he nor the medium knew what would happen. External intelligences acted before the medium, and might say through him things either good or bad, and they should decline praise or blame of any kind. Silence. A pause. The medium appeared to fall asleep. Then his face, arms, and limbs began to twitch, shiver, and start nervously. He made grimaces. He looked like a man trying to catch flies or wasps. He made snatches at his own arms as though insects were annoying him. In fact, he seemned excited, cold, startled, and anxious. Suddenly his contortions ceased, and, rising from his chair he planted it before him, and said, "Mr. Chairman, we are now ready to answer any questions." We were to understand, of course, that not the medium, but the spirit" spoke. So we waited to hear the spirit. Who was it? Thomas Paine. Here, then, was the spirit of Tom Paine, the infidel. "Was Moses," asked the president, 66 an actual or a mythological person ?" The medium, or rather Mr. Thomas Paine, replied, that his investigations had led him to the conclusion that he was an actual person, but that many "theories" had been associated with his name. Mr. Thomas Paine was then asked whether he could explain the composition of "the luminous balls" which had appeared in Mrs. A.'s circle," and he gave a reply which would have convinced Professor Faraday that celestial chemistry is a very queer thing. After a few moments of consciousness, and a great deal of shivering, shaking, and catching flies, another "spirit" possessed the medium. "I am astonished," he said, "to be here: I am. I am surprised to find myself alive; I should not have felt surprised to find myself dead-not at all. This is the first time I have come back. I do not feel quite comfortable; you know I have not got quite adjusted to my return: no, not quite. I used to live in London; aye, and not far from here: up at Islington. Well, I was always in a muddle about a future state. I sometimes thought I should live in another world; sometimes not. Well, but here I am you see, and alive: that astonishes me. Well, this world is like the world I left -very. It is all a process of education. You have to learn many things, and the best thing to do is to make yourself comfortable in the new world." Not much more did this spirit tell us. He added that he, having a bad memory for figures, could not remember how old he was when he died; nor the year in which he died; nor the number of the house in Lonsdale Square in which he lived. So he left us, and let us hope he is comfortable. No spirit came without making the medium shiver like a beggar on a cold day, and, this having been done, a nameless "strolling player" began to speak through the medium. He thought proper to weary us with a long tedious lecture on "helping the lame dog over the stile." We were not to crush any one. We were to help everybody. Then he indulged in puns-poor puns. He talked about children stealing sugar, and servant maids stealing away to meet their lovers. Oh! it was child talk-so dull that even the president asked him whether he could not put a pinch of snuff into his sermon. fortunately he had plenty of sermon, and very little snuff. So after a mock eulogy on "The Devil as a very useful person,' ," and a little more about lame dogs, and he then went off the stage. We were told that the strolling player came every night, whereupon a visitor said that must be because he had no engagement. It seemed to us, however, that his coming every night must be rather troublesome, and a new version of Much ado about nothing. Un More shivering. A great many flies snatched at and missed. Then the medium began to speak, or rather lecture, on The laws of health! Four propositions were laid down and forgotten. A very long lecture was given on lamb's wool, the Turkish bath, fresh air, and so on. It was as though "the spirit" had read Combe on the Constitution of Man; Graham, Trale, Fowler, and others, on their favourite topics, and then hashed them all up into the mess of physiological pottage which was placed before us. It was a queer lecture for a spirit to orate, because there was so much of the flesh about it. It was of the earth, earthy. Not a hint of heavenly life did it contain. Are we to believe, then, that spirits come from Hades to tell us what to eat, what to drink, and wherewithal we are to be clothed? Can we think that Samuel and all the prophets would come back to teach us to wear lamb's wool and take Turkish baths? It may be said that he was not a prophet. Just so. He was not a prophet. We were told that we had been listening to a Chinese philosopher who had studied "these matters" for one hundred and thirty years! Some of us wanted to know how it was that the philosopher had such a knowledge of books published since he died? how it was that he spoke in "Cockney English?" and how it was that there were no traces of Chinese modes of thought in what he said? but we could not obtain any satisfaction. To our surprise, however, the strolling player began to speak once more through the medium, and indulged in some impertinent remarks on the mental incapacity of the objectors, and, as it had got late, and was time for both spirits and mortals to go home, we took our departure, feeling that we had lost a shilling and a night, and not at all disposed to renew our acquaintance with such miserable representations of the multitudes who people the great spheres beyond the grave, awaiting the glorious coming of the Divine King. We must not leave the subject without stating that "spiritualism" is spreading in London, and has its centres of propagandism, its mediums, lecturers, magazines, and, we might almost add "church." It supplants the Bible. The medium is declared to speak what the unseen spirits wish to reveal, and Moses, David, and Paul, are not regarded as authorities when revelations contrary to Scripture are made, or asserted to be made. Nevertheless it is written: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." THE DOWNFALL OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON.