A

and oppression, but when religious liberty was partially restored, and the missionaries were enabled to establish a Christian church in that city, it was again brought to light, encouraging them in their work of faith and labour of love.

1330. Consideration for Others.

The prisoner took his place on the drop; it fell, and a lifeless body swung in the air. Just at this moment a horseman came into sight, his steed covered with foam. He bore a reprieve for the prisoner; but he had come too late. comparatively innocent man had died an ignominious death because a watch had been five minutes too-A woman who always used to slow, causing the bearer to arrive behind time. It is continually so in life. The best-laid plans are daily sacrificed because they are "behind time." There are others who put off reformation year by year, till death seizes them and they perish unrepentant because for ever hind time."

"be

attend public worship with great punctuality, and took care to be always in time, was asked how it was she could always come so early. She answered very wisely, "It is a part of my religion not to disturb the religion of others."

1331. Cure for Indolence.1328. Casting Away Life.-If we sun, and thus relates the manner Buffon constantly rose with the were to see a woodman felling in which he acquired such a habit eight large trees in a forest every of early rising. "In my youth," week, or four hundred every year, says he, "I was excessively fond of we should some of us say, "What sleep, and that indolence robbed a pity!" yet in one large steam me of much time. My poor Joseph sawing-mill, visited by Mr. May- (a domestic who served him for hew, that was just the number sixty-five years) was of the greatest employed to make lucifer matches; 1,123,200,000 matches were made in one year out of the above four hundred trees. This may remind one of the remark of Howe, "What a folly it is to dread the thought of throwing away one's life at once, and yet to have no regard for throwing it away by parcels and piecemeal!"

benefit to me in overcoming it. I promised him a crown for every time he could make me get up at six o'clock. He failed not the next day to rouse and torment me, but I only abused him. He tried the day following, and I threatened him. Friend Joseph,' said I to him at noon, I have lost my time, and you have gained nothing. You do 1329. Christ's Kingdom.-On not know how to manage the the door of the old mosque in Da-matter. Think only of my promise, and do not regard my threatenmascus, which was once a Christian church, but for twelve centuries ings. The day following he achas ranked among the holiest of complished his point. At first I the Mohammedan sanctuaries, are and would have discharged him, begged, then entreated and abused, inscribed these remarkable words: but he disregarded me, and raised "Thy kingdom, O Christ, is an everlasting kingdom, and thy do- me up by absolute force. He had minion endureth through all gene- humour at the moment of waking, his reward every day for my ill rations." Though the name of Christ has been regularly blasphemed, and the disciples of Christ regularly cursed, for twelve hundred years within it, the inscription has nevertheless remained unimpaired 1332. Dangerous Delay.-Mr. by time and undisturbed by man. East, of Birmingham, relates the It was unknown during the long following: "A woman was in the reign of Mohammedan intolerance habit of attending the place of

by thanks, and a crown an hour after. I owe to poor Joseph at least ten or twelve volumes of my works."

worship in which I preached, who occupied a seat on the stairs, and who was very tenacious of her sitting, not allowing any other person to occupy it. She was observed by her friends, who sought occasion to converse with her on the important subject of religion, but she was very shy and evasive. All they

at the minute. The first day after his settlement his sermon was wellnigh closed before most of his congregation arrived. Some actually arrived just at the benediction. They were confounded. He made no apology. He only asked the seniors if they would prefer any other time than eleven o'clock, and

could extract from her was this he would be sure and attend. A appalling reply, 'Oh, I shall only few weeks passed and the church want five minutes' time when I am was regularly full and waiting for dying to cry for mercy: and I have the minute. The preacher never no doubt God Almighty will give it failed in twenty years, except in a me.' It was in vain to remonstrate few cases of indisposition, to comwith the woman, this was always mence at the hour appointed. His her reply. Time passed on. One congregation soon became as puncday I was walking down the street tual and circumspect in other matwhen a young woman ran up to me ters as in their attendance at in a state of great agitation and ex-church. citement, exclaiming, 'Oh, Mr. East, I have found you; do come to my 1335. Early Risers.-Sir Thos. mother, sir; come this minute, sir; More remarks, in his preface to the she is dying, she is dying!' I has-"Utopia," that he completed the tened with her to the house, and work by stealing time from his was astonished to find in the dying sleep and meals. He made it his sufferer the poor unhappy woman invariable practice to rise at four. who had attended my place of wor- The celebrated Dr. Doddridge menship. She was evidently expiring, tions, in his "Family Expositor," but, turning her dying eyes to- that to his habit of early rising the wards me, she cried out, 'Oh, Mr. world is indebted for nearly the East, I am lost, I am lost!' and whole of his valuable works. The expired." well-known Bishop Burnet was an habitual early riser. When at college, his father aroused him to his studies every morning at four o'clock, and he continued the practice during the remainder of his when giving an account of the life. "I spent," says Dr. Paley, early part of his life at college, "the first two years of my undergraduateship happily, but unprofitably. I was constantly in society, where we were not immoral, but idle and expensive. At the commencement of the third year, after having left the usual party at a late hour, I was awakened at five in the morning by one of my companions, who stood at my bedside and said, 'Paley, I have been thinking what a fool you are. I could do nothing, probably, if I were to try, and I could afford the indolent life you lead. You could do everything, and cannot afford it. I have

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1333. Deceptive Notion.-Said a minister once, when a friend gently hinted to him that he had not preached the Gospel that morning, No, my dear sir, I did not mean to preach to sinners in the morning, but I will preach to them in the evening." "Ah," said the other, "but what if some of your congregation of the morning should be in eternity before evening ?"

