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Israel discomfited Amalek by the holding up unto heaven of the hands of Moses.

Considerations of this sort, which have been inspired by a general survey of the history of the Christian world, are not beneath the notice of the wisest and the best of all religious persuasions; for our very virtues often carry us to the verge of the neighbouring vices, into which they degenerate, if we do not vigilantly guard the avenues of the heart. It is thus that men of an amiable temper become self-indulgent and careless, and slide imperceptibly into practices which produce all the consequences of guilty intentions; while those of a severe and stoical nature turn sour and discontented, if not malignant. Let us then remember that the duties which we owe to ourselves require us to be circumspect, modest, frugal, moderate, humble, and fervent in our own walking, that those which we owe to society call upon us to be tolerant, charitable, social, disinterested, sincere, and dispassionate in our intercourse with others, and that the due fulfilmeat of both implies the highest of all our duties—a pious and godly life in the sight of the Almighty.

GERM OF A MISSIONARY SPIRIT IN SWEDEN.

The Rev, Charles Fr. Haeggman, Chaplain of the Hospital Church in Stockholm, has been employed for many years in endeavoring to awake his countrymen to a lively interest in the Missionary cause in Sweden. In a letter to the editors of the London Missionary Register, he says:

"For seven years I continued a weekly publication, begun by my father and an associate, in which I communicated, chiefly by translations from such foreign journals as I could procure or borrow, such notices of the glorious triumphs of that Gospel, which is mighty to save and is still spreading with increasing success even in the darkest heathen lands, as I judged most conducive to the information and profit of my countrymen. Its sale, however, scarcely covering the expense of printing, I changed the form of my little work to that of a monthly journal, of the same character as its predecessor, but with the addition of such religious and literary notices and articles as might render it more useful to the general reader, This I continued for two years; till the losses which I sustained seemed to call upon me, my income being limited and my family numerous, to lay down the work.

But now, I am resolved, in God's name, to begin afresh: for I cannot bear the thought of keeping back from my countrymen that knowledge which it may be in my power to communicate. He, who has given me this desire, will, of a surety, bless and prosper my undertaking. He, who has worked such signs and wonders in heathen lands, will peradventure rouse even us Swedes from our lethargy; and awaken that spirit of zeal and love, which shall have for its result, what I have earnestly hoped and prayed for a SWEDISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY! Then shall we no longer neglect our own heathen countrymen, far up in the North, in our own woods and mountains; where the Cross is, indeed, raised, but only as a guide-post!

In furtherance of this design, I am endeavoring to establish in Stockholm a Reading Society, consisting of such well-disposed persons as have both the ability and desire to extend their reading beyond a small Swedish publication, and for this end to supply them with as many foreign missionary publications as possible. By these means, even those whose hearts are not yet with us because they do not as yet believe, may be constrained at length to confess that God still worketh wonders in the earth, and may even be brought to rejoice in the privilege of preparing the way of the Lord.-N. Y. Observer.

THE LOVE OF BROTHERS, CONTRASTED WITH INHU

MANITY.

In the reign of Queen Anne, a soldier, belonging to a marking regiment, which was quartered in the city of Worcester, was taken up for desertion-and being tried by a court martial, was sentenced to be shot. The colonel and lieutenant-colonel being at the time in London, the command of the regiment descended in course to the Major, a most cruel and inhuman man. The day on which the deserter was to be executed being arrived, the regiment, as is usual on these occasions, was drawn out to see the execution.

It is the custom on these occasions, for the several corporals to cast lots for this disagreeable office; and when every one expected to see the lots cast as usual, they were surprised to find that the Major had given orders that the prisoner should die by the hands of his own brother, who was only a private man in the same company, and who, when the cruel order arrived, was taking his leave of his unhappy brother, and with tears fast flowing that expressed the anguish of his soul, was hanging for the last time about his neck.

