and ran upon the way, while the music of praise arose from his rejoicing spirit.

When the freshness of re-awakened delight had passed away, he had often cause to mourn over the bruises which he had received in the valley of backsliding; and for many days, when he strove to look unto the land where his parents dwelt, the glass of his telescope was dim, so that he could scarcely discern its outline.

When he himself had returned to the chastened gladness of the path of peace, his soul burned with anxiety to win his brother from the dangerous road in which he loved to walk. With ardent entreaty, and arguments of weight did he point out its pitfalls, and pourtray its dismal termination; but Nature still turned away, saying, For some seasons yet will I enjoy the pleasures of the broad and beaten road; but, when the dark river of death appears in view, or when my footsteps tremble on the land of snow, then will I climb the narrow path, and be at rest."

While he spoke, hundreds of his fellow travellers were swept from his side; suddenly cut off in their evil ways. Yet, he walked on, aware that every step led him further from the abode of peace, which he intended to seek when the dimness of pain or age should shadow his eyes,-which he intended to climb when the grasshopper should become a burden to his failing strength.

Again and again a voice resounded upon the highway: "Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die? Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

A few heard and obeyed the call, but many stopped their ears, crying "Yet a little while," but when the little while passed, they cried again, "yet a little while"-until they were borne rapidly away, and plunged into the dark river; some shrieking wildly as they sank,-"Too late, too late!'

IT would be well if there could be, in the usual method of partaking of the Lord's Supper, more of Christian communion between the partakers than there generally is. In fact, ordinarily, there is no communion of this kind whatever. There is no assembling together at which the partakers have or can have any intercourse by which they can exhort one another and provoke unto love and to good works; Heb. x. 24, 25. Each partaker, unfortunately, is too much engaged with himself alone, and does not sufficiently realise in practice that he is one member of one body, being all partakers of that one bread— Christ (1 Cor. x. 17; John vi. 51.) and that with the health of the whole body each is intimately concerned; 1 Cor. xii. 26. The infirmity of human nature forbids, perhaps, the attempt to alter this practice; but still feelings which are opposed to the spirit of Christ ought never to exist, and it is to be feared that there is too often to be found amongst the partakers of the Lord's Supper some animosity, some proud notion of rank, in short, a want of that love of the brethren which ought to be the characteristic of the disciples of Christ.-Tract on "The Lord's Supper."

A FRIENDLY LETTER ANSWERED.

WE have received a very earnest and persuasive letter from a correspondent who gives no name, or clue by which to find her; who announces herself a member of the Roman Catholic community, and urgently calls on us to join it also; adducing the examples of Mr. Spenser, Miss Agnew, and others. She also charges us with unjust severity, in treating of her religion; and, indeed, with "bearing false witness against our neighbour;" at the same time enumerating several books that she wishes us to read for instruction in what she conceives to be the true faith. All this is couched in language that evidently flows from a heart unfeignedly desirous of advancing God's glory, and benefitting the soul of a fellow-creature; and instead of a brief “notice to correspondents," which she seems to request, we must devote a page or two to her letter, the sisterly kindness of which really awoke a most grateful feeling, and calls for our sincere and affectionate thanks; which we thus offer; most earnestly beseeching the Lord, that the prayers which she puts up for us may be returned many fold in blessings to herself; more especially in that richest of all blessings, the liberty wherewith Christ makes his people free.

The view that we take of the Romish system, the deep anxiety that we feel for every soul held in its bondage, and for every soul in danger of being in

volved in it, results from the very process recommended and pressed upon us by our unknown friend. More than twenty years ago, we were united in a work of charity with a most interesting nun; and in the progress of that work, the instruction of a poor little deaf and dumb girl, we frequently visited the convent. The Nun was one who had been, like Miss Agnew and others, led to forsake the Protestant faith, and she was even far more anxious than our correspondent can be to draw one whom she dearly and personally loved to follow her. Acting, avowedly under the direction of a very learned priest, she selected for our perusal the most convincing books that could be pointed out which we honestly and attentively read; never opening a page of controversy on the other side, but bringing every doctrine, every argument, every assertion to the one sure test of all-the Holy Scriptures. On our knees before God, who has so distinctly promised that to all who ask wisdom of Him it shall be liberally given, we sought to be led into all truth; most firmly resolved to follow whatsoever was according to the revelation made of the Divine will in the Divine word. Thus, and thus only, we became acquainted with the depths which before we had not known; and seeing the religion of Rome as it is depicted by its own most wary controversialists, and as it was evidenced in the daily walk of its professors, we still resolved not to form a judgment from these of the system itself. We procured, and carefully studied, the authenticated laws of that body-its creeds; the decrees of councils; and, finally, the books used at its devotional services.

Could our new friend desire a more candid inves

tigation? we assure her that we did not either read Protestant books or consult Protestant teachers, during this examination; for, assuredly, the Lord Jesus did not promise the Holy Spirit to guide into all truth such as desire to know the truth, in order that their humble confidence in His word might be betrayed. We knew that cisterns were good in their way; but that to go to the fountain-the Fountain of living waters-to Him who has said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink,”—was far better than to rely on what might be cracked, broken, or unclean. If our correspondent objects to this plan, we tell her that her objection against a prayerful, believing appeal to the pure word of God, supplies one of our very strongest objections against the religion that she wishes us to embrace. Christ, the living Word, has said, "Come unto ME, all ye that Jabour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of ME, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and YE SHALL FIND REST UNTO YOUR SOULS." This gracious invitation we have listened to, this gentle yoke we have taken upon us; at the feet of this Teacher have we sate; and our soul finds a rest-ob, such a rest! Not all that ever grew beneath that creative hand could bribe us, not the persuasive voices of all the angels in heaven could tempt us, to put anything whatever between our soul and its Saviour. But why this affected “we,” and “us "—I, a sinner saved by the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish and without spot-I, to whom he has deigned to teach the knowledge of his boundless love, and equally boundless power, I WILL NOT be separated from my Lord by any obstacle, real or imaginary, that can be placed