How malicious are the temptations of the to take away his life; and bound themselves and Felix's fears are vanished. by a solemn oath that they would neither eat DEVIL. He ever goeth about as a roaring blood of the Lamb. And we never read of his trembling again at a judgFelix was here presented ment to come. ing "wise unto salvation." with a most favourable opportunity of becomHe could not have had a more faithful, tender, and affectionate guide, to lead him in the way of life. The same voice who had declared the terrors of the Lord, was ready to declare the consolations of the gospel. Never did he feel a higher joy, than when directing the sinner to Jesus, as a " Refuge from the storm." And had Felix desired to flee from "the wrath to come," the apostle would have hailed that desire with unsearchable riches of Christ." He would delight; he would have preached to him the have told him, that, through this all-sufficient Saviour, there was mercy for the chief of sinners, that there was mercy for him; that "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin;" that if he came to Jesus, "though his sins were as scarlet, they should be as white as snow; that however numerous, however heinous, his transgressions might have been, yet if he came to this compassionate Friend of sinners, he would in no wise cast him out. He would have told him that the grace of Christ was able to save him. In a word, He would have guided him to present peace and future glory. Unhappy Felix! instead of expelling from thy presence the individual who had caused this salutary alarm in thy judgment to come, Felix trembled, and breast, hadst thou cherished him to thy bosom answered, Go thy way for this time; when I instead of saying to him, "Go thy way for have a convenient season, I will call for thee. this time; when I have a convenient season, I Let us consider the conduct of Felix in this will call for thee;"-hadst thou, with the last-mentioned interview with St. Paul. And humility of the eunuch of Ethiopia, besought may the reader draw some reflections from it Him to guide thee in the way of salvation, which may be useful to himself. Felix sent blessed, unspeakably blessed, would have been for Paul to hear an account of the nature thy lot; but the Roman governor was unof the Christian faith. We know not his willing to renounce his sinful lusts and pleamotive for so doing; it might have been to sures. Here was the secret of his dismissal gratify his own curiosity, or that of Drusilla. of the apostle. If he resolved to take it into Whatever it might have been, the apostle no consideration at some future season, this was doubt joyfully obeyed the summons, as afford-done, no doubt, to silence the remonstrances ing him the opportunity of promoting the of conscience. We have no account of his eternal interest of a fellow-creature. We ever having fulfilled such a resolution, but cannot but admire the conduct which the that he persevered to the close of his life in And what did he gain by apostle exhibits on this occasion. We behold his sinful career. no studied eloquence, to captivate the imagi- adopting this line of conduct? Did he obnation, or gratify the curiosity of Felix. We tain peace? No!" There is no peace, saith behold no servile soothing of the passions, no my God, to the wicked." How many are there base flattery of the vices, of his powerful who imitate the folly of Felix, who listen to hearer. The apostle has far different objects the temptations of Satan and say, I will wait in view. He seeks not to please, but to a little longer, and so delay like Felix, and profit; not to flatter, but to alarm. He knew never come to Christ for salvation. Believe Felix to be a sinner, and to be living in his it, my reader, that now is the accepted time. sinful courses totally unconcerned, and unap- The time is fast approaching when all these prehensive of danger. He therefore levels opportunities will be gone for ever, at him the keenest arrows of conviction, and near that day may be, God only knows. Perthe Lord." Felix was unjust. The apostle this is the last time Christ will set His gosmarshals in array against him, "the terrors of haps the present may be that day. Perhaps therefore reasons of temperance and judgment. pel before thee. This may be the last day the The apostle did not say to him in direct door of mercy will be open to thee; before toterms, as Nathan said unto David, "Thou art morrow's sun arise it may be shut, and shut the man." But he set the vices, of which he for ever. This is a solemn question. Reject was guilty, so plainly before his view, that the gospel then no longer. God is waiting to his conscience performed that office, and con- be gracious, and Christ is now willing to save. strained him to say to himself, I am the man.' The