To seize the wretch in full career of lust,
And soothe the silent sorrows of the just:
Who would not bless for this the gift of speech,
And in the tongue's beneficence be rich?

But who must talk? Not the mere modern sage
Who suits the softened gospel to the age;
Who ne'er to raise degenerate practice strives,
But brings the precept down to christian lives.
Not he who maxims from cold reading took,
And never saw himself but through a book.
Not he who hasty in the morn of grace
Soon sinks, extinguished as a comet's blaze.
Not he who strives in scripture phrase to abound,
Deaf to the sense, who stuns us with the sound.
But he who silence loves, and never dealt
In the false commerce of a truth unfelt.

Guilty you speak, if subtle from within,
Blows on your words, the self-admiring sin :
If unresolved to chuse the better part,

Your forward tongue belies your languid heart.

But then speak safely, when your peaceful mind,

Above self-seeking blest, on God reclined,

Feels him at once suggest unlaboured sense,

And ope' a sluice of sweet benevolence,

Some high behest of heaven you then fulfil,

Sprung from his light your words, and issuing by his will.
Nor yet expect so mystically long,

Till certain inspiration loose your tongue :

Express the precept runs-' Do good to all!'

Nor adds "Whene'er you find an inward call :'
'Tis God commands, no further motive seek.
Speak-or without—or with reluctance speak:
To love's habitual sense by acts aspire,
And kindle till you catch the gospel fire."

GAMBOLD.

"Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts."-MARK iv. 15.

I beg to ask the following question. Should the devil be previously informed what seed is about to be sown in the Lord's vineyard; or, in other words, what subject a minister is going to preach about?

If a minister writes his sermon, or if he at the commencement publishes the heads and divisions thereof, will not the devil be apprized of his whole intended mode of attack on him and his kingdom, and will he not prepare to pick up, or neutralize, or "catch away" the seed accordingly? Did our Lord or

his apostles ever adopt this mode of warfare? Would a skilful general thus accommodate his adversary before he entered the field of battle?

"May 27th, 1828, (Whit Tuesday.) Drank tea at the chapel at the Common this afternoon: this is the first tea-party we ever had at the new chapel, (before this we always held it at the old one), fifty-six persons were present; the times of refreshing truly came again from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power: great was our joy in the Lord. I administered the sacrament with some fear and trembling again on Sunday last-this is the third time. The congregation still keeps up and every thing says 'go on.' We have the whole of the day occupied (four services) The vicar has his evening services at the workhouse, on Sundays, as usual, but it hurts us We expected, long ere now, to have seen the new church in progress; but all rests. Obstacles of some kind or other withstand them, and it is not yet begun, nor, they say, is it likely to be this year. Fully alive to our circumstances we keep awake. 1 CHRON. xxii. 18. We do not forget our blessed Lord's command, 'Work while it is day,'

not.

MEDICAL ELECTRICITY.

CASE 27. Aged twenty-seven.-Hysteric fits every day for the last twelve months; sometimes three times in a day; violent head-ache night and day. Small shocks to the back of her neck and legs; apparently cured the first time,-a month afterwards a sudden fright brought them back again; another application instantly removed both the fits and head-ache; I saw her a year afterwards.-No return.

28. Aged twenty-eight.-Violent tooth-ache for a fortnight; perfectly cured. Sparks, ten minutes.

29. Aged fifty five.-Sore eyes for twelve months, very inuch inflamed; could not use her needle.-Drew the negative aura four evenings. Perfectly cured; can sew as well as ever she could in all her life.

30. Aged thirty.-Violent nervous head ache for six weeks; had been blistered without effect. Sparks once; perfectly cured.

CHAPTER XII.

REPORT OF BIBLE ASSOCIATION, FURTHER PROGRESS OF THE SERVICES,

AND OTHER INTERESTING MATTER.

