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we would commend a cold and formal system of religion, and discourage the ardent and irrepressible desires of an overflowing heart. Oh, no! that religion which is destitute of enthusiasm wants an important proof of its heavenly origin. The dweller in some ice-bound region may pass his wintry days in the coldness of a frigid insensibility, but he whose home is cast beneath the genial beams of a cloudless sun, must have caught its glowing influence. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, wherever it meets with a cordial reception, arouses every dormant energy of the mind into life and ac

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LAST DAYS OF A YOUNG OFFICER.

We

I FORGET whether you remember that we have two nephews and a niece (orphans) in whom we have always felt particularly interested. A- the eldest, has been abroad in the West Indies and Canada, and having lately returned to England, he was living at a club-house in London, among the officers of the regiment, in which he was a lieutenant. heard he was looking ill. and went to see him, and perceiving how ill he really was, we invited him to come and stay with us in the country, for change of air. He came, and we felt much anxiety respecting his spiritual state; for it was evident to us and to others that death was upon him, but we had no indications of preparation for his great change until the memorable Sunday, the 28th of August. He said to me on that memorable afternoon, "that if we would only have our own servants in at evening family prayer, he should wish to attend; but that when the neighbours were admitted, the room was so close he could not breathe.' Of course, his wish was complied with, and his uncle took the 1st verse of the 8th chapter of Romans, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit;" upon which he spoke at some length.

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After the exposition was over, we sang that hymn which begins with

"Show pity, Lord; O Lord, forgive! Let a repenting sinner live."

When all had left the room but his uncle and myself, A- burst into tears, saying, "There is no hope for me, I am such a sinner!" His uncle thanked God mentally for this proof that His Spirit was given him, and which appeared so wonderfully to have convinced of sin. We then told our dear nephew that "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin, and though his might be red like crimson they should be white as snow." Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, our dear invalid continued earnestly to seek for pardon, and on Wednesday afternoon he said to me, "I am beginning to see much clearer into the way and plan of salvation than I ever expected to do." The following Saturday I went up to bid him good night, as I always did, after he was in bed, and observed he was in tears, but I left the room without seeming to notice them. The next morning, when he came down stairs, his sister being in the room with me, he said, left me After you last night, aunt, I had all my sins brought fresh before my mind, and

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for some time I felt as if I must be lost for ever, and I was miserable! but, by and by, faith was given to me, and I was enabled to see the efficacy of the blood of Christ to wash away all my sins, and to reconcile me to God, and the peace, comfort, and joy I felt no one can believe."

He lived after this only to the 14th September, but he never lost his confidence. His faith increased daily, and he received every Scriptural truth with the docility of a little child. He now expressed a wish to see a friend, who had formerly spoken to him upon religious subjects, but to whom he then turned a deaf ear.

But no

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evening, a few days before his death, as this friend was sitting by him, on the lawn before the house, and admiring the peaceful country scene before them, he asked him-if he did not enjoy it? He replied, “Yes, but I have such inward peace, that I feel outward things make little difference to me. I could be quite as happy in a garret in London, as here." It was delightful to be with him, and to behold the power of Divine Grace in turning the rebel into a child. In reading Scripture he chose all those portions descriptive of the pardoned sinner; such as the 7th of Luke, from the 36th verse, &c. What a happy instance of Divine power and mercy was this dear young officer, when he laid down his arms of rebellion at the feet of his Heavenly King, and enlisted in that army, named in Rev. xx. 14, "clothed in fine linen, white and clean."

gave

Poetry.

"I ONLY WANT THE ROSE."

(For the Christian Guardian.)

"A pious child in India, when dying, called to his mother for some flowers. She him some; but separating his favourite from all the others, he said, I only want the rose, Mamma!"-From a Letter by Mrs. Fletcher, in Chorley's Memorials of Mrs. Hemans. Vol. I. p. 182.

