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Say rather because of his religion, and let the worth of his character be traced to the right source."

So talked acquaintances and friends in their comments on the young man's conduct.

What made Emily bid them a sudden farewell, the sisters, whose schoolfellow and chosen friend she had been, could not imagine; but she went away while Edward was absent on business, and made no promise to visit them again, though urging them to come and stay long and often at her own distant home.

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Perhaps she does not like staying now Edward is master of the house," said Mary; "but I am certain her love for us is the same as ever. I have thought that Edward has treated her rather coolly of late; but he is so busy, poor fellow, and he does not know her value as we

do."

Did he not? Well, it was evident that if Edward had tried to deceive he could not have managed it better.

Years passed away. The debts were all paid, and the happy little party lived in frugal comfort. Then the gentle mother was laid in her husband's tomb, thanking God with her last breath for such a son in her widowhood, and such a guardian for her orphan girls.

More years, and then Amy followed her parents. Her simple life had needed little change, for her mind had never passed its childhood, and she had been happy and content. If she had a strong feeling at all, it was that of love for her darling brother, and tenderly she thanked him for all his care. Louisa's mission was ended now, and after a few months of gradual decline, she joined Amy again in the new life above.

Mary and Grace remained. They had helped by the labour of their hands to supply the lack of hired domestics; and now their brother insisted on the necessity of rest and recreation, and assured them that he could thankfully afford the means. On several occasions they had by turns visited the friend of their childhood, and seen her the honoured mistress of a home of her own, always describing with delight to Edward on their return, how happy and beloved she was, and how well suited to the position she was called to fill.

Edward rejoiced in her portion, and was satisfied with

his own; but he knew that a severe trial awaited his sisters, for whose sakes he laboured on beyond the endurance of his failing strength. His constitution, never strong, gave way before disease of which he had long had warning, and which began rapidly to reach its crisis. Then how wise, how kind, seemed all the way by which a heavenly Father's love had led him! No wife, no children to leave struggling with the world, and just sufficient saved to keep the two dear sisters in modest comfort, until they too should come home. He had fought the good fight, finished his course, kept the faith," and was going to receive that crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge," had promised to him. And justly he could testify that "not one thing had failed of all the good things which the Lord had spoken concerning him." He had taken up his cross and followed a Master who "pleased not himself," but lived to do his Father's will; and, having "armed himself with the same mind," he went steadily forward until his earthly work was done, and the time of rest was come.

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"not by

To the last he testified to the fact that it was works of righteousness" that he had done, but "according to his mercy" God had saved him; and that, if his faith had worked by love, and been proved thereby, it was still by "grace" which had proved "sufficient" for all his times of need. 66 Thy will be done," he had said through sorrow and bereavement and disappointment and hardship; and it was now to be seen in the welcoming smile, and heard in the approving voice that would hail his happy spirit to the realms of glory with, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

The epitaph of Christians, such as this, were best written by Him who as tenderly watches over the plodding path of duty, as over the confessor's trial, and the martyr's fiery pile.

THE ROYAL PRAYER.

FROM THE GERMAN.

KING FREDERICK WILLIAM IV., of Prussia, and the queen, were staying at Erdmannsdorf. In the neighbourhood of this castle lived a count well known to the king, both by the faithful services he had rendered to him, and by his upright piety. He was at that time, on account of his illness, fiequently visited by his royal master and neigh

bour. During one of these visits the count expressed, in confidential conversation with his royal guest, that the thought was very painful to him, that his two sons, who were being educated at the Moravian Institute at Nisky, and of whom he had often received sorrowful news, might turn out badly, and that he should never meet them again in the realms of everlasting happiness. The king comforted the sick man with the promises which are made in God's word to fervent intercession. Moreover, he sent an order at once to the sons to come home immediately, that they might meet their father alive, and receive from him words of earnest, fatherly love.

One day when he knew that the youths had arrived, the king entered the room of the sick man, around whom all belonging to him were assembled. He inquired of the count how he felt, and when he replied that he believed he should soon be taken home to his rest, the king said to those standing round him, "Then I believe we can do nothing better than pray." Upon this, he knelt down with the whole family, and prayed aloud with most heartfelt fervour, and especially entreated the Lord, with deep earnestness, that he would, in his gracious favour, look upon and accept the children of the dying man; that he would keep, and preserve them, and, at last, bring them to meet their father in heaven.