1334. Dilatory Congregation.An earnest minister once had the misfortune to succeed a tardy man who had had the congregation in charge for some years. He despaired of reforming them in great matters if he could not reform them in small. He found them in the habit of meeting at twelve o'clock, though the hour appointed and agreed upon was eleven. The preacher knew his duty, and began

had no sleep during the whole night on account of these reflections, and am now come solemnly to inform you that if you persist in your indolence I must renounce your society.' I was so struck," says Paley, "with the visit and the visitor, that I lay in bed great part of the day and formed my plan. I ordered my bedmaker to lay my fire every evening, in order that it might be lighted by myself. I arose at five, read during the whole day, took supper at nine, went to bed, and continued the practice up to this hour." Bishop Jewell rose regularly at four; the learned lawyer and pious Christian, Sir Matthew Hale, studied sixteen hours every day, and was an early riser; Dr. Parkhurst, the philologist, rose regularly at five in summer and six in the winter, and, in the latter season, he made his own fire.

1336. Improving the Time.It was a memorable practice of Vespasian, the Roman emperor, throughout the whole course of his life, to call himself to account every night for the actions of the past day, and as often as he found he had passed any one day without doing some good, he entered in his diary this memorandum, Diem perdidi: "I have lost a day."

enter, and upon the door of the study being opened, the Doctor was seen at his writing-desk, and upon being applied to for the certificate, took it off the table and presented it to its owner. It had been previously examined and signed.

islands.

1338. Lost by an Inch."I was once travelling," says a living writer, "between two Danish took me across the narrow sea also carried letters from one island to the other. A letter-box was hung up on the deck, where every one could see it, and I amused myself by watching the people as they came, one by one, down to the ship. Crossing the little plank, they in the box, and went on shore stepped on board, put their letters their letters would go all right, and again, as though they felt sure that the answers come back at the proper time. Presently the whistle sounded. Steam was up, the captain stood on the bridge, and the vessel began to move away. Just at that moment a little girl was seen scampering along as fast as she could, holding a letter in her hand. But the captain could not stop the vessel for her. She stretched out her hand as far as she could, and some one on board did the There was only a gap of an inch same. Their fingers nearly touched. between-only an inch-but it was an inch, and therefore an inch too much! Another minute, and the ship was far out of reach, and I saw the Danish miss turning her feet homewards, and looking very sad. She had lost the post by an inch."

The little steamer that

1337. Keeping an Appointment. -A student at Edinburgh, who had passed his examinations at the Divinity Hall, called upon Dr. Andrew Thomson for the purpose of submitting his certificate for preaching, and of obtaining the Doctor's signature to the instrument. The young candidate was directed to call for it on the morrow. "At what time?" "Any 1339. Procrastination.-" You hour after six o'clock in the morn- will please not to forget to ask the ing." The student resolved to take place for me, sir," said a pale bluethe Doctor at his word. The morn-eyed boy, as he brushed the coat of ing had scarcely dawned ere he the man of leisure at his lodgings. directed his steps towards Melville Street, the place of his residence, and as soon as the clock had struck six he rang the bell, and inquired if Dr. Thomson was to be spoken with. The servant directed him to

"Certainly not," said Mr. J., "I shall be going that way in a day or two." "Did you ask for the place for me yesterday?" said the pale boy on the following day, with a quivering lip, as he performed the

1341. Redemption of Time.The gifted Mrs. Hall, John Wesley's Samuel Johnson, who was a great sister, was very intimate with Dr. admirer of her genius and talents. Dr. Johnson requested her to pro

same office. "No," was the answer; quarter of an hour, but here are I was busy; but I will to-day.' seven besides thyself whose time "Heaven help my poor mother!" thou hast also consumed, amountmurmured the boy, and gazed listing in the whole to two hours, and lessly on the penny Mr. J. laid in seven-eighths of it was not thine his hand. The boy went home. own property." He ran to the hungry children with the loaf of bread he had earned by brushing the gentlemen's coats at the inn. They shouted for joy, and his mother held out her emaciated hand for a portion, while a sickly smile flitted across her face. "Mother dear," said the boy, "Mr. J. thinks he can get me the place, and I shall have three meals a day,-only think, mother, three meals! And it won't take me three minutes to run home and share

them with you." The morning came, and the pale boy's voice

trembled with earnestness as he

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asked Mr. J. if he had applied for the place. "Not yet," said the man of leisure, "but there is time encugh." The penny that morning was wet with tears. Another morning arrived. “It is very thoughtless of the boy to be so late," said Mr. J. "Not a soul here to brush my coat." The child came at length, his face swollen with weeping. "I am sorry to disappoint you,' said the man of leisure," but the place in Mr. C.'s shop was filled yesterday." The boy stopped brushing, and burst afresh into tears. "I care not now," said he, sobbing; we may as well starve. Mother is dead!" The "man of leisure" was smitten to the heart.