To her sick child a mother brought Some flowers, with those rich odours fraught

Which summer's breath bestows; The dying boy his fingers laid Upon his favourite flower, and said, "I only want the Rose."

Oh, thus, when o'er the sinner's soul Dread thoughts of coming judgment roll,

And Hope no refuge shows; The flowers of pleasure lose their hue, For Christ he sighs, the Good, the True

He only wants the Rose.

And thus when death approaches near, And whispers in the Christian's ear

That now his days must close, In vain you tell him Fame will fling Flowers on his grave through many a spring

He only wants the Rose.

He only asks to view the face
Of Jesus, Lord of Love and Grace,
Where Heaven's sweet sunlight
glows;

Long have earth's gaudiest flowers for him

Been scentless, colourless and dimHe only wants the Rose.

M. N.

PROTESTANT MINSTRELSY.-No. V.

(For the Christian Guardian.)

THE MARTYR'S SHROUD.

In more than one instance it is recorded, that the garments in which the martyrs suffered had been expressly prepared for the occasion by friends.

IN cloisters old, the weary nun
Toiled, with her wasted hands,
Till the fair altar-cloth was done-
A gift for Christian lands.

Deftly, the cunning needle wrought,
With silk and twisted gold,
Till many a dim monastic thought
By flower and leaf was told.

And when, on high and solemn days,
It glimmered from the shrine,
The church accounted Mary's praise,
Pale sister! surely thine.

And erring, read amongst the flowers,
Sweet rose and lily white,
Thy title to the blessed bowers

That feel no earthly blight.

False dream! yet who would coldly say,

Frail hands and aching eyes, Busied the long bright summer-day, Were only worldly wise?

If fervent hearts so wrought for Him,
On whom the spikenard fell,
When Christian truth was burning
dim,

It was accepted well.

And yet a fairer work, I deem,

Was wrought by hands as true, Struggling with tear-drops in their stream,

The holy task to do.

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And then dried up the falling tear,
And when the flame was nigh,
Spake never word of doubt or fear,
But thought of rest on high-

Spake never of the cold hearth-stone,
The children's wond'ring eyes,
But turned to tread the world alone,
Her treasure in the skies.

Oh never yet in cloistered cell

Was wrought a work so fair
As hers, whose shining tear-drops fell
Amongst her loosened hair.

Ελενη.

Review of Books.

12mo., pp. 648, London: Bentley.

TRAVELS IN FRANCE AND SPAIN, chiefly in the year 1844, by the Rev. F. TRENCH, in Two Volumes, Do Christians ever make mere pleasure tours? is an inquiry to which an answer in the affirmative will too readily be given. And yet, remembering the deep responsibilities which gather round the Christian, it is an answer which ought never to be given. He is not his own, for he is bought with a price; he has surrendered himself to another's will, and he is bound-bound it is true by willing ties, but still bound to an eternal service. And if his body and his spirit are God's, surely all else that he has is God's. His time therefore belongs to his Divine Master. Not only is he forbidden to waste it, but he is forbidden to employ it for himself. Like his other talents it is to be traded with for his Lord's advantage. And on time a special value has been stamped, since, as it has been well observed, "God demands a seventh portion of our time, while he only requires a tenth of our wealth."* Has this value been properly estimated and recognised by those who confess themselves stewards for God? Alas, we fear that, passing by the manifold proofs to the contrary at home, the travels abroad of those who bear the Christian name, too sadly furnish ́a long record of days, weeks, months, and years absorbed by schemes of self-gratification.

