to be fitted and prepared to endure all the extremes of heat and cold. Change of temperature and locality does not affect them as it does others. It is worthy of notice that, in many countries where Jews live in their dispersion, a marked difference has been found between them and their neighbours in the proportion of births and deaths, and also in the susceptibility of different diseases; some of which have almost without exception affected the Jews only, while they have entirely escaped the contagion of other diseases that have abounded around them. In Prussia, the following observations have been made during the course of 19 years, from 18221840. Among 100,000 of the Prussian population, the average number of deaths was 2,963; among the same number of Jews, it was only 2,161. Among 100,000 Prussian children, and 100,000 Jewish children born during the same period, the returns are as follows:

trary, many facts lead to the belief that this is not the case. Colder climates are more suited to the European constitution than the tropical regions. But the Jew is a regular cosmopolite. In foreign countries his flexible constitution adapts itself to the clime where he pitches his tent as a stranger, and shows a tenacity of life which renders him less vulnerable to disease and death than the aborigines of the soil. How is this? There seems no explanation but one, and that is found in the prophecy_uttered near 4,000 years ago:-"In blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea-shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of thy enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed " (Gen. xxii. 17, 18). The Jews have yet a work to do in witnessing for Him whom their fathers slew, and in blessing the nations of the earth by their testimony; when a converted nation with one voice shall say of Jehovah Jesus, "This is our God: we have waited for him, and He will save us." "O, Jehovah, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me. Behold God is my salvation; I will trust (believe), and be not afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation."

THE CONTENTED CRIPPLE. "I SAW in Killis," says Dr. Dwight, a poor cripple, who had been brought there lately from a place in the Taurus mountains, and who was rejoicing in the hope of the Gospel. The hovel that he was in would not have been considered fit for animals in America. It was built of mud, had only the ground for a floor, and a single low room. He was lying on his back, with nothing under him but a piece of coarse hair bagging, and his head was supported by a very small and thin straw pillow, resting upon a pile of stones.

He

was covered with rags and filth, and his bodily infirmities excited our deepest pity. His bony hands were drawn firmly together, so that he could by no means open them, and his elbows were quite stiff. The

flesh was gone from both hands and arms, and I presume, in a great measure, from his whole body. If ever there was in this world an object of pity, that man was such an object. And yet, from the time we entered the room until we left it, he never uttered one word of complaint, never even spoke of his pains and sufferings, or of his poverty; but his whole conversation and his whole appearance were those of a most perfectly contented, cheerful, and happy man. For twenty years he has been in this crippled condition, unable to move his limbs; and before that he was a robber, and lived by his own wickedness.

"Four years ago, while in his mountain village, he first heard of the Protestants. Afterwards, some copies of the New Testament found their way to his village, and one of them was read from in his hearing. A native Protestant first explained to him the Gospel way of salvation; and two years ago he thinks he received by faith the Lord Jesus Christ, and ever since he has been filled with peace and joy.

"Many a king and emperor might well envy him his lot. Within the last year, notwithstanding all the discouragements of his condition, he has actually learned to read, and now he keeps the New Testament by his side, and from time to time comforts his desolate heart by reading from its sacred pages. He appears to be somewhat over fifty years of age. Truly, here is a miracle of grace. I asked him if he felt that his sins were forgiven. 'Yes,' said he, by the grace of God our Saviour, Jesus Christ, I have found peace. I have no hope in anything else but Christ, but through him I have peace and joy.' He said he had no fear of death left, but was ready to depart whenever it should be God's will. I asked particularly about the terms on which the sinner

was

"Oh, what power there is in the Gospel of Christ to enlighten and transform so dark a mind, and to put hope and life and peace into such a soul! A few years ago he an ignorant, degraded, hardened and abandoned wretch. And now, if anybody were to look into his hovel, and see him drawn up and withered by disease, and often racked with pain, lying neglected upon the hard ground, he would feel that he was the most miserable of all human beings. And yet there are few happier men in this wide world."

