complished by the covering of the division, the usual mode by which the parent frond dividing, when from each minute vegetation is propagated; this half is thrust out a little projection phenomenon may be observed in that which gradually increases until the com-thread-like confervæ which in spring is plete semicircle is formed; the two, which then appear as discs with a slightly flattened junction, speedily disunite and become separate fronds. In the larger species the colouring matter divides.near the middle, gradually assuming a rounded form, after which, the covering membrane slowly divides.

found in slimy masses on stagnant pools, the filaments of which are of great length and commonly known as "silk weeds;" they are of a bright, yellowish green, and consist of long cells attached end to end filled with colouring matter, the granules being frequently arranged in most elegant patterns; when the conThe Rev. Lord Godolphin Osborne jugating act is about to take place, cerwrites on the division of Closterium, one tain of the cells expand and the sides of this species shaped somewhat like a bulge outwards, the internal vesicles inbent cucumber, or, if it is more elegant, crease in number and gather together like the moon when it appears crescent- near the conjugating part; but it is shaped: "I have watched for hours necessary that two cells similarly cirthe process of complete self-division; cumstanced should be brought into conone half has remained passive while the tact, but by what mysterious impulse other has had a motion from side to side this is brought about none can tell, howas if moving on an axis at the point of ever approach they do, the cell walls at juncture, the separation has become first simply touching each other, become more and more ardent, the motion more firmly united, then absorption takes active, until at last with a jerk one seg-place by which the wall disappears, or ment leaves the other." It would ap-it opens at the point of junction, and pear from the researches of some observers, that there are species of this organism which increase by the contents of the parent cell, or a portion of them becoming transformed into active zoospores moving freely by means of cilia which become developed upon them in the cavity of the parent, but as this space is too restricted for the march of the ambitious beings thus endowed with motion, a bladder-like sac is protruded by the parent into which the restless ones are speedily transferred when they soon become steady and arrange themselves into a new frond. Others again expire while developing new beings: in those which are of a complex but geometric character, the vital matter in the interior arranges itself into different por-esting to find that the same phenomena tions exactly coinciding with the separate compartments or divisions of the original, each of these minor parts soon acquires an independent covering, and Are these wondrous organisms, great then the cell walls of the parent split in marvel, though small in structure, up and leave the several young ones as useless inhabitants of our waters? We the foundation of new groups of beings. cannot so think, nor do we consider that Surprising as are the varied phe- it behoves us to be always enquiring of nomena of nature and the laws which what use this or that may be, as if it is regulate the numerous tribes of animate not possible for any created thing to and inanimate organism, there are few minister to other purposes than that more striking than that known as con- of gratifying man. However, it is exjugation, being in addition to self-tremely probable that these minute forms

the contents of the two cells rush together and become intermingled in one somewhat globular mass, around which a new sheath or covering soon develops itself, and the two original cells now entirely empty and colourless become detached and float away; the whole of this curious process occupies but a few minutes. The production of this congregation exists as a tiny green ball enveloped in a somewhat dense membrane on which is frequently afterwards developed numerous minute spikes or hooklets, so strongly resembling animal forms, that they have not unfrequently been classed amongst the infusorial animalcules, but their true character is now beyond dispute, and it is very inter

occurred in far byegone times, as these minute structures termed "sporangia," are found in flints and other fossils.

Married Lobe.

TO MY WIFE.

VER the space which parts us, my wife, | So all the powers of my mind partake

Gone!

IN the month of May, 1864, a few friends at Red Hill secured the Town Hall,

and requested Mr. Spurgeon to send them a student to preach the Word to them. The handful of persons who met at first, has now grown into a respectable congregation, under the able and earnest ministry of Mr. J. Smith. In July, 1864, a Church was formed and publicly recognized by Mr. Spurgeon as a branch of that at the Tabernacle; it then consisted of but seven members, but has in a few months increased to forty, while others are coming forward still further to fill the ranks. Sunday-schools and other evangelistic efforts are in healthy operation, the ministry is sustained, and all expenses are readily met. The new chapel, of which we give an engraving, will be a truly handsome, substantial, and neat building. Mr. Matthews, the architect, in addition to a generous donation, has also given his services gratis. The lowest tender, which the committee have accepted, amounts to £1237, and if no unforeseen delays occur, the friends hope to complete the erection soon after Christmas of the present year. The freehold land in the best part of the town, has cost £350, towards which £100 was given from Mr. Spurgeon's fund; £200 more from the same source is promised towards the building. Mr. John Olney, beside giving £100, has, with his usual tact, so arranged financial matters, that if all the friends will come forward with their fair proportion of help, this chapel will not for a moment be burdened with debt. This is our third "Sword and Trowel" chapel, but what about the fourth? A few donations have come in, and we hope to be on the move during this month.

The bazaar to be held in the lecture-hall and school-rooms of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in the Christmas week needs our friends most vigorous efforts to make it a thorough success. The ladies who are working with Mrs. Spurgeon, are greatly in need of materials, and if any of our drapery friends can find them remnants they will turn them to right good account. All sorts of useful articles are also urgently asked from those who can spare them for this good cause. London is perishing, let us haste to the rescue; and since we have the men to preach the Word, let them not be hindered by the lack of buildings in which to gather their willing hearers.

OUR

ork of the Metropolitan Tabernacle.

