danger in having broken God's just and perfect law, I had not at that time discerned the only way of deliverance and eternal safety. I saw that God was infinitely just and infinitely holy; but the more I saw of this, the less could I discover how he would be the justifier' of the ungodly. It seemed to be incumbent on me to work out a righteousness of my own, to fit me to receive the mercy of the gospel. I believe this to be a common mistake, but it is a very sad one; and while it bewilders the mind, it is impossible there can be peace.

"Let me tell you how I came to discover my error. I visited a poor dying man. I believed him to be ignorant; and so, indeed, he was in much that it is of comparatively small importance to know; and I thought, because he was poor in this world, that he must needs be unhappy. My object, and I think my sincere desire was, to teach and comfort this poor old man-for he was old as well as infirm, and suffering from a painful and incurable disease.

"Never was I more mistaken. Instead of needing to receive instruction from me-from me! I smile sometimes, now, when I think of my presumptuous folly he became my teacher; and a kind and loving and humble, as well as a wise, teacher was he. Instead of needing comfort, his soul overflowed with happiness and peace. It seemed as though he had realized, in their fullest meaning, the Saviour's own words: 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I

unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.' I was curious to know the cause of this heavenly repose of soul in one so unversed in philosophy, so destitute, and so afflicted also; but I could not venture to ask it of him. Perhaps he saw my perplexity, for he put a question to me which led me, naturally, to speak of the foundation of my own hopes of acceptance with God. And then did he gently direct me to such passages in the Bible as precisely met my case. Now, I had many times read these passages before, but it was with a dark mind and many preconceptions; but by the grace of God, new and divine light seemed to be cast upon them, when I read them again with an earnest desire to learn what is really his will; and I then discovered that I had been building my hopessuch as they were-on a sandy foundation, instead of on the Rock, Jesus Christ.

"I took up a hymn-book a few days ago, and lighted upon a hymn which so correctly and forcibly depicts my past uncertainty and distress, and the means of my deliverance from it, that I am tempted copy it for you. Here it is :—

to

"Dying souls, fast bound in sin,

Trembling and repining,

With no ray of life divine
On your pathway shining,
Why in darkness wander on,
Filled with consternation?

Jesus lives; in him alone

Can you find salvation.

"Worthless all your righteousness,

You the law have broken;
Flee you then to sovereign grace:
Mercy thus hath spoken.

Why in deeds that you have done
Seek for consolation?

Jesus lives; in him alone
Can you find salvation.

"Guilty, helpless, and distressed,

Ruined, and despairing,
Toiling for deceitful rest,

Rebel, Heaven-daring;
Prostrate bow before his throne,

Take the lowest station:
Jesus lives; in him alone
Can you find salvation.

"Prostrate bow, confess your guilt,
Own your lost condition;
Yield to him whose blood was spilt
Unreserved submission.

Then no more in anguish groan;

Seek his mediation :

Jesus lives; in him alone
Can you find salvation.

"Linger not in all the plain,
Vengeance is pursuing;
'Mid the dying and the slain,
Save your soul from ruin;
Flee to him who can atone,
Flee from condemnation :
Jesus lives; in him alone
Can you find salvation.

"It was this' unreserved submission' which I had not before yielded; and I found myself struggling to overcome, with unassisted strength, the evil of

my own heart. It was a vain struggle, my dear sister, for 'who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?' But God, who is rich in mercy to all that call upon him, gave me this mercy-to see that while there is no hope for the self-trusting and selfconfident, there is every certainty of salvation, both from the penalty and the that believeth in Jesus. there is, indeed there is, those who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before them.""

6

dominion of sin, to him Oh, my beloved sister, a strong consolation' for

A considerable time elapsed before I was released from the confinement in which I was placed; and when the light of day again shone on me, it was in a distant land-the land of olives and myrtles.

My new owner's countenance was greatly altered; and her thin white hand trembled exceedingly as she broke the seal which secured me, and found within my covers her brother's letter.

The apartment was a pleasant room, overlooking a broad placid lake which lay far below, for the house, which was my owner's temporary residence, was high up on a mountain's side. The scenery around was beautiful, and the warm rays of the sun glowed in the glorious valley.

"What have you there, Mary ?" asked her father, who had entered the room unperceived, while she was reading with moistened eyes the letter of which I was the unresisting bearer.