Remarkable Cure.

I ONCE laboured under a very grievous disease, which nearly proved fatal, and have since heard that it is exceedingly prevalent all over the globe. Whilst in this deplorable condition, a circumstance occurred which has been the greatest blessing of my life. I unexpectedly became acquainted with a Physician whose skill is unparalleled. He pitied my misery, gave me a pressing invitation to put myself under his care, and graciously promised that he would cure me without price. Encouraged by his peculiar kindness, I accepted his offer, I ventured on his promise; and oh! could I unfold to you what he has done for me, it would fill you with astonishment. His favours have exceeded all my hopes, and surpass all description. To him I owe my all. Indeed, his goodness made such an impression on my mind, that many years ago I felt a strong desire to give publicity to his wonderful character, and for this purpose I travelled over half the globe.

I will tell you first of the disease under which I groaned. Every language gives it an appropriate title. The English name for it is, Sin. In some cases this insidious disease, like a consumption, operates secretly, but it is not the less fatal on that account. O no! Should any of the friends of the diseased have the courage and fidelity to mention it to them, which is seldom the case, they can hardly be prevailed upon to believe it. They argue against it, or call it by another name, or become angry, and affirm "It is not true; it is not true: it is exaggeration." Professional men are of

opinion, that this deception forms one of its most alarming symptoms. It is rarely that such a one recovers,--yea, some of those who took advice in time, and are now quite well, have told us, that until some unexpected and overwhelming event made them feel their situation, they had no idea it was so very dangerous. But you know there is no arguing against pain. When a man is in an agony, he sends for a physician; and when men feel that they are sinners, they argue against it no longer. No, no! and they also who are anxious for a Physician, eagerly cry, "what must I do to be saved?" There are also cases in which disease rages horribly. It breaks out in the most fearful manner. Multitudes shudder at the sight, but seem not to be alarmed at the cause. Very great efforts are made to stop its progress, yet still it rages. Every city in Europe groans because of it. Am I mistaken? Let their prison walls speak. Let their penitentiaries bear witness. But evidence is not needed. It walks abroad at noon day. In most cases there is reason to fear the malady proves fatal, for the wages of sin is death; and if men continue in the service of sin, what can they expect but the wages?

Now, let me tell you of the Physician He is emphatically called the Son of Godthe Lord Jesus Christ-the Friend of sinners-the Saviour of the world. He is everywhere present-may be applied to at any hour. He hears every call, and his hand is ready to help every applicant. His remedy is infallible,-heaven's royal seal is stamped upon it. Hear his own account of himself: "I am come that ye might have

life; for God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but have everlasting life. The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost. All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me, and whosoever cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." Hence, it may be well to inquire, how does it come to pass that that disease proves so fatal, when so able a physician is at hand? Alas! this fatality arises from the obstinacy of the diseased. "The carnal mind is enmity against God." It takes a power that created the world, to make a poor dying sinner submit to God's method of healing. Ah! it is hard work cordially to embrace the saying, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved;" and for this reason the Son of God is despised and rejected of men, and

Mary and Martha.

I WILL tell you a story that I have heard of Martha and Mary; the name of the book I have forgot; I mean of the book in which I found the relation; but the thing was thus:

Martha, said my author, was a very holy woman-much like Lazarus, her brother; but Mary was a loose unprincipled creature. Martha did seldom miss good sermons and good lectures, when she could come at them in Jerusalem, but Mary frequented the houses of sports and the company of the vilest men: and though Martha had often desired that her sister would go with her to hear her preachers, yea, had often entreated her with tears to do it, yet she could never prevail; for still Mary would make her excuse, or reject her with disdain for her zeal and preciseness in religion.

After Martha had waited long, tried many ways to bring her sister to good, and all proved ineffectual, at last she comes upon her thus:—

"Sister," quoth she, "I pray thee go with me to the temple to-day, to hear one preach a sermon.' "What kind of a preacher is he?" said she. Martha replied, "It is one Jesus of Nazareth; he is the noblest man you ever saw with your eyes. Oh! he shines in excellence, and is a most persuasive preacher.'

Now what does Mary, after a little pause, but go up to her chamber, and decks up herself as fine as her fingers could make her. This done, away she goes, not with

her sister Martha, but as much unobserved as she could to the sermon, or rather to see the preacher.

