BIBLE SOCIETY. Thessalonica.-A poor Greek family was the first to partake of the Society's bounty : I gave a Modern-Greek New Testament to the eldest boy of this family, who could read very well; and he was so pleased with it, that he gathered together his father, mother, brothers, and sisters, to convey to them its valuable contents: he is seen reading it to them whenever he has time. Another New Testament, which I gave a person in Mr. Charnaud's service, proved equally well disposed of: he is constantly perusing it, and also reads it to the servants of the house. Christothelo Themetraki, a boy about 17 years of age, came to me for a New Testament; he was entreating his mother, a poor widow, to give him money to purchase one : his tears at last prevailed on to her part with a piece of gold of three piastres ; telling him not to give it all, if possible, because they would be deprived of bread that day. The boy brought the piece of gold; and innocently told his story, begging me not to take all the money, that they might have some to buy food that day. I gladly gave him a New Testament; and on enquiry, finding that what he told me was really the truth, I did not take his money. I learnt further, that his mother, a poor widow, sent him daily to school, and could only afford to give him two paras a day (about one quarter of a far. thing) for his nourishment. FROM THE LAST REPORT OF KEIGHLEY SUNDAY SCHOOL. Many of the Teachers owe their conversion through divine mercy to the school. The seed has fallen into good ground in the hearts of some of the chi!dren, who appear to have been taught of the Lord.” Three have died in good hope during the last year. The first of these was a boy, named William Mitchel, who shewed no signs of repentance or desire for divine favour, until sickness brought him to the brink of the grave: he was then convinced of his sinfulness and danger, and never ceased crying to the Lord for mercy, until he found it; then having had much forgiven, he loved much. He exhorted his companions to turn to the Lord; he entreated his father to give him a solemn promise that he would lead a new life; to bis mother, and the rest of the family, he spoke with the sincerity of a dying sinner, who had found the pearl of great price. His end was peace. The consolations of the Spirit overcame the pains of his body. The next was a little girl named Frances Wilkinson, who was supported throngh a most painful illness, and who breathed out her dying spirit in prayer and praise. She is taken from the evil to come, and has entered into the joy of that good Shepherd, who gathers bis lambs in his arıns, and carries them in his bosom. The last instance to be mentioned is that of Thomas Pearson, aged fourteen, who died September 19th. Of this boy, the father declared that he had satisfied him both for this world and the next. His conduct in the school, in the family, and at the mill, was uniformly good. He possessed a very tender conscience; as a proof of which, he deeply lamented that in his last illness he had caused his mother to be absent three times from the chapel. To a friend who visited him in his last sickness, he said; “He was sorry that on one occasion he had joined up a bad end in the mill, instead of teiling the overlooker. He knew God saw it, though the overlooker did not." He meant that he ought to have told the overlooker, that the worsted yarn was faulty. Surely religious servants must be the most profitable to their masters, A little girl, of five years old, was heard doubting whether she should pull up a rose tree in her garden, which she said bore no roses: and at length she determined that she would leave it one year more, and then if it did not, she would pull it up. The person who overheard this, was struck with the incident, and penned the following: Ah! dearest child, your rose tree spare, And cast it not away ; It may some future day. You might yourself condemn; A useless, fruitless stem. Should you by the great Lord of all, In such a case be found ; . “A cumb'rer of the ground;" But in his mercy spare your life, Till, by his fost'ring care, Your barren heart may bear. PSALM lxxiii. 24. There thy saints are ever praising Thou art high in glory reigning, Yes--though high in heaven seated, While I dwell on earth a stranger, IOTA. DELIGHTING IN GOD. For daily wants that need supply, I lift the supplicating eye; For hourly blessings from above, 1 magnify the God of love. Through Christ, my advocate and friend, Those prayers arise, those gifts descend. Before I speak, my wants he knows, Before I ask, his mercy flows; And grace from his exhaustless store Is mine.--that I may ask for more. IOTA. |