The Spirit of God deeply affected the praying hearts. The dying father was wonderfully comforted and refreshed; but both the sons were powerfully shaken; and from that hour the great change which then took place in their hearts was manifest to all. After the death of their father they returned to the establishment at Nisky. It could not long remain concealed from their schoolfellows and teachers that something besides the grief for their departed father filled the hearts of the brothers. They soon perceived that the Spirit of the Lord had here begun a work, of the completeness of which the Scripture says, "Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new ;" and that holy flame did not burn alone, but spread further in the institution. Did we not in two years, 1846-48, hear of a great revival in the boys' school at Nisky? The result of this awakening to many young souls in that place was a holy life, which, in some cases, has already ended in a happy and peaceful death. movement proceeded from the genuine conversion of those

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two young counts, and by the Lord's gracious providence was the consequence of the blessed impression which the youths had received at their father's death bed from the fervent prayer of the good king. This king has now gone to his rest too, and stands before the throne of God with all his other saints, and there for ever reaps the fruit of all the prayers which he has offered up to the Lord.

THE GOSPEL ITS OWN WITNESS.

Two Mongul Tartar chiefs from the borders of China, many years ago, came to St. Petersburg, to acquaint themselves with the learning and arts of Europeans, bringing this recommendation, that they were the best and most sensible men belonging to their tribe. Among other occupations, they were engaged to assist a German clergyman, resident in that city, in a translation of St. Matthew's Gospel into their native tongue. This work was carried

on for several months, and day by day they were accustomed to collate, with the minister, such portions of the common task as one, the other, or all three, had completed; in the course of which, they would often ask questions respecting circumstances and allusions, as well as doctrines and sentiments contained in the book, which, to be faithful interpreters, they deemed it right to understand well for themselves beyond the literal text.

On the last day, when the version was presumed to be as perfect as the men could render it, the two saisangs, or chiefs, sat silent but thoughtful, when the manuscript lay closed upon the table. Observing something unusual in their manner, their friend inquired whether they had any questions to ask. They answered, "Nane;" and then, to the delight and amazement of the good man, who had carefully avoided, during their past intercourse, any semblance of wishing to proselyte them, they both declared themselves converts to the religion of that book. So they proved in the sequel; but with that part of the history, though extremely interesting, we have not to do at present.

One remark which the elder made, and the younger confirmed, has caused this reference to them. He said, "We have lived in ignorance, and been led by blind guides, without finding rest. We have been zealous

followers of the doctrines of Shakdshamini (the Fo of the Chinese), and have studied the books containing them attentively; but the more we studied, the more obscure they appeared to us; and our hearts remained empty. In perusing the doctrines of Jesus Christ, it is just the contrary: the more we meditate upon his words, the more intelligible they become, and, at length, it seems as if Jesus were talking with us." A remarkable instance this is of the "self-evidencing light and power of the Sacred Scriptures."

We have a somewhat similar example in the recorded experience of the celebrated Francis Junius. This learned man, whom Bishop Hall styles "The glory of Leyden and the hope of the Church," was, in the early part of his life, a decided atheist; and such was the infatuation which carried him away, that, for a considerable time, he was accustomed to avow and to defend his wretched principles. From this perilous state, however, he was eventually rescued. A striking interposition of Divine goodness effected his preservation from death during a violent commotion in the city of Lyons. He then became convinced that there is a Providence; and the entreaties of his father induced him to commence the perusal of the New Testament with attention and seriousness. He began with the first chapter of the Gospel of John, and he has left the following account of the impression which was produced upon his mind. "I read," says he, "part of the chapter; and I was so impressed with what I read, that I could not but perceive the Divinity of the subject and the authority and majesty of the Scriptures to surpass greatly all human eloquence. I shuddered with horror at myself; my soul was astonished; and I was so strongly affected all that day, that I scarcely knew who, what, or where I was. But thou, O Lord my God, didst remember me in thy wonderful mercy, and didst receive a lost and wandering sheep into thy flock. From that time I began to read the Bible, and treat other books with more coldness and indifference, and to become more conversant with the things which relate to salvation."