ings of another, as showing a mild and gentle bearing towards him. Why are we ever vexed at another person? We say, "It is because he has behaved ill." But if we are angry and violent towards him, then we behave ill. The world has its ways of resenting an injury, and of exercising revenge; but it must not be so with Christians. He must turn away another's wrath by the scriptural method-by a "soft answer" (Prov. xv. 1). "If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head " (Rom. xii. 20). Thou shalt conquer him, thou shalt subdue his anger, thou shalt melt him to compassion and love.

V.

A PRAYER OFFERED UP ON LAYING THE FIRST STONE OF A GAOL.

O MERCIFUL GOD, who hast made all things, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, nor wouldest the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live, pour down upon us the riches of thy grace, that we may turn to thee in holiness of heart and true repentance; that we may be partakers of thy favour in this world, and of everlasting glory in the world to come. Grant that we may ourselves be blessed with a knowledge of thy truth and a reverence for thy commands, and that we may be made the instruments in thy hands of guiding others into the way of righteousness. Grant thy blessing on the means which thou hast appointed, that transgressors may be turned from the error of their ways, and rescued from the awful consequences of sin unrepented of and unrestrained. We beg thy blessing on the work before us, and on all who are engaged in it. Thou hast appointed rulers and governors for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of them that do well.

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord that it may please thee to bless and keep the magistrates, giving them grace to execute justice, and to maintain truth.

When prayer shall be offered up in this place by thy minister, then "hear thou from heaven, thy dwellingplace; and when thou hearest, forgive." Give to sinners grace to repent, and to seek thy forgiving mercy in Christ

Jesus; and the gift of thy holy Spirit, to renew their souls to righteousness. Forgive the sins of those who, through thy chastisements, may have been taught to call upon thee. When the transgressor is here separated from evil communications and corrupt associates, grant that he may not be separated from thee; but that he may be brought, by thy converting grace, to commune with his own heart, and to meditate on thy holy ways. Grant that he may be visited with thy divine consolations, and that his soul may be turned to thee in reverence and godly fear. May divine justice work the purposes of divine mercy, that the hearts of the disobedient may be turned to the wisdom of the just, to the honour and praise of thy holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

SOUTH-SEA ISLANDERS.

THE Navigators' group of Islands contains 70,000 inhabitants. The late Mr. Williams said (in a private letter, received a few months ago), "We think about 50,000 are under Christian instruction, which has caused the entire cessation of their desolating and sanguinary wars.

"It is delightful to hear their expressions of gratitude for the gospel. A young chief said a few days ago, with tears in his eyes, 'Oh! what we owe the gospel! Now we can dry our beautiful mats in the sun, without fear of losing them by the plunderers; now we can plant, cook, and eat our food, without fear of the oppressor; now we can sleep calmly at night, without fearing the club of the murderer; and all this we owe to the gospel.' It is not more than six or seven years since the language of this group was an unwritten one, and now multitudes can read: the diligence of the people in learning is great, and the rapidity and apparent ease with which they learn surpasses any thing I have met with in nations before. Their eagerness for books is unbounded, and they look upon the arrival of a printer and press as a national benefit.

"Their eagerness to obtain Missionaries is very great; no sooner did we arrive than chiefs came from all parts of the islands, intreating they might be placed upon their districts, urging their claims in the most powerful manner.

They travel more than a hundred and two hundred miles. The disappointment and distress depicted on their countenance when no missionary is granted, is truly distressing; while those who succeed in obtaining one return to their homes rejoicing as those who have found great spoil. Family prayer is observed almost in every house of these islands: while at the dawn of day you are wakened by hearing the voice of praise and prayer. On a Missionary's wife entering a hut where some of her domestics resided, she found all was darkness. Friends,' said she, how is it you have no light?' The reply was, 'We have only a small quantity of oil, and sit in the dark that we may have some to read God's word at our family worship.' The gospel of St. Matthew is translated and printed, and several thousand copies are in the hands of this people."

A CONVERSATION BETWEEN TWO LABOURERS.

Thomas.-What's the reason, John, that you didn't come to the dance last Sunday night? I never saw such sport! Was there any thing amiss with you? or what was the reason you didn't come?

