himself, but is the gift of God. From God alone we can have good desires. How entirely dependent is man upon God for grace both to will and to do. He who is born from above finds that nothing but the merits of Christ alone can save him, and plead His cause before the tribunal of a righteous God. No sooner does he throw himself humbly at the foot of the Cross, but the kind Redeemer stretches out His helping hand by means of some comfortable promise, and sets his feet upon the rock, and orders his goings.

"When the world perceives the great change wrought by the grace of regeneration, they join with Satan to make the way of the young convert as rough as possible, who then experiences the hatred of the world in all its various forms. Then the enmity of the carnal heart shows itself most conspicuously. Then the strict adherence of Christians to the Word of God, and the rules of the Gospel, is called needless precision. Then moderation in the pursuit of the things of time is termed indolence. They are designated hypocrites, the men who are turning the world upside down. Their meekness in bearing the calumny of the world is denounced meanness of soul. They are, like their Divine Master, despised and rejected of men. Poor, deluded, vain world, little dost thou think how welcome is the Cross of Christ to the sincere and faithful Christian ! Little thinkest thou, that thou thyself by thy calumnies and reproaches art decking the Christian's crown with priceless gems, wherewith they shall shine as the stars for ever and ever."

NOTHING BUT ASSURANCE OF FAITH CAN SATISFY THE

NEW-BORN SOUL.

"Nothing but a FIRM assurance of faith, and of acceptance in the Beloved, with a realizing sense of the forgiveness of sins, can or will satisfy the new-born soul. I must and will, by God's grace, avouch this truth, let the world say what it will."

CHAPTER III.

Sudden Death of James Crocker-Conversion and Happy Death of his Daughter, Maria Crocker.

As long as Mr. Davis remained overseer of Stourton Caundle, so long James Crocker received the shilling per week, which had been abstracted from his weekly allowance by the vestry. But when Mr. Davis vacated that office, his successor reduced James Crocker's pay, on the plea that he ought to work. Mr. Davis remonstrated that Crocker was physically unable to work from disease, and that if compelled to work, his life would be shortened. His successor curtly replied, that Crocker was a great burden to the parish, and the sooner the parish was relieved of that burden the better. Mr. Davis made answer, "On account of your refusal to continue his relief, I shall employ him on my farm, and shall give him the lightest work I have to do. But remember, should he die through my employing of him, that you will be his murderer in the sight of God." On the 6th of November 1819, Mr. Davis announced his death to me in a letter, from which this is an extract: "Oh, sir, what a very melancholy accident have I been witness to this day! Oh that it may make me more in earnest for my soul's salvation. This

morning James Crocker was at work for me. I sent him a little more than a quarter of a mile to shut a gate the sportsmen had left open. Thinking that he stayed longer than usual, I went to look for him, fearing that he might have fallen down in a fit. Shocking to relate, I found that he had fallen in a fit, and was quite dead. Oh that I could have been with him in his dying moments! But the Lord, in His wise purpose, ordered it otherwise. I hope and trust that his God was with him, and that his soul is now safely lodged in his Saviour's arms, far from this troublesome world of sin and sorrow. I believe that he was a humble, though not a rejoicing, Christian, savingly blessed in Christ. I informed you of his pay having been shortened as soon as my account as overseer was closed. When the poor man found this, he desired me to let him have a few days' work. Consequently, I have since hired him all opportunities. But I consider that he was not in a fit state to be left alone, or to go out to work. I trust his death will be a warning to the parish for the future, not to compel a man so diseased to labour for his maintenance." James Crocker was, I believe, one of Christ's little ones. His faith was weak. His knowledge was imperfect. But his soul seemed stayed on Christ, and now, I trust, reposes in the bosom of Abraham in the Paradise of God.

"There the wicked cease from troubling,

And there the weary are at rest."

After the death of James Crocker, his two daughters, Hannah and Maria, were exposed, in common with others, to systematic temptation then locally practised. Wicked

ness in high places showered down golden baits to seduce the young cottagers from the paths of morality and religion. But God was with them. His grace was allsufficient. Haunah exerted her influence for the moral and spiritual good of her younger sister. Faith was evidenced by its fruits. They could say with Joseph, "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Hannah posted to me at Ventnor the following narrative of her sister's conversion to God and sleep in Jesus :

"GAINSBURY, MILBORNE POrt, SOMERSET, July 1856.

"REVEREND AND RESPECTED SIR,-I have long had an impression on my mind, that it was my duty to write to you about my dear departed sister, Maria Crocker, as you were so kind to instruct us, when we were little ignorant children, in the things that make for our eternal welfare. We were like wandering lambs; your school a rich pasture, and yourself a kind shepherd. It was in that delightful pasture, whilst feeding on the truths of the Gospel, that I experienced the new birth. But I must return to the subject of this letter. About two years after my own conversion, my sister began to be very uneasy about her spiritual state. She became serious, gave up her young trifling companions, and began to read the Bible with prayer. And the more she read and prayed, the deeper insight she had into her fallen state. I shall never forget her agitated looks, her tears, and anxious inquiries. I never saw a person in deeper distress of mind, or more humbled on account of sin. I felt great

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