THE GOSPEL TRUMPET. Pablished by the Trustees of the late PETER DRUMMOND, at the Tract Depot, Stirling, N.B. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." 10 "Great is the Holy One of Israel" (ISAIAH XII. 6). The mountain is a volcano. From time to time a deep, rumbling noise warns the people of the hidden peril; while smoke, fiery stones, and clouds of ashes, give visible proof that a powerful engine of destruction is beneath them. A burning stream of melted rock will then pour down its side to the distance of several miles, destroying every object in its course. Many hundred years ago, at the foot of the mountain, there stood two beautiful cities. In a moment, without any particular warning, a lurid light shed an unearthly glare; and in a short time the air was filled with falling ashes, and rivers of scorching lava deluged the cities! The terrified inhabitants rushed into the streets: some from the theatre, some from the banqueting hall, and others from their peaceful homes but with many escape was hopeless. The suffocating smoke, the heated air, the thickly falling ashes, the hissing, boiling flood of melted rock, hurried numbers into eternity. In the course of ages the places where these cities once stood became unknown. The earth covered them, and vineyards, orchards, and cottages were planted and built above them. But at length the long-hidden secret is discovered, and the streets of the ancient cities are once more opened to the light of day. Strangers now enter the ruins of the houses, temples, and marts; but the hum of business is hushed; the sound of mirth is no more heard; no groups of eager traders crowd the markets. Fragments of skeletons are met with—the remains of those who once lived in these cities. Those that are found most nearly perfect, are in attitudes that tell of haste and terror. One was found with a bag of money firmly grasped in his hand, and numbers were discovered around the steps of their idol temple. Other eruptions of this mountain are on record; and though not so terrible as that which overwhelmed the two ancient cities, yet houses and vineyards have many times been destroyed, and numerous lives have been lost. At the close of the year 1857 shocks of an earthquake continued for four days throughout the whole district of the volcano; many villages were then overthrown, and more than thirty thousand persons perished! Yet around and upon the mountain still dwell multitudes of human beings. Its top smokes, flames burst forth, and streams of fire pour down the sides into the plains. The inhabitants say it has been so long since any serious outburst from the volcano itself took place, that they have not "I am with you to save you" (JEREMIAH XLII. 11). much cause for alarm on that account. Some do not think there will be another violent eruption. Thus they try to dismiss from the mind all thought of danger, and are willing to take the risk of their position. 11 ing one tie after another that binds you to earth-yet, come when and how it may, it is a certainty that it will come. It is no uncertain thing that judgment is at hand. You must meet God. You may refuse to think of this fact; you may try to persuade yourself that the time is at a remote distance, and therefore need not be thought of; but, after all, the hour is hastening on when all "the dead, both small and great," shall stand before God in judgment. Reader, think of it. How many of the inhabitants of these doomed cities died unprepared? They had no warning of the sudden destruction that overtook them; but you are warned to prepare for death, and it may come to you at any moment. ARE YOU What say you, reader, to such a state? You think the people act unwisely. It is inexcusable, you say, for them to live in such false security, ! even though there are no immediate signs of danger. You think it is prudent to prepare for events that may take place. You say that it is true wisdom to provide against the risks of property and life. And you are right. Yet, perhaps, in regard to matters of the highest moment and absolute certainty-even your spiritual and eternal interest-you may neglect to act on the same principle. For instance: it is no uncertain READY? thing that death will come. You have been often warned by what you have felt in yourself, and what you have seen in others, that it will come. You cannot fail at times to reflect that it may come upon you, as upon the inhabitants of the ancient cities, at an hour when all seems in peace. It may approach in the form of a sudden and fatal attack of disease; or it may come stealing on in the slow but sure steps of protracted sickness, gradually wasting your strength, and unloosen "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand" (John x. 27, 28). 