A MAN-OF-WAR'S MAN'S IDEA OF FAITH.

THERE are many principles which can be much more easily illustrated than defined. Among these is Faith. Faith is an assent of the understanding to certain statements; it is believing; it is confidence. But what is faith in Christ?-saving faith? Any definition of this, in order to present the whole of its character, must necessarily involve circumlocution, and even then be liable to misconception. To be fully understood, it should be a matter of experience. One of the best illustrations of it, it has ever been my pleasure to hear, is the following:

In a meeting which I attended one evening, an old man arose, who locked as though he had seen no small share of rough service in his day, and in a foreign accent said he would explain what he understood faith in Christ to be. My brethren," he continued, “I once served in the American navy under Captain Porter. He was a severe officer, and as I thought, illtreated his men. So, upon a favourable opportunity, I, with several others, ran away. I deserted the navy, and concealed myself in Boston and vicinity for two years. During this time,

to all deserters. They publicly proclaimed, that if those who had deserted from the navy would return, they would be received, and nothing would be said concerning their desertion. That is, if they would go and deliver themselves up to the Government, they would be pardoned. I saw those proposals, and believing them to be offered in good faith, I went down to the navy-office, confessed that I was a deserter, and offered to re-enlist. I was at once received, and nothing was ever said to me about my desertion.

Now, my hearers, we have, all of us, deserted God; we have abandoned his service; justice is after us; a price is set upon our souls. But terms of forgiveness are offered us. If we will return, throw ourselves upon the mercy of God, and enter his service, he will forgive us on account of what Christ has done for us. We must voluntarily deliver ourselves up to the Government, and then we shall be pardoned."

THAT ONE WORD.

"I NEVER can forget that word which was once whispered to me in an inquiry meeting," said a pious man once to a friend. "What word was it?" "It was the word ETERNITY. A young Christian friend, who was yearning for my salvation, came up tɔ me as I sat in my pew, and simply whispered

'Eternity, in my ear, with great solemnity and tenderness, and then left me. That word made me think, and I found no peace till I came to the cross."

The late Rev. Mr. M'Cheyne, of Dundee, was once riding by a quarry, and stopped to look in at the engine-house. The fireman had just opened the door to feed the furnace with fresh fuel; when M'Cheyne, pointing to the bright hot flame, said mildly to the man, "Does that fire remind you of anything?" The man could not get rid of the solemn question. To him it was an effectual arrow of conviction. It led him to the house of God, and will lead him, we trust, to heaven.

A single remark of the Rev. Charles Simeon on the blessings which had resulted from the labours of Dr. Carey, in India, first arrested the attention of Henry Martyn to the cause of missions. His mind began to stir under the new thought, and a perusal of the life of Brainard fixed him in his resolution to give himself to the dying heathen.

It it said that Harlan Page once went through his Sabbath-school to get the spiritual census of the school. Coming to one of the teachers he said, "Shall I put you down as having a hope in Christ?" The teacher replied, "No." " Then," said he, very tenderly, "I will put you down as having no hope." He closed his little book and left him. That was enough. God gave that young man's soul no rest till he found a hope beneath the cross.

A member of my church, not long since, overtook a lady on her way to the prayer meeting. She asked the young woman if she never thought of her own salvation? The lady thus addressed, replied, that during all her

life, she had never had one word spoken to her before about the salvation of her soul! Within a month of that time she became a devoted member of the flock of Christ.

Fellow disciple! have you never yet spoken one word to an impenitent friend about the most momentous of all questions? Then I fear you will find no one in heaven that you were the means, under God, of sending there. Though you may reach the "many mansions," I fear your crown will glitter with no splendours: It will be a starless crown.

DOING NOTHING. "He made me out a sinner for doing nothing!" This remark fell from the lips of one who was under conviction of sin, and of whom we asked the question, "How were you awakened ?" He had heard a sermon from the words, "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion!" It was a new thought to the poor man, who had been comforting himself with the plea that he had done nothing very bad. But now he saw that his greatest sin was the very thing in which he had been comforting himself—doing nothing!

We are reminded of this incident by meeting in an old religious magazine with the following ingenious interrogations on the words, "Curse ye Meroz." The writer says,

By whose authority ?—The angel of the Lord's.

What has Meroz done?-Nothing. Why then is Meroz to be cursed?— Because they did nothing.

What ought Mercz to have done ?—— Come to the help of the Lord.

