COMMENDATORY NOTICE FROM THE

REV. DR. GUTHRIE.

EDINBURGH,

June 21st, 1872.

Dear Sir,

I THINK Your "Cyclopædia of Anecdote" so likely, or I may say so certain, to be of great service to those engaged in the Ministry of the Gospel, by furnishing them with suitable and striking illustrations both of its doctrines and duties, that I cannot forbear expressing to you my high sense of its value, and how much I wish that it might find a place in every Minister's library.

In writing thus, I have chiefly their interest and the advantage of their people in view. Nevertheless, I may add that this "Cyclopædia" of yours would form an entertaining, instructive, and most profitable addition to every man's stock of books.

Believe me,

Yours truly,

THOMAS GUTHRIE.

"THEY say it is an ill mason that refuseth any stone; and there is no knowledge but, in a skilful hand, serves either positively as it is or else to illustrate some other knowledge. He condescends even to the knowledge of tillage and pasturage, and makes great use of them in teaching, because people, by what they understand, are best led to what they understand not."-GEORGE HERBERT.

THE NEW CYCLOPÆDIA

OF

ILLUSTRATIVE ANECDOTE.

ADMONITION AND REPROOF.

Prov. ix. 8, x. 17, xv. 10; Gal. iv. 16; Ephes. iv. 15; Col. iii. 16; 1 Thess. v. 14; Titus i. 13.

1. Blasphemer Disgraced. Charles Wesley was very bold in admonishing his hearers, and so often woke up their ire. Preaching once, a scene occurred which shows not only the rudeness of primitive times, but the familiarity of pastoral addresses. Speaking against Sunday revels, one of his auditors contradicted him, and, in his anger, used blasphemous language. Wesley inquired, "Who is it pleads for

the

devil? " The blasphemer hotly answered, "I am he that pleads for the devil." Wesley says, "I took occasion to show the revellers their champion, and the whole congregation their state by nature. Then I set myself against his avowed advocate, and drove him out of the Christian assembly."

the fountain-head-to the person of the principal influence in the meeting, the Prince of Wales." The venerable Bishop was wrapped in flannel and carried to Carlton House, where he requested the honour of an audience and a personal conference with the Prince on the subject. He very graciously granted it, and the Bishop had a conversation with him of more than half-an-hour. His Highness entered immediately into his views, and confessed that he saw reason for holding the meeting on Sunday more than any other day of the week, and voluntarily proposed that the day should be changed from Sunday to Saturday, for which he gave immediate orders.

no

2. Fearless Reproof. When 3. Frivolity Rebuked. The Rev. near death, Bishop Porteus felt that W. Romaine was one evening inhe could not depart in peace till he vited to a friend's house to tea. had expressed his disapprobation After the tea-things had been of the profanation of the Lord's removed, the lady of the house day, then exceedingly prevalent in asked him to play at cards, to his diocese-London. "I had, for which he made no objection. When some time past," he says, "ob- they were produced, however, and served, in several of the papers, an all present were ready to commence account of a meeting, chiefly of play, the venerable minister said, military gentlemen, held at a hotel "Let us ask the blessing of God." in the west end of the town, every "Ask the blessing of God!" said other Sunday during the winter the lady, in great surprise; "I season. I determined that it never heard of such a thing before should not pass without reproof, a game of cards." Mr. Romaine and thought it best to go at once to then inquired, 'Ought we to

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