the system he had formerly adopted, and of the divine origin of Christianity. But he did not stop here; he was determined to examine the book itself, which he was thus satisfied was a revelation from God. The result was, that he cordially received this revelation of mercy, was made to see and feel his need of a Saviour, and, believing in Jesus, became a Christian, not in name only, but in deed and in truth. Colonel S-- feeling his obligation to Sir Arthur, afterwards wrote to him, thanking him for his kindness in recommending to him Dr. Paley's valuable work, and earnestly advising him not to be satisfied with merely knowing the external evidences of Christianity, but to inquire what this divine communication really contains. EXTRAORDINARY METEORIC PHENOMENON. A REMARKABLE phenomenon occurred at King's Sutton, near Banbury, on the 7th inst., through which a man narrowly escaped with his life; seventeen trees were torn up by the roots, thirty-six more or less damaged, and 116 yards of a stone wall thrown down. People living near the place say that about one o'clock they saw something like a haycock revolving through the air, accompanied by fire and dense smoke. It made a noise resembling that of a railway train, but very much louder, and travelled with greater rapidity. It was sometimes high in the air, and sometimes near the ground. It passed over the estates of Colonel North, M.P., Sir W. R. Brown, Bart., and Mr. Leslie Melville Cartwright, whose park wall it threw down to the foundation in several places, and at one place for upwards of 60 yards. A man named Adams was breaking stones, and a minute before he was standing under a tree that was torn up by the roots and the branches scattered in every direction. Two or three trees near him were torn up, and one of them the largest beech on Sir William Brown's estate, which tore up with it twelve or fifteen tons of earth. For a distance of nearly two miles, hedges, rails, trees, hovels, and ricks have been knocked down or injured. A whirlwind followed the meteor, if it may be so called, and carried everything before it. Stones from the walls knocked down were carried forty yards away, and the water in a pond disappeared on the passage of the phenomenon. After travelling about two miles, the meteor seemed to expend itself, and disappeared all at once. There was a heavy fall of rain at the time, and a vivid flash of lightning just before. PRACTICAL GRATITUDE. FREDERICK ATTENBOROUGH died in Nottingham in 1869. He had been for fifty-three years. merely a soldier, and afterwards a pensioner, receiving 9s. 6d. a-week, a little more than 1s. 44d. a-day. Fifty-three years before, he had been extremely ill; and, although all supposed him to be at the point of death, he had been taken to the hospital at Nottingham. Very remarkably, he recovered. Soon after his restoration to health, he enlisted a a soldier. But he had formed a purpose. my life," said he, "to the hospital, and all I ca ever savę I will give one day to it." "I owe He went to India, conducted himself we attended on some officers, gained money; b doing this one thing all the while,-saving every benny he could for the hospital. In India he obtained prize money. * His companions gathered round him. "Surely," said they, "now, Fred, you will enjoy yourself. What good can the little you may lay by do for the hospital? Don't make a fool of yourself, come along with us for once. Leave the hospital for the rich folks at home to look after." But no, the gratitude which filled his heart silenced all their taunts, and made him proof against all their entreaties. The whole sum should be devoted to the hospital which had instrumentally saved his life, and might save that of others. Time went on, and still one purpose governed him; forgetting what he had done, he only strove the more to enlarge the sum. When at length he was, from age, discharged the service, and returned to England, he not only did not take from the sum laid by to supplement his little pittance,-one shilling and fourpence farthing a day, but still laid by, I believe, a little of the scanty pension, animated by the same purpose which for more than fifty years had governed him,-to give as much as he could to the hospital. At last he died; and a few days after his decease his executors handed over to the authorities of the Nottingham hospital the sum-magnificent, I may call it, considering all the circumstances of four thousand one hundred pounds. No doubt he might have done better if, during his life, he had helped the institution; but his example has already done good, for I read in one of the Manchester papers in June, 1871, that “Job Hilton, still living, had sent £1,000 to the hospital in that city," because forty-five years before, when We give the facts unaltered, but we have no opinion of the general morality of "prize money." given up by the doctors and his friends, he had found health there. Now, Job Hilton was only a "seller of tripe and neat's foot oil." What sacrifices both these men must have made! How they must have denied themselves, we say; but I have little doubt, had we questioned them, they would have said, "Do not speak of sacrifice and self-denial; it was a constant pleasure." God gave you life, and every day preserves it. What gratitude do you feel to Him? Those of my readers who are born again are saved by Jesus from endless death. O, may the gratitude of their hearts make them practically cry, "Take my body, spirit, soul, OBITUARY OF EDWARD HODGES. EDWARD HODGES, of Brenchley, died on October 19th, 1872, on his 69th birthday. He had been a superintendent for many years in the Sundayschool, Matfield Green, where his delight was to be. He often seemed grieved that so few were interested in the work, his love to the young seemed so great. To his death he was kept by the grace of God from bringing any reproach on His cause. He was taken ill in May, 1871. He said he had prayed earnestly that the malady he then suffered from might be relieved. Such was the case; but at length the Lord laid upon him a cancerous tumour. He was drawn to the worship a few times. He said, "I am almost seventy; I do not know what good it is to live; I shall keep sinning," and thus shewed he was ready and willing to die. There are hundreds who have left the school since he first entered who will be struck on seeing his death. They know he has sown good seed, and I believe he will reap a glorious harvest. We take the cup of sorrow, As did Thy blessed Son; A TEACHER. "ROCK OF ages, cleFT FOR ME.” IN the pleasant county of Devon, and in one of its sequestered passes, with a few cottages sprinkled over it, mused and sang Augustus Toplady. When a lad of sixteen, and on a visit to Ireland, he had strolled into a barn, where an illiterate layman was preaching, but preaching reconciliation to God through the death of His Son. The homely sermon took effect, and from that moment the Gospel wielded all the powers of his brilliant and active mind. Toplady became very learned, and at thirtyeight he died, more widely read than most dignitaries whose heads are hoary. His chief works are controversial, and in some respects bear the impress of his over-ardent spirit. In the pulpit's milder agency nothing flowed but balm. In his tones there was a commanding solemnity; and in his words there was such simplicity that to hear was to understand. Both at Broad Hembury, and afterwards in London, the happiest results attended his ministry. Many sinners were converted; and the doctrines which God blessed to the accomplishment of these results may be learned from the hymns which Toplady has bequeathed to the Church-"Rock of Ages, cleft for Me; ""A Debtor to Mercy alone;" "When languor and disease |