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great concourse of people, in the well-known words: “There lies he who never feared the face of man." That Craig was a man of kindred spirit, one fact will demonstrate. Knox was absent from Edinburgh at the time of the queen's marriage with Bothwell, but his colleague well supported the honour of his place and order on that occasion, when the whole nobility of Scotland preserved a passive and disgraceful silence.

Required by both parties to publish the banns, Craig, after taking the advice of his session, reluctantly complied; but, at the same time, he protested from the pulpit on three successive days, and took heaven and earth to witness that he abhorred the intended marriage as unlawful and scandalous. He also solemnly charged the nobility to use their influence to dissuade the queen taking such a step, which would inevitably cover her with infamy, and involve her in ruin. When called before the council, and charged with exceeding the bounds of his commission, he defended his conduct, and as Bothwell was present, he accused him of fearful crimes.

Important was the work to which Craig was called; and for its accomplishment he was most signally spared. Until then, though beset by appalling dangers, he was immortal. No human, no Satanic power could touch his life. It was safe as the throne of Jesus whom he served. And so it is still in the instance of every true disciple. As he lingers not beyond the appointed term of his earthly pilgrimage, so he departs not one hour, one moment, too soon. At the instant in which he feels the cold dart of death, the last act demanded of him is done, the last service is rendered.

Towards the

To Craig, hoary hairs were a crown of glory. close of his life, he preached two years in Montrose, then removed to Aberdeen, where he acted as visitor of the churches in Buchan and Mar, and was afterwards chosen minister to the royal household. In this situation he remained till his death, at the advanced age of eighty-eight.

CHRISTIAN CHARACTERISTICS.

TO be hated by the world, is incident to all godly men. It is not thy condition only, but the condition of all those that do live godly in Christ Jesus: they must and shall suffer persecution in some degree or other. Some only sip, others drink deeper of the cup; but every one of the saints have tasted it : all the prophets, Christ himself, and all the apostles. Is it any wonder, then, if they do the like to thee? Thou art not the only saint in the world that is hated: there are as many in thy condition as there are saints in the world.

W. GEARING.

Intelligence.

FOREIGN.-CHINA.

From the Rev. Charles Gutzlaff.

IT affords me great pleasure to tell you, that since my return to Macao last summer, there has been a very great demand for books at that place. In circulating them we have gone more openly to work than we hitherto ventured to do, and the majority of our readers peruse these religious treatises with great interest, and ask for more. There are also some who attend to the instructions of the Divine word of their own accord, a matter very unusual in a place where prejudice and hatred towards foreigners are most inveterate, and religious indifference is beyond a parallel. Never did I live in a city where every thing combines to endanger the spirit and change ardour for the cause of Christ into doubts. Yet even here may the Lord, in much mercy, send his Holy Spirit from on high to call souls to eternal life.

I cannot yet send you a full account of the application of your grant; because the tracts are not yet entirely prepared. In the mean while we shall go on distributing those which are ready, and imploring the Divine blessing upon these efforts. I repeat what I told you in a former letter, that every remittance on your part will be conscientiously and promptly applied to the promotion of the Saviour's cause in China and the adjacent countries.

I particularly beseech you never to believe, that nothing can be done in this country; these are the mere suggestions of unbelief and lukewarmness. If we are ready to lay down our lives for the blessed Saviour who died for us on the cross, a large sphere of direct missionary exertions is opened to our view, but we have to suffer for the good cause. Now, I am extremely ashamed of my own pusillanimity, though I have, during these last seven years, paid eleven visits to Maritime China, and have spent more than half a year in one expedition, and have been always preserved even under showers of bullets and sundry other unpleasant predicaments; yet can I occasionally distrust my great and good Lord, who has always supported me, and slacken my efforts. Only wait until you see a noble band of Christian heroes in the field ready to be spent, and you will hear a great deal more about what has been done. Never pay the least regard to idle aspersions and rumours proceeding from men who never put their lives in jeopardy for Christ's gospel and trod on China's soil, but be firmly persuaded, that whosoever will offer himself a living sacrifice to the Redeemer, and boldly stand a champion of the gospel,

will also be permitted, whilst suffering manfully, to proclaim the riches of Divine grace. I ask for your supplications in my behalf, and far more so in behalf of this great country.

Lower Canada.

REV. A. J. Parker of Shipton, Lower Canada, in requesting tracts for gratuitous distribution, says, "The demand for tracts is great. Females have walked six miles to my dwelling in order to exchange the tracts they had borrowed, and one mother said that before she had any of these tracts, only one of her six children had any relish for a book. By means of these tracts, an impulse had been given to their minds which had made them all fond of reading, and what was more, four of the six were now cherishing the hope of forgiveness and acceptance in Christ in consequence of reading these tracts."

