Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavour to imitate it.

56. Resolved, Never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, When I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it, and let it be just as Providence orders it: I will, as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty, and my sin.

62. Resolved, Never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. vi. 6, 7, 8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.

67. Resolved, After afflictions, to inquire what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

THE SOFT ANSWER.

Ir was a bright summer day, and the unruffled bosom of the harbour lay shining like a silver mirror. Vessels from various parts of the world were at anchor there; each with the flag of its own nation waving gently from its masthead. A few pleasure yachts were moving lazily about, with scarcely a breeze to fill their snow-white sails; while steamers, independent of wind or tide, were moving rapidly in all directions. One was at a pier just starting for an excursion; of which several persons were waiting to avail themselves. Among the passengers was a delicate-looking lady with two children, who had just gone on board. After them came an elderly gentleman, who, though he was stout and red-faced, appeared to be an invalid, as he was lame, and leaned on the arm of a servant. He was in fact suffering from an attack of gout. His attendant placed a seat for him near where the lady and her children

were sitting; but the arrangement did not seem to please him, as they soon heard him say in an angry voice, “Do you want to smother me that you put me under this awning, where not a breath of fresh air can reach me ?"

"Shall I move the seat here, sir ?" inquired the servant, pointing out a more exposed situation.

"Ha! Is it to sit in this broiling sun? I will not go at all. Help me to get out."

But it was too late. The gangway had been taken up, and the steamer was already gliding away over the tranquil waters. The old gentleman was very angry, and his attendant tried to compromise matters between shade and sunshine, by placing him where the canopy was over his head, without intercepting the breeze, and then went off to the forepart of the boat, pretending not to hear his master's voice, which ordered him back before he had gone many steps.

"What a cross old gentleman that is, mamma," whispered one of the children to the lady.

"Perhaps he is suffering pain, my dear," she replied; "and pain is apt to make any one cross who does not pray to God for grace to bear his will with meekness."

This lady, whom we shall call Mrs. Mellis, was one who loved God; and the desire of her heart was to serve him, and to lead her fellow sinners-so far as human efforts can avail-to do the same. She was one who never lost sight of the precept, "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that," * but, in her own quiet unobtrusive way, was constantly trying to fulfil it. On the present occasion she had placed a few tracts which embodied Scriptural truth, in a small basket that contained some refreshment for her children. As the steamer moved rapidly along the shore, or threaded its way among the ships, the passengers moved about to look at the various objects which they were passing. Mrs. Mellis took the opportunity thus afforded to distribute her little messengers of mercy. After a few kind words apart, in a gentle tone, which made it almost impossible to reject her gift, she would slip a tract into the hand of a boatman, or a passenger, or any one who, she thought, looked likely to receive it. Other tracts she contrived to place where they would probably soon be found; and

Eccles. xi. 6.

in this little effort to scatter the good seed, Mrs. Mellis failed not to ask a blessing from Him of whom it is written, that though one may plant and another water, God only can give the increase. While Mrs. Mellis was thus employed, her children diverted themselves by running about the deck. Just as she returned to her seat, one of them, in passing the cross old gentleman, as they had called him, unfortunately trod upon one of his feet. He almost screamed. "Oh! you wicked, troublesome monkey! Why did you tread upon my foot? Oh! oh! what shall I

do?"

The lady, much concerned, expressed her regret; begging to know whether she could do anything that was likely to relieve him. He did not condescend to answer, but motioned her away with his hand, till the pain had somewhat abated. He then said, "I will tell you what you can do, ma'am: I'must, for the public good, take that liberty. When next you bring your children in a steamer, watch them that they do no mischief, instead of leaving them for the purpose of distributing religious tracts among the passengers."

"I dare say I was wrong, sir, to run any risk of my children being an annoyance to others," she replied, with much mildness; "but I hope that, on considering the matter, you will not think me wrong in distributing the little books. May I just ask, sir, supposing that I had an infallible remedy for the gout, should you think me wrong in offering it to you?"

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No; but I do not see what that has to do with the question," he answered, sharply.

