sight—they ought to be so in ours.”

Some pointed and affecting observations to that effect recurred to my mind, as having been made by the young person with whom I had been just conversing.  Her mind appeared to be much impressed with the duty of speaking and acting for God “while it is day,” conscious that “the night cometh, when no man can work.”

Her laudable anxiety on this head was often testified to me afterwards, both by letter and conversation.  What she felt herself, in respect to endeavours to do good, she happily communicated to others with whom she corresponded or conversed.

Time would not permit my continuing so long in the enjoyment of these meditations, on this lovely mount of observation, as my heart desired.  On my return home I wrote a few lines to the Dairyman’s daughter, chiefly dictated by the train of thought which had occupied my mind while I sat on the hill.

On the next Sunday evening I received her reply, of which the following is a transcript:—

“Sunday.

“Rev. Sir,

“I am this day deprived of an opportunity of attending the house of God to worship Him.  But, glory be to his name! He is not confined to time nor place.  I feel Him present with me where I am, and his presence makes my paradise; for where He is, is heaven.  I pray God that a double portion of his grace and Holy Spirit may rest upon you this day; that his blessing may attend all your faithful labours; and that you may find the truth of his Word, assuring

us, that wherever we assemble together in his name, there He is in the midst to bless every waiting soul.

“How precious are all his promises!  We ought never to doubt the truth of his Word; for He will never deceive us if we go on in faith, always expecting to receive what his goodness waits to give.  Dear sir, I have felt it very consoling to read your kind letter to-day.  I feel thankful to God for ministers in our Church who love and fear his name; there it is where the people in general look for salvation; and there may they ever find it, for Jesus’ sake!  May his Word, spoken by you, his chosen vessel of grace, be made spirit and life to their dead souls.  May it come from you as an instrument in the hands of God, as sharp arrows from a strong archer, and strike a death-blow to all their sins.  How I long to see the arrows of conviction fasten on the minds of those that are hearers of the word and not doers!  O, sir! be ambitious for the glory of God and the salvation of souls: it will add to the lustre of your crown in glory, as well as to your present joy and peace.  We should be willing to spend and be spent in his service, saying, ‘Lord, may thy will be done by me on earth, even as it is by thy angels in heaven.’  So you may expect to see his face with joy, and

say, ‘Here am I, Lord, and all the souls thou hast given me.’

“It seems wonderful that we should neglect any opportunity of doing good, when there is, if it be done from love to God and his creatures, a present reward of grace, in reflecting that we are using the talents committed to our care, according to the power and ability which we receive from Him.  God requires not what He has not promised to give.  But when we look back and reflect that there have been opportunities in which we have neglected to take up our cross, and speak and act for God, what a dejection of mind we feel!  We are then justly filled with shame.  Conscious of being ashamed of Christ, we cannot come with that holy boldness to a throne of grace, nor feel that free access when we make our supplications.

“We are commanded to provoke one another to love and good works; and where two are agreed together in the things of God, they may say:

“‘And if our fellowship below
   In Jesus be so sweet,
What heights of rapture shall we know
   When round the throne we meet!’

“Sir, I hope Mrs --- and you are both of one heart and one mind.  Then you will sweetly

agree in all things that make for your present and eternal happiness.  Christ sent his disciples out, not singly, but two and two, that they might comfort and help each other in those ways and works which their Lord commanded them to pursue.

“It has been my lot to have been alone the greatest part of the time that I have known the ways of God.  I therefore find it such a treat to my soul when I can meet with any who loves to talk of the goodness and love of God, and all his gracious dealings.  What a comfortable reflection, to think of spending a whole eternity in that delightful employment—to tell to listening angels his love, ‘immense, unsearchable!’

“Dear sir, I thank you for your kindness and condescension in leaving those that are of high rank and birth in the world, to converse with me who am but a servant here below.  But when I consider what a high calling, what honour and dignity God has conferred upon me, to be called his child, to be born of his Spirit, made an heir of glory, and joint heir with Christ, how humble and circumspect should I be in all my ways, as a dutiful and loving child to an affectionate and loving Father!  When I seriously consider these things, it fills me with love and gratitude to God, and I do not wish for any higher station, nor

envy the rich.  I rather pity them if they are not good as well as great.  My blessed Lord was pleased to appear in the form of a servant, and I long to be like Him.

“I did not feel in so happy a frame for conversation that day, nor yet that liberty to explain my thoughts, which I sometimes do.  The fault must have been all in myself; for there was nothing in you but what seemed to evidence a Christian spirit, temper, and disposition.  I very much wished for an opportunity to converse with you.  I feel very thankful to God that you do take up the cross, and despise the shame: if you are found faithful, you will soon sit down with Him in glory.

“I have written to the Rev. Mr ---, to thank him for permitting you to perform the burial service at ---, over my dear departed sister, and to tell him of the kind way in which you consented to do it.  I should mention that your manner of reading the service on that day had a considerable effect on the hearers.

“Pray excuse all faults, and correct my errors.  I expect in a few days to return home to my parent’s house.  We shall rejoice to see you there.

“From your humble servant in Christ,

“E--- W---.”

It was impossible to view such a correspondent with indifference.  I had just returned from a little cottage assembly, where, on Sunday evenings, I sometimes went to instruct a few poor families in one of the hamlets belonging to my parish.  I read the letter, and closed the day with thanksgiving to God for thus enabling those who fear his name to build up each other in faith and love.

Of old time, “they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened and heard it; and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.”

That book of remembrance is not yet closed.

CHAPTER III.

The mind of man is like a moving picture, supplied with objects not only from contemplation on things present, but from the fruitful sources of recollection and anticipation.

Memory retraces past events, and restores an