request. This, I have no doubt, is the true solution of Barlow's conduct."

According to this view, we must ascribe Bunyan's release to Dr Barlow, and not Bishop Barlow; which completely mystifies the whole record. Can Philip, or any one tell us what bishop did sign the order for Bunyan's release? Dr Southey was unable to clear up this matter. He says:- "How Bunyan's enlargement was effected is not known." This appears to be the truth, and we are sorry for it. There is proof, however, that he was released without bond of any kind, free to act according to the dictates of his own conscience, and to preach anywhere and everywhere the everlasting gospel of the blessed God. The very thought of such a release after so long an imprisonment is enough to make the heart dance for joy.

DAVID NASMITH.

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EIGHTEEN hundred years have passed away since our divine Lord, in bidding farewell to his sorrowing disciples, encouraged them with the assurance, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Eighteen hundred years have passed since the descent of the Holy Ghost fulfilled the promise-"I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." These years have proved the faithfulness of the divine word. The Lord has not forsaken his people. Are Christians of the present day puny stature compared with the giants of old? It is not that his hand is shortened, or his fulness exhausted. See David Nasmith, in the Christian church, "from his shoulders and upwards higher than any of the people." His was primitive devotedness. His was the simplicity of primitive faith. Had he lived in apostolic times, we might suppose him associated with Paul and Barnabas in their journeyings, their fastings, their imprisonments, and their many perils. He comes as near to the apostle Paul, in the devotedness of his piety, in the self-denial of his practice, and in the multiplicity of his labours, as any man of whom we remember to have read for many years. It must have

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been a high privilege to meet him in the private walks of life. As the comet has been supposed to visit system after system, and star after star, to supply what may be lacking of heat or of moisture in the various regions which it traverses, so does a man like David Nasmith, in the course of his journeyings to and fro, pour from him a holy influence, which, while it awakens a flame in hearts cold and destitute, no less quickens that which is already burning in the hearts of the people of God. Next to the privilege of meeting him personally, of witnessing his incessant labours, and of listening to his fervent tones, is that of reading his memoir. He has found a fitting biographer in the person of Dr Campbell. The work is evidently a work of love." Dr Campbell writes with a zeal and earnestness hardly second to those of Nasmith himself. He thoroughly admires his subject, and his enthusiastic regard communicates itself to his readers. This makes the volume doubly useful. To admire is one step towards imitation. At the same time, Nasmith was not faultless: he must be imitated with some reservation. Of this anon. In most respects he may be held up as a model. We earnestly invite the attention of our readers to consider minutely his extraordinary character. That divine love that nerved his arm and fired his heart is still the same boundless and inexhaustible fountain. That grace which elevated him to his high station of usefulness, can raise up many others to receive his descending mantle. Then shall the breath of spring come back upon the church, and pentecostal religion dwell on earth again, when the zeal that abode in the soul of David Nasmith shall animate all who bear the Christian name.

As a Sabbath-school teacher he stands before us as an example of unwearied diligence. His labours for the salvation of his scholars were not confined to the Sabbath-day; he met them in the week; he invited them to breakfast with him; he took a general interest in all that concerned them; he recommended them books to read; he set them to work for the good of others; and when they were removed from him, he still wrote to them with the affection of a father. Nor was he without encouragement. On visiting a sphere of labour which he had for some time relinquished, word was brought him that five of his old scholars had met for five years, every Tuesday night, for prayer, and that they ceased not to remember their teacher at a

throne of grace. Sunday-school teachers, who mourn over the inefficiency of your labours, do you give your heart to the work as did David Nasmith?

But he did not exhaust all his energies in the work of Sabbath-schools. An incidental meeting a conversation of ten minutes, supplied him with opportunities of working for his Master, too precious to be neglected. The following circumstance is related by the Rev. R. S. Cook, corresponding secretary of the American Tract Society :—

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When residing at Syracuse, New York, about twelve years since, as a student at law, Mr Nasmith visited the place for the purpose of organising a Young Men's Association. I attended the meeting called for that purpose, and listened with interest to the statements of Mr Nasmith. He proposed a constitution for the adoption of the meeting, an article in which provided that the meetings of the society should be opened with prayer. In the pride and wickedness of my heart I opposed the adoption of that article, ostensibly on the ground of expediency, but really because I hated religion. When leaving the place of meeting Mr Nasmith walked some distance with me, and addressed me with great tenderness of manner, and with a Christian frankness that immediately won my confidence and respect. As we separated, he threw his arms round me, saying, I fear, my young friend, you do not love Christ; allow a stranger to commend him to you. You will never be happy till you put your trust in him, and love prayer.' We parted for ever. It was almost the first time I had been addressed personally on the subject of my soul's salvation; and the language and the spirit in which it was uttered made an abiding impression on my heart. I cannot say that it was the proximate cause of my conversion to God; but the disinterestedness of the act, and the obvious sincerity of the man, convinced me that religion was a reality. I think, too, that since I have enjoyed a hope of pardon through atoning blood, this incident has exerted no inconsiderable influence on my character."

