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Visitor. No, no! Dorothy, you are no goodr-nothing old woman. Those who, by dropping a word in season, preach the gospel of Christ in sincerity, are not useless.

Dorothy. I preach the gospel! O sir, you have a mind to humble me indeed. I wish that I could with a loud voice tell the whole world of the mercy, long-suffering, and grace of my covenant Lord and God: but no; the ministers and stewards of God's holy word must preach his gospel.

Visitor. That is true, Dorothy; but, for some time past, I have observed the Christian graces which God in his mercy has conferred on you; your gratitude to the Father of mercies; your love for Jesus Christ; and your desire for the influence of the Holy Spirit on your heart. Your humility, faith, and patience under affliction; your tenderness for your fellow sinners; and your abiding dependence on "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." And I rejoice to tell you, that the effects of Divine grace which the Lord has enabled you to manifest, have been made useful, by causing more than one or two thoughtless young persons to see the evil of their ways, and seek for pardon and peace in and through Christ Jesus.

Dorothy. You do indeed astonish me ; but God's ways are not as our ways, and I know

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that he can make use of the unworthy to bring about the glorious promises of his gospel. All glory be to his grace! You have taught me a lesson; and, with Divine help, I will look less at my infirmities, and more at the amazing condescension and grace of my Father and gracious Redeemer. And if I can do nothing else for my gracious Lord and Master, I will at least acknowledge his goodness, and bless and magnify his holy name.

Visitor. Grace, mercy, and peace rest upon you, and remain with you alway.

A CALL ON A YOUTH FOND OF WONDERFUL

THINGS.

Here, Peter, is a tract for you. Judging by the books that you so often read, it is very clear that you are fond of wonders. Now I will tell you of three wonderful things.

When we think of the holiness of God, and consider that his eyes are too pure to behold iniquity, it is wonderful that every sinful thought and wicked design of the human heart is not visited with immediate punishment, and the faculty of thinkly rightly taken away from the offender.

It is wonderful that every guilty lie, every blaspheming oath, every rebellious denial of

God, does not wither the tongue, and deprive it of the power of speech.

It is wonderful that every broken commandment, every guilty deed, does not, at once, overwhelm the sinner with confusion, and render him incapable of doing any thing; yet God bears with his offending creatures, and gives them a space for repentance. Among your wonderful things, Peter, do not forget the three wonders that I have pointed out to you.

A CALL ON A BLACKSMITH.

That is right, Willets, work away. I like to pass by your shop; for the roaring of the bellows, and the clanking of your hammer on the anvil, are pleasant music. They tell us, that something is going forward. Rather warm for you in the summer, to be sure; but, then, you have all the advantage in the winter, for while hundreds have to turn out, shivering amid frost and snow, pinched by the cold, and drenched by the rain, you are under cover, snug, dry, and warm. Your shop lighted up with the bright glare of your blazing hearth, and your face glowing as red as scarlet.

you are

But, Willets, I am sorry to hear that at odds and ends with your neighbour Hodges. Some people say that "two of a trade can never

agree;" and if it be so, the more is the pity, but as you and Hodges are of different trades, I do not see what you have to quarrel about. I believe that he is in the wrong in this matter; but never mind that, your heart would be quite as light, and your fingers quite as nimble as they are now, if you lived in peace with God, and in charity with all mankind.

Now, Willets, take my advice; think of your neighbour's faults a little less, and read your Bible a little more, and then you may, perhaps, find out that a meek and forbearing and forgiving spirit is worth a kingdom: for "he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city," Prov. xvi. 32.

A pious man has said that Cristians' hearts are like iron; if they be once made hot with the love of God, and of his Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, they will more easily be joined together in love and affection. are welding, would not easily be beaten into a proper form without the assistance of the fire; and, in like manner, your heart will never be what it ought to be, till softened by the love of God, and sanctified by the grace of his Holy Spirit. I take you to be a well-disposed man, Willets, and I know that you are a clever and an industrious workman; add another good qua

That horse-shoe that you

lity to those you already have, and give neither sleep to your eyes nor slumber to your eyelids till you have shaken your neighbour Hodges heartily by the hand, and forgiven him the fault he has committed against you.

A CALL ON ONE GIVEN TO SPEAK FALSELY.

Edmund, Edmund, I call upon you in bitterness of spirit. You were brought up in the Sunday school, and were taught to "fear God, and keep his commandments," and yet, after all, your tongue is given to lying and slandering. I find that the evil report which had nearly occasioned John Harris to be turned out of his place, was spread by you; and that the tale about Patty Jones has no other foundation than your spite and malice. When I think, Edmund, of the pains which have been taken with you, of the advantages you have had, and that you are now growing up a young man, with the character of one who regards not the truth, I feel quite discouraged. If you had ten thousand good qualities, all of them put together would never make amends for your being a slanderer.

Take a man and dress him in a crimson robe, put a golden crown upon his head, and a sceptre in his hand, and seat him on a glittering throne, and what would be thought of him if his brow

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