suaded her to go with them to their place of worship, which she did, and her uneasiness increased. The conflict became so great, that she resolved to go to the Roman Catholic chapel to prepare for the Holy Communion, "and such," to use her own words, "was my ignorance and blindness, that I thought by so doing, I should regain the peace which I had lost. I went, but was refused admittance, as it had become known that I had been attending a Protestant place of worship." She never again entered a Popish Chapel, but continued to attend the means of grace, and found the truth of those precious words, that none "shall seek the Lord in vain.” He had marked her for his own. The scales at length fell from her eyes; the mists of error and prejudice were dispelled, and she believed in Jesus to the salvation of her soul.

There is one anecdote connected with her story which should not be omitted. S. had never learnt to read, and such was her desire to be able for herself to search the Scriptures of truth, that she bought a spelling book, and by means of trifling bribes of trinkets, &c., she got the children she met on the road to give her lessons. In this manner she got on, and by the kind instruction of a lady, S. got to read with ease and comfort. Some time after, her health failed; but poor as regards this world, the Lord gave her meat to eat which the world knows not of. She was truly led by a way she knew not; and few instances are more calculated to shew that "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise; and the weak things of the world, to confound the things which are mighty."

THE LIFE OF FAITH.

A Letter found in the Study of the late Rev. Joseph Belcher, of Dedham, in New England.

DEAR BROTHER,-Yours I received, and thought on that question, being, how to live in this world so as to live in heaven? It is one of the common pleas of my heart, which I have often occasion to study,

HISTORY OF A POOR HAWKER.

S, a native of Ireland, was formerly a Roman Catholic. She came long ago to Scotland with her old mother, who was then alive, and depended upon her for support. S. used to travel about the country as a hawker, and it was in one of her rounds that she was in some degree awakened to a sense of her state as a sinner in the sight of God. One Sabbath, being disgusted with the profane conversation and swearing which went on in the house in which she was, she went out, and passing a church, she thought she might as well go in. What she there heard troubled her. She felt that something was wrong, and that it was very different to what she had heard in her own church. Thus she was led again often to attend a Protestant place of worship. Yet all was to her dark and confused. She saw that she was in error, but could not by reason of prejudice and unbelief look to Jesus, and cast her burden npon the "Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world."

On one occasion, calling with her basket at a house, the lady who had heard something of her, invited her in. S. was told that if she would renounce her faith, and become a Protestant, support would be procured for her which would place her above want, and very different to the uncertain way in which she now got her living. No way however was pointed out to her by which she might attain everlasting life; no mention made of the sacrifice for sin, the Saviour of sinners, "who is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him." To this proposal therefore she listened with indignation. "No;" she answered, "no worldly motive shall make me give up my religion, and nothing shall tempt me to do so, unless I see it right."

Her mother being now dead, and her own health very delicate, she resolved during the winter to remain in L——, and took a little room which she procured in the house of a very respectable family. They per

suaded her to go with them to their place of worship, which she did, and her uneasiness increased. The conflict became so great, that she resolved to go to the Roman Catholic chapel to prepare for the Holy Communion," and such," to use her own words, "was my ignorance and blindness, that I thought by so doing, I should regain the peace which I had lost. I went, but was refused admittance, as it had become known that I had been attending a Protestant place of worship." She never again entered a Popish Chapel, but continued to attend the means of grace, and found the truth of those precious words, that none "shall seek the Lord in vain.' He had marked her for his own. The scales at length fell from her eyes; the mists of error and prejudice were dispelled, and she believed in Jesus to the salvation of her soul.

S. had never learnt to

There is one anecdote connected with her story which should not be omitted. read, and such was her desire to be able for herself to search the Scriptures of truth, that she bought a spelling book, and by means of trifling bribes of trinkets, &c., she got the children she met on the road to give her lessons. In this manner she got on, and by the kind instruction of a lady, S. got to read with ease and comfort. Some time after, her health failed; but poor as regards this world, the Lord gave her meat to eat which the world knows not of. She was truly led by a way she knew not; and few instances are more calculated to shew that "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise; and the weak things of the world, to confound the things which are mighty."

THE LIFE OF FAITH.

A Letter found in the Study of the late Rev. Joseph Belcher, of Dedham, in New England.

