household of faith. Her last illness was long. She was confined to her own house for about six months; but her confidence in God was unshaken, and during the severe trial, his Spirit was with her, and he gave her rest. She was graciously raised above her afflictions, and lived in the spirit of grateful love and adoring praise. A few hours before her death, she was visited by the Rev. Dr. Newton, who was then in the city to attend the Missionary anniversary: but her final change was fast approaching, and she was only able to express her thankfulness for the privilege of seeing him, and to testify, "Christ is precious." In her last moments God was pleased to restrain the adversary, so that she was disturbed by no temptation; and at length, in unbroken peace, and in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, she rested from her labours, and died in the Lord. PETER DUNCAN.

OLD SAYINGS.

THERE was one peculiarity about Old James which seems to deserve notice. He was never to be drawn into what he used to call political squabbles. A friend of his, a respectable tradesman in the village, who liked to hear the old man talk, once introduced the subject, and asked him why he seemed to have laid down so strict a rule upon it. "Why, first of all," said James, "I cannot forget the words of Christ, 'Blessed are the peacemakers;' and I see that they who meddle much with these matters seldom keep long out of quarrels." "And then," he added, "St. Paul says, 'Redeeming the time;" and I think I can spend my time better than in reading so much in the newspaper. I like just to see, now and then, how things are going on: but there are other things which are more important, and I must not neglect them. I think I come from reading my Bible, and other good books, in a happier frame of mind than they experience who concern themselves so much with the affairs of the country." Further inquiry

heavenly Father, because of her unfaithfulness. During a protracted and severe affliction she was kept in a state of calm resignation to the will of God; and about nine days before she died, she was blessed with a delightful manifestation of the love of God to her in Christ Jesus; so that the close of her life was eminently triumphant. On the morning of the day on which she was removed, seeing myself and her mother-in-law weeping, she said, solemnly, yet with cheerfulness, "Do not weep: we must have no tears. I am going to Jesus: I shall soon be with my mother in heaven." Soon after saying this, she sweetly fell asleep in Christ.

JOSEPH CHEESEwright.

2. DIED, at Edinburgh, June 14th, 1843, Mrs. Ann B. Bertram. About fourteen years ago, through the instrumentality of a pious domestic, she became earnestly desirous to flee from the wrath to come, and was brought under the ministry of the Wesleyan Methodists. For several months she mourned under a deep conviction of sin, until, by faith in Christ, she obtained the witness that she indeed had redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sin. From the time that she thus found peace with God, her conversation was eminently such as becometh the Gospel. She possessed, in a high degree, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit; but, modest and retiring as was her piety, yet her zeal for the glory of God, and the prosperity of his cause, was both ardent and discreet. Though her words were few, yet she was plenteous in good works; and from the time of her first connexion with the Wesleyan branch of the church of Christ, she felt the deepest interest in all its concerns, cherished the most affectionate and respectful attachment to its Ministers, and was, according to her ability, a liberal contributor to its various funds. She was punctual in setting apart hours for private devotion, and exemplary in her attendance on the public ordinances of religion. To the poor she was a generous benefactor, and especially to those who were of the

household of faith.

Her last illness was long. She was confined to her own house for about six months; but her confidence in God was unshaken, and during the severe trial, his Spirit was with her, and he gave her rest. She was graciously raised above her afflictions, and lived in the spirit of grateful love and adoring praise. A few hours before her death, she was visited by the Rev. Dr. Newton, who was then in the city to attend the Missionary anniversary: but her final change was fast approaching, and she was only able to express her thankfulness for the privilege of seeing him, and to testify, "Christ is precious." In her last moments God was pleased to restrain the adversary, so that she was disturbed by no temptation; and at length, in unbroken peace, and in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, she rested from her labours, and died in the Lord. PETER DUNCAN.

OLD SAYINGS.

