Poetry.

COME, COME TO ME.

[To the music of "Weep not for me."]

BY THOMAS GOADBY, B.A.

"Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not,
for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

WHEY the day of life is dawning,

Come, come to me:

In th heart's fresh early morning,
Come, come to me:

While thine eye with hope is beaming,
While thy soul of heaven is dreaming,
And its light is round thee streaming,
Come, come to me.

Ere the cares of earth oppress thee,
Come, come to me:

Ere life's wants and woes distress thee,
Come, come to me:

While thy bosom feels no sorrow,
Throbs with bliss man cannot borrow,
Dreads no dim uncertain morrow,
Come, come to me.

Ere sin's tainted touch defile thee,

Come, come to me:

Ere the world's false joys beguile thee,
Come, come to me:

While the dew of youth is on thee,
While God's smile still rests upon thee,
Ere the tempter's power has won thee,
Come, come to me.

When the day of life is dawning,
Come, come to me:

In the heart's fresh early morning,
Come, come to me:

Ere earth's sickly pleasure palleth,
Ere sin's shadow o'er thee falleth,
List to that sweet voice that calleth,
Come, come to me.

THE VILLAGE PREACHER.

THE Sabbath morning dawns with splendour bright,
The precious pearl of days the weary man's delight;
To labour and its curse the antidote sublime,
A token of divine regard borne on the wings of time.
On this auspicious morn the monarch of the skies
Displays his Maker's power to our astonished eyes:
All nature garbs herself in grand array,

And joins to welcome in, the Sabbath day.
The hum and din of week-day enterprize has ceased,
And from the griefs of toil mankind are now released;
When from his home the village preacher hies,
His heart is full of joy, his trust beyond the skies.
And lo! he journies to some distant place,
To tell the wonders of redeeming grace,

To bid the wanderer seek his Father's rest,

And point the mourner to the Saviour's breast.

And as he travels on, he sees on every hand

Fresh cause for thankfulness, and longs to understand

More of the power of that unfathomed love

That flows in copious streams from God's bright throne above:

Desires with all the saints to comprehend

Its height, its depth, its fulness, and its end.

He feels he's one with Christ in this blest love,

The one great element of bliss above.

And thus he sweetly meditates, when lo! he sees

The village house of prayer amid the trees.

No gilded dome, no minaret, this lowly shrine can boast;

But still within its hallowed walls there dwells the Lord of Hosts.
And gathered 'neath its sacred roof in many a happy throng
The young, the old, the gay, the grave, now join in solemn song.

And joyous swells their anthem as it journies to the skies,
Perfumed with Jesus' precious blood a welcome sacrifice,
Anon they bow in humble faith before the Father's throne,
And pray that in this sinful world they may be Christ's alone.
They thank Him for His goodness past, and ask for help to come
And seek the Spirit's guidance to lead them safely home.
But when this humble messenger essays to speak,

His lips are tremulous, his faith is weak;
While from his heart escapes a silent prayer
To Him who hears and answers everywhere.
And now a sacred boldness fills his heart,
Which bids the very thought of fear depart.
And now he tells of God's beloved Son

In whom the Father hath all other works outdone.
Tells of His lowly birth and early years,
His path of sorrows through the vale of tears.
And now he brings Gethsemane in sight,
With all the terrors of that awful night,
He turns with trembling joy to Calvary's tree
The scene of Christ's intensest agony.
Anon he points them to redeeming blood,
And cries aloud "Behold the Lamb of God."
And now he tells of heaven and all its bliss untold,
Its gushing fountains and its streets of gold,
Its dazzling thrones, its robes of purest white,
Its long, long day, without the shades of night.
Its songs that echo through those regions fair
The Saviour crowned with endless glory there.
And now he tells the sinner that the only way
To climb at last to those bright realms of day,
Is to repent of sin, and pray for grace,
To live while here below the christian race;
To make the precepts of God's holy word
His only guide. And then at last

He shall enjoy with Christ, heaven's rich repast
Of everlasting love. And loud shall sing
A glorious song of praise to Christ the king;
Shall spend eternity in his embrace,

And join the angelic choir to sing redeeming grace.
Oh! blessed work! oh! glorious employ!
To make the sinner pant to dwell on high;
To turn the careless from their sinful ways,
Their long neglected God and king to praise ;
To cheer the broken heart, and try to bind
The open wounds that oft torment the mind;
To arrest the wanderer in his thoughtless roam,
And gently lead God's children safely home.
Servants of Christ! advance in his dear name!
Cry loud in this wide world "Behold the Lamb."
Sound an alarm, and let it reach the skies,
When oh! ye simple ones, will ye be wise?
Turn while the flickering lamp of life doth burn,
Return to Christ, oh wanderer return!

Then the Lord to send divine success,
pray

With pentecostal grace his word to bless:

Some may despise thee, and esteem thee low,

Think not of these; but to thy duty go!

