cause of rejoicing amidst your regret. Magnify the Lord, and humbly rejoice in the strength of your salvation!

I have brought you a cordial in the shape of a little tract, "To a Christian Parent, on the Death of an Infant;" and as it is adapted to your case, and offers sweet consolation, perhaps it may be a means, through the influence of the Holy Spirit, of drawing the poisoned arrow from your heart, and applying there the true balm of Gilead, the faithful promises of God, which are yea and amen in Christ Jesus to all the followers of the Redeemer. Trust in God.

"A bruised reed he will not break,
Afflictions all his children feel;

He wounds them for his mercy's sake,-
He wounds to heal."

A CALL ON A FAMILY OF OLD AND YOUNG

PEOPLE.

Good morrow to you! It is not often that I see three generations under one roof, all well in health, and surrounded with comforts. I hope that you are all journeying together on your way to heaven, singing of mercy as you pass on your pilgrimage. "The whole life of a Christian should be full of praises to God; we should

neither eat, nor drink, nor sleep, nor talk, but as doing all to God's glory and praise." How old are you, Mary?

Mary. Ten, sir.

Visitor. Then, I will answer for it that you have ten thousand sins to repent of, and ten thousand mercies to be grateful for. Perhaps the thought never struck you before; do not let it escape you now. Youth is the time to serve the Lord; and the way to end well, is to make a good beginning. How old are you, William? William. I was twelve last March, sir.

Visitor. Then you have, perhaps, still more sins to forsake, and certainly more mercies gratefully to acknowledge. You must be up and doing, William; for time flies apace. Duty and safety go together through the world; and if you hope ever to partake of glory above, you must be a true and faithful follower of Jesus Christ below. How old are you, Joseph ?

The Father. Forty-two, and my wife almost forty.

Visitor. Ay, then you must bestir yourselves. There is no time to lose in your case, for youth has gone past, and your prime is flying after it. God has done much for you and your family. What have you done for the glory of God? What are you doing? and what do you intend to do? If you have not vet made un vour

mind to forsake sin, and to cling to the cross of the Redeemer, why, then, think upon these words: "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord," Rom. vi. 24. What age are you, Mr. Stanley?

The Grandfather. Seventy-six, sir; and I feel that the infirmities of age are creeping upon

me.

Visitor. Be thankful that they are not leaping instead of creeping upon you. I need not tell you that the time is short, and that your days are drawing near to a close. "Where am I going?" should be a frequent question with you. With a kindly spirit let me say to you, "Flee from the wrath to come ;" and ponder on the passage, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." I must leave you this tract, "To the Aged." Joseph, here is one for you and your wife, "Friendly Conversation;" and this, "The Eldest Son," will do, William, for you and your sister. "Look within yourselves, and at your best works, and you will see enough for humiliation. Look into the word of grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ, and you will see enough for consolation." May grace reign. among you, and peace be multiplied.

A CALL ON A DISTRESSED FAMILY.

My friends, I have heard that you are in great distress, and truly this dismal room has the appearance of a wretched habitation. The broken window, the dirty straw in the corner, that crazy joint-stool, and the rags upon your backs, all show that your comforts are but few. I do not know whether you have brought all this poverty upon yourselves or not, by bad conduct, nor is it my wish to condemn you; my object now is not to inquire the cause of your distress, but to relieve it. By and by you will receive a basket with a few comforts for your present wants, and we must see a little into your situation afterwards. Keep up your spirits, and look to God for his guidance and support, for he can do more for you than the whole world. If you look to him, you will not look in vain. The word of God says, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread," Psa. xxxvii. 23—25. Your poor children seem pinched with hunger, I will go and hasten the comforts that are prepared; but remember that the body, though pro

vided for, must sometime die, while the soul will live for ever and ever. "To the Lord belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him," Dan. ix. 9. Seek, then, the Lord with your whole hearts; and may his grace be your abiding consolation.

A CALL ON A BAKER.

Just come in, I see, from delivering your bread, William; and, no doubt, pretty well tired. You are in a small way of business; but, as the old proverb says, "First creep, and then go." After a while, instead of carrying out your own bread, you will be able to keep a man to do it for you, I dare say. Ay, well may you wipe your brow; I should wipe mine too, if I had been carrying your basket. Yours is a useful calling. It differs from that of a minister of the gospel in this-that you distribute food for the body, while he deals out food for the soul. They tell me that bakers sometimes put into their bread something else beside good wheaten flour, and thereby enrich themselves, and wrong their customers. I am far from believing one half of the evil reports which I hear; but, no doubt, there are dishonest men among bakers, as well as among other trades. If you are one of them, let me tell you that you are injuring no one so