from his post, and punctual in fulfilling every engagement. In early life he experienced much privation. Times were bad and prices were high, hence it was needful to exercise the greatest economy. Henry Fox has told me what he suffered when he was between twelve and fourteen years of age. A few potatoes for supper, and some oatmeal stirred in the water the potatoes had been boiled in the night before, for breakfast, were all the food he had to sustain him. He sometimes, after going to work, deemed himself happy if he could find a raw turnip to stop the pains of hunger. These privations taught him a lesson of contentment with a little, which he never forgot. And often have I admired my old friend's cheerfulness and uncomplaining spirit when obliged for a time to go without some ordinary comfort. His diligence was great. As an instance of it, I remember his telling me one day that, at the beginning of a certain winter, a party of fox-hunters rode across the meadow which he hired, and so made holes all over it; but in the course of that winter he levelled it with his foot, working in leisure hours and by moonlight nights, and so saved the hay crop of the next season. This spirit of diligence he carried into all his duties. In circumstances of great difficulty he proved his great trustworthiness, and I was glad at times to consult him on matters in which he could advise me, and concerning which it was important that my confidence should not be betrayed. He had a great admiration of God's works in Nature. He has told me how he had often noticed the song-birds in early morning, as he went forth to his work, singing with their heads upturned to heaven, as if they would make offerings of praise to God. And the flowers, both of the field and of his garden, taught him many a lesson of trusting in God, who having "so clothed the grass of the "much more field," has promised clothe His trusting children. The grace of God had made him what he was, even the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the forgiveness obtained by the Saviour, by His atoning blood, and as he advanced in years he grew in grace. Like the ripening corn, his head was more and more bent with genuine humility. "I have nothing to boast of," he would say, when recalling with honest pride his life of unassisted labour; "I have nothing belonging to me but sin." He grew in charity-the charity that hides a multitude of sins, while it drops a tear of sorrow over them-more charitable to the sins of others than his own. He grew in unshaken trust in God. "The Lord has always provided for me in times past," he would say, "and I know He will now." But joined with this was a grateful heart to those whom God sent to his help. Tears choked the utterance that gave relief to feelings long pent up. He delighted in the Word of God. Often have I found him poring over his large reference Bible in later years, and much did he enjoy it. He loved the house and day of God too. He was never absent from his place in church or at the Lord's table, as long as he was able to attend. Sorely did he feel the loss when bodily infirmity kept him away. 66 Them that honour me," says God, "I will honour." When his strength and resources failed, friends were raised up from the rich and noble, who took pleasure in ministering to his wants. He died honoured and regretted, and after death there was stamped on his face a remarkably calm and sweet grandeur of expression, as if a vision of the unseen world had suddenly been revealed to him, ere his spirit quitted its worn out tenement of the body. Almost the last words that were uttered were-"Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." Truly "he being dead yet speaketh." 90 PRINCE BISMARCK'S THOUGHTS ON RELIGION. He teaches us lessons of diligence in the use of opportunities of getting good, of contentment with the lot assigned to us by God; of diligence in our earthly calling; of inshaken trust in God through Christ, and steady perseverance to the end of the Christian Life. Through faith in Christ and His atoning work, and in the power of the Holy Spirit alone, can we live a life like his. Let us then put our whole trust in Jesus, live in the Spirit, and so shall we, like Henry Fox, obtain a good report through faith. N. V. FENN, M.A. PRINCE BISMARCK'S THOUGHTS ON RELIGION. obstacle was placed in the way of a marriage which has proved a blessing to all concerned. From that time Bismarck has been an earnest Christian man. The energy which ran riot has found a boundless field in the critical political struggles with which he has been associated ever since he entered the General Diet, the year after his marriage. P to the time of his marriage, Bismarck gave no special sign of coming eminence or religious feeling. At the University of Göttingen he was notorious as a successful duellist, who had come through twenty-eight encounters without a scar, save one caused From his letters to his wife we find by the breaking of his opponent's sword, that the scepticism of his earlier life had which flew up and left a mark that may not laid very firm hold upon him. He be seen on his cheek to this day. In his was too clear-sighted, too strong minded, early work connected with the Courts, to feel satisfied with such opinions. One his blunt outspoken ways made him any- Saturday afternoon in July 1851, he thing but a favourite. When he retired drove out from Frankfort with two of his to Pomerania to manage one of the pater- friends, then he took a boat, and rowed nal estates, he was known as "mad Bis-out upon the Rhine, where he swam in marck," the terror of all the quiet country families. His boisterous spirits led him into wild orgies and practical jokes, which were talked of all round the district. No one, however, can look closely at these early days without discovering some signs of better things. The wild young fellow spent many nights in study. He read Spinoza with especial care, perfected his knowledge of French and English, and managed the family estate with marked success. In 1847 he married. His wife belonged to a pious 'family, associated with the Moravians. When her father found that his only daughter loved their wild young neighbour, he felt as if he had been felled with an ахе. Happily, however, no the moonlight, with only nose and eyes out of the water, from Rüdesheim to the famous Mouse Tower near Bingen. He describes the dreamy feeling with which he looked on the star-lit heavens, on the banks, the wooded hills, and the battlements of the old castles. Fresh from such musings, he sat out on the balcony overlooking the river with Lynax, one of the companions of his drive. Bismarck's little New Testament, and the starstudded heavens, led to a conversation about religion. Bismarck argued long against Lynax's Russian-like sophism, till at last he reduced his companion to silence, though he failed to convince him. Lynax had been badly treated as a child by nurses and tutors. He had never 92 PRINCE BISMARCK'S THOUGHTS ON RELIGION. "It is incomprehensible to me how any "Ah, why did I so late Thee know, Rothschild's palace during one part of . . I It A letter of sympathy written to his brother-in-law on the death of his son is full of Christian resignation, of Christian hope. Bismarck acknowledges how powerless and helpless we are in God's mighty hand, as far as He will not HimTo the same principle the chancellor self help us." While he confesses that ascribes the strong sense of duty in we can only bow in humility to God's German troops. This feeling, he says, will, he feels condemned because so many runs through every stratum of the blessings have been received without nation. The common soldier will submit acknowledgment, and reminds his sorrow-to be shot dead, alone, in the dark, when ing relative that "we are not to attach ourselves to this world, and not regard it as our home." Bismarck won the admiration of Thomas Carlyle as "the strongest force in Europe," but the sympathy in this letter proves that he is gentle as well as strong. Bismarck does not hesitate to say that, but for his faith, he would never endure the fatigue and vexation imposed on him by his high position. Dr. Busch reports a memorable conversation at Ferrieres, where the chancellor lived in his duty requires him to place himself in such peril. This Bismarck attributes to what is left of belief in the people; "from the fact, that I know there is Some One who sees me, when the lieutenant does not see me.' Do you believe that they reflect on this? some one asked at the time the conversation took place. "Reflect," he said, "no, it is a feeling, a tone, an instinct, I believe. If they reflect, they lose it. Then they talk themselves out of it." He expressed his inability to understand how men could live together |