Son, and of the Holy Ghost;' and while he uttered these words, standing wide, he gently leaned him backward and dipped him once. As soon as he had raised him, a person in a boat fastened there for that purpose, took hold of the man's hand, wiped his face with a napkin, and led him a few steps to another attendant, who then gave his arm, walked with him to the house, and assisted him to dress. There were many such in waiting, who, like the primitive susceptors, assisted during the whole service. The rest of the men followed the first, and were baptized in like manner. After them the women were baptized. A female friend took off, at the water side, the hat and cloak. A deacon of the church led one to the administrator, and another from him; and a woman at the water side took each as she came out of the river, and conducted her to the apartment in the house, where they dressed themselves. When all were baptized, the administrator coming up out of the river, and standing at the side, gave a short exhortation on the honour and the pleasure of obedience to Divine commands, and then, with the usual benediction, dismissed the assembly. About half an hour after, the men newly baptized, having dressed themselves, went from their room into a large hall in the house, where they were presently joined by the women, who came from their apartments to the same place. They then sent a messenger to the administrator, who was dressing in his apartment, to inform him they waited for him. He presently came, and first prayed for a few minutes, and then closed the whole by a short discourse on the blessing of civil and religious liberty, the sufficiency of Scripture, the pleasures of a good conscience, the importance of a holy life, and the prospect of a blessed immortality."

LONG-BURIED SEED REVIVING.

THE power of life in seeds has often excited the wonder of the naturalist. The "incorruptible" seed of the Word of God has yet greater vitality. It can never perish. Here is an illustration :"Dartmouth was favoured for many years with the ministry of John Flavel. On one occasion he is preaching from those words of the apostle: If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha.' The discourse becomes unusually solemn, especially the explanation of the closing words-Cursed with a curse-cursed of God with a bitter and grievous curse! At the conclusion of the service, when Mr. Flavel rose to pronounce the

benediction, he paused, and said, How shall I bless this whole assembly, when every person in it who loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ is anathema maranatha?' The solemnity of this address deeply affected the audience, and one gentleman, a person of rank, was so overcome by his feelings, that he fell senseless to the floor.

In the congregation was a lad named Luke Short, then about fifteen years of age, and a native of Dartmouth. Shortly after the event thus narrated, he entered into the seafaring line, and sailed to America, where he passed the rest of his life. Mr. Short's life was lengthened much beyond the usual term. When a hundred years old he had sufficient strength to work on his farm, and his mental faculties were very little impaired. Hitherto he had lived in carelessness and sin. He was now a sinner a hundred years old,' and apparently ready to die accursed. But one day, as he was in his field, he busied himself in reflecting on his past life. Recurring to the events of his youth, his memory fixed on Mr. Flavel's discourse above alluded to, a considerable part of which he was able to recollect. The affectionate earnestness of the preacher's manner, the important truths he delivered, and the effects produced on the congregation, were brought fresh to his mind. The blessing of God accompanied his meditations; he felt that he had not loved the Lord Jesus Christ; he feared the dreadful anathema; conviction was followed by repentance; and at length this aged sinner obtained peace through the blood of atonement, and was found in the way of righteousness. He joined the congregational church in Middleborough, and, to the day of his death, which took place in his 116th year, gave pleasing evidence of piety.

In this case, eighty-five years passed away after the seed was sown before it sprang up and brought forth fruit. What an encouragement to the dejected and sorrowing minister to hope, that, though his labours appear to be productive comparatively of little benefit, yet the fruit of his toil, his prayers, and his tears, will ultimately appear."

66

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

"The man who in his furrowed field

The scattered seed with sadness leaves,

Shall shout to see the harvest yield

A welcome load of joyful sheaves."

HAPPY DEPARTURE OF A YOUNG BELIEVER,

SEVENTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO.

HE who called himself the "GOOD SHEPHERD" has never forgotten the lambs of his flock. Many of these he sustained, in the ages of persecution, to die a martyr's death; and more in seasons of suffering, and in life's last hour, have borne their testimony to his grace. How precious the testimony! How rich the grace!

The other day we were looking over the pages of an old periodical, with this title "The New Spiritual Magazine; or, Evangelical Treasury of Experimental Religion : designed to promote Genuine Gospel Principles, and calculated, through Divine Grace, to alarm the careless, and to enlighten, confirm, establish, build up, and comfort, all true believers, in their road to the heavenly Jerusalem. The whole consisting of a series of divine and spiritually interesting truths, respecting the true knowledge, faith, and experience of the children of God. Embellished with elegant portraits of the most eminent gospel ministers of various denominations, and views of chapels, churches, meetings, and other places of worship."

