whatever it might be; but if he had any desire of his own, it was rather to die than live; that his heart was often much lifted up, though he had sometimes doubts and fears as to God's goodness and his own acceptance; but upon the whole, he enjoyed much comfort of mind; and that he derived much benefit from prayer, particularly when reading. It was at this visit he informed me, that he believed his first sincere prayers were offered up after his return home; that previous to that time his views of religion were very dark; but that he then began to see clearly the way of salvation through Christ, and faith in his blood, and then began to draw a comfortable hope of pardon and acceptance through him. He also said that, when he came home, for some time the thoughts of death gave him much concern on account of his mother, sisters and brothers, knowing how imprudently he had acted, and that he should leave them in distressed circumstances; but that now he was enabled to give them up to the Lord, being fully assured that, if they would but put their trust in him, and serve him faithfully, he would never leave them nor forsake them. When his mother was weeping on the prospect of the loss she was ere long to sustain, he said, "mother, don't cry.-Put your trust in God--he will be a better friend to

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you than I could, if even I were to recover.' I called to see him again on the the 26th, and found it a very comfortable and refreshing visit. He told me, he hoped he was "growing in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ," and mentioned, in particular, that he enjoyed reading and prayér more than he had done-he did not find these exercises to be a weariness to him as he formerly did. I should have mentioned that, some time before this, I recommended to the young people of our Sunday School the cheap edition of "Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion," published by the Religious Tract Society, and that in consequence a copy was purchased by one of Richard's sisters. This book was his daily companion; he valued it next to his Bible, and said he had derived much instruction and comfort from it. He appeared never more happy than when reading or talking about Jesus, and his love to perishing sinners. His whole dependence for pardon and acceptance seemed to be placed on his atoning death and justifying righteousness. The comfortable hope that he was building on the right foundation, was strongly confirmed about this time by an observation which he made to a friend of his mother, who was on a visit to the family. She had a pious son, and she was saying, that when called

to depart, she thought she could die most happy in the arms of her son. "Well," he replied, "it may be comfortable to die in the arms of our relations; but believe me, without we die in the arms of Jesus, we none of us can be happy."

In the latter end of April I paid a visit to my friends in Y-, and during my absence Richard was visited by the Rev. Mr. M--, of C-, for whose kind attentions and spiritual instructions he expressed himself very grateful. I returned on the 24th of May, and saw him on the Monday following. He appeared to be labouring under much dejection of spirits. He said, he did not enjoy the comforts of God's pardoning love-his sins appeared to him in a very aggravated light-and he had distressing fears as to his acceptance. I told him, the sincerity he manifested in searching and trying himself whether he was in the faith, and the desire he felt to obtain a comfortable hope as to the safety of his state, were very commendable, but that he ought not to give way to despondency that his sins, no doubt, were many and great, but not too many nor too great for the mercy of God in Christ to pardonand that I felt persuaded, his present distressing doubts and fears were suggested to his mind by his spiritual enemy. I reminded him of many precious promises, and

of God's faithfulness and truth; that Christ is an all-sufficient Saviour-able to save even to the very uttermost; that he was not called to feel but to believe; that his salvation depended not upon his feeling the comforts of a justified state, but on his believing in Jesus Christ, and relying on his all-sufficient atonement and righteousness for the pardon of his sins, and the acceptance of his person and services. I urged him in particular to earnest prayer for an increase of faith.

On the Saturday following, I found him more composed and happy. At his particular request I administered to him the sacrament of the Lord's supper, with which he expressed himself much comforted and refreshed. He observed, "I am afraid I have sinned by distrusting my Saviour; but, by God's help, I will distrust him no more.' I visited him again on Tuesday, and he told me, while joy sparkled in his eyes, that he had enjoyed great peace and comfort of mind since I saw him last; and that he was en❤ abled fully to rely on the promises of God in Christ. Speaking to him of the change wrought in the heart of the true believer, he said, "I have certainly experienced a great change. My feelings and desires are very different from what they once were. When you visited me at first, I used to wish that

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your reading, conversation, and prayers were over before they were-I did not enjoy them -I soon felt wearied with them. I saw however that this was wrong, and I prayed earnestly against it, and although now much weaker, I find much more comfort from them." His mother and eldest sister told me this time, that all his thoughts, both sleeping and waking, seemed to be employed about divine things. On the Saturday night before, while his mother was sitting by his side, he said, " Bid my mother come, I have something to tell her that will so please her!" And the following morning, when he awoke he said, "O mother, I am so happy! I find Christ to be precious to my soul. If I were to die now, I believe my sins are pardoned, and I should go to heaven." Another night, as his sister was sitting by him while asleep, he said, "The Lord is my strength. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. The Lord will be my strength and my support." His acquaintance with the Scriptures was remarkable indeed, considering the small advantages he had had. His memory was impaired by his sickness in other respects, but it appeared not at all so with respect to the promises of God.

I called to see him on Wednesday, June