that he had fallen a long way down where the cliff was not so steep as in other places, and that he was within a few yards of the bottom, so that he could easily let himself down and escape.

Now this gentleman's position seems to me to illustrate the position of the sinner-of every fallen man as he is by nature. He hangs by a something; that something is his life, which may soon break. He is in the dark he does not know by nature where he is. At last the light of God's truth begins to come; but what does he see? The faint light begins to shew him dark and steep rocks, frowning upon him all around: what a dismal position! and as light goes on to break, it appears worse and worse: there is no hope of his climbing out of it; and there he hangs as the light increases, then he sees below him: it is a fathomless abyss, which has no bottom: no words can tell the horrors of that place below him; he hangs there still by that slender

root.

Now, this is man's situation by nature; but God has not left him. How shall we explain what God has done for him? Well, then, look up! those rugged cliffs above him are very steep, very long, but God sends down deliverance for him over them all. If I likened it to a rope, I should say it was one which would reach him; and that it was a strong rope, and that it was a long rope, too, and that he might wrap it round him again and again. So has God provided for the lost sinner in his distress. But I do not like to liken God's salvation only to a rope; because a rope may be hung out to a lost man, and he may not be able to catch it: it may swing by him, or he might not be able to hold it: but supposing that there comes down a powerful hand to this poor man swinging thus on the caught root, while he is crying for help, and this strong hand finds him, and lays hold of him; and, heavy as he may be, and long and difficult as the raising him up to a place of safety may be, still this hand of love and power holds him and lifts him up, and brings him at last up safely to where he is again in perfect security.

Now, this describes what I think is man's state by

nature, and also what God has prepared a way for doing, sand will do, for every one who trusts his word and looks for this help. What should this, then, lead each of us to do? First, to ask God to convince us of our proper -position and lost estate, that we may feel our want of his help; and then we shall cry to him, and continually trust to him, by the way which he himself devised, of giving Jesus Christ, his dear Son, to be the sacrifice for our sins, to raise us from our lost estate. Unhappily, as the Scripture speaks, salvation is brought nigh to many; but they do not really feel their need of it, and never with the heart sincerely seek it. They would save themselves, or remain where they are; and, therefore, they are still lost!

D.

A SUNDAY-SCHOLAR'S DEATH-BED.

"At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent. and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight."-MATT. xi. 25, 26. Ir is about two years since Mary S. was first missing from her usual place in the S. Sunday-school. Upon enquiry, I found that she was unable to attend, from an increase of weakness, which had been coming on for some months. She sent a message by one of her schoolfellows, begging me to visit her.

Mary S. was about 14, and for some time I had felt a particular interest in her, from observing her attention and apparently deep feeling. When any close application of the word of God was made in the class, she was often ein tears, but I was not then aware of her state of mind.

Upon going to the cottage, I found her very weak, and it was evident that consumption was making rapid progress. She was fully sensible that she could not recover; but her mind seemed engrossed with concern for her never-dying soul, though she then said but little. I read Jeremiah xxix. 10-14. and endeavoured to shew the unwillingness and inability of man to seek for God, or to come to him, unless he is drawn by the Fa

that he had fallen a long way down where the cliff was not so steep as in other places, and that he was within a few yards of the bottom, so that he could easily let himself down and escape.

Now this gentleman's position seems to me to illustrate the position of the sinner—of every fallen man as he is by nature. He hangs by a something; that something is his life, which may soon break. He is in the dark: he does not know by nature where he is. At last the light of God's truth begins to come; but what does he see? The faint light begins to shew him dark and steep rocks, frowning upon him all around: what a dismal position! and as light goes on to break, it appears worse and worse: there is no hope of his climbing out of it; and there he hangs: as the light increases, then he sees below him: it is a fathomless abyss, which has no bottom: no words can tell the horrors of that place below him; he hangs there still by that slender root.

