mast, should that be necessary. Many an anxious eye watched the steady descent of the weather-glass; and many a look and prayer went up to Him that rides upon the storm. At a quarter to twelve, the mercury began to rise; by one, the rain had ceased, the wind was not perceptibly abated, but the sun sent down a few feeble rays to cheer our hearts, and lead to hope for better things. By two he shone warm and smiling, and by four the wind was perceptibly subsiding, which it continued to do till Sunday morning, when it blew a gentle and refreshing breath, as if it had quite forgot its ravings. Then were we glad because we were quiet.' It is impossible to describe to you the grandeur of the scene when first the sun began to shine, and the cessation of dreadful rain rendered it possible to look at it. Each ridge, as it passed along, heaving its mountain height, and curling its foamy summit, which left behind a field of sparkling snowy white, seemed as if it could have swallowed a thousand such frail barks as ours, had she not mounted on each as it approached, and ridden like a sea-bird, free from harm. I have told you what a grateful contrast the next morning presented. It was, indeed, a Sabbath. The wind was hushed; the sun poured down his reviving beams; and the waves, so lately lashed to appalling fury, heaved up their unwieldy forms in humbled subjugation. Truly we have seen God's wonders in the deep. How sweet to feel and oh, that I could always feel it!—that all things, even the raging elements, are in the hand of our Father. It is He who bids them rise, and they must fall when He says, 'Peace, be still.' We had service twice on deck, and as it was what English Dissenters call' ordinance Sabbath,' we had the Lord's Supper administered in the evening. I think I never enjoyed it more, and the feeling that I might still enjoy it under my ever-present Saviour's goodness, seemed to make the regretful feelings at separation from those with whom I have gone to the house of God in company, only enhance the pleasure. Another thing which tended greatly to heighten the interest of the occasion, was the presence and communion of the Samoan teachers-those trophies of redeeming love from savage isles." 1 At Tutuila he found a home in the house of an old friend, the Rev. Archibald Murray. Here his alarming state of health prevented his engaging very actively in missionary labors, though he sometimes preached, and when he was unable to do this, wrote sermons for delivery by the native teachers. His letters and journals during this period, are deeply affecting and interesting, and his Christian experience as detailed in them, very edifying. "Thus," says his sorrowing biographer, "was his devout heart engaged, and thus did he fill up his lonely hours with tender thoughts of the absent and the removed; looking out for the morning, and longing for the first streaks of dawn." "Lead, Saviour, lead, amid the encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home, Till, with the morn, those angel faces smile, Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.” At length his prayers were heard, and calmly falling asleep in Jesus, he awoke up in His likeness on the 25th September, 1841. The inscription which Samoan love has placed on his tombstone, looks beautiful, and sounds harmonious : O le tuugamau lenei O MISI LUNITI Sepetemepa 25, Sa tele lona loto i le galuega le Atua i li nuu nei Great was his heart in the work of the Lord in this land. Blessed are they Who have arrived thither At the happy dwelling place Above in the skies. Cease they do From the works they did. They have reached the rest, "O, death! where is thy sting?" PAUL. "ENGLAND'S BEST HOPE." [Suggested on seeing a seal, with an open Bible upon it, and the above motto.] FATHER of mercies! thee we praise, To thee, our grateful songs we raise ; "England's best hope"-a light from heaven. Though all the storms of life assail, Though fear on every side prevail; Till "England's hope" is from us taken. Oh, would but all the land receive And tell to many a distant nation, That "England's hope" is free salvation. Then would the heathen nations join To magnify that word divine; Who came from heaven, that we might prove, L. N. |