either of us was brought under the power of Divine principle. Her aversion to light reading, which she constantly expressed, I remember often made me ashamed, when I had been wasting time in its indulgence. How important is it that young persons should have proper associates! for the influence that they indirectly exert over one another, is often great and durable!"

A near relation thus writes: "My sister's first religious impressions were produced on her mind at an early age, while staying with some friends at Sunderland, and were occasioned by something said to her by an aged Christian: at the time she could not be more than ten years old. And though, to use her own words, she often felt grieved that her carnal security had been disturbed, and wished that she had been let alone, the concern then excited never entirely wore away; and she felt at times much fear lest, by resisting convictions, the Holy Spirit should cease to strive, and leave her to blindness and hardness of heart."

Let no one despise the apparently humble service of imparting religious truth to the youngest child. A soul is of more value than a world, yea than a thousand worlds.

Her attention to the diffusion of Divine light, by the circulation of religious tracts, was assiduous. She availed herself of all opportunities for obtaining subscriptions to the Religious Tract Society, among her father's congregation, and her own acquaintance; urging the claims of the institution, and collecting the contributions to the branch society as they became due. This may seem little for a young person in her circumstances to do for so good a cause, but it is a task which few can be prevailed on to undertake; for most seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. Feeling for the instruction of the village, which it was conceived might be promoted by the agency of these little messengers of gospel peace, she had agreed with a female friend that they should conjointly visit every family with a tract, and give a friendly word or two of advice on the delivery of it, something after the manner of the city missions. The publications were purchased on the last week of her life: her death occasioned a transfer of the circulation of them to other hands; but by it, she," being dead, yet speaketh."

She was much devoted to the Sunday school. Few of this description in a rural district, exhibited better fruit of the care and skill with which they are cultivated, than that under her superintendence. The annual examination of the children, conducted in the presence of delighted spectators, usually induced many observations expressive of admiration, at such persevering application in teaching Christian knowledge.

In the Sunday school she was much beloved by the children; and during her illness many were the inquiries which they made respecting her. "Oh! when will Miss Jackson come again? oh! I wish Miss Jackson would come and teach us!" were their exclamations, sabbath after sabbath. Though enforcing strict discipline, she had the love of all, and their tears, as they gathered round her grave to take the last look, told how much they loved her. Twice every sabbath, for eight or nine years, excepting when absent from home, which was but seldom, she was at her post,-the first teacher who entered the school, the last who left it. She was not content with merely giving historical information to her little charge, nor with merely teaching moral duties, telling them they must be obedient to their parents, speak the truth, be honest and kind to all about them: she told them these duties of the moral law, but, well knowing that they were unable to keep them without strength from above, she carefully instructed them in the depravity of man, and salvation by Christ alone. "She once told me," says her sister, “her plan with very young children was to teach them first the fall of man, and the consequent corruption of our nature; this required many lessons before it was thoroughly understood; she then led their minds directly to the Saviour, by narrating his coming into the world, and why he came, and by directing their attention to their own faults, their own want of love to God, and to the Bible, and to the sabbath, to make them see that they were sinners. Many persons who had never adopted the plan would be surprised," she added, 'how well the children were brought to understand these subjects. Nor was it in teaching little ones alone that she excelled; for her intimate acquaintance with the Bible and Scripture subjects, well qualified her to instruct the oldest classes."

A sister observes, "My sister lived much in communion with God in secret devotion. With a mind strong and thoughtful, a heart warm and affectionate, united to a disposition naturally retiring and reserved, her mental sorrows were often acute, but rarely disclosed to any human being: this led her to carry them all to Him who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Unwilling to give uneasiness to those whom she loved, she suffered her mind to prey upon itself unseen and unknown to others. It is only from some short papers found since her decease, that I have learned what she at times endured. In one of the last letters which I had from her, speaking of the duty of persons to be cheerful, she remarks, 'I think that I have learned to keep my mental disquietudes, (and who in this world of mutation can be

