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when in motion-for the stationary crowds of Saturday were oftenfar from good-tempered, excessively quarrelsome and unaccommodat ing, it is not possible to form a very favourable judgment of vast numbers of the countenances that are upturned towards the burning splendours. Intermingled with the crowd you see, no doubt, an immense array of countenances, fixed, sedate, and moral; numbers of quiet, earnest, business-like faces, which may well belong to persons who are doing the work of God in the various stations of English life, devoid of enthusiasm, but devoted to prin ciple; plodding and fagging their way through the world, like people who understand the object of life and the method of accomplishing it. But certainly the result of several hours steady observation of this moving multitude was not to produce the belief that such were the majority of the passengers. On the contrary, at every moment the surprise and the pain increased with the persuasion that the large majority of these upturned visages expressed the nature of spirits who were alienated from the lovely, and holy, and pure. Of these there were the three descending types of the earthly, the sensual, and the devilish: and it was the immense numbers of all the three that filled the heart with sadness as you looked upon them. It was rare to find a face unshadowed and unworn by care, or an eye bright with a natural gladness. The very festivity of the crowd seemed like a momentary convulsive reaction from habitual gloom numbers marched along, "taking their pleasures sorrowfully," as Froissart says the English did 400 years ago. But the chief thing to remember was the expression of the "workers of iniquity." It was awful to notice how many of these bore their sin, like Sodom, on their battered visages, in marks of dirt, discontent, angry passion, coarse and desperate lewdness, and stolid insensibility to anything divine. It seemed as if drink, hard work, and sensuality, had set their black mark upon tens of thousands as they passed along, so many were the countenances, young and old, without the faintest impression of the seal of God upon their foreheads, so many from whose linea ments the last remainders of beauty and grace seemed to have vanished utterly away. As night advanced, the more respectable portion of the sightseers withdrew to their homes. The roads were not less crowded, but the language began to correspond to the countenances. Blasphemy, obscenity, and boisterous rollicking outbreaks of demoniac merriment, shook the streets, and the dying lights shone grimly upon a multitude that would have caused an ancient Prophet to " sigh with the breaking of his loins," and to "weep day and night," till his eyes were "a fountain of tears." It seemed as if the wedding had been furnished with guests more "bad" than "good,"-as if the overwhelming majority had not on the wedding-garment. It brought before you all you have read of

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the statistics of the worshippers of England, of the mighty multitude -compared with which church-goers are but as a flock of kidswho never darken the doors of the sanctuary, or rise for an instant into the realms of spiritual life. Here were all those crowds, from town and country, whom neither ministers nor missionaries can reach, whom neither Bibles nor tracts ever persuade to think of their latter end-the whole horde of riotous livers, who are born in darkness, live in darkness, and die in darkness; who, if they have any religion, as may be some of them have, have it to themselves before God, and never reveal it in the Christian forms.

Yet, perhaps, there is a soft place in every one of their hearts, if we but knew where to find it. It is said that all the thieves in London agreed together that on the day of the Princess Alexandra's entry and on the night of the Prince's wedding, they would not pursue their vocation amidst the assembled crowds, but, in honour of the Queen and her Children, and in deference to the national enthusiasm, would refrain from molesting the public enjoyment by their vexatious depredations. It is certain that the police-courts have had before them scarcely any business arising out of these vast assemblages. If this be the cause, it is one of the most curious, and one of the most touching, compliments ever paid to a sovereign or a nation. The whole thievish throng-men, women, and children-would offer this contribution to the general joy and good-will. They would not be outcasts while all beside were glad. They also felt the glow of the English heart, and offered their strange gift of two days innocence on the public altar. Well, God knowsthe Omniscient alone is the judge-and He who knows all is the most merciful observer. "I have compassion on the multitudes," was the voice of the Good Shepherd to the abandoned crowds,-and he only looks on them aright who looks with the eye of love. These people are not so bad in God's sight as the Pharisees who are thanking God that they are very good men, and turning a grim eye on the immoral publicans. Yes, the great lesson is to look with Christ's eye on the crowds, and that is always an eye of compassion, of kindness, and of hope. But let not their shepherdless condition be laid at our door; let us "go forth into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in."

There was gathered together an innumerable company, so that they trode one upon another. Would that like the multitudes of Galilee they had been assembled to look upon the Light of the World, and not merely upon the vanishing splendours of a wedding festival! The death of the victims might then have been regarded in the character of a martyrdom, instead of leaving a funereal shade. upon the memory of this Night of Glory.

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THE WONDERFUL HISTORY OF FRANCIS ALARD, THE REFORMER OF OLDENBURG.

AT the time of the Reformation, there lived a wealthy and influential family in Belgium. The children were numerous; all with the exception of the youngest embraced secular callings As the parents were pious after their manner, they wished to devote one of their sons to the service of the Church-they desired that Francis should enter into a convent, to which, the Lord having drawn him to Himself in early life, he willingly consented, and embraced the ecclesiastical profession. At the convent, he devoted himself to study with so much application, and manifested such sincere piety, that he was held in great esteem by his superiors

