same time assured him that I would come. Seeing that he was growing weaker, I departed." Those who have stood by the dying couch of one graciously awakened to feel his want of that forgiveness which all need (and none more than those who feel it least,) will alone be able to understand the delicate and trying position in which our young soldier was placed, and fully appreciate the way he deported himself. Such as have not, may read over these weighty sentences carelessly, and see little in them. They are, however, important to every one who has to pass the narrow stream that separates between the cares and illusions of time and the great realities of eternity. Look at them once more. See the weary and heavy-laden directed to the rest-giving Redeemer; the poor and empty invited to partake of a full and free salvation; the guilt-stained soul pointed to the blood of Jesus that cleanseth from all sin; the anxious spirit told that Jesus is at once an able and willing Saviour, and the sense of forgiveness and true peace are fruits of that faith which enables the soul to place all its trust and confidence in the Son of God. May the convert's lesson, taught so simply and affectionately to the Turkish officer in the tent of war, be learned by many Protestants in the homes of peace! And should we not pray that our young soldier may be spared, that he may be delivered out of temptation, that he may grow in grace and knowledge, and be yet made instrumental in leading many souls to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.-Second Series of Letters by Philip O'Flaherty. THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY. THE Premises of the Religious Tract Society in London are close beside the magnificent and famous cathedral of St. Paul's. The site of the Society's buildings formerly went by the name of Paul's Cross. To this spot, in dark days of old, many a witness for the truth was taken that he might seal his testimony by suffering a martyr's death. Has not the blood of such martyrs become the seed of the Church? The cruel and lurid flames of martyrdom no longer rise up from Paul's Cross. Instead of this, thousands and millions of little witnesses for the truth are every year going forth from that very spot to the most distant corners of the earth. At the recent meeting of the Society it was reported that the number of publications circulated last year was 28,292, 194, shewing an increase of 915,619 over the previous year, and making the entire issues of the Society, in 112 languages and dialects, about six hundred and seventy-three MILLIONS! GOOD OUT OF SEEMING EVIL. The Rev. F. Monod, from the Paris Tract Society, stated that in France, a decree was passed by the present government, forbidding the circulation of any printed matter, without the government stamps upon it. When they heard of it they exclaimed, "this will be a great impediment to our work;" but it had been no such thing, on the contrary it had proved a help. The Lord had turned it into good. The circulation of bad publications had been greatly impeded; but for this very reason, the people had sought their Tracts more eagerly than before, and in not a single instance had the government stamp been refused. It was by tens of thousands that their tracts had been circulated among the soldiers, and they had led the way for an extensive diffusion of Bibles and New Testaments, as well as to the establishment of libraries for the soldiers. There was now a reading library in each of the four military camps which had been formed in France, a barrack had been assigned for the library, and a Protestant soldier appointed to watch over the books. Their colporteurs, too, had been ermitted to go into the barrack in the evening, and read to the soldiers, and this had led to four or five evangelists preaching in each of the four camps. On one occasion, complaint was made to the General, that Roman Catholic soldiers listened to the preaching of these Protestant ministers; but he replied, "I must permit the Protestant soldiers to hear the preaching of their ministers, and if the Catholic soldiers will go to hear also, I cannot help it." There was one other curious fact connected with this subject, and it was this-that the Traet Society and the Evangelical Society were in partnership in this work with the Emperor. The Emperor was consulted on this matter of the library; he said, "it was a good thing, and he would take part in it," and he did so by sending some military books to be added to the religious ones. NEW SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TRICOLOUR. The Rev. J. B. Owen said, he had been much struck with the circumstance to which M. Monod alluded, that the government stamp was impressed upon the Tracts of the Parisian Society. The tricolour of France-red, white and blue-had been associated generally in the minds of Englishmen with disorder and revolution, but when it became attached to the peace-breathing publications of a Society like that, its insignificance was changed. The red might be regarded as the emblem of the blood of atonement; the white, the figure of the righteousness that is by faith; and the blue the emblem of heaven; and in their conjunction upon Tracts which set forth Jesus Christ as the great atonement and the only way of justification, and heaven as the recompense of the believer, give a dignity, beauty, and significance to the tricolour, such as he had never expected it to be invested with. PRAYER FOR THE TRIUMPH OF THE GOSPEL. "Awake, awake, put on strength, O 'arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient ays, in the generations of old."