apostle knew to what an awful length in iniquity he had proceeded, employs one of the most powerful arguments that can "CULTIVATE," said Rowland Hill, when operate on the fears of a sinner, to rouse him from the fatal lethargy in which he is sunk: addressing Christians, "a spirit of love. he represents to him a judgment to come: he Love is the diamond amongst the jewels reminds him that there is a future day of of the believer's breast-plate. The other reckoning; and describes that day in all the THIS is the answer Felix gave to Paul, on horrors in which it will appear to the wicked. graces shine, like the precious stones of a very solemn and interesting occasion. A And as the apostle reasoned of these things, nature, with their own peculiar lustre, great number of Jews burned with revenge the heart. He felt his guilt, and was terrified white. Now in white all the colours are "The sinner was struck to and various hues; but the diamond is towards Paul for having embraced the Chris- at the danger he saw before him. We are united: tian religion, and were on the point of killing ready to hear that the next words will be him, when the chief captain, Claudius Lysias those uttered by the jailor of Philippi, What must I do to be saved?" But how interposed and rescued him out of their are we disappointed? Instead of hearing hands. But they were so bent on his destruc- this inquiry, we hear the words, Go thy way tion, that more than forty formed a conspiracy for this time; and the apostle is dismissed the commandments of Christ." Poor sinner, let me ask thee a question, and O that thou mayest be able to look it full in the face, and answer it honestly to thine own conscience. Thou hast this TRIPLE FOE to meet, how dost thou expect to come off in the conflict? The world, the flesh, and the devil, are seeking thy ruin, and thou art welcoming thy foes, and aiding their murderous designs. O foolish man, wilt thou not pause, ere thou dost perish for ever? Oh, I beseech thee, ere it be too late, consider thy latter end. Flee from the wrath to come. Whither shall I flee? To Jesus, whose blood alone can cleanse thee from all sin-whose power alone is sufficient to defeat thine every foe-whose grace is sufficient to save thee, however vile thou mayst be. What must I do to be saved? Do nothing, Jesus has done everything; just simply trust him, and thou shalt be saved. Come to Jesus, "as a poor sinner, and nothing at all," then shalt thou be enabled to say, "Jesus Christ is my all in all." Come just as you are, to him who is both able and willing to save all who come unto God by him. "I thank God," that "through Jesus Christ our Lord" there is "forgiveness of sins" for all who come to Him. Come, thou, and see. T. W. M. Trembling Felix. "Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient ssason, I will call for thee." ACTS xxiv. 25. Felix trembled. 66 Love. How L. A. L. so, in love, is centred every other Christian grace and virtue. "Love is the fulfilling of the law. It is the only source of true obedience to 66 Gleanings for the Poung. "I can see Jesus." able circles and gaieties of the great metropolis; The chill dews of death gathered thickly on her cold marble forehead, on which her aunt laid her hand, and then shuddered with terror and alarm. The grave expression The feelings of poor Florence were of a of the medical attendant, who was quickly far more mingled character than those of her summoned, left her fond and afflicted relatives aunt; and her heart sunk within her as she little hope as to the real position of their idolwitnessed the usual preparations for the re-ised Florence, The solemn sentence uttered moval of the family to their London residence by the dying girl, fell like a death-knell on the in Square. ear of her panic-stricken aunt. A little girl was lying in bed so ill that her a magic circle around her. "Lord, remember me." I HAVE read a sweet story of a little girl who expected to be with Christ in Paradise. When she fell sick, a minister went to visit her. He was told when he entered the house that "What can you mean, sweetest Florence, by saying, you are not ready? you, who never did a wrong thing, nor ever said a wrong word!