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about a month. One of them owned the hand of the Lord was upon him, and besought Him, in the bitterness of his soul, to prolong his life, vowing to hear Mr. B. himself; but the Lord would not be entreated.

"The violent struggling of many in the above-mentioned churches has broke several pews and benches; yet it is common for people to remain unaffected there, and afterward drop down in their way home. Some have been found lying as dead in the road; others in Mr. Berridge's garden, not being able to walk from the church to his house, though it is not two hundred yards."

This very remarkable narrative must be left to tell its own tule. Shortly after, Wesley received from Mr. Berridge a letter, of which the following is a copy :

"On Sunday sennight, a man of Wybersley, a Nathaniel indeed, was so filled with the love of God during morning prayer, that he dropped down, and lay as one dead for two hours. He had been so filled with love, all the week before, that he was often for a time unable to work.

I was speaking violent outcry. We sung near

"On Sunday night last, as in my house, there was a One soul was set at liberty. an hour, and the Lord released three more out of captivity.

"On Monday sennight, Mr. H--ks accompanied me to Meldred. On the way we called at a farmer's house. After dinner I went into his yard, and seeing near 150 people, I called for a table, and preached, for the first time, in the open air. Two persons were seized with strong convictions, fell down, and cried out most bitterly. We then went to Meldred, where I preached in a field to about 4,000 people. In the morning, at five, Mr. H-ks preached in the same field, to about a thousand. And now the presence of the Lord was wonderfully among us. There was abundance of weeping and strong crying; and, I trust, beside many that were slightly wounded, near thirty received true heartfelt conviction. At ten we returned, and called again at the farmer's house. Seeing about a dozen people in the brewhouse, I spoke a few words. Immediately the farmer's daughter dropped down in strong convictions; another also was miserably torn by Satan, but set at liberty before I had done prayer. At four, I preached in my own house, and God gave the spirit of adoption to another

mourner.

"On Monday last I went to Shelford, four miles from Cambridge, near twenty from Everton. The journey made me quite ill, being so weary with riding that I was obliged to walk part of the way. When I came thither, a table was set for me on the Common, and to my great surprise I found near 10,000 people round it, among whom were many gownsmen from Cambridge. I was hardly able to stand on my feet, and extremely hoarse with a cold. When I lifted up my foot, to get on the table, a horrible dread overwhelmed me; but the moment I was fixed thereon, I seemed as unconcerned as a statue. I gave out my text, (Gal. iii. 10, 11,) and made a pause, to think

of something pretty to set off with; but the Lord so confounded me, (as indeed it was meet, for I was seeking not His glory, but my own,) that I was in a perfect labyrinth, and found if I did not begin immediately, I must go down without speaking; so I broke out with the first word that occurred, not knowing whether I should be able to add any more. Then the Lord opened my mouth, enabling me to speak near an hour, without any kind of perplexity, and so loud that every one might hear. The audience behaved with great decency. When sermon was over, I found myself so cool and easy, so cheerful in spirit, and wonderfully strengthened in body, I went into a house, and spoke again near an hour, to about 200 people. In the morning I preached again to about 1,000. Mr. H engaged to preach in Orwell-field, on Tuesday evening. I gave notice that I designed to preach on Monday sennight, at Granchester, a mile from Cambridge.

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"Mr. Hs and I have agreed to go into Hertfordshire; afterwards to separate, and go round the neighbourhood, preaching in the fields, wherever a door is opened, three or four days in every week. Believe me,

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"Your affectionate Servant,

"J. B."

For several years he continued a very rigid Arminian. Nor was it by arguments in debate upon the subject of controversy between Arminians and Calvinists, but by a long confinement from preaching, occasioned by a nervous fever, that he was led into more consistent views of Divine truth, and in the firm belief of which he ended his days. In this long and severe affliction, the Lord led him into a path which he had not known, and taught him many useful lessons to which he had been altogether a stranger. Hitherto he had learnt to be an active, but not a passive servant of the Lord. To be laid aside in the plenitude of his success was so irritating to his nature, that, like Jonas, his heart fretted against the Lord, and he wished he had never been employed in the work of the ministry. To such a pitch of criminal exasperation was he carried against the government of God, for checking his ministerial career, that he could not even endure the sight of his. Bible, nor bear to hear the people sing in bis adjoining church. But how vain is it to lift up the heel against the God of the universe, and repine at His wise dispensations, especially when subsequent experience proves, that they were all designed to answer the most valuable purposes, in preserving from the dangerous elevations of popularity, in fitting for a sphere of action equally successful, and in leading the mind into

more enlarged views of the abounding grace of the everlasting Gospel!

