A BIRTHDAY GIFT. To S. M.-(A MOURNER). TIME flies so rapidly, and the mind is so I which He at once deemed adapted, and occupied with varied claims and exer- that He would at the same time fulfil. cises, that we had really overlooked your The word, then, that immediately after wonted request for a birthday portion. came to the mind was, "MY GOD SHALL Your letter reminded us of your want, SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED, ACCORDING TO and at the same time of the severe trial HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHRIST of faith which you have witnessed dur- JESUS." We felt it to be a sweet word ing the year now closing. Your last and a suitable word; but, Gideon-like, birthday portion was indeed tested, but we wanted a sign that it was the Lord in and by it you have realized yet more in very deed talking with us; like him, conspicuously and blessedly the faith- we wanted both fleece and floor alterfulness and all-sufficiency of our cove-nately wet and dry; and then came the nant God and Father. During the word very sweetly, "LEAVE THY waking hours of the night-season we FATHERLESS CHILDREN, AND LET THY laid your request, as expressed by letter WIDOW TRUST IN ME.' Bereaved and of the previous day, before the Lord; sorrowing one, as the Lord gave us the and we did so in a plain and simple word, in simplicity and godly sincerity way, reminding Him that we did not we give it to you. May the Lord, in wish to pick and choose from His Word His mercy, make it a double birthday a portion which we might deem suitable gift to your troubled heart, and His to your case; but we desired that it might name shall have the glory. be a word expressly from Himself-one THE PATIENCE OF HOPE. دو “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him."—Psalm xxxvii. 7. THE VANITY OF WEALTH, AND THE VICTORY OF GRACE; BEING AN OUTLINE OF THE CHEQUERED PATHWAY OF A DAUGHTER IN ZION. In the suburbs of a large manufacturing town was a pretty villa, well known from the air of luxury and comfort that prevailed both within and without. If any stepped within, they beheld well-carpeted rooms, easy couches, and elaborate works of art; while without, was a wellstocked garden and conservatory, all betokening wealth and plenty. Indeed, the possessor of Clifton Villa was what the world calls a man of fortune. Mr. Hobbs, or, as he was now donned, Squire Hobbs, had been for many years a grasp-all, money-getting man of the world. Up to a move or two, money was his god, and business was in his thoughts morning, noon, and night. If he took any fresh step, his moving principle was, Will it bring me in more money? Nor did he ever dream of his prosperity being in the least way attributable to a God of providence, who has the affairs of all men at His command. No; he loved to have about him those who were dependent upon his movements, and then to recount to them tales of his adroitness in this matter, and his shrewdness in the other bargain, and how he realized such and such sums by such and such projects. Indeed, like the man in the gospel, if not in words in spirit, he was saying, "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years, take thine case, eat, drink, and be merry." Squire Hobbs' wife, a person of weakly and consumptive constitution, betaking too much of her husband's spirit ere success crowned his efforts, had fallen an early victim to fatigue and anxiety, and never lived to reap the benefit of their accumulated riches. Upon her tablet might well have been written, "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not." The only result of this union was one daughter-poor Caroline-the subject of these tracings. Alas! poor girl, she inherited the constitution of her mother; and, although she grew up like a beautiful rose in their midst, those who could not discern deeper than the tinted cheek and beaming eyes, read the fact that poor Caroline was not very long for this cold and chilly world. But why call her poor, when we have to tell of her being a child of God, and an heir of glory? Nay, she had been led to feel poor in spirit; and though surrounded with everything that gives earthly gratification, she had lost all relish for the baubles and trifles of time. How this came about, under such uncongenial circumstances, is difficult exactly to learn; but the difficulty proves the truth of the Scripture, which tells us, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit." Carole having come of age, it was the determination of Squire Hobbs to give a grand festival upon the occasion. Poor Caroline much dreaded it, for already the work of divine grace had commenced in her heart, and given her a desire for things which are unseen and eternal; still she feared to offend her father, who evidently doated upon her. Every preparation was therefore made, and the day in due time arrived. Caroline appeared in the midst of the gay assemblage, and tried to put on an air of cheerfulness; but oh, how little did surrounding worldlings know what was passing within! Presently a gentleman, of easy deportment and good manners, stepped forward, and asked her to join him