"Yet there may be some analogy in the cases," she said, with a smile. "Those to whom I have ventured to give the tracts, like the rest of mankind, suffer under a worse disease than even your painful gout the disease of sin. Can you then blame me for wishing to direct them to the great Physician, who so kindly says, 'Call upon me, and I will answer thee.-Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.*'”

"That servant of mine keeps away; he knows I cannot go to bring him back," was the only answer the old gentleman gave: while he took off his shoe, and settled the foot on a stool.

* Jer. xxxiii. 3, 6."

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"Shall my little boy call him?" inquired Mrs. Mellis. No, ma'am. I have had enough to do with your little boy, already."

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Well, sir, perhaps I can make you more comfortable, myself." And she wrapped a shawl round the foot, and arranged it in a way that appeared to give some relief.

The old gentleman's features relaxed a little, and he said, "Thank you still do not suppose that I approve of your religious opinions."

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How can you tell what they are, sir?" she replied.

Oh, ma'am; I know by what you have said that you are one of those who think that we are saved by faith alone-that Christ has done everything for us, and we need not, or cannot do any good work for the purpose of saving our own souls. Is it not so ?"

He had resumed his irascible look, and the lady, too judicious to argue with an angry man, answered quietly. 'Yes, the Bible teaches me so." When he continued, "It is an erroneous doctrine, subversive of morality; and, wherever it is taught, I do not believe it."

"Well, sir, my heart's desire and prayer for you is that you may do so yet, for there is both joy and peace in believing it."

He sat silent for several minutes; and then a friend of Mrs. Mellis's coming up to speak to her, she saw no more of her new acquaintance.

Some years elapsed, and Mrs. Mellis had nearly forgotten her little adventure in the steamboat, when she went on a visit to a distant part of the country. She had not been long there when her friend proposed taking her to see the demesne of a Mr. Sedley, a gentleman residing in the neighbourhood; who was said to be unwearied in his exertions to serve God, and to promote the good of his fellow creatures. After viewing, with much pleasure, the schools and other useful institutions, Mrs. Mellis and her party met the owner of the place. He was an old gentleman, whom she thought she had seen before, though unable to recollect where. He looked earnestly at her for a few moments, and then abruptly said, " Ma'am, you do not remember me, but I can never forget you. We met once in a steamboat."

She now recognised him, and replied, "I hope your health is better now, sir?"

Yes, ma'am-health of both mind and body; thanks, under God, to you and your soft answer. "I do not understand you, sir."

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“Well, maʼam, since you remember me at all, you must surely recollect the asperity of my unfortunate temper, and also the opposition which I manifested to Christian truth-to the only doctrine which can bring safety and comfort to the sinner's soul-so plainly stated by Paul, when he says, 'By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.'* With rude words, and in a bitter spirit, I told you that I never would believe it; intending to draw you into a controversy by means of which I could vent more of my illhumour. You disappointed me. You only said—and with a look of much kindness-that you hoped I would yet believe it, because there was great joy and peace in doing so. Truly a soft answer' does turn away wrath.' These words went to my heart: I felt how little I deserved them; I felt that they were dictated by a spirit which realized the peace and joy of which you spoke-a mind at peace with God, with itself, and with all mankind. Oh, how different from my own! That moment I resolved to study the book which had made you so happy, and so kind; and, in the meantime, to return none but soft answers, under any provocation. The endeavour to fulfil this resolution I commenced as soon as my servant joined me. He tried to make an excuse for not coming sooner, evidently not expecting that it would be received. He had met an old friend in the fore part of the boat, which had occasioned the delay of a few minutes, and I interrupted him by saying, Quite natural-it was of no consequence. He looked much surprised; and I observed that on our way home that day he was most assiduous in providing for my comfort and convenience. Imperfectly as I followed this good practice, I found, almost invariably, that the result of it was pleasant. I remembered your words about the disease of sin, and sought earnestly for the Physician who alone can provide the remedy. To him the Holy Spirit has, I trust, directed me; and there have I found peace and safety for my soul. Will you then, my kind friend, sometimes pray for him whom your soft answer was the means of leading to God, that I may be enabled to serve and glorify that Saviour who was