brought at times such agony to her soul, that he felt it must speedily terminate her life. Nor is it strange that nature should have failed in this hour of extremity. How could this mother think of a separation from her five little daughters, whose life seemed bound up in her life, and that too when they most needed her forming hand? And yet, during this heart-rending conflict, she had seasons of sweet enjoyment. As had been her custom, she still devoted much time to reading the Bible, and to communion with God. As Mr. Hamlin observed her struggles and her progress, it seemed to him that she might be passing through a discipline preparatory for a speedy entrance into her rest,— a thought which, while it gave him joy, yet also filled him with a foreboding sadness. But, notwithstanding the occasional gleams of sunshine, her conflicts still continued. It was not only for her children's sake that she desired recovery. In her view, her greatest earthly usefulness and happiness were about to begin. Both the Greek and the Armenian languages had become pleasant to her, and she had many comforts in their permanent home, no longer removing from place to place. Her children were at a most interesting age to gratify a mother's love and reward. her care. She had also new views of the desirableness of living wholly for God and for heaven. She felt that she had been too much occupied with what was merely outward and prospective in the missionary work, and she longed to consecrate herself anew to that work. Thence she earnestly desired recovery, and wished Mr. Hamlin to make it a subject of fervent and unceasing supplication. She referred to instances on holy record where prayer for the continuance of life. was answered. And though she often made remarks which looked forward to her death, yet she clung to prayer as her only hope for the continuance of life. Her expressions of penitence on account of her sins were frequent and full. She took great delight in the fifty-first Psalm. "It is," she said, “a wonderful production, expressing everything which the Christian needs, confession, penitence, desire after holiness and communion with God, and joy in the conversion of sinners, and in the general prosperity of the church.” While her distress on her own account gradually passed away, her concern for her children seemed only to increase. When she saw the elder ones at times almost frantic with grief at the thought that she might never recover,—when she saw them spend many hours every day in earnest entreaties for her life,- her yearnings over them were indescribable, and she felt almost like her weeping daughter, as if God must hear their prayers. It seemed as if death could not sunder such sacred ties. For the younger ones she felt a still more irrepressible anxiety, and her pleadings with Heaven in their behalf were importunate. Nor did prayer ascend from these aching hearts alone. Many were the supplications made for them by their sympathizing missionary friends. Separated from them as they were, they were yet encircled by an unbroken band of intercessory prayer. And although, to a cold observer, these petitions might seem to fall back as from gates of brass, yet not in vain did they besiege the ear of the Most High. At their importuning cries, the heavens were bowed down to them. Enclosed as they were within a fiery furnace, seven times heated, they were not consumed; for a form, like unto the Son of God, was with them in the midst thereof. "O, cheer thee, cheer thee, though the flame SEVERE CONFLICT.-NEW CONSECRATION AND ASSURANCE OF FAITH. "Now, bowed in lowliness of mind, I make my humble wishes known ; I only ask a will resigned, O Father, to thine own." J. G. WHITTIER. THE thoughts and feelings of Mrs. Hamlin were gradually concentrated into the engrossing desire for entire resignation to the will of God, and for faith, not only to perceive Christ to be her righteousness, but actually to receive and appropriate him as her own. And this was granted. Under the deep conviction of her sinfulness, she had said, with great solemnity, "How dreadful the thought of going into eternity and meeting a frowning God!" Through the grace of the Redeemer she could now at times say, "How cheering that a poor sinner may look forward to a gracious God and a glorious heaven as his portion ! Notwithstanding the discouraging aspect of her health, there had been still, on the part of all, a clinging to the hope of restoration. Their kind and excellent physician had said, "Wait, and see what will be the effect of the climate." Day after day passed by, and they were still suspended between hope and fear. But on the 19th of October the most alarming symptoms appeared. The dear invalid was utterly prostrated, and abandoned the last hope of recovery. She had before supposed that if she continued to fai. it would. be gradually, and that she might linger many months; but she now felt death to be very near. That day and the following night she had strong conflicts of spirit. And, as the curtain shrouding the mysteries of the eternal world seemed lifting before her, for a moment she covered her eyes, as if fearing to look within the vail. Unbelief wrestled hard with faith, but the struggle was brief. She was at length enabled to make an entire and unconditional surrender of herself and her family into the hands of God. He blessed her with the sweet assurance that this consecration was accepted, thus bringing her into the only place of repose. She had, through the strength of Christ, made the very highest attainment which it is possible for the human soul to reach, the entire abnegation of self. Such a holocaust is the most acceptable of all sacrifices, and secures God's richest blessing. Thus did it now prove. Her Saviour placed upon her finger the charmed ring of the promises, to be no more removed till she had passed into a state of full and eternal fruition. agitated soul had found its centre, and it was henceforth at rest. She said of herself that formerly her will had been a most rebellious one,- that circumstances occurring through human agency she had been unwilling to regard with submission, not receiving them as the expression of her heavenly Father's will. Now she had ceased to regret anything in the past. The minutest circumstances, and the many disappointments attending her sickness, she was enabled entirely to acquiesce in, as ordered by infinite love. - Her She expressed great interest in the seminary at Bebek, and hoped that her husband would "always remember how infinitely important were the eternal interests of the scholars, that the conversion of one soul was |