buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.' And as you may both beg it and buy it, so you may steal it. Have ye never heard of the poor afflicted woman, who spent all that she had upon physicians, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse; and when she heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his clothes; for she said, "If I may but touch the hem of his garment, I shall be whole'? Now you see how she got in among the crowd without being seen, and stole the blessing she so much desired. But she could not keep the secret; for she was so astonished at that which was done in her, that she came fearing and trembling, and fell down at the Saviour's feet, and told him all the truth."

TO THE WATERMEN EMPLOYED ON THE RIVER SEVERN AND THE WORCESTER AND BIRMINGHAM CANAL.

MY FRIENDS, The Albion, the vessel set apart as the waterman's church, having been placed in dock for repairs, will, if all be well, be opened again for public worship on Sunday next, November 2nd. I am very anxious, my friends, that you should, through the Divine blessing, all of you profit by the means of grace thus provided for you, and that you should always bear in mind that you must, after death, give an account at the judgment-seat of every thought, word, and deed, especially of every opportunity you may have had for worshipping God on the Sabbath, and hearing the Gospel preached-even that Gospel which invites you to seek pardon, peace, and eternal salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord; for "God so loved the world, that he gave his only. begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I am quite sure that the more regu larly watermen, as well as all other classes, attend the house of God, the better will it be for them and their families: the Psalmist found it "to be good to draw near to God," and to put his trust in the Lord God.

My friends, depend upon it, they "who remember the Sabbathday to keep it holy," will find that "to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth" brings a blessing on the soul, and that happy are the people who have the Lord for their God!" I have been toldand I was thankful to hear it that there is much less drunkenness and swearing about the wharfs than used to be; and that there have been instances of watermen, on a voyage from a distance, resting at Worcester during the Sunday, attending public worship, and then proceeding on with their vessels early on Monday morning. This looks well-" where there is a will, there is a way."

When I was absent for my health a little while ago, I met watermen at Bristol and Gloucester, who, I found, had attended your church, and seemed thankful for the privilege afforded them of doing so. A captain of a vessel from the upper part of the river, on the Shropshire side of the country, also informed me that the watermen thereabouts were aware that there is a place of worship at Worcester, at which they will always find a welcome.

I hope, my friends, you will "not forsake the assembling of yourselves together at public worship, as the manner of some is," but will encourage one another to serve the Lord. "Be not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." Why should not the Lord be served by water as well as by land? Did not he make both water and land? and do not the winds and tides obey the commands of Him who created heaven and earth, and all things therein? Have not watermen souls to be saved as well as other people? and should not they, as well as others, seek to escape from the torments of hell, and to obtain the glories of heaven? "What is a man

profited if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Jesus Christ died for all classes, and "is able to save to the uttermost all who came unto God by him." May every waterman in England be taught from above to make the all important inquiry, "What must I do to be saved?" and thankfully receive the gracious answer of Divine mercy, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved!"

While, my friends, I rejoice to hear a good account of some watermen, truth compels me to add, that there are others who are living in a very bad way indeed-wilfully neglecting their soulswilfully neglecting the Gospel of Christ-frequenting places, and joining company, where drunkenness, swearing, gambling, and such like are encouraged, and all kinds of wickedness practised. Those people who act so are "in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity"—they are living "without God, and without hope in the world"-they are " treasuring up for themselves wrath against the day of wrath," when (as the Scriptures declare) "the Lord Jesus Christ shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power!" Reflect, I beseech you, before it is too late. Let me exhort you all, young and old, "to prepare to meet your God!" The Lord Jesus Christ, who came from heaven to save sinners, warns you "to repent, lest you perish." He declares, that "except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven!" He also mercifully says, that "there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth!" He invites all to come to him for pardon and peace: he says, "that he will in no wise cast out those who

humbly seek him," but "will give them rest"-rest from the stings of a guilty conscience in this world, and in the world to come they shall be made partakers of everlasting rest, even "that rest which remaineth for the people of God" in heaven!

My friends, be persuaded. Death may come suddenly. Again and again I implore you to listen in time to Jesus Christ, God's blessed Son: he is your best friend, for he died upon the cross to save you from death eternal-to save you "from the worm that never dieth, from the fire that is never quenched!" O seek the Lord while he is to be found, call upon him while he is near: "let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him, and unto our God, for he will abundantly pardon !" Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you repentance to give you faith to give you a new heart to make you new creatures-that you may be enabled to cast off the yoke of the devil, and to follow the Lord Jesus Christ with your whole soul. Then will you be blessed indeed-blessed for ever.

