I

HAD a Friend, a faithful Friend,

Whose friendship knew not stint nor end;
Who pain and want had borne for me,
Yea, scorn and vilest obloquy.

His mind was lofty, vast, profound;

While mine was held in narrowest bound;
His rank was high, my lineage low;
This made His love no fainter flow.

My life was dark with many a stain;
His, pure as web of snowiest grain:
Ah, wondrous love! what could it be
Made that grand soul so yearn o'er me?
Thou deem'st, no doubt, I lov'd Him well;
Ah me! I blush the truth to tell;

My soul, too hard for gratitude

In vain His heart to love Him woo'd.

But oft, when far from haunts of men,
When gleam'd the moon on mead and glen-
When all the world seem'd hush'd in sleep,
I seem'd o'er me to hear Him weep!
Then trials came and friends forsook,
Mine alter'd state they could not brook;
Yea, grief seem'd opening all her store,
I pin'd in sickness, sad, and sore,
Deserted thus, and wrung with pain,
I long'd for that true Friend again;
When lo! He stood beside my bed,
His hand sustain'd my sinking head.
Returning health brought other woes,
Foul slanders and the plots of foes;
In all my griefs He bore a share,
And gave me power the worst to bear.
Thou deem'st, no doubt, that evermore
I loved Him from my bosom's core ;

Ah, me! the thought brings bitterest pain,
I've slighted, wrong'd Him oft again.

London: Printed by ROBERT BANKS, 9, Crane-court, Fleet-street, E. C. Published by G. J. Stevenson, 54, Paternoster-row, E.C.; sold by most Booksellers.-Price One Halfpenny.

VOL. XIV.

MARCH, 1864.

NO. 149.

THE MISSIONARY AND THE MERCHANT IN ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD.

THE

HE following beautiful illustration of the power of God's grace, and of the secret, the special, the sovereign, and the certain way of its working-is no far-fetched doubtful story; it is one of our home-born expressions of infinite mercy. The circumstances occurred in our neighbourhood, in the centre of our city, within the private apartments of that elegant shop opposite the great Cathedral, which is so well known to all the ladies as the Messrs. Hitchcocks' establishment.

How solemn the thought that both the Merchant and his Missionary have now passed into the eternal world! There we hope, before the throne of God and the Lamb, they realize the truth of our poet

"Jesus doth lead His heavenly flock

Where living fountains rise,

And love Divine doth wipe away

All sorrow from their eyes."

Messrs. Heaton's first number of The Baptist Reporter gives the following,

"The following anecdote is related of the late Mr. George Hitchcock, the eminent merchant in St. Paul's churchyard. Mr. Hitchcock was, as is well known, engaged in an extensive and profitable business in London, in which he employed many young men at liberal salaries. Having thus a good deal of patronage to bestow, and being otherwise a person of much influence, he ONE HALFPENNY.

was often interrupted by applications for favours, which sometimes tried his patience, although naturally of a kind and obliging disposition. A zealous missionary who laboured amongst the poor in the district in which Mr. Hitchcock carried on his business, often heard his wealth and influence spoken of; but always with a sad feeling in his own breast as to what would become of the rich man's soul. At last it seemed to him one night as if he heard a voice saying to him, 'Go and read the Bible to Mr. Hitchcock.' Sensible, however, of the difficulties which would stand in the way of obtaining access for such a purpose, he tried to banish the thought. Again he seemed to hear a similar voice speaking to him, and conscience told him that he was neglecting to attend to it, for fear of the cross he might have to bear; so, after much prayer, but with trembling faith, he one day entered Mr. Hitchcock's office, and requested to see him. He had to wait several hours and then retire unsuccessful, on account of Mr. Hitchcock's being much engaged. But next day he returned, when one of the clerks asked what was the nature of his business. He replied unhesitatingly that he wished to read the Bible to Mr. Hitchcock. The clerk fancied he must be out of his mind to come there cn such an errand, and laughingly told the other clerks of the foolish object the man had come about. All that day and the next did the anxious missionary wait, expecting the way to be made plain whereby he might attain his object. On the morning of the fourth day, a young clerk felt pity for him, and, having occasion to carry some papers into Mr. Hitchcock's room, he mentioned that a man had been waiting four days to see him. Mr. Hitchcock at that moment was sorely tried by something that had gone wrong, but bid the clerk send the man in.

"Well, what do you want of me?' he asked in rather an impatient tone.

"I wish to read the Bible to you, that your soul may be saved.'

"Go away-you must be mad to think of such a thing at a time like this,' was the reply.

Still the missionary stood still, and did not seem inclined to

move, upon which Mr. Hitchcock indignantly rose up, and pushed him out of the door. There was a slight declivity, which the poor man did not observe, and he missed his footing and fell into the outer office. Mr. Hitchcock immediately shut his door, whilst the missionary, sadly cast down with the reception, departed amidst the smiles of the young men who had witnessed what had passed. But now it was the LORD's time to take the part of His servant, and cause his heart to rejoice at the very moment that all his hopes seemed to be laid prostrate. Conscience began to work very powerfully with the merchant, and the following thought pressed itself upon him-Here am I continually beset with people asking me for favours, and trying to get all they can from me, and I treat them with civility; whilst toward this poor missionary, who came to bestow on me what he considers the greatest treasure on earth, I have acted with rude and uncalled for violence. Quickly he opened the door of his room, and called out,

One of the clerks ran after the missionary into the street, and bade him return. On again entering the office, Mr. Hitchcock said to him that he was sorry he had so treated him, and asked him what it was he wanted of him.

"I wish you to let me read the Bible to you, that your soul may be saved.'

And how much time will satisfy you; will an hour every morning do?'

"Oh, yes!' exclaimed the delighted servant of God.

"And an hour he did appropriate to this purpose, until at length the Holy Spirit applied the blessed Word to the merchant's heart, and led him to find salvation through faith in the blood of Jesus. Here was the light shining as that of a candle, forcing itself on one unwilling to receive it, but blessed to the saving of an immortal soul.

"Mr. Hitchcock died last year, honoured and beloved for his devotedness and usefulness in God's cause.'

"I'M

GAEN

HAME TO FAITHER."

A TRUE NARRATIVE.

BY THE REV. THOMAS W. MEDHURST, GLASGOW.

YOME with me, dear reader, and I will let you see how a Christian can die. Follow me up these dark stairs. Do not be afraid; no one will harm you. Wait! and I will knock at the door. A clean, tidy-looking woman opens it; she grasps our hands, and looks tearfully and expressively towards the bed, by the fireside. We draw near, and gaze upon the serene countenance of a young woman, evidently near death. graps our hand, and says in a feeble voice,

66 I'm gaen hame to Faither."

"Are you in pain?"

She

"Yes! but it is only in the body; the mind is at perfect peace."

"Though painful at present,

It will cease before long;
And then, oh! how pleasant,
The conqueror's song."

"Have you any doubts or fears, now?"

How can I DOUBT? HE was WOUNDED for ME. How can I FEAR? He was bruised for ME."

"Shall I read and pray with you?"

"Yes, do! Read the fifty-third of Isaiah."

After we had read the chapter, and approached the mercyseat on her behalf, we said,

"Would you like to get better again?"

'No, no, I want to gae hame. Jesus is with me."

And then she whispered, while our ear was close to her lips, "Jesus reigns, Jesus reigns.

"Yes," we said, "you may safely follow where Jesus leads."