"O yes, I do pray; but I cannot help grieving, because I think that my praying is all in vain; for I think the Lord will not hear my prayer.' 66 I said, 'Elizabeth, trust in that merciful dear Saviour. He died to save poor sinners, and he will save you if you pray to him.' 666 "Dear M- there is one thing I want to tell you. When I am trying to pray, it seems as though somebody tried to stop me from praying, as though I must not or should not keep on.' Well, Elizabeth,' I said, 'you mus pray against that, for that is Satan, and he will try to keep you from praying if he can; but if you do pray on, the Lord will be on your side-he will strengthen you to keep on-he will never leave nor forsake you.' "O,' she said, 'I hope I shall pray to him more; I hope I shall love that dear Saviour more. "I had got my hymn-book with me, and I read several of the hymns to her. M- --,' she said, they are such precious hymns; will you leave that book with me while you come again? for I hope you will come again." "So this hymn-book she had several weeks; and the next time I went, she said, 'O MI have found out that dear Saviour; and he is so precious to my soul! I have such a hope of going to heaven. Now I long to be gone to my blessed Saviour, for then I shall be with him for ever; and I hope I shall meet all my dear friends there, and you also.' One time when I was going to leave her, she E said, 'Come again: and if Mr. M. wants to know any thing about me, tell him I have such a desire to be the Lord's child-and I hope I shall be with him.'" This plain unvarnished tale increased my hope, that poor Elizabeth had been brought on her way to that Redeemer whose peculiar pleasure, when on earth, was to preach the Gospel to the poor; and who, now he is exalted at the right hand of Power, is daily gathering into his kingdom many from the most humble and abject ranks of life. The concluding scene of this poor girl's life was of a piece with the general tenour of her conduct. From the beginning of her directing her thoughts to the concerns of her soul and of eternity, prayer was her general employment. She talked very feelingly and affectionately to her parents and younger sisters; and, as well as she knew how, she directed their souls to Christ Jesus. To the last, she had a deep conviction of her sins. It could not be said, that she had a rapturous joy, but she certainly had peace in believing; such a peace as entirely disarmed death of all his terrors, and made her welcome the hour of her departure, so that she often repeated the following verse to her mother; 66 My willing soul would stay In such a frame as this; The well-known hymn, "In vain our fancy strives to paint The glories that surround the saint, was peculiarly sweet to her, and often repeated to her family. Her last night on earth was a very tranquil and happy one. She fell into short slumbers, and then from time to time awoke, not to shed tears or to utter sorrows, or to tell of doubts or fears, but to repeat again and again that she longed to be gone; "for now I feel certain," she said, "that 1 shall see that blessed Saviour, and be with him. And then," added she, "mother, my little sleeps are such sweet and happy sleeps as I never had before." This was her state of mind until the Lord graciously dismissed her spirit without one pain, or fear, or struggle. Thus we may learn how easily the Lord can accomplish his own work, by the feeblest instruments and amidst very many apparent difficulties; and thus the pastor and the kind Christian friend of every description may gather encouragement to drop a word of exhortation and warning as opportunities offer. As to the poor old mother, who from time to time carried little books or messages to her child, and endeavoured to urge her on in seeking the Lord, she soon saw her child outstrip her in the race for heaven, and gain upon her in the knowledge of the Gospel, and of the Scriptures, Psalms, and Hymns which she read. Poor Elizabeth was but fifteen years old when she died; and only a part of one of these years had been employed in the pursuit of that knowledge which makes wise unto salvation through faith that is in Jesus Christ. Yet it cannot be denied but that, previous to her departure, she knew, more of divine things than any, or than all the other members of her family. Some considerable time has now elapsed since this poor girl's departure. For several months I entertained hopes of the old woman and some others of the family; but these hopes have long since vanished. They are not quite so ignorant as they once were, but all that distressing and incredible apathy so common among the aged village poor has, I believe, regained its full ascendancy over the mother; while the younger branches of the family have long since refused all my counsel and scorned my reproof. Thus do cheering and disheartening events make up the life of man in his way to heaven, and more especially follow each other in the work and experience of a village pastor. Oh that both shepherd and flock, in every parish, may carry about them a solemn sense and recollection of the account they will each be soon called upon to render up, when time, and means of grace, and seasons for speaking and for hearing, will end for ever. No. IV. HAPPINESS, such as this earth can produce, is graciously dispensed to some individuals, or, if you please, attained by a certain number of persons in every stage and gradation of society. It is, indeed, but seldom found where a misjudging world is so prone to look for it, I mean in the ranks of nobility and splendour; yet there are a few noble mansions beneath whose roof it sometimes tarries for a season, and makes glad the heart of man. In our search after happiness, we shall, however, more generally find it tenanting the abodes of those whose state and condition in life is equally removed from the paralyzing influence of want and poverty, and from the intoxicating charms of power and riches. In a state of great affluence and worldly honours, it is very difficult for a soul to walk humbly with its God; and amidst all the trials of cold and hunger, of pain and wretchedness, which abject poverty often brings to the sufferer's dwelling, it is no easy duty to exercise resignation and contentment. Yet that grace which is all-sufficient is occasionally found in its full exercise; on one hand guiding the individual through abundance, and on the other conducting him through want and poverty; sanctifying both poverty and riches; making all things work together for good to the present and future happiness of the |