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cure him an interview with her
Mrs. Hall

brother, John Wesley.
did so, and a day was accordingly
Doctor at his residence at Salisbury
appointed for him to dine with the
Court. Dr. Johnson conformed to
Wesley's hours, and appointed two
o'clock. The dinner, however, was
not ready till three. They con-
versed till that time. Wesley had
set apart two hours to spend with
his learned host. In consequence
of this he rose up as soon as dinner
Doctor was extremely disappointed,
was ended, and departed. The
and could not conceal his mortifi-
cation. Mrs. Hall said, "Why,
Doctor, my brother has been with
hours, madam! I could talk all
you two hours." He replied, "Two
brother.'
day, and all night too, with your

1342. Remorse at Death.-An American author tells of one Lieutenant Wood, belonging to a Maine Regiment in the Army of the Potomac, who was on his way to the Grand Review. "He had gone through the war without a wound, 1340. Punctuality. A com- and even without hospital experinittee of eight ladies was ap-ence. At the last camp halt that pointed to meet on a certain day his division made before reaching at twelve o'clock. Seven of them Washington, as he stood in his were punctual, but the eighth came hurrying in, with many apologies for being a quarter of an hour behind time. The time had passed away without her being aware of it, she had no idea of its being so late, &c. A Quaker lady present said, "Friend, I am not so clear that we should admit thine apology. It were matter of regret that thou shouldest have wasted thine own

tent-door he was mortally wounded by the accidental discharge of a gun. He was brought into Campbell Hospital. When I found him he was apparently peaceful in the immediate prospect of death. He had enlisted as a Christian, but while he had kept an unsullied reputation for uprightness and integrity, he had not been distinctly known in the regiment as a Chris

tian, and this was now his bitter lulling her conscience with the ides grief. He wanted to live to see his that their abilities were so much family again, but more, far more, greater than hers, and that too he said, to recover lost opportunities. much was required of her. She He sent for his fellow-officers, told could not or would not see that it them his mistake, and asked their is quite possible to be doing someforgiveness, while he trusted in the thing, and yet to be very idle. Saviour for his own forgiveness. For her Bible she had not 'a min. 'I die as a Christian,' he said to ute to spare;' no time to be neat, me, and I die contented, but oh no time for her studies, no time for if I could have died as a Christian her health, no time to do things worker !' I am peaceful and as- for others. She was hardly dealt sured in view of death,' he said with. Her Heavenly Father had again, but I am not joyful and heaped commands upon her, and glad, those three lost years keep given her no time in which to obey coming back upon me;" then lying them. Parents and teachers were. a moment quiet with closed eyes, all unkind, or they would not have he added, " Chaplain, do you sup- been so unreasonable in their depose we shall be able to forget any-mands. I am sure I have not a thing in heaven? I would like to minute to spare,' was her unvarying forget those three years.' reply to all who sought to do her good."

1343. Spurning Reproof.--The following is extracted from "Not a Minute to Spare:"-"An idle schoolgirl was once seriously expostulated with about some duties which she had neglected, and others which she had badly performed. 'I cannot help it, I am sure I cannot; I can't do any more than I do. I never have "a minute to spare;" I am always at work.' This girl thought she spoke the truth, but she did not know the true meaning of the word 'idle.' For instance, if she sat at work for an hour, but only did what she was well able to accomplish in half-an-hour, she would have thought it very unjust and unkind had she been accused of idleness. If she sat with her head resting on her hands, her elbows on the table, or, what was as often the case, leaning over the fire, with a book on her lap, looking at it, and lazily learning from it, and were reproved and counselled to more industry, she would spurn both the reproof and the counsel, however kindly given, and perhaps even hate the reprover. And at the close of the day she would wonder how it was she had not time for her duties, whilst her companions got through theirs with so much ease; but always ended by

1344. Value of a Minute.-A small vessel was nearing the Steep Holmes in the Bristol Channel. The captain stood on the deck, his watch in his hand, his eye fixed on it. A terrible tempest had driven them onward, and the vessel was e scene of devastation. No one dared to ask, "Is there hope ?" Silent consternation filled every heart, made every face pale. The wind and the tide drove the shattered bark fiercely forward. Every moment they were hurried nearer to the sullen rock which knew no mercy, on which many ill-fated vessels had foundered, all the crew perishing. Still the captain stood motionless, speechless, his watch in his hand. "We are lost!" was the conviction of many around him. Suddenly his eye glanced across the sea; he stood erect; another moment and he cried, "Thank God! we are saved-the tide has turned; in one minute more we should have been on the rocks!" He returned his chronometer, by which he had measured the race between time and tide, to his pocket; and if they never felt it before, assuredly both he and his crew were on that day powerfully taught the value of a minute.