* "And there fell a great star from Heaven."-Rev. viii. 10. A AN eminent Nonconformist minister preaching the other day upon the war is reported to have said, "I find almost as much food for thought and reflection in the daily newspaper as in the books of the Kings or Chronicles. In the historical books of the Old Testament I see the course and conduct of God's Providence in the past; in the daily newspaper I see the working of the same Providence in the present." statement to which I fully consent when we add this limitation,-that in the Old Testament history the veil of mystery overhanging all God's providential procedure is, at least partially, uplifted even by the Divine hand; whereas in the daily newspaper no divine hand is present, either wholly or in part, to uplift the veil, while occasional attempts of this kind, made by human hands, are often ill-advised, presumptuous, and profane. Especially do we feel the weight of this consideration in relation to the present subject. For firmly as we believe that "the Lord reigneth," that He is in all and above all and over all, and that in the most troubled and mysterious events of the world He is working out His wise and gracious plans, it is nevertheless difficult, nay, impossible to interpret the meaning of every event in the providential chain, or to perceive the harmony and blending of all in God's universal and eternal plan. There are some, indeed, who profess to have an insight into passing events which we, at least, do not presume to enjoy. The Book of the Revelation is their key to every perplexing and mysterious eventit contains for them the solution of every mystic page in the history of the world. We confess it is not so with us. No! For, although our text is selected from that book, we cannot say that it has any distinct reference to this event-that Napoleon is this great star which falls from heaventhat Napoleon is the "Wormwood" of this chapter and of this book. We have not inquired what commentators say about it, for we are heartily weary of men who are for ever pouring out the vials and unsealing the seals! Enough for us that you will admit that Napoleon was a star-a great star-shining in heaven; that is, the firmament of eminence, power, and glory. Then, during the last few days, he has fallen-the world has seen him fall; and everywhere, in the Christian world most of all, the question arises, "What meaneth it? What shall we say?" What are the facts with which we have to deal? Simply these. That Napoleon III., two months ago, apparently firmly established as the monarch of one of the greatest nations of Europe; still more recently the popular commander of a valiant and seemingly invincible army, is this day *Notes of a Sermon preached at Swadlincote, Sept. 11, 1870. an Emperor no longer - Commander-inchief no longer-but decrowned and dethroned, and denounced by army and nation, is exiled to a foreign land, a prisoner of war at the mercy of those with whom he needlessly quarrelled, and whose best and most valiant blood he madly spilt. I. Perhaps, as we think of this downfall, so sudden, so startling, and so momentous, RETRIBUTION is the very first word which issues from our lips. We cannot be wrong, I suppose, in laying very much of the blame and wickedness and guilt of this war, to the weakness and the vanity and the folly of Napoleon. Such being the case, his responsibility becomes immense, overwhelming. Heavy, indeed, must be the burden resting upon the author of a war so causeless, so bloody, so prodigious! He may be pitied-part of his punishment is the pity of which he is now the object. But it cannot be forgotten that it was he who proclaimed the scourge of war-who impelled armies to the conflict-who strewed the battle field with the dying and the dead. To him must be assigned "the infinite fierce chorus, The rattling musketry, the clashing blade, Far be it from me to rejoice in his downfall, or to withhold the slightest commiseration from him in his reverses. As the staunch ally of England, as the faithful friend of Britain, we may have a "a warm side" for him even now. But not slightly can his last and most frightful error be condoned. Blood has a voice! The tears of widows and of orphans numberless thick as rain-drops fall! Hell from beneath is glutted with the slain! And shall not God arise? Shall He not search this out? Can this foul crime escape unpunished? It cannot be! And already it would seem that Nemesis is abroadthat retribution unsheathes its swordthat vengeance is God's, and that He does recompense! For where is now Napoleon's crown-Napoleon's throne-his army-his rights! Vanished-vanished for ever before the blast of the avenging angel of the Lord! "Verily there is a reward for the wicked-there is a God that judgeth in the earth!" II. Perhaps, too, in the downfall of this great star we ought to see another illustra Y tion and confirmation of our Lord's words, "They that take the sword shall perish by the sword." Literally Napoleon has not so perished. Although long in the hottest and thickest of battle, he was denied the death some say he even courted and desired. Shot and shell fell about him thick as hail; death dealt