All was calm in a moment-and soon was I rushing How I long'd to be wash'd in my Saviour's blood! I awoke 'twas a dream-but this truth is remaining, THE AUTHOR OF "VERSES BY A POOR MAN." TAHITI: THE ROMISH MISSION. (For the Christian Guardian.) 'Tis a goodly bark that hath spread her sails For a balmy land, where the fragrant gales They are priests of Christ, who would plough the wave, Where the waters are dim and cold; There are souls of men they would seek and save, Where the fanes are dread, as a tiger's den, Are they bound for shores that in fair Cathay Where they ploughed and sowed in the ages grey, But the brambles have choked the wheat? Where the fields are white, where the fields are void, In the hidden vales, on the mountain side, Give ye heed awhile, and a cry shall come On the winds of heaven, o'er the ocean foam, It is not to havens of fair Cathay, Where their brethren have gone before; It is not to thickets of briar and thorn That they haste with the branch of life; But amongst the flow'rs, and amongst the corn, In a pleasant isle, that hath long been sown, They have ploughed the seas, they have furled the sail, They have come unscathed by the sea-ward gale, There are strifes and sorrows, where all was peace, There are sounds of war mid the forest trees, And is this the news, that from midnight skies, When the shepherds lifted their wond'ring eyes, There are crosses, and reliques, and rosaries, Men have brought with toil o'er the stormy seas And are these the pearls of a countless price, That our Saviour brought from the upper skies, We have other lore, but our faith ye scorn; That men pluck not grapes from a spreading thorn If the sinner turn from his ancient sin, And the tongue that hath long been mute Is rejoicing now o'er the light within It is surely no evil fruit! Will ye name the tree that your hands have set That the blossom, which hath not unfolded yet, But We are weary watching; but He hath seen; There are fearful gleams; it may not be long, That have slumbered ages-unseen yet strong- Ye will rule the lands for a little space, And will yield no word of the precious faith We are feeble flesh, and we dare not say Ελενη. Review of Books. THE RELIGIOUS TRADESMAN. Religious Tract Society. CERTAINLY the value of books is not proportioned to their magnitude :— here is a little work, within the reach of all for the matter of a few pence, which is better calculated to elucidate, and exemplify, and enforce the genuine and healthful spirit of practical Christianity, than all the dusty folios on the student's shelves; yes, and to allure men into a life of Christian devotedness, by the evidence of its present luxury as well as future reward. We hope that all our readers will possess themselves of a copy of the Religious Tradesman. The narrative so strikingly illustrates all that we have said in our preceding article on "The Spirit of Benevolence," that without further comment, we shall proceed to give our readers copious extracts. Norman Smith was born in America, in 1800. "He commenced business with capital advanced by his father, which his success soon enabled him to repay. He did not expect to do much more than support his fa 32mo. pp. 96. London: The He mily; but at the close of the first year he found that the Lord had prospered him far beyond his expectations. This, instead of elating, had the effect of humbling him. thought that God was trying him by prosperity. At the close of the second year he found that he had been still more prosperous, and the effect on his mind was similar. The same was also the case at the end of the third year. This was a good sign: it showed that he had a tender conscience. He thought of God in his prosperity, and had an increasing sense of his own unworthiness and responsibility. "Though deeply engaged in business, he was constantly devising new ways of doing good. He felt a lively interest in sabbath schools. One season, he engaged with some others in establishing a sabbath school to teach adult foreigners to read. Another season, he walked from two to three miles on sabbath mornings to sustain a sabbath school in a destitute district. He often visited the poor-house, to converse with and instruct its inmates. "In the early part of 1829, he had great doubt whether it was not his duty to relinquish his business, in part at least, that he might have more time to do good. At that time he called to converse on this subject with the writer. He said, 'that he found his business engrossed too much of his time and attention: he wished to be in a situation more favourable for the cultivation of personal religion and doing good to others; and as he had acquired property enough for himself and family, he felt a desire to retire, that he might enjoy more quiet and leisure. In reply it was said to him-The Lord has plainly indicated how you are to glorify him in the world. He has greatly prospered you in your business; the channels of wealth are open, and their streams are flowing in upon you, and it would be wrong for you to obstruct or diminish them. Let them rather flow wider and deeper. Only resolve that you will pursue your business from a sense of duty, and use all that God may give you for his glory and the good of your fellow men; and your business, like reading the Bible or worship on the sabbath, will be to you a means of grace; instead of hindering, it will help you in the divine life, and greatly increase your means of usefulness. The effect of the conversation was not known at the time, but from an entry made in a journal which he began to keep about that period, it appears that the purpose was then formed to continue his business, and to conduct it on the principles recommended. "The Lord,' he remarks. "has made the path of duty plain before me. For a year I have been in much doubt as to the duty of continuing my present business. My mind has become settled; I have determined to continue it, and trust it is not in order to grow rich. I dare not be rich. I would not be rich. "They that will be rich fall into temptation," &c. I believe the Lord has led me and inclined me to pursue my business, not to increase in riches, but that I may have to give to him that needeth. It is, therefore, my purpose to engage in my business that I may serve God in it, and with the expectation of getting to give.' "From that time it was observed by all who knew him, that he made rapid progress in religion. There was a fervour and engagedness of spirit, a purity and elevation of aim, that could not be misunderstood or concealed. He rose toward heaven like the lark of the morning; his business was kept in its proper place, subordinate to the high purpose of serving God; and he found his path henceforward plain and unobstructed. 