cried, "lead me, lead me, till I find Him whom you have found; lead me to the foot of the Lord Jesus; help me to find him; ask Him will he receive me?"

"Receive you! beloved sister! Oh! doubt it never, since he has received me; so unworthy, so unbelieving a reptile as me! Could there have been a worse, a more hopeless case than mine? Come, then, my own Louisa, fear not; doubt not; let us both say—

And oh what blessedness shall we find in coming. No disappointment, no waiting, no false promises there. Yea, he gives a thousand fold more than we ask or expect; fulness of pardon! fulness of joy!”. Thus Henry continued to express himself for some time, with an energy of voice and manner that was quite astonishing. Leighton was in the next room, which was only divided by a partition, and having awoke from his slumbers, heard his voice distinctly, though he could not distinguish the words; he feared the strength of the tone indi-. cated a high state of fever, and rose up on his elbow, in the bed, to try and discern if the language was still of a painful character. The few words he caught, now and then, conveyed no distinct idea, but he thought they did not sound as if from a sorrowing heart. Presently, a few low notes struck his ear he knew the tune and the voice; it was Mrs. Vincent's. But another voice, feeble indeed,

yet still more dear to him, seemed trying to chime in: he listened breathlessly, and knew these were the words sung:

"How sweet the name of Jesus sounds

To a believer's ear;

It soothes his sorrow, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear."

"Yes yes!" loudly shouted the voice that Leighton knew and loved so well; "the name of Jesus is most sweet-most precious."

Leighton burst into an agony of tears—the first, the only tears he had shed since his childhood: he needed no more to break to his mind the intelligence that his beloved friend was at length reconciled to God, and enabled to believe and rejoice. He rose from his couch, and prostrating himself low before the Lord, gave thanks in speechless gratitude; he felt unutterably. Joy over his friend, and adoring love to the Hearer of prayer-the unchanging Jehovah, whose promises had proved so faithful in their fulfilment-whose loving-kindness had been so manifest-so filled his heart that no audible word escaped; he was able to do no more than to throw himself before the throne of Divine mercy, and wait there till he felt his strength renewed, and his composure

return.

264

CHAPTER XI.

Truths which in other days I heard,
But never felt their worth before.

CAMPBELL.

HENRY appearing decidedly better, the next morning was the scene of a joyous meeting between the friends. The manner of Leighton was like the tender love of a Joseph for a Benjamin: and Henry seemed to regard him with tenfold the esteem and affection he had ever expressed before. They were now brothers in sympathy; they had a union of spirit that drew them inexpressibly together; and Henry would have talked all day, and Leighton have listened with untired ear to the pleasing theme, if Dr. Chartres had not warned the latter of the possibility and danger of relapse, if much care was not taken. This apprehension might not have produced caution in Henry, whose new-born soul seemed on the wing for heaven, and who seemed rather to dread than desire recovery; but Leighton earnestly wished

and hoped for the prolongation of his life: he believed in the Lord's power and willingness to preserve the soul of his redeemed one, even in the midst of evil; and he felt he could trust him for this strengthening grace, when the young Christian's time of need should arrive; he spoke, therefore, gently and rationally to Henry on the duty of submitting to the Lord's will, and of taking life or death with equal resignation from his hands; and he was much encouraged to find the meekness and docility with which he was heard and attended to, so different from the captious and argumentative spirit with which he had formerly received every opinion that differed from his own.

The task of attending to Henry, during the remainder of his illness, was a light and pleasant one. Through the blessing of God on the means used, his recovery was progressive and satisfactory; and his cheerful thankful spirit diffused joy over the hearts of his companions. Mr. and Mrs. Vincent were deeply affected by the change that had taken place; it led them into a close inquiry into the state of their own minds, as to whether their profession of religion was genuine; whether it led to the glory of God, and prepared the way for making a death-bed easy. This solemn investigation humbled them deeply, for they perceived that they had been living in a low, dead, carnal state-one in which there was neither comfort, nor consistency, nor safety; and that, if they would be Christians indeed, they must resolve to deny themselves, take up the cross, and follow their Master without compromise. Mrs. Vincent's character became

also more marked by decision in religion; and though, at first, her husband seemed to shrink from the idea of the ridicule it might excite in his circle, if he was known to alter his style of living; yet he was enabled, through divine grace, to resolve to follow the light of conscience wherever he could clearly see his duty.

Henry's illness had prevented the entertainment of company for some time, and no visitors had been admitted from the commencement of it, except Mr. Arlington. He was now become a most favourite and acceptable companion to the family, and he was of no small service in clearing up their views, and strengthening their resolutions to become wholly devoted to the Lord.

The family party was now augmented by the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Villeroi. The latter had been severely indisposed when the first news arrived respecting her son, and she was consequently unable to travel immediately to London, as she would have wished. Mr. Villeroi had remained with her in the most painful state of suspense; but neither of them knew the imminent peril Henry had been in, till their arrival in Upper Brooke-street, as Mrs. Vincent had been cautious in writing, knowing her mother's delicate state of health. These kind and Christian parents were greatly refreshed at finding their child, not only so much recovered, but so blessedly improved in his mental state; and it added to their joy to find the whole family so deeply interested upon the most important of all subjects, that it seemed to