The hour and preacher being come, and she having observed where about the preacher would stand, goes and sets herself so in the temple that she might be sure to have the full view of this excellent person. So he comes in, and she looks, and the first glimpse of his appearance pleased her. Well, Jesus addresseth himself to his sermon, and she looks earnestly on him.

Now, at that time, said my author, Jesus preached about the lost sheep, the lost groat, and the prodigal child. And when he came to shew what care the shepherd took for one lost sheep, and how the woman swept to find her piece which she lost, and what joy there was at the finding, she began to be taken by the ears, and forgot what she came about, musing what the preacher would make of it. But, when he came to the application, and showed, that by the lost sheep was meant a great sinner; by the shepherd's care was meant God's love for great sinners; and that by the joy of the neighbors was showed what joy there was among the angels of heaven over one great sinner that repenteth, she began to be taken by the heart. And as he spoke these last words, she thought he pitched his innocent eyes just upon her, and looked as if he spoke what was now said to her. Wherefore her heart began to tremble, being shaken with affection and fear, then her eyes run down with tears apace; wherefore she was forced to hide her face

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Sermon being done, up she gets, and away she goes, and withal inquired where this Jesus, the preacher, dined that day? and one told her at the house of Simon the Pharisee. So away goes she, first to her chamber, and there strips herself of her gaudy attire; then falls upon her knees to ask God's forgiveness of all her wicked life. This done, in a humble dress she goes to Simon's house, where she finds Jesus sat at dinner. So she gets behind him and weeps, and drops her tears upon his feet like rain, and washes them, and wipes them with the hair of her head. She also kissed his feet with her lips, and anointed them with ointment. When Simon, the Pharisee,

perceived what the woman did, and being ignorant of what it was to be forgiven much, (for he never was forgiven more than fifty pence), he began to think within himself, that he had been mistaken about Jesus Christ, because he suffered such a sinner as this woman was, to touch him. Surely, quoth he, this man, if he were a prophet, would not let this woman come near him, for she is a great sinner, (so ignorant are all self-righteous men of the way of Christ with sinners). But lest Mary should be discouraged with some clownish carriage of this Pharisee, and so desert her good beginnings, and her new steps, which she now had begun to take towards eternal life, Jesus began thus with Simon: Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

And

There was, saith Jesus, a certain creditor and two debtors; the one owed him five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose he to whom he forgave most. he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house; thou gavest me no water for my feet; but she has washed my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss, but this woman since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint, but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore, I say unto her, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but to whom little is forgiven the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven," Luke vii. 36-50.

overcome an Enemy.

A VISITOR went into a Sabbath-school at

Boston, where he saw a boy and girl on one seat, who were brother and sister. In his sister. The little girl was provoked, and a moment of passion, the little boy struck raised her hand to return the blow. Her teacher caught her eye, and said, "Stop, brother, than strike him." The look and my dear, you had much better kiss your the word reached her heart; her hands dropped, she threw her arms round his he could have stood against a blow, but he neck and kissed him. The boy was moved; could not withstand a sister's kiss. He compared the provocation he had given her with the return she had made, and the tears rolled down his cheeks. This affected the sister, and with her little handkerchief she kindness made him cry more, and he was wiped away his tears. The sight of this told the children always to return a kiss completely subdued. for a blow, and they would never get any more blows. If men and women, families and communities, and nations would act on this principle,

The teacher then

"All would be friends without a foe,
And form a paradise below."

But how much greater love has our heavenly father showed by sending his Son to "make peace by the blood of his cross." he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, Oh, children, remember "God is love, and and God in him."

Liberality of the Queen.

WESTALL, the artist, was preceptor to the Queen. "On his death-bed, he wrote to the Princess, (she had not then ascended the throne), and told her that he had a blind sister dependant upon him for support-that he was dying, and had no means with which to provide for her, and solicted Her Majesty's protection. The Queen's answer was immediate, containing words of sympathy and sincere regret, and saying that she had settled henceforth on his bereaved sister £100 a year for life. Let the deed be recorded in every English heart.”—British and Foreign Review.

This fact speaks volumes. Learn, chil dren, according to your ability, "to do good, and to communicate, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." You admire