On his knees did the poor fellow beg that he might not have a hand in his brother's death-and the poor prisoner, forgetting for a moment his petitions to Heaven, begged to die by any hands but those of a brother. The unrelenting officer, however, could by no means be prevailed on to revoke his cruel sentence, though entreated by every inferior officer in the regiment-but on the contrary, he swore, that he, and he only, should be the executioner, if it were only for example's sake, and to make justice appear more terrible. When much time had been wasted in fruitless endeavors to soften the rigor of this inhuman sentence, the prisoner prepared to die, and the brother to be the executioner.

The Major, strict to the maxims of cruelty, stands close to see that the piece is well loaded, which being done, he directs that the third motion of his cane shall be the signal to fire. Accordingly, at the third motion, the major (instead of the prisoner) received the bullet throught his own head, and fell lifeless to the ground.

The man had no sooner discharged his piece, than throwing it on the ground, he exclaimed "He that gives no mercy, no mercy let him receive. Now I submit! I had rather die this hour for that man's death, than live an hundred years and take away the life of my bre

ther." No person seemed to be sorry for this unexpected piece of justice on the inhuman major, and the man being ordered into custody, many gentlemen present, who had been witnesses of the whole affair, joined to entreat the officers to defer the execution of the other brother till the Queen's pleasure should be known.

The request being complied with, the city chamber, that very night, drew up a very feeling and pathetic address to her Majesty, setting forth the unparallelled cruelty of the deceased officer, and humbly entreated her Majesty's pardon for both the brothers.

The brothers were pardoned, and discharged from the army.—Sail's. Magazine.

HOSPITALITY.

In the early ages of society, when travelling was not so common as at present, and when there were but few inns, the virtue of hospitality was frequently called into exercise. This duty is enforced in the Scriptures, and was particularly required when the persecuted Christians were driven from place to place by their enemies. The spirit of this duty is still in force and so far as we have opportunity we are bound to "entertain strangers," and to show kindness to all who are in distres.

The Swiss, especially in former times, were distinguished by their hospitality. In this thinly populated country, amidst its mountains and vallies, when the stranger at length arrived at a solitary cottage, he received a hearty welcome to the humble fare of its inhabitants. The incursions of armies and the increase of travelling have tended to diminish this spirit of hospitality in our days.

It was about the period of the French revolution, in one of the more retired vallies of Switzerland there lived a farmer, with his wife, and an only daughter, named Gertrude. They knew but little of the world, and they wished not to be acquainted with it. Their humble daily duties chiefly engrossed their attention; their only spare time they devoted to the good of their neighbours, especially those in affliction, and to their one book, the Bible. The touching narratives of saered writ had deeply impressed the heart of the young Gertrude, and filled her mind "with thoughts of Christ and things divine." As she tended her flock, or fed her chickens, or cultivated her garden, often would her thoughts recur to the "Good Shepherd;" to his lamentations over Jerusalem, and to the various lessons taught in sacred writ by the flowers of the field.

The peace of this retired family was at length disturbed by rumours of war; a neighbour brought the intelligence that the French were entering their country: the tidings spread through the cantons, and even to the most secluded spot the alarm at length extended. The signal from the hill called all the male inhabitants to assemble with their arms at an appointed place of meeting. With many a tear and many a prayer Gertrude saw her beloved father depart, and then turned round to comfort her afflicted mother. In a few days the distant roar of the cannon was heard, and now and then some neighbour would call and tell of the rumours and news of the day.

Nothing had hitherto been seen of the invading army by Gertrude and her mother save a distant view of troops in combat, seen from the top of an adjacent mountain, till one evening as Gertrude was tending her goats she was surprised to see a French soldier approaching. She was much alarmed, but ere she recovered herself he exclaimed, "Pity a wounded soldier ?" and then fainted away on the bank. Gertrude did not hesitate to hasten to his relief: he was an enemy, but he was an enemy in distress, and Christ had said, "love your enemies." She took some water from the brook, washed the blood from his face, and gave him of the cooling beverage: at length he opened his eyes and thanked her. She then ran into the cottage, her mother warmed some milk, and Gertrude hastened to take a bowl of it to the wounded soldier. As he drank it he revived, and exclaimed, "God bless you, my child; I had died had it not been for your kindness."

