that would keep us separate from the Saviour, and to cleave to Him with full purpose of heart. This insures us pardon, peace, and purity; acceptance with Jehovah now, and heaven at last. All is thus placed beyond jeopardy with regard to the life to come; and guiding ourselves in every step of our earthly life by the directions of heaven, who so likely as we to have enough for the journey home? Where can there be found such wise counsels as the Bible contains in regard to industry, and economy, and self-denial, and prudent preparation for sickness and old age? Where such shrewd advices as to the right methods of winning money, and taking care of it- -as stewards for God —when it has been acquired? Many people speak of the Bible as if it were merely a directory to heaven. It is vastly more than this. It concerns itself with every interest of humanity. It is the expression of the infinitely wise and loving heart of Him who made and redeemed both soul and body, and who delights to see His beloved children happy. Assuredly those who faithfully do His bidding in everything shall never be left to starve. If consistent with the proper development of grace in their hearts, their Lord may give them much of this world's goods to handle. But He knows well the danger of a full cup to most believers, while the old Adam is still so strong within them. Hence He sends crosses and losses, troubles and trials, light afflictions (as Paul calls the heaviest of them) which are but for a moment, and which work out for His own people a far more exceeding, even an eternal weight of glory.

When Ruth had been duly prepared by Divine grace and training for the blessing, temporal good things were not withheld. Far more than passing joys were hers, however. She became one of the prominent mothers in Israel. Born a heathen, and yet choosing to be on God's side, whatever she might lose, rather than continue among idolaters, however much she might gain of earth, she lost neither earth nor heaven, but made the best of both worlds. "The goodwill of Him that dwelt in the bush" was with her; and she was "satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord."

Innumerable examples can be furnished of the blessings resulting from simple faith in Jesus, and loving obedience to His commandments. Let me offer a few particulars of only a single case well known to myself. As the subject of it was comparatively in humble life, no reader will be in a position to say that it is hopelessly beyond imita

tion.

Not far from twenty years ago a citizen of Glasgow, well known still for his untiring philanthropy and his unceasing efforts for the advancement of Christ's kingdom, was resident during summer at a watering-place in Argyleshire. He took occasion sometimes to call

C

at the house of a very worthy widow, who had been left with the burden of five little children. Indeed, I might say six, for the loving mother of this family had taken home some years before a niece, who was now only thirteen years of age. In connection with necessary duties, the widow had frequently to be absent for some days at a time; but the niece then took charge of her younger cousins, and by night and by day watched over them with all a parent's tenderness and care.

The Glasgow gentleman was much struck with the ability and devotedness of "the little mother," as he used to call the girl. In various ways he showed much kindness to his widowed friend; and when circumstances made it possible for her to spare her niece, he made such proposals as resulted in the young woman's entering his own household, and ultimately taking a charge in connection with his business. Whether in a subordinate capacity, or when, as she developed into womanhood, considerable responsibilities were devolved upon her, she exhibited unwavering steadfastness, hearty zeal, untiring energy, extraordinary prudence, and complete devotion to duty. Never was she found wanting in the thorough accomplishment of her tasks, whatever they might be; and never did she seem to feel as if she had done anything deserving commendation. Remarkably humble in spirit, and unswervingly upright, no murmur or complaint was ever heard from her lips. As her employer himself informed me, never once during the sixteen years of her connection with his establishment had he occasion to find fault with herself, or with regard to anything under her charge. What a noble monument to her memory does his testimony uprear! Better far than a marble tomb is the honour of being declared to have been "blameless and harmless, a daughter of God without rebuke."

Of the time and manner of her conversion I am unable to speak; but when I first became acquainted with this young person in September, 1865, she had certainly taken up her cross and begun to follow Jesus. I doubt not she was won to the Saviour at an early period of her history, for such a life of faithfulness and humility must have had its foundation in true and all-pervading piety.

On the last Sabbath of March, 1870, she was seized with severe illness, necessitating very vigorous surgical treatment. In spite of every effort, the case became almost hopeless; and by the 15th of April the medical man in attendance, in answer to inquiry, stated that any one she wished to see might now be admitted for a little. Intimation of this I received, with an invitation to call; and I availed myself of it without delay.

The dear young woman was very weak; and her naturally cheer

ful but quiet spirit was greatly dulled by the prostration of her body. She could hardly speak except in a whisper; and as the physician forbade exertion, it was my duty rather to speak to her, and point her to the ample security of the One Sure Foundation, on which I had reason to know all her confidence was already set. The next day (Saturday) she was more hopeful in heart, and better able to realize the grace and love of God in Christ; but on Sabbath, the 17th April, every cloud had fled, and the Sun of Righteousness was shining gloriously upon her. She was asleep when I entered her room shortly after mid-day; but soon she opened her eyes and looked around. Recognising my presence, a beautiful bright smile lighted up her face, and I perceived at once that there was perfect peace and joy within. All that morning she had been sunning herself in the light of the Lord. In spite of hopes held out, even by the medical men, of possible recovery, she would not believe in them. Rather did she desire to go home to be with Jesus. On the previous evening she had expressed this to her beloved aunt, but added that she would like to possess more of the comforts of God. Now there was nothing to wish for. Her joy was full. The happiness of her heart betrayed itself in the bright smiles which played over her countenance, as many of the precious promises of God were being repeated in her hearing. I had just quoted the lines

"Jesus can make a dying bed

Feel soft as downy pillows are,
While on His breast I lean my head,

And breathe my life out sweetly there;'

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when she began the 23d Psalm, and recited quietly the first eight lines. After a pause I went on with the next stanza, Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale;" but she immediately took it up and repeated it herself. On my remarking, "You don't feel the valley dark," she answered with hands uplifted, and a face beaming with joy, "No darkness now-not a shadow. All is bright; all is bright."

