THE VILLAGE PASTOR'S FAREWELL. PICTURE to yourselves, my friends, the following scene:-A lovely autumnal evening, when the brilliant sun had sunk beneath the horizon, and the stars were here and there peeping forth, while the full moon rose majestically, seeming to teach us, by the striking emblem of her soft and tender light, equally diffused around, how the Divine Creator, in the night of our spiritual darkness, cheers and guides his children, by the tempered light of heavenly truth, in paths of righteousness and peace. It was in such an evening, that many of the inhabitants, both rich and poor, of a cheerful industrious village, had assembled together at the school-house, to hear the parting address of their beloved curate. He was dear to his flock, not from having resided for many years among them, but because during the short time he had been there, they had witnessed his humble and ardent endeavours to do the work his Master had entrusted to his care. He believed in and loved that gracious Master, and was therefore most anxious to follow the beautiful example he had set before him. The souls of all were precious in his sight, because they are so to Jesus Christ, the great Creator and Lord of all. He had been assiduous in his attendance on the school, well knowing the danger of ignorance, and deeply impressed with his Lord's injunction, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Mark, x. 14. He was now anxious, for the last time, to impress upon the minds of the parents the great responsibility of their situation. It was more particularly for this purpose that he assembled them on that evening. Standing at one end of the room, with the venerable rector seated at his side, and the children and parents before him, he first implored all, in the humble but energetic language of a true minister, to fly to the only"sure refuge;" to that Jesus who said, "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." "In a few years," he continued, "all who are now present will have passed away; all will be gone to their everlasting abode of peace or wretchedness. Think, my beloved brethren and sisters, of this solemn truth. Now is the appointed time: hasten then to follow the example of the pious Mary, and seek" the one thing needful." He then, with earnestness, entreated the parents constantly to attend private and |