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Mrs. M. But why not the Exarchate of Ravenna? It was slain by the sword of the Lombards; and it continued only a short space.

Ed. But the Beast itself—that is, the Roman Empire-did not die when the Exarchate became extinct; nor can this Exarchate be deemed a successor to the Roman Imperial Head, which did not fall until the year 1806.

Aug. It seems absurd to refer it to the Western Imperial Line from Honorius to Augustulus, because, although it was short-lived, and Odoacer slew it with a sword, it was actually only the Western portion of the Roman Emperorship-which lasted till 1806-and its fall in 476 did not cause the political death of the Empire.

Mrs. M. You infer, then, that when the head dies the beast also dies?

Aug. Most assuredly. I think if my head were to die, I should be altogether dead.

Old L. But will Louis Napoleon invade this country? This pamphlet seems to think he will not.

Ed. Present probabilities, political and prophetic, are against such invasion. The French army may wish for war, but the French people do not. Napoleon could gain no real advantage by attacking us. The vainglorious boast that his soldiers had actually succeeded in effecting a landing on some unguarded part of our sea-girt shore, would be a poor equivalent for the injuries to the social welfare and commercial progress of the French nation, which war with England would certainly inflict. But if the Emperor found his throne tottering, the nation growing tired of his rule, and his army mutinous and unmanageable, he might then, as a desperate attempt to create a diversion in his favour, proclaim war with this country. He might consider that he was driven to do what he did not wish to do, and what, if it did not succeed, would be fatal to himself. It would be the last card of a baffled and reckless gamester!

Mrs. M. May God in his mercy grant that this card may never be played!

Ed. We must all echo that prayer. War is too terrible a thing to regard with any other feelings than those of horror and painful trembling. Men may speak of its glories; yet the greatest captain of our age never rejoiced over a battle. He looked upon it as a stern and dreadful necessity; and did not contemplate it as a mere field for winning laurels of martial fame.

Emm. Do you think the PEACE SOCIETY will be successful? Ed. It is energetic and persevering enough to deserve to be; but if " wars and fightings come even of our lusts," to use the

language of the Apostle James, there can be little hope while the "lusts" continue, that their offspring will cease to exist. There is however growing up a strong disinclination to wars of mere glory; most people regard war as an enormous evil; yet as one which must sometimes be allowed a place in the world.

Mrs. M. How pleasant it is to turn from the contemplation of earthly warfare to the spiritual aggressions and peaceful triumphs of our noble BIBLE SOCIETY.

Ed. Were you at its Jubilee Meeting?

Mrs. M. I was; and so were my children. We were delighted to see the spacious hall so densely packed with eager listeners. I never remember a meeting at Exeter Hall, where the people kept up their attention so unweariedly. Generally, many persons go away soon after the commencement of a meeting; but on this occasion, they seemed determined to stay it out. It was really a Jubilee Meeting, solid-grateful-fervent.

Ed. What a contrast was such a meeting with the first assembly of the friends of the Society, at the London Tavern. On the 7th of March, 1804, three hundred persons were gathered to commence a Bible Society. How striking has been the increase in number, resources, and success. More than twenty-five millions of Bibles have been issued, in at least 148 languages.

Mrs. M. Yet, Dr. Steinkopff asserts that the present destitution of the Scriptures is as great as it ever was!

Ed. So that Christian zeal must augment its ardour, and the Jubilee must be the season when we feel, as the good Bishop of Winchester said, not that our debts are discharged, but are doubled.

Emm. There were one or two facts mentioned which very much pleased me.

Ed. Why?

Emm. Because they shewed how early the Bible Society enlisted the young amongst its friends.

Ed. Can you relate these facts ?

Emm. I think I can. The first Bible Association ever formed was established at Sheffield, by a young lady about fifteen years of age, who had not even heard of the "Bible Society." The name of this young lady was Catherine Elliott, and the beginning of this first "Juvenile Bible Association" was very small: it was, indeed, "the least of all seeds." This young lady observing, in her kind visits to the poor, a deplorable want of the Holy Scriptures, determined to do what she could towards supplying this want. She mentioned to her younger brother her intention of contributing something every week towards purchasing a Testament; for at this time she had no idea of being able to give away a Bible. She began with a

penny, and he with a halfpenny. They procured a tin box, in which they kept their savings, until at length they amounted to sixteenpence, with which they bought a Testament. This young lady next drew up a short appeal, which she sent to her schoolfellows. The proposal was received and entered upon with ardour, and the Testaments were given away as fast as they could be procured. The number of subscribers gradually increased, and a degree of system was adopted. The committee consisted of four subscribers, who met every fortnight. The total number of Bibles and Testaments distributed by this little Society in sixteen years exceeded two thousand five hundred. Only suppose each copy to have been read by five persons, then more than TWELVE THOUSAND have been enabled, by means of a young girl, to become acquainted with the all-important truths of "the glorious Gospel of the blessed God!"

Ed. Very interesting. What an encouragement to the

young.