"OCTOBER 22nd, 1828, (Wednesday.) This evening the anniversary of the Bible association meeting was held at our chapel: the place was crowded,-many could not gain admittance even to stand. During the service there came such a tremendous clap of thunder accompanied with such vivid lightning as almost petrified the people: it was with the utmost difficulty we could go on with the meeting. But thanks be to Him who sitteth above the water-floods, both the rain and thunder soon ceased, and the evening ended much to the satisfaction of the people. Indeed, the solemnity of the weather produced fresh matter for reflection and observation on the part of the speakers, who instantly embraced the opportunity of enlarging more fully on the consolations which the bible afforded in time of trouble.

A woman who was present informed me many years after, that her mind was so wrought upon at this meeting, that it ended in a sound conversion. A person who needlessly left the meeting before the services were ended, was struck down by the lightning at a little distance from the chapel, but was not hurt. The following is an extract of the report then read :

'Several years having elapsed since we last met in this way, it will be proper to advert to the resolution then made, and since acted upon. At that meeting it was recommended that every effort should be made to stir up the poor, of this village, more particularly,

to examine the contents of the blessed book, and to a practical embracing of the same. It was then announced that by recent investigation of the state of the poor, they were well supplied: this was a source of solid satisfaction to us all and the basis of much expected good.

Your committee having sown liberally expected to reap liberally. We have to be thankful that our labour has not been in vain in the Lord. The wilderness has blossomed as the rose. Since that period there has been a much better disposition manifested by the poor of this village for hearing the word of God, for the education of their children, and for general moral improvement. Mr. Chairman, we can fully justify this assertion, by only comparing the present state of this village with its former condition. Fifteen years ago, when the first investigation was made, there were 449 families in this parish partially destitute, and 149 totally destitute of the bible. At that period there were not half the children educated; and, from the best observation, not a quarter part of the population ever attended a place of worship-vice in every shape triumphed. And as was their moral so was their civil condition: their outward appearance exactly corresponded with their depraved minds,-their dress, their habitations, their roads, were alike discreditable; and the few names among them who loved the bible were persecuted almost like Lot in Sodom. Many of the inhabitants had never attended a place of worship in all their lives. Indeed Warminster Common then was, as it ever had been, proverbial for all kinds of iniquity: its moral state was deemed almost too bad to be mended, and the wretched fame thereof was heard in all parts of the land. But thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, He that calleth the things which are not as though they were, said Hitherto shalt thou go but no farther.' At his most gracious bidding the Sun of Righteousness arose with healing in his wings. Through the tender

mercies of our God, the day-spring from on high has visited you and from this time it shall be said What hath God wrought?' We should have observed that a third perambulation of this parish took place two years ago, when every lack of the scriptures was again supplied: not a house was left destitute ! We say again with humble adoration and praise, 'What hath God wrought? Look now at the exterior of the village-look at the habitations-at the persons of the poor-their educated children-their moral habits-their attendance on divine worship: and with few exceptions, we say What hath the bible wrought; what have the Sunday-schools wrought; what have religious tracts wrought; what hath the preaching of the gospel wrought; what hath God wrought?

At such a sight well might the angelic hosts kindle again in heavenly rapture, joy, and love, and sing 'Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, goodwill towards men.'

But, Mr. Chairman, we have only hitherto been speaking of the temporal benefits derived from this blessed book. When the glory of all earthly achievments is lost in oblivion-when conquerors, kings, and kingdoms are no more—this heaven-inspired book, the bible, in all its native vigour lives illustrious, for ever lives: ignorance and error must yet be chased away from the earth by its light. Affliction and death shall be swallowed up in victory—

'For the Great Shepherd reigns,

And his unsuffering kingdom, yet shall come.'

Only for a moment imagine how many blessed spirits have entered into the joy of their Lord from Warminster Common, through the instrumentality of the bible, since the commencement of this blessed institution: how many are now fighting the good fight of faith and how many more will hereafter arise and call us blessed, in the kingdom of our common God and Father. The number of bibles and testaments already issued to this and neighbouring villages is