his blows on every hand, but, as though bearing a charmed existence, he was unharmed, he was untouched! Fatalism has been ascribed to him. "Man," so says his supposed creed, "is immortal till his work is done." The field of Sedan, then, has taught him, we fain would think, that his work is not yet done; that though decrowned, dethroned, captive, exiled, a work remains for him yet-and that is to seek peace with Him more bitterly wronged by him than his royal conqueror, even the King of kings and the Lord of lords; and to attempt what ever feeble reparation lies within his power for the gigantic evil and Scourge he has let loose upon the world! Otherwise we must hold, in the fullest sense of the words, that taking the sword he has perished by the sword. The war was to glorify and perpetuate his name and dynasty-it has disgraced and ruined both. Yes, By the sword he has perished. perished more fully, it may be, than as though the German sword had pierced his heart. For that had been a speedy, an easy death, compared to the prolonged death of a despised exile, anathematized by the widow's groan and the orphan's tears, preyed upon by the gnawings of anguish and the worm of remorse, the beginning of the second death! Another victim of human glory is added to the long roll of those who taking the sword have perished by the sword. Oh that rulers were wise; that they and all nations would see the defiance breathed by war to Him who is the Prince of Peace and Lord of all. May he arise! May He hush and rebuke the storm! Speak now, mighty Lord, and say, "Peace, be still!" "Peace!' then no longer from its brazen portals The blast of war's great organ shakes the skies, But beautiful as the songs of the immortals The holy melodies of love arise." III. Nor is it possible to observe the falling of this great star without being reminded of the worthlessness and vanity of human greatness. What an unsubstantial thing it is! Made up of what accidents-sustained at what risk-overthrown how suddenly and without warning! Even when a man has achieved it for himself, as Napoleon in a large degree did (though by what means it is best not to say), how fickle and uncertain is his continuance therein! Human glory has no continuance. The Son of man Himself was one day greeted with "hosannas," and three days after was crucified! Few indeed are the men who can bear with any sobriety the effects of exaltation, or withstand with complete success the temptations of high place. The lust of glory has been the ruin of Napoleon, as of thousands before him. His downfall-'tis the price of the assertion of his might, of the display of his glory. Flushed with the hope of military triumph and conquest, he has fallen from his heaven, and this is his legitimate reflection in a sea of glory, But far beyond my depth; my high-blown pride Oh how oft has the declaration been made, how powerfully by this and numberless cases beside has it been confirmed, that there is no true and abiding greatness but that which rests on goodness-which rests on Christ! Never was there such greatness as His, who, thinking it no robbery to be equal with God, yet emptied Himself, and humbled Himself to the death of the cross. With His greatness, the greatness of Alexander, Cæsar, Charlemagne, or of Napoleon, is not for a moment comparable. And the greatness of Jesus-this is our model. "Let this same mind be in you." It may adorn and exalt the poorest, the humblest, and the most despised. And they that are great with Christ's greatness are God's own stars, held for ever in His right hand, to know no eclipse, and never to fall from the heaven of blessedness and glory prepared for them from the foundation of the world. May this greatness be possessed by us all. IV. What words are these, too, that I see blazing in the track of the falling starwhat but these? "Cease ye from man... for wherein is he to be accounted of?" Napoleon's adversities have not wholly or chiefly proceeded from his enemies. His foes have been those of his own household; he has received wounds in the house of his friends. France has decrowned-dethroned him. And in this the discordant and factionrent nation has for once been unanimous -united fully. Not a voice has been heard protesting against his deposition; not a man has been found to cry, "This shall not be." No physical or moral force had to be vanquished in proscribing the empire. Not a courtezan, not a satellite, forbad it. Where were the parasites and sycophants who lived but in his favour, who were bedizened by his patronage and fluttered only in his radiance? Where were they? And "echo answers, where!" Poor prisoner! his patronage no longer gives life or promotion. He has failed, and therefore he falls. He is down; he has no friends. The parasites, the satellites, even, are gone; for "The friends who in our sunshine live, Must weep those tears alone." His unpardonable sin to France is his failure. France has no throne for a defeated soldier. However well he has deserved of his country-and in some respects he has deserved of it well-his military reverses nothing can condone. So much the worse, not only for him, but for France, for humanity. Verily, 'tis a cold world; its heart is of stone; it is ingrate to its very core. "Cease ye from man." Except from Him who loved to call Himself "the Son of man;"-cease not from Him. For He possesses the ineffable charm of unvaried constancy and eternal faithfulness. "He changes not." He is most true when the world is most false; most faithful when all beside are most treacherous. Cease not from Him. V. Last of all, as the great star is falling, a