Emm. Then, in 1812, the first "Juvenile Association," on a regular and systematic plan was established, in connection with the Southwark Auxiliary Bible Society, under the title of "Surrey Chapel Bible Association," and consisting of the children and teachers of the SUNDAY SCHOOLS under the superintendence of the "Southwark Sunday School Society." This extraordinary Association continues in full activity, and I was surprised when I heard, that, during thirty-nine years, it has distributed more than THIRTY-NINE THOUSAND Bibles and Testaments, and paid to the Southwark Auxiliary Society more than SIX THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS. According to the calculation already made, nearly two hundred thousand persons may thus have been made acquainted with the Way of salvation!

Ed. You were quite right in calling it an extraordinary

association.

Emm. A Juvenile Bible Association was formed in a ladies' boarding school at Broughton, near Manchester, in April 1851. It consists of only twelve collectors. The total amount collected within only eighteen months, has been £42 18s. 10d. Of this sum nearly one half was derived from the sale of needle-work, &c. This interesting little Association does not distribute any Bibles, so that the whole amount collected is sent to help the Parent Society to supply the world.

Mrs. M. Do you think, Emmeline, you could repeat the anecdote about the little girl nine years old?

Emm. It was as follows:-About twenty years ago, the committee of the Bible Society, at the suggestion of the Rev. Hugh Stowell, unanimously resolved to present to every eman

cipated negro, capable of reading, a New Testament of a suitable size. A special fund was raised for this purpose, and public meetings were held in many parts of England and Wales in furtherance of this design. On the morning after one of these Meetings, at a town where Dr. Steinkopff was the guest of a friend, one of his little daughters, accompanied by two or three of her younger sisters, presented him with a sealed packet, requesting it might not be opened until he should have left the house, saying, "We hope it may be accepted as a small contribution from four little girls, to assist in the supply of the Holy Scriptures to the poor negro children in the West Indies." Her parents had left the room, but there was a gentleman present who had breakfast with them-an intimate friend of the family-who listened to the words of the dear child with marked interest. That gentleman was Dr. Steinkopff's only companion in a long journey during the rest of the day, and, shortly after taking seats in the coach, the seal of the little packet was broken, and to his surprise, the Doctor found it contained nearly five pounds. On his alluding to the scene they had just witnessed, his companion's eyes filled with tears as he said, "Yes, sir, she is indeed an interesting child; but she is much more, for she is a pious Christian." And after a pause, he said, with evidently deep feeling, "To that child, sir, I am indebted for all my happiness upon earth, and all my hopes for eternity." He added, that he had been connected in business with her excellent father, but, unlike him, was not a believer in the truths of the Bible, and had made no secret of his unbelief. On one occasion, this dear child, then only nine years old, was present when her father was endeavouring, but in vain, to convince this gentleman of his fatal error. When the painful conversation had ended, and her father had left the room, she asked this gentleman to take a walk with her in the garden; and when no one could overhear them, she inquired whether she might ask him a question. "Certainly," he replied; "any question you please." Then," said she, "have you ever read the New Testament through with a desire to understand it ?" "No," he answered, "I never have." "I thought so," said she; "for I am sure you would not have spoken of it to my father as you did just now, if you had." And in an earnest manner she added, "Oh! do read it, and do wish to understand it." His concluding words were, "C My dear sir, that child's entreaties and tears did far more than any argument had ever done: they led me to the Bible, and the Bible led me to my Saviour."

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Ed. Who would dare venture to say, after interesting story, I am too young to be useful? tin and Leontine, children as you are, may be of

listening to this Even you, Marsome use either

in sending the Bible to the heathen abroad, or commending its precious truths to the people at home.

Mrs. M. There seems urgent need for Bible efforts in our own country, and especially in our metropolis.

Ed. Ah, I perceive you have been reading VANDERKISTE'S NARRATIVE OF HIS SIX YEARS AMONG THE DENS OF LONDON.*

Mrs. M. I have and am appalled with his recital. Surely London is stricken with a moral plague!

Ed. The only medicine for which is the Gospel.

Mrs. M. Do not you think that education and sanitary improvements would remove much of the vice and crime?

Ed. In conjunction with evangelical teaching, I am sure they would have a strong power. In themselves I should regard their influence as little better than the outward washing of the cup and platter. After all, the only efficient remedy is the Gospel of a Saviour's love.

Mrs. M. And among the best administrators of this spiritual remedy the City Missionaries must take a high standing.

Ed. Assuredly. They are a noble band of humble, hardworking, catholic-spirited men; and God has abundantly blessed their labours.

Mrs. M. One striking fact, amidst all the horrors of Mr. Vanderkiste's book, is so encouraging to Christian parents, that I am sure you will pardon me if I read the few lines which narrate it. The author says, "During all the most extensive missionary experience I have had, with the opportunity of studying human nature to as large an extent perhaps in one day, as persons not set apart to metropolitan missionary work have perhaps in half the year, and having directed my attention to diligent examination with a view to the elucidation of the promise, Train up a child, &c.,' the result I have found to be, that I have never discovered a single case of juvenile delinquency where the child had been the subject, from infancy, of the double teaching by precept and example in the ways of Christ, at the hands of parents both of whom were evidently converted to God. I do not strain the promise so far as to believe such is never the case; I simply state the result of systematic inquiry and studies of human nature pursued most extensively for years, at no small pains."

6

Ed. So far from having to pardon you for reading this extract, I ought to thank you for bringing it under my notice. The testimony of one who has laboured long and observantly

* London: Nisbet and Co.

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