I asked if he placed much reliance upon death-bed profession. "Not usually," he said; "but this is no mere death-bed profession. It is about twelve years since this man ceased to be Satan's bond-slave, and became a freedman of the Lord. I remember well the day on which he was first induced to come within hearing of the gospel, and the earnest prayers with which I had besought God's special blessing on the words He would guide me to choose that day. And now, after a consistent life ever since, to hear this dying believer trace back the salvation of his soul to the sermon which I had thought so utterly inadequate to convey any true idea of Almighty love and grace has been a wonder and a joy to my heart, an overwhelming reward for ill-performed service."

"Then, if you feel that there was nothing special in the sermon, to what do you attribute its effect on this person ?" I asked.

"To God's abounding mercy sealing His own message in the sinner's heart."

"But you gave the message ?"

"Yes, thanks to God, I did; but I am only a voice. When Paul planted, and Apollos watered, it was God alone who gave the increase. I may sow the seed, but without the sunshine and the dew from heaven it would never spring up. I may lay the materials for the fire, but only the breath of the Holy Spirit can kindle it."

"My dear friend," I said, "others plant and sow, and lay materials, and carefully too, but they do not seem to get the dew and the sunshine, and the kindling power. How do you get them ?”

Mr. M

looked earnestly in my face.

"You work for God?" he said, inquiringly.

"I try to do so; but I am disappointed. It seems as if He did not own my work. I have nothing like your results to show; the people do not speak to me out of their hearts, or about their souls, like those who delight in the hope set before them."

"My dear brother," said Mr. M, "if you desire to be 'a workman that needethnot to be ashamed,' and to win souls for Christ, do your work upon your knees. Prayer honours the source of blessing, and brings it down from Him who 'giveth liberally and upbraideth not.' The finest human composition in the world, unsanctified by prayer for the Holy Spirit to use it, may be only like 'a lovely song of one that can play well upon an instrument;' but that instrument is not the sinner's heart unless the key-note is struck from the melody of heaven. The gospel is 'glory to God' as well as 'peace on earth,' and whoever preaches it in the strength of his intellect, his eloquence, his careful preparation, will miss his mark; while a stone from a common sling, in the name and power of the Lord, will strike down a giant. None need to be more deeply taught the first lesson of spiritual education: Trust in the Lord,' 'wait upon Him,' than ministers of His gospel."

"I have failed in this respect," I said. "I have been trying to do justice to my theme in the best language and arrangement I could command, but I have not sufficiently remembered that, if the Word of God is a sword, it is 'the sword of the Spirit.'"

"Let us think of that more believingly, and ask-beseech Him to use it. If we would be spiritual fathers to bring spiritual children to Christ, they must be 'born again of the Spirit,' and we should wrestle for them like Jacob, and cry, 'I will not let Thee go, except Thou thus bless me, O Thou Giver of grace, and Author of eternal life.' A ministry quickened to this ere they offer the Saviour's message Sunday and week-day among the people would soon be a power in the nation that Satan and sin would feel to the heart of their strongholds; and kneeling suppliants would rise to 'crowns of rejoicing,' the value and the glory of which earth. has no language to describe, and the crucified, risen, and triumphant Saviour alone can reveal when He comes with all His blood-bought saints to 'be admired in them that believe."

I have thought and meditated since by my study fire for many a year, but I have never forgotten that memorable day when I learned the secret of success in ministerial and all other work. “There is nothing like kneeling down to it if you want to make it burn." My most successful sermons are those most prayed over, in which I have felt most helpless in my poverty-stricken efforts to do justice to my glorious theme, and have been thankful to hide myself behind my Master.

M

Twice Born.

P. was the abhorrence of his neighbours, and the hatred of the place in which he lived. He got his bread, in great part, by laying petty informations against transgressors of laws and bye-laws. He was always sneaking about, slyly watching to catch the wilful or unwary offender. Any poor wretch who was exceeding, by the smallest particle, his legal restraints was a welcome prey to M. P. He had no mercy; his heart was hard as the "nether millstone." He also scoffed at religion, and, like the fool, made "a mock at sin." His name was, in short, a by-word and reproach; and so obnoxious were his doings that he frequently went in fear of his life.

