cal, but shortly recovered, pressed my babe to my heart, and re dedicated it, together with my ownself, to Him who had thus made our lives doubly his care.”

The subject of this narrative arrived safely on land, and remained some time with her friends near the metropolis. We did all in our power to soothe and comfort her and her husband, who was a truly pious man. But her constitution had suffered from the repeated shocks, and upon an epidemic prevailing, she was seized with it, when tranquilly, amidst friends and relatives, with every creature help at hand, she left this troubled scene for the haven of eternal rest.

The Marvels of Grace.

"I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.'

Ps. lxxi. 7.

ON several accounts a converted man may be an object of surprise among his contemporaries. This may arise from the circumstance of his conversion dating at a late period of his life, when his long continuance in a state of impenitence seemed to render it almost certain that he would persist in it to the last. It is indeed a wonder to see any human being's course entirely altered at a late period, and to observe him afterwards moving in a totally different direction, influenced by different principles. Or, to take the instance of another convert, the character he is enabled to sustain, founded upon his great change, is in such marked and continued contrasts to his former habits of life, as to render it difficult to recognise in the Christian of to-day the sinner of yesterday. "Is Saul also among the prophets?" Or, in yet another example, the means Divinely employed to effect conversion may be, apparently, so disproportionate to

the magnitude of the result, as to place the result itself under suspicion and doubt. Even godly men, like Ananias of old, may hesitate to admit into their society the persecutor or the profligate of unhappy notoriety, except upon clearly discerning that he has become a new creature in Christ Jesus, and that old, evil habits have passed away. At the same time, his former ungodly associates are malicious enough to promulgate false reports concerning his character and motives. "They think it strange," says the apostle, "that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you." Yet to such a convert his God is a sun and shield—a shield from the shafts of cruel slander, and a refuge to him from all the storms of persecution. In all similar cases the language of the psalmist becomes particularly appropriate,-"I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge."

I have been led to this train of reflections by recollecting the case of an individual who was one of the early fruits of my ministry at Kensington, and who himself adopted, and often repeated, the passage I have placed at the head of these remarks.

He was by trade a shoemaker, and resided in one of the narrow courts or alleys of the town. Naturally he was in offensive and cheerful, and so healthful and good-tempered that his neighbours deeply lamented his association with dissolute and profane companions. At the time I became first acquainted with him he had already degenerated into a notoriously bad man. Two of his children were brought into the Sunday-school that was established in connection with my chapel, the gratuitous teachers in which were indefatigable, scripturally intelligent, and zealously concerned for the intellectual, moral, and spiritual welfare of those committed to their care. One Sabbath afternoon these

were publicly examined to test their proficiency, and their parents and friends were invited to be present. By the persuasions of his favourite daughter, the father of these two children was induced to attend. It was the first time he he had ever entered that place of worship, which was his abhorrence, on account of the reformation there wrought in some of his dissolute companions. He was astonished at the knowledge which his own-child had obtained, and gratified at the commendations she received. As the company were invited to attend again at the evening service, he resolved to make one among the number. The subject of the discourse happened to be singularly appropriate. It was founded on that passage in the Epistle of Jude, where the apostle speaks of believers as "preserved in Christ Jesus, and called." The aim of the preacher was to expatiate on the many recorded instances of the wonderful preservation of persons while in an unconverted state, who afterwards became eminent for piety and zeal in promoting the conversion of others. The case of the Rev. Mr. Cecil, which at that moment came suddenly to recollection, was introduced in illustration. That excellent clergyman was thrown from his horse on the road just across the rut of a wagon, which in passing crushed his hat and moved it away from his head, without inflicting any injury on himself. The attention of the new-comer was riveted. He had in his youth been. in a similar situation, unfavoured however by so marvellous an escape, having been much hurt by a cart-wheel which passed over him, and rendered him a cripple for life. When the question which followed the recital was addressed and repeated, to any present who might have experienced similar preservations while in an unconverted state, as to the purpose for which they had been preserved, whether to continue servants of sin, or to become the servants of God; and when

they were urged to answer it, as they would at the judgmentseat, he trembled, for he felt that this question was addressed emphatically to him. The evil of his past life rose with appalling vividness before him. His heart melted within him like wax, and his eyes streamed with tears. That night

he passed in an anguish of remorse bordering on despair. Afterwards he came again and again to the house of God. Light broke in upon his mind by degrees, and he sought and found salvation by faith in Christ Jesus. Not only was he now remarked for his constant attendance upon public worship, but for the total change which had taken place in his character and course of life. The drunkard became sober, the profane began to fear an oath, and the Sabbathbreaker to account "the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, and honourable." He was admitted into Christian fellowship, to the surprise of many; and not only he himself, but his whole family, became worshippers of God at their own abode as well as in the sanctuary. Of course general observation was attracted to him, ridicule was unsparingly heaped upon him by his former boon companions, and every method was resorted to which malice could devise, to drive him from his determined perseverance in his new and better ways. But all this was in vain. The work was of God, and could not be overthrown.

The beneficial influence of this happy change extended where it might have been least expected; for it broke down a wall of prejudice which had arisen in the mind of the young vicar of the place against the nonconformists of his neighbourhood. Of their minister he had formed the grossest misconception; and in his zeal to prevent defections from the parish church, he himself called at the house of the individual of whom I am now writing. He found him engaged at his work in his truly humble abode, and was

received respectfully and deferentially. Upon inquiring the reason of the shoemaker's absence from what he affirmed to be his proper place on the Lord's-day, the vicar received from him, while his eyes streamed with tears, such an account of the transformation which had taken place in him, and the manner in which it had been wrought, as greatly affected the prejudiced clergyman.

"O sir!" said the poor man with deep emotion, “what a change! This room was once a little hell; it is now a little heaven!

Shortly afterwards the vicar called upon me, and entered into familiar conversation with me on the great truths of the gospel, evidently as the result of the impression which the shoemaker's wonderful conversion had produced; thenceforth his kindly feeling towards me never declined, and this was the more to be remarked on account of his high standing in the Episcopal Church, as respected his learning, oratorical power, and zeal for God according to his knowledge. He was comparatively young, but with a magnanimous mind he had early determined to appreciate truth and goodness wherever they were found, and to follow them whithersoever they might lead. Shortly afterwards he fell into a decline, and one evening while we were holding a prayer-meeting, news was brought us of his dangerous illness. I immediately requested those who led our devotions to bear him on their minds before God; I afterwards requested that no mention might be made of this circumstance, as I did not desire to draw attention to ourselves; but a report of it reached his sick chamber, and shortly after, upon the occasion of his removal for the benefit of change of air, I received from him the following note :