The wretched drunken father cried,
And plung'd him headlong in the tide.
Then ran as fast as legs could carry,
Conscious it was unsafe to tarry,
Where possibly a human eye
Witness'd the sad catastrophe.

The ear of God, that ear alone,
Attentive heard the suff'rer's groan;
He taught his little hands to cling
Close to a plank, and with it swim
Upon the bosom of the ocean,
Floating in constant restless motion.
A man-of-war soon sailing by,
Beheld the child thus left to die;
A gen'rous tar, in spite of danger,
Risk'd his own live, and saved the stranger.
On board that vessel, O what gladness!
They soon dispelled the stranger's sadness,-
They kiss'd his tears, and sooth'd his sorrow,
And told him he'd be well to-morrow,-
Then laid him on their softest bed,
Pouring rich blessings on his head;
Impatient, till the child should tell,
His name,
and how such woes befell.

"Poor Jack!" they said, when he awoke, And how delighted as he spoke! "That is my name," he sweetly said, "Does mammy think that I am dead? If I am good, you'll take me back, I'm sure my mammy loves poor Jack ; And sister sleeping in the cradle, My mammy says looks like an angel.” Big tears roll'd down each sailor's cheek,— Their hearts were full-too full to speak; Till, sympathizing in their woe,

The artless child, said,-" Don't cry so; "I shan't be drown'd now I'm with you,"I'll love you and my mammy too."

Full many a year, the rescued boy,
Partook the sailor's grief and joy ;
A favourite with all the crew,

Th' aspiring youth to manhood grew ;
An officer at length became,

To heal the wounded, sick, and lame.

Of sympathizing mind was he,

He loved the tale of misery;

Lov'd to administer the balm,
And make the ruffled spirit calm.

Once when a battle had been fought,
An aged wounded man was brought;
Whose deepen'd furrows spoke of care,
But not in accents of despair;

Whose count'nance shew'd strong marks of sin,
Yet seem'd to say,-there's peace within,-
Extremely ill, and patient too,

Death and eternity in view

All assiduity and pain,

And hope to save him, proved in vain ;
Weak, and more weak the old man grew;
And, conscious that his days were few,
In broken accents, thus addressed,-
Clasping a bible to his breast,-

"Young man, my God will you repay;
You've kindly watch'd me night and day ;-
This proof of gratitude receive,
This blessed token read, and live;
'Twas by a lady given me

When I was blind,-but now I see.
O, may that light be given thee!
Were I to tell thee all the crime,
That I've committed in my time,
Language would fail,-yet one alone,
One that extorted the last groan
Of my dear wife, whom, when I found,
I told her, I her son had drown'd."

"Father! that son now o'er thee bends,
And to thy dying wish attends !
In heaven we'll meet, my dearest sire!
Though in my arms you now expire,
And never, for one single day,
Shall this blest book neglected lay."

"Enough!" the penitent replied, Smil'd sweetly on his son, and died.

That young man's vow was never broken,
Never neglected was that token,-

In health it was his daily guide,—

In sickness ever by his side;

Till fill'd with love, and fired with zeal

A minister should ever feel,

He preach'd to all who gathered round,
The Saviour that "poor Jack" had found.

AYLE.

CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW WORKS.

WARD'S LIBRARY OF STANDARD DIVINITY.

CHRIST SET FORTH; TENDERNESS OF CHRIST'S HEART; and ENCOURAGEMENT TO FAITH. BY THOMAS GOODWIN, D. D. pp. 114. Price Two Shillings and Sixpence.

London:-Ward and Co., Paternoster-row.

We are great admirers of the old divinity, and greatly regret that it is not more known aud estimated. It is the production of men, many of whom were distinguished by no common order of mind, and whose application and retirement were but seldom interrupted by such engagements, as now absorb the time and energies of the most devoted minister of religion. And in their own department they have rendered great and invaluable service to the christian church. Their written works are, in themselves, a rich and imperishable legacy, and will be appreciated, so long as the human heart is susceptible of pure and spiritual impression.