-you, who have been a perfect angel, and yet say you are not ready? Who will ever enter heaven, if you do not?" "Oh! send for Mr. F-," said Florence; beg him to pray for me." Several times she was on the point of saying to her aunt, that her conscience would not allow of her mingling in the scenes of folly and fashion that were marked out for her: Mrs. S- endeavoured to strengthen her in her heart failed her, or there may have been such resolves: but when it came to the point some latent desire to witness with her own eyes those scenes which had been described to A very short time elapsed before Mr. Fher as so splendid and delightful. "Well, if was at her side: he was an enlightened minisI am to go,' were her words to Mrs. S-, "Iter, and an intimate friend of the family. am resolved it shall be the very last time, and As he addressed her with a few sympathiswhen I return to the country, I will give my-ing words, Florence looked up, and with much self wholly to good things and religion." Mrs. difficulty, and in broken sentences, said,—"I S-looked sorrowfully at her. She could only follow her with her prayers and her tears. How many, like Florence L-, have tampered with similar convictions, forgetting what the Bible says, that "God is not mocked." and that "whatsoever we sow, we shall reap!" A harvest of sorrow, or of sharp discipline, can alone be expected to follow such a self-confident and presumptuous course. The evening of witnessed a splendid fête at the house of her uncle, given for the special gratification of his young niece. As Florence stood by the side of her aunt, receiving the guests as they arrived, she never appeared more lovely in the eyes of her fond relatives, who gazed at her with unlimited am a miserable hypocrite!-I knew what was right: I even taught it to my poor Sundayschool children: I talked to them of holiness;—but I turned my own back upon God; I smothered the voice of conscience, and God has given me up to perdition!-I am called-but I am not ready!" Mr. F was too well acquainted with God's holy Truth to endeavour for a moment to extenuate or gainsay the accusations that Florence brought against herself; for, alas! they were but too just! She had, indeed, trifled with her truest and most sacred convictions. she was asleep. He went softly upstairs to the place where she lay. He looked. She was in a half-sitting posture, with her Bible lying open before her. She had evidently fallen asleep while reading. The finger of her left hand was pointing at those words which formed the simple prayer of the dying thief-"Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." Her finger was an index to the thoughts of her heart. This was seen; "I admit it all, my poor young friend,” he said, taking her cold hand in his,-"I admit for in a short time she half awoke, but not admiration. She was plainly yet elegantly that your past delinquency may have been of sufficiently so to perceive that any person was dressed, her deportment was naturally digni- the most aggravated character; but that only present, and said, in a kind of whisper, "Lord, fied and graceful, apart from all pride or affec-magnifies the long-suffering grace and tender remember me-remember me-remember-tation. Her features were set in a perfect and love of Him who has spared you to this hour, delicate mould, yet the charm of her beauty and who has said.-Him that cometh unto remember a poor child-Lord, remember me." consisted more in the soft expression of sweet-me, I will in no wise cast out.' In His tender She then became fully awake. The minister ness and benignity, that gave such an inde- mercy He has given you this respite, that you said, "What were you reading?" The his-scribable fascination to her whole counte- may even now look unto Him and be saved.' tory of the crucifying of Jesus, sir." "How nance. A slight flush tinged her fair cheek, If your sins were ten thousand times more in far had you read when you fell asleep?" "To and heightened the expression of her large number, and of the blackest dye, one drop of dark-blue eyes. the prayer of the thief that was crucified with As her slight form was seen His precious blood could efface them all. BeHim; and when I came to that place, I moving in the dance, with her usual ease and lieve it, Florence, and He will present your thought what a mercy it would be if the Lord grace, every eye seemed to be riveted on the soul spotless and unblameable in His sight.' Jesus should remember me likewise, and so I lovely Florence. "What a beautiful girl!" Your heavenly Father has done all that love fell asleep; and I fancied in my dream that I was murmured on all sides, could do in the gift of His dear Son, and the saw Christ upon the cross; and I thought I Holy Ghost declares that the blood of Jesus said, Lord. remember me;' and I am sure Flo-Christ, His Son, cleanseth from all sin.' Tell He did not look angry upon me; and then I me, Florence, that you believe it, and are happy in His love." awoke." We may be quite sure that Jesus welcomed her, and saved her, because he says, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." Happy cild that can thus come to Jesus and find salvation through His blood! She looked very happy. Did self-compla- Florence looked at him with the same wild expression of despair, and drawing a deep sigh, again repeated, "I am called, but I am not ready!" These were the last