"Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe" (PSALM CXIX. 117). 69

THE LOST MECHANIC RESTORED.

EAR the close of 1831, says Mr. C

of Hartford, Connecticut, I was requested by a pious and benevolent lady to take into my employ a young man who had become intemperate. I objected that the influence of such a man would be injurious to my other workmen, and especially my apprentices. But the kind-hearted lady urged her request, saying that he was willing to come under an engagement not to drink at all, and to conform strictly to all the regulations of the establishment. She had received him into her family when a boy, and felt a deep interest in his welfare. intemperance had blasted his fair prospects, but he was now sensible of his danger, and she believed his salvation for this, if not for a future world, would turn on my decision. I consented to make

His

contract with you, but I have treated you with the basest ingratitude, proved myself unworthy of your confidence, and destroyed the last hope of my reformation." I assured him of my increased desire for his welfare, and he returned to his employment, his attention to business evincing the sincerity of his confessions.

But not more than three months had elapsed before he was taken again in the toils of his old deceiver; and at this time he was so furious and unmanageable, that he was arrested and committed to the work

house. He re

The mained there a few days, and then returned to his work.

Such was

his

history; a few

months sober, industrious, and obliging in my shop; kind, attentive, and affectionate in his family; then a week furi

the trial; and he came. He was industrious | ously drunk, absent from work, violent and faithful, and strictly temperate and regular in all his habits.

But in the summer of 1832, he was by some means induced to taste intoxicating drink, and a fit of drunken insanity ensued, which continued about a fortnight. After he had become sober and rational, I happened to meet him in the street, and asked him why he did not come to work as usual. With a look of grief, self-reproach, and despair, he said, "I can never come into your shop again. I have not only violated my

and abusive in his family; then at the workhouse; and then sober and at home again.

In the month of May, 1833, he was again missing. But in the course of the summer his wife received a letter from him, and she removed to live with him in his new abode.

About two years and a half after this, he came into my shop one day; but how changed! Instead of the bloated, wild, and despairing countenance that once

70

"I the Lord speak righteousness" (ISAIAH XLV. 19).

marked him as a drunkard, he now wore an aspect of cheerfulness and health, of manliness and self-respect.

I approached, took him by the hand, and said, "Well, how do you do?"

a powerful argument for removing the temptations to intemperance that abound everywhere in our towns and cities, as well as in the rural districts.

“I am well,” said he, shaking my hand "At Evening-Time it shall be Light." most cordially.

"Yes," said I, "well in more respects than one."

(ZECHARIAH xiv. 7.)

H, blessed, blessed vision! Oh, happy, happy thought!

What comfort sweet, what peace, what joy, those loving words have wrought!

"Yes, I am," was his emphatic reply. "It is now more than two years since I have tasted a drop of anything that can intoxicate. Oh! Love, unknown, unfathomed, which doth this

bliss provide

For those who love their Saviour,-there'll be "light at eventide."

I have now come," said he, "to tell you why I left you. It was because I knew that I should die if I did not leave off drinking, and I saw distinctly that I could The path is rough and thorny, the way is dark and never leave off while I remained in Hartford. My only hope was in going where liquor was not to be had."

On the 4th of July, 1839, the Sundayschools in the town where he resides made arrangements for a celebration, and I was invited to be present and address them. As I looked upon the audience, the first countenance that met my eye was that of this very man, at the head of his Sundayschool class. The sight almost overwhelmed me. He had made a public profession of religion, which he was daily honouring by a life of Christian usefulness, meekness, and sobriety.

Now, what was the cause of this surprising change? What wrought this wonderful transformation in this individual? The whole story is told in one short line,-He went where intoxicating liquor was not sold. Had he remained in this city he would probably long since have been laid in the

long;

Our hearts are sad and weary, and the foe is fierce and strong:

But though all things seem against us, though evil may betide,

We'll take courage and press onward: there'll be "light at eventide."

If on the dear home circle Grief has laid a heavy hand,
That has crushed out all the sunshine and the beauty

from the land;

If from our longing vision dark clouds the Saviour
hide,-

It is but for a moment: there'll be "light at eventide.”
Then when the strife is ended, and we have gained

our rest,

We shall see and know that all things have been working for the best;

す

Enthroned in highest glory, safe by our Saviour's side,
We'll praise Him without ceasing for the "light at
eventide."
E. BEDDARD.

THERE is none can pay your debts but Jesus; there is none can justify your person but Jesus; there is none can satisfy or sanctify your soul but Jesus; and there is none can give you Heaven but Jesus. He is the ladder by which believers are to get Surely the above true narrative furnishes up step by step until they get into glory.

drunkard's

grave.

