had caught a severe cold two years and a half before, which had fallen into the limbs; and for nearly two years she had been confined to her bed. Thus their heavy trials and old age had reduced them to this affecting state; and a noble kind of independence had kept them from seeking parish relief, in the hope that the old man's getting better, and going to work again, would enable them to do without. They were now far away from the home of their youth-they had no children-no relatives that they knew of, to comfort or relieve them; but the whole world was like a blank before them. I was prepared to hear bitter complaints: but to my delight this was not the case. On walking up to the old woman, I told her I feared she had not long to stay in this world; and I asked her on what she built her hope of salvation. Raising herself gently up, she held out a Testament, which at first I had not seen; and replied in a most lively tone, “Oh! Sir, in this book, I have found a Saviour: he is my comfort, and my glory; and blessed be his holy

name!"

I then asked her, "and have you long found this Saviour to be precious ?"-" Oh! no, Sir, (she replied) we have both of us lived all our lives in neglect of God, 'till sometime ago. Sometimes we did go to a place of worship; but it was not till God laid me on this sick bed, that we thought much about our souls. Then, Sir, a lady called, and left us this Testament; and oh! how it has been blest to us! God has been so good, that if I was to get better, I could go into a desert mountain, and there serve him for ever."

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book ?"

I asked. but I read it to

"Can both of you read this No, Sir, my husband cannot; him. We have nothing else to think about now, except these good things, and they are so precious,

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that I could almost read for ever." On my telling her to put her whole trust in the Redeemer she had found, and to pray to him for a spirit of patient submission to his will, she replied with great feeling, once we did murmur, and thought it hard to be so wretched; but now we sometimes look through this poor window, when we cannot sleep; and then, Sir, we think it is our duty to be patient, because God is everywhere, and as much in this room, as with the king upon the throne. Only think, Sir, what Christ suffered for us: he had no where to lay his head he was worse off in this world, than we are: and oh! how great was his goodness, that he should die for such poor sinful wretches as we are.” I read to them the third chapter of St. John's Gospel, in the truths of which they both joined with much beauty and simplicity; and having prayed with them, I went home; glad that I had been sent to their dwelling.

:

It is pleasing to observe the beauty of religion, as shewn in the instance of an aged and dying Christian. The world falls into a small speck, and earthly troubles and crosses are about to cease for ever. The soul, waiting its call from the body, seems, as it were, to see, in faith, the King of glory open the gates of heaven. Jesus speaks in the still small voice of mercy, "when thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and the rivers, they shall not overflow thee." This raises the drooping spirits-this cheers the long, long hours of sickness

this waters and refreshes the weary soul, and makes it pant for that happy time, when freed from the fetters of the flesh, it shall hasten to heaven. No matter how mean or low the Christian's state in this world, no matter, whether he dwell in a cellar or a workhouse; if he bear upon his soul the signet of salvation, angels will take away his happy spirit

to the rest which remaineth for the people of God. As I walked to the abode of this afflicted couple a few days after, I could not but think of the glorious change that would soon take place with them. I found the poor woman's mind in the same happy frame that it was before. 66 Well, (said I) your heavenly Father sees fit that you should stay a little longer on earth ?"-" Yes, Sir, he does; and he does all things well; blessed be his holy name! His time is the best, and he knows what is best for me. O how precious Jesus Christ is, when we have no one else to look to !"-" He is indeed :(I replied) and the Bible tells us that he is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother; and that when our father and mother forsake us, the Lord will take us up. Is not this a source of joy to us?" "Oh! yes, it is indeed; and I now desire to have no will of my own; but to wait his good time and pleasure. I am very thankful, Sir, for what you have given us; it has made us much more comfortable; and I would thank God, because he is the author of every good we receive."—" He is indeed, (I replied) and this affliction of yours is a kind message of God, warning you to prepare to meet him.” She added, "Sir, I look upon it in that light: my sins have been great, very great; and if I had no hope in Jesus Christ, I must be punished for ever. But his glorious salvation is my hope, and how can I but believe it? Does not this Book say,him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out? Oh ! what a glorious salvation! Blessed, blessed Saviour!" As I was about to leave them, the poor old man clasped my hand in a transport of joy, and said, "Oh! Sir, I have been upon the ocean above forty years, and have seen a great deal of God's mercies, and I am sure he will not forsake me now." No, my poor old friend, he never will.

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Your

bread shall be certain and your water sure, 'till the day when he shall take you to a better world." "God be thanked, (he replied,) I believe it. I believe it."

Although on my leaving that room, an instant plunged me into the bustles of life, yet I could not get rid of the feelings which this scene produced. Neither did I wish it. The bustle of the docks and every thing around me, told me that I was in the world; whilst the scene I had just quitted reminded me that I was but a passing pilgrim-the traveller of an hour-a child of dust.

The next time I visited them, the old woman thought herself much better. The poor man's foot too suffered him to walk a little. They had had relief from the Dispensary; but the wife thought she should be better in the Infirmary; and it being Thursday, the day of admittance, I told her I would give her a recommendation, if she could bear to be moved. Finding it was her desire to go, two neighbour women made her ready, and a gentleman to whom the case had been named, kindly sent a coach to convey her there. I saw her twice in the Infirmary. Her Testament was her companion, and it was blest to her. She read it with deep humility and self-abasement. Jesus Christ and his 'glorious salvation" was her constant theme. On entering one day, she said, "Oh! Sir, now you are come, do speak to us of the Saviour: there are none here, but who will rejoice to hear you." With pleasure I complied with her request; and I have every reason to believe that the blessing of God was with us: for in the ward in which she was confined, the other sick persons gave a serious and devout attention during the reading of God's word. Three weeks passed away, and I was prevented from seeing her. During that time, however, I had taken relief from

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the Society to the old man, who yet remained at his own home.

One day I found a note lying upon my table, said to have been brought by a poor woman.

is the substance of it:

This

"SIR, I beg you to accept my grateful thanks for all your kindness to me. I cannot receive any good in the Infirmary, and I have left it to go into the Workhouse; where I hope God will have mercy on us. We have been obliged to sell every thing we had left, to procure some subsistence 'till we go there, which will be the day after tomorrow. Perhaps you will be good enough to call before then, and may God bless you for it.

"From your grateful and humble servant,
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"M. W."

I went again to the poor woman's dwelling, and once more witnessed the power of faith, the submissive spirit, the deep humility, and the glorious hopes of the departing saint. She seemed more like a person going to possess an estate, than a destitute, aged, sickly woman, leaving her home for a parish workhouse. She was then very weak and scarcely fit to be removed; but her spirit seemed to triumph over weakness, and her soul was stayed upon her God. I saw her again no more. I fully intended to have visited her in the workhouse; but it was my turn to feel the sickness "nigh unto death ;" and before I had recovered from the effects of bursting a blood-vessel, her soul had fled for ever. I have since been told, that her last and only hope was in him, who never forsakes his people and just before she died, she begged that the Testament might be sent to my house, and returned to the Bible Society, hoping that God would bless it to some one else, as he had done to her.

Here closed the life of this patient sufferer. Oh! that this account may cause the members of Bible Society Committees to extend their labours; and