Now, from what I have just said, you will see that even a truly religious man may be a soldier; he may be brave and valiant, and fight as vigorously as any man for his king and for his country's cause. He will even be the better soldier from the very circumstance of his being a Christian one; for he will have higher motives and stronger encouragements set before him, than any other can have. He will be able to feel somewhat as David felt when he went out to fight his battles, and to say, as he said, "The Lord is my strength, who teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight; iny shield, in whom I trust, who subdueth the people under me."

Now the good man I have already referred to, was one who may indeed be called a Christian soldier. His name was Gardiner, and the engagement in which he fought so bravely, and fell so nobly, was that of Preston-Pans. He was Colonel in one of the regiments of the king's army sent out to resist the efforts of the young Pretender. Colonel Gardiner was well aware of the dangers he should have to encounter in that struggle; and perhaps as he took leave of his beloved home, and went, in obedience to his sovereign's orders, to fight against the enemy in the field of battle, a feeling of sadness might have passed through his mind; an impression, it might be, that he

should never enter that home again; and as he bade farewell to his weeping wife, he endeavoured to comfort her with these words, "Remember, we have eternity to spend together." And so they parted.

The eve of the battle of Preston-Pans arrived, and Gardiner showed himself to be, in every respect, a brave soldier, and a skilful commander. He went through the ranks, encouraging the men, and exhorting them to quit themselves well the next day, and to fight gallantly for their king. And then, every preparation being made, he lay down to take a little repose, but armed, and in the open field, that he might be ready to meet the enemy at a moment's warning. The morning dawned, and Gardiner arose. And then, remembering the uncertain issue of that day, and the probability that, ere it closed, he might be numbered with the slain, he took an affectionate leave of those around him, and afterwards spent an hour alone in devotion and prayer. This was his final preparation for battle, and the salutary effects of such preparation might be seen in the calm and cool courage which he displayed all through that memorable day.

The battle began. Gardiner fought long and valiantly; even when wounded he did not give way; and when his horse was killed under him, he continued to fight on foot. At length

a Highlander came up, and struck him on the arm with a sharp scythe fastened to a pole. The blow caused the sword to fall from the hand of the brave Colonel; and another Highlander coming up at the moment, gave him a second wound on the head,-the fatal wound of which he died. He fell; but in the midst of his own sufferings he still thought of others, and he made signs to a faithful servant who was near, not to remain with him, but to endeavour to save himself. So the servant escaped, and his master was left wounded and bleeding upon the field. As Colonel Gardiner lay there dying, but still sensible of what was passing around him, his eye glanced upon one of the enemy's party, a rebel chief who was fighting near him. Gardiner was heard to say, "You are fighting for an earthly crown: I am going to receive a heavenly one.'

When the battle was nearly over, Gardiner's servant returned; and found his master breathing, though unable to speak. He took him up, and carried him to the house of a minister who lived near, and laid him on a bed; and there, in a few hours after, he died. Such was the end of a man who, as I said before, may well be called a Christian soldier. He had fought under a nobler banner, and for a greater sovereign than England's; and now he was gone to receive far higher honours than any

which his country had to bestow, from the King of kings, who has promised to those who are "faithful unto death" in His service, no less a prize than "the crown of life."

"Servant of God, well done;

Rest from thy lov'd employ;
The battle fought, the vict'ry won,
Enter thy Master's joy."
The call at midnight came,

He started up to hear;
A mortal arrow pierc'd his frame,
He fell, but felt no fear.

Tranquil amidst alarms,

It found him in the field,
A veteran slumbering in his arms,
Beneath his red-cross shield.

His sword was in his hand,

Still warm with recent fight,
Ready, that moment, at command,
Through rock and steel to strike.

At midnight came the cry,

"To meet thy God, prepare ;
He woke, and caught his Captain's eye;
Then strong in faith and prayer,

His spirit, with a bound,

Left the encumbering clay;
His tent at sun-rise on the ground
A blacken'd ruin lay.

The pains of death are past;

Troubles and sorrows cease;

And life's long warfare done at last,

He enters into peace.
Soldier of Christ, well done;

Praise be thy new employ,

And while eternal ages run,

Rest in thy Master's joy.-MONTGOMERY.

XXXVII. TIMES OF WAR.

A.D. 1746-1815.

O place me in some Heaven-protected isle,
Where peace, and equity, and freedom smile;
Where no volcano pours his fiery flood,
No crested warrior dips his plume in blood:
Where power secures what industry has won ;
Where to succeed is not to be undone;
A land that distant tyrants hate in vain,-
In Britain's isle, beneath a George's reign.

COWPER.

I TOLD YOU there were other events to engage our attention in different parts of the world, during the reign of George II. Nearly all the remainder of that reign, war was carried on against the French, not only in Europe, but in Asia and America also; for they had attacked our settlements in those distant quarters of the globe, and the English government found it necessary to afford protection to our colonists. This period of hostilities is called the Seven Years' War.

In the East Indies, one of the native princes had attacked the English, and taken possession.