world. St. Peter says the Apostles were 'commanded to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is Jesus which was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead." We must leave off talking now, for I see my aunt just coming to the gate."

Jane. "And father will soon be in, and wanting his tea."

Bessy. "But I hope, Mary, you will soon tell us about the rest of the Creed."

Mary. "Certainly, the first opportunity we have of sitting quietly together."

1 Acts x. 42.

F

CHAPTER VI.

"Creator Spirit! by whose aid
The world's foundations first were laid,
Come, visit every pious mind;
Come, pour thy joys on human kind;
From sin and sorrow set us free,
And make thy temples worthy thee.
Thrice holy fount, thrice holy fire!
Our hearts with heavenly love inspire;
Come, and thy sacred unction bring,
To sanctify us while we sing.
Refine and purge our earthly parts;
But, oh! inflame and fire our hearts!
Our frailties help, our vice controul,
Submit the senses to the soul;
And when rebellious they are grown,
Then lay thy hand, and hold them down.
Chase from our minds th' infernal foe,
And peace, the fruit of love, bestow;
And, lest our feet should step astray,
Protect and guide us in the way:
Make us eternal truths receive,
And practise all that we believe;
Give us thyself, that we may see

The Father, and the Son, by Thee."-DRYDEN.

It will easily be believed the young people were eager to make use of the first leisure time they had for renewing the conversation in which they were all much interested. This was afforded them a very few days after, by Mrs. Thorpe saying that her friend, Mrs. Wingfield, had rather a heavy job of work to do in turning and repairing some sheets, &c., and would be glad of some one to come and help her.

"Very well, mother," said Jane, "shall it be Bessy or I?"

of

"I suspect," said Mrs. Thorpe, "you would both you much rather it should be I."

"It is very true, mother," answered Jane, "that I should much prefer sitting at home and talking with Mary, and I am sure I can answer for Bessy being of the same mind. But that should not stand in the way a moment if you wish either of us to go."

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No, my dear, I can spare the time very well today; and I will not deprive you of what I know is very agreeable, and I hope very profitable to you."

Mrs. Thorpe accordingly went out soon after dinner to lend this charitable assistance to her lame neighbour. The young women cleared away the dinner things, completed some other household jobs, took a little turn in their neat garden, which was now beginning to look gay and pretty with the early spring flowers; and then Jane and Bessy, having taken out their needle-work, and arranged what they were to do in that way during the afternoon, reminded Mary of her promise. She began by fetching the Bibles

and Prayer-books, and her little manuscript book, and disposing them so as to be ready at hand for reference; for Mary was a very orderly person, and a great economist of time, and she knew that by a little forethought much both of time and trouble may be saved. When they were thus quite settled, Mary began: "I think we may now go to the last division of the Articles of our belief."

Jane. "You mean, Thirdly, in God the Holy Ghost, who sanctifieth me and all the elect people of God.""

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Bessy. "I dare say, Mary, you have some texts on this subject."

Mary. "Yes, indeed. My kind friend, Miss Howard, has provided me with a long list of them. In the very beginning of the Bible, the Holy Ghost is called the Spirit of God. 'The earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.'1 A heathen king bore this testimony. When Joseph had interpreted Pharaoh's dreams, Pharaoh said, Can we find such a man as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is ?' The same is recognized on other occasions. We are told that when Balak, king of Moab, had sent for Balaam, hoping to bring down curses on the people of Israel, the Spirit of God came upon Balaam,' compelling him to pronounce blessing upon them. After Saul had been anointed king over Israel by Samuel, that 1 Gen. i. 2. 3 Num. xxiv. 2.

2 Gen. xli. 38.

3

man,'1

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venerable prophet forewarned him: The Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another The fulfilment of which prediction we find a little farther on. 'God gave him another heart; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied.'2 A hundred and fifty years later, we are told The Spirit of God came upon Azariah, and he went out to meet Asa, king of Judah.' Ezekiel says he was brought in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity.' It is recorded of the blessed Jesus, that 'when He was baptized' by John in Jordan, He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove.'5 Almighty God, predicting the coming of the Messiah, by the mouth of His prophet Isaiah, said, 'I have put my Spirit upon Him;" which words are quoted by St. Matthew, in proof of Jesus fulfilling the prophecies. St. Paul tells the Christians at Rome, 'Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.' Also that he, Paul, had been enabled 'to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God.' The same Apostle tells the Corinthians, concerning the doctrines he had preached to them, 'God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit the things of God knoweth no man, but the

1 1 Sam. x. 6. 4 Ezek. xi. 24. 7 Matt. xii. 18.

21 Sam. x. 9, 10.
5 Matt. iii. 16.
8 Rom. viii. 9.

32 Chron. xv. 1.
6 Is. xlii. 1.

9 Rom. xv. 18, 19.