step closer, and was about to seize me by the throat, when I grasped him suddenly by the collar, and held him with an iron grip with one hand, and with the other, seizing a lantern at the bottom of the chaise, held it straight and close into his face; and a sad-looking young face it was, though it could scarcely have seen twenty summers. Well, sir, he seemed fairly aghast at my boldness; and the suddenness of my grip had made him drop a large bludgeon to the ground.

"Now look here,' I said, seeing him a good bit cowed, and keeping a still stronger grip of his collar; 'as I told you before, I am a missionary of the gospel, and you may depend upon it any one injuring me whilst employed in that service will bitterly repent of it. Besides this, my friend, when I travel I always carry about with me a double-edged sword, which cuts through everything that resists, and pierces bone and marrow.' Here I dropped the lantern, and put that hand to my side as if searching for the weapon.

"Don't draw it, sir, for God's sake, don't draw it!' he exclaimed, in a loud and terrified voice, and actually trembling in my grasp.

"I saw at once that he was no hardened villain, and but a novice at his trade, and that I had only to follow up boldly my advantage. I then asked him what could have possessed him to stop a poor traveller who had never injured him, and whether he had ever heard of the Bible?

"Yes,' said he, in a low, hesitating tone; 'my mother read it often to me when a child, and I could read it myself once; but I have not looked into one for many years. I got into trouble some time ago, and have not now a sixpence in the world, and grew savage and desperate, and that's why I stopped you just now.'

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'Well, friend,' I replied, drawing forth the Bible from my pocket and handing it to him, this is the double-edged sword I spoke to you about. I will make you a present of it, and this bundle of tracts into the bargain, if you will accept them; and as you tell me you have not a sixpence in the wide world, here is a shilling, to get you a supper and bed.'

"He at first refused to take the money, but I pressed it on him. 'And I tell you another thing,' I continued: 'if you or your comrade want to talk to me about the Bible, or any of your troubles, pay me a visit at I shall be glad to see you at my house, and give you a cup of tea, and will read and pray with you.'

"By the dim moonlight I could almost see the man's face soften and change as he grasped the Bible and tracts, and put the shilling in his pocket.

"Thankee, thankee,' he faltered, in a low, trembling voice. 'You can go on, sir, now; I can't touch you. Let go the pony's head,' he shouted to his companion.

"Soft-hearted fool!' was the growling reply; but it was too late for him to interfere. I gave the pony a sharp lash with the whip, and he started off at full gallop, upsetting the last speaker into the ditch. His loud curses at his

comrade were soon lost in the distance.

"You may be sure we were not sorry to get safe home that night; and as I related to my wife, over a blazing fire and a good cup of tea, all that had occurred, you can understand how grateful we felt to our Heavenly Father for His merciful and timely protection. My poor little boy, who was almost paralysed with fright through the whole scene, has still a vivid recollection of all its details, and is fond of narrating it to our friends.

"But it is time now, I see," he exclaimed, pulling out his watch, "to start for the evening service at the chapel. One more word, however, before we go. That man, sir, who stopped me on the high-road, turned out, not many years afterwards, an active preacher of the gospel amongst the poor in the East End of London. At a large meeting held there not long ago, he related himself the history of his conversion, and its connection with this roadside adventure; observing that my remarks on that occasion, accompanied by the gift of the Bible, had been, under God's blessing, the turning-point of his life."

On arriving at the chapel, we found it crowded not only

with hop-pickers, but by the better sort of farm-labourers and their families. The necessity of the new birth; Jesus the only hope of salvation; and the unutterable misery of the lost, formed the leading features of the preacher's sermon upon this occasion; doctrines proclaimed in strong language, and illustrated by scenes and similes drawn from ordinary life. He dwelt long and touchingly upon the horrors he had witnessed whilst attending the death-beds of several hardened sinners. A hymn and benediction closed the service. Most of the poor people seemed truly grateful to the Scripture-reader for his visit and religious instructions; and after much hand-shaking and mutual benedictions, and more "last words," they parted.