Among this class of writers, Goodwin may be justly enrolled. Though his works are not equal to those of some of his contemporaries, they are yet of no common character; and will be found to exhibit, not only an intimate acquaintance with the christian, but also a full persuasion of the truth of the christian doctrine. Of this the three treatises included in the present number of the Standard Divinity supply the proof. After setting forth the Redeemer in his character and relations as the great Mediator and Saviour, he then discloses the love of that Saviour's heart to man, as a sinner lost and ruined, and finally presents the grounds of encouragement, for every one to repose his faith and confidence in him. These treatises are a chart on which is laid down the way of salvation.

PRISCILLA THE HELPER :-A MEMOIR OF MRS. ROWTON, of Coventry. By GEORGE GRIGG HEWLETT, Minister of Wells Street Chapel, Coventry. Cloth 18mo, pp. 188.

London :---Ward and Co. Paternoster-row. Coventry :-Sold by R. C. Tomkinson and J. Y. Betts.

This little volume corresponds with its title. It shows to what an incalculable extent a single individual, and especially a pious prudent female may be instrumental in maintaining and advancing the cause and kingdom of Christ. The record of such a life, as that of Mrs. Rowton, is valuable to the church, as it is an additional example for

Lov'd to administer the balm,
And make the ruffled spirit calm.

Once when a battle had been fought,
An aged wounded man was brought;
Whose deepen'd furrows spoke of care,
But not in accents of despair;

Whose count'nance shew'd strong marks of sin,
Yet seem'd to say,-there's peace within,—
Extremely ill, and patient too,

Death and eternity in view--

All assiduity and pain,

And hope to save him, proved in vain ;
Weak, and more weak the old man grew;
And, conscious that his days were few,
In broken accents, thus addressed,-
Clasping a bible to his breast,—

"Young man, my God will you repay;
You've kindly watch'd me night and day;-
This proof of gratitude receive,

This blessed token read, and live;
'Twas by a lady given me

When I was blind,-but now I see.
O, may that light be given thee!
Were I to tell thee all the crime,
That I've committed in my time,
Language would fail,-yet one alone,
One that extorted the last groan
Of my dear wife, whom, when I found,
I told her, I her son had drown'd."

"Father! that son now o'er thee bends,
And to thy dying wish attends !
In heaven we'll meet, my dearest sire!
Though in my arms you now expire,
And never, for one single day,
Shall this blest book neglected lay."

"Enough!" the penitent replied, Smil'd sweetly on his son, and died.

That young man's vow was never broken,
Never neglected was that token,-

In health it was his daily guide,—

In sickness ever by his side;

Till fill'd with love, and fired with zeal

A minister should ever feel,

He preach'd to all who gathered round,
The Saviour that " poor Jack" had found.

AYLE.

Monthly Chronicle.

THE SAVIOUR'S DOMINION.

Of the increase of his government there shall be no end. He must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. Whatever may arise in the progress of time, or amid the evolution of events to impede the advancement of his kingdom, he will totally overthrow and destroy. He will wither and consume every opposing power. He will lay crowns and sceptres in the dust, hurl princes from their thrones, and nations from their eminence; and will go forth prosperously, till over the whole earth his glory is revealed, and all flesh shall see it. Whatsoever may be the revolutions of the lower world, they cannot affect his supreme administration: --- whatever effect they may have on human minds and the governments of earth, they cannot in the remotest degree disturb the arrangement and procedures of him who sees the end from the beginning. They are part of his own universal administration ;-they all happen with his knowledge, or by his immediate permission and are so many of those great overturnings which are to precede and introduce the latter-day glory, when all men shall be blessed in Christ, and all nations shall call him blessed.

Nor can we doubt, that on thus subjugating all things unto himself, he is preparing the way for the final and triumphant march of mercy on the sea. Then too his supremacy must be felt and acknowledged. Over all minds he is to reign. Their subjection to him is part of his promised reward. And it rests on the word and authority of the Eternal, that "he shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied."

AGENTS' MEETING;-HELD ON FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 12th.

The all-absorbing topic of this month's conference was the necessity for increased agency, both on the Thames and in our provincial ports. But we must wait till the Christian church puts us in a position to enlarge our efforts by increasing our funds.

AGENTS' REPORTS.

Mr. PALMER'S Feb. Report.- The frost, for the last seven weeks, being unusually severe, great difficulty and

inconvenience have been experienced by persons engaged in maritime affairs. The river has presented a wild and ap