John. Why, Tom, to tell you the truth, I don't care for such sports.

Thomas.-Not care for such sports? Why, what's come over you? Sure you used to be the first of us all at the dances, and why shouldn't you care for them now? Are you ill, John, or what's the matter with you?

John.-No, Tom, I'm not ill nor in trouble; yet I don't care for the dances, nor such things now.

before.

Thomas.-For certain, John, there's something come over you; for you never was in this way John.-Well, Tom, leave me to myself. Thomas.-Leave you to yourself, John!

Not I,

indeed. Ain't you my own sister's husband? And sure it's a thing impossible I should leave you to yourself. I must, and I will, know what's the matter with you, and I'll never leave this spot till you tell me, that I won't.

John.-Well, Tom, as you wish to know, and as I have no reason to hide the truth, I'll tell you. You know little Billy. I sent him to school some time ago, to get

some learning, and when he knew how to read, he used to be reading a book that he brought home with him, by the fire-side, for us. They call it a Testament. Myself did not mind it much at first, for I thought it was much like any other book; but one night, as he was reading, something he said struck me to the heart.

Thomas.-What was that?

John.-I'll tell you, Tom, for I remember every word of it; and the reason I remember it so well is, that I made Billy read it over and over again for me. It was this: "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both body and soul in hell." (Matt. x. 28.) "Well," says I to myself, "for certain this is not what I've been doing. I believe," says I, "it is God only that can do this, and it is but reason that he should be feared." Just like a flash of lightning, twenty things came into my mind at once; and I was ready to sink when I thought of dying, and of the day of judgment, and of hell. "Oh," says I to myself, "what is it I've been doing all this while! Sure it isn't about such things as these that I have been thinking; I've been thinking about the world, and nothing else."

Thomas.-Well, John, sure a body must be thinking about the world. How will the potatoes grow if a man does not put them down? And it's folly to talk—if we haven't a bit to eat we must starve.

John. I know that, Tom; but for a while after I heard Billy reading what I told you of, I could think of nothing but of death and the world to come.

Thomas.-Well, I wonder at that, John.

I'm never

thinking of these things at all; 'tis about the fun that we shall have next Sunday evening I'm thinking.

John.-Aye, Tom, I don't doubt it. And I myself was so not long ago, as you know.

But it's a different

story with me now. However, let me go on.

Thomas.-Ay, do, John.

John.-Well, then, Tom, you must know, that I says to Billy, "Billy, you must read more of that book to me. I expect you'll take a turn at it every night, come what will. I wouldn't for all the world that I hadn't heard it."

So Billy was pleased to hear me say so much for the book, and as regular as the night came, he'd sit down by the fire to read; and as he was reading, I marked these words, "God so loved the world, that he gave his onlybegotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John iii. 16.) "Well," thought I, while he was reading, "If this be the case, there is hope for poor John." No doubt, Tom, I had often heard of Christ, the Son of God, before, but never before did I think of him with pleasure.

Thomas.-Why, what's the reason of that, John?

John.-I'll tell you, Tom. Never before did I see what I was before God; and to say the truth, when I got a sight of myself, I was doubting whether such a one as I could be saved at all.

Thomas.-Be saved at all! Why, what do you mean by that, John? Why shouldn't such a one as you be saved? You are as honest a man as any in the parish, that you are; and what would ail you? Not be saved at all! Why should you be saying such things? I wonder at you, John! You're as good a man as myself, every hair, and better too; and yet never a doubt came across my mind about being saved.

John.-Well, Tom, what I tell you is true, for all that; and if you knew but all, you've reason enough to doubt and tremble too. I looked back on what I was doing since I could remember; and what did I see? O, Tom, I saw that I was without God all my days, and a wicked sinner; and I was afraid when I thought of judgment to come; and sometimes I was half wishing I had never been born.

Thomas.-Why, John, I'm afraid you're a little out of your mind.

John.-No, Tom, I never was more sober in all my days. It was before this I was mad: when I was living as if there was no God, and as if I had no soul to be lost. But God in mercy opened my eyes, and showed me a deep pit before me, and saved me from falling into it. I was telling you what passed in my mind, when I found by the Testament that I was a sinner before God. It was by my knowing more of that book, that I was com