'Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord.'PHIL. I. 20.

OTWITHSTANDING of the humble position which James Nisbet occupied as a mere shopkeeper, so high was the estimation in which he was held as a philanthropist and a Christian, that he was occasionally honoured by pressing invitations from families in the highest ranks of life, to visit them in their country seats.

Though certainly gratified by such marks of kindness and respect, he was very backward in accepting of such invitations, being thoroughly convinced that his personal comfort, and his power of usefulness, would be more effectually promoted by confining himself to the sphere of life which the providence of God had assigned to him. It was not, therefore, from any want of respect for their high rank, or their Christian worth, but from a feeling of

I spied him where a fountain burst
Clear from the rock. His strength was gone.
The heedless water mocked his thirst;

He heard it, saw it hurrying on.

I ran to raise the sufferer up.

Thrice from the stream he drained my cup,
Dipt, and returned it running o'er;
I drank, and never thirsted more.

Stript, wounded, beaten, nigh to death,
I found him by the highway side;
I roused his pulse, brought back his breath,
Reviv'd his spirit, and supplied

Wine, oil, refreshment: he was healed.
I had myself a wound concealed,
But from that hour forgot the smart,
And peace bound up my broken heart.

Then in a moment to my view

The stranger darted from disguise;
The tokens in His hands I knew-

My Saviour stood before mine eyes.
He spake, and my poor name He named:
Of me thou hast not been ashamed,
These deeds shall thy memorial be,
Fear not, thou did'st them unto me.'

'Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord.'

PHIL. I. 20.

OTWITHSTANDING of the humble position which James Nisbet occupied as mere shopkeeper, so high was the estimation in which he was held as a philanthropist and a Christian, that he was occasionally honoured by pressing invitations from families in the highest ranks of life, to visit them in their country seats.

Though certainly gratified by such marks of kindness and respect, he was very backward in accepting of such invitations, being thoroughly convinced that his personal comfort, and his power of usefulness, would be more effectually promoted by confining himself to the sphere of life which the providence of God had assigned to him. It was not, therefore, from any want of respect for their high rank, or their Christian worth, but from a feeling of

propriety very creditable to himself, that he felt unwilling to share in the hospitality of personages whom he highly esteemed, such as the late Duchess of Gordon, the Marchioness of Cholmondely, the Marquis of Breadalbane, the Earl of Panmure, and Robert Ramsden, Esq., of Carlton Hall. But there was one nobleman—the Earl of Roden—whose invitation was so urgent, that, along with his dear friend Dr. Malan of Geneva, he left other pressing engagements, and went all the way to Ireland to visit him; and the visit was not only the source of high enjoyment, but of much refreshing from the presence of the Lord.

He was deeply and profoundly impressed with the daily habits, the good works, and the genial fellowship of this illustrious nobleman, in whose ancestral halls he found something, for the time being, like the home of a father. And in writing to an old and valued friend, he takes occasion to say: The more that I see of this dear family, the more I have reason to rejoice. Oh that what I have heard and seen here may be the means of strengthening and encouraging me in the good ways of the Lord! Oh! what a blessed thing it is to be a Christian; and when nobility is thus adorned, how amiable! Unite with me in praying that God would indeed uphold and strengthen the hands of His servant in this happy, because holy family. When his lordship came first here to reside, four years ago, he

found but one Christian; now he has a host, to whom his ministrations have been blessed. I think there is a text which says, "Strengthen those women that laboured with us in the gospel." Now, my dear brother, how is it that you stand all the day idle? Are there no women in dear Kelso whose hands want strengthening? Are there no ignorant children. needing to be instructed ?-no sick persons in want of some kind friend to read the word of God to them, and tell of the love of Jesus to poor sinners? My dear friend, look inward, look upward, and resolve, in the strength of the Lord, that as for others, whatever they say or do, as for you, you will serve the Lord, through evil as well as good report. Why should you be thus backward? I wish you were Iwith me here. While highly honoured for our blessed Lord's sake, do not think I am lifted up. I am rather humbled. My visit has been of the most delightful kind, and if spared to reach home, I trust God will enable me to be more alive to His blessed service, and give me grace to be more humble, and to abound more and more in every good work. It is now a month since I left London, and the Lord has blessed me with excellent health and strength.

'Thus far the Lord has led me on,

Thus far His power prolongs my days,
And every evening shall make known
Some fresh memorial of His grace."