A VERY interesting incident occurred in the early ministerial life of Mr. Spurgeon, and which he verified to the person who made it public. Thirty years ago or more, he was invited to preach in the vast Crystal Palace at Sydenham. Would his voice fill the immense area? Resolving to test it, he went in the morning to the Palace, and thinking for a passage of Scripture to repeat, this, as he reached the stage, came to mind: “It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Pronouncing the words, he felt sure that he would be heard, and then repeated the verse in a softer tone. More than a quarter of a century later Mr. Spurgeon’s brother, who is also a pastor, was called to the bedside of a man, an artisan, who was near his end.

“Are you ready?” asked the pastor.

“O, yes!” answered the dying man, with assurance.

“Can you tell me how you obtained the salvation of your soul?”

“It is very simple,” said the artisan, his face radiant with joy. “I am a plumber by trade. Some years ago I was working under the dome of the Crystal Palace, and thought myself entirely alone. I was without God and without hope.

“All at once I heard a voice coming from Heaven which said “It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” By the meaning of these words I was convinced of sin; Jesus Christ appeared to me as my Saviour. I accepted Him in my heart as such at the same moment, and I have served Him ever since.”

God honors his Word. Suppose Mr. Spurgeon had used a secular sentence to try his voice? What surprises await the faithful when results are known.—The Watchword.

“NEW MEXICO is peopled largely by a superstitious, ignorant race, intensely bigoted, and under the almost absolute sway of a degraded priesthood, who have a deadly hatred of the spelling-book as well as of Christian instruction.

“For centuries the people have dwelt in isolation, separated from civilization by vast reaches of barren, waterless, cactus-bearing plains. During these centuries they have made no advance either mentally or morally, but have sunk deeper and deeper into the sloughs of ignorance. The mission schools established among the Mexicans are centres of light from whence radiate many cheering rays. The people are awakening to a sense of their degradation, and give evidence of their desire for improvement. Many are anxious to learn English and to have their children educated. A little plain furniture, such as chairs, tables and bedsteads, is finding its way into their houses, and more attention is paid to dress and cleanliness.”

New Mexico is about as large as all the New England States together, with New York and New Jersey.