W. H. Why must you go? you get 20s. a-week, and your family
I should feel myself a little prince, if we

all earning something.

could get as much.

J. F. Still we must all emigrate, even if we earned £20 a-week.
W. H. You are joking, I think; I don't understand you.

J. F. No, I am serious, very serious; I think of emigration every
day I live. We are all "sojourners," I mean, in this world, and
must soon emigrate from it. Shall it be to a better country?

W. H. I hope so, or else the worse for us.

J. F. But have you thought about the country, the ship, and the captain?

W. H. Well, I can't say I have: Canada, the United States, and Australia, have been a good deal in my mind; and I have seen an Agent, who gave me a good deal of information very kindly about getting across, and who even engaged to get my savings' bank money paid me on the other side of the water; but I can't say I have thought much of the country you speak of.

J. F. Well, I have; and I want all my neighbours to think much about it too.

W. H. I hope, James, all will end well, without my troubling myself much about it. Poor as we are, God will not expect it from us. J. F. Quite otherwise. God expects of the poor especially, that they will think of this subject; for the Captain He has provided for us was once a poor man, and is the poor man's best friend. No man can reach “the better country," without setting his heart upon it; no man can sail in my ship, without learning well to know its rules and regulations; no man will my Captain take, who does not himself apply to Him for a passage.

W. H. I think, James, I have some little guess what you mean. J. F. My dear neighbour, the better country is Heaven; the ship is named the Gospel; and Jesus Christ is the captain. Can you wish for a better country, a better vessel, or a better Captain? Why will you not apply at once?

W. H. I own I am very foolish, I ought to say, mad, if I do not; since I know that I may have to take the long last voyage at any hour God sees fit.

J. F. True, William, and if you had a hundred years yet to live, you would not repent of giving up carelessness and sin for Christ at once. He's a blessed Captain to sail under, and all who put themselves under his care are sure to reach the blessed haven at last. I am glad you found the Government agent so kind; but the Lord Jesus is more kind than any fellow-man can be, and almighty too!

W. II. Well, I fear hundreds of us, who talk of Emigration all the day long, never think of the last emigration.

J. F. Yet what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul, or be cast away? Very comfortable, to be sure,

to get a bit of land, and get up a cottage of our own, if it be but a log cottage, and to grow enough to live upon; but all that, if we got it, must be left again, just as we left Old England. And then!

W. H. Ah, then! You are certainly right, James; God grant I may be ready for that last emigration. It will be poor doing, indeed, if I do get a comfortable home on the other side of the water, to have no better home to go to on the other side of the grave.

J. F. I am glad to hear you speak so truly. Be sure of this, that God makes our home in this world uneasy only to awaken us to the recollection that we have a home to seek and secure in a better world. If you have to go abroad, I shall be glad to help you all I can; and still more, to help you in my poor way in seeking, through our blessed Lord and his blessed gospel, "the better country."

"WHAT SHALL WE DO?"

Luke iii. 12.

What object have you in view? Do you desire to flee from the wrath to come? Do you wish to be reconciled to God? Are you willing to accept and act upon the advice of God? Is the salvation of the soul the object you have in view? If so, we will tell you what you should do.

Think seriously of your state as a sinner before God. Compare your conduct and heart with the requirements of his holy law. Place yourself frequently in the presence of God, and notice the working of your mind when you do so. This will produce, or deepen, conviction of sin.

Carefully read the word of God. Read it as if it were written on purpose for you. Read it, as pointing out the state of human nature, -as setting forth the character of God,—as showing unto men the way of salvation. Read it slowly. Read it thoughtfully. Read it with prayer. Read a small portion of it every day. Read it until you understand its meaning, and feel its power.

Regularly hear the gospel. Go where it is preached plainly. Where the minister appears to be in earnest. Where you feel most interested. Never lose a sermon if you can help it; for perhaps the sermon you miss, will be the very one likely to do you good. Have a place in the house of God, and always occupy it if you can.

Heartily believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God. He came into the world to save sinners. He has given us his word, that he will save all that come unto God by him. Believe these things, and go to him as the Son of God, as the only and all-sufficient Saviour; plead with him to save you, and exercise confidence in his word that he will do so. Renounce all dependance on every thing beside. Seek and expect salvation from him, and he will deliver you from the wrath of God, and introduce you to everlasting glory.

