The Lindsley family without religion.

eventful; replete with reverses, and furnishing many instructive lessons to those who ponder the ways of God and consider the operation of his hands.

Mr. Lindsley was a lawyer, and had, at an early age, acquired not only eminence in his profession, but in a distinguished degree the confidence of the community in which he resided. This confidence had been inspired, not only by his accurate and extensive legal knowledge, but by his great integrity of character and uprightness of conduct.

He was particularly blessed and happy in his family. Mrs. Lindsley, the partner of his bosom, added to polished manners and a well balanced mind, great amiability and sweetness of temper. She was the mother of two interesting children. The oldest was a daughter, who, at the time that our narrative commences, was about twelve years of age. Mary Anna bore an exact resemblance to her mother in all the delicate touches and interesting features of her character.

Mr. Lindsley, among his many other excellencies, was distinguished for his kindness and great hospitality. In him the poor and the fatherless found a friend, "the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him," and often he "caused the widow's heart to sing for joy."

His wife and children he almost idolized. Where their comfort or happiness was concerned, he spared no expense, shrunk from no sacrifices. His home was a little paradise, where all hearts seemed bound together by the rosied wreath of love. All who visited his house went away with the full impression, that if there was a happy family on earth, it was Mr. Lindsley's.

This family, however, lacked one essential element of happiness. Their hearts had not been renewed and purified by the power of the Holy Ghost. While, therefore, this great change was unwrought in them-while they neglected this "principal thing"-their happiness was built upon a foundation as uncertain and unstable as the sand. An event which occurred about this time revealed to them

Change in religious views.

this truth, and turned their thoughts toward the solemn realities of the eternal world. They had, previous to this, been constant attendants upon public worship, but now they began to feel that something more than a mere outward respect for religion was necessary. The circumstances here referred to will be explained in the next chapter.

The goodness of God does not always lead to repentance.

CHAPTER II.

MR. LINDSLEY'S FAMILY.

"Afflictions from above,

Are angels sent

On embassies of love."

MERRY.

THE unnumbered blessings which a kind Providence spreads around us, and the manifold tokens of divine regard which we daily receive, were, one would think, sufficient to melt our hearts into gratitude, and win us to the service of God. But long experience has shown, that men are usually never more unmindful of their Creator than when they are feasting upon his richest bounties, and their sky is irradiated by the brightest rays of his mercy. Affliction, with dark and terrific form, must cross our path, blighting the fondest hopes, and desolating the fairest prospects, before we can be recalled to a sense of our duty. And happy is it, if the blighting of earthly hopes and the bitter pangs of earthly bereavement lead us to fly to the bosom of God, and to seek shelter beneath the outspread wings of covenanted mercy.

The voice of sorrow and mourning was now heard in the dwelling of Mr. Lindsley. His only son, a lad about eight years old, had fallen from a neighbouring hayloft, and was taken up dead. Mr. Lindsley was absent on business when this melancholy event occurred. As soon as the intelligence reached him, he instantly hastened home.

"Never shall I forget," said one who was present on that occasion, and from whom I have derived several important facts in this hasty sketch-" never shall I forget

The religious impressions of Mrs. Lindsley.

Mr. L's expression and attitude, as he entered the room, and approached the corpse of his child. His hands were clenched, every feature of his countenance was wrought up into an expression of agony, and his whole frame shook with emotion. He stood and gazed for a moment upon the sweet and motionless face of his boy, and then, as if he could no longer restrain himself, rushed from the room to give vent in private to his feelings."

After the funeral had passed, and the first excess of grief had subsided, this family were visited by the minister of the place, and kindly but faithfully reminded, that the bereavement which they had sustained was a solemn admonition from God, urging them to enter upon the business of their everlasting salvation. His words were listened to with seriousness and attention.

A change from this time was discoverable in both Mr. and Mrs. Lindsley. The Spirit of God seemed to have touched their hearts.

I know not whether Mrs. Lindsley was more deeply impressed than her husband, but she certainly cherished more sacredly her serious impressions, and sought the Lord with an anxious earnestness that abated not, till she felt emboldened to lay hold on the divine promises, and claim Jesus as her Saviour. From the hour the light of God's reconciled countenance began to dawn upon her troubled mind, the cross of Christ became endeared to her. She then learned the meaning of that declaration—“ unto you who believe he is precious." Christ was precious to her soul. Her great desire was to follow him and do his will. She wished to make an entire surrender of herself into his hands. Her daily inquiry before the mercy-seat was, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” vered, from reading the New Testament, that it was her duty to confess Christ before men. She was struck particularly with these passages. "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." "Go ye into all the

She soon disco

The obligations to receive baptism.

99

world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." "And when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.' "Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized." These, and similar passages, convinced her that baptism was an ordinance enjoined by the word of God. She needed no argument to persuade her to do what she plainly saw was the requirement of holy Scripture. She had not been baptized in infancy, and she therefore determined, in obedience to the command of that Saviour, to whose free and unmerited grace alone she looked for mercy, to make a public acknowledgment of him in the holy sacrament of baptism.

Having come to this determination, she sought a fit opportunity to communicate her intention to Mr. Lindsley. About three months had now elapsed since the death of their son. Mrs. Lindsley and her daughter were one day sitting together alone, when Mr. Lindsley came in, and sat for a while silent and apparently in deep thought.

"I have been thinking," at length said Mrs. Lindsley, addressing herself to her husband, "I have been thinking for some days to speak to you upon a subject that lies very near my heart. In the death of our dear son, we have had a most striking proof of the emptiness and instability of all that this earth can give. I feel that I have need of a divine Comforter. I wish to seek him in the way of his appointment. I wish to cast myself at the feet of Jesus, and ask him to wash me in the fountain that has been opened for sin and uncleanness.' I wish to be baptized."

Mr. Lindsley was deeply affected by these remarks. The veins in his forehead became distended, and upon every feature were visible the workings of a troubled soul.