and, as the carriage wound up the hill, with the mysterious apparatus on the roof, we were vociferously cheered by our young friends. The room in which we were to lecture was crowded; indeed, we had no slight difficulty to get space enough for the lantern. We had chosen scriptural subjects, and endeavoured from each to bring the Gospel before them in the most simple and plain language. Preaching the Gospel to ploughboys and carters is not congenial to human nature, but in this way it seems highly appreciated by the young. But we do not know of any work more trying to flesh and blood than teaching in "a ragged school;" it needs great patience and wisdom. Never shall we forget going one Sabbath afternoon to a class of this kind. Thinking to rivet their attention, we had taken with us a book of scriptural illustrations beautifully painted. We had no sooner held it up and pointed to one of them, than a great rough boy made a snatch at the book, with the exclamation, "Oh, let's look at that, governor." And soon enough there was a general scramble for it, and ere we could get our book again it was defaced and torn. We learnt a lesson ourselves in the matter, namely, always to make the boys sit at a distance from the teacher, and never allow them to crowd around you. Men clothed in soft raiment and living delicately will not do to deal with such materials.

And now we will bring to remembrance

II. WORK AMONG SOLDIERS.

The gathering of a thousand militiamen for their annual drill gave a rare opportunity for usefulness. But few could, in coming up, sign their own names, and they seemed to be gathered from the lowest of the low. A room was opened, and classes formed for reading and writing; and it was amusing to see a red coat, six feet high, poring over a copy-book and forming therein pothooks. One young man we noticed wrote a good hand; we spoke to him of it, and drew from him that he had been in an upper station of life, but drink and dissipation had ruined his family, and he had sunk in the mire of degradation with them.

Having an eye to their spiritual welfare as being the most important matter, we invited them to a Bible Class; but few availed themselves of the privilege, preferring to stroll about the town in listless indolence. Still those that did come we believe were profited. One young man told us he looked forward to the annual drill, chiefly to attend our meetings. I have no doubt, from his prayers and conversation, that he was a child of God.

In connexion with such work, we have not anything sensational to offer. Some seem to have met with multitudes of conversions and weepings and noise; we never did. We prefer simply sowing the seed and scattering the truth, and letting the Holy Spirit do His own work, which, as far as we have observed, is secret and silent.

We recollect attending the meeting of a stranger who called himself "a revivalist," and pleased enough he was to go round afterwards and talk to the "weepers.' If he had known as much of many of them as we did, we fear he would have doubted the genuineness of their tears. "By their fruits ye shall know them."

Another circumstance, in connexion with labours among soldiers, we shall not easily forget. It being proposed, at the close of the drill, to present each man with a copy of the New Testament, arrangements were made to carry this into effect. The men being ordered to form into a

square, and the Colonel having addressed them, a clergyman, a dear man of God, presented each man with the blessed Book. It was a beautiful afternoon, and a pleasing sight to see afterwards groups of the men lying full length on the grass, with one in their midst (possibly a little superior to the others), reading the word of God to them; then to see others tying up the bread of life in a coloured pocket handkerchief, together with the loaf of the bread that perisheth, which is given them ere they leave; and, slinging them over their shoulders, away they went. Who can tell the result? The Lord only. We were much struck to learn also that not a few who had thus received the word of God were Roman Catholics.

Then again, we remember with pleasure some Bible meetings we had in the barracks, chiefly attended by sergeants. These were blessed opportunities. We were much struck with the conversation of one among them who, though strongly tainted with Arminianism, yet had a decided gift for expounding the Scriptures and prayer. This man afterwards obtained his dismissal from the army to become a Wesleyan minister. He told us that he gained a deeper acquaintance with the Scriptures at those meetings at the barracks, than ever he did before. We could have wished he had been led deep enough to see the error of free-will and duty-faith.

Well, these little meetings are memorable in one's experience and leave a sweet savour upon the spirit. Never shall we forget, at one of them, a poor deaf man giving out the verse

"Sweet the thought, exceeding sweet,

We shall soon in glory meet;

Where, the Saviour still the theme,
We shall ever sing of Him."

It came from the heart, and went to the heart. And now, passing from sowing the seed of truth among soldiers, we might call to remembrance,

III. WORK AMONG SEAMEN.

To our mind there is not a more interesting class of men than "those who do business in great waters," especially when grace melts their hearts. Oh, it is a gracious sight to behold those hardy men who so constantly risk their lives, subdued and sobered under the mighty hand of God! We have seen big tears roll down the cheeks of many a sturdy British tar, at the mention of the precious name of Jesus.

