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stead of repining at what she suffered, she often expressed her gratitude for what she enjoyed; and her comfort from what she anticipated. Many cheering expressions of the peace that filled her soul dropped from her lips during these. wearisome years. Her resignation appeared entire. "It is enough for me," she observed, "to know that I am suffering the will of God." Her countenance frequently beamed with benignity and sacred composure. The Saviour she loved was her hope: and, as eternal scenes drew near, her hope retained all its cheering power. A friend observed to her, that her hope was worth the world. More than the world to me, Sir," was the expressive reply. When her last day approached apace, nothing like a wish to stay longer was visible. Not "one longing, lingering look" did she seem to cast behind on the world she was about to leave. She said, "I desire to depart and be with Christ: I long to be with my Saviour." She observed, that she would not change places with any of her Christian friends, who were in health around her; and spoke in her last hours of being "very happy." Her desires at length were accomplished: and her Lord took her to her endless home.

My young friend, learn from this short narrative, that early religion is indeed a precious blessing. Here you see it cheering a young disciple through successive years of illness. While the young around her were exulting in the sprightliness and bloom of youth, the bed of pain was her inheritance, the chamber of affliction her dwelling; yet the Saviour's love rendered her, in that sick chamber, happier than those who know not God are in the midst of youth, and

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gaiety, and health. The Saviour's love shed the comforts of heavenly tranquillity around her bed of pain; brightened with immortal hopes her chamber of suffering; and when the last solemn scene drew nigh, rendered death, usually the king of terrors, more desirable than life with all its attractions. If you are a disciple of the Saviour, but tried with doubts and almost overwhelmed with sadness, let this young Christian's experience encourage you; learn from her history, that years of distress, while seeking salvation, may be followed by years of settled peace

of peace so rich, and so firm, that long affliction shall not weaken its power, nor death disturb its holy calm.

Another young disciple of the Saviour, in his last illness, observea to the writer, that the thoughts of eternity were most pleasant to him. He spoke of himself as lying at the Saviour's feet, willing to receive ease or pain; and said, "Death is never once a terror. I am not afraid to die; it rather seems lovely. Christ is every thing. He is all. I see more beauties in him."

Such cheering instances of the power of divine grace have been almost numberless. One of the last expressions of a dying saint whose piety began in youth, was, "Welcome joy."* Another, who sought God when but thirteen, feeling her pulse while death was stealing on her, said, "Well, it will be but a little while before my work in this world will be finished. Then I shall have done with prayer. My whole employment in heaven will be praise and love. Here I love God faintly, yet I hope sincerely,

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but there it will be perfectly. I shall behold his face in righteousness, for I am thy servant, Lord, bought with blood, with precious blood; Christ died to purchase the life of my soul. A little while and I shall be singing that sweet song, 'Blessing and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever." " With smiles she often said, " Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. O blessed convoy, come and fetch my soul to dwell with God, and Christ, and perfect spirits for ever and ever! O the glory, the glory that shall be set on the head of faith and love!" Soon after she said, Farewell, sin! farewell, pains ;" and then in holy peace expired.

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Many brought from all the abasements of idolatry and heathenism have felt in their dying hours the sacred peace imparted by the Almighty Saviour. A converted Hindoo, said in his last illness, "God is my only hope. Life is good death is good; but to be wholly emancipated is better. He is my God, and I am his child. He never leaves me; he is always present.". And alluding to the expressions, Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, he said, "Peace, peace, I now find in my own heart that peace." Another converted Hindoo,§ when dying, said, "My Saviour hath sent his messenger for me, and I long to go to him." A dying chief in one of the Sandwich Islands, referring to his Saviour, observed, "During the day I think of Him; during the night I think of Him, in pain I think of Him; in ease I think of Him; I do not forget him, and I trust he will not forget me."

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My young friend, shall such comforts be yours? While you see them found even by those who once were heathens, will you neglect the Giver of them? If you have not committed your soul to Jesus, will you still hesitate to do so? Perhaps your time for doing so is almost gone. Perhaps your days of health and vigour are almost fled. Perhaps you now see your last summer or your last winter; the winter of the grave may be your next. Is any thing so important that it should lead you, for a single hour, to neglect that Saviour, whose favour will concern you for ever? O how gladly would millions, who were once the great, the noble, the wealthy, the young, the sprightly, and the gay; who once shone in the ball-room, and glittered in the theatre, welcome another day of grace, like that you now enjoy! O how gladly would millions, who were such but twenty or thirty years ago, now flee from the wrath to come! but, ah! they cannot; their day is past; but you may, and let me hope you do embrace the gospel; and let me, as it were, take you by the hand, and lead you forward to future scenes.

§ 5. You must die; yet if possessed of a humble assurance that Jesus is your Saviour, you may die in peace; and when that hour comes which has been passed with comfort by thousands who were safe in Jesus, and with terror by millions who were not; you undismayed may meet that solemn hour. Then, when languishing in your last sickness, you may wish for nothing less, and fear nothing more, than recovery and longer life. O! when this scene of vanity is ending; when all your ornaments must be changed for a shroud, and all the amusements of

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youth, or the cares of riper years, for the solemnities of the eternal world; then indeed will early piety appear a blessing past expression. Then all that you are eager for now will have vanished like a dream; the pleasures and the griefs, the cares and the hopes of youth, and life, will be no more; but the blessings of religion will not have fled away. Then, when the last sands of life are running out, you may gladly say, These solemn, painful days will quickly hasten me over the tempestuous sea of life; and land me "On the peaceful shore of blest eternity."

- the re

And when you reach the very borders of that awful and amazing state, as with an angel's eye, you might survey a vanishing world, and take a last adieu of earth and time.- "Farewell, ye scenes of imperfection! Farewell, folly, sin, and vanity! Farewell, all that once I knew - the spots I trod - the places where I dwelt-the scenes endeared by friendly converse treats made sacred by youthful devotion—all farewell! I go where joy for ever reigns. I go where sickness never comes. I go where death is never known. I go where perfection and purity, happiness and endless life, shall be my long, long portion. I go from mortal to immortal things; from dying men to the living God; from fickle mortals to the steadfast Saviour; from sinful creatures to joyful saints and holy angels. Adieu, vain world of cares, and doubts, and fears; yet, sacred world, where heaven was made my portion! Adieu, thou weary seat of troubles and imperfections; yet, endeared region, where the Saviour's love dawned upon my soul; and glory, honour, and immortality, became my inberitance! Adieu! for ever, departing world, adieu !