in the next waltz. Poor Caroline turned as pale as death; a tremour came over her; she had never felt any hesitation before; but just as the request was made, Job's description This Article, in the form of a Tract, can be had for circulation, of W. H. Collingridge, City Press, 117 to 119, Aldersgate Street, London; or, of Mr. G. Cowell, 28, Crown Street, Bury St. Edmunds. hail It was during the exercises of soul attendant upon this state of things that Caroline happened, one Monday morning, to get in conversation with JOHN FELLOWs, her father's gardener. She had often noticed what a grave, soberminded looking man was old John, and yet, withal, a sweet smile of contentment ofttimes played over his now wrinkled countenance. Caroline was, this morning especially, drawn towards the good man; she did not know why; her heart was very sad, and it seemed a relief to talk to some one who, at all events, was not full of the gaiety and vanities of this world. Old John was brushing up the wellrolled gravel-path as Caroline approached making an observation about the fineness of the morning. "Ah, Miss," replied old John, “God is very good to us, to give us such beautiful weather: His mercies are new every morning, and fresh every evening; and great is His faithfulness." of the worldlings and their doings | him, just one of his sort. Depend upon rushed into her mind, and the words it, dear reader, there is something wrong came with irresistible force, "They send when preacher and worldling are forth their little ones like a flock, and fellows well met." their children dance;" and this was followed by our Lord's own words, "Them that honour me, I will honour." And she trembled to run counter to the convictions which were at work in her breast. The Squire had watched his daughter's agitation with surprise mingled with regret, for the gentleman who had thus addressed her was a rich man of pleasure; and thoughts had run through his mind that his money would be very desirable if it could be brought into his family. Poor Caroline, too, became aware that her father's eyes were fixed upon her, which increased her agitation, while she stammered out that she must decline, as she was not well; and, leaving the room hastily, she sought her chamber. There she threw herself into an easy chair, and cried out to God in earnest prayer, "Lord, what shall I do? Temptation is strong lead me, guide me, and give me grace to withstand the evil hour." And God heard her prayer, and did give her grace from that hour to make a decided stand Poor Caroline could not have been against the world and its ways. It so more struck down had she heard the happened, that although Squire Hobbs' voice of an angel from heaven than she mind was full of earthly gain and earthly was at these words, and the thought things, yet, like hundreds, ah! and rushed into her mind,-but "oh, is there thousands of people, he must yet have mercy for me? Here was a poor old his pew at church; nor did it matter to man, in humble circumstances, acknowhim a straw that the clergyman was a ledging the goodness and mercy of God, strong advocate for Romish practices while she, surrounded as she was with and forms, and was one of those Anglican comforts, had not half thought how good Popish parsons who are the bane of the and merciful God had been to her; but Church of England. Poor Caroline, for when she had regained a measure of many years under the influence of frames composure, she asked John, how he and feelings, had been ofttimes beguiled had learnt to be so thankful for the with the soft chanting of the choris- mercies of God? Poor old John lifted ters, and the swelling sounds of a full-up his head, and, leaning upon the toned organ, to believe that she was handle of his broom, replied, as the tears practising true devotion; but now that started in his eye and trickled down the Lord was opening her eyes to a new his cheek, "It's twenty-six years ago, state of things, she began to discover, Miss, since the Lord showed me that I that instead of being a saint worthy of was a poor sinner, and nothing at all; heaven, she was a sinner deserving hell; and that, if saved at all, it must be by and a perfect disgust for the mockery His sovereign grace and mercy; and and mummery before her took possession you must excuse me, Miss, for my plainof her soul. Here, then, was a fresh cause ness of speech. But I have watched of trial for her, for she knew to refuse you for some time, and I do believe He going to church would highly offend her has begun the same work in your soul. father; for the reverend gentleman was I told my wife so last week, and I know his particular friend, and, as he termed I ar'nt far out." Actions speak louder : words. Poor Caroline felt melted to than words, and poor Caroline's response it was tions. may Caroline's heart as she turned down the Nothing in my hand I bring, The hymn over, the old man called upon an aged cripple in the corner to pray, and Caroline inwardly thought she had never heard such a prayer in her life. Accustomed so much to the form of prayer, such a spontaneous and heartfelt pouring out of soul before God