pleased God, in the free dispensation of his mercy, to call the child by his grace, while the parent remains still in ignorance and sin, how

great is the duty incumbent on that child to do what is possible to promote the conversion of those to whom so much is owing.  Happy is it when the ties of grace sanctify those of nature.

The aged couple evidently regarded and spoke of this daughter as their teacher and admonisher in Divine things, while at the same time they received from her every token of filial submission and obedience, testified by continual endeavours to serve and assist them to the utmost of her power in the daily concerns of the household.

The religion of this young woman was of a highly spiritual character, and of no ordinary attainment.  Her views of the Divine plan of saving the sinner were clear and scriptural.  She spoke much of the joys and sorrows which, in the course of her religious progress, she had experienced; but she was fully sensible that there is far more in real religion than mere occasional transition from one frame of mind and spirits to another.  She believed that the experimental acquaintance of the heart with God principally consisted in so living upon Christ by faith, as to aim at living like Him by love.  She knew that the love of God toward the sinner, and the path of duty prescribed to the sinner, are both of an unchangeable nature.  In a believing

dependence on the one, and an affectionate walk in the other, she sought and found “the peace of God which passeth all understanding;” “for so He giveth his beloved rest.”

She had read but few books besides her Bible; but these few were excellent in their kind, and she spoke of their contents as one who knew their value.  In addition to a Bible and Prayer-book, “Doddridge’s Rise and Progress,” “Romaine’s Life, Walk, and Triumph of Faith,” “Bunyan’s Pilgrim,” “Allein’s Alarm,” “Baxter’s Saint’s Everlasting Rest,” a hymn-book, and a few tracts, composed her library.

I observed in her countenance a pale and delicate hue, which I afterwards found to be a presage of consumption; and the idea then occurred to me that she would not live very long.

Time passed on swiftly with this interesting family; and after having partaken of some plain and wholesome refreshment, and enjoyed a few hours’ conversation with them, I found it was necessary for me to return homewards.  The disposition and character of the parties may be in some sort ascertained by the expressions at parting.

“God send you safe home again,” said the aged mother, “and bless the day that brought

you to see two poor old creatures, such as we are, in our trouble and affliction.  Come again, sir, come again when you can; and though I am a poor ignorant soul, and not fit to talk to such a gentleman as you, yet my dear child shall speak for me; she is the greatest comfort I have left; and I hope the good Lord will spare her to support my trembling limbs and feeble spirits, till I lie down with my other dear departed kindred in the grave.”

“Trust to the Lord,” I answered, “and remember his gracious promise: ‘Even to your old age I am He; and even to hoary hairs I will carry you.’”

“I thank you, sir,” said the daughter, “for your Christian kindness to me and my friends.  I believe the blessing of the Lord has attended your visit, and I hope I have experienced it to be so.  My dear father and mother will, I am sure, remember it; and I rejoice in the opportunity of seeing so kind a friend under this roof.  My Saviour has been abundantly good to me in plucking me ‘as a brand from the burning,’ and showing me the way of life and peace; and I hope it is my heart’s desire to live to his glory.  But I long to see these dear friends enjoy the power and comfort of religion likewise.”

“I think it evident,” I replied, “that the

promise is fulfilled in their case: ‘It shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.’”

“I believe it,” she said, “and praise God for the blessed hope.”

“Thank Him too, that you have been the happy instrument of bringing them to the light.”

“I do, sir; yet, when I think of my own unworthiness and insufficiency, I rejoice with trembling.”

“Sir,” said the good old man, “I am sure the Lord will reward you for this kindness.  Pray for us, old as we are, and sinners as we have been, that yet He would have mercy upon us at the eleventh hour.  Poor Betsy strives much for our sakes, both in body and soul; she works hard all day to save us trouble, and I fear has not strength to support all she does; and then she talks to us, and reads to us, and prays for us, that we may be saved from the wrath to come.  Indeed, sir, she is a rare child to us.”

“Peace be unto you and all that belong to you!”

“Amen, and thank you, dear sir,” was echoed from each tongue.

Thus we parted for that time.  My returning meditations were sweet, and, I hope, profitable.

Many other visits were afterwards made by me to this peaceful cottage, and I always found

increasing reason to thank God for the intercourse I there enjoyed.

An interval of some length occurred once during that year, in which I had not seen the Dairyman’s family.  I was reminded of the circumstance by the receipt of the following letter:

“Rev. Sir,

“I have been expecting to see or hear from you for a considerable time.  Excuse the liberty I take in sending you another letter.  I have been confined to the house the greater part of the time since I left ---.  I took cold that day, and have been worse ever since.  I walk out a little on these fine days, but seem to myself to walk very near on the borders of eternity.  Glory be to God, it is a very pleasing prospect before me.  Though I feel the workings of sin, and am abased, yet Jesus shows his mercy to be mine, and I trust that I am his.  At such times

“My soul would leave this heavy clay
   At his transporting word,
Run up with joy the shining way
   To meet and prove the Lord.

“Fearless of hell and ghastly death,
   I’d break through every foe;
The wings of love and arms of faith
   Would bear me conqueror through.”

My desire is to live every moment to God, that I may through his grace be kept in that heavenly, happy frame of mind that I shall wish for at the hour of death.  We cannot live nor die happy without this, and to keep it we must be continually watching and praying: for we have many enemies to disturb our peace.  I am so very weak, that now I can go nowhere to any outward means for that help which is so refreshing to my spirit.

“I should have been very happy to have heard you last Sunday, when you preached at ---: I could not walk so far.  I hope the Word spoken by you was made a blessing to many that heard it.  It was my earnest prayer to God that it might be so.  But, alas! once calling does not awaken many that are in a sound sleep.  Yet the voice of God is sometimes very powerful when his ministers speak, when they are influenced by his Holy Spirit, and are simple and sincere in holding forth the Word of Life.  Then it will teach us all things, and enlighten our mind, and reveal unto us the hidden things of darkness, and give us out of that Divine treasure ‘things new and old.’  Resting on God to work in us both to will and to do