Arm'd with thy Saviour's might, raise high the sword,

And spend thy fleeting life in fighting for thy Lord;
And when thy conflict and thy warfare's past,
Thy joy shall be unspeakable at last.

Nottingham.

J. W. HANDFORD.

Notes of the Month.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

July 20.-Our Episcopalian brethren of the Union (puseyite) order, are in great hysterics about the scene at Lambeth Palace, where, "for the first time since the Reformation, has the English Church beheld a gathering of avowed sectaries welcomed as such at Lambeth Palace; its Primate and some of its Bishops fraternizing with Anabaptists, Wesleyans, Presbyterians, and other separatists, whose names are legion-dissentients from the Catholic Church; and by demeaning themselves and lowering their order to them, not endeavouring to raise them to theirs; sanctioning and approving their respective schisms, and encouraging them to persevere therein." It is even said that at this Evangelical Alliance Deputies' Meeting, the Archbishop asked Mr. Bunting to pray!!! The church is dishonoured surely, if not in danger, by the liberality and christian feeling of its Primate. There are other things very unclerical: as, for example, the preaching of good Gospel sermons, by distinguished clergymen, in Exeter Hall; and the preaching out of doors by several zealous clergymen, in various parts of the country; and the holding of special services for working men, as at Leicester.

The Irish Conference of the Wesleyans, has closed its sittings. At this meeting the American Methodist Bishop represented that the Wesleyans in the United States, of all kinds, amounted to about a million-and-a-half.

The British Conference has commenced its sittings in Liverpool.

Amongst the Independents there has arisen a rival to C. H. Spurgeon, in the person of H. G. Guinness, of Dublin: a nephew of the Guinness of "stout" notoriety. He refuses a settled pastorate-is young, preaches to thousands, is very earnest, evangelical, and useful.

We have given a notice of the Baptist Union Meeting elsewhere.

There is nothing that we have seen worthy of noting in the Papacy, except that the Hierarchy is everywhere fixing itself, for support, on the public funds. Private gifts and fees for indulgencies, &c., &c., are not sufficient to satisfy their pride or their rapacity. Public funds won't long bear them everywhere, at least we hope so. The Catholics are very indignant that their Archbishop of Tuam should have been summoned and compelled to appear before a House of Commons Committee on an Irish election case. It is an indignity not to be borne; but Wiseman, of Westminster, has soothed the wounded pride of the unprincipled Popish Prelate.

GENERAL.

THE parliamentary oaths bill, (the Jews bill) has been rejected by the House of Lords; Lord Derby being very devotedly opposed to it. What next? We half opine what should have been done at first, viz.: that the House of Commons should take into its own hands the qualification of its own members, as it has done before, and as it has a constitutional right to do. This would be a severe and unwelcome blow to the Lords. To ask their leave; and when refused, act without it. It would, however, be the shortest and surest way.

Several election petitions have been presented, but the members have contrived to conceal rather than to discover bribery on the part of those charged with it. When all, or nearly so, are conscious of guilt, it is clear that a very severe verdict would be the hollowest hypocrisy, and a lenient sentence, or non proven is the quietest to the conscience. In this matter would it not be well to have the cases examined before some civil court, and not appoint a committee of burglars to examine and report on a housebreaker's innocence or guilt, and all as if they were all honourable men ?"

The Ballot motion of Mr. Berkeley has met with a less favourable reception in this parliament than formerly. Lord John Russell is as stoutly against it as ever. There have been many minor matters discussed in both houses. In the Commons Lord Palmerston "rules the roost" at pleasure. In the Lords there

is some difficulty; but we see no fear at present of a serious collision between

the two houses.

The weather is warm, very. Whether or not we are passing through the hazy comet, or near its furnace breezes we cannot say; but even old women confess we have something like an old fashioned summer. We shall, if providence smiles have an early and a productive harvest. During the month there have been some exciting trials; and several serious railway accidents. returns of the board of trade report an increase of exports over the corresponding half of last year of more than seven millions sterling! The revenue returns too, are highly encouraging.

