“The man who turns the soil "The tailor, ay, the cobbler, May lift their heads as men,— Could he wake to life again, "What cheers the musing student, The thought that for his followers Enjoy the vision bright Let the thought that comes from heaven "Ye men who hold the pen Rise like a band inspired; And, poets, let your lyrics With hope for man be fired; Each happy in his part.” -From the German. CHAPTER VIII. ABOUT a week after this, Captain Mostyn called to see Alice. "Well, my poor woman," he said, "how are you to-day?" "Weaker and weaker," she replied. "I think I'm not long for this world, but that wouldn't matter if I were only sure of the next." "Do you remember the verse we were speaking about the other day?" "Yes, sir; at least part of it. 'He delighteth in mercy,' isn't that it, sir? But I can't get over the dread of His justice. It seems to me that God is too holy and just to let sin escape, that He must punish sin; and if ever there was a sinner, I am one. "Quite true, Alice; but listen: If the man to whom this house belongs were to come in this moment and threaten to turn you into the street for not paying your rent-supposing you had not paid it, I mean." "The very thing he'd be apt to do, for he's a hard, honest man," interrupted Alice. "But Miss Mary has seen to that, thank the Lord." "Well," continued Captain Mostyn, "supposing, as I said, he were to come in this moment and thus threaten you, and that I, hearing his threat, took out my purse and paid your debt on the spot; tell me, would it be just for him to come to-morrow and demand payment from you?" "To be sure not, sir. It would be the height of injustice. He'd have no right to ask to be paid twice." "Exactly so, Alice. He would have no right, as you say, to ask to be paid twice. And do you think the holy and just God will demand payment a second time?" "No, sir; but " "Wait a moment, Alice; your case is this: You are heavily in debt to God, having broken His law times without number, and you have nothing wherewith to pay your debt." "Not a farthing, sir; that's true." “And you acknowledge that if God were to deal with you according to your desert, eternal death would be your portion. Do you go with me thus far, Alice?" "Every word's true, sir,-every word. I am an undone sinner, deserving the wrath of God, and have nothing to pay." "Yes, you have nothing to pay; but Christ, by His death, paid the penalty due to your sin, instead of your paying it. 'He gave Himself' for you, Alice, to save you from death.” "Did He, sir? Are you sure of it?" "Yes, the Bible says so. Were it not written in God's Word that Christ died that we might live, You we could not imagine love so wonderful. see, what you have to believe is just this: You are a sinner, and, as such, deserving of death. The justice of God required either that you should die the death due to the transgressor of His law, or that a substitute should be found to suffer in your stead. Christ became that substitute, and you get life by His death. You are perfectly right, Alice," Captain Mostyn continued, "in saying that sin must receive its punishment. God has punished it in the person of His beloved Son for all who believe in Him for salvation. His death is accepted instead of theirs, and in His righteousness they stand complete." "There's wonderful comfort in that, sir-wonderful comfort for the weary and heavy-laden." "There is. And will God demand payment a second time? Surely not. Your debt, cancelled, blotted out by the blood of Christ, will never, never be remembered against you. This is the only sure ground for the sinner to stand upon; but, blessed be God, it can never fail us." 66 "I think I see it all, sir, and wonder I never did before," exclaimed Alice. "It's that the dear young lady you met here has been trying to tell me ; but, somehow, it didn't come so plain to me as now. She taught me-oh! she did that the Lord is merciful and gracious-that the love of Christ is wonder ful. But still the justice of God was a terror to But now I see, if I may make bold to say it, that the very justice of God is on the sinner's me. side, if he trusts in the blood of Christ for accept "We may fearlessly say so, Alice. The justice of God makes it impossible for Him to demand any portion of the debt which His Son paid to the full on the cross. Hold fast to Christ therefore," Captain Mostyn continued, rising to leave the room; "and when you feel, as I am sure you often do, how weak your hold of Him is, remember, for your comfort, that as the safety of the infant does not depend upon the strength with which it clings to its mother, but upon that by which she holds him, so your safety does not depend upon the firmness of your grasp of Christ, but upon the almighty power and love by which He upholds you." It was now late in the day, and the neighbour from the next house, who did many a friendly job for Alice, looked in to ask if she wanted anything. "Nothing, thank you kindly," replied Alice, "but to put the kettle on the fire, and maybe by the time it boils some one will come in and make the tea. But oh! Mrs Dunlop, I'm so happy-I see as plain as I see you, and plainer, that the great and holy God has forgiven me for His blessed Son's sake." "Why, what did you ever do to anger Him? Sure we all know what a decent body you are." "Don't say that, Mrs Dunlop," said Alice, vehemently, "don't say that. We're all sinners, that's true, but I'm more certain it's true of myself than of any one, just because I know myself best. And now," she continued, raising herself in bed and |