words she was heard to As the festive scene proceeded in its ordinary routine, and the dancing had become increasingly animated, a scene of a far different character, as unexpected as it was unsea-utter! sonable, caused a thrill to run through the Mr. F― then fervently poured out his heart whole assembly. An ashy paleness had in prayer for the poor despairing, dying Flosuddenly overspread the beautiful face of Florence; she became faint, and would have fallen but for the friendly arms of those who hastened to support her. She was unable to stand, and sank into a chair. "Oh! take me to my room," she exclaimed; "I am very ill!" In a moment her aunt rushed to her side, overwhelmed with agitation; and after a few moments she was carried to her room, and laid on a couch. "You will soon be better, my love," said her aunt; "it is only a fainting fit." Florence made no answer, her eyes were closed, and she lay motionless. After a few minutes she opened them, fixed them on her aunt with a look of indescribable anguish and despair, and said, in a low sepulchral tone, but with thrilling distinctness, "I am called-but I am not The Spring of 18- was destined as the period long desired by the fond aunt of introducing her loved Florence to the fashion-ready!" rence. It was observed, that while on his knees in earnest supplication, her lips moved, and she attempted to speak, but she had lost all power of articulation. Not the faintest whisper could be distinguished by the anxious listeners. The pulse of life was now beating more and more feebly, and she soon lost all consciousness. Before the morning light appeared, the youthful and lovely Florence Lwas a lifeless corpse! Long, long will the sound of those fearful words linger on the ears of those who surrounded her dying couch,—“I am called, but I am not ready!" Dear Reader! If the summons now came to you, would you say, "God calls me, and I am ready, washed in the blood of Christ?" or would you be forced to cry out, "I am called, but I am not ready?" A CHRISTIAN LADY desires a Situation as Companion, or to take the charge of Children, and make herself generally useful; or she would be willing to help in some light Fancy Business, either as book-keeper or otherwise. Salary not so much an object as a comfortable home. References unexceptional.-Address, M. K., care of Mr. Yapp, 79, Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square. W. Reduced to Half-a-Crown, London: W. Yapp, 70, Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square. W. HE LORD'S WORK IN THE VILLAGES, THE CHRIST. By J. L. H. Also, by the same Author, WORSHIP. 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YAPP, 70, Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square, London, W.; or to Messrs. MORGAN & CHASE, 3, Amen Corner, Paternoster Row, London. him; the types foreshadowed him; the poets All Communications, Donations, Books for Re-nity, are most gloriously exhibited in the Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square, London, W. [PRICE 1d. fore are you commanded to believe in Christ. You, as a guilty sinner, are condemned already, you are under sentence of death; but God has sent his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to die for sinners, to die in their stead, "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (JOHN iii. The Altogether Lovely. THERE never was such a person on the earth as Christ. Look at Him when you may or of loveliness. You cannot see a flaw in Him. where you may, He is always the perfection We never find Christ doing anything for himself. "He pleased not himself." He was always the same gracious, loving, faithful friend of His people. They had very few thoughts in common with Him, and their ways were generally very opposite to His, but His love knew no change. Even the 16.) Poor sinner, know this, GOD LOVES You! Believe with all your heart in Jesus, and you shall be saved, with a full, free, present, finished salvation. The Lord hath person of "Jesus Christ and him crucified." laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all. Read The finished work of Christ at Calvary, is the fifty-third and the fifty-fifth Chapters in God's highest wisdom, the angels' greatest the prophecy by Isaiah. "The wages of sin Three of the most important Words mystery, the devil's most profound terror, and is death; but the gift of God is ETERNAL in the Bible,-"It is Finished." the sinner's only hope. When Jesus died, LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord." Just before our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ his sufferings, his life, his substitutionary (Rom. vi. 23.) Greater love hath no man surrendered his spirit to his Father, he cried work, his obedience as God's servant, all were than this. Sinner, concerning the