above; the rooms above extending over another small room, used as a sort of bake-house by the village. There was no ceiling to either of these upper rooms: the thatch of the roof, as it sloped up on each side, was the only covering which shut them in. In each room a small window was made in the thatch. E.'s window was so placed that she could look out from her bed through it; but she could not see very far, as a grove of small trees, at a little distance from the house, filled up the greater part of the view. Still it was refreshing to a sick person, long bedridden, to look upon these, varying as they did in the several seasons, and to hear the chirping and songs of the birds in them. There generally stood one or two little pots of geraniums in this little window when the writer of this visited E. in the summer. Latterly a railroad had been formed within a few paces of the house, and through a little gap in the trees the trains might be seen by a person sitting at the window. In the winter they could be easily seen, and in summer as winter their rattling told the quiet inhabitants of the hamlet of their approach and passing. This was the situation where God was refining one of his children, and preparing her for a state of perfect holiness and likeness to himself during seven years and three months of trial. The Bible was always upon the bed. The clergyman of the parish lent E. books continually she was allowed, also, to obtain a book from a religious library in the county town, whither some one of the family went generally once a week. Thus was she fed with knowledge, and grew in grace. At the early part of E.'s affliction she had had a small store of books entrusted to her care. It had been proposed that she should endeavour to sell a few religious books-some of them publications of the Religious Tract Society, and others which made part of the stock of a religious bookseller in the neighbouring townthat, when her neighbours were disposed to lay out sixpence or a shilling, they might find a book close at hand for purchase. If this plan could have been carried out, it would have added somewhat to E.'s small means. She seemed to think, however, that she could not recom : mend books for sale to her neighbours which she had not first read herself; she therefore began to read all of those through which had been entrusted to her care. As her illness became more fixed, it was evident that she could do nothing to carry out this plan, and therefore the books were in the end returned. Those kind persons who had endeavoured to do good to the neighbourhood by this means, had, however, been the means of providing her with spiritual food for a season, and just at that season when she had not the same opportunities of receiving books on loan from others which she had afterwards. The effort, though abortive as to its intended end, helped to fit one of God's chosen ones for a world of holiness, and would not be overlooked by the Great Shepherd of his people, who notices even the cup of cold water given to a disciple, and who, doubtless, had put it into the hearts of these friends to do this, that one of his own people might be richly fed when she needed it. We cannot always follow people's reflections: but as the seeing eye and hearing ear are God's gifts, so also must we consider the object seen or the thing heard as by his appointment, and intended to act upon the mind. Could the rattling trains, sometimes filled with the rich, the merchant, the manufacturer, the man of the city, and the man of pleasure, and sometimes carrying bales of goods, corn or cattle, not lead to thought? The little quiet sequestered hamlet was made to feel that it was connected with a great and busy world. Things moved through it; and people-they never tarried there, it is true-but they told a tale to it. The world could not be forgotten. Could these remembrances of the great, populous, busy, money getting, wicked world, pass near that room, that Bethel-a house of meditation and prayer and not lead to many an earnest supplication to God that the god of this world might be dispossessed of his power-the rule of Mammon over hearts might be broken, and Jesus Christ be known, and the sweet, peace-giving, sanctifying influence of his truths felt? The writer of this believes, that many a prayer for this great world-a more earnest "thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," was put up from remembrances suggested by these passing trains. He believes, that often was the wish excited and the hope awakened, that by these means of rapid communication the Gospel of Jesus Christ might be more quickly carried to the places and nations which know it not. Perhaps some messenger of God's mercy, or some one bent on places for making known God's truth in different places, has hurried by, and may just have glanced upon the peep of that obscure little cottage, and has little thought what the flight of the passing train suggested to a holy bosom there, and how he was sped on his way and prospered by prayers, effectual prayers, breathed up from the bosom of one of God's lowly but chosen servants there! We little know what is desirable for ourselves or for others, or how many or how great afflictions may be necessary. Had we to mix the medicines for the soul, we