cousin, pausing and turning to me, "could you or I, from our own limited ideas of Christian charity, have imagined it carried out into such an example as this? or should we have ever thought it incumbent on ourselves to act thus ?"

Indeed I was amazed. I thought how painful the effort would be to nurse and tend the almost soulless body of one's dearest friend, when nothing but the body seemed to remain, and that so diseased and loathsome. One could scarcely think of the spirit of that friend, if all intellect was gone, and nothing but the flesh left behind-a kind of living death would be the depressing impression always present to my mind. But who would do all this to maintain and cherish one who was no dear friend, but an outcast--a stranger!

We paid many visits to this cottage, and each one confirmed the account my cousin had given me, of the light in which Bell Turner viewed the only debt Scripture says we should owe to one another, that of love. The injunctions to exercise charity, she regarded as equally binding with the words of the ten commandments. Believing the law of God to be " exceeding broad," and herself under its authority, she did not excuse herself from undertaking what others might think more than duty, a burden no charity could bear. My fear was, that she was making a merit of her good works, and seeking to "establish her own righteousness" by them. What led me to suspect this, was the tone which she assumed when she spoke of M'Vicor's former destitution, and her having taken her in. It was evident she was accustomed to be taunted by her neighbours, for being "righteous overmuch" in this matter. Perhaps some of them felt their selfishness reproved by her generosity; or it may have only been the unwearied pains the ungodly ever take to detect faults in the Christian's conduct, and represent it as a tacit reproach on their own less scrupulous lives, Be this as it may, Bell Turner was taunted for her labours of love. "But how could I do otherwise?" she would exclaim to us. "I tell them I could not, I dare not, answer to my Maker for turning a fellow-creature from my door." I do not remember many of her own expressions, but I know they made me anxious to ascertain, whether she did not look upon herself as better than her neighbours for doing what they would not have done. This is what the world continually says of Christians, that they are setting themselves up, as being better than other people. But I know that real Christians have no such proud opinion of themselves.

One day my cousin and I said to her, that although she was doing a right action in taking care of poor M'Vicor, yet we hoped she was not doing it by way of meriting the favour of God, nor thinking it would be a balance against her sins;

"Do

for which there could be no atonement but that perfect one offered by the Son of God. When the poor woman clearly understood what we meant, her countenance assumed an expression of humility, mixed with surprise and grief; and with an earnest quickness, she took up her Bible, and turning to Isa. lviii. she pointed to verses 6, 7, and said, you want to know my reasons for tending Bell M Vicor? I do it," she said, looking up in our faces with much solemnity, "I do it, because my God whom I serve, here commands me," and then she began reading the verses in her Gaelic, while we followed her in our English Bibles, "Here is my message of command," said she, repeating the 7th verse: "Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?" Bell Turner made a pause after she had read this verse. "This is what my God commanded me to do," she continued, "and therefore I did it; but O! ladies, think you that I believe there is any good in me that makes me obey. No, I am constrained to do it, for the love of Christ constraineth me; and indeed I think it is but little I do for Him who has done so much for me."

My doubts were dispelled. Bell Turner had not only expressed the sentiment which I hoped to find she was actuated by, but in the very words of Scripture, which I had been thinking of. It was indeed a blessed lesson, which I trust I shall never forget, to hear how great was this woman's faith, that she obeyed, simply because the Lord had commanded her. Great indeed was her faith; and when she had finished reading that verse, I could not help saying, “And do you see the promise in the next verses ?" Isa. lviii. 8—11. I must now hasten to a conclusion. The diseases of the poor old woman increased rapidly. She became a great size from dropsy, so that Turner had much difficulty in moving her from her bed to the fire; but she persevered to the last in doing this, as the poor creature seemed easier, at least she moaned less, when she was sitting up. One day, a message came to my cousin that she was worse, but it was then too late to go, the distance being considerable. Before breakfast next morning she went, but how was she startled, on opening the door to see M'Vicor stretched out on the bed, a corpse. She stayed a little while to try and comfort poor Turner, who was in as great grief as if she had lost a valuable friend. "Oh! the dear creature," she said, "to think that she went out of the world without giving me one look of knowing me; and O! Miss M-, what is far worse, without giving any proof that she was looking to the Saviour, and knowing him!" Upon this last grief, it was indeed difficult to quiet Turner's mind. Her poor charge never seemed, as long as she retained her senses, to have come to the knowledge of the

truth," "" that so she might be saved,” and Turner well knew that it is only" by the truth we are" saved and “ sanctified," John xvii. 17, 19. She wished to submit her will to the will of God, and, after a few weeks had passed, she appeared more quiet on the subject. She desired to believe, though she could not comprehend it, that even though her prayers may have been denied, yet, by that very denial, the glory of God could have been advanced. For this we may be well assured, whatever plans fail, God's wise and good plans cannot suffer a defeat, and whatsoever happens in the history of man, will redound to the glory of God.