Daily repent of sin. You daily sin, and should therefore daily repent. To repent is to be sorry that we have done wrong, with the purpose and desire to avoid doing so again. If you really believe in Jesus, you will be sorry for your sins; and the stronger your faith is, the deeper will your repentance be. God commandeth all men every where to repent, therefore he commands you to do so. If he command you to do it, it is a sin if you neglect it; consequently, if you live without repentance, you go on adding sin to sin. Fervently pray to God. He hears prayer. He loves to see sinners upon their knees. Pray for a broken heart. Pray for the immediate pardon of all your sins. Pray for the Holy Spirit to be given you. Pray for the knowledge of Christ. Pray that your nature may be sanctified, and made like the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray for joy and peace. Pray that all your old habits may be destroyed, and that you may become a new creature in Christ Jesus.

Diligently follow your calling, whatever it may be. Industry is a duty, and when persevered in becomes a pleasure. Avoid all drinking customs. Keep out of bad company. Prefer your home to any other place, except it be God's house. Live as under God's eye. Walk in the world as one that must give an account to God. Often examine your own heart. Reflect upon the course you are pursuing. Compare yourself with God's word. Think of a sick bed, a dying hour, a judgment day, a glorious heaven, and a dreadful hell. Whatever you do, do not neglect the soul. Do not miss salvation. Do not perish in your sins. Do not sink into the second death. Life and death are set before you in God's word, therefore choose life and live for ever. The Lord Jesus will soon be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power (2 Thess. i. 7-9). If therefore you know not God, if you obey not the gospel, You will be punished, and punished for ever. Beware in time. Think seriously. Read God's word carefully. Hear the gospel regularly. Believe in Jesus heartily. Repent of your sins daily. Pray to God fervently. Follow your calling diligently. Thus make sure work for eternity, and lay hold on eternal life.

New-Park-Street, London.

JAMES SMITH.

THE STRANGER AND HIS FRIEND.

BY JAMES MONTGOMERY.

A poor wayfaring Man of grief,

Hath often crossed me on my way,

Who sued so humbly for relief,

That I could never answer, "Nay."

A

Narratives, Anecdotes, &c.

"I'VE NO THOUGHT OF DYING SO."

AN AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE.

B- — was a son of wealthy and influential parents, in one of the Northern counties of the State of New York; and the substance of what I am about to relate is well known in the neighbourhood where he lived and died.

He commenced business for himself early in life, and exhibited considerable shrewdness and energy of mind. But the safeguards of virtue and piety did not shield him in the perilous season of youth; and he soon became (in the language of the world) a bold, generoushearted fellow; growing in popularity and wealth. He was above the fear of religious admonition and the authority of the Bible; and was considered quite able to confute any Christian believer. He was indeed a young man of promise; but his life was a dreadful illustration of the words of Holy Writ: "the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live ;" and his end was a scene of thickening horrors.

About a year before his death, and not above five years ago, AB was riding with an intimate friend, when the conversation which follows was held. This friend, as he now says, was at the time considerably impressed by religious truth; but, that he might be confirmed in his impenitence by the scepticism of his more intelligent and reckless comrade, or for some other reason, he felt desirous to know B's sentiments fully on religion. Accordingly, after a little hesitation, he commenced by saying

“B——, you and I have been much together, and have confidence, I believe, in each other as friends. We have conversed freely upon almost every subject; but there is one that we have never seriously talked about. It is a subject that has troubled me for some time; and I should like to know what are really your candid opinions. If you don't wish to have them told, I will keep the matter to myself."

"Oh, certainly," was the reply, "I've no objection against making known any of my opinions."

"Well, then," said Henry (for so I will name his friend), "what do you think about the Bible? Is it true? And is there any such thing as religion? or is it all a delusion ?"

"Why, as to that,” said B

"I've no more doubt that there is

a God, and that religion is a reality, and that it is necessary to be what the Christians call pious in order to be happy hereafter, than that we are riding together."

Henry was greatly surprised; and, looking at him intently, to see whether there was not designed trifling, B― proceeded :