Pray, my dear husband, pray, seek, ask, and He who has received me, will not cast you out. Lord, look down-—” She was gliding into the language of prayer, but her faltering lips failed to give expression to her desires, and, exhausted by the effort, she again sunk into insensibility. Her husband gazed on her with terror and anguish, fearing that life itself had fled. At the moment, Mary introduced Mrs. Stanley, who had just arrived, and who, bidding the afflicted family to compose themselves, assiduously and judiciously applied such remedies as soon succeeded in restoring the invalid to a degree of animation, and enabled her to receive, with mental collection and enjoyment, the visit of her pastor, who soon afterwards arrived. 66 Her extreme weakness disabled her for much conversation; but, as the pious man whispered to her those exceeding great and precious promises," on which her hopes had long relied, heavenly joy beamed from her closing eyes, her trembling lips feebly moved in grateful response, and seemed to proclaim that those promises were still "all her salvation, and all her desire." As Mr. B. rose to reach the Bible, Martha's eyes wandered round with a look that seemed expressive of her wish, that all the members of the family should be gathered round her bed, to join in the exercise with which the pastor was about to close his visit. The little ones had been committed, for the night, to the care of one kind neighbour and another; hut George, Thomas, Mary, and Hannah, soon assembled, and, after reading the twenty-third Psalm, the venerable pastor affectionately commended the afflicted, yet happy saint, and her weeping family, to the care of the God of all grace." "Farewell, my friend," said he, taking Martha's feeble hand, as he rose from his knees. "The Eternal God be thy refuge, and underneath the everlasting arms. This bed of languishing is to you, through his mercy, the gate of heaven.' "Yes," replied the dying woman, rousing all her energies to give utterance to the delightful sentenceLooking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." 66 "There, too," said the minister, "is all my hope; and the Scripture saith, whosoever believeth in him shall not be confounded." He took his leave. John Hunt followed him down stairs, and kindly expressing his sorrow for past disrespect, entreated the good man to repeat his visits, and hoped that God would reward him. "The Lord support you, my friend, and make you, and each of your dear children, partakers of that precious faith, through which the dear saint we have just left is now rejoicing in hope of the glory of God." After the minister's departure, John retired to a little garret, and there, as well as he was able, asked of God pardon-faith-a change of heart-which he now saw to be blessings of infinite value. While he was thus engaged, Mary, who had been sent to fetch some article out of the room, seeing her father prostrate on his knees, retreated, and returning to her mother's room, mentioned the circumstance. A gleam of joy illurninated afresh the countenance of the dying Christian, and expressions of gratitude and hope half inarticulately trembled on her lips. She received from Mrs. Stanley an assurance, that the best interests of the family would ever be dear to her heart; and she doubted not equally so to that of the good minister. The assurance seemed satisfactory to her mind. She beckoned to her each of her children present, and imprinting a 'mother's fondest kiss, dismissed them for the night; and seemed, from that moment, wholly to give herself up to communion with the skies. Mary, George, and their father, however, soon afterwards returned to the room, and, with a neighbour, whom Mrs. Stanley, on her way home, desired to pass the night with them, silently watched round the bed of their beloved friend. After lying several hours in a kind of stupor, Martha became restless. A few sharp struggles terminated the conflict, and morning dawned on a bereaved husband and a motherless family.-(To be continued.) Anecdotes. THE SOURCE OF INFIDELITY. It has often been a matter of wonder, that the principles and reasonings of infidels, though frequently accompanied with great natural and acquired abilities, are seldom known to make any impression on sober people. It is said of a gentleman lately deceased, who was eminent in the literary world, that, in early life, be drank deeply into the free-thinking scheme. He and one of his companions, of the same turn of mind, often carried on their conversations in the hearing of a religious, but illiterate countryman. This gentleman afterwards becoming a serious Christian, was concerned for the countryman, lest his faith in the christian religion should have been shaken. One day he took the liberty to ask him, whether what had so frequently been advanced in his hearing, had not produced this effect upon him? "By no means," answered the countryman; "it never made the least impression upon me."" No impression upon you!" said the gentleman. Why, you must know that we had read and thought on these things much more than you had any opportunity of doing.' -"Oh, yes," said the other; " but I knew also your manner of living: I knew that, to maintain such a course of conduct, you found it necessary to renounce Christianity." THE FOOL'S REPROOF. There was a certain nobleman (says Bishop Hall) who kept a fool, to whom he one day gave a staff, with a charge to keep it till he should meet with one who was a greater fool than himself: not many years after, the nobleman fell sick, even unto death. The fool came to see him: his sick lord said to him, "I must shortly leave you."- "And whither are you going?" said the fool. "Into another world," replied his lordship." And when will you come again? within a month?". "No.". "Within a year?"- "No." "When then?"-" Never."-" Never!" said the fool: "and what provision hast thou made for thy entertainment there, whither thou goest?"-" None at all.""No!" said the fool, none at all! Here, then, take my staff; for, with all my folly, I am not guilty of any such folly as this." 66 GRATITUDE AND PATRIOTISM. 66 A very poor and aged man, busied in planting and grafting an apple-tree, was rudely interrupted by this interrogation: Why do you plant trees, who cannot hope to eat the fruit of them?" He raised himself up, and, leaning upon his spade, replied, "Some one planted trees for me before I was born, and I have eaten the fruit: I now plant for others, that the memorial of my gratitude may exist when I am dead and gone." THE PUNCTUAL HEARER. A woman, who always used to attend public worship with great punctuality, and though residing at a distance, took care to be always in time, was asked, how it was she could always come so early. She answered, very wisely, "That it was part of her religion not to disturb the religion of others." A Simile, Written at the Sea-side. (Extracted from an Old Periodical.) See, how beneath, the moonbeam's smile Warning against Evil Company. MY DEAR FRIEND, THE following affecting facts were communicated to me by a minister from a distant county, lately visiting the metropolis. Conceiving that the narration might be generally useful, I obtained permission to communicate it for insertion in your Magazine. May it prove the means of enforcing, on the minds of your readers, those cautions of Holy Writ, "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.", Prov. iv. 14, 15. At nine or ten years old, was an amiable child, diligent in pursuit of learning, remarkably dutiful and affectionate to his parents, correct in his general deportment, and the subject of religious impressions. But he fell into vicious company; and these good impressions were stifled. The youth, who began to indulge the love of sin, did not long like to retain God in his, thoughts; for who loves to think of the laws he has broken; the witness who has beheld his transgression; the Judge who condemns him to punishment? Religious restraints removed, vice gained easy ascendancy; the youth was quickly seduced to every species of ingenious mischief, and made such a wretched proficiency |