We must reserve the remaining facts, which are full of interest, till next month.

MR. JOSEPH STURGE.

THE death of this well-known philanthropist is deeply and generally lamented. His departure was sudden and unexpected. He had risen at his usual early hour, about half-past six o'clock, and his voice was heard cheerfully calling his children to join him in riding out before breakfast, in accordance with their ordinary practice in fine weather. On returning to his chamber he complained of a severe pain in the region of the heart, which lasted about twenty minutes, when it appeared to abate, but his strength was utterly prostrated, and at about a quarter past seven o'clock he breathed his last.

Mr. Sturge was born of Quaker parents, at Elberton, Gloucestershire, on the 2nd of August, 1793, and was in his sixty-sixth year at the time of his death. He was the sixth member of the family, bearing in direct succession the name of Joseph, which he now transmits to his son, a boy of twelve years of age. He first established himself in business at Bewdley, as a corn merchant, on arriving at his maturity, and afterwards, in 1822, settled in Birmingham. Here, and at Gloucester, in partnership with his brother, Alderman Charles Sturge, he continued to carry on business until his death. In 1834 he married Eliza, daughter of Mr. James Cropper, of Liverpool, and thus became related to the extensive philanthropic family circle of which that eminent man was the centre. This union was, however, of very brief duration, and Mr. Sturge afterwards, in 1846, married Hannah, daughter of Mr B. Dickenson, of Coalbrookdale, who survives him, and by whom he leaves one son and four daughters.

From early life he actively participated in the various philanthropic movements of the day, but specially devoted himself to the Anti-slavery cause. The Anti-corn Law League, in its early days, was deeply indebted to Mr. Sturge. Immediately on his return from America, at the request of the Anti-corn Law League, he took up the subject of an extension of the suffrage, and the following year contested the borough of Nottingham.

In 1840, Mr Sturge had been solicited to stand as a cand.date for Birmingham, but did not go to the poll, having been withdrawn upon an understanding that the whole liberal party would support him at the next vacancy. In 1844, upon the death of Mr. Joshua Scholefield, he was again brought forward, but the arrangement which had been previously made was not carried out.

The following year, when all Europe was convulsed with revolutions, he attended at Brussels the first of that remarkable series of Peace Congresses which continued to be held annually in the principal cities of Europe until 1852, and at all of which he was present, and had a principal share in the guidance of their proceedings. The year 1818 was also

signalized by his interviews with the men.bers of the Provisional Government of France. especially Lamartine and Arago, on the subjects of peace and slavery, resulting in the decree which abolished slavery throughout the French colonies. One of the best-known incidents of Mr. Sturge's public life was his. visit to the Emperor of Russia in February, 1854. Accompanied by two friends, M. Charlton and Mr. Pease, M.P., he formed a deputation from the Society of Friends, tr present an address of remonstrance against the war, solely on religious grounds.

The remains of Joseph Sturge were borne to their last resting-place, the graveyard of the Friends' Meeting-house in Birmingham. The simplicity of Quaker fashions forbade an opportunity of a public funeral. The inhabitants of the town in which Joseph Sturge had for nearly forty years resided were anxious that his funeral should be a public one, without display, but simply expressive of affectionate regard. The Mayor (Sir John Ratcliff) waited upon the next brother of the deceased, Mr. Charles Sturge, and consulted him on the subject; but the family were opposed to ostentation of any kind. In these circumstances nothing was left but for the inhabitants to show their respect in their own way, and that took so natural and simple, yet spontaneous and genuine a form, that there was no mistaking its intention, or the motives which prompted it; in fact, it has been truly said that such a funeral was never seen in Birmingham.

The mourning procession left Mr. Sturge's late residence at a quarter past ten o'clock. the distance to the place of interment being a mile and a half. It was followed by nearly forty carriages, containing the relatives and friends of the deceased, and after it left the gates it was headed by a procession of more than three thousand gentlemen, three abreast. men of all ranks, creeds, and shades of distinction in the town. This procession was headed by the Mayor, and by the Rev. Dr. Miller. rector of St. Martin's, the mother church of the town. In the midst of a heavy rain, the shops being closed, the procession moved slowly to the Friend's Meeting-house. Before it reached there, more than twenty other carriages had joined the mournful cavalcade. The burial-ground was thronged by members of the Society of Friends from all parts of the country. Mr. Bright, M.P., was present at the funeral.

Among the many tributes which have been paid to the worth of Mr. Sturge, the first place is due to the sermon of the Rev. J. A. James. between whom and the departed a most intimate friendship existed for more than thirty Mr. James's delineation of his friend's character is alike worthy of the orator and the philanthropist.

years.