"The Lord taketh pleasure in His people" (PSALM CXLIX. 4). 71

Grace Better than Gift. HERE is a vast difference between the spirit of prayer and the gift of prayer. Many possess the latter, who do not the former. It is far better to have the spirit of prayer without the gift, than the gift of prayer without the spirit. The former promotes humility, the latter pride. The Christian who has the spirit will pray; if not vocally, he will, like Hannah, in his heart; for prayer is his vital breath. As an eminently pious man once observed,—He is born a beggar, and he must live a beggar, and die at a throne of grace. No Christian should despair of being able to express the aspirations of his soul in public. Let him seek for a greater degree of the spirit of prayer, and improve the gift he has, and the blessing will increase in his hands. The power of prayer does not consist in its length, breadth, or depth, nor in the beauty of expression, but in its spirit. The short expressions of the publican had power with God, while the pompous boasting of the Pharisee was rejected.

Mercies Invited.

"Let Thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even Thy salvation, according to Thy word."-PSALM exix. 41.

HERE are legions of holy angels,

That pass through the crowded street;
They enter our portals daily,
Where the group of the household meet :-
They enter the royal palace;

They enter the lowly cot;
And scatter the beams of glory
From the land eye seeth not.

We christen these angels, "Mercies,"

As ever they come and go,
When the curtain of night is rising,

When the curtain of night falls low.
But, alas! too often they pass us,
Untracked by our carnal eyes:
We see not the Royal Bearers,
Though we value the King's supplies.

Not so with the Hebrew singer :

Awaked by a spirit wing,
He asked that the passing angel

Some boon to His gate might bring.
We echo the sweet petition,-

"Let Thy mercies come to us, Lord:
Remember our low condition,

When sending Thy gifts abroad."

One angel, above all others,

We ever would wish to know,-
The Angel of Thy Salvation,

With all that His hands bestow.
According to Thy good promise,
We wait for this welcome guest,
With the inner chamber open,

And a pillow upon our breast.

Let Him come to us, O Jehovah !

Thou knowest His dearer name:
We call Him to-day, "Our Saviour,"

Yet our wishes but mean the same.
Thou bearer of love's salvation,

Come into a humble heart:
Let the suite of Thy mercies follow,
And nevermore thence depart.

WILLIAM LUFF.

72 "The memory of the just is blessed

Prayer for the Holy Spirit.

HE Rev. Alexander Dallas, one of the founders of the Irish Church Missions, did nothing without an open recognition of the Third Person of the sacred Trinity. He never opened his Bible without praying that God would teach him by the Holy Spirit; he never entered a cottage but he paused at the door to pray that the Holy Spirit would teach him what to say; and he never preached a sermon without commencing with his well-known prayer, "O God, give us the Holy Spirit, for Jesus Christ's sake." This This prayer has proved to have been most efficacious in many inMiss Marsh taught it to many of the soldiers who went out to the Crimea, and it was the means of conversion to some

stances.

of them. Why should not this short petition be equally effectual now, when offered up from the heart, through our great High Priest, to a God-hearer, and a God-answerer of prayer? He has said, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" (Luke xi. 13). "All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (Matt. xxi. 22).

PREVAILING PRAYER; or, Triumphant
Faith, as Seen in the Life of John E.
Vassar. With Introduction by the Rev. A. A.
BONAR, D.D., Glasgow. 16 pages Illustrations.
Price 2s. 6d.

A VERY attractive edition of this interesting book has just been published by the Trustees of the Stirling Tract Enterprise. John E. Vassar was truly an ambassador for Christ, and a most successful winner

of souls. He believed in the power of prayer, and

(PROVERBS X. 7).

His

lived in constant intercourse with Heaven.
occupation was, by his own choice, that of a colpor-
teur; and wherever he went he was an epistle of
Christ, known and read of all men. Possessing re-
markable tact in dealing with all classes of individuals
respecting the salvation of their souls,
impossible to refuse him a hearing, and old and young
alike were drawn towards him by his kind and loving
disposition. As exhibiting the influence for good
which one man of faith and prayer may exercise, and
the work which he may accomplish in promoting the
cause of the Lord Jesus Christ in the world, this
memoir is admirably suited for circulation amongst
young men, To the members of Young Men's
Christian Associations throughout the country perhaps
no book could be gifted more likely to prove useful.
The account of the life and labours of such men as
John E. Vassar might, by God's blessing, be the
means of stirring up young men of the right stamp to
devote themselves to Christian work of a similar kind
to that which he performed; and such men are
urgently needed at the present time. Is it too much
to hope that some who feel a special interest in young
John E. Vassar's Life?
men may think of putting into their hands a copy of

THE

GOSPEL TRUMPET.

Published by the Trustees of the late PETER DRUMMOND, at Drummond's Tract Depot, Stirling, N. B.

"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."