ing of a drawer which had probably been opened too far, and thus slipped to the ground. Satisfied with this conjecture, and fearing to cause a disturbance by any further inquiry, she composed herself to sleep.

Let the youthful reader of this narrative remember that this young lady was in the prime of youth. Oh! if she had postponed the preparation for eternity until she should have been laid upon her sick or dying bed, where would have been her hope? how awful would have been her condition on that solemn night! But, trained by pious parents, she had early given her heart to God. She was the eldest of a large family, to whom she set a bright example of all that was lovely and of good report; ever showing dutiful obedience to her parents, whom she delighted to honour; and ever diligently striving, by earnest perseverance and unwearied gentleness, to guide the infant steps of her younger brothers and sisters to that gracious Saviour at whose feet she had long loved to sit, and whose words were life, and light, and joy to her soul. Truly she was watching for her Master's coming; and "blessed are those servants, whom their Lord when he cometh shall find so doing." May we, like her, be found with our lamps trimmed, and with oil in our vessels, and so be ready to go in with our Lord to the marriage before the door is shut. When he shutteth, none can open!

GOD'S GLORY DISPLAYED IN REDEMPTION.

"GLORY to God in the highest:" in the highest heaven, in the highest degree, for this highest instance of his mercy. At the creation the "morning stars sang for joy." But redemption was a greater work than angels had yet seen, and a work by which God's goodness, wisdom, and power would be still more abundantly magnified. The exhibition of his adorable perfections to the view of intelligent creatures is the last and highest end of all his works.

There is the glory of his goodness, that shines bright in the capacities and happiness he has communicated to angels; but it shines with greater brightness in the mercy afforded to mankind, whether we consider the objects, who are sinners, rebels, and enemies; or his purpose in their favour, not only to restore the life they had forfeited, but to bestow it more abundantly, with respect to title, security, and honour; or lastly, and principally, the means by

which their deliverance from everlasting misery, and their possession of everlasting happiness, are procured, and which could only he procured by the humiliation and death of the Son of his love.

The glory of his wisdom, in adjusting the demands of his holiness, justice, and truth with the purposes of his mercy; in providing such a method for the exercise of his mercy as renders his displeasure against sin more conspicuous by pardoning, than by punishing it; in abasing the sinner's pride, by the very considerations which inspire his hope and confidence, so that while he confesses himself unworthy of the very air that he breathes, he is encouraged and warranted to claim a participation in all the blessings of grace and glory.

The glory of his power, in making all the acts of free agents, through a long succession of ages, subservient to this great purpose, not excepting those who most laboured to obstruct it; in changing the disposition of the sinner, however obstinate; and in carrying on his work of grace, when once begun, in such feeble inconsistent creatures as men are, in defiance of all difficulties and opposition arising from within or without. Had the Saviour come to befriend the righteous, I could have no claim; but I read, he came to save sinners, and that he is able to save them to the uttermost. His own word and Spirit first invited and enabled me to venture my all upon him. I know that I have committed myself to him a thousand times; how then can he give me up? Thus I endeavour to reason against the enemy: he can easily prove that I am worthless, ungrateful, and unfaithful; but he cannot prove that Jesus did not die, or that he did not say, "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." (John vi. 37.) I would not part with this text for all the world; it sometimes seems the only one I can lay hold of; but "in no wise" extends to all the complicated varieties of my case.

"I DON'T BELIEVE THAT."

THE well-known Dr. Fletcher, of Stepney, was once requested to visit a dying man who professed to be a sceptic. Speaking to him of his need of salvation, he pointed him, kindly and earnestly, to Christ, as the only and all-sufficient Saviour, who gave himself a ransom for sinners that

they, through him, might obtain forgiveness, and be reconciled to God.

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Hearing this, the dying man said, "Sir, I don't believe that: I wish I could, as my dear wife there does; she believes all that you are saying." "But," said Dr. Fletcher, you say you wish you could: and that, if you are sincere, is a great point towards attaining it. Now, what do you believe concerning Jesus Christ?" Why," he replied, "I believe that such a man once lived, and that he was a very good, and a perfectly sincere man; but that is all."

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It was a principle with Dr. Fletcher, when reasoning with unbelievers, if they acknowledged the smallest portion of truth, to make this a starting point from which to go on and argue with them. So he said, "You believe, then, that Jesus Christ was a truly good, a perfectly sincere man. Now, do you think a good man would wish to deceive others, or that a sincere man would use language that must mislead, and that, in things of the very highest importance?" "Certainly not," he replied. "Then," said Dr. Fletcher, "how do you reconcile your admission, that he was a good man, with his saying,

I and my Father are one?' And when they took up stones to kill him, he did not undeceive them, but still asserted the fact of his Divinity, adding, 'My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life.' Could any mere man say this, or even an angel, or the highest archangel?" "Stop," cried the dying man, with an excited voice: "stop, sir, I never saw this before; a new light breaks in upon me; stop, sir! let me think!"

Holding up his emaciated hand, as if fearing that even a breath might obscure the new light breaking in upon his darkened soul, and with a countenance lighted up with an indescribable expression of mingled wonder and joy, but with eyes intently fixed on Dr. Fletcher, he exclaimed, after a short pause, and while the big tears were rolling down his cheeks, "Sir, you are a messenger of mercy, sent by God himself, to save my poor soul! Yes, Christ is God; and he died to save sinners-yes, even me !"

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