Charlie, were to become such a Christian, what a blessing you would all be to the world. After long struggling with his poverty, he was noticed by some kind people, who found out his love for study, and sent him to a college. He afterwards was sent to preach the gospel among a tribe of warlike Indians called Cherokees. Here he was in great danger, from their wild and savage conduct; but he preached to them the glad tidings of peace and mercy.

"Ten years later, when these Cherokees had become peaceful, he made a journey through parts of America, and collected more than five thousand dollars, (£1000), besides a large quantity of books and clothing, for these Indians. He laboured among them as a missionary, and established flourishing schools among them, where hundreds of Cherokee children received instruction.

"His health failing, he settled nearer home, where God so blessed his faithful labours, that at one communion service three thousand persons were present.

"He was principal of Harpath Academy, and afterwards President of Centre College, in Kentucky. Knowing, from his long experience, the great need in the West of ministers of the gospel, he laboured long and earnestly for the establishment of a theological seminary in Illinois, which finally succeeded, and now bears his name. you see, ignorant Cherokees, Indians, and young men who became themselves ministers of the gospel, were indebted to this great and good man for instruction. Who shall tell the extent of his

So

influence? how many were wiser for his teaching? how many were led by him to live for God?

"His chief pleasure was to preach the gospel. Often, during the session of his academy or college, he would mount on horseback on Friday afternoon, start off ten, twenty, or even thirty miles, preach four or five times, administer the communion, and be back again for his duties by 9 o'clock on Monday morning. Many, very many were converted by his ministry. And this by one, who, when a boy, was too poor to afford a candle."

Let those who dislike study, and neglect, and waste, day after day, their precious opportunities, remember this true story of Gideon Blackburn.

FIRST DISCIPLES OF JESUS.

ST. JAMES THE GREAT, OR THE ELDER. THIS apostle was the son of Zebedee and brother to St. John. He was called with his brother while in their ship mending their nets, although he did not give up his trade for a year after. They were surnamed by our Saviour, "Boanerges," or sons of thunder, and were permitted by him to be present at the raising of Jairus' daughter, the transfiguration, and the agony in the garden. The brothers are also twice mentioned as making requests of the Lord which called down his rebuke. When the Samaritans refused to receive the Saviour, they asked him to call down fire from heaven to consume his enemies. But Jesus told them that

the Son of man had not come to destroy men's lives but to save them; thus showing that we ought not to wish for revenge on any account. They also asked his permission to sit, one on his right hand and the other on his left, when he entered into his glory. The Lord told them that they were mistaken in their thoughts of his kingdom, by saying, "Ye know not what ye ask. Can ye drink of the cup that I drink of, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with ?" And when they eagerly replied, "We are able," he told them they should drink of the cup that he drank of, and be baptized with the baptism that he was baptized with; but that to sit on his right hand and on his left was not his to give, but they should be given to those for whom they were prepared-meaning that they should suffer affliction when they were on earth, but that, until this life was over, he would say nothing of their condition and place hereafter.

St. James was the first apostle who suffered martyrdom; he was killed with the sword by command of Herod. An old writer (quoted by Nelson in his "Fasts and Festivals") mentions that the man who accused James to King Herod was so struck by the courage and constancy shown by the apostle under his trial, that he repented heartily of what he had done, and fell down at his feet, asking forgiveness; upon which St. James raised him up and embraced him, saying, "Peace to thee." The man, then turning to the people, declared his willingness to become a Christian, and was beheaded with the saint he had accused.

ST. JAMES THE LESS.

ST. JAMES THE LESS (so called, it is supposed by some, from his being younger than James the Great, or the Elder) was the son of Alphæus, and is called by St. Paul "the Lord's brother." Among the Jews the title brother or sister was also applied to cousins or near relations, so that James may have been a cousin of our Saviour. He was also surnamed the "Just," from his integrity and piety, and after our Saviour's death is said to have continued to reside at Jerusalem for many years. We do not gather this directly from Scripture, although some passages in the Epistles seem to infer it. We do not know with certainty when he was elected to that office, but we may suppose he held it when the apostle Paul went up to Jerusalem three years after his conversion. read, too, that Paul saw him at Cæsarea during his imprisonment by Felix. Shortly after the death of Festus, the apostle, according to tradition, suffered martyrdom in a singular manner. The elders of the Jews, being very angry at the progress the Christian religion was making among the people, tried to persuade him to deny his Lord, and to say that Jesus was not the Christ. They took him up to a pinnacle or point of the temple, and then asked him, "Tell us, O just man, what we are to believe concerning Jesus Christ who was crucified." It is said that he answered them with a loud voice, "Why do ye inquire of Jesus, the Son of man. He sits in heaven, on the right hand

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