open on the table beside me. When she saw this, her hostile feelings returned, and she said, within herself (as she told me afterwards), 'This is miserable work,' wishing, at the same time, that she was back to her worldly friends."

But her convictions soon returned in all their force, and her anxiety increased. Nor did it again abate. She went back to the world no more-but, after a little delay, straight forward to the Cross, there to deposit all her sins and fears.

CHAPTER IV.

The Rest.

THE sleep was broken, and the sleeper had opened her eyes upon a new region of feeling and of being. She saw danger-eternal danger in front, and she looked round for shelter.

On the subject of religion her mind was a blank. Hence, though she had more to learn than many, she had less to unlearn. Self-righteousness (the great hinderer of the soul when seeking rest) had less scope for its subtleties and snares.

The only manifestation of the self-righteous feeling was in her preference of a small, dark or dimly lighted room. There she sat alone with her Bible, during the few days that elapsed ere she found peace. Its gloom suited her. For terror, anger, and sorrow had taken Light was for the joyous ;-did it not mock the sorrowful? And what had sunshine to do with the darkness that was within ?

hold of her.

She had "terrors; " but she thought not of resting on them. She had read no books inculcating "terrors" as prerequisites to the sinner's acceptance; and when

they came upon her, she fled out of them to the hidingplace. She did not rest on them, nor look upon them as a title or certificate, on the strength of which she might approach the cross and claim forgiveness.

As one beset with dangers, she seemed to sit down despairingly, not knowing which way to turn for help.

But the Word of God, of which she had been so ignorant, and to which she had now betaken herself, was itself to be her guide. She was not permitted to remain long in darkness. The light soon arose.

"One day," says her friend, "when I was alone with her, she asked me to read the Scriptures to her. We began the forty-third of Isaiah, but did not get further than the first verse. On reading it she said that she was amazed at the love of God to sinners. She wept much over the concluding words, thou art mine;' and added that she wished she could feel that they were spoken to her. But even though she could not, she felt that they drew her to God. What she seemed to feel was this, that the God who sent such a message to Israel must necessarily be a God of grace; and seeing such grace in him drew out her love in return. She sometimes got very impatient at her own distress, and used to express herself angrily. I remember on one occasion, a friend, seeing her uneasiness, offered to pray with her; she refused, saying she would pray by herself. She afterwards felt sorry for this. She gradually became more willing to tell me her feelings, and we read the Bible often together. At that time she preferred this to reading it alone, as she said she understood it better; not that there was any explanation

given, but sometimes we expressed what we felt on reading certain passages, and this drew her attention more particularly to them. I, often being at a loss how to speak to her, urged her to see you; she was reluctant at first, fearing she might not be able to express herself so that you could understand her; however, she soon agreed. After you had spoken and prayed with her, her mind seemed clearer and much calmer. At this time she attended the prayer-meetings and Bible-class regularly, and never shewed any desire to return to the world. Only once after this she went to a dancing party, and said, when she left, she could never return to such a scene. She spoke to a friend of hers who was also there about these gaieties, and told her there was no satisfaction in them, and added

Those friends of ours who will not come to them are happier than we are.' This was the first time she had spoken for Christ, and she said that she felt happy at having an opportunity of doing so. This friend avoided being alone with her ever afterwards."

She had now got her eye upon the cross; and, in seeing it, peace flowed in upon her. The knowledge of what had been accomplished there took away her terror, and bade the storm be still. In the crucified One she saw the Substitute, and on Him she saw the wrath, which she dreaded, descending, that it might not descend on her. There was life from his death; there was healing from his stripes; there was joy from his sorrow.

But, ere long, this peace was ruffled. Some sifting was needed, and' the tempter was allowed to disturb. On Wednesday the 21st of July she was at my class,

as she had been several times before.

At the close she waited behind the others, and put into my hands the following paper :—

"I have entirely lost the sweet feeling of peace and happiness that I had some days ago; I am now, not in a state of sorrow or grief because I feel myself to be a sinner, but in a state of great alarm, so that I can get no rest. The more I look into my heart, the more alarmed I get, for I see it is so much worse than I ever imagined. I see and feel that I cannot think a single good thought; in short, I perfectly feel how true that verse is, wherein the heart is described as deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Now, how can such a heart ever turn to Christ? I don't understand it; ever since I believed I have had less peace every day. Now you told me that, if I believe, my sins are pardoned; how am I ever to think they are, if I feel the burden of them heavier than ever I did before? Last night I was in such agony, because I thought I had got hold of Christ, and Satan tried to pull me back; I tried to pray, but could not; I could not get myself to believe that God would hear me. It was fearful! My only consolation is in thinking of Christ; and, oh! if I could just know and feel that I was resting upon him, I should not mind these thoughts so much. What makes me so changeable? Why do I sometimes feel happy in thinking of him, and at other times nothing but despair? The Bible tells us so much about having a new heart, being born again; now, will my heart ever be changed? For I see it must be, before I can love Christ as I ought. I often feel both love and