DEATH OF DR. MORISON.

WE have this month to record the death of our honoured and beloved brother, Dr. Morison, of Chelsea; and we do so with peculiar feelings of sympathy for his bereaved partner, and regret for the loss which the church of Christ has sustained by the removal of one

who has been so extensively useful and so universally beloved. The removal of such a man reminds us forcibly that the great and good with whom he was contemporary have one by one gone to their rest and their reward; and now he who was beloved by them all has joined their rank in the kingdom of heaven. It is not our intention, however, to give any delineation at present of the character of our departed friend; an opportunity for this will soon occur. But our hearers will like to hear something from reliable authority as to his last days on earth.

For upwards of three years Dr. Morison was confined to his house, and the greater part of the time to his bed. In December, 1855, he preached his last sermon at Trevor Chapel; and since then his bodily sufferings have been continuous and acute. The constitution has been gradually weakening, and disease at length gained the mastery. The medical certificate of Dr. Anderson states that his death resulted from spasmodic asthma and disease of the liver.

Though his sufferings were so great, he bore them with Christian resignation. His religious peace was unbroken; he remarked to Mr. Statham, his successor, more than once during his illness, that he felt the consolation which resulted from resting on the Rock Christ Jesus, and from holding steadfast to the sound theology which he had faithfully preached during his long, laborious, and successful ministry.

For the last fortnight Dr. Morison's strength had been much weakened. Dr. James Legge, his son-in-law, whose passage was taken in the ship "Dora," with his daughters, for China,

before the aggravated symptoms came on, saw during the last few days of his stay that the dissolution of his revered father was nigh at hand. Necessity, however, was laid upon him, as the ship sailed on the Monday.

This is one of the inscrutable mysteries of the providence of God. Dr. Legge sailed at noon, and Dr. Morison died at night! Our readers may imagine how sad was the departure, rendered necessary at such a time; but it was the will of God, and was submitted to as such.

Mr. Statham called in the evening of Monday, about ten o'clock, and found the Doctor very much weaker. Mrs. Morison, two of the grandchildren, and a friend, with the domestics, were in the room. At about half-past ten, as he lay on his pillow, he fell asleep in death; and so calmly did he die that the actual moment of his departure was unknown. He had been painfully struggling for breath the greater part of the day, but the last hour was like an infant's sleep.

Thus died our beloved brother, in his 68th year, and, we believe, the 45th year of his ministry. The intelligence of his death has produced a general sensation.

Our readers may well imagine that these lines have been indited with a full heart. Who could help loving the noble-hearted, the generous, the magnanimous Morison? He was emphatically a good man, and a lover of good men. His tongue and pen were ever ready to act in the cause of religion, humanity, and freedom. His charity was co-extensive with the Universal Church, and his deeds harmonised with his feelings.

Lessons by the Tay; or, Things to Think On.

LUTHER'S PRAYER FOR MELANC

THON.

ON a certain occasion a message was sent tɔ Luther to inform him that Melancthon was dying. He at once hastened to his sick bed, and found him presenting the usual premonitory symptoms of death. He mournfully bent over him; and, sobbing, gave utterance to a sorrowful exclamation. This roused Melancthon from his stupor-he looked into the face of Luther, and said, "O, Luther, is this you? Why don't you let me depart in peace?"

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We can't spare you yet, Philip," was the reply. And turning round, he threw himself upon his knees, and wrestled with God for his recovery, for upwards of an hour. He went from his knees to the bed, and took his friend by the hand. Again he said, "Dear Luther, why don't you let me depart in peace ?"

"No, no, Philip, we cannot spare you yet," was the reply. He then ordered soup, and when pressed to take it he declined, again saying, Dear Luther, why will you not let me go home and be at rest?"

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66 We cannot spare you yet, Philip," was the reply. He then added, Philip, take this soup, or I will excommunicate you."

He took the soup; he commenced to grow better; he soon regained his wonted health,

and laboured, for years afterwards, in the cause of the Reformation. And when Luther returned home, he said to his wife with joy, "God gave me my brother Melancthon back in direct answer to prayer."

THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST.

Most of our young readers have read of the rock of Gibraltar. It is a high, rugged rock, being connected with Spain only by a low, narrow isthmus. This isthmus, and the whole rock, are completely undermined, so as to form underground magazines and batteries.

