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dead, yet shall he live.'" "Well, now, that is comforting, I wish I could see and hear it gladly. After some little conversation I left. According to promise, I called the Thursday following; sho gave me a hearty welcome, and was apparently more composed than she was when I left her on Sunday. I read for her the 130th Psalm. After conversing with her some time, she said, "I cannot think that God will forgive me, I am too great a sinner." "What is it that causes you to think you are too great a sinner?" Why, mester, to tell you the truth, one day when something happened i'th house that I did'nt like, I cursed God for letting it be so; and I feel sure He will never have mercy on such a guilty wretch: He never did yet. ""Hold! hold! a little. You are sadly mistaken. Don't you remember the apostle Paul? He says here, 1 Timothy i. 12., Jesus Christ our Lord-putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious, but I obtained mercy.' "Aye for sure, he says he was as bad as me in that respect; but there never was a greater sinner lived in this world than me. Well, well," said I, smiling, "Paul and you might be brother and sister, for see what he says in stating the blessed truths of pardoning mercy, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.' Paul thought himself the greatest of sinners; but Jesus he found to be an all-sufficient Saviour, and for the encouragement of such as you, he says, 'Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long suffering, for a pattern to them that should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now then, what poor sinner with Paul's case before them can question the love and power of Jesus to save them?" No, my word," said she, "there is no mistake about it, I see there is no occasion for me to doubt any longer. He says himself he is able and willing to save me; and, oh! how I feel my soul drawn to such a Saviour.' May you ever feel yourself drawn to him. He is a complete and perfect Saviour. He loves sinners, saves them, keeps them, and does them eternal good. "Eh dear, I wish I could do nothing else but love and serve him. It is a great comfort to hear of what he has done for poor sinners

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like me. ""And, hearing of what he has done for sinners, you can trust the salvation of your never dying soul into his hands; can you?" "Aye. He is able to save, that's his work, and as you have shown me from his word he finished his work, God is satisfied with him; and why shouldn't I? He knows I am satisfied." We knelt at the throne of grace, to ask God's blessing on our conversation. From that time to the present she has retained her integrity. The blessed Gospel is her meat and drink. I know of no person who has a clearer apprehension of Gospel truths; and no one who carries the Gospel into daily practice more. Her husband is partner of her joy; and, though poor, they esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of this world.

The only copy of the volume of the Sacred Law they possessed was in pieces. I gave them a small reference Bible, which has been well used; and since then, I am very glad to acknowledge, a gentleman gave me a large sized reference Bible for them. This has been in daily use ever since. It has been searched and pondered over in sorrow and in joy. In the sunshine of spiritual prosperity it has refreshed and delighted their souls; and, in the deep gloom of temporal adversity, has quickened their spirits and confirmed their hope.

A few months ago, a lady in the neighbourhood, who takes an interest in such cases, told me she called one day to see them. Upon entering the house, she was pleased to see the husband and wife reading their daily portion from the good old Book. She sat and conversed with them about the things concerning the kingdom and left satisfied that these people, though poor in this world's estimation, are heirs of a kingdom which cannot be moved."Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning; that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Rom. XV., 14.

Christ came the first time in the guise of humanity; He is to come the second time in brightness, as a light to the godly, a terror to the wicked. He came the first time in weakness; He is to come the second time in might. The first time in our littleness; the second time in His own majesty.

PRECIOUS

DEATH-BED

EXPERIENCES.

BY THE REV. T. W. MEDHURST, OF GLASGOW. Author of "Rays of Light in the Dark Valley," "Astounding Grace," &c.

T

I." CHRIST STRONGER THAN THE DEVIL."

HE late General Sir Ralph Abercrombie was a British general, descended from an ancient family in Scotland. On March 21st, 1801, he was wounded in a memorable battle fought near Alexandria, in which the victory was gained by the British. He lingered from the 21st till the 28th, of the month, when he expired. A monument to his memory stands in the cathedral of St. Paul's, London.

Sir Ralph Abercrombie had a maiden aunt, Miss Margaret Abercrombie. She was from her earliest days the subject of sickness. She very seldom, however, complained; but often seemed desirous to conceal from her friends the knowledge of her bodily suffering. About three months before her death, she appeared heavy and gloomy which occasioned her mother to ask, "What do you think of yourself?"

