inquire, Why do I thus believe? Even after they have entered communion, doubts may arise, and that these may be allayed, the grounds of his faith must be reviewed. This is private judgment, and cannot be separated from man's intellectual and moral nature. If private judgment is a safe means of finding out

the true church-of all its marks and evidences-going through the whole of Scripture and history to find these-I think we may safely trust it in examining the simple truths of the Gospel."

To this he made no reply, but promised to attend my lecture in the evening.

NEXT in importance to pure Gospel, is wholesome food and unadulterated beverages. This is a point, however, to which the multitude are not a hundredth part alive as they ought to be, and hence they are being poisoned wholesale! Dr. Cox, in his lecture on the adulteration of liquors, stated-That in five years he had analysed 2,679 samples of liquors, of which he found only 350 pure, 220 of mixed liquors; all the rest were adulterated with sulphuric and prussic acids, pepper, grains of paradise, and many of them holding strychnine, stramonium, and other poisons. In Philadelphia he made a number of examinations of liquors of different kinds-brandies, wines, and malt liquors - but did not find a single article of pure liquor. In one sample of lager bier he found sulphuric acid, alum, salt, and sulphate of iron. One liquor dealer offered 500 dollars if he would discover any adulteration in his liquor, of which he said he had 30,000 dollars worth in bond. The Doctor analysed it, and found it not to be as it purported, brandy, but

whiskey, rot-gut whiskey, nitric ether, pepper, and a piece of polished iron placed in it for a short time was corroded. A sample of Seignette brandy, analysed in Cincinnati, was found to contain sulphuric and prussic acid. The prussic acid is obtained from cherry laurel and bitter almond. Three to five ounces of sulphuric acid are used to a barrel of whiskey to make pure brandy. A bottle of "brandy," from a firstclass liquor store, was then opened and tested, first with litmus paper for acid. Acid was found, and subsequent tests by means of chloride barium, solution of potash, &c., re- ! vealed both sulphuric and prussic acids. A sample of "port wine," also from the same place, was next analysed. In this, also, the litmus paper showed a brilliant red. By the application of chloride of barium, sulphuric acid was discovered. Some time since, the Doctor stated, he examined a specimen of Longworth's still Catawba, in which he found both sulphuric and prussic acid, four per cent. of alcohol only, and a great portion of copper. The next analysis

made by the Doctor was on a bottle of "pale Harmony sherry," and sold for 1 dol. 25c. per bottle. In this the litmus paper showed a brilliant red, and a test similar to the ones before applied, revealed a large amount of suphuric acid.

This is a frightful state of things, but it is not worse than that of our own country. Nay, analysis has shown that our state is still more alarming. The dealers in Wines and Spirits, as a body, are men not at all to be trusted. They set small store by the health and life of the country.

The question is one in which every soul, from the palace to the workhouse, is vitally interested. We rejoice, therefore, to see that the Act for preventing the adulteration of articles of food or drink came into force on the 6th of August. We extract clauses 1 and 4:

"1. Every person who shall sell any article of food or drink with which, to the knowledge of such person, any ingredient injurious to health has been mixed, and every person who shall sell as pure and unadulterated any article of food or drink which is adulterated or not pure, shall for every such offence

pay a penalty not exceeding five pounds, together with costs; and if any person so convicted shall afterwards commit the like offence, it shall be lawful for the Justices to cause such offender's name, place of abode, and offence, to be published, at the expense of such offender, in such newspaper or in such other manner as shall seem desirable.

"4. Any purchaser of any article of food or drink in any district where there is any analyst appointed, shall be entitled, on payment to the analyst of a sum not less than two shillings and sixpence, nor more than ten shillings and sixpence, to have any such article analysed, and to receive from such analyst a certificate of the result, specifying whether in his opinion such article is adulterated, and also whether it is so adulterated as to be injurious to health; and such certificate shall, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, be sufficient evidence, and the sum paid for such certificate shall be deemed part of the costs."

We congratulate our countrymen on this great step: the very existence of the Act will exercise a most beneficial effect on the whole generation of provision dealers.

IT is not often that distinguished piety is found in the parish union. Whether it be rarely to be met with, or the situation is unfavourable for its discovery, we will not undertake to determine, but such cases do

exist, and the following memoir is an illustration of it.

Mrs. Higgins resided in the district visited by the missionary in connexion with the Tabernacle Association of the London City Mission.

When first met with she was in respectable circumstances in life; they had been shopkeepers, but left business, and she carried on a laundry.

Both the husband and herself were very averse to the visits of the missionary; they would take a tract, but hold the door, lest he should step in. But by perseverance some way was made; a few words passed at the door, then he got into the room, and a more full and free conversation ensued, till, at last, he was invited to sit down, when he was at liberty to take out his Bible and read, expound, and enforce its sacred truths. He held a meeting in the neighbourhood, to which she was often invited, but for some time she declined; the place was not respectable enough. At last, she came, and never after was she absent, except illness prevented. She did not attend long before she gave evidence that the Word was blessed; she became uneasy, at times disposed to object against the humbling doctrines of the Gospel. She was a Pharisee originally, and she did not at once get rid of her self-righteousness. She now became a regular attendant on the means of grace at the Tabernacle, Moorfields, and in time was led to see and feel her true condition; and her feelings and desires were the same as the great apostle's, "That I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the righteousness of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." Her whole spirit and manner became changed; where

as she had been very haughty, and carried herself so much above those who dwelt by her and had anything to do with her, she became like the Lord she loved-meek, and lowly in heart, and soon commanded the respect of all who knew her, who, however they disliked her religion, were constrained to admire her character. She soon wished to be united with the church of Christ. But here she had a cross to bear; her husband-a civil man, who had no objection to religion in moderation, such as a little general conversation about it, so that it did not come too close in its application, and thought it might be very well to go to meetings and church or chapel occasionally-would not hear of such a thing as her joining the church; and so determined was he in his opposition, that she considered it best to defer what she much desired, remarking, "I am sure the Lord will open a way that I may do what I see is a duty, and which I feel will be a privilege."