DEAR BROTHER,-Yours I received, and thought on that question, being, how to live in this world so as to live in heaven? It is one of the common pleas of my heart, which I have often occasion to study,

and therefore takes me not unprovided. It is hard to keep the helm up against so many cross winds as we meet withal upon this sea of fire and glass. That man knows not his own heart that finds it not difficult to break through the entanglements of the world. Creaturesmiles stop and entice away the affections from Jesus Christ; crea. ture-frowns encompass and tempestuate the spirit, that it thinks it doth well to be angry. Both ways grace is a loser. We had all need to watch and pray, lest we enter into temptation. The greatest of your conflicts and causes of complaints seem to have their original here.

Temptations follow tempers. As there are two leading qualities in the temper of everybody, so there are two leading sins in the temper of every heart. Pride is one in all men in the world. I will tell you, plainly, what God hath done for my soul, and in what way my soul keeps towards himself. I am come to a conclusion to look after no great matters in the world, but to know Christ and him crucified. I make best way in a low gale: a high spirit and a high sail together will be dangerous, and therefore I prepare to live low. I desire not much; I pray against it. My study is my calling, so much as to tend that without distraction, I am bound to plead for, and more I desire not. By my secluded retirement, I have the advantage to observe, how every day's occasions insensibly wear off the heart from God, and bury it in itself, which they who live in care and slumber cannot be sensible of. I have seemed to see a need of everything God gives to me, and to want nothing that he denies me. There is no dispensation, however afflictive, but either in it, or after it, I find I could not be without it; whether it be taken from me or not given to me, sooner or later God quiets me in himself without it. I cast all my concerns on the Lord, and live securely on the care and wisdom of my hea venly Father. My ways, you know, are in some sense hedged up with thorns, and grow darker and darker daily; but yet I distrust not my good God in the least, and live more quietly in the absence of all by faith, than I should do, I am persuaded, if I possessed them.

I think the Lord deals kindly with me, to make me believe for all my mercies before I have them, that they will then be Isaacs, sons of laughter. The less reason hath to work upon, the more freely faith casts itself on the faithfulness of God. I find that while faith is steady, nothing can disquiet me; and when faith totters,

nothing can establish me. If I stumble out among means and creatures, I am presently lost and can come to no end; but if I stay myself on God, and leave him to work in his own way and time, I am at rest, and can sit down and sleep in a promise when a thousand rise up against me: therefore my way is, not to cast beforehand, but to work with God by the day, "sufficient to the day is the evil thereof." I find so much to do continually with my calling and my heart, that I have no time to puzzle myself with peradventures and futurities. As for the state of the times, it is very gloomy and tempestuous, "but why doth the heathen rage?" Faith lies at anchor in the midst of the waves, and believes the accomplishment of the promise, through all these overturnings, confusions, and seeming impossibilities. Upon this God do I live, who is our God for ever, and will guide us to death. Methinks I lie becalmed in his bosom; as Luther, in such a case, I am not much concerned, let Christ see to it.' I know prophecies are now dark, and the books are sealed, and men have been deceived, and every cistern fails, yet God doth continue faithful; and faithful is he that promised, who will do it." I believe these dark times are the womb of a bright morning.

Many things more I might have said, but enough. Oh! brother, keep close to God, and then you need fear nothing. Maintain secret and intimate communion with God, and then a little of the creature will go a great way. Take time for duties in private; crowd not religion into a corner of the day. There is a Dutch proverb, "nothing is got by thieving, nor lost by praying." Lay up all your good in God, so as to overbalance the sweetness and bitterness of all creatures. Spend no time anxiously in forehand contrivances for this world; they never succeed; God will run his dispensations another way. Self-contrivances are the effects of unbelief. I can speak by experience; would men spend those hours they run out in plots and devices, in communion with God, and leave all to him, by venturesome believing, they would have more peace and comfort. I leave you with your God and mine. The Lord Jesus be with your spirit. Pray for your own soul, pray for Jerusalem, and pray hard for your poor brother.

Let faith exert its conqu'ring power;

Say, in thy fearing, trembling hour,

"

66 Father, thy pitying help impart;"

"Tis done!-a sigh can reach his heart.-LUTHER.