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should have thought, that from that very cross all the everlasting happiness of his people was to spring? And, (to compare small things with great,) when the persecutions of my relations, the false reasonings of the author whose book I had read, and the conversation of the infidel brothers, which all conspired to give me such distress, became the very foundation under God of my establishment in grace; who will but conclude, that such a peculiar coincidence of circumstances cannot be the result of any thing fortuitous, but 'cometh forth, (as the prophet speaks,) from the Lord of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working*.'

It will be, no doubt, one portion of the feliciof heaven, to look back and trace the whole of our eventful history to the full. But it is now,

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in my esteem, walking in the highway of communion with God, when at any time we are enabled to trace it in part here below.

The house of the interpreter.-I have read of such an house, and of such a character, as being in the pilgrim's path, when in my days of childhood. But I knew not at that time, that I should myself live to behold either of them realized. A thought, however, struck me, as

• Isaiah xxviii. 29.

I read the inscription: Perhaps I may find here some help to explain to me the difficulties with which I am at present exercised!' I recollected what Job had said, that 'if there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness; then he is gracious unto him.' Encouraged by these considerations, I drew near to the house. The door was wide open. Jesus hath said, 'Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut itt.' I found that it opened into a spacious vestibule; in one of the compartments of which there was written, in large characters, as follows:

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Job xxxiii. 23.

† Rev. iii. 8.

THE RULES OF THIS FAMILY.

First, It is expected that every one who comes under this roof, fail not to be present at Family Prayer, and the reading of the Scriptures.

Secondly, It is hoped that beside these things, attention be given to the private engagements of the closet. They who begin the day in prayer, will probably find cause to end it in praise.

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Thirdly, The Apostle's maxim is to be invariably followed, under the Divine blessing in all things having conversation as becometh the Gospel of Christ that no corrupt communication may proceed out of the mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Ephes. iv. 29.

Lastly, Whatsoever is done in word or deed, all is to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Coloss. iii. 17.

To every one who, looking up for grace to render it effectual, sincerely desires to act in conformity to these rules, the good man of the house saith, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord, wherefore standest thou without ? Gen. xxiv. 31.

Thus invited, I entered the door, and found that it led into a large room like a hall. There were several persons seated round a table, at the head of which a venerable old man appeared to preside. Having taken my place at the bottom, to which the kind looks of the master at the top seemed to invite me, I soon discovered, by what dropped from his lips in discourse, that the characters around me were Zion's Pilgrims, like myself; and that the Lord of the way, had directed them in his providence hither for refreshment and counsel.

It is a very precious thing, when little societies meet together on gracious errands. There is a restraint upon the mind in the assembly that is mingled. Two cannot walk together except they be agreed.' I venture to believe that, more or less, every follower of the Re. deemer knows somewhat of this in his own experience. And it should seem that the dear Lord himself, at his last supper, restrained those sweet and incomparable discourses, which the apostle John hath recorded in the fourteenth and following chapters of his gospel, until Judas the traitor had withdrawn. For as soon as he was gone out, Jesus said, 'Now is the Son of man glorified;' and immediately the Lord began his farewell sermon.

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At this assembly of the Interpreter's, there was somewhat visible in every countenance, which indicated that they were all of one heart and of one soul." They were come together to lay down their several burthens, and to unbosom their minds to each other. And the good man of the house seemed to be deputed to speak a word of consolation to every case.

I found my mind much relieved under one part of my burthen, (I mean under the sorrows induced from the persecutions of my relations,) by what the Interpreter said to a woman in the company, under similar circumstances. My best advice to you,' he said, 'will be, to recom mend you to seek grace, in order to adopt the prophet's example. For when he found no favour from man, he recollected that he had the favour of God. So that, however wicked the times were in which he lived, yet the righteousness of Jehovah was unchangeable. best of them, (he said,) was as a briar, the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge.' Who therefore could venture to come near either? Your case, you see, is not singular, in the unkindness you sustain from your relations, on account of your religion. In all ages it hath been the same. And hence the prophet saith, 'Trust ye not in a friend; put ye not confi

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