the Sunday-School and at Church. In short, the father was a specimen of the good old English peasant, and the mother an example of those whom the Apostle describes, as "sober, loving their husbands, loving their children, discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands." In this, however, they both rested satisfied, knowing nothing and desiring nothing more; and well would it be if higher professors would copy their example. However, it pleased the Good Shepherd of the Sheep, to shew them, whilst under the word, that "one thing" yet was wanting. They gradually became sensible of the insufficiency of their own doings to merit any thing in the sight of him who requires perfect obedience; they began to discern the holiness and spirituality of the law; they felt condemned by it; they perceived the necessity of "a more perfect righteousness;"(to use the words of our homily) "to be obtained at God's hands:" and they saw a new value in the blood of that Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world.

It was delightful to see with what simplicity and earnestness they fed "as new-born babes" upon the truths of the gospel. How often have I seen the tears roll down their cheeks, when the minister was discoursing on the love of Christ to perishing sinnerson the danger of delaying to accept his invitations-on the malignity of sin-on the danger of self-deception, and on the hourly anticipations of future bliss. Their demeanour at Church was peculiarly striking. During the prayers they preserved a fixed and serious attention; never appearing to suffer their eyes to wander; and during the sermon were evidently bent on "meekly receiving the engrafted word."

Nor was it merely at the regular weekly services that they manifested a readiness to hear. I was informed by the minister of the parish, that when he used to expound the Scriptures occasionally to a few of the poor after their work was done, that the dairyman was never absent but from illness; and that though he lived a mile off, and worked very hard, he usually came through the worst winter weather to hear the word of God. Nor was his wife backward, whenever she could find an opportunity. After some conversation with the minister, they both presented themselves at the table of their Lord, not as too many do, because they have been brought up to it,' but with a real love for him who shed his precious blood in their behalf: and often has a neighbour informed me, was the wife seen to go away from the ordinance with floods of tears,' lamenting her own unworthiness, and her past neglect of her Saviour's dying command.

6

There was, however, one obstacle to their spiritual improvement, neither of them could read. To remove this, the minister had the man taught to read; and the assiduity and patience with which he overcame all the difficulties which he had to encounter, (for he was rather a dull scholar) were truly edifying. After his hard days work, he would sit down and read his lesson over and over again, and make one of his little children tell him all the hard words, till he had got it perfect for the next time. At last, to his great joy, he could read the first chapter in St. John's Gospel, and then he purchased a Bible for himself, that he might read to his wife on a Sunday evening.

All now seemed about to go on happily; but "God's ways are not as our ways, nor his thoughts as our

thoughts."

He who chooses his people in the furnace of affliction, was about to put faith to the severest trial. The anxieties of so large a family, and sitting up at night to mend and make their clothes, with hard work all the day, had so weakened the constitution of the poor woman, that she was unable to survive the birth of a seventh child. One day the minister called at their house, when they were both at home together, and read to them part of the 15th of St. John, where our Saviour so beautifully describes himself as the vine, and his people as abiding in him, and deriving all their support and nourishment from the sap of his heavenly grace, showing the poor woman, who had been so much alarmed on account of her weakness, what support this passage would afford her in a time of trial. She expressed herself cheerfully, and they parted. A day or two after, intelligence reached him that she was dying. He set out immediately to see her; and on reaching the house, was witness (as he told me) to a scene more painful and affecting than words can describe. Round the bed on which the poor woman lay, unable to speak, tossing to and fro in intense agony, stood her husband almost broken-hearted, and her sisters. She knew her minister, and stretched out her hand to him. He spoke of Christ as her only refuge now, as he had often told her in health. She showed signs of deep piety, but could not utter a word. He inquired if he should pray with her, but she was unable to answer him. However they all knelt down round her bedside; no one at first was able to utter a word for weeping. The minister told me he was distressed that she was unable to give her dying testimony to the reality of the consolations of the gospel, when he thought he would ask her hus

band whether she had said any thing indicative of her state. His reply was to the following effect: Sir, she only said one thing since she was taken worse.' What is it?' he anxiously rejoined. It was this, Sir, "My peace is with the Lord.' I assure you, this short sentence, (so like good old Simeon's," Lord, let thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation") did the minister's heart more good than he knew how to express. He departed blessing

God, and saying, "It is enough!"

(To be continued.)

WEAK GRACE VICTORIOUS.

(Continued from page 208.)

(4.) Christ's charge extends to this weak grace. It was for this reason he hath the order given him in the text by his Father, not for the standing reed or flaming flax, though that is included. The weakest is here committed to him, and therefore is as much under his care. To what purpose hath Christ this order, if the weakness of grace were a ground of despondency? It is a ground of humiliation, but not of distrust. The gardener that regards all his ground, watches over the tenderest plants. Our keeper rises early to look after the tender grapes and pomegranate buds. (Cant. vii. 12.) That which is feeble is as much under his conduct, as that which is vigorous. He was ordered to be a shepherd, whose office is to attend the weak motions of the new fallen lambs. His bosom is appointed a place for them, he gathers them by his arms: i. e. converts them by his power, and was to carry

them in his bosom; "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. (Isa. xl. 11.) If you can go, he is to guide you gently; if you cannot, he is to bear you tenderly; not on his shoulders, merely by strength, but in his bosom with a tender affection. He is not only "the shepherd, but bishop of our souls." (1 Pet. ii. 25.) And our conversion to him makes us part of his diocese; "you are returned to the shepherd and bishop of your souls." In all your weakness he was ordained by God for your help; he "laid help upon one that is mighty;" (Psal. lxxxix. 19) mighty to preserve his power, and mighty to use it. Help supposes persons most in need of it, as the objects to whom it is to be afforded. Every new creature hath not an equal strength, but they have an equal interest in the Redeemer's death and merit, and the weakest may seem more under his care than the strongest, because they stand more in need of that office which he is intrusted with, and delights to exercise.

(5.) He delights in this charge. It was his delight to do the will of God, yea and his "meat and drink” to cherish the beginnings of grace in the Samaritan woman, (John iv. 34,) because it was his Father's work. Surely it was no small part of the joy set before him, that upon his dying he was to be invested with a power to perform his Father's charge. He will not therefore refuse to embrace the feeblest saint. He knew how well the soul of his Father was pleased with his undertaking this care of the smoking flax, as the words intimate, "My beloved, in whorn my soul is well pleased," (Mat. xii. 18 ;) pleased with that which