Chap. xix, ver. 6.-When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

It is said of Dr. Robertson, the celebrated historian, that, preaching once in the forenoon, he affirmed in the words of the ancient heathen,-" That if perfect virtue were to descend to the earth, clothed in a human form, all the world would fall prostrate and worship her." In the afternoon, Dr. Erskine, his colleague, remarked, on the contrary, "That perfect virtue, in the human nature of the Saviour of mankind, had indeed appeared on the earth; but, instead of being universally worshipped, the general cry of his countrymen was, Crucify him, crucify him!"

Chap. xix, ver. 26, 27.-When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

A pious young man, who was desirous of devoting himself to the work of the ministry among the heathen, and had been recommended with that view to the committee of the London Missionary Society, on undergoing the usual examination, stated that he had one difficulty: he had an aged mother entirely dependent upon an elder brother and himself for maintenance; and in case of that brother's death he should wish to be at liberty to return to this country, if his mother were still living, to contribute to her support. Scarcely had he made this ingenuous statement, when a harsh voice exclaimed: "If you love your mother more than the Lord Jesus Christ, you will not do for Abashed and confounded, the young man was silent. Some murmurs escaped the committee; and he was directed to retire while his proposal was taken into consideration. On his being again sent for, the

us."

venerable chairman, Dr. Waugh, in tones of unaffected kindness, and with a patriarchal benignity of mien, acquainted him that the committee did not feel themselves authorized to accept of his services on a condition involving uncertainty as to the term; but immediately added-"We think none the worse of you, my good lad, for your dutiful regard for your aged parent. You are but acting in conformity to the example of Him whose gospel you wished to proclaim among the heathen, who, as he hung upon the cross in dying agonies, beholding his mother and the beloved disciple standing by, said to the one,' Woman, behold thy son!' and to John, Behold thy mother? My good lad, we think none the worse of you."

Chap. xx, ver. 31.-But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

A man who had been very much connected with infidels was taken dangerously ill; and feeling that he could not recover, became alarmed for the safety of his soul. He found that his infidel principles gave him no comfort. He began, for the first time, to examine into the Christian religion. He embraced it, and found it to be the power of God to salvation, enabling him to triumph over the fear of death. In the mean time, his infidel friends hearing of his sickness, and that he was not expected to recover, showed a degree of feeling and integrity, which, it is hoped, may prove the first happy step to their own conversion. They were not aware that their dying friend had become a Christian. They called to see him; and actually told him that they came on purpose to advise him now to embrace Christianity; because, said they, if it be false, it can do you no harm; but if it should prove true, you will be a great gainer.

Chap. xxi, ver. 16.-He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

K

Mr. Newton once paid a visit to a minister who affected great accuracy in his discourses, and who, on that Sabbath day, had nearly occupied an hour in insisting on several labored and nice distinctions made in his subject. As he had a high estimation of Mr. Newton's judgment, he inquired of him, as they walked home, whether he thought the distinctions just now insisted on were full and judicious? Mr. N. said he thought them not full, as a very important one had been omitted. "What can that be?" said the minister," for I had taken more than ordinary care to enumerate them fully." "I think not," replied Mr. N. "for when many of your congregation had travelled several miles for a meal, I think you should not have forgotten the important distinction which must ever exist between MEAT and BONES.

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Mr. Christopher Richardson, minister of Kirk Heaton in Yorkshire, was much followed a neighboring minister, whose parishioners used to go to hear him, complaining once to him that he drew away his flock, Mr. Richardson answered, "Feed them better, and they will not stray."

ACTS.

Chap. i, ver. 18, 19, 20.-Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called, in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and, his bishoprick let another take.

The Duke of Buckingham, having by an unfortunate accident lost the army which he had raised

against the usurper Richard III, was forced to flee for his life without page or attendant; at last he took refuge in the house of Humphrey Bannister at Shrewsbury, who, being one of his servants, and having been formerly raised by him from a low condition, would, he trusted, be ready to afford him every possible protection. Bannister, however, upon the king's proclamation, promising £1,000 reward to him that should apprehend the duke, betrayed his master to John Merton, high sheriff of Shropshire, who sent him under a strong guard to Salisbury, where the king then was, by whom he was condemned to be beheaded. But divine vengeance pursued the traitor and his family; for, on demanding the £1,000 that was the price of his master's blood, king Richard refused to pay it, saying, "He that would be false to so good a master, ought not to be encouraged." He was afterwards hanged for manslaughter; his eldest son soon fell into a state of derangement, and died in a hog-sty; his second became deformed and lame; his third son was drowned in a small pool of water, and the rest of his family perished miserably.

Chap. ii, ver. 4.-And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utter

ance.

The Rev. Pliny Fisk, in a letter to the Society of Inquiry respecting Missions at Andover, soon after his arrival at Smyrna, writes-"I beg leave to submit to you one remark which seems to me important respecting the qualifications of a missionary. It is this; more knowledge of languages should be acquired. I say more knowledge of languages, rather than a knowledge of more languages. To have such an acquaintance with Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, as will enable you not only to read them with familiarity, but to speak and write them, would be of very great utility in this country, and I presume, in any part of Asia, probably in any part of the world. And let me add,