Mrs. Maison.

most satisfactory evidence that all was right between him and his Maker. I shall ever love the Methodists for his sake, and for the sake of my parents. I believe, as a people, they are doing great good in the world, and that there is among them much heavenly-mindedness and devotion to the Saviour. And among the happiest visions that will burst upon my view when the veil of mortality is lifted up, I have no doubt, will be the recognition of some whom I knew, and with whom I held sweet and holy converse, in the Methodist church.

"But this does not alter my sense of duty or of right. I left the church in which I was educated under the conscientious belief that I was attaching myself to a purer and more apostolic church. I conceive it to be a duty sacredly obligatory upon every individual, when convinced of error, to relinquish it, and embrace the truth, whatever sacrifices it may cost.

"The occurrence which first drew my attention towards the Episcopal church was the following:

"I had been acquainted from childhood with a neighbour of ours, Mrs. Maison, who had uniformly been distinguished for correct and exemplary deportment. I had always loved this lady for the sweetness of her temper, and the gentleness of her manners.

"Mrs. Maison professed to be a pious woman, and there certainly was nothing in her external conduct at variance with this profession. I, however, when I first became impressed with serious things, used to think that the temperature of her piety was altogether too cold. It was then a season of great excitement. A sort of religious sympathetic glow seemed to pervade the whole community. Mrs. Maison did not seem to enter very warmly into this excited state of feeling, and I then drew the uncharitable conclusion that she was a cold formalist, and a stranger to heartfelt religion.

"Some two years after this, when all my effervescence of feeling had subsided, I one day called upon Mrs. Maison

The power of sympathy chastened and directed by true piety.

and found her in deep affliction. She had but a few months before buried her husband, and that morning she had received the melancholy intelligence of the death of a promising and only son. To my utter astonishment, she appeared tranquil and sustained. It is true, her heart was weighed down with sorrow-she had all the feelings of a bereaved mother; but her grief seemed chastened with the thought that God had done it; and with her it was a fundamental article of faith, that God doeth all things well. Her tranquillity at this moment was the result of an entire casting of all her care upon Jesus.

"When I learned her views, witnessed her meek submission, and saw the steadiness of her faith, I altered my opinion, and concluded that her piety, like gold tried in the fire, was unmixed with any earthly alloy, and would be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ. These impressions, however, soon passed away, and I ceased to regard Mrs. Maison in any other light than that of an amiable and interesting acquaintance.

66

But, in that dark hour of sorrow and affliction to which I have referred, the voice of no friend seemed to soothe my heart like hers. She had suffered bereavement, and knew how to sympathize with the bereaved. Her unaffected and unostentatious piety now appeared to me invaluable. I saw that she was drawing streams of comfort from a fountain to which I was a stranger. I now began to think seriously upon my past ways, and to mourn over my aberrations from the path of duty. Mrs. Maison kindly sought to bind up my broken heart, and to point me to the only source of comfort. Sometimes, when she found me overwhelmed with sorrow, she would gently take my hand and say, 'You are sick with grief; but there is balm in Gilead, and a Physician there.'

"One day, as Mrs. Maison dropped in, I said to her, 'I am truly glad to see you; you always make me feel better, and resolve to do better.'

Christian counsel.

Mistakes about religion.

" "I am happy,' she replied,' if I can in any way contribute to your temporal or spiritual comfort.'

"I desire,' said I, to be a Christian, but I know not what course to take.'

"In the day of adversity, consider, is a scriptural precept,' answered Mrs. Maison.

"I have been considering,' replied I, I have been considering God's dealings with me, and I am greatly anxious to obtain his favour. I want those deep, abiding, soul-sustaining views of religion which you possess.'

"My dear friend,' replied Mrs. Maison, 'I fear you have too exalted an opinion of my attainments in the divine life. It is unquestionably true, however, that that religion which is not of a steady and uniform character is of little value.'