Now, this is man's situation by nature; but God has not left him. How shall we explain what God has done for him? Well, then, look up! those rugged cliffs above him are very steep, very long, but God sends down deliverance for him over them all. If I likened it to a rope, I should say it was one which would reach him; and that it was a strong rope, and that it was a long rope, too, and that he might wrap it round him again and again. So has God provided for the lost sinner in his distress. But I do not like to liken God's salvation only to a rope; because a rope may be hung out to a lost man, and he may not be able to catch it: it may swing by him, or he might not be able to hold it: but supposing that there comes down a powerful hand to this poor man swinging thus on the caught root, while he is crying for help, and this strong hand finds him, and lays hold of him; and, heavy as he may be, and long and difficult as the raising him up to a place of safety may be, still this hand of love and power holds him and lifts him up, and brings him at last up safely to where he is again in perfect security.

Now, this describes what I think is man's state by

nature, and also what God has prepared a way for doing, and will do, for every one who trusts his word and looks for this help. What should this, then, lead each of us to do? First, to ask God to convince us of our proper -position and lost estate, that we may feel our want of his help; and then we shall cry to him, and continually trust to him, by the way which he himself devised, of giving Jesus Christ, his dear Son, to be the sacrifice for our sins, to raise us from our lost estate. Unhappily, as the Scripture speaks, salvation is brought nigh to many; but they do not really feel their need of it, and never with the heart sincerely seek it. They would save themselves, or remain where they are; and, therefore, they are still lost!

D.

A SUNDAY-SCHOLAR'S DEATH-BED.

"At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight."-Matt. xi. 25, 26. Ir is about two years since Mary S. was first missing from her usual place in the S. Sunday-school. Upon enquiry, I found that she was unable to attend, from an increase of weakness, which had been coming on for some months. She sent a message by one of her schoolfellows, begging me to visit her.

Mary S. was about 14, and for some time I had felt a particular interest in her, from observing her attention and apparently deep feeling. When any close application of the word of God was made in the class, she was often ein tears, but I was not then aware of her state of mind.

Upon going to the cottage, I found her very weak, and it was evident that consumption was making rapid progress. She was fully sensible that she could not recover; but her mind seemed engrossed with concern for her never-dying soul, though she then said but little. I read Jeremiah xxix. 10-14. and endeavoured to shew the unwillingness and inability of man to seek for God, or to come to him, unless he is drawn by the Fa

ther, (John vi. 44.) and that all who are thus drawn "shall in no wise be cast out," (John vi. 37.) as well as the exceeding ability and willingness of Jesus "to save to the uttermost all that do come to God by him;" (Heb. vii. 25.) and having prayed with her that the irresistible power of the Holy Spirit might thus be put forth in her soul, and that as “a brand plucked out of the fire,” (Zech. iii. 2.) she might be enabled, by the teaching and anointing of this blessed Spirit (1 John ii. 27.) to come to Jesus by faith, (Heb. xi. 6.) I left her, commending her to God. (Acts xx. 32.)

Shortly afterwards, I went from home for some weeks, and on my return again visited the cottage. Mary was much worse, and confined to her bed; her mother met me at the door, and said, “O ma'am, my poor child is sinking fast; but we cannot wish her otherwise, for she seems so happy." I went up stairs; Mary was unconscious for some time, but at length was roused. I shall never forget her earnest look of gratitude, when she said, “Thank you, thank you, madam, for all your kind instruction in the Sunday-school; God has blessed it to my soul, and now I can meet death without fear." 'Then, Mary, you feel you are going to Jesus." With great weight and solemnity, she replied, "I hope I am.'

66

"Do you feel you have been a great sinner in the sight of God?"

Oh, yes! a very great and miserable sinner.”

"Then how can you meet death without fear?"

'Because I know Jesus died to seek and to save that which was lost," (Luke xix. 10.) and "his blood cleanseth from all sin." (1 John i. 7.)

you

Have felt the word of God applied to your soul ?"

"Indeed I have, especially that verse, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' (Matt. xi. 28.)

"Can you now feel that Jesus is drawing you to himself?"

"I hope he is."

"Then, Mary, God does seem, by his sovereign grace,