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The Little Coffin.

FEW households have been saved from the sad sight of the little coffin:

"There is no flock, however watched or tended,

perspiration which the night-air, him back to such enemies and so cold at this season that even such a death, exhibits the loftiest the hardy soldiers needed fire, example of fortitude which the could not chill. Mysterious help world has ever seen. There was from heaven restored him a little, less noise, less parade, less display but though refreshed through than at Thermopyle or Trafalheavenly sympathy, we must re- gar; but for the real sublimity member that it was human pow- of courage, the spectacle of this ers that had this trial to bear. solitary and defenseless sufferer, At last there is heard through coming at midnight to meet the the trees, at a distance down the betrayer and his band, beams. valley, the sound of approaching with a moral splendor which voices. Lights are seen too; and never shone on earth before, and now and then a glittering weapon. will probably never shine again. They are coming for him. Fly! -J. ABBOTT. innocent sufferer, fly! Turn to the dark solitudes behind you, and fly for your life! No. The struggle is over. The Saviour, collected and composed, rises and walks on to meet the very swords and spears sent out against him. We must remember that there was nobody to encourage him, nobody to defend him, or to share his fate. It was in the darkness The births and the early deaths. and stillness of night, the very of little children are a great myshour of fear and dread; and the tery. Nature has nothing to say approach of those whose dim in the way of consolation by forms and suppressed voices ar the infant's grave. Wordsworth rested his attention, was the sig- says: nal not of danger but of death; nor of death merely, but of protracted and unutterable torture. Still he arose and went forth to meet them. "Whom seek ye?" said he; "I am he." We have read this story so often that it has lost its impression upon us; but could we come to it afresh, and really appreciate the gloomy, dreadful circumstances of the scene, we should feel that the deserted Saviour, in coming down, under these circumstances, to It is a great mystery, but who meet the torches and the weapons shall say how many hearts have which were to light and guard been kept tender by the death of

But some dead lamb is there."

"In an obscure corner of a country churchyard I once espied, half overgrown with hemlock and nettles, a very small nothing more than the name of the destone laid upon the ground, and bearing ceased, with the date of birth and death, importing that it was an infant which had been born one day and died the following. I know not how far the reader may be in sympathy with me, but more awful thoughts of rights conferred, of hopes awakened, of remembrance stealing away or vanishing, were imparted to my mind by that inscription there before my eyes, than by any other that it has ever been my lot to meet with upon a tombstone."

a little one? We knew a hard broken law be honored by the man ourselves a hard old man, perfect obedience and death of a solid piece of human earth, another in his stead. Can any of nearly seventy years of age, who you devise a plan upon which I often wept when it came to him may spare the rebel, and yet preto think of, or remember, or serve the dignity of my character speak of a little only child, who and the honor of my throne? died at the age of four. Nothing Can any of you take his place, else moved him; but the memory obey my law, bear my wrath, of that little creature had power and die for him? Or must the to turn the heart to rivers of rebel die ?" water. The wondrous words and ways of the little ones, inarticulate words, and sounds, and unconscious little cleverness, come very clearly and sadly upon the

heart.

"Two little children were one day seen very ill in the same room. The oldest of the two was heard frequently attempting to teach the younger one to pronounce the word Hallelujah!' but without success; the dear little one died before he could repeat it. When his brother was told of his

Go to the Prayer-Meeting.

be regular and constsnt. If your LET attendance on the meetings faith is weak, go. If your love is chilled, go. If hope be clouded, go. Every professed Christian should be sure, if possible, to go, that the activities of the soul may be stirred up and drawn out in the service of Christ. If you have for a long time staid away, and the Christian armor has got rusty, go. "Prayer makes it bright," burnishes the shield, the sword, the helmet, and the breastThus with the words of their plate of righteousness. Go, if departed darlings, parents should only a few are expected to be comfort each other, as parents there, for if you stay away the only can.-Wm. Logan's Words of number will be less. Go, expectComfort for Parents Bereaved of ing the presence and refreshings Little Children.

death he was silent for a moment, and then, looking up at his mother, said: 'Johnny can say Hallelujah now, mother!' In a few

hours the two little brothers were united in heaven, singing hallelujah together."

of the Holy Spirit, and expecting to meet Christ there, agreeably to his promise, that where two A Council in Heaven! or three are gathered together in THERE was a council in heaven. his name, he will be in the midst Jehovah assembled the holy in- of them. Be sure to go, always telligence of light around his to go, to the prayer-meeting, when throne. He informed them man possible, even at the sacrifice of had violated his command by ease and profit in worldly things, eating of the forbidden tree. and you will find a rich reward "My justice," he said, "requires in it to your own soul, and the execution of the sentence see blessings descend upon the passed upon him; or that the Church of Christ.

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SOME OF THE PROVIDENTIAL LESSONS OF 1861.

"I WILL remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God! Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people."-PSALM 77: 11-14.