"This was the rock upon which my bark was wrecked,' said I; 'I once thought I was making the port of eternal life, but I was soon driven back by the winds of human passion to the point from whence I started. I want a religion that will stand by me through life, and will not forsake me at the hour of death. My feelings are easily excited: but, alas, former experience has convinced me, that this excitement will pass away like the morning cloud and early dew.' Perhaps,' said Mrs. Maison, one reason why your religious impressions were characterized with so little permanency, was, that you had formed erroneous opinions of the true nature of religion.'

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66 6

'Very likely,' replied I, but I think my mind is now open to conviction.'

"I have known many people,' continued Mrs. Maison, 'who thought that if they could once attain unequivocal evidence that they were born again, they might, with propriety, dismiss all further solicitude about their salvation; while others, no less remote from the truth, were of opinion, that if they could work up their feelings to a certain pitch of fervour, this was a conclusive and satisfactory evidence that they enjoyed the favour of God. Now these views,

The nature of Christian faith.

from the very nature of things, must induce an unsubstantial and evanescent piety.

"It is important to begin at the beginning. There must be a work of grace in the heart, there must be a renovation in the inner man, before we can serve God aright. Our religion must be of that character which warms the feelings, and kindles the affections into a kindly glow. But, at the same time, it must be remembered that faith, the vital principle of Christian piety, is an active and operative principle. The Christian religion is not a set of abstract notions, but a system of practical truths, that can and should be brought to bear upon every action of our livesto mould every temper of our minds, and regulate every disposition of our souls. The Christian's labour is never finished till his earthly career is finished. The promise is, Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He must be unceasingly engaged in the work of his divine Master. And whatever he does, whether he eats or drinks, he must do all to the glory of God.'

"I thought much upon these remarks of my friend; and the next time that I saw her I told her that I was now convinced that I had formerly mistaken the true nature of religion, but hoped, through her kind instruction, to proceed with more wisdom and prudence in search of the pearl of great price.

“'I fear,' said Mrs. Maison, I should be but a poor guide to you; for I may say that for many years I have been deprived of a spiritual guide. But my heart this morning is greatly rejoiced with some intelligence that I have received. I understand that the Rev. Mr. S

one of the ministers of my own church, will officiate in this place next Sunday.'

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"I have never known,' said I, among what denomi· nation of Christians you classed yourself.'

"It is my exalted privilege to be a member, though a very unworthy one,' said Mrs. Maison, of the Episcopal

church.'

The object of our visit to the sanctuary.

"Indeed!' replied I; 'I have always heard that church spoken of as a very cold, lukewarm body. But if you have drawn your views from the doctrines it inculcates, I wish to become acquainted with this church. Will you allow me to accompany you next Sunday?'

"Certainly,' said Mrs. Maison; and if, after attending service in the Episcopal church two or three times, you are not satisfied with what you hear, I will not again ask you to go there for instruction.'

"One has remarked," continued Mrs. Janeway, "that

"Real faith is like the sun's fair flower,

Which, midst the clouds that shroud it, and the winds

That wave it to and fro, and all the changes

Of air, and earth, and sky, doth rear its head,
And looketh up still steadfast to its God.

66 "I could not but think of these words when Mrs. Maison left me. She, most obviously, had real faith. Amid all the changes that had come over her, she had continued to look steadfastly up to God.

66

Agreeably to our appointment, the next Sunday I met Mrs. Maison, and accompanied her to the place where the Episcopal missionary was expected to preach. Long before he commenced his sermon, my feelings were interested in a way and to a degree which I cannot describe. The service was new to me, but it struck me as heavenly and sublime. There was a simplicity, and fervour, and animation, and decorum about it, which I had never before observed in any mode of worship. As this spiritual offering of devout hearts ascended on high, I could not but say to myself, again and again, This is worship! this is worship! And the thought now struck me, in a way in which it never had before, that the great business for which we visit the sanctuary of the Most High is, to worship.

"When the minister proceeded to his sermon, he announced this passage as his text: Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God?