Gertrude and her mother then led the soldier into their cottage, dressed his wounds, and paid every attention to his wants. He was full of thankfulness, and made many apologies for the trouble he caused them; but they told him they were happy to relieve a fellow creature in distress, and entreated him to compose himself to sleep. As they retired to rest they did not forget the poor stranger in their prayers, and in the morning they were pleased to find their patient much recovered.

The old soldier remained at the cottage till his health was restored. The kind treatment he had received was so different from any thing he had before experienced, that he was puzzled to account for the generosity of this amiable family. He had been accustomed to infidel principles, and all was therefore unaccountable to him. At last he inquired how they had acquired such excellencies as were exhibited in all their conduct. Gertrude went to her box and took from thence a volume-it was the Bible: this, said she, is the book from whence we have learned all that is good, and would you be happy this book must be your guide.

When the soldier became well enough to leave the hospitable cottage, he wished to leave with the family all the money he had about him; but his offer was declined, and the only recompense they would accept was a promise that he would read through a New Testament, which they put into his hands at parting. As the soldier left the peaceful valley he exclaimed, "Others talk about religion and virtue, but here I have found the reality, and that religion must be good from which such fruits proceed."

Let the reader remember, that while comparatively few can judge of our principles, every one can judge of our conduct. O that the young would ever seek by all the "fruits of the Spirit" to adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things.-Eng. Youth's Magazine.

The expense of education in the seminaries of the department of the Rhone (France) is stated to be about one hundred dollars per annum exclusive of clothing, &c.

The following Biography, of one of the brightest stars in the Lutheran Constellation, will, we feel assured, be read with deep interest, by all the members of our beloved Church.-Editor.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF PROFESSOR GELLERT. CHRISTIAN F. GELLERT, the third among thirteen children, was born at Haynichen, in Saxony, in 1715. His father was second minister of the place; fulfilled the duties of his charge for fifty years with exemplary zeal and fidelity: and died Dean at the age of seventy-five. His mother, by her precepts, impressed on the mind of her children the principles of piety; and by her example, conducted them to the practice of active virtue. She lived to see her eldest son, Frederic, principal commissary of the posts in Saxony; and her youngest, inspector of the mines at Frieburg.

Christian Gellert received his first education at a public school at Meissen, where his friendship commenced with Gartner and Rabener, a friendship which much contributed to the happiness of his future life. At the age of eleven he was employed in copying a multitude of documents, contracts, and judicial acts; an exercise which, in a less ardent mind, might have stifled the poetic spirit which soon burst forth in Gellert. In his thirteenth year he wrote a poem on his father's birth day, which must have possessed considerable merit, as many could recite it by memory, and preferred it to his other compositions.

Gellert went in 1734 to Leipsick, and studied there four years, when his father was obliged to recal him from inability to support the expense of maintaining him at the university. On his return home he began to preach; and his first attempt, which was very inauspicious, he thus relates in his memoirs.

"It was at the age of fifteen, and in my native town, that I made the first essay of my eloquence. One of the citizens had requested me to be godfather to his child, which child died a few days after. I undertook his funeral sermon, though my father agreed rather unwillingly to my so doing. The child was to be buried at noo: at eight in the morning I began to compose my discourse, which was not completed till very late, I lost what time remained in composing an epitaph, and had but one hour to fix what I had just written in my memory. However, I boldly entered the church, and began my discourse with much solemnity, and attained nearly to the third sentence. Suddenly my ideas became confused, and the presumptuous orator found himself in a state of anxiety, from which it was difficult for him to recover. At length I had recourse to my papers, written in the form of a deed, on one large sheet, I unrolled it slowly before the eyes of my audience, who were as much disturbed as myself; I placed it in my hat and continued my discourse with tolerable boldness.-Ardent youth! let my example teach thee to conduct thyself with more prudence. I presumed too much upon myself, I was punished for it, and I frequently afterwards deplored my foolish temerity: be wiser than I

was!"

It is pleasing to see a man profit by his errors, and even disclose them for the benefit of others; as the mariner marks in his chart the fatal sands on which his vessel struck. From this incident Gellert

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