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iMmBBMTB IM M i m m MEsiwm^FAITHFUL UNDER TRIAL. son now ihan I was before I became a Christ-There is scarcely a man, woman, or child ian? I do not gamble ; I do not smoke opium;among the four thousand, four hundred I keep myself pure, and love you a hundredChrisiians in Canton, who has not been ex- fold more ihan ever." Unable io understandposed to reproof, calumny, injustice, or phjsi- the change ihat had come over him, she wouldcal violence, because of his religion. The say, " I would rather have you a gambler, anmildest form in whioh it comes is that of opium smoker, a profligate, ihan to have youpersonal abuse and verbal reproaches ior the a Christian." All the best feelings of lovesake of Christ.and reverence whioh his Christianity had kin-A young man of unusual talent and good died toward his mother made the bitterness offamily was brought to study the word. His her reproaches harder to bear ; but he remainedattendance at the chapel resulted in his ac- firm,professed his faiih, and is an active memceptanceofit as the word of life, but the habit ber and an ornament to the church in that city.of using opium stood in ihe way of his recep- Trials of another kind also beset his path. Astioninto ihe church. His full conviction of soolated with his father in business, his dutythe truth was shown on the occasion of an was often to entertain the richer customersidol procession, in whioh a popular local tbat came. The passing of the opium-pipedivinity was carried back and forth from his forms an important part of polite entertainshrineto call down rain upon the parched mentjthisas a Christian he could not do.earth. Ascending a platform near the hotel His refusal was taken as a slight, and businesswhere the idol was temporarily received, he began to fall off, so that his father becameboldly denounced the folly and uselessness of alarmed, and accused him of neglecting tbesuch ceremonies, proclaiming the sovereignty interest of the firm. He has stood the test ofof the one true God, in whose hands were the these trials, and is now in a position where hedestinies of all men, and who gave " to all is full master of his own time and conduct.men life and breath and all things." He was —Tlie Cross and the Bragon.interrupted by the jeers of some companions, „who demanded of him, " How much do th^ R E E KINDS OF ATHEISTS.ministers pay you for such harangues?" He Ayoung clergyman came to the house ofreplied that, so far from receiving anything his sister and found quite a company roundfrom them, he was not yet a member of the ihe table—among them a talkative miUtarychurch ; but he knew the doctrine they gentleman, who rather freely flavored his witpreached was true, and was urged by an un- with perverted Bible quotations and anticontrollableimpulse to proclaim it to the Christian inuendoes. A bantering remarkpeople. SpirUual help was given him to about God that amounted to no less than abreak off the opium habit, and tbe way thus parade of his atheism aroused the hostess atopened for his baptism. His father was indif- laat. " You seem to forget that my brotherferent; but his mother opposed him in every here is a minister of the Gospel," she said.way. She would hide his shoes and clothes, " Oh ! " quoth the unabashed officer, " myso ihat he was often late at ths service or clerical friend and I understand each other;"dressed in laborer's clothes. She would plead and turning to the young man, with patronizwithhim to return to his old ways; and he ing impudence he asked, " Is it not so sir?would answer, " Mother, am I not a better Your ofiice requires you to teU the old s'tory,