"A time will come, sir,--would that it were come,-- When righteousness shall reign in every home, And the bless'd knowledge of the Lord shall be As the great floods that overflow the sea, And all things hurtful shall be swept away, And earth rejoice in one long Sabbath Day;-- But _this_ is not that time. The serpent stings, The adder biteth, and the drunkard sings In mad carousal, while the British name Grows a by-word for drunkenness and shame. Oh, sir, dear sir, roll this reproach away, And hasten on the glorious Sabbath Day, When Christ shall reign in righteousness and peace, And all the turmoil of the world shall cease: Think of that time, and, for His glory's sake, This tenfold work of mercy undertake." _Mrs. Sewell._ CHAPTER IX. A STRANGE REQUEST--TOUCHING THE SCEPTRE--SUNDAY DRINKING--CLOSED ON SUNDAY--PLEASANT OPPOSITION--GUILTY TONGUES--A SHARP REBUKE--UGLIER THAN A GORILLA--A KNOTTY QUESTION--POTMAN'S LETTER--THE PUGILIST'S RING--THE BEAUTY OF AGE--RESTING IN PEACE. THE BOOK IN THE BARS: ITS RECEPTION. "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the truth with all readiness of mind." ACTS xvii. 11. Thirteen years of Christian work in public, coffee, and night-houses, during which time 465 Sunday evenings were spent in the bars, taps, and parlours of these places, gave the Missionary thousands of opportunities to reason with men and women about righteousness, temperance, and a judgment to come. Incidents of interest were of constant occurrence, and we select a few with the object of showing that the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is mighty to subdue opposition and prejudice, and to accomplish the great purposes of grace.