TRUST IN GOD.

To trust God when our warehouses and bags are full, and our table spread, is no hard thing; but to trust him when our purses are empty, but a handful of meal and a cruise of oil left, and all ways of relief stopped-herein lies the proof of a Christian's grace. Yet none are freed from this duty; all are bound to acknowledge their trust in him by the daily prayer for daily bread; even those that have it in their cupboards as well as those that want it: the greatest prince, as well as the meanest beggar. Whatever your wants are, want not faith, and you cannot want supplies.

Trust Providence in the greatest need. He brings us into straits, that he may see the exercise of our faith. He is always our refuge and our strength, but in time of trouble a present help. God's eye is always upon them that fear him; not to keep distress from them, but to quicken them in it, and give them as it were a new life from the dead. We should therefore repose ourselves in God in a desert, as well as in cities; with as much faith among

savage beasts, as in the best company of the most sociable men; and answer the greatest strait with Abraham's speech to Isaac, "God will provide." For we have to do with a God who is bound up to no means, and delights to perfect his strength in the creature's weakness. We have to do with a God who alone knows what may further our good, and accordingly orders it; what may hinder it, and therefore prevents it. He can set all causes in such a posture as shall join together as one link to bring about success, and make even contrary notions meet in one gracious end; as the rivers which run from north and south, the contrary quarters of the world, agree in the waves of

one sea.

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Trust in the way of means. use means without respect to God, is proudly to despise him; to depend upon God without the use of means, is irreligiously to tempt him; in both we abuse his providence. Jacob wrestles with God to turn away his brother's fury, yet sends a present to his brother to appease him. David trusts in the name of the Lord his God in his duel with Goliath, bnt not without his sling. Our labour should rather be more vigorous than more faint, when we are assured of the blessing of Providence by the infallibility of the promise.

Trust Providence in the way of God's precept. This is the way to success. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass." Commit thy way to the guidance of his providence, with obedience to his precept, and reliance on his promise. if we set up our golden calf made of our own ear-rings, our wit, and strength, and carnal prudence, because God seems to neglect us, our fate may be the same with theirs, and the very dust of our demolished calf may be a bitter spice in our drink, as it was in theirs.

Trust him solely without prescribing any methods to him. Leave him to his wise choice, wait upon him because he is a God of judgment, who goes wisely to work, and

can best time the executions of his will.-Charnock.

SINGULAR CASE OF CONVERSION. THE Wesleyan singing was a source of great power to early Methodism. Charles Wesley's hymns, with simple but effective tunes, spread everywhere among the societies; and hundreds of hearers, who cared not for the preaching, were charmed to Methodist assemblies by their music. It secured them much success among the susceptible Irish. A curious example of its power is told by one of the Irish preachers. At Wexford the society was persecuted by Papists, and met in a closed barn. One of the persecutors had agreed to conceal himself in it beforehand, that he might open the door to his comrades after the people had assembled. He crept into a sack hard by the door. The singing commenced, but the Hibernian was so taken with the music, that he thought he would hear it through before disturbing the meeting. He was so much gratified that, at its conclusion, he thought he would hear the prayer also. But this was too powerful for him; he was seized with remorse and trembling, and roared out with such dismay as to appall the congregation, who began to believe that Satan himself was in the sack. The sack was at last pulled off him, and disclosed the Irishman, weeping, penitent, and praying with all his might. He was permanently converted. Southey remarks, that "this is the most comical case of instantaneous conversion that ever was recorded; and yet the man is said to have been thoroughly converted."

THE LITTLE BIRD'S LESSON. LOOKING out of his window one summer evening, Luther saw on a tree at hand a little bird making ready for its night's rest. "Look," said he, "how that little fellow preaches faith to us all. He takes hold of his twig, tucks his head under his wing, and goes to sleep, leaving God to think for him."