At this time, the rich commercial city of Antwerp drew to itself during Lent the most able preachers from all parts, and Francis Alard was invited thither. Just then, a Hamburg merchant came to Antwerp on business. He had, by the grace of God, been converted, and had embraced the doctrines of the Gospel, which were then beginning to spread; nevertheless, he still frequented Catholic churches, particularly those in which he knew that the Gospel of Christ crucified was announced with warmth and affection. By i the good providence of God, he was led to hear a sermon by Alard, aud his whole soul was edified. But he felt deep grief, when he thought that this pious young man, who so early and so joyfully confessed the Lord Jesus Christ, should remain in the errors of Popery. He longed to point the young monk to the true Gospel, and sought an opportunity of speaking to him; but this was very difficult, for the rules of the convent were exceedingly severe. However, he at length succeeded. He spoke to him with affection, and invited him to his room at the hotel. There he opened his trunk, and showed him the writings of Luther. Francis readily consented to enter into conversation, for the new doctrine made an impression on him, since he saw that it conformed to the word of God. When he took leave, the merchant begged him to call often. The young man did not require to be urged; he went frequently to talk with him, but principally to read the writings of the Reformers, which he dared not carry to the convent. At length, the merchant having finished his business in the city, was obliged to return home, and commended his friend to the grace of God. The year following, he returned again to Antwerp, when he sought Alard as soon as possible, and who shall describe his joy, when he found that the seed scattered at his last visit had by the grace of God taken such firm root. Francis was perfectly convinced that

evangelical doctrines were alone worthy of reception, because y were solely founded on the word of God, and that the Romish urch, with its worship of Mary and of the saints, its indulgences, its clerical domination, contained many pernicious errors. The chant then proceeded further, and pointed out to the monk, that e he was inwardly persuaded of the truth of the Gospel, it was sacred duty to take the final step and declare himself openly in ur of it. But grave reflections ensued. What will my family ? How shall I leave the convent? What will become of me rwards? How shall I support myself? The merchant knew to set aside all these difficulties, by assuring him that from time he would undertake to supply all his wants. At length, ncis could not do otherwise than follow the counsels of his ad. Then the merchant arranged a plan by which he could pe without anyone knowing it. The evening of the next he repaired to the merchant's hotel, where he was furnished ha change of clothes, and soon after they both went together the port, and on board a vessel which sailed the same night for nburg. The heart of the young man beat violently; he d it hard to tear himself from Antwerp, but he saw that it was will of God, and he followed his guide.

t the convent, they waited hour after hour the return of Francis was still absent. As he had always been the most punctual of nonks, they could less conjecture what had detained him. The é, who loved and esteemed him much, said at last that they go to bed, leaving the door open, so that Francis could enter he returned. The next morning they went to his cell, and I that he was not yet there. All the convent was astir; they all sorts of suppositions-one thinking this, another, that. made a public investigation, and at last some one brought the that he had seen a young man and a Hamburg merchant go ard a vessel during the night, and set sail immediately. A was chartered instantly, and put off to pursue the fugitive and him back to the convent. But the Hamburg craft aided by Fourable wind had gained such a distance, that the ship sent rsuit was obliged to return to Antwerp without success.

Il further research was unsuccessful, although all the city were iring after the fugitive monk. He arrived safely with his d at Hamburg, and found himself thus out of the reach of jersecutors. The merchant took him to his house and furnished with everything he required; he instructed him more fully in fundamental principles of the Gospel; and after he had passed time in this town, he sent him to the superior school at Jena, re the new truths were then taught most purely. His Ham→ ? friend generously provided him with money, and at the end ix months he again sent to Jena the sum necessary for his

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support. Francis applied himself closely to study, and became more and more attached to the Gospel, so that he was happy in his God. But those whom the Lord loves He chastises, and Francis must pass through trial.

When he had been two years at Jena, and had made great progress in knowledge and in faith, he expected a remittance from Hamburg; day after day he called at the post, the money did not arrive; then Alard found himself in the greatest distress. He wrote letter after letter, but obtained neither money nor reply. After many enquiries, he learnt that his friend the merchant had been carried off by the plague. Though he knew that he had joined the company of the redeemed, and was near his Lord and Saviour, this news plunged him in deep grief. What would be come of him, deprived of the friend who had been his sole support? Besides, he found himself in a foreign land, where he had neither relations nor friends, and he thus ran the risk of perishing of hunger and destitution. What must he do? At last he saw nothing better than to return to his rich parents. He thought that they would aid and support him when he told them of his distress, but he would not deny his Lord and Saviour, and he promised himself that nothing should make him abjure the Gospel, though it should cost him his life. It was a long distance from Jena to his own country, and as he had to traverse it without money, he was exposed to the most severe hardships on the way. He hoped to see an end to his troubles when he should reach his father's house; but how was he deceived! When at last he arrived there, the first person he met was his sister. She asked who he was, for she did not recognize him. He made himself known. What the heretic? cried she, and ran away. He went to his mother (his father was no doubt dead at this time), and made known to her his distress, but she refused him his share of maternal love, and thought that she rendered a great service to God by delivering up her own son to the Inquisition. He begged, he supplicated, but she would hear nothing, unless he would abjure the new doctrine, and return to the convent full of humility and repentance. Nevertheless, he remained firm, He was then denounced to the Inquisition; soldiers came and bound him and dragged him away from the paternal mansion. They conducted him to Antwerp and shut him up high tower of the fortress.

Then the report that the young monk was returned rapidly spread through the city. If the people had been there when they put him in the tower, they would have snatched him from the hands of the soldiers, and have torn him to pieces in an excess of fanatic fury. Crowds besieged the tower and uttered the most frightful imprecations against him. In the prison the familiars of the Inquisition laboured, but in vain, to make the pious Alard re

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