"appoints the

bounds of our habitation.”

Without his favour, where, in the

pass of the universe, can true

whole comhappiness be

found? Heaven itself could not afford it, for the favour of God is the sole source of true blessedness.

"His single smile has from the first of time,
Fill'd overflowing all the lamps of heaven,
That beam for ever through the boundless sky :
But should He hide his face, th' astonish'd sun,
And all the extinguish'd stars, would loosening reel
Wide from their spheres, and chaos come again."

Within the precincts of the magnificent domain, which filled us, as we wandered through it, with these solemn reflections, there resides a poor widow and her grand-daughter. And here, said I, as I thought of her, is one who, though destitute of silver and gold, is yet in the possession of true riches. With Mrs. Neville the shadows of evening are lengthening out, age and infirmity have unfitted her, not only for the active business of life, but for the enjoyment of any worldly good. The prey of sickness for many years, she can no longer go up to the house of God; but though denied the privilege of worshipping in his courts, yet under her humble roof, she enjoys the heartfelt presence of

Him whose name is Holy; whose throne is the heavens, and who makes the earth his footstool; who dwells" in the high and holy place," and yet has an eye of kindness upon the contrite and faithful.

This good woman occupies a small cottage, or as it is termed, a lodge, which is placed at the entrance of these beautiful grounds. Her business is to open and shut the great iron gates, which give admittance to visiters. The window of her cottage commands a fine view of the mansion, along with the lawn and river, that lose themselves so beautifully among the trees in the distance. Here the bounty of her noble master permits his servant to wear out the remnant of her days in tranquillity and peace; she is now hourly looking for an entrance, to be admistered to her into those more blissful mansions above, which Christ has gone before to prepare for his faithful followers. It is not only her desire to be actually ready; but it is her delight to be habitually so. The day of her life has been cloudy and tempestuous; darkened with many trials, and imbittered with many afflictions; but the grace of God has sustained her and now, like the sun breaking

forth in the evening, it sheds even a double beam of gladness upon her spirit; her cares are now hushed to peace, and religion diffuses the sweet balm of its consolation into her chastened and well-disciplined mind.

It was at an early period of her life, that she first became the subject of serious impressions. Even in childhood she had thought much upon the matters of religion; but it was one little circumstance, we shall relate, which stamped its paramount importance with more peculiar strength upon her heart. As she was returning one evening from the house of God, the solemn truths of eternity yet sounding in her ears, and their vast importance weighing with unusual force upon her mind, surely,thought she, heaven' must be a glorious place! but shall it be mine ever to attain it? I cannot by my own merits, that is certain, for I feel myself to be a sinner, O the chief of sinners! and totally undeserving of the divine favour; and yet the Scripture says, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, that he is able to save unto the uttermost, and that none who humbly and believingly come unto him, will he in any wise cast out. Yea, they shall never perish, neither

shall any one pluck them out of his hand. Her heart was immediately lifted up in humble, yet ardent prayer to God, that he would be pleased to conduct her footsteps into the straight and narrow path-that he would guide her soul into the way of peace, and lead her on towards "the city which hath foundations, whose maker and builder is God." While these thoughts were passing in her mind, and her spirit was thus exercised, two persons came up with her, who were likewise returning from the public worship of God. The evening was mild and serene, and very nature seemed to enjoy a sabbath of rest. Their path was far removed from the gay and busy crowd, the voices of their serious converse alone broke upon the solemn stillness. "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life; and few there be that find it." These words were uttered with great solemnity by one of them, and replied to by the other, who observed, that Christ had called his flock, a little flock; and that he feared, among the bulk of mankind, there were very few who would be able to "enter in at the strait gate." These persons were of that class, who seem to possess neither

doubts nor fears as to their own safety, and talk upon these awful matters, as if from the high pinnacle of their own sure attainments, they had a right to look down with complacency upon all who differ from them in opinion, and with calm indifference to consign them over to their fate of eternal ruin.

It is doubtless a duty incumbent upon us all, to make a stand-a firm stand for the truth as it is in Jesus; but when our opinions upon matters, which involve not in them the great essentials of salvation, happen to differ from those of others, who yet in all essential points, are fixed with equal stability upon the Rock of Ages, it is neither kind, nor is it Christian thus to treat them with neglect, and to pass them by with indifference. Such conduct the blessed Saviour most pointedly condemns.

The conversation was carried on for some time in this strain, and many daring and speculative opinions were hazarded; but not one word of consolation, of mercy, or of hope, was wafted upon the breeze. Alas! the arrow was stricken deep into the bosom of the wounded deer. She shuddered at the awful thought that perhaps she might be among the number of