of Queen Mary, condemned to the flames. The morning of execution arrived. The intended martyr walked to Smithfield, and was bound to the stake. The faggots were piled round him, and the executioner only waited for the word of command to apply the torch. Just at this crisis, tidings came of the queen's death; which obliged the officers to stop their proceedings, until the pleasure of the new queen (Elizabeth) should be known. In memory of so providential a deliverance, by which the good man was as a brand plucked out of the fire, he was no sooner released from his imprisonment and troubles, than he got a picture of Queen Elizabeth made, decorated round with significant ornaments, and ordered in his will that the picture should be transmitted as a memorial to future times, in the eldest branch of his family.

Chap. xiii, ver. 9, 10.-Then Paul said, Oh full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

While Polycarp was at Rome, he employed his time in confirming the faithful and convincing gainsayers, whereby he reclaimed many who had been infected with the pernicious heresies of Marcian and Valentinus; and so very fervent was his affection for the truth, that whenever he heard of any of the mischievous opinions of his times mentioned, he used to stop his ears, and cry out, " Good God! to what times hast thou reserved me, that I should hear such things!" And one day meeting Marcian, who called to him, saying, "Polycarp, own us," he replied, "I own thee to be the first-born of Satan."

Chap. xiii, ver. 38-41.-Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that be

lieve are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware, therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

A candidate for the Gospel ministry was lately invited to settle over a congregational society in NewEngland. In giving the invitation there was a general union in the church and society. A few, however, on the ground of religious sentiments, were opposed to the settlement. Among the opposers, one man was exceedingly bitter. This person was open and explicit in expressing the hatred of his heart toward those doctrines, commonly called the doctrines of grace, that were preached by the candidate. The invitation was accepted, and the day appointed for the ordination. A few weeks previous to the day, in conversation with some neighbors on the subject of the candidate's settlement among them, the man expressed himself in the following manner :-" I wish I may die before he is settled here." The appointed day approached, and the man remained unrelenting in his opposition. On the morning of the Sabbath preceding the day of ordination, being in usual health, and busied in some domestic concern, he was seized in a very surprising manner. In an unexpected moment, he was struck into a state of insensibility, speechless, and hopeless. In this melancholy state he continued till Wednesday morning, the day of ordination, when, about two hours before the commencement of the public solemnities, according to his own desire, he expired! His case was so extraordinary as to baffle the attempts of skilful physicians, either to restore him, or to satisfy themselves as to the natural cause of his situation. To all who witnessed the solemn scene, it evidently appeared that, like Uzzah,

for his presumption in touching the ark, this man was smitten by the hand of the Lord.

Chap. xiv, ver. 1, 2.-And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews, and also of the Greeks, believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

About the beginning of 1825, Mr. King, the American missionary, spent about six months in Tyre, in Syria, and made some efforts to establish a school there for the instruction of Tyrian females. He was very near succeeding, when one of the principal priests rose up and said, "It is by no means expedient to teach women to read the word of God. It is better for them to remain in ignorance, than to know how to read and write. They are quite bad enough with what little they know; teach them to read and write, and there would be no living with them." These arguments were sufficient to convince all the Greek and Catholic population of the impropriety of female education.

Chap. xiv, ver. 15.—We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you, that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.

When the French ambassador visited the illustrious Bacon in his last illness, and found him in bed with the curtains drawn, he addressed this fulsome compliment to him: "You are like the angels of whom we hear and read much, but have not the pleasure of seeing them."-The reply was the sentiment of a philosopher, and language not unworthy of a Christian" If the complaisance of others compares me to an angel, my infirmities tell me I am a man.'

Chap. xv, ver. 1, 2.-And certain men which came down from Judea, taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

A gentleman, who was in company with the late Rev. John Newton of London, lamented the violent disputes that often take place among Christians respecting the non-essentials of Christianity, and particularly church government. "Many," he said, "seem to give their chief attention to such topics, and take more pleasure in talking on these disputable points, than on spiritual religion, the love of Christ, and the privileges of his people.' "Sir," said the venerable old man, "did you ever see a whale ship? I am told that when the fish is struck with the harpoon, and feels the smart of the wound, it sometimes makes for the boat, and would probably dash it to pieces. To prevent this, they throw a cask overboard; and when it is staved to pieces, they throw over another. "Now, sir," added Mr. Newton, " church government is the tub which Satan has thrown over to the people of whom you speak."-

Chap. xv, ver. 11.-But we believe that, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved, even as they.

The late Rev. Andrew Fuller, one day during his last illness, complained of great depression and sinking, saying that he must die. A friend replied, “ I do not know of any person, sir, who is in a more enviable situation than yourself; a good man on the verge of a blessed immortality." He humbly acqui

esced, and hoped it was so; and then lifting up his hands, exclaimed, "If I am saved, it must be by great sovereign grace,—by great sovereign grace.”

Chap. xv, ver. 36.-And some days after, Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

It is observed of Dr. Doddridge, that before he went to visit his friends, and especially before he undertook a journey, it was his custom to employ some time in seriously considering what opportunities he might have of doing good, that he might be prepared to embrace and improve them; to what temptations he might be exposed, that he might be armed against them; and on his return he examined himself, what bis behaviour had been, and whether he had most reason for pain or pleasure on the reflection; and his previous and subsequent reflections were attended with correspondent devotions.

Chap. xvi, ver. 14.And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended to the things which were spoken of Paul.

The late Rev. John Patison of Edinburgh, having occasion to preach on a Sabbath day in Dundee, had previously to his leaving home, laid aside, and ordered to be packed up with some other necessary articles, a certain note-book, which contained a sermon, on which the good man had bestowed considerable pains, and which he hoped might not be unacceptable to a congregation of Christians, who then enjoyed the stated labors of the late excellent Mr. M.Ewen. On his arrival in Dundee, however, which was not till the Saturday evening, and on examining the contents of his saddle-bags, he found the note-book want