voice is heard, saying, "Be still, and know that I am God." There is need that some great and startling events should ever and anon reawaken the belief we are in imminent danger of losing- that the Lord reigneth over all; He is most high for evermore. Consciously or unconsciously, the present calamities of Europe must test the faith of many in the overruling dominion and allwise providence of God. Little faith and strong distrust have already started many questions concerning the apparent backward tendency of the age, and the seeming frustration of the plans and purposes of God. But God speaks. He is speaking now, and saith, "Be still; wait and watch; quiet these apprehensions; dismiss these fears: I am God." We do not profess to know much more than this-to hear in this event much more than the soothing voice of the Most High declaring that He reigneth, that He must reign. Perhaps He is saying much more that we cannot understand. Peradventure He may be saying, Enough, enough of this bloody strife; now put up the sword." Or this He may say, 66 Retire, vaunted civilization-international amities -universal enlightenment. Retire, vain arbiters, in conscious impotency; make 66 But in this voice I would rest, in this voice I would rejoice-"Be still, and know that I am God." This complete collapse of French arms, this entire stamping out of the French army, this great overthrow of the originator of the war-who can doubt that God is in it all? and in it is saying, "Be still; anguished and troubled hearts, be still; be still, agonized and bleeding spirits. Peace to the fearful and distrustful. I live. I am. I am God. I reign. I will make wars to cease. I will come in the kingdom of my Son." Dost thou so speak, my Lord? Then we will be still. But "even so come, Lord Jesus, come, come quickly." Napoleon's surrender, and the surrender of the French army at Sedan, was, I sup pose, brought about by the most splendid strategy and tactical operations. Surrounded with a belt of steel and fire, the army of France was entrapped and captured. Nearer and yet nearer approached that deadly surrounding line; closer and yet closer still was hemmed in the fated army, until "absolute and unconditional surrender" were the hard terms it was compelled to accept. Brethren, the trumpet of the gospel proclaims another conflict, another warfare. Long since it was opened; many centuries it has been maintained; it seeks surrender, "absolute and unconditional," of the world to Christ the Lord. But not to condemn, but to save you, is this warfare waged. For your eternal salvation the armies of grace surround mankind. They surround us each, not with the belt of fire and steel, but with the belt of infinite compassion and dying love. He draws you now with the cords of love and the bands of a man. He waits to hear you respond-do it пош "I yieid, I yield, I can hold out no more; I sink by dying love compelled, and own thee conqueror." OUR WINTER CAMPAIGN. THE rest of summer is over and gone. The refreshing holiday is now an inspiring reminiscence. The oreezes of the sea, bracing air of the hills, and exhilaration of labour amid new scenes, have enabled us to forget our cares for awhile, and lay in a store of health and vigour for the service of Christ. During this recess there has been some slackness in gathering the spiritual harvest. At two of our recent Conferences regret was expressed concerning the character of the reports from the churches. This month's Magazine has a slenderer account of baptisms than any previous month of the year. It was the same last November. Indeed it seems this is one of the consequences of the general pervasion of this fast-living age with the summer holiday-making spirit. But we serve the Lord Christ, and our rest contemplates further and better work. Public worship is to be more fervent, sustained, and spiritual; the instruction and comfort of the church done with more thoroughness, and the truth of the gospel more widely diffused by the strength and purpose we have derived from recreation. Pastors, elders, deacons, and members, have met together again, and it is hoped settled down to work with the solemn determination" to save men" by some means. We certainly need more of the evange lizing fervour in our churches. This is our great want. Ministers and leaders must take their place in the van of this work. We have much more to do than merely to speak wisely to an admiring crowd; to study the principles of our holy religion, and give the results of our labours to an appreciative throng. "Woe be to us when we are content to shine as the pet prophets of our spiritual territory." We are the leaders of regiments of soldiers, and we had better stay at home if we can only give them streams of eloquent talk. It is our's to plan the campaign, put each man to the work for which he is most fitted, promote those who show themselves worthy, and bravely lead in the attack on the empire of evil. Christianity is expounded. It waits to be applied to the vast needs and rioting sins of the world that lieth in wickedness. We cannot believe in any church, however "respectable" its standing, learned its ministry, correct and graceful the architecture of its home, which does not inspire its members with a fresh impulse towards usefulness, and assist, by its own personal as well as delegated activity, in sounding abroad the word of the Lord." Every living community of Christians should have fifty per cent. of its members engaged in visible and organized work for God. Undoubtedly the home deserves the exclusive attention of many. A mother with half a dozen children has |