UR readers will naturally expect | each one, the numbers continued to inthat some account should be given crease unto the present time. The first in this department of our magazine of student was placed under private inthe origin and progress of the college struction in the year 1856. In 1861, connected with the Metropolitan Taber- when the Metropolitan Tabernacle was nacle. This has evidently become one opened, the students, who then amounted of the most remarkable and beneficial to sixteen, were removed to class rooms, results of the ministry of the word in which had there been provided for them. that place. It was not the effect of There the number of students rapidly human design, but of providential increased. A second tutor was provided, guidance. It was not sought, but found. and soon after a third. Three years after It was not foreseen by Mr. Spurgeon or commencing at the Tabernacle, there any of his friends as the fruit of his were sixty-six students, and now, after ministrations, nor even at its commence- three more years, there are ninety-three. ment were there any anticipations of its Thus the College has grown beyond all rapid growth and extensive influence. expectation and intention on the part The honor of originating and sustaining of man, and even against efforts to resuch an institution was not sought by strain it. There has been no going beMr. Spurgeon, but thrust upon him. fore Providence in this case, but simply Most of our collegiate and other religious submission to its guidance. Surely then institutions have been first designed and this work is of God and not of man. then planned; committees have been One special evidence of the hand of God formed; rules and principles have been in this work is the suitability of the apcarefully discussed; and funds have been plicants for admission to a college, which provided. There have been those who presents attractions to none but those have been called their founders. Nothing who are sincerely and earnestly desirous of this kind appeared in the origination of spending their whole lives in winning of the Tabernacle College. Mr. Spur- souls to Christ. Of these, it may be said, geon even was not its founder. It was "These, where had they been? Where founded by God, and committed to Mr. would they have been if such an InstituSpurgeon's care. "Take this child," it tion had not been provided for them?" was said to him, "and nurse it for me, The labors of most of them as preachers and I will give thee thy wages." and pastors would have been unknown to the churches. The peculiar adaptation of the men for their studies and their work, and the peculiar spheres of usefulness to which they are called, prove that the hand of God has been in all this. At no time has the supply of suitable candidates failed. Many have been necessarily declined, which shows that a vast amount of agency in the church for the kind of evangelistic and pastoral efforts which the present age requires, is lost for want of such encouragement and training as the College at the Metropolitan Tabernacle supplies.

Next to the conversion of souls, the desire of every zealous and faithful pastor will be that the converted may become instrumental to the conversion of others. Among these, it is not unreasonable to suppose that some would be qualified for occasional preaching, and others for the stated ministry of the word. A youth of this class having come under Mr. Spurgeon's notice, he determined to encourage and assist him, in devoting himself to the Christian ministry. The kind of assistance needed for that purpose not being provided, in his view, by any existing college within his knowledge, he determined to seek a tutor whose sentiments were more in harmony with his own. The progress of that one student in learning and usefulness led to the trial of another, and then, after a short interval, of another; and as the divine blessing seemed to rest in an unusual degree upon the studies of

|

A considerable proportion of the students are from the church at the Tabernacle, which shows what the churches in general might supply.

Another evidence of the hand of God in this work is, the success with which the ministry of those who have passed through the College has been attended. We mean success in the real object for

which the College was instituted, and | sources, in answer to faith and prayer. Christianity itself was given to menThe Church at the Tabernacle sympathe conversion of souls to God. In the thized with its pastor in the work, and new spheres of Christian labor that have entered upon a system of weekly offerbeen opened and established, in the re-ings, from which a large proportion of vival of old ones, in the pre-eminence of the funds is derived. A moiety of colsome as public teachers, and the general lections made after the public services attractiveness of their preaching, and in of Mr. Spurgeon, on many occasions, in the fact that a pure gospel is preached other places, has been another principal by them, we therein do rejoice, yea, and source of income. Special sums are also will rejoice; but we rejoice far more to collected annually by different classes know that hundreds, and we trust even and societies at the Tabernacle, and are thousands, have already been saved presented to Mr. Spurgeon for this obthrough their instrumentality. May we ject. Contributions are also sent from not again ask, "These, where had they various parts without solicitation, and been?" If this be of God, surely the generally at such times, and in such means by which it has been effected are measures, as call for the exercise of also of him. This one seal of the divine faith, but only that faith itself may be approbation has ever rested, and still increased, and rejoicing may be more rests, upon the College; and this it is abundant. that cheers the president and his friends in their laborious and self-denying efforts to go on with this work, and leads them to feel necessity is laid upon us; yea, woe unto us, if we continue not thus to help others to preach the gospel.

The manner in which the required funds for sustaining the College have been supplied, is indicative of the hand of God in this undertaking. The burden of this rested at first upon Mr. Spurgeon himself and a few private friends. As the demands increased, help was afforded from the most unexpected

From this brief sketch, our readers will see the relation in which the College stands to Mr. Spurgeon, to his church and congregation, and to Christians in general; and what is far more, how entirely the whole is of God. We propose in future numbers, as space allows, to give some account of the success of former students in their different spheres of labour, of the course of studies that has been adopted, and of other particulars that cannot fail to be interesting to all whose hearts are with us in this work.

Reviews.

The Wisdom of our Fathers. The
Religious Tract Society.
If we are to accept this as the beginning
of a series, we may anticipate a valuable
addition to the benefit conferred upon
an age of reading by the Tract Society.
The present volume is limited to selec-
tions from the writings of Thomas Fuller,
accompanied with a brief memoir. It is
full of Puritan gems.

ness of their fears, and the encouragement they have, both from Scripture Such works upon experimental godliness and reason, to go on their way rejoicing. lead us to prize them more when we are rare in these times, which should have them.

Hand-Book for the Man of Business.
F. Pitman, 20, Paternoster Row.
NEITHER more than it pretends to be,

nor less. It should be in the hands of
every young man about to enter into
business, and of every one who, having
gone wrong, wishes to conduct his
business in future upon the best prin-
ciples, and with every reasonable pros-

Sure of Heaven. BY THOMAS MILLS.
Hamilton, Adams and Co., London.
THE possibility, duty, and advantages of
the assurance of faith are here clearly
expounded and enforced. It is a book
for the doubting and desponding, in
which they may learn the unreasonable-pect of success.