THE close of the year has always been regarded as a period well adapted to a serious review of life. On reaching it, a thoughtful man will instinctively turn back to consider the path he has been traveling, and the principles which have guided him. It is quite impossible to attain a high degree of personal wisdom. and culture without occasional seasons of calm, honest selfinspection; and there is a natural fitness in the closing of the year for such a task. It is a favorable moment, also, for considering the ways of God, and studying those great principles by which he governs the world. I recollect hearing the celebrated Professor Ritter, of Berlin, remark, that if one wished to understand the configuration of the earth, he should begin by going forth into

* Preached on Sunday afternoon, December 29th, 1861.

nature, and observing carefully the structure of the hills and plains just about him; he would thus become virtual master of the laws which explain the geography of the globe. The saying is not inapplicable to the course of Providence. He who marks well the manner in which God governs the world for a single year, will have little difficulty in understanding the general principles upon which he has governed it from the beginning, and will continue to govern it to the end of time. "Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations." There is no caprice, no vacillation in Providence. It is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. Although as free as it is almighty, both its freedom and its power are immutable. Its methods may and do differ; some of them being plain to every eye, while others are exceedingly involved and obscure, baffling human insight; but its principles and end never change; and they are always most wise, just, beneficent, and true. Like the roots of the everlasting hills, a part of God's designs may be deep out of sight; but like the summit and massive sides of those same hills, seen under a clear sky, how distinct, grand and substantial are oftentimes the visible parts! As we contemplate them, how they seem to lift us to the very heavens and to inspire us with the consciousness of a strength and repose immovable like their own!

Let us spend a few moments, then, in looking back over the year on whose outermost verge we now stand, and gathering up some of the lessons which it so impressively teaches us. I say us; for although its events, I do not doubt, are intended for the ultimate instruction of mankind, we are the party principally concerned with them at present. Foreigners and foreign nations may be prepared to understand their import by and by; we see that they are not at all prepared now. It is a domestic, American trouble; we are the chief actors and the chief sufferers; and whatever the issue, whether good or bad, ours will be the immediate gain or loss. What the next year may bring forth, we can not tell; the circle of trouble may be so widened as to reach the Old World and involve other nations; but even should that occur, which may it please Heaven to forbid! the stress of conflict will still be here; and we shall still be the foremost actors and sufferers. God is plainly executing in the United States one of those great historic movements which notch the centuries; and he is not likely to be diverted from his foreördained plan by any foreign interference whatever. The strategy of Providence is exceedingly sagacious, comprehensive, and far-reaching; and is very apt to be successful, let who will attempt to thwart it.

What, then, are some of the more obvious lessons taught us by the momentous events of 1861?

1. I reply, first of all, that God really governs the world. I

know we all professed to believe this in 1860, and never remember the day, perhaps, when it was not a leading article of our creed. Providence itself, as well as the Bible, had often impressed it upon us. But who is not ready to confess that the course of events during the past year has taught this truth, especially as it regards our national life and affairs, with an emphasis altogether extraordinary! How dimly the most of us had been wont to perceive God's hand in sustaining our republican institutions and government! We had almost come to feel that the Union and Constitution and liberties of our country needed no divine support; that they were as incapable of being overthrown as the Allegha nies or the Rocky Mountains; yea, as the great globe itself. But we have been rudely awakened out of this delusive dream. We have seen our idolized ship of state going upon those fearful breakers, which we knew had proved the grave of many a power. ful and renowned government; we have listened through long, long months of agony to the creaking of her timbers, the dreadful sound of the rocks and the fury of the raging sea, until at length it became clear to us as noonday, that only one Pilot was wise enough or strong enough to weather the storm and save her from utter, hopeless wreck; and that was the Almighty Pilot, who planned and built the ship! And how well He has thus far justified our confidence! "If it had not been the Lord, who was on our side, now may Israel say: If it had not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us; then the waters had overwhelmed us; . . then the proud waters had gone over our soul." I have recently called your attention to the many irresistible proofs that we owe our deliverance to the special favor and interposition of Providence; and I need not repeat them now. You will, I am sure, agree with me in the feeling that they ought to excite within us mingled awe, astonishment, and thanksgiving. If as a people we ever forget to praise the God of our fathers for the manner in which he hurried to our rescue in this appalling crisis, our tongues should forever cleave to the roof of our mouths!

But it is not merely in reference to what he has done for the salvation of the republic, that the past year teaches us how real is God's government of the world. This whole civil convulsion, in all its aspects, proclaims, trumpet-tongued, the same truth; it does so, at least, to every thoughtful and devout observer.

You recollect the opening words of the famous French preacher at the funeral of the Grand Monarch, "God only is great!" In a similar strain we might well exclaim, as we recall the strange scenes of the vanishing year, and bid them a final adieu: "God alone rules among the inhabitants of the earth!" In the presence of such awful troubles and desolation in the presence of such vast changes, coming home to the very bosoms and involving the dear

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