work newith a loud voice, “IT IS FINISHED." Death finished, perfectly and for ever finished. All cessary to be done for your salvation, Jesus slew not Jesus, but Jesus slew death. He died. that the ceremonial law prefigured was fin- says, "IT IS FINISHED." T. W. M. because he voluntarily became his people's ished. All that was necessary to be done for substitute. His life was not taken from him, the full and complete salvation of rebel sinhe cheerfully laid it down of himself. Theners was finished. The great work of man's sinner's head is bowed by death, but Jesus redemption was completed on the cross. bowed his own head, and gave up his life for There the law was magnified. There justice his sheep. We die in our weakness-Jesus was satisfied, and all her demands fully met. died in his strength. We have sinned, there- There all Jehovah's most righteous attributes fore we die; Jesus has died, therefore we live. were harmoniously displayed. There the Taking our stand beneath the cross, and fountain of blood was opened for sin and unlooking forward to the return of our now cleanness. There sin was put away. There absent Lord, we, by faith, are enabled to say righteousness was brought in. There Satan's concerning all prophecy, touching his sacri- head was bruised, and there his power was The prophets, crushed. There the prey was taken from the ficial work, "It is finished." like unto stars, revolve around Jesus the cen- hand of the mighty. No work of our hands, tral sun, and one by one is swallowed up and no deeds of penance, no self-assumed rightlost in him, as each meets its fulfilment. The eousness, no fancied or pretended merits of Seers had declared that Jesus should be born, the creature, can add to the perfection of should suffer, should bleed, should die; Jesus Christ's finished salvation. "It is finished." was born, he did suffer, he has bled, he did All that you, dear reader, as a sinner need, is die, and thus what they foretold, "Is finished." finished. Come then unto Jesus, whose blood The same holy men, speaking as they were cleanseth from all sin. Put all your trust, all moved by the Holy Spirit, have testified, and your confidence in him, and the moment you do still testify in the word, that Christ shall do so, you are saved. Do not begin to make come again that he shall reign with his excuses, but as a poor, perishing, guilty, wrathredeemed church—that he shall restore the deserving, yea, hell-meriting sinner, believe kingdom to Israel, and that he shall usher in on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be the millennial glory. Jesus will come, there- saved. Your sins cannot be too many, or too fore do we with patience look for him. He has great, or too black, for Jesus to pardon, The re- because he is able to save to the uttermost. said, "Behold, I come quickly." sponse of the christian's inmost soul is heard Come to Jesus, take him to be your Saviour, saying, “Amen-even so, come, Lord Jesus." put simple trust in him, have none other con(Rev. xxii. 20). When Jesus shall thus fidence, seek to draw comfort from none other come, then shall we fully know and see, how source. Simply believe in Jesus only. You all the prophecies meet in him. "It is finished," will then be the joyful acclamation of the redeemed. "I am satisfied," shall be the utterance of each watching believer. All hail, thou happy day! All Scripture hath its completion in Jesus; the prophets spake of devils acknowledged Him to be "the Holy declare, "Never man spake like this man.” One of God." The officers were bound to Pilate washed his hands, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person." The thief on the Cross exclaimed, "This Man hath done nothing amiss." The Centurion also glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was something of the heart of Christ. We love a righteous man." We, however, know Him because He first loved us. We crave more enjoyment of His love, and therefore say, "Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth, for thy love is better than wine." ledge that we desire to know, and to realize more shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. But we have known enough of Him to pronounce Him to be the " ALTOGETHER LOVELY." Whether must be saved, not by your feelings, not by we contemplate Him in the bosom of the your experiences, but by faith in Jesus' fin- Father before all worlds, or as the child in Bethlehem's stable, the youth of twelve years ished work. You can do nothing for your salvation, God does not ask you to do any-old, the minister of the gospel, the teacher of thing, Jesus Christ has done everything, there- His people; whether we consider Him at His baptism it Judæa, in temptation in the wilderness, the agony of Gethsemane, the shameful and unutterable sorrows