with fruit, that it bends down its branches, so that even I, lying here, can pluck and eat!' I asked her if she had prayed for me, that I might kiss the rod. She said, 'I tried to do so: I had one of the sweetest nights I have had for some time, and it began with praying for you. It was returned sevenfold into my own bosom, for I lay down under His own sweet smile. I asked for you, that Jesus would say to you what he said to Mary, Woman, why weepest thou? Oh! I felt it a sweet word!' She said again, 'The Lord has a bottle for His people's tears, and if we never were made to weep here, we should have no tears to be bottled.' gave her some flowers. She smelt them, and said, with such a peculiar smile that I saw her meaning at once, 'Ah! the cold takes away some of the smell.' 'Yes,' I said, 'the cold of this wilderness takes away some of the fragrance of Christ's lilies; but their fragrance will be very sweet up yonder, when the Sun of Righteousness is shining full upon them.' Her answer was, 'Oh that I had the wings of a dove!""

I

"Thursday, 16th.-Went to see my dear old friend, and was refreshed as usual. Speaking of R, she said, 'Oh that she may often have a walk round the Cross of Calvary, and in the evening through the streets of the New Jerusalem, whose streets are of pure gold, leaning on her Beloved!' Again she said, 'Oh that she may often visit the believer's five hallowed spotsthe Manger, Gethsemane, Calvary, the Tomb, and the Mount of Olives!'-Went to Mr Macdonald's meeting in the evening. It was very solemn-on the Signs of

the Times, as they shew that Christ's second coming is very near."

“Monday, 20th.—Was much drawn this morning to pray for more faith, strong faith, so that, however dark things may look, I may never distrust God. Perhaps He is to send me some trial that will need strong faith, for He never gives faith without trying it; but the trying of it is precious. But I must not be anticipating trial. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. I was also much led to pray for grace to glorify Him in the place where I now am; not to put it off, as I am so apt to do. Oh! what grace is this, that puts such desires within such an ungodly heart as mine !”

How dif

“Wednesday, 22d.—Went to see Mrs R- How sad it is to see her tried about outward things, when she has such a sore trial in her body! But she has her Lord's promise, that all these things are working together for her good. She was a rebuke to me. For, when her children may make what the world would call good marriages, her heart seems just breaking at the thought that, by these outward temptations, their hearts may be drawn away from God. ferent I am! How ready my wicked, worldly heart is to be glad, if at any time God seems to be sending my family any worldly good, instead of, like her, desiring first and chiefly for them the true riches. We had a very sweet, though sorrowful meeting to-day. In trying to speak a word of comfort and encouragement to this beloved saint, I felt my own faith strengthened. And this night, in praying for her at our Father's

throne, I felt more than I remember ever doing, the sweetness of the privilege of being permitted to pray for the Lord's people."

"Thursday, 23d.-My Lord bruised Satan under my feet a little, this morning, and gave me great confidence in drawing near to Him. What a God he is! Oh to be a better servant! Am reading Mr A. Bonar's book, Redemption Drawing Nigh. Felt, in reading it, how strange that I have thought so little of the second coming of Christ, when the Bible is full of it."

"Monday, 27th.-My mouth has been filled with praise; oh that my heart were full too this morning! I could do nothing but praise, as the Lord brought before me all His loving dealings with myself and my dear family. I felt that all that He had done was well, and that I could trust all our concerns with Him for time and for eternity."

Such are a few specimens of her experience at this time, which, along with the letters, will shew the progress she had been making. It was progress indeed. Little more than six years before, she was wholly of the world, with hardly a thought of the eternal kingdom. Now, she is far on in her course, making steadier progress during these few years than many in a lifetime. For, alas! in this, the mighty business of life, we seem only to dream! Ten, twenty, forty years pass on, and we can scarcely discern our progress! We seem hardly to have started from the goal! Sin uneradicated, unbelief still vigorous, evil tempers unsoftened, rebellious

2 B

ness unsubdued, worldliness unconquered, slothfulness still oppressing us, selfishness still in its strength! Is this all the progress of men who profess to be followers of a holy Master, partakers of a heavenly calling, and heirs of an undefiled inheritance?

CHAPTER XII.

Ber Last Year.

In the beginning of January 1848, M became the wife of Mr G- a devoted minister of the Free

Church of Scotland. Thus she writes respecting this:—

"Tuesday, 4th January 1848.-Our marriage-day. Had an hour alone with God in the morning, and felt unutterable sweetness on calling Jesus to be at the marriage. My beloved M- and I were united at half-past one. Dear Mr Bonar married us. I can hardly tell how I have felt all this day; I felt more solemnity than anything else. Surely the Lord was in the midst of us. We had several of his disciples with

Two days after, she reached her new dwelling. Peace seemed to rest on it, and the promise of long days. She was now just in such a sphere as she had often sought after a sphere of quiet but fervent labour for her beloved Lord. What could better suit her retiring diffidence, and at the same time give scope to her warm zeal, than the rural retreat in which her lot was now cast? It appeared as if she were set there for years of patient loving work, as the helpmate of His servant.