was tried. Thomas Read, Esq., subscribed £20. Other gentlemen and ladies £5 each, and many other smaller sums, so that I felt encouraged, with my excellent colleague, the Rev. Thomas Bryant, who had rendered me very efficient help, to go forward. Corner stones were laid soon after Midsummer, 1867, by Mrs. Matthews, the Misses Russell, Norris, and Dorkin, each giving £2 10s. The Rev. Jesse Ashworth, J. Bisley, Esq., Messrs. Wilson, Odell, Darkrill, Pearse, Norris, and others. assisted nobly, so that we had a great gathering and liberal contributions of money; and we proceeded with energy. The whole cost was £350. In four months all was ready for opening; the Rev. M. Wilson and others rendered us good help. Since that time we have raised a Sabbath. school of fifty children.

The converting power has rested on our friends here, and our cɔngregations have been gradually increasing from the beginning of this undertaking, so that now a gallery is needed. It is a matter of thankfulness that we have raised upwards of £300. The society is now 60 members. One hundred sittings are let at 1s. per quarter, each paid in advance. The income to quarter-day is now over £6, and some good labourers are raised up in this place. William Cooper, E-q., of the Chemical Works, besides generously helping us in the erection, kindly put a stove in the chapel, but learning that this was not sufficient to warm so large a chapel, which is well ventilated, he determined on a better course by putting in an air heating apparatus, running pipes. through on the chapel floor; the cost he has himself borne, which has been very considerable. The Lord reward him. Amen.

The good work has reached other places, Tring in particular, where we are building a good chapel; and Berkhampstead is now a distinct station. O for a universal spread of the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. THOMAS RUSSELL.

THE EXISTENCE OF A GOD.

A SHORT time ago I was in conversation with a gentleman, a personal acquaintance, belonging to a Methodist family, and some years ago his parents believed that he was a subject of divine grace, and enjoyed a change of heart; but in his intercourse with various persons in different countries and ranks of life, he yielded to the suggestions and insinuations of sceptics—he doubted the existence of a God. During the conversation I refer to, his doubts on this point were brought forward, and we went over various arguments in proof; but after a time he confessed

himself tired of argumentation, said he was indisposed to continue it, and so he wished to change the subject. Very well James, then tell me something about your recent adventures in South America. I will, said he, and after recounting various interesting and amusing incidents, he continued, "One morning I started by train from Rio Janeiro for a journey of about 60 miles to see a plantation. On the way I fell asleep, passed the place I should have alighted at, and when I was able to leave the train, found I was 60 miles further than I wished to go. I was faint having had no food since morning, felt for my money, and found my purse gone. I tried to make known my state to the station master, but it was no use, as he could not understand a word I said, he could not speak English or French, and I could not speak Spanish. By-andby however, a person who could speak French, was found from a little distance, he sympathised with me, lent me money and provided me food, and told me that I might reach the plantation I wished to go to, by a certain route in about 16 miles. According to his direction I started off to walk it; after walking several miles, I found myself in a swampy district and kept threading my way round about pools of water, through rough brushwood, and soon lost the direction I was to take. I was lost. Night was falling, and gloom spreading over nature. Many wild animals I saw running about and climbing trees. I began to be very fearful of my safety." Here I interrupted him and said, "James, how did you feel then about the existence of a God?" "Oh! said he, I began to pray then for protection and for direction." "Yes, said I, doubts were abandoned then, James; you believed in the existence, yes, and in the presence, power and providence of a God then, James." He then told me how, after a while, he found his way to a solitary house or hut, and found shelter for the night and directions next morning. On finishing our conversation I could not help adding, " Oh! my friend, how unworthy of you, and your experiences, now to be affirming that you doubt the Existence of that God whose power and presence you needed and implored when in such circumstances, and whose existence your very nature involuntary owned. How sad will be the position of such in the presence of a just God, who will say, 'Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee."" SAMUEL SMITH.

THE LOST LIFE.

"You cannot live more than one hour." Such was the reply of a physician to his patient. This solemn intimation was received with calmness, even with expressions of gratitude. It caused no terror of spirit, no shriek of despair, no wail of discontent. The sufferer was a

delicate woman.

Disease had worn down her frame to a mere outline

of its former self. Her cheeks were hollow, and her eyes unusually large; but her face wore an expression which told of inward peace and holy hope. The affliction she suffered did not interfere with the healthy exercise of her mind. Death cannot touch the soul. Her mental powers were as active then as at any period of her life. She knew perfectly well that she was about to bid adieu to the world, with all its ties, and friendships, and pleasures. She knew that when a few moments had passed, her spirit would be in another state of existence, absent from the body, filled with sorrow or satisfied with bliss, and that for ever and ever. Conscious of all this, she was, nevertheless, free from all fear, and willing to depart. What was it that inspired her soul with comfort and confidence? It was trust in Jesus. With David, she had said, "Into Thine hand I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth." Her faith was not in vain. "The Lord knoweth them that trust in Him."

In less than an hour her spirit departed; her body was motionless as clay; the chamber was darkened; and neighbours told it to each other that Mrs. W

was no more.