of the Cross, or listen to His gracious words, and trace His blessed ways after His resurrection, each and all abundantly declared that He is the chiefest among ten thousand, the ALTOGETHER LOVELY. Judgment and Mercy. to carry out all my wishes. But alas! I as his communion with God declined, love A poor man once came into his cottage to light his pipe, and on recognizing him, asked if he was the man who some time ago came to his village with fish, and was much persecuted. He said it made him and others very angry that they could not make him so; and it appeared to have been the means used by the Lord to awaken this man's conscience, their being reason to hope he was then a converted character. (Continued from page 3.) THE following incident is one among many others, that may serve to shew his decision for Christ. It was not long after his conver-provoked them." sion when he met one of his old companions, who, on their being near a public house, invited him to drink with him. On his declining the offer, the other, supposing he had no money, offered to treat him. But when he was told that he had forsaken his former sinful habits, and of the Lord's grace in converting his soul, he became exceedingly angry, and threatened to cut off his arm with the hook he had with him, unless he went with him. But to his surprise, he was told As he lived not more than a mile from my that he could not do that-that he had no house at this time, I frequently saw him, and power to execute his threat, for the Lord heard much of his sufferings for the truth's would not permit him to hurt him. This sake. In proportion to his faithfulness to his strange language from one who had so lately new master, was the hatred with which he been a ringleader in all kinds of sin, deeply was now regarded by the very ignorant and arrested the man's attention, and without lawless population who lived near him. On further urging him to go to the ale-house, he passing one night not far from my house, and spoke to him kindly, and at parting gave him close to the scene of his former revellings, he a shilling. was attacked with violence, thrown out of his cart, and otherwise abused and injured. He called on me soon after for advice, feeling he could not pursue his calling without fear of injury. He wished to know whether under such circumstances he might not be justified in appealing to a magistrate, not in order to punish the parties, but in the hope that a caution from him might cause them to cease from violence. He well knew that the followers of Christ were commanded to "resist not evil," (Matt. v. 22, 24,) but he did not know what to do. He said he had once gone part of the way to procure a summons, but his heart failed him and he went home again. He now resolved to cast the matter on the Lord, but was greatly troubled. My complaint still growing worse, I was sent to Taunton Hospital, where I remained thirteen weeks. Here the Lord was exceedingly gracious, and enabled me to bear testimony to his truth in the midst of great opposition." The testimony alluded to will long be remembered by many. He was then in the freshness of his first love, and manifested great boldness in the faith of Christ. He possessed a readiness of speech, by which he was enabled to discourse with fluency and propriety. His prayers were remarkable for spirituality and unction, and the patients were anxious to hear him. One of them was much impressed, and sought for opportunities to be alone with him. Many of the Lord's people who visited the hospital, became much attached to him, and shewed him kindness both at that time, and after his return home. His prayers attracted much notice. Here he had to submit to very painful operations, which he bore with such composure as caused the surgeons to express their surprise and admiration. But he returned without deriving any permanent benefit. He says, "I returned home expecting I should soon die. Many Christians friends visited me, and my joy and peace at this time were geater than I can describe. I was happy indeed! resting for every thing on Him who shed His precious blood to save me from destruction. O how I loved Him at this time! He was indeed the chiefest among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely!" On January 2nd, 1849, a few weeks after losing his donkey, he was walking on the road, when the driver of a waggon which was passing by, invited him to ride. At first he refused the kind offer, but on being asked a second time, he got into the waggon. Being pained by the ungodly conversation which passed between the waggoner and another man, he requested to be put down; but finding they refused to stop, he tried to get out, and in doing so, the iron work which sustained his withered leg got entangled, and for a few moments he hung