Page:Selection of religious anecdotes.pdf/14

14 This testimony is true, and coming from such a man as Robert Hall, is no trifling recommendation of that valuable work.

HEAVEN.

An infidel, wishing to display his ungodly wit, said to a pious, humble Christian, “ Can you tell me what sort of a plaee heaven is ?"-“ Yes, sir," replied the latter, " heaven is a prepared place, for a prepared people ; and if your soul is not prepared for it, with all your boasted wisdom you will never enter there." And what is it to be prepared ? Ren John iii. 3. It is to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit, washed in the blood of Jesus, and clothed with his rightcousness.

DAD ADVICE.

When a young man made an open profession of the gospel, his father, greatly offended, gave him this advice, " James, you should first get yourself established in a good trade, and then think of and determine about religion."-" Father," said the son, " Christ advises me very differently :- he says,' Seek ye first the kingdom of God.'"

INFLUENCE OF RELIGION.

The servants of a nobleman having been greatly impressed and evidently changed, under the preaching of the gospel, his lordship was one day bantered by some of his friends upon the oecasion. He replied, " As to the change of their religion, or what their religious sentiments are, I cannot tell ; but one thing I know, that since they have changed their religion, they have been much better servants, and shall meet no opposition from me."

What an honourable testimony was this !-a testimony that should always be merited by professors of religion, by the consistency of their conduct, by the sineerity of their discourse, by the mildness and urbanity of their temper and disposition. It is disgraceful when Christians act differently.

THE PROBLEM.

A minister, addressing a young man celebrated for his mathematical knowledge, said, " I have heard you are eelebrated for mathematical skill ; I have a problem which I wish you to solve."-" What is it ?" eagerly asked the young man. The minister replied, with a solemn tone, " What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul !” The youth endeavoured to shake off the impressions produced, but in vain. In the giddy round of pleasure, in his business and in his stndies, the question