66 One subject seemed to engross his mind, that of doing good; and much good did God enable him to do. Besides many large donations made in aid of various objects previous to his death, he bequeathed at his decease nearly thirty thousand dollars (£6,250) to the various benevolent societies of the day. The amount designated for these societies in his will was thirteen thousand two hundred dollars (£2,750). But they were also made residuary legatees of property which he would have distributed while living, had it been practicable, without loss, to withdraw it from his business. To a brother, on his dying bed, he said—‘Do good with your substance while living, and as you have opportunity; otherwise, when you come to die you will be at a loss to know what distribution it is best you should make of it. trouble and care of such a distribution in a dying hour, I think, should be avoided by every Christian, by disposing of his property, while in life and health, as the Lord should prosper him, and present opportunities of doing good.' Sound advice. Strange that many Christians should hold with such tenacity their property till death approaches, and then, as if to snatch it from the hands of the pale messenger, give it in their last will to be distributed when they are gone." The “In personal and domestic expenditure he studied Christian economy. While he denied himself no reasonable comfort, it was his habit to consider what things he might dispense with, that he might have the more to give for charitable purposes. Modest and unassuming in his natural character, he thought it not consistent with the simplicity of the Gospel, for one professing godliness to follow the customs and fashions of the world. While others were enlarging their expenditure, he studied retrenchment in all things. As an example-the house in which he lived would not have been thought extravagant, considering his means; but he felt that his influence as a Christian would be impaired, if he should be suspected of imitating the extravagance into which multitudes have been allured by prosperity. This led him to the determination to sell his house, and for some time previous to his death he held it at the disposal of Providence, using it, while in his hands, for entertaining God's servants and for religious meetings. 'Though kind and amiable in his disposition, he was not naturally disposed to be liberal or free in the use of property. When he set out in the world, it was with the purpose to be rich. But grace opened his heart, and taught him that the only valuable use of money is to do good with it; a lesson which he emphatically exemplified in practice, and which made him an instrument of good, the extent of which can never be known till it is revealed at the last day." And yet amidst all, Mr. Smith's humility was most striking. The following is an extract from his diary : : "Nov. 11, 1830.-This is my birth-day; thirty years of my life are spent it is a solemn thought. It seems as if almost all of it had been worse than wasted. In looking back upon the sins of my childhood and youth, and since I became of age— how vast is their magnitude! Those that I can bring to mind should overwhelm me: but how few can I remember! Oh, what will be exhibited in the great day! Lord, wash them all away. May they not rise up in judgment to condemn me. My sins of omission, how great! How little Christian light have I exhibited! Oh! that I might begin to live to Christ. He says to his followersMAY-1845. 'Ye are the light of the world.' If all Christians were like me, how dark indeed would be this world! The Christian's light should be on a candlestick, to give light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine,' &c. Resolved, by the grace of God, to live wholly to Him.'" And a short time before his death he said, he feared that at the judgment-day it would be found he had not done enough for the poor. It was not enough that we should attend to the wants that come to our knowledge, we must look them out."" The end of this Christian man was peace, "he seemed to have caught a vision of the glories of heaven; saying, when his utterance had almos ceased-Home-home-I see the New Jerusalem-They praise Himthey praise Him.' "He clasped his hands, and while apparently engaged in prayer, breathed his last, and his soul ascended to the bosom of his Saviour and his God, on the morning of Friday, Oct. 25, 1833, at the age of 33." The writer proceeds to give some valuable observations on this memoir, from which we must make some brief extracts. And, first, he observes that "1. The great secret of a useful life is a humble devoted piety. It was this, kept alive and active by much prayer in private, and daily walking with God, that made Mr. Smith so fruitful in good devices, and studious of opportunities to be useful. This gave him tenderness of spirit, and a benevolent concern for the good of others; directed him in the use and distribution of his property; gave fervour and efficacy to his prayers; and enabled him to exert a decided Christian influence wherever he was, and in whatever he was engaged. Let this example be imitated by Christians, who, like him, are called to engage in the toils and business of life. It is not leisure, or talents, or learning, or elevated station, which a Christian so much needs to enable him to be useful, as a spirit of living, active piety. With such a spirit, a Christian who has one talent, can do more than he who has ten, without it. 2 F |