The

Our news from the East has been unusually exciting. This every one has felt. It will tend to make parliamentary discussions about India better observed and more useful. India presents a strange and terrible aspect in the papers. The mutiny in the Bengal troops, both horse and foot, which commenced early in May, spread like lightning into every part where there are Bengal soldiers, until near thirty thousand have been disbandoned, or are in open rebellion. Caste, brahminical pride, even among common soldiers, and the idea that cartridges for the minie gun, greased with lard or cow's fat, had been given them, led on to this serious and alarming affair. We have waded through voluminous accounts, and in doing so have taken a map of India in order to mark the places from Delhi to either extremity where 'revolts have occurred, and we have trembled as we marked how wide-spread and dangerous has been the mutiny and disaffection, and marvelled at the simultaneous character of the movement. The whole thing must have been in agitation privately among the Bengal troops for some time. It is pleasant, however, to note that the Governor General of India is firm, and vigilant and hopeful, that the Madras and Bombay troops are loyal, that other troops are arriving from Persia, and that reinforcements from England of British troops will soon be at the scenes of action. To give a consecutive narrative of these outbreaks is not in our power; and to give details is not possible, even if all our pages were filled up with them. Many have been the massacres on women and children, as well as on travellers, and those who had concealed themselves about Delhi and elsewhere. The disaffected began by shooting down their officers, and they seemed to have come to the determination to kill every European and christian in the land. It is a relief to learn from brother Buckley's letter, given elsewhere, that Orissa is tranquil, and that Madras troops are in the occupancy of that province. Delhi has been invested by loyal troops, and 'ere now is probably in the hands of the British. Sir Colin Campbell has been appointed Commander-in chief by the British Government, and went off at an hour's notice, telegraphing the steamer at Marseilles to wait for him. We trust that in a month or two we shall hear that the revolt is suppressed, and that brahminical soldiers will henceforth not be employed by the government. They are a haughty, proud, useless, and dangerous race of men. With the weeding of the army of these religious bigots will be also the depression and proscription of this caste, so that the end may be, the breaking down of one of the most formidable barriers to the diffusion of christianity throughout the length and breadth of India. Reports have arrived recently that the disaffection of the troops has extended to Burmah; if so, the eye may pass over a range from the Punjaub in the west, to Arracan on the east, a line of more than five thousand miles, and see signs and marks of a revolting and disbanded soldiery. It is interesting to mark in all this, that the native people, and princes, do not join in this movement; and that musselmans and native christians are prepared to lend their help for its suppression.

Passing on to China, considerable preparations are being made for operations against Canton; though report says that swift ships have been sent from England to intercept the vessels containing troops, &c., for China, and lead them on to India. Before China is chastised, it is incumbent on the government, if possible, to tranquilize and secure India.

As to Central America, it is reported that Santa Anna, the one-legged invader of his country's liberty, is completing arrangements with the Spanish Government for a filibustering expedition from Havannah to Mexico, with a view to

upset the present government. This, if true, may lead to quarrels between England and Spain. Surely Spain, with its constant domestic feuds and risings, has enough to do to keep peace at home, and need not use her feeble power either to foment quarrels abroad, or provoke more powerful nations to rebuke her temerity and folly.

Simultaneous insurrections have unfortunately taken place in various parts of Italy. The folly of these risings is proved by the fact that they have been put down, and many of their leaders are on their way to the gallows; but the fact of their existence reveals a deep-seated impatience in the people under the iron rule to which, both politically and ecclesiastically, they are subject.

In France, though the elections under Imperial management have generally been favourable to the government candidates, it is ominous that the Parisians have returned three opposition candidates, and three more in three large towns, It is surmised that the Emperor is troubled at this fact, and sees in the votes given for them, and in the great numbers who abstained from voting, a "handwriting on the wall." However this may be, it is thought by profound politicians that the elections of Paris are a verdict against the Emperor. It is understood that our Queen will visit Fontainbleau early next month. The Russian Emperor has conferred decorations on three French Admirals, in consequence of the Archduke Constantine's visit to Frane. So kings fight, and then make a show of friendship. France is engaged in further fighting and road-making in Algeria. This Colony promises to find the French a deal to do-and a deal to pay. Bread was sold in Paris, on Monday, July 13, made of wheat grown this year! The harvest is forwarder by three weeks this year, and, as the promise is abundant, the price is declining.

From Turkey we learn that things are very unsatisfactory in the Principalities; the local government being very unpopular.

We have nothing to report of Austria this month, except that it is a strong despotism, and is trying to make its iron yoke fit the Hungarians, so as to gall them as little as possible.

Prussia seems delighted with the contemplated marriage of their heir apparent to an English princess. In various ways are the Berlin burgeois showing their delight; while the London Corporation have presented the young prince, on his recent visit, with the freedom of their city. Nor are courts uninterested in this matter. Splendid presents of jewellery and porcelain are in preparation from the King and Royal Family of Prussia, for the new bride; and the Emperor and Empress of France are also about inaking similar gifts. We hold an alliance with the nephew of the sister of Nicholas, in some doubt. However, we heartily wish the young people may be happy, and that, politically, no evil may result from this alliance to England, Europe, or the world.

Of America we note nothing, except the grumbling of various parties—some at the progress of anti-slavery sentiments, and others at the slow progress they make. They have all, however, got a cautious and far seeing statesman in their President.

66

Swedish legislation does not seem to promise much for religious liberty, whatever may be its pretensions. "Parents who abandon the established faith, are to be obliged to educate their children in it !" Every one who succeeds by fallacious means!' in converting a Lutheran, is to be punished with fine and imprisonment!" Glorious liberty for the Swedes!

Missionary Observer.

GENERAL BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

MOST of our friends are by this time acquainted with the noble effort made at the last Association to assist the funds of the Mission, and to send out the Missionary student with Mr. Bailey. The following list has been forwarded to