I did not protract the interview. I was afraid that the excess of spiritual gladness would shatter the weak clay vessel. Hinting to her that it would be best not to task her strength, I then said adieu. It was well I left when I did, for she afterwards told her aunt that the Scripture promises which I had repeated made her heart overflow with joy-that the room seemed filled with unearthly brightness-and that she felt her Saviour-God close beside her.

On Monday she was buoyed up by the same spiritual happiness; and on Tuesday her employer found her still joying in the Lord. On leaving her room, of which the door was open, he stood for a brief

space in the lobby conversing with her aunt.

There he observed, as he glanced back into the apartment, the reflection of the patient in a dressing glass, which stood on a table at the farther end of the room, facing the door. She was clapping her hands with joy, and as he listened, he overheard the words, "Glory, glory; my Father, my Father."

The same evening, at a quarter-past nine, the love-chariot of the Prince of Peace came for this daughter of the King.

Thus lived, and thus died, Margaret L. She willingly denied herself that she might follow her heavenly Master closely. He supplied all her need. He honoured her by making her humble but useful life an influential example and pattern for others; and at length He gave her an abundant entrance into His everlasting kingdom and glory.

Does not her experience confirm and re-echo the Saviour's promise, meant for every one of His disciples?" Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

To those still in the broad road that leadeth to destruction, her early death is surely a solemn warning. How will they do in the swellings of Jordan, without the Great High Priest beside them to cleave the raging billows? How can they meet the Judge of all, seeing they have despised His grace, and neglected His offered salvation? "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon."

DR. JOHN DUNCAN.*

(Continued from page 815, Vol. X.)

IN our last we gave a short account of Dr. Duncan's life on to the period of his conversion, which took place after he had received license, and when he was about thirty years of age. Resuming at this point we hasten to complete our proposed sketch of his career.

As has been previously mentioned, it was mainly through the efforts of his friend Dr. Brown, and the Rev. Cesar Malan of Geneva, that Dr. Duncan was brought out of darkness into God's marvellous light. But while human instruments were employed, it was God's own work; and that it was so was amply attested by the character of his subsequent life and labours, according to the divine maxim, "By their

*Life of the late John Duncan, LL.D., Professor of Hebrew and Oriental Languages, New College, Edinburgh. By David Brown, D.D., Professor of Theology, Aberdeen. Edinburgh: Edmonston & Douglas. 1872.

fruits ye shall know them." In describing the character and outcome of the change which Dr. Duncan underwent, his biographer states that “thenceforth the Scriptures were God's voice to his soul as really as if their truths had been addressed to himself by an audible voice from heaven"—that "that gigantic Luciferian pride of intellect, which had been his bane ever since he began, without compass or rudder, to launch forth on the wide sea of metaphysical and theological speculation, now received its death-blow"-that "his whole soul now rested in that word of the Lord which endureth for ever, in the scale of whose unerring representations every speculation was weighed "-and that "from that time forward, he (Dr. Brown) never knew of a more tender conscience on every point of duty, a more quick sensibility to whatever he thought morally or religiously wrong, and a deeper sense of compunction and distress at any deviation from duty, whether patent to the eye of man or not." We are told farther that "for a long time he could think of nothing and speak of nothing but spiritual things, and of these only in one light-the light of a new-found nearness to God as a reconciled Father. He would sit and talk on such subjects for hours with persons of no intellectual strength or literary culture, and even with Christians in the very humblest walk of life. An hour spent thus was to him what talk with the woman of Samaria was to our Lord-'I have meat to eat that ye know not of.'" Thus his sentiments in regard to things spiritual, things unseen and eternal, had undergone a complete revolution. He had been introduced into a new world, in which he breathed a new atmosphere, cherished new feelings, was animated by new motives, lived a new life. He was 66 a new creature"-old things had passed away, and all things had become new.

And as might be expected, the change at once showed itself in his public work as well as in his private conduct. As we have seen, he had received a sound religious training in his youth, and was well acquainted with evangelical doctrine. And now that he was of a spirit in harmony with such doctrine, he ceased to preach in the way that had pleased the "moderates." Yet he began to preach in a strain which, while it testified to the character of the change he had undergone, showed that he had still something to learn in order to his being qualified for "declaring all the counsel of God," and "rightly dividing the word of truth." On this point he himself said :—

"I began to preach high assurance. I preached things about Christ, about the Trinity, about sin, about the Incarnation, about the atonement; and I thought I was warranted to preach that people who believed that were regenerated. I thought I was warranted to preach assurance on that ground. That was the defect of Malanism." "It was with regard to the work of the Spirit that the defect of Malanism appeared."