received any aid from the government, or will ever require it in the future." All seem to have made enough to keep them comfortably through the winter. Many have obtained teams and agricultural implements, and money enough to give them a good start in the spring. The most successful one, Robert Miner, has eighty acres in cotton, giving forty bales, and forty acres in corn. One man in the Helena district sold his forty acres of cotton, before the worm appeared, for $8000; another twenty-four acres for $6000; another, thirteen acres for $4000; while the cultivators of ten acres will average about $500 each.

Prayer.

FAMILY PRAYER.

A pious tradesman conversing with a minister on family worship, related the following instructive circumstance respecting himself.

In a

"When I first began business for myself, I was determined, through grace, to be particularly conscious with respect to my family prayer. Accordingly, I persevered for many years, in the delightful practice of domestic worship morning and evening, every individual of my family was ordered always to be present; nor would I allow my apprentices to be absent on any account. few years the advantages of these engagements appeared manifestly conspicuous; the blessings of the upper and nether springs followed me-health and happiness in my family and prosperity in my business. At length, such was my rapid increase in trade, and the necessity of devoting every possible moment to my customers, that I began to think whether family prayer did not occupy too much of our time in the morning. Pious scruples arose respecting my intention of relinquishing this part of my duty; but at length worldly interests prevailed so far as to induce me to excuse the attendance of my apprentices; and not long after it was deemed advisable, for the more eager prosecution of our business, to make a prayer with my wife in the morning, suffice for the day. Notwithstanding the repeated checks of conscience that followed this base omission, the calls of a flourishing concern, and the prospects of an increasing family, appeared so imperious and commanding, that I found an easy excuse for this fatal evil, especially as I did not omit prayer altogether. My conscience was now almost seared with a hot iron, when it pleased the Lord to awaken me by a singular providence.

"One day I received a letter from a young man who had formerly been my apprentice, previous to my omitting family prayer.

Not doubting but I continued family worship, his letter was chiefly on this subject. It was couched in the most affectionate and respectful terms; but judge of my surprise and confusion; when I read these words, 'Oh, my dear master, never, never shall I be sufficiently able to thank you for the precious privilege with which you indulged me in your family devotion; Oh, Sir, eternity, will be too short to praise my God for what I learnt there. It was there that I first beheld my lost and ruined state as a sinner; it was there that I first knew the way of salvation; and there I first experienced the preciousness of Christ in me the hope of glory.' Oh, permit me to say, never, never neglect these precious engagements; you have yet a family and more apprentices; may your house be the birth-place of their souls.' I could read no further; every line flashed condemnation in my face- I trembled I shuddered-I was alarmed at the thought, that the blood of my children and apprentices might soon be demanded at my hands!

6

"Filled with confusion, and bathed in tears, I fled for refuge in secret-I spread the letter before God-I agonized in prayer to him-but you can better conceive than I can describe my feelings; suffice it to say, that light broke in upon my disconsolate soul, and I obtained a sweet sense that there was mercy and pardon, even for such a wretch as I. I immediately collected my family around me, presented them before the Lord, and from that time to the present, have never dared to omit family prayer. I am determined, through grace, that, whenever business becomes too large to permit family prayer, I will give up the superfluous part of my business, and retain my devotion. Better to lose a few shillings than to become the deliberate murderer of my family and the instrument of ruin to my own soul."- Western Presbyterian.

THE WEEK OF PRAYER.-An extraordinary scene at Mr. Spurgeon's Tabernacle. It is refreshing to learn that the spirit of prayer has again, and in an increasing degree, pervaded the churches of the land at the opening of the year. We hear from many and opposite quarters of the holding of real devotional meetings; in some cases the services were led by ministers and gentlemen of different sections of the one fold on neutral ground, and in others each fellowship assembled in its ordinary place of meeting, according as seemed most desirable or necessary. The Evangelical Alliance gatherings at Freemason's Hall were equal to those of former years, and hundreds of the worshippers must have felt it good to be there, whether blending in the supplications and thanksgivings, or listening to the fervent addresses of such men as Baptist Noel, Capel, Molyneux, W. L. Thornton, W. Pennyfeather, and Dr. James Hamilton. But by far the most impressive, as well as many - fold the largest devotional gathering of which we have heard was that which took place at the Metropolitan Tabernacle on Monday evening. Indeed it may be said to have been the greatest prayer-meeting, strictly so-called, ever held in England, or perhaps in the world,

before-at all events, under a roof; for we read of wonderful outof-door revival meetings in Wales and in America, and also in this land, in other days. The meeting originated with the Fraternal Society of Baptist Ministers recently formed at the Tabernacle, which meets once a month for conference and prayer. Several of

