muffled; a bad sign. Knocking gently at the door, the servant opened it. "How is your master?" "No better, sir; please to walk in." The minister entered the chamber, and there was his neighbour, still upon a bed of sickness. "My dear neighbour," said the minister, "how are you this morning?" There was no response! The man was delirious now, and spoke in broken sentences, incoherently. The minister, leaning upon the top of his cane, looked at his neighbour, and the silent tear trickled down his cheek. He was about to rise up and go away, but the wife of the sick man exclaimed, "O my dear pastor, won't you pray for my husband!" The prayer was offered, and the minister taking the hand of his neighbour, said, "my dear friend, good-bye." Still there was no response. Alas! the sick man knew not that his wife was weeping at his bed-side, and that his pastor had been praying for him. As the man of God was retiring, the affectionate wife followed him to the door, and in parting said, "My dear pastor, I am in great affliction, will you be so kind as to call again?" "Madam,” said he, “when do you think I had better call?" And she said, "To-morrow!" O that to-morrow, that to-morrow! The associations were more than he could bear; and the man of God went weeping all the way returning to

his home. The next morning he called again; the knocker was still muffled. He tapped gently at the door. The servant opened. "How is your master?" "He is said to be worse, sir." "I would like to see him." "You can't sir! The doctor has just left, and he has given the strictest orders that nobody should enter the room but those who are waiting upon him. But here is my mistress."--" Madam! how is your husband?" "O! my dear pastor," replied she, bursting into tears, "he is worse-I fear much worse!" "I would like to see your husband, madam, a few moments." "I would be glad to have you see him too," replied the afflicted woman, "but our physician says, that the crisis is come, and that the slightest excitement may prove fatal; but the doctor said, that if his patient revived, he might be able to see you to-morrow!" Having received a message, about the going down of the sun, that his neighbour was still in a critical state, and too weak to be seen, the minister could hardly sleep that night, so anxious was he about the salvation of his neighbour. The next morning, taking his hat and cane, he went early, to make at least some inquiry. Tapping again, gently, at the door, the servant opened. "How is your master?" was the anxious inquiry. "O sir," replied the servant,

ister-"Dead!"

"he is dead!" "Dead!" exclaimed the min"Yes sir, he died this morning, at 4 o'clock." "God have mercy"-the minister was about to say, but it flashed upon him, it is too late now! Dear procrastinating sinner! It is enough-I beseech you, do not say to-morrow any more! To-morrow! It may be too late for ever! To-morrow's sun may shine upon your grave! And O, remember that departed spirits return to earth no more! Once lost, you are lost for ever! "Be wise today, 'tis madness to defer."

Hasten, O sinner, to be wise,

And stay not for to-morrow's sun;
The longer Wisdom you despise,
The harder is she to be won.

O! hasten mercy to implore,

And stay not for to-morrow's sun;
For fear thy season should be o'er
Before this evening's course be run.

Hasten, O sinner, to return,

And stay not for to-morrow's sun;
For fear thy lamp should fail to burn
Before the needful work is done.

Hasten, O sinner, to be blest,

And stay not for to-morrow's sun;
For fear the curse should thee arrest,
Before the morrow is begun.

APPENDIX.

INTERESTING RECOLLECTIONS.

1. A STRANGE THING." Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther." Some years since, I held a protracted meeting in a certain town in Georgia. Amongst others who professed conversion, were some three or four men, who had been esteemed infidels. Upon the close of the meeting, I went to another town some thirty miles distant, and preached one sermon, at night. There was present, in a remote part of the house, a man of "three-score and ten," who was outrageously wicked, and an open and avowed infidel. He had around him several young men, whom he endeavoured to amuse, in order to divert their attention from what was said in preaching. Near him, however, was a stranger, a pious man, who was very much annoyed by his light and trifling remarks. When the services of the evening closed, this hoaryheaded sinner, it seems, held, for the amusement of the young men, a kind of mock prayer-meeting! After which, he had the effrontery to come to the house where the pious stranger and myself lodged. In the family circle, the impious conduct of the gray-headed sinner had been the subject of our conversation; and the "stranger" was then requested to lead in the family devotions of the evening. He had taken his seat by a stand near the inner door, and was reading a portion of Scripture, when a knock was heard at the outer door. gentleman of the house rose up, and opened the door; when who should come in but Mr. H., the old scorner! He was pointed to a seat near the door, and sat down. I was very desirous that the brother who was about to lead in prayer should know who had come in; for I suspected that there would be some reference to him in the prayer; but no; his feelings were too much wrought upon to notice anything of the kind. When the chapter was read, we all kneeled down; and in a little time our brother was praying, with great earnestness, for the young men who had been at preaching that evening. Now, thinks

The

I to myself, he will certainly notice the old man; what a pity he does not know that he is in the room. Well, sure enough, after pouring out his soul for the young men, the pious stranger added—“ And now, O Lord, have mercy upon that old creature,”—and went on to state what that "old creature" had done and said in the church that evening. Upon rising from his knees, the brother who had prayed looked around, and saw the old man near at hand. He was astonished to be sure; but would not deign to make any apology. The old scorner took a hymn-book, and sitting down just opposite the person who had led in prayer, begged him to sing one of his "favourite hymns;" and then talked about the recent revival, and the conversion of the infidels there. "They were my disciples," said he; "Mr. Baker has taken them from me, and I think he ought to take the old shepherd now." I thought it time to come to the rescue of my friend; and, looking the old infidel full in the face, I said, "Sir, do you ever pray?" Suddenly he seemed struck, as by some invisible power! His eyes became glassy; his tongue was paralyzed; and, uttering some incoherent words, he rose up and hurried out. I never saw him any more. We were all much astonished, and came to the conclusion, that the hand of God was upon him, and that the sentence had gone forth against him, "Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther,"

2. ANOTHER STRANGE THING-but widely different.

A long time ago, I had as an inmate of my family, a nephew, about fourteen years of age. He was a member of my church, and was supposed to be truly pious. One night, in his usual health, he retired to rest. A little after, I heard a groan in his chamber. Seizing a candle, I rushed in, and saw my nephew throwing himself about in the bed very wildly. I spoke to him, but he gave me no answer. He seemed as one much terrified, and trembled exceedingly. "O that day!" said he, "that dreadful day!" "Why, my dear nephew," said I, "did you think that the judgment-day was come, and you not prepared?" "O yes, yes!" said he. "It was only a dream," replied I; "only a dream, but it is well to be prepared for that day." In a few moments he was composed, and seemed inclined to sleep. I retired, but had not left the room more than ten minutes when I heard another groan proceeding from the same quarter. Seizing a candle, a second time I hastened in, and again found my nephew in a state of great excitement. His eyes were open, but he seemed not to recognize me.