Now this man neither wished, nor intended, to alter his course; he had no desire after God or religion; and as for his soul, he neither knew nor cared whether he had one or not.

The Bible-woman visitor of the quarter in which he lived, knowing his character, felt a secret dread as she passed his door, yet had an earnest desire to do him good; so she presented herself to his wife, by whom she was received with some degree of civility; and one day, finding M. P. at home, she determined not to lose her opportunity. Accordingly, with all her energy, she besought and entreated him to attend a service in the mission-room, close by. She

reminded him that he had passed the meridian of his days, and urged him not to let slip the golden occasion of hearing something that might do him good for ever. He bantered her with the assurance that nothing in her line was likely to disturb his course or alter his opinions. Nevertheless, when the time came round for the service he went. Nor were the preacher's words without effect. They pierced the soul of M. P. like a "two-edged sword;" as a hammer they fell on the hard, insensible rock of his heart, and bruised and broke it. It was a marvellous change that took place then! From the rude, implacable tyrant, he became a little child in gentleness and humility, and expressed an ardent desire for instru, tion in the ways of God. His whole aspect was altered. The writer, passing one evening along a retired way, observed some persons sitting before their doors enjoying the summer warmth. One of them had a countenance so conspicuous for intelligence, benevolence, and peacefulness, that it led to inquiry as to his name. It was M. P., some months after his happy

conversion.

His old acquaintances, when they came to know the strange thing that had happened, did not fail to lay many snares in his way to test his sincerity. On a Sabbath morning he was often watched, to ascertain whether he did not steal away to his old haunt, the beer-shop, instead of going to the mission-chapel, where he had learned to believe in the name of his Divine Redeemer; but he was never overtaken in any inconsistency; and once, when too much change was purposely given him out of a half-crownpiece, he immediately returned the overplus. At the early devotional meetings, in the quiet of the Lord's day morning, it was pleasant to hear him offer up prayer. Implicit faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, lowliness and gratitude, inspired his lips; he could never too much adore Him who had "called him out of darkness into His marvellous light." His wife, soon after her husband's great change, was brought to the knowledge of the truth" at the same

mission-room; and they walked, hand in hand, in the ways of God, until she was called away from the things of time. He did not continue long after her. When fainting and feeble, his mind still strong and active, he was visited by the preacher whose words had first arrested his attention. “M. P.," said he, “do you feel satisfied with Christ as your only Saviour ?" "Yes," he replied; "Christ is with me. I am very happy, Mr. S——; for a long season I have had the consolations of my Saviour, and now I am only waiting His time!" So he died.

Some unbelievers have been heard to say, "If I could only see a miracle I would believe the Bible !" Ah! here is one, in the mighty and unlooked-for change that took place in the heart and life of M. P.—a miracle clear as daylight, and one that had many witnesses. There was a "passing from death unto life;" a "putting on of the Lord Jesus Christ," and a "putting off of the sins of the flesh," as astonishing as it was mysterious; and M. P. had an abundance of sins to 66 'put off." As soon as he felt their burden he ceased not to weep and supplicate, until it rolled off at the sight of his Redeemer's cross. When the Lord Jesus forgave him his sins a grateful sweetness pervaded his spirit, and he continued to dwell at His feet, the safest place in the universe, until he was called to abide in His more immediate presence above.

The new birth, the being born again, is specified by our Saviour as a personal experience that is absolutely necessary to us. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."1

Let us, without delay, and with the utmost earnestness, examine ourselves whether we have passed through this work of regeneration; and if we have not, then the first thing is immediately to entreat the Lord for it. Fan, O Lord, this feeble wish of mine into a flame; grant that

1 John iii. 3.