My cousin sat with Turner on the day of the funeral, after the corpse had been removed. It was a humble burial. The parish provided the coffin, and the parish officers bore it away. There were no mourners to attend; and her poor benefactress, sitting crying at home, was the only human being whom it concerned, that a fellow creature was being borne away to her last and narrow home. As soon as M'Vicor was buried, Turner returned the old rags of the clothes she had received for her from the Ladies' Society. It never seemed to strike her that she well deserved to keep them for herself. My cousin sat down after the funeral was over, and read to her 2 Cor. v. This chapter seemed to comfort her very much indeed she roused herself to bear witness to the work of Christ in making her a new and happy creature, who had once been "dead in trespasses and sins." When my cousin came to verse 14, "For the love of Christ constraineth us," she broke forth, saying, "Yes, it is indeed a constraining power, it has sweetly constrained me."

Now I would urge my readers, of whatever station in life they may be, to consider well whether they are denying themselves to "lend to the Lord;" whether they are doing as much as they can, and not as little as they can help; whether they are more careful to nourish the spirit of charity in their hearts, than to keep up its appearance, in the eyes of the world, in their conduct; and whether their motive in any measure resembles that of Bell Turner.

From a Tract No. 879 of the Narrative Series. (Just published.)

THE POOR SINNER'S INVITATION TO COME TO JESUS CHRIST FOR THE SALVATION OF HIS SOUL.

DELIVERED IN THE WORDS OF HERBERT'S HYMN ON THe gospel SUPPER, LUKE XIV. 22. "YET THERE IS ROOM.

Ten thousand, thousand souls there are

Arrived on Canaan's shore.

These countless souls are entered in,
And yet there's room for more.

Room for the lame, the halt, the blind,

Ah! room for such as me,

'Twas Christ made room for such poor souls By dying on the tree.

Room in the Saviour's bleeding heart
For all the Father gave Him;

He bore their sins, their curse, their guilt,
The law might not condemn them.

Room for the doubting mourning souls
Who feel the plague of sin,

Who fall and rise, who mourn and sigh,
But shall the victory win.

Room for the feeble and the faint,
The helpless and the poor,

Who wait and hope, and watch and cry,

At Mercy's open door.

Room for the tempted tried soul,
Whom Satan sifts as wheat,

But though he worry, sift, and try,
He can't destroy a sheep.

Room for the chief of sinners still,

Tho' plagued with unbelief,

That precious Christ can save my soul

Who saved the dying thief.

There's room for Gentiles, room for Jews,

There's room for bond and free,

There's room for every precious soul,

Christ died for on the tree.

There's room for seeking, sighing souls

Who seek with," Who can tell?"

Who know that Christ, and Christ alone,

Can save a soul from hell.

Room for a starving prodigal,

Altho' he's gone astray,

The Lord knows all his chosen sons,

And brings them in the way.

Oh may there be but room for me

The worst of Adam's race,

And then I'll shout in songs of praise
A sinner saved by grace.

FACTS RESPECTING THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY. 39

FACTS RESPECTING THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY. INSTITUTED IN LONDON, 1799.

THE DEPOSITORY of the Religious Tract Society is, for the wholesale department, No. 56, Paternoster-row; for the retail department, No. 65, St. Paul's churchyard,_London. All communications by letter are to be addressed to 56, Paternoster row.

THE OBJECT of the Society is to circulate publications in the English and in foreign languages, stating the great truths of the gospel of Christ, as explained fully in the address of the Committee printed in the Annual Report for 1838. This great object is sought to be accomplished in the spirit of Christian union, and according to the words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

THE NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS issued by the Religious Tract Society since its commencement exceed 270 millions of copies of distinct works, from handbills of a single page to volumes of a considerable size, in every one of which the way of salvation is set forth, more or less fully, according to the nature and design of the publication. The number issued in the last year from the Depository in London, was 15,939,567, besides a considerable number printed in foreign countries at the expense of the Society.

THE LIST OF PUBLICATIONS Contains more than 2000 varieties, and embraces the best writings of many of the most valued divines in the present and in the preceding centuries. These valuable works are sold to the public at low prices, and to subscribers at a considerable reduction, and to the booksellers on very advantageous terms. Α purchaser may have a hundred of the smallest publications for a few pence, and may purchase others at prices varying according to the size and nature of the contents. For a sum of about £20 may be obtained a library of well known and highly esteemed works, including some which could not be obtained in any other form, and which, purchased in the ordinary way, would cost more than double that sum.

In furtherance of the FOREIGN OBJECTS of the Society, religious works have been published in more than eighty languages; large grants of which are supplied every year, chiefly through the various Missionary Societies.

The GRATUITOUS OBJECTS at home are the circulation of the smaller publications in the army and navy, among sailors, to prisons, hospitals, and workhouses, in ignorant neighbourhoods, and at fairs, races, and other places and occasions of public resort. Also to aid schools, and destitute neighbourhoods in part of the purchase of circulating libraries.

The SUBSCRIPTIONS, DONATIONS, and CONTRIBUTIONS to the Re ligious Tract Society are wholly applied in printing and circulating the publications of the Society in foreign lands, and in aiding the gratuitous circulation at home, without any charge for the expenses. of conducting the Society; and a further sum has been appropriated from the produce of the sales to increase the grants, for several years past.