always free from them?) more to myself than ever.' A letter, or a copy of one, found since her death, without any address, throws much light on the mental agony which she suffered during many years from conviction of sin, and also of the relief which she at length obtained from prayer. After alluding to a work on prayer, which she had been reading, she adds, A treatise, a conversation, or even a few words on prayer will generally command my most fixed attention, and no wonder that it should; for who can owe more to its soothing influence than myself? On that day on which I requested you and to drink my health, I intended to have had a more valuable favour from you, but I forgot to make the request at parting with you; perhaps you did remember me, where I remembered you, at the throne of grace. For is there not something of personal solace in the thought of being the client of numerous prayers, pledged to us by friendship and gratitude? The anniversary of my birth was to me a solemn and joyful day, bringing to my recollection many a conflict, and many a victory. In the morning, in particular, the Holy Spirit was graciously pleased to grant me much enlargement in communion with God, thus preparing my soul for the enjoyment of a visit to my father's study, a few hours afterwards. On opening the study door, I stood a moment contemplating him, quietly seated at his desk, then springing forward, I gave him a kiss saying, "Father, it is my birth-day, have you forgotten it?" He calmly replied, "No; I have just been praying for you; and suppose we spend a little time together in prayer." He then commended me to the guidance and keeping of my heavenly Father, thanking the Lord that I found my chief delight in fellowship with him. Nor did he close until he had earnestly appealed to God in behalf of the other members of the family. I then thought of them all, wishing that they could feel what I felt at that moment, the unspeakable sweetness of being the child of many prayers. * * * * But what an egotist you will think me! more than two pages almost exclusively devoted to myself; but if your heart is in unison with mine on the subject of prayer, I know that you will pardon me, even though I egotize more in an attempt to illustrate, in a brief review of my own experience, the subduing, the softening, renovating influence of prayer. With a disposition naturally melancholy and thoughtful, a mind full of the chambers of imagery, a heart warmly affectionate and tenderly alive to the welfare of those connected with me, either by blood or friendship,my soul was powerfully impressed with the importance of religion when quite a child, and the impression was so deep and lasting, that for several years it

haunted me like a spectre, marred all my pleasures, and cast a darker shade upon my already gloomy disposition. And though, even in those childish days, I was strongly convinced that the Lord was a hearer and answerer of prayer, I sought him not for spiritual blessings. At the end of those years, the Almighty was pleased to add a tenfold increase to my mental sorrows: still my heart maintained the contest against the increased force for some time longer. But, thanks be to God, who did not leave me alone, but by repeated strokes at length broke my spirit of resistance, and drove me as it were to that only refuge of a distressed sinner, the blood and righteousness of Christ."

(We hope to insert some more of these interesting extracts in a future number.)

JOB.

IT pleased God that Job, who had for a long period enjoyed very great prosperity upon earth, should fall into temptation, into the fiery trial of most grievous affliction. Job's trial purified and raised the standard of his faith, and he has become an example for others. We learn much from the circumstance that Job's faith in Him that was to come, notwithstanding his weakness and infirmities in other respects, shines forth in strength and splendour when he despairs of all besides. "Ye have heard," says St. James, "of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy." But there was also something in Job that offended the eyes of his heavenly Father, notwithstanding his real and exemplary piety; and this is plainly opened to us in what follows, to have been a leaning in Job's heart to pride and self-righteousness; and we see that it was corrected by this severe yet fatherly chastisement; for Job is brought to abhor himself, and repent in dust and ashes. And how particularly striking is the admonition contained in the story of Job to the "brother of high degree," to those children of God who have been indulged with long and uninterrupted prosperity, and, what is more, who have been maintained in a long course of great usefulness and of splendid virtues whereby they have adorned their Christian profession, lest they should harbour pride, and think too much of their works and attainments; lest they should forget what they are, and withdraw something from the praise of the glory of that grace by which alone they are saved.

Fry.

ALL other feasts were but hunger to that of Ahasuerus, whether we regard the number of guests, or the largeness of preparation, or the continuance of time. During the space of a whole half-year, all the tables were sumptuously furnished for all comers from India to Ethiopia; a world of meat; every meal was so set on, as if it should have been the last. Yet all this long feast hath an end; and all this glory is shut up in forgetfulness. What is Ahasuerus the better, that his peers then said, he was incomparably great? What are his peers the better, that they were feasted? Happy is he that eats bread and drinks new wine in the kingdom of God. This banquet is for eternity, without intermission, without satiety. The attendance was answerable to the cheer, and the freedom matched both: here was no compulsion, either as to the measure or quality of the draught; every man's rule was his own choice. Who can but blush to see forced healths in Christian banquets, when the civility of mere pagans commands liberty!

I cannot say that Vashti was not worthy of a censure; I cannot say she deserved to be put away. It was but heathen justice to punish the wife's disobedience in one act, not of much import, with a divorce. Even the greatest love may be overstrained. It is not safe to presume on the deepest assurances of dearness. There is no heart that may not be estranged.

TRACT MAGAZINE, NO. 70. OCTOBER, 1839.

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