was entirely new to her. The prayer over, and another sweet hymn sung, old John rose up with a calm and happy countenance, and gave out his text from the the dust, and the needy out of the dungPsalms-" "He lifteth up the poor out of hill, that he may set him among the princes, even the princes of his people;" ascribing all this gracious work to the Lord Jesus Christ, and showing the dignity put upon a poor and needy sinner, whom he raised up out of the dust of human nature, and out of the dungLet me bide myself in thee !" hill of earthly things, and placed him in and then, in a moment, a number of an immovable position among his voices joined in the old familiar tune, princes. Caroline had never heard the which goes so well to those memorable blessed gospel of the great God so lane leading to the old man's cottage. And what was her surprise, when nearing the casement, to hear the voice of the old man, in a loud key, giving out those precious words, "Rock of ages, cleft for me, sweetly preached before, she quite forgot that she was listening to an untutored man, for his talk was like the talk of heaven, and, in exposing the position of the poor and needy, she found herself and her feelings completely described. Nor was she left without a solace, for the Lord Jesus was set forth as the friend of the poor and needy, who were advised to come just as they are to Him. At the conclusion of the old man's plain yet sound gospel sermon, he took a small hymn-book from his pocket, and gave out the 81st of Hart's hymns. Caroline wondered who Hart was: she had never heard of such a poet: but oh, how the words melted her heart "Ye lambs of Christ's fold, On life by His death: Who fain would believe Him, And in your best room Would gladly receive Him, But fear to presume. Those feeble desires, Those wishes so weak, "Tis Jesus inspires, And bids you still seek; His Spirit will cherish The life He first gave; You never shall perish, If Jesus can save." Oh, these two last lines again melted poor Caroline; and all the time that Old John was concluding the service with prayer, she kept inwardly saying "You never shall perish, If Jesus can save.' Caroline had so purely enjoyed herself among this little band of God's believing people, that she well-nigh forgot to deliver her father's message to Old John; and she quite forgot how rapidly the time had gone, so that when she reached home she found there had been no small degree of anxiety concerning her unusual absence at so late an hour. And what she dreaded most was the inquiries of her father. Sure enough he wanted to know the cause of her prolonged stay; and poor Caroline's heart at first sunk within her as she began to tell him the plain truth-how she had found Old John holding a cottage meeting, and the enjoyment she had in joining the little company. After she had finished her tale, her father sternly told her he "thought it a great pity she should so degrade herself; and beside, what business had that foolish old fellow to attempt to preach? he had never been to college, what did he know about preaching?" Poor Caroline did not reply to her father's remarks, but that passage came to her mind where it tells us, that God takes the weak things of this world to confound the things that are mighty; and as soon as she could she sought the retirement of her chamber, to pour out her soul earnestly to God for the Holy Spirit's guidance-for she felt difficulties and perplexities were fast gathering around her. As she prayed, a holy calm came over her spirit, and she felt satisfied that Jesus died for her, and would never leave nor forsake her in any extremity. How soon was her simple faith to be put to the test. She little thought of the deep trial that awaited her. The fact was, Squire Hobbs' companions over the wine-bottle were men of the world, and they had not sought acquaintance with him for nothing; but had so worked their cards as to draw him into the directorship of a large banking company and, like many more, he had not gone into the working of the affair, but concluded that what his friends (whom he deemed thoroughly practical been all the while living upon his duplimen) said was all right, while they had city, he having staked a large sum in the affair. It was the morning after poor Caroline had so enjoyed herself at Old John's cottage, that news came of the break up of the banking establishment. Here was a blow for her. Her father was like a caged tiger; he paced the room, swore he was a ruined man, and gave way to the most violent paroxysms of rage. Caroline tried all she could to soothe her distressed parent. She leant upon his shoulder, and said, "Don't give way so, father; recollect there is a God in heaven who will never leave nor forsake us if we put our trust in Him. Oh, let us bow to His will, and believe that he means this dispensation of His providence for our eternal good." But the stern man answered this pathetic appeal by roughly asking his daughter what God had to do with money matters ? "Oh, a great deal, dear father," responded the poor girl, "for He has said, your silver and gold is mine, the cattle upon a thou |