living and dying under a clearer light, should as fully conform his mind to implicit obedience.

Without frequently diving into the depths of his own mind, a man's conscience becomes as devoid of light as a house without a window, while darker and darker still the darkness grows; but every night the Christian, when he retires to rest, may consider it a rehearsal of death, reflecting that sleep is a short death, and death but a longer sleep. By a strict examination of his own heart, also, he might have a nightly emblem of the day of judgment; so that when his body at last, like a ruined habitation, must be deserted, the enlightened and purified soul shall almost gain a glimpse of heaven while ascending from the bed of death.

Such was the preparation and such the end of a very aged Christian minister, Robert Bruce, who one day, after having breakfasted with his family, fell into a deep meditation, and exclaimed, "Hold, daughter, hold! My master calls me." At these words his sight instantly failed; but he asked for a bible, saying, "Look me out the eighth chapter of Romans, and set my finger on these words, I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, shall be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord."" Having placed his finger on these words, he spoke for

the last time, saying, "Now! God be with you, my children! I have breakfasted with you, and I shall sup this night with the Lord."

If there be joy among the angels in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, what may be the joy of Christians over one they love, who is enabled to bear such a testimony that he is prepared for a happy eternity. The late very beautiful and much admired Mrs. Cr, of C-th, when about to be most suddenly and most unexpectedly snatched away some months ago at the early age of twenty-seven, from the happy home. of all her domestic and christian virtues, calmly took leave of her husband and of her young children, without agitation or alarm, remarking, that her life on earth had been a cloudless summer, and that now she was about to enter, through the merits and mediation of her Redeemer, on a still brighter and happier state of existence in heaven. She repeatedly intimated her surprise that it was so easy to die, and her countenance seemed already expressive of that heaven she was so soon to enter, while the melody of her voice touched and affected all present. Soon after midnight, having bid farewell to all around,-which she did with tenderness, but without weakness, she enquired if the morning were far advanced, as she felt desirous of seeing once more the light of day; but, on being told it was very little after twelve

o'clock, she remarked with the utmost composure, "Then there will be no more sunshine for me in this world; but henceforth my Redeemer shall be to me as the sun." After a few moments, she added, "I hope to-morrow will be a bright sunny day, and that you will all go out to walk and think of me as happy-happy- happy!" She then begged that the window might be opened to let her breathe for the last time the fresh air of heaven, and having expressed herself gratified by its reviving influence, she shortly after "fell asleep in Jesus."

In such a sudden emergency, it is no new and unknown friend whose ways the Christian has to learn, but he acquires an habitual consciousness wrapped round every event of life or death, that God has, for good purposes, decreed and will send this blessing along with it. We, who have been enlisted into God's service, are liable to very sudden calls on our submission, for almost every great event in life comes unexpectedly, and for that reason, probably, David in speaking of grief calls it "the wine of astonishment." When sorrow comes with a great and sudden wrench, the mind seems at first to become powerless, like a watch which when wound above its due height stands still. If we are thus stunned by the onset of sudden calamity, man's best support consists in a long-practised habitual consciousness that

the decree of God must be right, which carries our thoughts onward from present suffering, to the hope of a future never-fading inheritance.

When the Rev. Mr. Halyburton was suddenly expiring, he said, "Here is demonstration of the reality of religion, that I, a poor, weak, timorous man, as much afraid of death as any, am now enabled, by the power of grace, composedly and with joy, to look death in the face. I dare look it in the face in its most ghastly shape, and hope within a little to have the victory."

Heav'n, as its purest gold, by tortures tried;
The saint sustain'd it, but the suff'rer died.

POPE.

CHAP. XVII.

SORROW NOT ONLY USEFUL, BUT NECESSARY, TO THE WELFARE OF MAN.

Great God, thy judgments are supremely right,
And in thy creatures' bliss is thy delight;
But I have sinn'd beyond the reach of grace,
Nor can thy justice yield thy mercy place.
So bright, my God! my crimson vices shine,
That only choice of punishment is thine.
Be thy will done! Let, let thy wrath descend,
While tears like mine from guilty eyes offend;
Dart thy red bolts, though in the dreadful stroke
My soul shall bless the being I provoke.

Yet where! oh where, can even thy thunders fall?
Christ's shield o'erspreads, and saves me from them all.
Translated from the French of Barreaux.

It is instructive to observe that sin having first introduced sorrow into the world, sorrow is now the best cure for sin, therefore moral evil becomes in fact the means of its own destruction. As it is only by receiving their lesson in the dark that birds can be taught to sing other notes than nature gave them, so, when the external attractions of this world are obscured, our attention becomes concentrated on the instructions in cheer