was preaching in the same place; but during the first prayer, his text, and the whole arrangement of his discourse, went completely from him, he could not recollect a single sentence of either; but Rom. v, 1. took possession of his whole soul: "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ." He considered this a sufficient intimation of his duty, and descanted freely on justification by faith, and a sinner's peace with God, through the atonement of Christ. It was the hour of mercy to this poor distracted woman. A ray of divine consolation now penetrated her soul; and she said to the minister when taking his leave, "I am a poor vile sinner, but I think, being justified by faith, I begin again to have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. I think Christ has now got the highest place in my heart; and, oh! I pray God, he would always keep him there."

Chap. v, ver. 7.-For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

The history of the world will scarcely, perhaps, produce a well-authenticated instance of one fellow creature voluntarily and deliberately submitting himself to certain death to save the life of another, nor does the thing appear warrantable. Many instances of noble heroism and generous benevolence, however, are recorded, among which the following is not the least remarkable:-A great inundation having taken place in the north of Italy, owing to an excessive fall of snow in the Alps, followed by a speedy thaw, the river Adige carried away a bridge near Verona, except the middle part, on which was the house of the toll-gatherer, who, with his whole family, thus remained imprisoned by the waves, and in momentary expectation of certain destruction. They were discovered from the banks, stretching forth their hands, screaming, and imploring succor; while fragments of the only remaining arch were dropping into the

impetuous torrent. In this extreme danger, a nobleman, the Count of Palverini, who was a spectator, held out a purse of one hundred sequins, as a reward to any adventurer who would take a boat, and save this unhappy family. But the risk was so great of being borne down by the impetuosity of the stream, and being dashed against the fragments of the bridge, or being crushed by the falling of the heavy stones, that not one of the vast multitude of spectators had courage enough to attempt such an exploit. A peasant passing along, was informed of the promised reward. Immediately leaping into the boat,he,byamazing strength of arm, gained the middle of the river, and brought his boat under the pile, when the whole terrified family descended by means of a rope. "Courage!" cried he, " now you are safe!" By a still more strenuous effort, he brought the boat and family to shore. "Brave fellow!" exclaimed the Count, and holding out the purse to him," there is your promised recompence." "I shall never expose my life for money," answered the peasant; "my labor affords a sufficient livelihood for myself, my wife, and children; give the purse to the poor family who have lost all."

Chap. vi, ver. 6.-Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

"Five persons," says Mr. Brooks," were studying what were the best means to mortify sin; one said, to meditate on death; the second to meditate on judgment; the third, to meditate on the joys of heaven; the fourth, to meditate on the torments of hell; the fifth, to meditate on the blood and sufferings of Jesus Christ; and certainly the last is the choicest and strongest motive of all. If ever we would cast off our despairing thoughts, we must dwell and muse much upon, and apply this precious blood to our own souls; so shall sorrow and mourning flee away,"

Chap. vi, ver. 17.-But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin; but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

A person who had expressed doubts, whether the negroes received any real advantage by bearing the Gospel, was asked, whether he did not think one named Jack was better for the preaching? He replied, "Why, I must confess that he was a drunkard, a liar, and a thief, but, certainly, he is now a sober boy, and I can trust him with any thing; and since he has talked about religion, I have tried to make him drunk, but failed in the attempt."

Chap. vii, ver. 9.-For I was alive without the law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

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The following remarks of one of the Christian negroes, may be considered as illustrative of the above passage: Yesterday morning," said he," when you preach, you show me that the law be our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. You talk about the ten commandments. You begin at the first, and me say to myself, Me guilty!' the second; Me guilty!' the third; Me guilty!" the fourth; Me guilty!' the fifth; Me guilty! Then you say the sixth, I suppose plenty people live here, who say,- Me no guilty of that!' Me say again in my heart, 'Ah! me no guilty? Did you never hate any person? Did you never wish that such a person, such a man or such a woman, was dead?' 'Massa, you talk plenty about that; and what I feel that time I can't tell you. I talk in my heart, and say, Me the same person. My heart begin to beat-me want to cry-my heart heave so much, me don't know what to do. Massa, me think me kill ten people before breakfast? I never think I so bad. Afterward, you talk about the Lord Jesus Christ, how he take all our sins. I think I stand the same like a person that have a big stone

upon him head, and can't walk-want to fall down. Oh Massa! I have trouble too much-I no sleep all night, and wept much. I hope the Lord Jesus Christ will take my sins from me! Suppose he no save me. I shall go to hell for ever.'"

Chap. vii, ver. 22, 23.-For. I delight in the law of God after the inward man. But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

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The Rev. William Johnson, missionary in Africa, gives the following account. "One woman was much distressed, and wept, and said that she had two hearts which troubled her so much, that she did not know what to do. One was the new heart, that told her all things that she had ever been doing. The same heart told her that she must go to Jesus Christ, and tell him all her sins, as she had heard at church; but her old heart told her, Never mind, God no save black man, but white man. How know he died for black man?' Her new heart said, 'Go, cry to him, and ask.' Old heart tell me, do my work first, fetch water, make fire, wash, and then go pray. When work done, then me forget to pray. I don't know what I do.' I read to her the seventh chapter to the Romans, and showed that the Apostle Paul felt the same things, and spoke of two principles in man. When I came to the verse, Oh wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? she said, Ah, Massa, that me-me no know what to do.' I added the words of St. Paul-I thank God, through Jesus Christ; and explained to her the love of Christ, how he died for sinners like her: she burst into tears; and has continued ever since, so far as I know, to follow her Saviour."

Chap. viii, ver. 26.-Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not.

what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Mr. C, a pious gentleman lately deceased, was on a visit to an intimate friend, whose sister, a pious lady, was lying on her death-bed. Religion, together with the means of promoting its growth in the heart, formed the subject of conversation. Mr. C having taken occasion to recommend the duty of family worship, his friend remarked, that he was sensible of the importance of the duty; but having hitherto been a stranger to the practice of it, he felt a difficulty in commencing it; that, however, if Mr. Cwould assist him in getting over that difficulty by giving the duty a beginning, he would afterwards endeavor to continue the practice of it. To such a mind as Mr. C.'s this proposal was embarrassing. If he complied with it, he knew he had no resource but to undertake the duty without the customary help of a prayer-book; and from this his modesty revolted. If he declined it, he had reason to apprehend that his declining it might operate unfavorably on his friend's establishment and growth in grace. The possibility

of such a result he could not suffer to be hazarded. In the option of difficulties, the benevolent desire of usefulness prevailed. The family was convened at the hour of prayer; and their guest presided in their family worship. At first he was somewhat agitated, and his voice began to faulter. But his mind soon recovered its tone, and the solemn duty was performed with ease and with propriety. The success which attended this first attempt, encouraged him to lay his formulary aside; and experience soon taught him, that when the spirit of devotion in truth prevails, there is rarely any difficulty in giving expression to the feelings which it excites.

Chap. viii, ver. 28.-And we know that all things work together for good to them that