Are these things so? If they are, ought they to be so? Ought Christian families, ought Christian clergymen, in compliance with the fashion

* Vide" Guesses at Truth."

of foreign rambling, to forsake homeduties, that they may gratify curiosity by the exciting incidents and novel adventures of continental travel? We are not speaking of the evils attendant on such excursions; we confine our attention to their object. But it may be alleged that the mind is expanded, and knowledge is increased, and the bygone events of history are vividly recalled by a sight of places which are still eloquent of the past. All this may be true; but the charge of selfgratification is not by it refuted. Whether the selfism be that of pleasure, intellect, or even religion, still if it be selfism, it is unworthy of the Christian character. And, alas, in how many narratives of travels which come before us, do we trace an entire forgetfulness of the fact that we ought always to be about our Father's business! In how many of such narratives, narratives too written by professed disciples of Christ, do we look in vain for an exemplification of the same spirit which actuated Him who "went about doing good." We have beautiful scenery, almost as beautifully pourtrayed; cathedrals, chateaux, towns, villages, &c., interestingly described; remarks, lively and profound, on men and manners, and all the adventures and misadventures of а ramble abroad amusingly told; but we notice no word spoken in due season; no seed scattered by the way; no doing good unto all men as opportunity is given.

Still, though we fear they are few,

we believe that some who journey into other lands, do so under a deep feeling of their avowed dedication to God's service, and under the influence of a truly Christian motive. In this minority the author of the work now under notice appears to rank himself.

"From the commencement of my excursion," he says, "I was desirous that the absence from home should not be without those accompanying objects and aims in accordance with the character of a clergyman of the Church of England: and when the journey was prolonged, I became still more anxious on the subject. I will not hesitate to notice what these objects and aims were, under the sense of the responsibility for time, attention, and interest, attached to one occupying the position of a minister."

He goes on to state, that he had in view to ascertain the respective positions which Popery and Protestantism maintain in France; and to take every opportunity of affording to his countrymen abroad his pastoral ministrations. With this aim, this " τελος,” he continued a journey which originated in a desire of benefiting his health. We purpose, though of necessity hastily, to follow him in his carrying out of such intentions, and therefore must excuse ourselves from any critique on his work viewed simply as a traveller's narrative.

While at Rouen, Mr. French delayed his departure, that he might administer the ordinance of Baptism; and surrounded by forty or fifty persons, chiefly connected with the railway, he had what seems to have been a very interesting service. Seven children were baptised, and "the French servants, and other inmates of the house looked on with much curiosity and interest." clusion, he says—

At the con

"One man came up and told me that he had heard me preach before, both at Reading and Southampton. I trust that many opportunities of exercising my ministry will be granted to me during my journey: the minister of Jesus Christ, when in adequate health, should ever remember and

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At Orleans, he found a considerable number of Protestants, at least sufficient to form a good congregation, under the care of Mr. Rossellotry. Here, on Sunday, Mr.T. heard a clear statement of the truth; and in a subsequent conversation with Mr. R. and his wife, "he heard that their Church was prospering; that many Roman Catholics had joined the Protestant Communion; that they had Colporteurs for the distribution of the Scriptures and religious Tracts, and that no persecution, of any moment, was at present exercised against them in the place." While thus engaged in conversation, a distribution of religious books was going on in the next room, and a class receiving instruction in Church music. The Orphan Asylum was visited. The last report of this institution shows its efficiency: and its value is illustrated by the fact that, except where received into some such asylum, the orphan children of Protestants fall under Popish influence, and are almost sure of being educated in the faith of Rome. Mr.T. had an interesting interview with M, Bruit, who had recently quitted the Church of Rome; "salvation by grace and Christ's finished work seemed the very joy of his heart." At a later period he met, at Toulouse, M. Maurette, also a Romish priest formerly, now a Protestant pastor. From Orleans he passed to Tours, four miles from which is situated the Agricultural Colony of Mettray, an institution of general approval in France. "The objects of its care are youths who have subjected themselves to legal punishment," but who are not hardened beyond hope of amelioration. Religion forms one branch of their education; but what kind of religion will be evident if we give an extract from a Sermon, recently preached by the Archbishop of Tours, at the consecration of a church built for the institution :

"O Marie! pourrai-je oublier que ce temple auguste est dédié sous votre invocation! Vierge fidèle, consolatrice

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