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She replied, "What should I think of myself, seeing I have lost my stomach, and am every day getting weaker and weaker?" On being asked if she was afraid to die, she said, "O yes: for I think I cannot get faith in the Lord Jesus, nor love to him, nor a heart to mourn for sin."

She was asked, "Are you not willing to come to Christ, and would you not fain have him for your all ?"

She replied amid sobbing and sighing, "O ay, ay."

"Well then, Peggie," said her mother, "that's really a degree of faith."

The mother again asked, "Is it your earnest wish to love Him? and do you hate every sin? and do you sorrow because you do not mourn for sin as you would ?"

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Yes," she replied.

"Well, Peggie," said her mother, "these are good marks."

Soon after this, the parish minister, a Mr. Logan, came to see

her; but he seemed not to understand his work. He spoke harshly instead of comfortingly. The result of this interview caused her for a time to despond. She said, "Alas! I am tempted to conclude God has given me over to a reprobate mind, and to an evil heart of unbelief: for though I have been crying to God for faith in Christ, and love to, and esteem of Him, and looking to Him for them, and longing for them, I cannot get them; no, I think my heart is still growing harder and harder." A great horror of death, judgment, and eternity, now seized upon her, weighing her downward.

Some days after the visit of the parish minister, the good minister of Dollar, a village ten miles from Stirling, called to see her. Mr. Gray proved himself to be a skilful workman, needing not to be ashamed. He was able to "comfort the feeble-minded." He explained to her the nature of faith, love, and repentance, and pointed out some of the lowest marks of these graces to her, "bringing them down," as she said, " until they came home so close to my case, that I could not deny, but I had them." After this much of her horror of mind passed away, and she became tolerably easy.

She experienced, about this time, great refreshment of soul, and received much encouragement, under a sermon preached by Mr. Adam, who was chaplain to the family. The text was, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah xli. 10.) The following day, all who were with her observed the great change. Her mind was now settled. Her very countenance was altered. Her language was changed: for her mouth was sweetly filled with commendations of Christ, and of free grace. After this she often asked her mother to read to her those passages of Scripture which spoke most fully in commendation of Jesus. She also delighted in perusing "Shepherd's Sincere Convert," "Flavel on the Fountain of Life," and "Webster's Sermons." We now come to the death-bed experience of this dear afflicted saint. On the Tuesday before her ransomed spirit took its fligh from this world to that which is far better, her heart seemed

be enlarged to unite joyously with her tongue, in blessing God, commending his great love, and extolling his free sovereign grace as manifested to her own soul. "Oh!" she burst forth, "He has opened my heart to receive the Saviour, that before was shut, and He has passed by many others much better than I, and He has shewed mercy to poor worthless me. Oh! what was I, a dog,as He said to the Canaanitish woman,-that glorious Christ should have caused me to believe, after I had so long slighted and rejected Him, and hardened my heart against Him: yet He still waited to be gracious, and His grace pursued me, until at last it conquered me, melted my heart, and subdued Satan, which I was never able to do. Oh! stronger is He that is WITH me, and For me, than he that is against me. I FOUND CHRIST STRONGER THAN THE DEVIL. Oh! the love of God in sending His only begotten Son into the world to bear the wrath of God for me, that I could never have borne. Oh! to Him that has loved ME, and washed ME from MY sins in His own blood, be praise, glory, and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen."

(To be continued.)

No honour in this world equals that of our relation to Christ-not the riches of creation can outweigh the graces of Christ. No learning is like the knowledge of Christ. No men equal the servants of Christ. Every word He uttered was an oracle; every work a miracle; every agony atoning; every tear an expiation. His life was the perfect pattern; his death the long-predicted and all-sufficient sacrifice for sin. His resurrection was radiant with majesty, and his ascension full of glory. His intercession is all-prevailing, and his second advent in the clouds of heaven will be with power and great glory. We are poor indeed, but He is rich, and his riches are unsearchable. We are dead in trespasses and sins, but He is the Life and our life. We are lost, but He saves to the uttermost. His Name is exalted above every name in heaven and earth. May it lie deepest in our hearts, and shine clearest in our lives!-Dr. Cumming.

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