Could not the Lord do without Meroz?-The Lord did do without Mercz.

head was offered for the apprehension of deserters. I, however, successfully escaped detection. At the end of two years, the war of 1812 broke out with England. The Government was greatly in want of men for the navy. Accord

A MAN-OF-WAR'S MAN'S IDEA OF FAITH.

THERE are many principles which can be much more easily illustrated than defined. Among these is Faith. Faith is an assent of the understanding to certain statements; it is believing; it is confidence. But what is faith in Christ?-saving faith? Any defini tion of this, in order to present the whole of its character, must necessarily involve circumlocution, and even then be liable to misconception. To be fully understood, it should be a matter of experience. One of the best illustrations of it, it has ever been my pleasure to hear, is the following:

In a meeting which I attended one evening, an old man arose, who locked as though he had seen no small share of rough service in his day, and in a foreign accent said he would explain what he understood faith in Christ to be. My brethren," he continued, "I once served in the American navy under Captain Porter. He was a severe officer, and as I thought, illtreated his men. So, upon a favourable opportunity, I, with several others, ran away. I deserted the navy, and concealed myself in Boston and vicinity for two years. During this time,

to all deserters. They publicly proclaimed, that if those who had deserted from the navy would return, they would be received, and nothing would be said concerning their desertion. That is, if they would go and deliver themselves up to the Government, they would be pardoned. I saw those proposals, and believing them to be offered in good faith, I went down to the navy-office, confessed that I was a deserter, and offered to re-enlist. I was at once received, and nothing was ever said to me about my desertion.

Now, my hearers, we have, all of us, deserted God; we have abandoned his service; justice is after us; a price is set upon our souls. But terms of forgiveness are offered us. If we will return, throw ourselves upon the mercy of God, and enter his service, he will forgive us on account of what Christ has done for us. We must voluntarily deliver ourselves up to the Government, and then we shall be pardoned."

THAT ONE WORD.

"I NEVER can forget that word which was once whispered to me in an inquiry meeting," said a pious man once to a friend. "What word was it?" "It was the word ETERNITY. A young Christian friend, who was yearning for my salvation, came up to me as I sat in my pew, and simply whispered

The late Rev. Mr. M'Cheyne, of Dundee, was once riding by a quarry, and stopped to look in at the engine-house. The fireman had just opened the door to feed the furnace with fresh fuel; when M'Cheyne, pointing to the bright hot flame, said mildly to the man, "Does that fire remind you of anything?" The man could not get rid of the solemn question. To him it was an effectual arrow of conviction. It led him to the house of God, and will lead him, we trust, to heaven.

A single remark of the Rev. Charles Simeon on the blessings which had resulted from the labours of Dr. Carey, in India, first arrested the attention of Henry Martyn to the cause of missions. His mind began to stir under the new thought, and a perusal of the life of Brainard fixed him in his resolution to give himself to the dying heathen.

It it said that Harlan Page once went through his Sabbath-school to get the spiritual census of the school. Coming to one of the teachers he said, "Shall I put you down as having a hope in Christ?" The teacher replied, "No." " Then," said he, very tenderly, "I will put you down as having no hope." He closed his little book and left him. That was enough. God gave that young man's soul no rest till he found a hope beneath the cross.

A member of my church, not long since, overtook a lady on her way to the prayer meeting. She asked the young woman if she never thought of her own salvation? The lady thus addressed, replied, that during all her

life, she had never had one word spoken to her before about the salvation of her soul! Within a month of that time she became a devoted member of the flock of Christ.

Fellow disciple! have you never yet spoken one word to an impenitent friend about the most momentous of all questions? Then I fear you will find no one in heaven that you were the means, under God, of sending there. Though you may reach the "many mansions," I fear your crown will glitter with no splendours: It will be a starless crown.

DOING NOTHING. "HE made me cut a sinner for doing nothing!" This remark fell from the lips of one who was under conviction of sin, and of whom we asked the question, "How were you awakened ?" He had heard a sermon from the words, "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion!" It was a new thought to the poor man, who had been comforting himself with the plea that he had done nothing very bad. But now he saw that his greatest sin was the very thing in which he had been comforting himself—doing nothing!

We are reminded of this incident by meeting in an old religious magazine with the following ingenious interrogations on the words, "Curse ye Meroz." The writer says,

By whose authority ?—The angel of the Lord's.

What has Meroz done?-Nothing. Why then is Meroz to be cursed?— Because they did nothing.

What ought Mercz to have done?— Come to the help of the Lord.

Could not the Lord do without Meroz?-The Lord did do without Mercoz.