12 D "He that doeth truth cometh to the light" (JOHN III. 21). CHEERING WORDS. "MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED." PHILIPPIANS iv. 19. EAR FRIEND, I know not what you need exactly, But this I know,-my God will listen now, In tender sympathy and deep compassion, If in your trouble you before Him bow. You need submission. Hath His love afflicted, And do His ways seem hard to understand? Then ask for grace to say, amid the darkness, "My Father, though Thou smitest, hold my hand." Or is it strength you need? Are you exhausted. With weary watching, or with sorrow's pain? Oh! whisper this to Him, the God of comfort, And He will willingly His child sustain. Or do you need direction on life's journey,— The way you have to tread to be made clear? You cannot ask too much. Then, friend, I leave you L How to Spend the Sabbath Day. ET it not be supposed that because God hath appointed the Sabbath as a day of rest from bodily labour, it is therefore to be an idle holiday. Many, in following their wicked pastimes, make it more a day of labour than any day in the week. This is not only perverting God's design in giving them "rest for their labour," but it is preventing God's design in giving them rest for the religious employment of their minds, which is a point of still greater consequence. God not only "rested" on the Sabbath day, but He "blessed" and "hallowed" it. The Apostles' institution was a law of Christ by His Spirit. Be well resolved against the cavils of those carnal men that would make you believe that the holy spending of the Lord's Day is a needless thing.-Dr. Gilpin It is perfectly true that the first step to ruin, in multitudes of instances, is an illspent Sabbath day; and that the robbery of God in respect to this day, for greed and gain, or pleasure-seeking, is the sure road to bankruptcy, and the precursor of a shattered constitution, and of mental collapse. There are not a few at this moment who, if they had deferred to conscience, and kept the law in this regard, would have been in the enjoyment of health, hope, and pros perity. It is made true always, not by Sir Matthew Hale's dictum, but by the nature of the case, that— A Sabbath well spent Brings a week of content, And health for the toils of to-morrow. Whatsoe'er may be gained, Is a certain forerunner of sorrow. They are either the sworn, relentless foes of God and man, or wretched, blind leaders of the blind, who would rob the hard-working man, above all others, on any pretence, or with any bribery, of the day of sacred rest which God has given to all. It is the one bit of paradise of which we can yet boast, and the one sure earnest of the rest that remaineth for the people of God. IT is not hastily, but seriously reading, meditating upon holy and Heavenly truths, that makes them prove sweet and profitable to the soul. It is not the bee's touching on the flowers that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time upon them, and drawing out the sweet. It is not he that reads most, but he that meditates most on Divine truth, that will prove the choicest, wisest, strongest Christian. "Walk in the Spirit" (GALATIANS V. 16). GOD'S HAVE seen an infant propped against a chair in the corner of the nursery, while the fond mother, at a little distance, stooped, and, with open arms, said, in tender, coaxing accents, "Come, darling! come, baby, come!" Baby hesitated for a moment-it was evidently its first attempt to walk unaided; but with instinctive knowledge that those outstretched arms would receive it and shield it from danger, it rushed with tottering, unsteady footsteps to their embrace, and nestled itself fondly in its mother's bosom. Great is a moth er's love, but not mat so great as God's love to His chil-si dren; for He hath said, "Yea, she may forget, YET WILLI NOT FORGET THEE" (Isaiah xlix. 15). How often doth He say to us, "Come," "Come unto Me," in His Word, in His pro TO "COME!” 13 they shall not overflow thee," sustains, and enables them to rejoice, even in tribulation. Jesus graciously says, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matt. xi. 28). Are we weary, and labouring under a sense of our sins? Let us come to Jesus-He will give us peace and rest. Oh! when we hear the Lord saying, "Come unto ME," when, by faith, we see the outstretched arms, our burden rolls off we flee to Him, and are at rest! But, alas! for those who know Him not! Poor tempest-tossed souls! who are living without God, and therefore without hope; who have no refuge to repair to amidst the inevitable vidence, and in all His dealings with us, the trials of life. Oh that they would hearken objects of His love and compassion. "The Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark" (Genesis vii. 1). Thus doth He invite believers to come and take refuge with Him in all their trials and temptations; to come into the "Ark of the covenant;" and He shuts them in, and hides them in His pavilion; they are kept as in the hollow of His hand; and, behind the dark cloud, He speaks comfortably unto them; His promise (Isaiah xliii. 2), "When thou passest through the waters, to the gracious invitation, "Come unto Me," and find rest! Oh that men would no longer delay, but come unto Him, ere it be too late, and they perish! "Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out." Come, then, ye weak, helpless, perishing,-come, even with your feeblest effort, with tottering footsteps. In no wise will He cast you out. "He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax." Aged man, have you come to Christ? or |