It was now getting late; but the night was bright and balmy, and by the light of a nearly full moon we returned to having spent a pleasant as well as instructive Sunday with the hop-pickers of Kent.

A

Joy in Heaven.

SHORT time ago a shipwreck took place on a dangerous part of the Norfolk coast. The vessel was driven by the storm on a sandbank some distance from the land, and had sunk therein, its mast only being seen above the roaring, surging seas. Το this mast were clinging six or eight men, making signals of distress, and thoroughly in earnest to be saved. Crowds were assembled on the beach; the life-boat was brought out, and brave fellows leaped into it at once to proceed to the wreck.

Owing to the violence of the waves, oars were broken, and the crew had to turn to the shore again, shouting for fresh oars, and again they went out, braving the danger that their fellow-men might be saved. All honour to our life-boat sailors! It was not easy to approach the poor fellows, who, by this time, were, from cold and exhaustion, barely able to

hold on to the slippery mast as it rolled with the sunken ship at the mercy of the waves.

But see, they get nearer and nearer in the life-boat until it is close to the ship; and by dint of skill and courage the poor men are extricated from the very jaws of death and brought safe to land. The crowd then, relieved from their excitement and anxious watching of the trying scene, shout forth their hearty cheers as the whole crew, with the rescued ones, at last arrive on the shore. Joy rings through the assembly; the half-drowned and exhausted mariners are taken care of, warmed, clothed, and fed by the kind friends. who receive them; while the crew, who by their exertions and courage have saved their fellow-sailors, modestly retire from the ovation that awaits them, going to their homes again, where the tear of thankfulness and the smile of joy welcome their return.

In the rescue of the mariners, and the joy that accompanied it, lies a most important lesson.

How is it with you? Are you causing joy to the saints and the angels in heaven by accepting at once and with gratitude the blessed salvation that Jesus has brought to you? There was no hesitation in these poor men's minds. The life-boat came; they were able at that moment to get into it; the next it might have been too late. "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation."

By faithful ministers of the gospel, and by all who speak in Jesus' name to their poor fellow-sinners, is the great truth preached and taught, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." 27 1 "Let him that is athirst come. And let him take the water of life freely.' Does the word "salvation," therefore, in all its power, strike your hearts? Is it a joyful sound and music in your ears? Oh! then seek it

while it is called to-day.

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The mission week of 1874 has been an important period to many souls—to some the savour of life unto life;" to others, we fear, "the savour of death unto death."

1 John vi. 37.

But all

2 Rev. xxii. 17.

weeks.

weeks are mission "I have a message to thee," sounds in each ear. Oh! that not any one who reads this paper may, when too late, see, as it were, the writing on the wall: "Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and found wanting;" but that, listening to the voice of love inviting the sinner to the Saviour, each unconverted one may at once grasp the proffered help!

The vessel of which we have been speaking, when it was approaching the coast known to be so dangerous in such weather, should have been better managed by its commander, who had probably mistaken his bearings, neglected his soundings, and had not properly observed the lights, which, like the beacons displayed by the Word of God, are all round the coast, showing the mariner the points of the land, the dangerous rocks, and the safe harbours where he may direct his bark. Is not this like the poor sinner going astray, neglecting warnings, led by false lights, or using true ones falsely, slighting all the instructions that by the faithful chart of God's Word would keep him from danger, and lead him into the haven of eternal peace?

But yet he is not forsaken. Jesus goes out to seek him. He exposed Himself to danger and death that He might save him, and, oh, blessed result! when the poor sinner, not yet engulfed in hell, takes advantage of the offer of salvation, and clings to the loving Saviour before it is too late.

It is the Holy Spirit that thus draws the heart to lay hold upon Christ; His gentle invitation leads the sinner to come into His arms.

But let not any person presume upon such offers of mercy. These shipwrecked sailors did not thus slight the assistance rendered to them. They made signals; they shouted for help, and it came in answer to their earnest cries and entreaties. Oh! then, call aloud, Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me! For surely now, this present moment, "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by." Come, for all things are now ready. Excuse not yourselves by going to