Calling one day at the house of Mr C., Nasmith finds Miss C. alone, practising on the piano. He sits down, and delivers to her the message of God. She seems interested, and he is filled with hope. On concluding, he tells her of a Bible-class, held by him, in the neighbourhood, on a Sabbath evening, on which

he invites her attendance. She consents to come. Two Sabbath-days pass, but she comes not. He hastens to inquire the reason, and finds her stretched on her dying-bed. Her end is peace.

Is he sojourning at an inn? The glory of God and the salvation of souls are still the great objects set before him. A young Irishman is sitting in the travelers' room. The cross of Christ is lifted up, and he is urged to lay hold upon it. The young man, though undecided, is impressed with Nasmith's solemn address, and before parting requests him to pray.

Is he journeying on the public road? Eternity is still in view. A young woman sits beside him. He persuades her to read a copy of the "Sinner's Friend." A clergyman is his fellow-traveler; he seeks for sympathy and encouragement from him in their common enterprise. Next, he takes a cab to Bala. Finds on the road a weary traveler, who implores assistance. Nasmith takes him up, and spends an hour and a half in earnest conversation with him and with his driver on the state of their hearts towards God. The traveler is evidently impressed. The evangelist gives each a tract, that the impression may be prolonged and deepened.

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Contemplate him for a moment in his domestic relations. had a brother, a stranger to the fold of the Good Shepherd. For the recovery of the prodigal he wept and prayed. His letters to him were full of the most affectionate and urgent entreaty. Through the length of five years did every returning week witness one of these earnest appeals from the indefatigable David. And the promise was fulfilled, "He that goeth forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." The heart of John is subdued, and the feet so long persisting in the path of disobedience, track their way to the fountain of mercy. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

David visited for a while the house of his father-in-law. Here he received every kind attention, but with this, as a Christian, he could not be satisfied. God, his God, was not honoured under that roof, and daily incense was not offered to his Saviour's name. He obtained permission to conduct family

worship, morning and evening, during his stay. And before his departure he wrote to his father-in-law a letter of holy remonstrance, of which it is difficult to say whether its humility, or its tenderness, or its faithfulness, is most conspicuous.

It mattered not with whom he came in contact,-were they poor and illiterate, or were they rich and titled,-beneath the tatters of pauperism, and beneath the robes of nobility, he discerned a soul destined for immortality, and he saw nought beside. On writing to the Marchioness of Hastings, on occasion of the institution of the Dublin City Mission, the following entry appears in his journal :—

"Sent a letter to-day to the Marchioness of Hastings, informing her of the mission; took occasion in the communication to interpose remarks intimating that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ was the only way by which we could be saved; that the Bible was the only rule of conduct; and that divine influence was essential to the sanctification and salvation of the soul. I also intimated that the success of the mission had been entirely owing to the blessing of the Most High upon our attempts to serve him. May the Lord bless the communication to her soul!"

On leaving Glasgow, to reside in Dublin, we find the following passage in his journal, which, though long, is too valuable to be omitted. It is a specimen of his life's work. Is there a young man's eye now resting on this page? We ask him, Does your journal contain such an entry?

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"I desire to be extensively useful,-to the church with which I may be connected; to the circle of acquaintance that may given me; to children; to young men ; to students of divinity; to the poor; to the inhabitants of Dublin; to the inhabitants of Ireland at large.

"To the church, by obtaining the names and addresses of the members, and their various professions; by calling upon the poor, to promote their spiritual comfort, advise and assist in their temporal necessities, as the Lord may enable me; suggest and promote the extensive usefulness of all the members in their respective circles; promote meetings for prayer, in the different districts of the town, for the divine blessing to rest upon the church, upon the pastor, upon the families of the members, upon the congregation, and that many may be added to us of the same; by