This was granted her in a way she little thought, and as little desired. Not long after, her husband took ill, and, after several weeks, died. There was some hope in his end. Left now at liberty, she applied and was received a member of the Tabernacle by the Rev. Dr. Campbell, and walked in the commands and ordinances of the Lord blameless for several years, and supported herself in respectability, but was now to experience adversity. Her husband had left her several hundred pounds which she suffered a worthless sonin-law to have on pretence of going into business, by which he was to

do great things for his family and to do much for her, but which he soon "wasted in riotous living." She never complained, but laboured on and supported herself till strength failed, and then coolly said to her friends, "I can work no longer, and therefore I shall go to the workhouse, and not stop till I am a burden to others." She put her resolve into practice, and entered the place which she has now exchanged for the mansions in the skies. The person to whom she used to say she was indebted, under God, for her spiritual life and hope, has to speak the word of life in the Union she was in, and was rejoiced to find her light was so shining in that generally dark place, that others were taking knowledge of her and speaking well of her. She was ill two years ago, and he made a special visit to her, when one of the officials of the house said, "Ah, Mrs. Higgins is a good woman; it would be well if all the people here were like her; this would be a very different place." And the same feeling was manifested by the people in the ward; all had a good word to say of her, and all were willing to do anything for her. At length the time drew nigh that she must depart. She had been ill some time, when a message was brought to the missionary that she was dying, and desired to see him. He went, and although he knew she had obtained a good report among the inmates, he was not quite prepared to hear how wide-spread her humble, quiet, but consistent Christian influence was. The time in the day he went rendered it necessary that he should see the master and

matron before seeing the person, which led to the knowledge that all about the place had marked her "good conversation in Christ." The matron said, "Mrs. Higgins is a worthy woman; I only wish we had all such." Another said, "She is a woman anybody may respect-a quiet creature, never makes strife, but will try to promote peace and good-will among all."

When he entered the ward, the same feeling was manifested by some forty or fifty persons who were there, some saying, "Ah, she is a Christian indeed!" showing they knew how to discern between the reality and the counterfeit.

When he came to her bed, she smiled, and putting out her hand, said, "I can't say much to you, but wished to see you before I go hence. You have been with me all my spiritual journey." She was exhausted, and he added, "And now you have come to the last stage ?" "Yes, yes, and feel that the Lord who has been with me all along will not leave me now at the last, though it is hard work, and I pray I may have patience not to murmur."

After reading the Word, prayer was offered, with which she was much refreshed, and a number of the people gathered round her bed to join in the exercise. She was visited frequently during the few days she lived, and though her bodily sufferings were great, she retained the same peaceful frame of mind. "It's hard work," she said, "but it will soon be over. Oh, how glad I am to think the end is come. I shall soon be with the Lord."

On the day she died, she was

66

visited. The nurses said, Please, Sir, she has just gone to sleep; she has had a most painful night, but not a murmur escaped her lips, and we are keeping quite still that she may get a little rest." But when her visitor came to the bed, he found her spirit had fled. She had died in her sleep, and thus her end had been like her life-quiet and peaceful. "How blessed the righteous when they die."

If, in closing this paper, we ask,

by what was it Mrs. Higgins earned for herself such esteem, both before she went and while in the workhouse, and by what was it she so commended the Gospel she professed, we answer, it was by the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. She had little to say, but she loved the Gospel. Her life was one of peace in herself and making peace among others; and her case shows how real religion will shine out under all circumstances. J. H.

WHY FRANK WAS FORGIVEN. "PAPA, how could you say the Lord's Prayer this morning?" This question was put to an eminent clergyman by one of his own children, after being punished for an act of disobedience. It happened one day that little Frank was sent into the garden to play with the other children, and in a short time fixed his longing eyes upon a favourite cherry tree of his papa's, the fruit of which all the little ones had been forbidden to touch; but the temptation was too strong for poor Frank. He looked again, and then tasted, after which he returned to his companions; and in a few minutes after his father entered the garden. Seeing what had been done, he called the children around him, and inquired what had become of the missing cherries. For a moment all were silent, when little Frank looked up, and said, "I cannot tell a lie; I did it."

"How many have you taken ?" was the next question asked by his father.

"Three," replied Frank.

"Then," said Mr. C-, "for the next three days, sir, you will live on bread and water, as a punishment for your disobedience." For two days the plate of dry bread and cup

of cold water waited for poor Frank at meal times, instead of his usual fare; and on the morning of the third day, while standing at the breakfast table, his father asked him how he liked his fare.

The child answered, "I can eat it very well, papa, but I don't much like it;" and, after standing in silence a few minutes, looked up and said, "Can't you forgive me, papa ?"

"No, sir, I cannot; my word has passed, and you must take your three days, as I told you."

The question was again asked, "But can't you really forgive me, papa?"

No," was the answer, "I cannot break my word."

Frank instantly said, "Then, papa, how could you say the Lord's Prayer this morning?"

Mr. C- ordered the bread and water to be removed, and turning to his little one, said with evident

pleasure, "My boy, you have preached me a better sermon than I ever preached in my life."