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munion-service. 'I take great delight in these prayers; tell me if I am too presumptuous in desiring to partake of the Holy Sacrament. I have long wished to do so, but have not had courage to mention the subject to you. Though doubts and fears often prevail, yet, if you thought Christ would accept the service of one so worthless as myself, I would desire it with my whole heart.' I replied; In all cases of difficulty, we do well to consult God's word: let us hear the commandment as it comes from the Lord.' I turned to Luke xxii. 14; "This do in remembrance of me" closes v. 19. 'If your Saviour was upon earth, how would you receive him?' With energy he replied; I would cast myself at his feet, believe in his mercy, and, I think, he would not spurn me.' 'Nor will he spurn you now,' I said; let us pray that this His written word may be blessed to our souls.' After much interesting conversation, he requested me to ask the clergyman of the parish to visit him, as he was no longer able to attend the services of the church. The request was readily granted, and a time appointed for the meeting. In the meanwhile, B received a letter from his friends, stating, that they had accepted the loan of a horse and cart to convey him and his wife to London, on the following morning; and, therefore, begged he would, without delay, make ready for his removal. I rejoiced to find that this unexpected movement suggested no idle excuse to the mind of B- against communicating, but, on the contrary, stimulated his anxiety to hasten the sacred ordinance; and we met together in a small upper chamber in the course of the evening. I enjoyed sweet communion with my humble friends, and returned hearty thanks to the Hearer of prayer, for the many supplications which had been answered in their behalf.

When the hour of separation arrived, the horse and chaise were in readiness, and the neighbours standing at their doors to bid him 'Good bye.' B addressed me with much affection, and cheered me by saying, 'I can now trust my Saviour with my soul and body; some time back I should have been afraid of leaving you, but now I feel that the Lord is my gracious keeper; I desire to love him more and more; my defence is wholly of Him. I know doubts and fears may arise to cloud my present comfort, and if temptation should assail me, then will I remember my first earnest prayer, "Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief."' I had the pleasure of hearing that he parted from his nephew as became a Christian, deeply regretting the example he had set him, and praying for his improvement. Far from repining at being obliged to leave his cottage and independence, he heartily thanked God that he was not left destitute during the remainder of his pilgrimage; and, above all, that he could, through the merits of a crucified Saviour, look forward to a building not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God; how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out."

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After the removal of B—, I made many inquiries respecting him, and had the repeated satisfaction of hearing that he was kindly attended to by Christian visitors in his new abode, and that they bore testimony to his religious conduct. Not long since I received a letter from Mrs. B, informing me of the death of her husband he had been enabled to hold fast his confidence unto the end, and had departed in peace. She added, 'My own faith in the Lord has been greatly strengthened by his happy death, and I hope so to live

:

that I may gain an interest in Christ, and meet him in glory hereafter.' I have recently heard that Hannah, who is grown a woman, has become a Sunday-school teacher.

The widow still lives; she retains a lively sense of past mercies, and is looking with, I trust, a wellgrounded hope, to the glorious appearing of her Lord and Saviour, when He shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe.

M.

A GLEANING.

As in the natural body we see that the Great Architect creates a combination of causes to produce a desired effect—take, for example, the wondrous and complex formation of the human eye-so may the Church of God delight itself in the thought, that the same rule of government regulates the spiritual body; a variety and combination of causes (possibly to finite comprehension adverse) are in reality only created to bring about the desired effect, which our Heavenly Father has in view, namely, the growth, and finally the perfection, of the spiritual man." That which thou knowest not now, thou shalt know hereafter.'

H.

THOUGHTS ON THE KINGLY CHARACTER

AS FORE-SHADOWING THAT OF

THE LORD JESUS.

"He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain."-2 SAM. xxiii. 3, 4.

IN holy writ, kings, judges, and governors are designated as "gods," as in Exod. ii. 28, “Thou shalt not revile the gods ;" and in Psalm lxxxii. 6. in speaking of the judges of the earth, the Lord says, "ye are gods." They are so called, because in their official capacities they are representatives of Him who is the King of kings, the Judge of the whole earth, and the Governor among the nations; and shadow forth His character as such, and His relationships to His creatures, so far as they wisely and faithfully fulfil their several duties. If the monarchs of the earth, and the several members of the social circle, did but remember this solemn truth, that in them God, in his character of King, Father, and Husband, was to be manifested; and that they, as subjects, children, and wives, were in like manner to display the fidelity, obedience, and devotedness of heart, due to their heavenly King, Father, and Husband, what moral order, harmony, and beauty, would prevail throughout the community at large! *

* I only dwell upon the kingly relationship, as in a little work lately published, entitled " Relationships," the author has beautifully, though briefly, written upon that of Father, &c.

A monarch is called upon to provide for the safety, bencer, and welfare of the people committed to his charge; to supply their necessities-to administer justice to all; ever to be ready, with open ear and tender heart,

Esten to the cry of the oppressed, the afflicted, and the needy; remembering that the most desolate the most bewed down-have only the more need of having the golden sceptre held out to them. In the bestowal ef gifts, and in promoting to honour, he is to be ever desirous to exalt and reward for virtue's sake slone; the patron of all that is just and good, ever pouring forth encouragement to his faithful, true, and loyal subjects; but also, with inflexible justice, punishing the unfaithful, the unrighteous, and the rebellious ones, who disregard, or perchance treat with scorn or contempt, the proclamation of pardon and mercy graclously held out by him, should they cease their evil practices and return to their allegiance.

This description of what a monarch ought to be bears especially on those times and countries, where the sacred writings were penned; where oriental despotism, while it absolutely ruled, often depended on popular epinion, and found it even frequently a matter of necessity to conciliate that opinion, and excite personal admiration, reverence, or fear; but this character also depicts, in its leading features, what every potentate, in every age and clime, should be; though alas! it is but rarely realized.

When a king thus reigns and rules, he is indeed the type of Him from whom all kingly power flows. The Lord of all doth now hold his regal court in the realms above; there His subjects know no want, fear no danger,-righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne,-holiness alone becometh His house,—