should often not put in that ingredient which our heavenly Father sees to be necessary. Perhaps we should not be justified to do so. God, when he sends affliction, gives special grace to bear it ; and, without this, the affliction might be perilous, if not ruinous. Since we know this, that whenever he lays extraordinary troubles or labour upon his people, he gives more than ordinary strength to bear them, we may be willing to bear the trial that we may possess the grace. So St. Paul thought. "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Not long before E.'s death, it pleased God to remove her brother out of this world, and this under circumstances peculiarly painful to one of E.'s views and feelings. She was sorely afflicted under this blow. Whatever may happen, whatever blow may come from the hand of God, who has a right to murmur? To murmur against one who has been so kind, who has lavished his kindness upon us, who has been so uniformly kind to murmur against Him who has forgiven our iniquities, reconciled us to himself by the death of his Son, wrought upon us by his Spirit to bring us to possess these benefits if this were all that we had ever received, how could we still murmur? So much done! Such an infinite, incomprehensible love shewn to us! Under heavy parental affliction, Aaron “held his peace." There was no murmuring. How often do Who we see the servants of God suffering from one trial after another they become as it were habituated to one trouble, and then another heavier succeeds it-billow comes after billow. We are surprised often at the accumulation of trials upon some of God's chosen ones: but the Scripture makes all plain. How is grace brightly manifested under such circumstances! can question the power of divine grace upon the soul when the Christian spirit is seen maintained and triumphing in all and over all? Those around feel that God does help his servants: there is a something, yes, a great something, in religion. Purified in one furnace of one dross, the Refiner puts the metal into another furnace to take away another dross. The purest gold is made so by the most frequent and severe refining: Ithus shall the vessel be made fit for the Master's Own use. It is singular how and where the light of God's servants shine. Her brother used to tell others what a sister he had-how pious and devoted she was-how she spoke to him for his soul's good, and longed to see him himself seeking it. He spoke of this to others, though it was but too plain that for a long season it did not lead him to set his feet in the way of religion. What a strange inconsistency, that persons can value the affectionate remonstrance, and the earnest entreaties of friends, and yet never take a step-do not pray-do not seek God-do not cease to do evil, and learn to do well! This is the great object of all their friends' prayers and earnestness to see them seeking; for then they will find. I think that E.'s earnestness and affection were made more or less a blessing to some who never saw her by what they heard from her brother's mouth. Expressions which dropped from E.'s mouth, during ther long confinement, proved that she felt her trials, and had need of patience. "No chastisement for the present is joyous, but grievous." She would say often: "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord:" and similar expressions, which shewed continually her earnest desire to submit to the divine will, and that she did cheerfully and willingly submit. What a difference do those who visit death-beds find in this particular! There is the discontented, repining spirit-what a plague to the person's self-what a hindrance to all benefit-what a sad proof that the soul is not trusting to the promises of Christ, and does not feel itself rich-yes, unspeakably rich, in their possession! Then there is the dull, heavy, apathetic, unfeeling, disregardful spirit under affliction-the whole mind an inert mass-no reflection—sin, no grief—death, no concern. Sleep and stupor seem to have come over the soul-a hardened indifference-a recklessness of every thing—the heart a stone—the soul dead in trespasses and sins. It is afflictive to visit such a scene: but how different the chamber where there is patient hope! where the cross of Christ is shedding its influence. Jesus, to whom the soul has come, and to whom it still comes, is precious to the soul. One feels on entering that all is light in that chamber. We go in one case into the chamber where there is a visible image of death on the soul, to cry, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead; and Christ shall give thee light.” We go, because we know that God's Gospel, accompanied by the Spirit's power, can arouse any, even the most hopeless. We go, because we are commanded to leave out none, but to make our Saviour's love, and willingness to save, and the efficacy of his atonement, and the mightiness of his help, known to all. In the other case, we go to be refreshed by the light, and we feel that the Saviour himself is there. Sometimes when the writer has visited E. S. after being hurried and pressed, he has said to her, "Well, S., I am inclined sometimes to envy your quiet. You seem so peaceful. Such a situation! so suitable for meditation, and so advantageous for the prospering of |