suspended by the rails of the waggon, which caused a compound fracture of the leg, the bones being broken in two different places. At this moment, he says, "the word flashed on my mind, 'Be sure your sin will find you out.' I was taken home, and the doctor came to set my leg; he told me I must not be moved for several weeks. This in connection with my old complaint caused me a great deal of pain, but I could bless the Lord even for this." His home on that cold night was a dreary place, no fuel of any kind being in the house; his wife was also in daily expectation of confinement for their fifth child. He was soon visited by many Christian friends, to all of whom, as also to others, he declared that his sufferings were the result of his departure from the Lord, who had dealt graciously with him. In a short time he was filled with joy, praising the Lord for the great mercy manifested in his present trial, which however was one of no small severity, the surgeon at that time giving but little hope of his being ever able to leave his bed; while his chronic complaint caused him such pain that he sometimes compared it to red hot needles entering his flesh, and at others to the feeling of its being gnawed off from his bones by a beast of prey. But his fortitude was such as to excite wonder. I have been with him at seasons when every part of his body seemed convulsed with strong pain, and not a murmur or even a sigh escaped him. Indeed his conscience was at this time so tender that if a slight groan happened to escape him, he was fearful he had dishonoured the Lord. (To be continued.) An Innocent Boy condemned for the Guilty. At this time, however-it was in the Autumn of 1848-his soul was in a declining state, although it was not indicated by his outward conduct. His trials, arising from poverty and much occasional suffering, were many; and these, together with the temptations connected with his calling, proved too strong for him. He traced his decline, in the first instance, to having purchased some old iron from a farmer's servant under circumstances which caused doubts regarding his honesty. On another occasion, at the close of a cold winter's day, during which they had no fire, his wife asked him how he could bear to see his children starving with cold, and not go to the wood and take some of the dry sticks which THE little story I am about to relate, the were so abundant there. The gate of the truthfulness of which I can affirm, is designed wood was only a few yards from their cottage, to illustrate the equally true, but much more and the practice was so common, that it was important story of God's great love to sinners. Happy would it have been if he had con- scarcely considered by the poor to be unlaw- A superintendent of a village Sunday-school, tinued thus to realize the sweetness and ful. But he had an enlightened conscience, just before asking the children to kneel down savour of the love of Jesus. At this time and knew the wood was not his. He was, while he asked the blessing of God upon the he felt, more than many, that those who had however, led, contrary to his conscience, to exercises of the day, called their attention to the had much forgiven loved much, but he knew obey the voice of his wife, and from that time school house, which had been fresh whitened little as yet of the deceitful workings of an his conscience became less tender, and the and painted; and hoped for the future that no evil heart of unbelief, as realized by the sense of sin consequently deadened. He one would scratch and deface the newly-painted tried and tempted believer; nor was he aware continued in this state some weeks, during seats, which bore sad proofs of knives, pins, of the hatred which his testimony for Christ which he gave up family prayer, and seldom and nails in every part of the room-and would excite in the hearts of his former com- took the Bible in his hand. He tried to im- to preserve from the hands of spoilers, panions. He says, "after a time I got a little prove his circumstances by increased diligence the punishment of being expelled from the better, and desired to tell my old companions in his business, but in doing so he was, as he school, was threatened to the first offender what the Lord had done for my soul. On my that was found so doing. saying this to a Christian friend, he told me that my heart was very deceitful, and it was quite a different thing to sit at home and talk about it, and to go and do it. However, I was so happy, that I thought I was strong enough told me, looking more to man than to God. Here let us pause, and ask, does not this world present clear evidence of the spoiler's hand? Is the world the happy paradise it was, when the first man and woman found it, like themselves, fresh from the hands of God? |