendation to a person from whom he might hope for further assistance. In consequence of the favourable impression made by his visit, a small sum was collected with the intention of applying it to his relief; but on enquiring at the house where he had lodged, it was found that he had left Ipswich. This circumstance appeared at the time to be matter of regret; but it afterwards proved to be the cause of the deliverance of himself and family from almost unheard of distress, and probably from death in its most dreadful form. Some time afterwards a letter was received from Mrs. B., gratefully acknowledging the kindness which had been shewn to her husband, and requesting to be informed whether there was an opening in Ipswich for a school To this a reply was returned in the negative, and here all intercourse would have ceased but for the small sum of money which had been collected, and which was too small to be remitted in any other way than personally. The lady who had collected it being called to London, determined if possible to find out their abode; and for this purpose traversed the streets of Southwark for a considerable time, but without success, and was obliged to leave London without accomplishing her object. Being soon afterwards again called to London, she renewed her efforts, taking with her a sister, resident in London; and at length succeeded in discovering the place of their residence. At this time their abode was a scene of much distress, but strong faith was visible in the ex pressions of resignation which fell from the suffering parent. The present was received with lively gratitude; and the visit of a Christian friend, with the sympathy expressed, appeared to make a still deeper impression. It was not in the power of this friend to repeat the visit, but some weeks afterwards the sister who went with her, called for the purpose of giving some small relief, and was about to take her leave, when a violent storm, which at that instant came on, compelled her to remain for shelter. Being detained a considerable time, she had opportunity to enquire into the cause and extent of their distress, and the kindness manifested in these enquiries drew from Mrs. B. a detail of their sorrows, which her unwillingness to be intrusive had before prevented her from unfolding. In consequence of this interview a minute enquiry was made into all the circumstances that were detailed, and their statement being in every point fully confirmed, it appeared impossible to withhold that assistance which was so greatly needed and so truly deserved; and measures were taken with the view of raising them from their present abject poverty. It appeared that soon after their last change of residence Mrs. B. had been afflicted with a fever, arising from want and depression, which for a time deprived her of her understanding. In this illness she had lain for three weeks with only straw under her, and a few of the children's clothes for a pillow. In consequence of these accumulated afflictions, almost the last article of their furniture had been sold or pledged to obtain subsistence. They had no clothes in which they could appear by day-light, no bedding in which they might lie down, and no parish that would afford them the least assistance. Thus the faith and patience of this destitute family had been tried to the utmost, and relief withheld to the last extremity. After the supply of their immediate wants, the next step towards their restoration was to remove them from their present wretched abode, which was done |