DOMESTIC.

From a Correspondent in Shropshire.

I TAKE the opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of the tracts your committee directed to be forwarded to me, for which I feel truly grateful; and also many of the poor people desire to return their grateful acknowledgment for the grant, and, as a token of their gratitude, they have collected and given me 22s. to send to your society, which you will receive inclosed. Many respectable persons have latterly taken to reading the tracts; there is scarcely a family in this. place, and in three or four villages around, that do not read them; and from the good effects that have been produced, I hope they will prove a lasting blessing to the neighbourhood. Many have acknowledged that, since the tracts have been distributed here, there has been a great moral change in many families. One pleasing instance occurred in a village whither I go to preach: A poor man who never used to attend any place of worship, had a tract given him; he was so much interested in its contents that he sought for more, and since that time has attended the preaching of the gospel, and appears to have received good; so that I hope I shall be able to give fresh encouragement to your Society and its friends and supporters, by detailing the good effects produced by the circulation of tracts.

From a Correspondent.

I HAVE had much to encourage me in my labour of love, though I have seen many who promised fair, return to their evil courses. I have been enabled, through the assistance of

your valuable present, to form a little reading society in a dark spot, near Kensington. I had much opposition at first, but I hope it will in time quite wear away. I got a kind friend to sew about six or seven tracts together in a paper cover, and on each side of the cover I pasted a handbill, and thus won the respect and affection of one and another, till, by the assistance of the Most High, I attained my object. Some, I trust, have been awakened to see their state by nature, and some regularly attend the means of grace. Who knows how many may have to point back to those humble endeavours, and declare they found it good to be there?

Many cases I could refer to which have come under my notice since my last, but I must be content to relate one or two.

The first relates to a soldier in Knightsbridge barracks. He had for a few Sundays met me in my little room, and heard me endeavour to set before his eyes Christ as a Saviour. I am happy to say he did not hear in vain. He had from time to time his books exchanged, till he came to take a farewell. He stated he feared he should not see me in London for at least three years, and therefore came to express his gratitude to me for what I had done for his soul. gave him a little bundle of tracts to take with him, and after many a sorrowful and parting farewell, we commended each other to the care of our heavenly Father, in hopes of meeting in a better and brighter world, where separation will be unknown. Another from the same regiment came, and having expressed his gratitude, we parted, perhaps to meet no more till we rise from the tomb.

Another pleasing circumstance came under my notice last sabbath. I observed a man from whom I experienced much opposition, come dressed clean and tidy to listen to the word. For the last four or five Sundays he has attended, and there appears a remarkable change. He is a character well known, and for swearing equalled the worst I ever heard. A friend who came to assist, who knew the man for years, directly she saw him, exclaimed, "That man resembles the Gadarene, for he is now clothed and in his right mind."

Another poor man I have persuaded to attend a place of worship, and hope he will not attend in vain.

Another old man, formerly a soldier, till lately a great drunkard, said to me when I saw him to exchange his tract, "Sir, I do now intend to leave off drinking." He appeared deeply sorry for his past life, and I think he is earnestly inquiring the way to Zion. I hope to see him turn to the Lord his God before his sun is for ever set.

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ELIJAH at once reproved king Ahab, and required of him to make use of his power, in gathering all Israel to Carmel, in fetching thither all the prophets of Baal. While God had but one hundred prophets, hid closely in Obadiah's caves, Baal had eight hundred and fifty: four hundred and fifty dispersed over the villages and towns of Israel, four hundred at the court. God's prophets are glad of bread and water; while the four hundred prophets of Jezebel feed on her dainties; they lurk in caves, while these lord it in the pleasantest groves. Outward pros-. perity is a false note of truth. All these, with all Israel, Elijah required Ahab to summon unto Carmel.

Israel is met together: Elijah reproves them, not so much for their superstition, as for their unsettledness and irresolution. One Israelite serves God, another Baal; yea, the same Israelite, perhaps, serves both God and Baal. Nothing is more odious to God than a profane neutrality as to religion. Whether out of guiltiness, or fear, or uncertainty, Israel is silent; yet, while their mouths were shut, their eyes were open. Had not Elijah been assured of the event, he durst not have put religion on such hazard: but that God commanded him this trial, who meant confusion to the authors of idolatry, victory to the truth. The TRACT MAGAZINE, NO. 55. JULY, 1838.

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