The work appears to have been the production of evangelical ministers of all denominations; and this, the third volume, is dedicated to the famous "Rev. John Ryland, M.A.," baptist minister, of Northampton. We found, at page 633, what is called “An Affecting Narrative of the Death of Miss E. Michael." We often record the grace of Christ to the young in these days. Here is an instance seventy-seven years ago; shewing that the grace of our Lord Jesus to his lambs is, like himself, "the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever."

This young lady was brought up in the fear of God. In September, 1783, she caught cold, and fever followed. At first she was in great distress for her soul. But she prayed to the Saviour to cleanse her from all sin, and he said to her heart, "I will; be thou clean." Now she was happy, for her soul was full of love to the Good Shepherd, who had driven away the tempter, and calmed her fears. A minister visited her, who saw that death had set his cold seal on her. He says:

"I took the opportunity of asking her what she saw in Jesus that so engaged her attention and delighted her heart? She replied, with great solemnity and earnestness of mind, “I see everything in him that is lovely, and everything to satisfy my wants." From this answer, I do not know I ever felt more surprise, or was ever

more humbled. I could not but reflect on my own situation, and ask myself whether I could take such believing views of Christ. What strong consolation must such experience afford, in the view of an opening grave! I then asked her, if she thought she should be restored to health, or if this sickness would be unto death? To which she answered, 'I do not know; but it is as the Lord shall please.' I repeated that question; adding a few general considerations, which frequently have a great tendency on our minds to desire life rather than death. But she said, 'I have no choice; I am, my dear sir, ready to go, if my Lord-my Jesus please to call; and I am willing to stay, if my Lord please. All I wish is, that the Lord may help me to glorify him either in life or in death. Yes, sir, I can say, Jesus, take the purchase of thy blood.'

Hearing this delightful testimony of her faith in the Lord, I congratulated her on the possession of such an unspeakable blessing. Happy indeed are you, my dear child: O, how rich the mercy of God towards you! What are all things here below, when compared with those above! Here are sin, sorrow, darkness, and death-there are delights, triumphs, and glories, which never, never shall have an end. What is death, and the prospect of the grave, when compared with the hope of everlasting life, in the enjoyment of the King of glory? Here she interrupted me, by confessing her delight and confidence in the Lord. Yes, sir, said she, 'I know that my Redeemer liveth: and though I go down to the grave, and worms destroy my body; yet I shall see my Jesus, my Lord, and my God, in the last and great day. Then will he own my worthless name, and take me to himself, to be for ever with him; yes

There, where my blessed Jesus reigns,

In heaven's unmeasured space,

I'll spend a long eternity

In pleasure and in praise.

Millions of years my wondering eyes

Shall o'er his beauties rove;

And endless ages I'll adore

The wonders of his love.""

We have not space for more extracts.

This dear lamb departed

in great peace, on Oct. 6th, aged thirteen years and seven months. Young reader!

May JESUS make your dying bed,

Feel soft as downy pillows are;

While on his breast you lean your head,

And breathe your life out sweetly there!

THE MINISTER'S MESSAGE.

"Who, being dead, yet speaketh."

ABOUT one hundred years ago, Mr. Samuel Medley was an esteemed and successful baptist minister at Liverpool. We have seen the portrait of the venerable man in the parlour of his grandson, a deacon at Pembroke Place Chapel, where the Rev. C. M. Birrell is now the minister. It appears that Mr. Medley was writing to the brother of some young ladies, July 11, 1772, and in the letter he sent this message :

"Deliver a message from me to your two dear sisters. Tell them, as from God, for it is his truth, that a day is coming when nothing can stand them in any stead but Jesus Christ. There is no laughing off death, judgment, or eternity; and that day is at hand, though, may be, their youth and gaiety would put it far off from them. Should their sun set before noon; and, awful thought! it may do so, and they die without Christ: inconceivably dreadful this! Tell them I wish they would look on, and may God himself set home to themselves that awful passage in Genesis xix. 16, 17. | 'Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.' And may God make it an alarming and encouraging word to them! Grace, grace, be ever with you. I remain, your affectionate friend, S. MEDLEY."

Eighty-eight years have passed away since this message was sent. Where are those young ladies and their brother, and their faithful admonisher now? When eighty-eight years more are gone, dear reader, where shall you be?

"He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved"—but what shall be the end of them that obey not the Gospel of God?

SIXTY-SIX.

I'm getting old, I'm sure I am, I'll tell you how I know;
When I look at me in the glass it plainly tells me so;

For though my hair is not turned gray, and I have plenty yet,
My sunken cheeks and wrinkled brow I do not like a bit.

And when I meet with some old friend, with whom I once did play
When we were lads, but have not seen for many a long day-