About twenty-four years before that hour, the subject of this sketch, then Elizabeth F, left a Wesleyan Sabbath-school. There, for some years, she had received religious instruction. She had been blessed with godly parents, pious teachers, and faithful ministers; but at the age of fourteen she left the school unsaved and unconverted. Her father having died about that time, she was cast on the world an orphan scholar. It was soon her misfortune to live in families where there was not the fear of God. She felt the force of temptation acting upon a sinful nature, became forgetful of God, and sought all her happiness in the things of the present world. It was one of her sins to be more careful about the decorations of the body than about the adornment of her mind. More than twenty years were thus spent in neglect of religion, and in pursuit of worldly pleasures. To a sad extent her life was lost to herself, to the church, and to Christ.

:

"Cast thy bread upon the waters for thou shalt find it after many days." This truth has been exemplified in thousands of instances. Mrs. W repeated this passage, with reference to her own case, when the writer was first introduced to her by a Christian neighbour. A few weeks before she had found her way to the Wesleyan chapel. It had been a place neglected by her for several years. When she took her seat in the sanctuary, recollections of her school-days crowded into her mind. Truths long forgotten suddenly revived. As she listened to the Gospel message, her heart became deeply impressed. So much

"she could

was her interest excited, that, to use her own language, have remained until midnight." Her future opportunities of attending the house of God were only few, but they were eagerly embraced. Two Sabbath mornings, when kept away by sickness, she addressed a note to the minister, desiring his prayers and the prayers of the congregation for herself, as one who was "earnestly seeking her soul's salvation." She came to the Saviour, and found a welcome. It was then her delight to peruse the word of God, to converse on the subject of religion, and to hold communion with Christ. Religion made her not only patient, but happy in the midst of tribulation. Her conversation. may be traced to the truths she was taught in the Sabbath-school. For "many days" the seed was hid from human view; but "after many days" the fruit was found.

I know not whether in such a case there is more of encouragement or of admonition. True, this woman's soul was saved; but her life was lost. More good was achieved than words can express, or figures con. tain; for who can tell the worth of a soul? The harvest that is not gathered until December will very likely not be gathered at all. Late results are fearfully uncertain. Every day that the conversion of children is delayed creates a disadvantage and a difficulty. Had the scholar we have mentioned been urged to decide for Christ at the age of twelve, it is highly probable that Christ would have been magnified by her life as well as by her death; evil would have been prevented; a life of usefulness would have been secured; and throughout eternity her crown would have shone with a brighter lustre.

T. B.

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.

A NUMBER of ministers were assembled for the discussion of difficult questions, and among others it was asked, how the cominand " to pray without ceasing" could be complied with. Various suppositions were started, and at length one of the number was appointed to write an essay upon it, to read at the next monthly meeting; which being overheard by a female servant, she exclaimed, What a whole month wanted to tell the meaning of that text! It is one of the easiest and best texts in the Bible." 66 'Well, well," said an old minister, "Mary, what can you say about it? Let us know how you understand it; can you pray all the time "O yes, sir." "What? when you have so many things to do ?" 'Why, sir, the more I have to do the more I can pray." "Indeed; well, Mary, do let us know how it

?"

""

is; for most people think otherwise." "Well, sir," said the girl, "when I first open my eyes in the morning, I pray, Lord, open the eyes of my understanding; and while I am dressing, I pray, that I my be clothed with the robe of righteousness; and when I have washed myself, I ask for the washing of regeneration; and as I begin to work, I pray, that I may have strength equal to my day. When I begin to kindle the fire, I pray, that God's work may revive in my soul; and as I sweep out the house, I pray, that my heart may be cleansed from all its impurities; and while preparing and partaking of breakfast, I desire to be fed with the hidden manna, and the sincere milk of the word; and as I am busy with the little children, I look up to God as my Father, and pray for the Spirit of adoption, that I may be his child, and so on all day everything I do furnishes me with a thought for prayer." "Enough, enough," cried the old divine, "these things are revealed to babes, and often hid from the wise and prudent. Go on Mary," said he, "pray without ceasing; and as for us, my brethren, let us bless the Lord for this exposition, and remember that He has said, 'The meek will He guide in judgment.' The essay, as a matter of course, was not considered necessary after this little event occurred.

A BEAUTIFUL DREAM.

How very wrongly dreams are often regarded. Some think that they come only through the multifarious engagements of the previous day; and they regard all as superstitious who attribute any virtue or meaning to them. Others look at them in quite a different light, and to every wild-wandering of the mind-when reason appears to have laid down her sceptre-give some absurd and fantastic interpretation regarding them all, as precursors of certain events, which are of necessity to transpire. While we do not coincide with either of these views, we would adopt the medium opinion. That dreams sometimes have a meaning, and that in some the marks of a superintending Providence are clearly to b perceived. How remarkably interesting and predictive were the dreams of Joseph, the cause of his brethren's jealousy and animosity. How stimulating and encouraging at that important crisis, to Gideon-that man of Jewish patriotism and valour-was the dream he heard the Midianite relate and his fellow interpret, relative to their overthrow, and his success. How alarming were the dreams of that great Assyrian monarch, which his magicians could not elucidate, because of their divine character, and which doubtless must have remained a source of perplexity to Nebuchadnezzar had not Daniel, his great in