think of what I have not done, and yet I am always thinking of that, always recurring to my past neglect. You remember, sir, the sermon I asked you to preach. Well, at that time, so hardened, so indisposed was I, that I almost dreaded to go and hear it. Not that I had not had many religious thoughts, and many good wishes. I wanted to hear of mercy, and I was glad to think of Jesus Christ as the Saviour of sinners. I had often prayed, and those words greatly affected me. I liked your discourse, but I felt as if I was not sincere. Sometimes I seemed just at the door of the kingdom of heaven; but, how I cannot tell, all was in vain, those good thoughts had but half my heart, they floated for a time in my head, I was quite divided, full of plans and purposes, but all were vain, broken and disregarded. I have neglected my privileges, oh, how I have neglected my privileges!" These things were often repeated to me in substance. Poor girl! how earnestly would she wish and pray for more time for preparation for eternity, and catch at the most distant gleam of hope.

At length her strength was wasting rapidly away, and spasmodic attacks of a severe kind hastened the hour of

her departure. At these times she would send for me to pray with her, and entreat me not to leave her until she got well enough so as to conclude that she should live through the night.

The last attack came, I saw her, she caught with eagerness every word, but was bewildered, and perhaps distracted with pain. While I prayed she became composed, and I took leave of her never to see her face any more. In three hours after I had gone, her spirit had taken its flight. She had said within a few minutes of death to a friend, "Do you think that God will have mercy on such an one as I?" "Oh yes!" was the reply, "there can be no doubt, if you only seek and ask for that mercy." She then turned her head, and shortly afterwards expired.

Reader! it is not necessary that you should form a judgment respecting the actual condition of Mary C. Eternity will disclose whether she was indeed a brand plucked from the burning.

But there are important lessons which you may, which you ought to learn from this narrative. See how possible it is to have religious impressions, and yet to sin against them, not to follow them out; to have thoughts of Christ,

without actually coming to him. How easy it is to reject addresses the most faithful, personal, and convincing? Think how dangerous it is to stop in inquiries after salvation; how dreadful, on a dying bed, are the thoughts of having neglected opportunities and privileges. Consider, further, how hard it will be to obtain comfort and assurance at last, if you should now "quench the Spirit." I know not how any one can expect to have hope in death, or be safe for eternity, who trifles with convictions of sin, and who, after feeling the want of the Saviour, can rest without an immediate and direct application to him so as to become the present subject of salvation.