-ISAIAH li. 9. Arm of the Lord! awake, awake, Put on thy strength, the nations shake; Triumphs of mercy wrought by Thee. Say to the heathen from thy throne, Thy voice their idols shall confound No more let human blood be spilt, The blood that flowed from Jesus' side. Let Zion's time of favour come; Oh! bring the tribes of Israel home; Almighty God, thy grace proclaim MISSION TO THE SEIKS. Ir was delightful to hear the Report of our Indian Mission read to the last General Assembly-it spoke with so earnest a determination of EXTENDING our Foreign Missionary operations. We gladly hail it as a healthful symptom of growing missionary life in our Church that that idea of extending our foreign missions is not only seriously entertained-but that we can speak of it as already accomplished in OUR NEW MISSION TO THE SEIKS. "Several years ago," says the Report of the Indian Mission Committee, "when the Punjaub was less known to us than it now is, though the interest in it was not less great from its recent conquest, a munificent contribution was sent to your Committee, through Dr. Muir of Edinburgh, for a mission to the Seiks. It was generously gifted by General and Mrs. Campbell of Lochnell, out of funds left them by a near relative-Captain Murray-for the purpose of establishing a mission in that great province, where Captain Murray long lived, and where he was much respected. From the unsettled state of the country, however, and the apparent impossibility of obtaining a safe lodgment in it for missionary operations, this contribution has hitherto lain in abeyance. It appears annually in our Accounts as the "Murray Fund;" and, with the consent and approval of all parties concerned, the interest arising from it has been appropriated to other purposes till a convenient season occurred of establishing a mission. It now amounts to about £1500; and as, from recent inquiries instituted by the Committee, we have the gratifying prospect of being able, at no distant period, to accomplish this truly benevolent and Christian enterprise to the Seiks. not only with security, but, under God's blessing, with success, it is respectfully proposed that, under the authority of the General Assembly, the work may now be begun.” Mr. Hunter has accordingly been ordained to this interesting mission. He is a young minister, in regard to whom the Report says: "Your Committee desire to express their confidence in his piety, and talents, and missionary zeal. It is further intended that, in occupying his ultimate sphere of labour at Lahore, or in its neighbourhood, another missionary VOL. IV. No. IX. SEPTEMBER 1855. may be associated with him, that he may not be alone on this very remote territory; and that, to give due time for the maturing of this plan, he proceed immediately to Bombay, where further information may be acquired, and the necessary arrangements duly made. During the next ten months or a year, after leaving, the Committee propose associating Mr. Hunter with Mr. Wallace at the mission, by the expiry of which period they hope to have suitable colleagues provided for each." We are sure we can promise Mr. Hunter and the Seik Mission a very large share in the earnest sympathy, and prayers, and liberal support of the Church. And all the more sure are we of that sympathy and support because of the evidently enlarging views of missionary duty which present providences are opening up to the minds of the Christian men of our day. Referring to these providences, our Indian Mission Committee's Report closed with the following stirring sentences. It was with no ordinary interest we heard them read in the General Assembly. Let it be our determination that it shall not be for want of all the encouragement we can give them if the Indian Mission Committee do not take advantage of every opening they can get. "In Turkey, as in other regions, war may be doing its work as the pioneer of the Gospel; and still must Christians, who would obey the mandate of their risen Lord, hold themselves in readiness to follow the leadings of Providence, while they improve its events. In this attitude, then, would the Committee on Foreign Missions now present themselves to the notice of the Church. Should they receive encouragement, they will not be slow in taking advantage of such openings as may offer, and as may be prudently occupied for the extension of Christian liberty and light. Already have suggestions been thrown out with a view to this, and it is only within a few days that a communication has been received, from one, whose praise is in all the churches-the Rev. Dr. Cumming of Londonpressing the importance of the same subject. In his letter to the Convener he offers £70, which he has already collected, and promises to double it should the Assembly take it up. Sooner or later, no doubt, the Church must do so. Other churches are pressing on to the field; and while there |