dedicated, like the Athenian's of old,' to an unknown God.' And yet, the next instant

might summon them to his presence. presence. The next breath they drew might leave them. there, where the voice of forgiveness could never reach.

Actuated by feelings of so interesting a kind, he could not long continue to deny them his assistance. His acquaintance with divine things was, it is true, but small, yet did he not consider himself justified in withholding from them the little he might be enabled to impart. Intimately persuaded, himself, of the unspeakable importance of being prepared for the final account, he could neither forbear to pray, nor labour, inefficient as his exertions might be, for the furtherance of their everlasting welfare. His high aim now soared above the trivial and passing occurrences of time, and rested on the enduring events of Eternity. No occasion, henceforward, was omitted which could assist him in his pleasing task; no incident unnoticed, that offered an opportunity of impressing the minds of his wife or children.

with the conviction of the shortness and uncertainty of our present existence, or of the value of that " Gospel which has brought life and immortality to light."

During their evening rambles, particularly, it was his delight to seat himself on some lofty rock that overlooked the surrounding landscape, and there to dwell upon all that was nearest his heart. The close of day,' he was accustomed to remark, seemed especially and mercifully suited for heavenly contemplation. The business and bustle of the preceding hours, wherein man goeth forth to his labour,' have given place to the quietude of repose. The discordant sounds of an active world have died away, and been lost in the sweet stillness of the distance. The hurry of forgetfulness has subsided into the calm of reflection. Another sun has irrevocably gone down, and we are another day nearer to the grave. The shades, that deepen round, inspire the solemn thought, that the night is approaching wherein no man can work,' and that that hour is hastening, when our eyes will be closed in the

darkness of death, and we shall

whence we shall never return.'

go the way

While he thus went forward with humility and prayer in his endeavours to instil the principles, which were now so closely interwoven with every wish he had on earth, into the minds of those who were dearest to him, he was not allowed to proceed without some fruits to quicken his diligence, and enliven his confidence of final success. The first earnest of the harvest, he was afterwards to reap, was the submission of her who lay in his bosom' to the Gospel of his hope. She witnessed its healing power in her husband, whose occasional asperities it had softened, and whom it had supported and con soled; and she gradually became desirous of participating in his joy. Imperceptibly, as it were, she followed in his footsteps, and professed herself a disciple of Him who called her to take up the cross.' Insensibly, also, their children entered the ways that lead to Zion-ways, wherein the Christian is permitted, amidst many outward and inward trials which the world knows not of,

to feel that he is still journeying homeward through paths of pleasantness and peace.'

Though they had always lived together on terms of the most amicable intercourse, and in the reciprocal and faithful discharge of every relative duty; yet, when the voice of a Redeemer was heard in their retreat, this happy family found themselves united by a new and dearer tie. His Spirit inducing a ready obedience to the invitations of his love, and a cheerful acquiescence in whatever his Providence ordained, painful though it might be to flesh and blood, and dubious to the eye of sense, their bosoms glowed with a mutual attraction, unknown before. They now regarded one another, not only as sprung from the same earthly, but as children of the same heavenly, Parent: recipients of the same grace, subjects of the same sceptre, purified in the same fountain, heirs of the same promise, and destined for the same eternity of blessedness and repose. Actuated, now, by a principle, celestial in its origin, and diffusive as the habitable globe, their griefs were mitigated by a

fellowship of suffering, while their pleasures were sweetened by being participated with those who were linked to them by an affection, which, they doubted not, would only be matured by that hour, which should behold the dissolution of all mortal relationship.

Although a mournful breach had been made in the little circle, du Blesne had still a numerous offspring. As olivebranches round about his table,' he rejoiced to see them; for, though it had pleased the Sovereign Disposer of human affairs to allot him, in the evening of his days, a more limited portion of the silver and the gold which He distributes as He will, he was tranquil in the thought, that the righteous would not be forsaken, nor his seed beg their bread.' Time was, when he had lived in greater affluence; but the disastrous issue of the struggle in which his country had unadvisedly engaged against the overwhelming force of its unjust and remorseless invaders, had reft from him the greater part of his patrimonial inheritance. Dispossessed,