A flock of sheep, gentle, harmless, and valuable, feeding in green pastures, or reclining quiet and satisfied by the side of softly flowing rivulets, under the care of a skilful, watchful, and tender shepherd, forms the emblem of true Christians brought back to Jesus Christ, the Shepherd of their souls, and by him guarded and provided for. His worship, his sacraments, are their plenteous pastures, the consolations of his Holy Spirit are their refreshing waters. He is Jehovah, the Omnipresent, the Omniscient, the Almighty God, one with the Father; willing that all should repent, and believe his gospel, and in the end partake of his salvation. As one of this flock, this young man found his peace and safety. Do you try the mercy and grace of the Saviour of sinners; then under his guidance you shall return to his fold, and find your peace and safety. Between that part of the flock which is upon earth, and that which is gone to heaven, death lies, like a deep valley, that must be passed in going from the one to the other. But this valley cannot hurt true Christians, and should not alarm them. It is indeed deep and dark, but fruitful. The good Shepherd will accompany his sheep through it, by his gracious presence: his rod, the token of his power, will defend them; his pastoral staff, his word of promise, and the Spirit will support them in the trying hour of dissolution and death.

Thus serenely his hours of affliction passed away: he did not experience great joy, but he had peace. On the afternoon before his death, he was evidently worse. I called in a short time; his eyelids appeared much swelled, and finding he was unable to speak at that time, I retired, He revived in a little while, and, although he had but at this time a few hours to live, he came down stairs to tea as usual. Then, as if sensible it was the last time, he poured out his soul in prayer, in which devout exercise he continued longer than at other times, and in a very

low voice; his mother being obliged to listen attentively near to him, to catch the solemn sounds from the dying lips of her beloved son. He expressed his thankfulness that he was not without the consolations of religion. He remembered the clergyman of the parish, and rejoiced that there was such a one to point out the way of salvation. All who had visited and shown kindness to him in his affliction, had a share in his last petitions. A person came in, and read the 103rd Psalm, which seemed to refresh his mind. He attended to the prayer of his visitor, and conversed satisfactorily. Feeling that the closing scene was at hand, when he must bid adieu to all below, he desired his mother to come and sit close to him, that he might mention some things to her; and then, with a heavenly smile, he said, "I am going!" She replied, "I hope the Lord will land you safe." Apparently without a fear, he answered, "Safe!" Perhaps a view of the glories of the celestial world now unveiled itself to his sight, for he exclaimed, "Beautiful!" He requested some friends might be sent for immediately those who lived near came as soon as possible. He inquired if they were come, as he found he could not continue long. Some of them came in, and an elderly neighbour took him by the hand he was then lying perfectly composed, in a serene attitude; and so gentle was the dismission of the waiting spirit, that it was scarcely to be perceived: nor until the dying hand had become cold in that of his neighbour, who still retained it in his, was it ascertained that the soul had taken its flight, and left only the stamp of peace on the breathless clay.

His remains were interred on the Sunday following, when a funeral sermon was preached on those words which had made a deep impression on his mind, during much of his life: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest." (Eccles. ix.

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10.) The Sunday scholars walked in procession after the mourners; and it was a truly affecting scene to behold them looking silently, one after another, into the grave of their departed teacher.

To those who are employed in the blessed work of instructing the rising generation, this departed youth affords a good example. The constant and affectionate inquiries of his scholars during his long illness, and their tears at his removal, were truly gratifying. His own observations while living, have encouraged my heart; and it is still more animating to observe the knowledge many of the scholars have gained of the word of God, which is able to make them wise unto salvation, so that the work he has so ardently engaged in, is not likely to become unprofitable. Some of them diligently "search the Scriptures," and can repeat correctly many texts upon any subject in the Testament given them the preceding week; and others of the pupils have learned by heart the four Gospels, and many other chapters. Had not their teacher persevered to the end of his course, what pleasure would he have lost in the hours of affliction! Go on then, my friends, and pursue your labours of love: whatever may be your discouragement, remember you also will one day have cause to say, "I do not repent!" "Cast thy bread upon the waters, and thou shalt find it after many days." In the time of sickness or distress, if not before, the Holy Spirit may apply some of those instructions, which during youth may be disregarded or forgotten. All the effect which our souls desire may not immediately appear, yet the harvest may well repay the labours of a life. Who can tell what prayer and faith may eventually produce? "He that winneth souls is wise." (Prov. xi. 30.) "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament: and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever." (Dan. xii. 3.)

THE POOL OF BETHESDA.

"Now there is at Jerusalem, by the sheep market, a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had." (John, v. 2—4.)

Among the wonders in Judea, in the time of our blessed Saviour, may well be reckoned the pool of Bethesda : of which the evangelist St. John has here given such a particular description. The word "Bethesda" signifies the house of mercy; and this pool was so called, no doubt, on account of the mercy of God which was displayed there in healing many of the impotent persons who came to its waters for relief. For the accommodation of those who came, five porches were built, in which the sick might wait with greater convenience for the expected blessing. The numbers who came or were brought to this "house of mercy" were very great, and consisted of persons afflicted with all kinds of incurable diseases; for it was a house of mercy, not merely for the cure of any particular disorder, but for all kinds of maladies to which the human frame is subject. The means of cure were altogether miraculous. The pool did not contain water of any medicinal quality; it had no natural efficacy to heal, nor would the mere bathing in it have produced any good effect; but its healing power was communicated at one particular time by the immediate interposition of God. "For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then, first after the troubling of the water stepped in, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had." Such was the pool of Bethesda; and as almost all things under the Jewish dispensation were typical of good things to come, so this pool may be considered as a striking representation of the Gospel salva

tion, and of the means which God has in mercy appointed for saving sin-sick souls by Jesus Christ.

1. The pool of Bethesda was open for the healing of all manner of sickness and disease: so in the Gospel there is a fountain open for sin and uncleanness. In that day," saith the prophet, "there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness." (Zech. xiii. 1.) This fountain is the blood of Christ, which, as the Apostle St. John testifies, "cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John, i. 7.) Here then is a striking resemblance between the pool of Bethesda, which was open for the cure of all diseases, and the Gospel pool-the fountain of the blood of Christ, which is open for the cleansing of all sin. At the pool of Bethesda, diseases of long standing, of great inveteracy, and which had baffled the skill of physicians, yielded in a moment to the miraculous power of the waters, if they were used at the appointed season, and according to the directions given. In like manner, sins of long continuance, of the deepest die, of great power, and corruption, so that no human aid can remove them, are washed away in the blood of Christ, if the sinner comes and applies in God's appointed way, with a penitent heart and lively faith. And as the pool of Bethesda was for the cure of all diseases, so it was open to all who came to be healed: in like manner, the fountain of Christ not only "cleanseth from all sin," but it cleanseth all who come to it; "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." (John, iii. 16.) "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Rev. xxii. 17.)

2. The name also of this pool was very significant of the Gospel salvation. It was called "Bethesda," the house of mercy: in like manner, the way of salvation through Christ is a dispensation of mercy. It is through the mercy of God that a Saviour came into the world; or, to