miserable, at the thoughts that the nurse of their children should be banished, as a felon, to a distant land. It awaked them to serious consideration, and they from that time felt assured of the truth of the holy command," that we are not to do evil that good may come," and that they should hereafter, on such occasions, make it their plan not only to speak the truth, but to speak the whole truth. V. CAPTAIN HALL'S ACCOUNT OF THE TORMENTS OF SOUTH AMERICA. Ir is a very common remark made by travellers, who have visited nearly all parts of the world, that, "after all, there is no place like England for living in." There are people at home, to be sure, who complain of the Government, and yet there is no place abroad where they can find a better. And some persons complain of the climate, and yet there are few parts of the world where, taking all things together, the climate is better. It is seldom intolerably cold, or intensely hot. The following account from Captain Basil Hall's voyage to the Coast of South America, will shew some of the inconveniences of a hot climate. "When the sea breeze is gone, the rooms, from heat, become suffocating. The evil is most seriously heightened by swarms of musquitos *, and, what are still more tormenting, of sand flies, an animal so very small as scarcely to be seen, till the eye is particularly directed to it by the pain which it occasions. When the spring tides overflow the plain, there comes forth to the town on the high ground myriads of musquitos, sand flies, and other insects, which had been * A sort of stinging fly, very troublesome in hot climates. On the Prospect of Death. 161 increasing on the surface of the mud during the low tides. These animals, on being disturbed, fly to the first resting place they can find, and the town is fairly enveloped, at the full and change of the moon, in a cloud of insects, producing a plague, the extent of which would scarcely be believed by the inhabitants of a cold climate. The most seasoned natives fared no better than ourselves; they rolled from chair to chair panting under the heat, and irritated into a fever by the severe attacks of their tormentors. I cannot say which was worst, the unceasing buzz and fierce sting of the musquitos, or the silent but multiplied assaults of the sand flies, which come against the face, as I heard a miserable man exclaim one evening, like handfuls of sand. Musquito curtains were no defence against these small sandflies, so that we were obliged to submit. It is perhaps worthy of remark, that those persons suffered most who lived the highest; the water-drinkers did not suffer from the feverish discipline of the attacks. It was perfectly out of the question to try to get any sleep before the land-wind set in; but this often deceived us, and at best, seldom came before midnight, and then it blew over the hot plain, and reached us, loaded with hot vapours from the marsh; but this served to disperse the sand-flies, and gradually acquired a degree of coolness, which allowed us to drop asleep towards morning, worn out with heat and vexation. * ON THE PROSPECT OF DEATH. It is to be feared that many of us witness the passing events of every day, without making one serious * Muslin curtains, which people in hot countries are obliged to have drawn closely round their beds to keep off the application of them to our own improvement, and everlasting welfare. Surely there is something awakening, when we have seen a friend, or neighbour, stretched for weeks on the bed of sickness, and at last released from all mortal pain and suffering, to know that all is indeed over, as far as concerns the things of this life, and that an immortal spirit hath left this scene of probation. In the days of health and youth, we met under the same roof, in the house of God, to offer our united prayers, and praises, to our heavenly Father; we received the same instructions, the same promises, the same warnings from the Minister of God. It has now pleased the Disposer of all events to withdraw one member of the congregation. We see him consigned to that narrow house, amidst many who have gone before, and whose graves he had often lingered over, on a Sabbath morning. May his death be a warning to us, who are yet spared a little longer to prepare for our own!-I have been led into these reflections by having often visited an aged and very excellent woman, who is now passed eighty, and is indeed an example and encouragement to perseverance in well doing. For some months her health has been gradually declining, and she would frequently mention the prospect of her own death. She has through life made God's holy laws her constant rule of conduct, and used her best endeavours to live the life of a true Christian, feeling at the same time her own unworthiness, and her hope of salvation through the merits of our blessed Redeemer. She has not missed attending church for fifty years. Mrs. Edwards (for that was her name) said one day, when I was sitting by her side, "that she blessed God that he had led her to seek his ways; for I can truly say, through my long life (which now appears as a dream when I look upon it) that I have ever found the ways of God to be ways of pleasantness, and all his paths to be peace. When I think of On the Prospect of Death. 163 eternity, compared to the few years of this life, I pray to God that He will assist and accept my weak endeavours to prepare for it." It is a most instructing sight to see my poor friend perfectly resigned to God's will, putting her whole trust in her heavenly Father's mercy, through her Redeemer's merits. Lately she has become much weaker, and is now almost confined to her bed; but there is still the same cheerful resignation, expressing thankfulness to God that her sufferings are so little, and her gratitude to her Pastor, and other friends, for the kindnesses she has received. "When I lie awake in the night," she has often said, "I can think of all God's goodness to us, his sinful creatures, how often he has by his assisting grace led me to think seriously of my eternal welfare." At another time Mrs. E. said to me, "I have been married sixty years the 3d of last September; and, it was soon after I came to live in this country, that I began to look upon this life as a preparation for a better. I liked to attend my church twice on a Sunday, and there I listened to the doctrines of Scripture, and I sought to give to God the service of my life; and I found my best comfort in thinking of our blessed Saviour's atonement for our past sins, and for his strengthening grace to assist us in serving Him.” Reader, imagine yourself in the situation of my sick friend; think of her life, of her peace, and of her happiness at this moment, in the prospect of a happy eternity. Is your life like her's? Could you, in the same peaceful manner, look forward to your death? If you live like her, your end may be like her's. Our existence is given by God to answer great and important purposes, and to prepare for an eternal world. The hour of death will most certainly come to us all, and probably attended by sickness and suffering. Remember then, that the best preparation for a happy death, is days of health, prove your love and gratitude to God by living to his service. Study to serve Him and obey Him with all your hearts; make His favour the object and end of all your actions; think of Him as ever present with you; that His eye is ever upon you, even in your most secret thoughts. Remember likewise that his watchful providence has to this moment of your existence preserved you; and, above all, that our blessed Saviour died on the cross, to make a full, perfect, and sufficient satisfaction for the sins of the whole world. Our gracious Father has promised to give his Holy Spirit to them that ask Him in faith and humility. May we then earnestly desire this good gift, to guide and sanctify us; and, while we bless God's holy name for all his servants departed this life in his faith and fear, let us fervently beseech him to give us grace so to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of his heavenly kingdom. Village of Milwood, A CONSTANT READER. HYMN. Religion has the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. I. 'Tis religion that can give Sweetest pleasures while we live; 'Tis religion must supply Solid comfort when we die II. After death its joys shall be Be the living God my friend, |