In one of her visits to this abode of misery, she learnt that the poor women had once themselves had the pleasure of relieving the poor. Once they were rich-once they had visited the destitute-fed the hungry-and supported the sick; but in the war between that country and Great Britain, they lost their father-lost their property in the general disorder of the times; and they, when young ladies, with their mother, were obliged to keep a boarding house for their own maintenance. Some of their boarders were soldiers; and one of them, a young man from Connecticut, never having received his soldier's pay, was unable to discharge the bill for his board. When thus poor, he was taken ill; and for five or six weeks, these ladies waited upon him with all the kindness, which a mother or sister could have done. They cast their bread upon the waters."-But who was this soldier? And who was the young lady, who went on this errand of mercy to the cellar? The soldier having fought his country's battle, has laid aside his armour, and sleeps in Jesus. A son of the soldier is alive, and the young lady has just been married to him! Yes, it was the good pleasure of God, that the wife of the son of the sick soldier should comfort those who comforted him. The aged fe males have been assisted as many months, as they assisted the soldier weeks. After many days, the bread which they cast upon the waters is returned to them. They had pity upon the poor; and now the Lord is pleased, according to his gracious promise, to pay them with interest.

SELECT PASSAGES.

To receive mercy and forgiveness solely on the account of Christ, and then to yield all obedience in the strength of Christ, and for the love of Christ, is the life of a true believer.Henry.

In all ages, men coming out of great trials have been most useful to others; for God doth not greatly exercise any of his, but with some special view to his own glory.-Dr. Owen.

Prayer is the better half of a minister's whole work; and that which makes the other half lively and effectual.Archbishop Leighton.

Parents and masters, let your children and servants read in your lives "the practice of piety:" not lying in your windows, or corners of your houses, and confined within the clasp of the book, bearing that, or any such like title; but shining in your lives.-The same.

Humility is the preserver of graces: sometimes it seems to wrong them, by hiding them; but indeed it is their safety. Hezekiah, by a vain shew of his treasures, forfeited them all. The same.

The growth of a believer is not like a mushroom, but like an oak, which increases slowly indeed, but surely. Many suns, showers and frosts pass upon it, before it comes to perfection; and in winter, when it seems dead, it is gathering strength at the root.- Newton.

THE BIBLE.

What is the world? a wildering maze,
Where sin has track'd ten thousand ways,
Her victims to ensnare ;
All broad, and widening and aslope,
All tempting with perfidious hope,
All ending in despair.

Millions of pilgrims throng these roads,
Bearing their baubles or their loads,
Down to eternal night;
One humble path, that never bends,
Narrow, and rough, and steep ascends,
From darkness into light.

Is there a guide to shew that path?
The BIBLE!-He alone who hath
The Bible, need not stray:
Yet he who hath and will not give
That heavenly guide to all that live,
Himself shall lose the way.

Whole Psalms to be got off: 56-57-6263—65—66— 67-68-69-70-71-73-77-80-84 85 86-88-90

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VOL. V.

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A STRIKING INSTANCE OF

THE INFLUENCE OF DIVINE GRACE:
RELATED BY A PHYSICIAN.

H. G. was a young woman of wonderful powers of mind, and of a very sweet disposition. She was always ready to do good; and her cheerfulness of mind and kindness of manner, made her an object of esteem and affection to most who knew her.

Happy would it have been for her, if these gifts of heaven had been properly cultivated and directed! but her aspiring mind could not stoop to the simplicity of Gospel truth. She stumbled at the cross; and at that "wisdom, which is foolishness with men. She chose for her companions, the gay and the trifling. Her favourite books were novels, plays, romances, and Paine's Age of Reason: but the Bible was seldom opened, save to cavil at some parts of its contents. Thus did her reading embrace the doctrines of infidelity; and her conduct was, without hypocrisy, like her faith. She attended no place of worship; but preferred the theatre and places of the same kind. Religious persons were always avoided; and their friendly cautions despised.

G

Some years were thus carelessly spent, when it pleased God to blast_her prospects and her health by a consumption. Long did she linger, yet long were her old companions and books the only objects of her attention. Some pious friends, who knew and pitied the state of her poor soul, tried, but in vain, to see her. The writer of this, however, unburdened his mind in a letter, which he has reason to believe she condescended to read; and one evening, some weeks before her death, he called at the house, in the hope of being invited into her chamber, but was disappointed. He inquired of her mother what was the state of her daughter's mind now, in the prospect of her departure. Her answer was, "she is quite resigned and willing to die; and says, she does not know that she ever did any harm." friend replied, that if she rested her hopes of happiness on such innocence as this, she would be greatly disappointed; and that unless she had an interest in Christ Jesus, the only propitiation for sin, her misery was certain: that he alone was the Mediator between God and man; and that, no doubt, when she had a proper sight of herself, she would abhor that righteousness in which she now trusted; and in the bitterness of repentance, would be ready to ery out, "God be merciful to me a sinner!”

The

The secret workings of the unspeakable grace of Christ, however, brought about a new state of things in her soul. She became truly concerned to know her real situation; begged one that sat by her to bring the Bible, and read to her; talked of the awfulness of death and eternity; asked some questions concerning the Saviour; the object of his mission, birth, sufferings, death, resurrection, &c. and grew pensive and sorrowful. Divine light shone at seasons on passages of Scripture, which now became her only book.