I was standing on the bridge one morning not long ago, conversing with an owner, who, much to his credit, allows his men to rest from their labour on the Sabbath, "according to the commandment." One of his vessels passed by, and, pointing to it, he remarked that the watermen then on board had been at church on Sunday, and added, that since they had obtained the rest of that sacred day, they performed as much work during the week, or more, than they did when by working they broke the Sabbath. The reason was, they had become sober, steady, punctual, and trustworthy. This should always be the case. True religion is proved by the actions. All who "name the name of Christ" should not only "depart from iniquity," but follow that holiness "without which no man shall see the Lord." The real servants of Jesus Christ always "shew their faith by their works:" for he says, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." While your first point should ever be to glorify your Master in heaven, you must also bear in mind that the Gospel requires you to treat with respect your earthly masters. Serve them honestly, faithfully, and dili. gently. Take as much care of their property as if it was your own. In all things remember to do "to others as you would be done unto." Make the Bible "the lamp of your feet and the light of your path." "Let prayer be the key of the day and the lock of the night.' Be kind to your families. You who are parents set your children a good example: in all things fear the Lord. Shun all the paths of iniquity; especially dread the sin of drunkenness, which brings a curse upon soul and body. And, my friends, wherever you are, never forget this command of the Lord Jesus Christ-Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation!" That the blessing of the Lord may rest on you and yours, soul and body, is the earnest prayer of your sincere friend,

St. Clement's, Worcester, Oct. 29, 1845.

JOHN DAVIES.

CRUELTY KILLED BY KINDNESS.

A YOUNG WOman married a poor, but worthy man, against her father's wish. He drove them from his house, and closed his door and heart against them. They came down near B., went to work, and prospered. After many years, the father had occasion to come to B. He concluded to go and see his daughter, expecting & cold reception. His daughter and her husband received him most kindly and lovingly. After staying with them awhile, he went home.

One of his neighbours, hearing where he had been, asked him how his daughter and her husband had treated him.

"I never was so treated before in my life," said the weeping and broken-hearted father; "they have broken my heart; they have killed me; I don't feel as though I could live under it,' "What did they do to you?" asked the neighbour. abuse you?”

"Did they

“They loved me to death, and killed me with kindness,” said he. "I can never forgive myself for treating so cruelly my own darling daughter, who loved me so affectionately, I feel as if I should die to think how I grieved the precious child when I spurned her from my door. Heaven bless them, and forgive me my cruelty and injustice to them."

Who does not see in this an infallible cure for difficulties between man and man? There is not a child nor a man on earth, who would not feel and say, that that daughter, though so deeply wronged and outraged by her angry father, did right in treating him as she did. The father was her enemy, but she was not his, He hated her, but she loved him.

BIBLE SOCIETY.

"A FRENCH Woman, who got her living by selling a few pincushions and some other little fancy articles of her own manufacture, called upon a Christian lady. She discovered that this poor woman was miserably ignorant of the great truths of revelation, and before she left her, she begged her acceptance of a French Bible, as she found she was unable to read English. She heard nothing more of either the Bible or its owner until a few months ago, when she received the following letter:

"Madam, The poor French woman, who, in God's good providence, met with a lady at Redruth many years ago, desires now to write and tell that dear lady of the mercy it was to her soul to have had that French Bible given her. At that time I was glad to have any thing to read, for I had no book of any sort little did I think that there was the bread of my soul. I have found there the blessing of God, both for my soul and body. It has been a great comfort to me. Many hours I have sat and cried, and prayed and rejoiced. By that blessed book I shall escape the gate

of hell, and find the strait and narrow path which will lead us to that heavenly abode. I love the Psalms; indeed, I love all the riches I find there. It was a fortune, I was astonished at every word I was reading. I find there that Jesus promises his presence with his people in health or illness. All his rich promises I love, and desire to follow him all the days of my life; for his promises are like himself—they are all love.

"I cannot express in English all the words I desire to say; but I shall never thank you enough for this great and good gift. I would not part with it. All the money in this town would never buy off that gift from my hands. I love God, and I love my Bible. I live now in Southampton. Here I have been three

years. In my travelling way I took no notice of the Bible; but when I settled, I found myself one day in great distress: I was crying like a child, with great distress. I had not the sense nor the knowledge to ery to God; and when I opened the Bible, I saw all sorts of beautiful promises, and read till my heart felt quite comfort. The next day, I went out with my little basket, and I took sixpence; and I said at once, That blessed God has been my friend to day so I read, and asked the blessed Spirit to give me understanding; and so he did! He helps me now, not only to trust him, but to love him better than any thing in the world. pray to God to give comfort to your soul, that the Lord may be the comfort of all your family.

I

I

"I am learning to read English, and get on very fast. I sit with my husband every evening, and he helps me to the hard words, and we get on very fast in making it out: then on Sunday after I go to an adult school, and I enjoy my book very much. love to talk with God as I walk by the way; and when I go out empty, he answers my prayers, and blesses me with all that I want-blessings for my soul, and blessings for my body! I am very happy, and I often cry: it is often for joy. I cry sore for my sins; but Jesus bears my burden. His comforts are great, whoever may have even a little taste of it. Nothing in all the world is to be compared to the love of God. I must now say, God bless you always.'

THE WIDOW'S MITE.

"I WANT to give the widow's mite," said an old lady worth her thousands, as she handed a shilling to give the bread of life to millions perishing in ignorance and sin.

Said a gentleman of a large income, "I suppose I must give my mite," as he very reluctantly handed five shillings to one collecting funds to send the Gospel to the destitute,

It is not uncommon for those who receive the offerings of the people for the Lord's treasury, to hear such allusions to the poor widow whose benevolence is recorded in Mark xii. 41-44. The