and religious worship, thus robbing it of its life and universality, making it an affair of clergy, not of people; of preaching and ceremonies, not of living; of Sundays and synagogues, instead of one of all days, and all places, houses, streets, towns, and countries.'

Dr. G. remarked-It is this having God with me as my companion, which has made me so happy. I dislike to sleep, because I lose the enjoyment. O to think I could ever have had a care when there was a God in the world! How wonderful! How wrong I have been! "Behold the lilies of the field, how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin; and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith!" Ah! I did not understand that before. But I do now. How false are the judgments of the world. Many would pity me. They don't know how happy I am.'

One of his physicians, having called when he felt faint in consequence of having just awaked from a short sleep, remarked that the day was dull, and depressed the feelings. He replied emphatically- Never mine! it's a very delightful day!

He requested the following beautiful hymn of George Herbert's to be frequently read, his admiration of which, emphatically showed how well grounded he was in the great truth- by the grace of God I am what I am.'

THE HOLD-FAST.

I threatened to observe the strict decree

Of my dear God, with all my power and might:

But I was told by one, it could not be ;

Yet I might trust in God to be my light.
Then will I trust, said I, in Him alone,

Nay, e'en to trust in him, was also his :
We must confess that nothing is our own.
Then I confess that He my succour is.

But to have nought is ours, not to confess
That we have nought. I stood amazed at this,
Much troubled, till I heard a friend express,

That all things were more ours by being His.
What Adam had, and forfeited for all,

Christ keepeth now, who cannot fail or fall.

Saturday, 20. The evening of this day was felt by all to be a peculiarly interesting season, as it recalled the alarming seizure of the preceding week, and the unexpected mercies we had enjoyed in such delightful intercourse with our beloved Friend, during the seven days he had been spared to us. In reference to this, he said, I thought I should have been taken from you. We have had many mercies. What a glorious week it has been, the happiest I

ever spent. The world cannot comprehend it. I now understand the meaning of the passage, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, but God hath revealed them unto us, by his Spirit!" One of his friends bidding him good night, with the wish that he might have pleasant thoughts, he replied,- Those I am sure to have. I am never afraid of the nights.'

CHAPTER VII.

FROM SUNDAY JAN. 21, TO SUNDAY JAN. 28.

CHRISTIAN JOY-CEMETERY-ETERNITY NOT ENTERED ALONE
-MYSTERIES-CHRISTIANS NOT POOR-VALLEY OF THE
OF DEATH BE GREAT AND SEEK LITTLE
THINGS'-OPINIONS
ON OTHER SUBJECTS UNCHANGED-

SHADOW

LIFE OF DR. HOPE-TEE-TOTALISM DIGNITY, SAFETY AND JOY OF THE CHRISTIAN.

ALTHOUGH it would have seemed scarcely possible, yet Dr. Gordon was evidently still more emaciated than he was the preceding week. Notwithstanding the occasional rallyings which took place, it was obvious that the disease was steadily advancing, but while his little remaining strength became gradually less, and the outer man was perishing, it was delightful to witness how the "inner man was renewed day by day." Two verses, on which he earnestly commented in the course of reading, well illustrated his own experience of "perfect peace," and "joy unspeakable,” as the result

of simple reliance on the Saviour. "The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth, and with my song will I praise Him. Our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name." Ps. xxviii. 7; xxxiii. 21.

This was a topic on which he delighted to dwell. He wondered why Christians were not always rejoicing. He saw throughout the Bible the same great truth, that simple reliance on God, is the means of attaining to spiritual joy. He said- To believe that God loves us, wishes us to love Him, and does everything to make us love Him, to regard Him as a Friend, a Brother, a Father, this must make us happy. As to doubts and fears, I could not have any. I might have many if I looked to myself, but this is impossible, if I look to my Saviour. I have often been surprised that Christians seemed to be made so little happy by their religion. The reason is, they have looked for happiness to what is in themselves, instead of to what is in Christ. And looking to him is the best source of holy living. And then, if this Salvation were only offered to a few, or to those who had committed only trifling sins,-peccadilloes, and had lived moral lives, there would be room for