Having, at one time, promised to use our influence to promote the advancement of a society that seeks the spiritual welfare of the mariner, it gave us the privilege of helping their missionaries at various sea-ports. The plan adopted is to go on board the vessels in the harbours, and, seeking an interview with the captain, gain his permission to hold a meeting on deck. In many cases it is refused, sometimes with courtesy, at other times with rudeness. When permitted, the Bethel flag is immediately hoisted, and it is known among the seamen that the meeting is to be held. They come, and, grouping themselves about the deck, listen attentively while prayer goes up for them to the great Lord of sea and land, followed by the preaching of the Gospel. There is one feature in their conduct particularly observable, namely, their heartiness. We were conducting a meeting of seamen, when there was present an old weathered-beaten tar who could not restrain himself from giving vent to the feelings of his heart. We had not long commenced our address when there came from

his lips an emphatic Amen! But further on we seemed to have uttered something that touched a tender chord in his heart; and the old fellow said loudly, "I know that's right, mon, for I've felt it." This was certainly a conclusive way of arguing, at all events, if not logical, yet perfectly satisfactory to one's peace of mind. Being at a prayer-meeting one evening in the following week, this same old seaman was present. We called upon a younger man to engage in prayer, who began by complaining of the cares of the world. Our hearty friend from his favourite corner cried out, "Never mind the woold, mon; leave all that." While, of course, such volubility in the house of God cannot be encouraged, we love a feeling religion, 'tis worth all the cold sentimentalism of the day.

There was a circumstance we met with in one of our visits to the seaside we shall not soon forget; it was a complete exemplification of the passage, "Cast thy bread upon the waters, and it shall be found after many days." Frequenters of watering-places know well that there are always beachmen who, owning well-trimmed boats, will give any one an hour or two's sail for a small sum. Taking advantage of this privilege one morning we found ourselves in a mixed company for a few hours' sail off Lowestoft. Among the group tossed up and down was a young woman near us with whom we felt drawn into conversation. We did not know why, but now believe it was of the Spirit of God. When off Pakefield church she observed, "There is a good man coming to preach there next Sunday, sir." We responded, "What do you know about good men?" She explained that the clergyman who was coming was the means of her conversion to God. He had visited Lowestoft two years before. She had attended his ministrations, which had been greatly blessed to her soul, and now she was looking forward to hearing the same voice again. Strange to say, we knew intimately the clergyman referred to, and, when we returned home, were enabled to communicate how a soul had been blessed through his labours; and, humanly speaking, but for that sail he would never have known anything about it. So it is, the preacher of the Gospel is a seed-bearer and bread-of-life-scatterer. He often knows not where the seed falls. We found afterwards that this young person was a daughter of one of the bathing-machine owners, and was known for her consistent walk and conversation.

There is a singular circumstance in connexion with the foregoing that we cannot withhold; we had written it, when the following met our eye in a daily paper: "Gallant Rescue.-A few days ago a young lady at Lowestoft ventured to try her swimming powers in a very rough sea; she was soon carried out of her depth, and could not return. Her screams were providentially heard. In a moment a slender girl threw off her jacket and hat, rushed fearlessly through the heavy waves, and swam to her rescue, bringing the young lady in, to the admiration of all beholders. This noble act was done by the daughter of Mr. Cook, the proprietor of the bathing machines in front of the Battery Green, and it is the second time that this brave girl has risked her own life to save that of another." Reader, that brave girl is the same we met with in our sail, and whose conversion to God we have alluded to.

We call to mind also another circumstance we met with in connexion with our seafaring friends. A Christian lady had said to us, "If you want a boat, you should have a certain man, who is not merely civil and respectful, but, I believe, a changed character." A day or two after we sought on the beach for the man in question. 66 Oh," said an

opponent, deridingly, "he's gone to the prayer-meeting; you won't find him here; better have this boat, sir." We replied, "No, thank you; we will wait till the prayer-meeting is over." Some time after this, we gathered from the man that he had given up his boat, because the Sabbath-day was their chief day, owing to the excursion-trains; and, when the Lord had touched his heart, he could no longer conscientiously desecrate His holy day. "It was," he said, "a severe struggle for me at first. All the beachmen pointed at me with scorn, but the Lord led me to a sailmaker, who has given me constant employment ever since, so that instead of getting an uncertain income, I get a certain rate every week, and my Sundays all to myself." We replied, "Ah, friend, it is the old tale: 'Them that honour me I will honour,' saith the Lord."

