nity, in its present degraded and fallen state! Possessing faculties capable of high things it is true, but blindly perverting them to their own destruction. The nature of man, when first it came from the forming hand of his Creator, was indeed noble and dignified, and bore upon it the impress of divinity: but, alas! as soon as 'the crown of innocence' fell from his head, and he sinned against his Maker, he lost all that was excellent and divine; and it is not until the image of God has, through the regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit, been restamped upon his soul, that he can regain any, even the least portion, of his lost dignity, or direct aright the powers and faculties of his immortal mind.

"But it is time I brought this long letter to a conclusion. Mr. Stanley writes home by this post, and will give all the information respect-ing our route, and when you may expect to welcome us back again. In the meantime, salute our dear mother for me, and present my kind love and duty to my dear Mrs. Stanley. I remain, "My beloved Ellenor,

"Ever your

affectionate Brother, "WILLIAM LAWRENCE."

William's letters afforded the beloved circle at home great delight. The minuteness with which he detailed whatever interested his feelings, or called forth his attention, gave them, in their eyes, a charm superior to the most studied elegance of composition. Mrs. Lawrence felt a mother's hopes centre in her boy; to his protection she trusted to confide her darling Ellenor, should it be the will of Providence to remove her from them; and her soul glowed with gratitude to that God who had bestowed the blessing, and to whose service he was dedicated. Like Hannah, her desire was, that "he should be the Lord's."

CHAPTER VI.

"Hear, Lord, the song of praise and pray'r,

In Heaven thy dwelling place,

From infants made the public care,

And taught to seek thy face."

Cowper.

In the quiet retirement of the country, few incidents of a public nature of much interest occur; but life is made up of little events, and the daily and hourly recurrence of these, perpetually present something either to cheer or to distress-either to exercise fortitude and patience, or to console and comfort. The school continued to flourish, teachers and assistants were not wanting. Other schools were formed in the adjoining parishes, and the country around received the benefit. Thus did the little seed take root, spring up, and flourish, and shoot forth its branches, till it became like the cedar of Lebanon for beauty.

William Lawrence was now about to enter upon his university studies, preparatory to his

final appointment to the Christian ministry. Ellenor, who was grown a fine young woman, lovely in her person, and still more lovely in her mind, engaged the affections of a gentleman, whose addresses were highly approved by Mr. Stanley, and sanctioned by her mother. Every circumstance appeared auspicious. The thought of separation alone was painful; the maternal heart cannot divest itself of serious and anxious solicitude at the thought of parting from a darling child.

Mrs. Lawrence endeavoured to reconcile her mind to this event, by the assurance, that the temporal happiness of her daughter would be promoted by her union with this gentleman;. and, what was of incalculably greater importance, he was fitted, not only to be a guardian and protector along the path of life, but a fellow-traveller towards Zion-a guide and director in her spiritual course. How blest the tie that unites such minds! Lovers of God, disciples of the Redeemer; to them the intercourse, and the charities of life, are not only endeared, but sanctified. They bend the knee in adoration to the same Lord; they own one Master, even Christ; they hold sweet converse about

those mighty events that were accomplished at Jerusalem; and they look forward to that period, when, through the atonement and merits of their Saviour, even though death-divided, they part not for ever; they shall meet before his throne to spend an eternity of happiness—such as "eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive."

But, ah me! how sad is the reverse! how dire the lot of those who rush with heedlessness into the fatal snares of the deceiver of souls -who, though themselves lovers of God, can yet, regardless of their own eternal hopes, form a bond of alliance with his enemies, and thus court the danger of being drawn aside from the path of holiness: and though infinite mercy, and almighty grace, may prevent such apostacy, yet is happiness to them a stranger, and they go mourning all their days. They turn the eye of compassion upon the object of their fondest love; and, alas! the fervent prayer of faith is either silenced by despondency, or the agonized heart groans out its bitter pleading, or heaves the sigh of unutterable sorrow.