66

THERE was one peculiarity about Old James which seems to deserve notice. He was never to be drawn into what he used to call political squabbles. A friend of his, a respectable tradesman in the village, who liked to hear the old man talk, once introduced the subject, and asked him why he seemed to have laid down so strict a rule upon it. 'Why, first of all,” said James, "I cannot forget the words of Christ, 'Blessed are the peacemakers; and I see that they who meddle much with these matters seldom keep long out of quarrels." "And then," he added, "St. Paul says, 'Redeeming the time; and I think I can spend my time better than in reading so much in the newspaper. I like just to see, now and then, how things are going on: but there are other things which are more important, and I must not neglect them. I think I come from reading my Bible, and other good books, in a happier frame of mind than they experience who concern themselves so much with the affairs of the country." Further inquiry

being made, the old man assigned two other reasons. "I see plainly," he said, "that your politicians look at everything with party eyes. What their party does is never wrong; what the others do is never right. Now, when I look at a subject, I like to know the rights of it. My Bible tells me to love the truth; and if I begin to care nothing about the truth, I do not know where I shall leave off." His other reason was this:-" People may say what they like, but there's no making a silken purse out of a sow's ear. You cannot make a good article with bad stuff. Most of the mischief in the world comes from this, that men are not what they ought to be. Let every one set about mending one, and then all will be mended. When I was young," he continued, "there was a great deal of talk about Tom Paine, and his Rights of Man.' Now, I could never trust the man to set the nation right one way, who, by leading them to laugh at the Bible, would make it all wrong in another. We should have a fine country if all the folks in it were a set of drunken, passionate, quarrelsome infidels, like Tom Paine. No, no, Sir: I say, Physician, heal thyself. Tom Paine's character said nothing for his principles. I am afraid he was one of the quacks that kill more than they cure." "Well," said his friend, wishing to bring out the old man's thoughts a little 'more, "but is not the Rights of Man' a good title? Would it not be well for every body to have his rights?" "True," said James, "very true. But you see, Sir, there are two ways of doing a thing; and I always think the right way's the best. Right's right, Sir; and wrong's no man's right." "Well, but, James, what way would you recommend?” "The Bible way, Sir." "Which is that?" "Why, let every man do his duty, and every man will have his right." "But does it not come to the same thing at the last?" "Even if it did, if one road is nearest and cleanest, and the other dirtiest and farthest about, when I get to the end it makes a great difference to me whether I went the best or the worst road." "Well, James," continued his friend, "show me

how you make that out." "Why, Sir, when I am talking so much about my rights, and insisting on having them, I may carry my notions too far. A man is not the best judge in his own case. He may want more than his share; and then somebody has to go without. Besides, while I am contending about these things, I am stirring up the old Adam; and it is easier to kindle the fire than to put it out. But when I am minding my duty, I am doing that which keeps down the bad, and strengthens the good. You may depend on it, Sir, that this way is the surest way, for it never fails; it is the shortest, for it does the work at once; and it is the safest, for it does the good without doing any harm." "Why, then, James," said his friend, "you would let things go on without troubling yourself about them." "No," said the old man, very firmly, "you must not mistake me. In one sense, I do not trouble myself about what I cannot help. I do my duty, and commit myself to my heavenly Father. But, if you will let me say so, Sir, I think I am as good a patriot as many a one who makes a greater stir about the matter. I am a Christian politician, Sir. I never talk about things that I do not understand, I confess; for I do not like to run the risk of story-telling. But when I can understand it, I speak my mind, making Bible truth my rule. Party-folks may say that black is white, and white is black; but what the Bible approves must be right, and what it condemns must be wrong. And then, Sir, I mind two things. The Bible commands me to pray for the rulers of the country; and I believe that if we were all praying people, in life as well as lip, God would soon make all things right. He can punish a people by permitting them to have wicked or foolish rulers. He can turn the wisdom of Ahithophel into foolishness. I read in my Bible that when Israel turned unto the Lord, the Lord turned unto them. Bad folks made bad times; and penitence and prayer mended both the folks and the times." "And what is the other branch of your politics, James?" "Trying to do my own duty, Sir,