But we must conclude our remembrances of our friends who "go down to the sea in ships." It is gratifying to know that many of them are putting their trust in the Lord, and, through His grace, are holding on to Him as the anchor of their hope, amidst trying and adverse circumstances. Hold on, friends

"A few more storms shall beat

On this wild rocky shore;

And ye shall be where tempests cease,

And surges swell no more.'

And now, in conclusion, we would say, fellow-helper in the Lord's vineyard, work on. Much-very much-there is to depress one, yet sometimes we are cheered in such labours. The unmistakable warm-hearted shake of the hand, the "God bless you, sir," are sweet to receive; or, as a richlytaught Christian said to us after an evening service, "The Lord HAS been with you this evening, sir!" Such expressions send us home humbled yet rejoicing. The savour of a favoured Sabbath often rests upon our spirits, and Monday morning's emptiness brings to the cry, "Lord, help me, and give some fresh unfolding of Thy word, some fresh token for good. Grant, O our Father, that in all such labours the Gospel may come personally to us not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, that, knowing and feeling it for ourselves, we may testify experimentally of a precious Christ. The longer one lives the more one wants Him to be honoured, and the least we can do for one who has done so much for us is to spend our brief lives in telling of His preciousness to others. "Thou, Lord, hast given a banner to them that fear Thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth." G. C.

Ilford.

O that in the midst of our perplexities, sorrows, and trials, we could just lay hold of this truth, that there is perfection in the works of God; that not a link, not a pin, not the smallest part of the great machinery of God's providence could be spared. When you and I see something in God's dispensations which we think should not be there, and we ask, "Could not God spare that trial?" though the eye may be dimmed with tears, yet faith says No! not one link could be spared; not one pin could be taken out. There is such perfection in the work of God, that if I were to lay hold on it, I should only disturb it; if I were to touch it, I should only mar it. Oh, what tides of rich comfort would flow into the soul if we did but believe and live upon this precious truth.-W. H. Krause.

Pilgrim Papers.

HEART-WORKINGS.

(Continued from page 474.)

June 27.-Have been at my old work again. What is that? Fretting, because I cannot feel what I want to feel. Something tells me to think on my mercies. So I have mercies after all my felt darkness, &c. Is it not a mercy to hunger and thirst after Christ's righteousness, to have the Bible, to have a home, health, a hope of heaven, a desire to pray, a loathing of self, love to Jesus, the life of God in the soul, faith in the Saviour, union of spirit with His dear people, and innumerable other mercies of which He is the Father? I feel I cannot produce in my heart the least true gratitude, that I cannot cause any dew to rest on the read word, nor open it, nor understand it of myself. O the misery of man! O the mercy of God! I am feeling concern about to-morrow, and it is said, "Take no thought for the morrow." What, not if I have to go and preach? No; not in this case is it right to take over-anxious thought about it. Cannot the Lord give me a message in a moment? Cannot He send a live coal from off the altar? Cannot He fill my soul with holy matter to preach about, respecting the great doings of His dear Son? Oh, where is. my faith? Lord, help my unbelief. I believe that those who by divine teaching loathe themselves are loved of God; and yet how hard it is to realize this, at times when I am bemoaning myself. I have to be crossed and tossed; and these things go on at such a rate on some occasions, as to make me fear I shall be lost. But, no, no; my poor tossed soul will not be lost. "Who hath saved us and called us, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." The thing is done, and done for ever, "All accomplished"-finished. Whence, then, these "fears within" and "fightings without ?" Are they to work together for my evil? No, but for my good: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." What a bad memory I have! It is really all in fault, memory, heart, understanding, will, thought, feelings, head, hands, feet, tongue; "all as unclean things." The broken-hearted publican's prayer just comes very appropriately to my case: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." His mercy I hope in, and, blessed be the Lord, He has declared, "He takes pleasure in them that hope in His mercy."

July 10.-What a happy man I should be, if I always enjoyed the light of God's countenance, and walked in it! It is written: "They shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance." Do I belong to the characters included in the term "they ?" O Thou Holy Spirit of truth, cause me to feel assured of an interest in the everlasting favour of God which encompasses His dear people as a shield!

July 14.-Went just now to have a little prayer to the Lord in secret. Felt very dull and lifeless. While confessing to the Lord how earthly, sensual, and devilish I was, the thought came with power to my soul, "But I am not the devil's, I am the Lord's servant, chosen by the Lord, bought by the Saviour's precious blood, and quickened by the Holy Spirit." Oh, how this melted me, to think that one feeling so stupid be