Two soldiers were one night guarding the passage under this isthmus, when an officer returned from the mainland, and demanded the watchword. One of the sentinels had just become a Christian, and deeply absorbed in his meditations on the love of Christ, exclaimed, "The precious blood of Christ." Then immediately recollecting himself, he replied correctly. But his words, "the precious blood of Christ," were not lost on his companion. They brought relief to his burdened heart, he found the Saviour, and soon after, being sent to Ceylon, he obtained a discharge from the army, and completed the translation of the Bible into the language of the Ceylonese.

Ah! to how many aching hearts have these words, "the precious blood of Christ," brought relief! When the soul has been wrung with anguish on account of its sins, when it has quailed before its offended God, and nothing seemed left but despair-despair, how have these words, "the precious blood of Christ," burst in like sunshine through the clouds, and diffused a peace passing all understanding! Tell us that again," cried the Greenlander, as the faithful Moravians preached to them of this precious blood. "Oh, that is the very Saviour I have been all my life seeking," exclaimed the Hindoo, who for years had rolled himself on the ground, and now first heard of Jesus from the lips of Schwartz. The precious blood of Christ! How many sins has it covered, how many sorrows wiped away, how many tear-streams dried! What but this “can do helpless sinners good?”

THE WORLD'S ONLY HOPE.

If a reformation is to take place on earth, and the world to experience a golden age, Christianity alone can produce it. For, tell me what is wanting to make the world a kingdom of heaven, if that tender, profound, and self-denying love, which we see Jesus practise and recommend, were paramount in every human heart! But the whole of religion consists in this, that Christ performed in every individual. Think what it would be if every one exhibited a living mirror of "the fairest of the sons of men," and loved God and the brethren like Him! Oh, really, the loftiest and most glorious idea of human society would then be realised. Be convinced, therefore, that you are invited and allured by Jesus, not merely to be happy in heaven, but that the earth may be again transformed into a paradise for you see, in John's case, that he who casts himself by living faith on Jesus's breast, soon imbibes from thence his love.Krummacher.

A LIVELY EMBLEM OF HEAVEN. O what cheerfulness, strength, and pleasure did the primitive Christians reap from the unity of their hearts, in the way and worship of God! Next to the delight of immediate communion with God Himself, there is none like that which rises from the harmonious exercise of the graces of the saints in their mutual duties and communion one with another. How are the spirits delighted and refreshed with it! What a lively emblem is there of heaven! The courts of princes afford no such delights.-Flavel.

THE SAINT AND THE COBBLER.

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We read a pretty story of St. Anthony, who, being in the wilderness, led there a very hard and strait life, in so much as none at that time did the like; to whom came a voice from heaven, saying: Anthony, thou art not so perfect as is a cobbler that dwelleth at Alexandria." Anthony, hearing this, rose up forthwith, and took his staff and went till he came to Alexandria, where he found the cobbler. The cobbler was astonished to see so reverend a father come to his house. Then Anthony said to him, "Come and tell me thy whole conversation, and how thou

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spendest thy time?" "Sir," said the cobbler, as for me, good works have I none, for my life is but simple and slender. I am a poor cobbler; in the morning, when I rise, I pray for the whole city wherein I dwell, especially for all such neighbours and poor friends as I have. After, I set me at my labour, when I spend the whole day in getting my living, and I keep me from all falsehood, for I hate nothing so much as I do deceitfulness; wherefore, when I make to any man a promise, I keep it, and perform it truly, and thus I spend my time poorly, with my wife and children, whom I teach and instruct, as far as my wit will serve me, to fear and dread sin. And this is the sum of my simple life."

In this story you see how God loveth those that follow their vocation and live upright, without any falschood in their dealing. This Anthony was a great holy man, yet this cobbler was as much esteemed before God as he. -Latimer.

DEATH FROM WANT OF SLEEP.

The question, How long can a person exist without sleep? is one oftener asked than answered, and the difficulty of answering the question by experiment would seem to leave it for ever unsolved. A communication to a British Society would seem to answer the inquiry, in a description of a cruel mode of punishment peculiar to the Chinese. A Chinese merchant had been convicted of murdering his wife, and was sentenced to die by being deprived of sleep. This painful mode of death was carried into execution under the following circumstances: The condemned was placed in prison under the care of three of the police guard, who relieved each other every alternate hour, and who prevented the prisoner from falling asleep, night or day. He thus lived for nineteen days without enjoying any sleep. At the commencement of the eighth day, his sufferings were so intense, that he implored the authorities to grant him the blessed opportunity of being strangulated, guillotined, burned to death, drowned, garroted, shot, quartered, blown up with gunpowder, or put to death in any conceivable way which their humanity or ferocity could invent. This will give a slight idea of the horrors of death from want of sleep.