the members of this small but growing band of earnest men met with Mr. Spurgeon in the afternoon, and spent several hours in devotional exercises before the doors of the Tabernacle were opened. Long ere the hour for the public service to begin, the interest of the occasion manifested itself in a throng at the gates; and admission had scarcely been gained before the spacious building was fairly filled, and in the course of a brief space more it was crowded from floor to ceiling by people of all orders of society. Several addresses were delivered, marked my unusual appropriateness and power; but these were felt to be feeble and ineffective compared with the "strong crying and tears," that may be said to have been the character of the prayers of one and all of the ministers and brethren who presented the confessions and entreaties of the multitude to the throne of grace. Without rant, or even passion, the words of the speakers seemed to posses an electric power, moving and melting the hearts of hundreds, so that they tried out in the intensity of their feelings, or sobbed with emotion. At one period, following a most circumstantial and devout confession of the sins first of ministers and then of people, the whole audience seemed to be under the burden of contrition to a degree that was painful to witness, till one gave out the hymn "There is a fountain filled with blood," which was sung in a way that can never be forgotten by any that heard it. After several hours it was deemed expedient to close the service, but such was the excitement even then, that a meeting for inquiries was announced to be held in one of the rooms below. Thither numbers went, and we have been told that "showers of blessing" dascended upon the seeking company. Many found peace in believing, and went home rejoicing in God their Savior. Remembering that this was a Baptist prayermeeting, the astonishment at such scenes will be the greater. It seemed to be a veritable Methodist revival service; far surpassing, indeed, even any of their recent meetings in genuine fervor. Similar meetings, on a much smaller scale, have been held at several other Baptist chapels of the Metropolis this week.-Chris. World.

66

TIME TO PRAY.-If we do not plead with God again and again and again, we shall not keep up our faith that God hears us. "Oh!" says one, we have no time to pray at that rate." What do you do with your time? It caused Domitian to be greatly despised when it was reported that he spent hours in killing flies; it was told, to the discredit of Artaxerxes, that he spent whole days in making handles for knives; what shall be thought of us, when we confess that we have no time to pray, but that there is time for trifles! Princes of the blood royal, and yet no time to be at court!

Kings of a divine race, and yet no time to put on your crowns, and wear your robes of state! Time to play with toys, and roll in the dust with the beggars of earth, but no time to sit upon the throne of glory, and to offer the sacrifice of praise unto the Most High! Shame on such Christians! May God give us true shame for this, and henceforth may we be much in prayer, and expect gracious answers. Rev. C. II. Spurgeon.

THE HABITS OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.-Rev. Mr. Adams of Philadelphia, in his recent Thanksgiving discourse, speaking of an early morning call upon Mr. Lincoln, made the following interesting

statement:

"Morning came, and I hastened my toilet, and found myself at a quarter to five in the waiting room of the President. I asked the usher if I could see Mr. Lincoln. He said I could not. 'But I have

At

an engagement to meet him this morning? At what hour?' five o'clock.' 'Well, sir, he will see you at five.' I then walked to and fro for a few minutes, and hearing a voice as if in grave conversation, I asked the servant: "Who is talking in the next room?" 'It is the President, sir.' 'Is anybody with him?" No, sir, he is reading the Bible.' 'Is that his habit so early in the morning?' 'Yes, sir, he spends every morning from four o'clock to fire in reading the Scriptures and praying.""

How can we ever estimate the efficiency of prayer? When I was languishing on the brink of the grave-when I was far away in the heart of Europe, a weak, helpless thing, powerless even to whisper, I knew that the people of my charge were bearing me up on wings of prayer. I felt it; I was sure of it. And oh, what help it gave me! How it sustained me! How often I seemed to be kept in life by saying to myself, "Now, now they are pleading for me at our Father's feet 1"-Rev. G. C. Robinson.

THE UNION PRAYER MEETING at Detroit has been held regularly every morning at past 8 for over seven years. Previous to the present glorious revival the attendance was small, not averaging more than thirty; now the basement room of the Central Methodist church is filled every morning. Nearly all the ministers of the city attend regularly. The exercises are brief, spirited and refreshing. Mothers ask that their sons may be prayed for, wives for their husbands, husbands for their wives, sisters for brothers and brothers for sisters. Anxious inquirers come with the request, "Pray for me!" One brother remarked a few days since, that all the persons prayed for at this meeting, so far as he could ascertain, had been converted.

OPEN AIR MEETINGS are held at Detroit (Campus Martius) every Sunday afternoon at past three.

Practical Discourses.

"ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

FUNERAL ORATION BY BISHOP SIMPSON.

Delivered at Springfield Ills., May 4, 1865.

Fellow-citizens of Illinois, and of many parts of our entire Union : Near the capital of this large and growing State of Illinois, in the midst of this beautiful grove, and at the open mouth of the vault which has just received the remains of our fallen chieftain, we gather to pay a tribute of respect and drop the tears of sorrow around the ashes of the mighty dead. A little more than four years ago, he left his plain and quiet home in yonder city, receiving the parting words of the concourse of friends who, in the midst of the dropping of the gentle shower, gathered around him. He spoke of the pain of parting from the place where his children had been born, and his home which had been rendered so pleasant by early recollections. And as he left, he made an earnest request in the hearing of some who are present at this hour, that, as he was about to enter upon responsibili ties which he believed to be greater than any which had fallen upon any man since the days of Washington, the people would offer up their prayers that God would aid and sustain him in the work they had given him to do.

His company left your quiet city. But as it went, snares were in waiting for the chief magistrate. Scarcely did he escape the dangers of the way or the hands of the assassin as he neared Washington, and I believe he escaped only through the vigilance of the officers and the prayers of the people; so that the blow was suspended for more than four years, which was at last permitted, through the providence of God, to fall.

How different the occasion which witnessed his departure from that which witnessed his return! Doubtless you expected to take him by the hand, to feel the warm grasp which you felt in other days and to see the tall form walking among you which you had delighted to honor in years past. But he was never permited to return until he came with lips mute and silent, his frame encoffined, and a weeping nation following as his mourners. Such a scene as his return to you was never witnessed. Among the events of history there have been great processions of mourners. There was one for the patriarch