THE HOUR-GLASS. COMING hastily into a chamber, I had almost thrown down a crystal hour-glass. Fear, lest I had, made me grieve as if I had broken it. But, alas! how much precious time have I cast away without any regret! The hour-glass was but crystal-each hour a pearl; that but like to be broken, this lost outright; that but casually, this done wilfully. A better hour-glass might be bought; but time lost once, lost ever. Thus we grieve more for toys than for treasure. Lord, give me an hour-glass, not to be by me, but to be in me. Teach me to number my - days-an hour glass to turn me, that I may apply my heart unto wisdom.-Dr. Thomas Fuller. A DREAM OF HEAVEN. "I DREAMED," said little Ellen, "that I stood outside the gate of heaven and looked in. The gate was all made of precious stones, but I could see through it. I could see the street, and it was all pure gold. I saw angels playing on large harps, and I heard such singing as I never heard on earth. They were all singing the same words, but I could not tell what they were. As I was looking, God spoke to me. He asked me if I had a new heart? I told him I did not know. He said, "If you have not, you cannot come in here; but if you will go back to earth and pray for it, and believe on Jesus, you shall have one, and I will send an angel and bring you up here.' "So I went back to earth and went into a closet; and as I was praying, an angel came and took me and put me in one side of her bosom, and dear sister Annie in the other, and carried us up to heaven. You don't know how 86 A DREAM OF HEAVEN. sweetly we looked. We were just like two little flowers tucked in her bosom. "When we came to the gate, an angel opened it for us, and we went in. Before, when I heard the music, I thought I never could sing like that; but the moment I was in, I could sing as well as any of them. Angels were all the while coming bringing little babies in their bosoms, and the moment they were in, they would sing as loud and as sweet as the rest. I saw my mother, and she looked glorious and beautiful. She was sitting on a little stool covered with silver, playing on a harp and singing, oh, so sweetly! Grandmother, too, was there, and oh, Annie, her wrinkles were all gone! and she looked as young as you do; and her face shone, and she was singing too. I said, Grandmother, there was a great weeping when you left earth.' She said, 'Yes; but I would not like to go back.' I saw Jesus sitting on a throne, and angels worshipping him; and when I saw how bright and glorious everything was, I wished that I had never sinned." I should like to ask the children who may read this, if they think a little heathen girl, in dreaming of heaven, would have seen what Ellen did ? It was because she had read the Bible, and had stored her mind with what it says of that blessed world, that such beautiful scenes visited her in her sleep. It was there she learned that she never could enter it without a change of heart, and that such a change could never be obtained without prayer. It was there that she gained such views of the Saviour in heaven, which made her wish that she had never sinned. How much do we owe to that precious book, which not only sheds its light so sweetly on ll the troubles of our waking hours, but makes even the CHINESE CHRISTIANS SUFFERING, ETC. 87 dark night bright around us with the glory of heaven; for so "He giveth his beloved sleep." Let our young readers be thankful for the Bible, and let them pray that soon all may have it, that so they may "learn words by which they may gain everlasting life.” CHINESE CHRISTIANS SUFFERING FOR THE SAKE OF JESUS. A VERY interesting letter has just been received from China, from the Rev. Alexander Grant, dated from Bay Pay, in which he speaks of the persecution which some of the native Christians have had to endure. He says:-"It is not surprising to see or hear that the churches here, as elsewhere, have to pass through much tribulation. At present there seems to be a spirit of persecution specially stirred up against them. At Pechuia the preacher and elder Bu-liat has been enduring a good deal of late for the gospel's sake. About the beginning of the year, two accusations against him were entered in the Mandarin's Court at Hai Teng, the district city, one of which bore that Bu-liat had broken in pieces his ancestral tablet, and when remonstrated with, insulted his relatives. The two were brought into court together, probably to prejudice the mandarin against him, and obtain a verdict more easily. As it is contrary to the treaty that Christian Chinese should be persecuted for their religion, application was made to Mr. Gingell, the Consul at Amoy, who kindly sent a message to the Hai Teng magistrate, reminding him that such was thẻ case. The consequence has been that, though the warrant had been issued, yet up to this time no further steps have 88 CHINESE CHRISTIANS SUFFERING, ETC. been taken against him. It is rumoured, however, that the magistrates are displeased that Bu-liat should depend on foreigners; and threaten to use their power over him as their own subject. It has been the occasion of much prayer being made for the persecuted by the churches in Amoy and elsewhere, and Bu-liat has been enabled to rejoice in hope of help from on high. "Last week some of Bu-liat's more distant relatives came to the chapel and pretended to have something to say to him, on which he followed them out, and in the street, in presence of many spectators, they took his outer clothes and shoes from him. He goes on, however, boldly preaching, 'enduring as seeing Him who is invisible.'" Opium-smokers Cured. "At this place also some murmurs of opposition have been heard. Dr. Carnegie has twice visited here, and Pechuia, dispensing medicines, &c. On both occasions large numbers of people have come, especially to Bay Pay, so much so, that, after treating case after case for several hours without intermission, it has been necessary to send many away. Notwithstanding this-possibly stirred up by this success so far—some threats have been uttered against the Christians here. The chapel-keeper, a worthy man, gives this account of it :- Several of the class of men of learning came one day to the chapel to speak evil of this way threatening to hinder the Christians from worshipping God. The ground of their opposition was the alleged abuse of printed paper, which is carefully burned by Chinese out of respect to Confucius and learning. Christian Chinese naturally lose this suderstitious feeling; but on this occasion they COME, REFRESH US ONCE AGAIN. 89 denied the charge, saying they so prized and loved the Word of God, that they would not abuse the page that contained it. Some of the heathen, they said, despising foreign books, might have committed the offence. Confucius, said they, teaches you to practise justice and benevolence, you value the letters and cast away the doctrine; at the last day he will rise and testify against you.' 'God,' said the chapel-keeper to me one day, 'is sending trouble on us because he sees we do not value his word and spread it abroad; also we want brotherly love, and it is God's way to send these things, and by them to make the brethren love one another." " Reader, pray for these persecuted Chinese Christians. COME, REFRESH US ONCE AGAIN. SPIRIT of the living God! Come, refresh us once again; Animate the lifeless clod; ; Sow the seed and send the rain Give the threshingfloor a yield Jesus! crown the present year In the sunshine and the blast. |