FINE THOUGHTS.

Nobody is so weak but he is strong enough to bear the misfortunes that he does not feel.

No man's religion ever survives his morals. That is not wit which consists not with wisdom.

No man shall ever come to heaven himself who has not sent his heart thither before him.

That man will one day find it but poor gain, who hits upon truth with the loss of charity.

Christ saves the world by undeceiving it, and sanctifies the will by first enlightening the understanding.

If we justly look upon a proneness to find faults as a very ill and a mean thing, we are to remember that a proneness to believe them is next to it.

This happiness does Christ vonchsafe to all His, that, as a Saviour, He once suffered for them, and that, as a friend, He always suffers with them.

A blind guide is certainly a great mischief; but a guide that blinds those whom he should lead is undoubtedly a much greater.-Tillotson.

A SLANDER REFUTED.

A clergyman was charged with having violently dragged his wife from a revival meeting, and compelled her to go home with

him. The clergyman let the story travel along, until he had a fair opportunity to give it a broadside. Upon being charged with the offence, he replied as follows:-"In the first place, I never have attempted to influence my wife in her views, nor a choice of meeting. Secondly, my wife has not attended any of the revival meetings. In the third place, I have not even attended any of the meetings for any purpose whatever. To conclude, neither my wife nor myself have any inclination to these meetings. Finally, I never had a wife."

Ecclesiastical Affairs.

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1. Romanists-150 to 180-mostly sons of Low Church parents and Dissenters.

2. Romanizers in doctrine and practice, and especially in church ornaments, postures, and phraseology. Silent as to Roman errors and corruptions. Mostly officiating in churches from which there have been both clerical and lay successions to the Roman schism, and many of them in the habit of using Roman Catholic devotional works, and attending Roman Catholic services.

3. Semi-Romanizers, or fraternizers with or apologists for Romanizers. Seldom alluding even to dangers from Rome.

4. Consistent Anglicans, anxious, but hopeful and active; protesting against Romanism, Romanizing, and Puritanism, in doctrine and practice.

5. Wavering Anglicans, apathetic or disappointed, alarmed and disheartened, mainly by secession to Rome and Romanizing.

6. "Old-fashioned High Churchmen,” "Church and State" men.

7. Neutrals-routine men-quiet and timid -isolated-keeping almost entirely aloof from "parties" and "movements."

8. Broad Churchmen, having intellectual sympathies with intellectual liberal men of all parties.

9. Tolerant "Evangelicals," recognizing as brethren all those who are free from Romanizing and Rationalism, and admitting that they may hold baptismal regeneration without Popery.

10. Intolerant "Evangelicals"-exclusivePuritans-suspecting and denouncing all "High" Churchmen.

11. Semi-Dissenters, or fraternizers with and apologists for Protestant Dissenters. 12. Rationalists, or Latitudinarians.

"SURPRISE PARTIES."

IT has been often said that our Ame

rican brethren are "not a model for

Englishmen." In many things they are, but in some they are not. They are much given to whims, oddities, and freaks. They profess to "go ahead" of mankind, and they do so; but their rail has many "sidings," or rather branches, where they have it all to themselves, and their trips are curiosities. None go before, and none are likely to follow. Referring to Surprise Parties," an American Journal says:

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Notices of these agreeable performances reach us from every quarter. As evidences of parishional affection and appreciation, they are very acceptable to their objects, and in many cases aid materially to eke out an insufficient salary.

We neglected to state last week that Rev. William S. Mikels, pastor of Sixteenth-street Baptist Church, on returning from a wedding on 30th ult., found that a number of people had taken possession of his house, and were bent upon doing in it what they pleased. Happily for Mr. Mikels, they were pleased not to take anything which was not their own, but to leave behind them the substantial amount of three hundred dollars in cash. There are many others, we fancy, to whom such a robbery would be most acceptable.

The church and congregation of Rev. Dr. Murdock, pastor of the Bowdoin-square Church, Boston, paid him a visit on Thursday evening of last week, and presented him with a well-filled purse and a variety of other pleasing testimonials.

On the evening of the last day of the old year, Rev. Erastus Andrews, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Suffield, Conn., received a call from his parish, who left "material aid" in generous profusion, thus showing their high appreciation of their pastor, and sustaining their former reputation as a generous people.

While taking his coffee, New Year's morning, in Buffalo, Rev. Montgomery Schuyler, of Rochester, received a note, opened it, read it, smiled, and put the contents, two thousand dollars, in his vest pocket. He was formerly pastor of St. John's Church, in that city, but is now of Christ Church, St. Louis. Several

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