and he tells you, even while doing so, that "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth." Yes, my dear afflicted friend, blessings even greater than the possession of your precious boy may become yours through his removal. If the love that was so warmly his, is more firmly centred on Jesus,-if heaven appears more like home, and earth more like the pilgrimage it is,—and if thus your steps are quickened towards it, shall it not be well? We never feel the true meaning and value of our Lord's promises, till we are in the situations to which they are especially suited; and many and sweet are those addressed to the afflicted. I trust you are now enabled to feed on them, and find them as the refreshing manna to Israel in the desert. The voice of human sympathy is vain; friends can only weep with you; but Jesus, that most sympathizing of all friends, has power to comfort too. He has early taken your darling from an evil world, to be, I trust, with himself for ever; and is there not joy in this? May you feel his own hand supporting your drooping head, and turning the tears of sorrow into tears of submissive love, Forgive, my dear Madam, this feeble attempt to express my sympathy. Receive Mr Duncan's with mine; and offer it with true kindness to Mr and your dear little girl, whom it has pleased God to leave lonely. Be assured of the feeble prayers of yours, with most sincere regard, MARY L. DUNCAN.' CHAPTER XV. -- SPIRITUAL REFRESHMENT IN DUNFERMLINE DILIGENCE IN DUTY-LAST SABBATH IN GOD'S HOUSESICKNESS-SUFFERING-RELIEF FROM IT FOR EVER. THOSE who had the privilege of intercourse with her at this time, remark that Mary never appeared more sweetly lovely in her liveliness. The idea of the Spirit of the Lord being at work, and about to be poured out in fuller measure on her own parish and her country, seemed to have called all her powers into animated and joyous action; so that while she prayed more fervently, and more ardently looked up expecting an answer, her pulses seemed quickened, and her common engagements pursued with more elasticity. The news that a meeting was to be held in Dunfermline, under the direction of Mr W. Burns, the young pastor, whose ministrations had been blessed elsewhere to the arousing of many, led her to desire to unite with the friends of the Redeemer there in prayer and supplication, and in hearing the word of the Lord. Her husband having a professional engagement elsewhere, she went in company of a female friend. Her desire was fulfilled,—a large share of spiritual influence rested on her,—and as she was leaving the sanctuary in the evening, she said to her friend, I thank my God that I have been permitted to come here, and feel assured faith and confidence fill my soul.' The words of Mr Grey, in her funeral sermon, well describe this bright experience, so close upon her entrance into the shadowy valley :-' Her heart was full of divine love, her soul was much drawn out in prayer, and she spoke sweetly of Jesus to many. In the evening of that day, and again the following morning, she read the Scriptures, and conducted prayer in the family in which she passed the night, where several female friends were assembled ; and in these exercises she was remarked to be, as it were, "filled with the Spirit," her "heart burning within her," and giving eloquence to her tongue. Many were edified by her conversation, and one young person, who had for a long time experienced much distress of mind, appears to have been guided by her to the sure consolations that are in Christ. Next day, visiting a lady's charity school, she spoke affectionately to a little group of girls on their soul's concerns, some of whom were much impressed, and were noticed, on a succeeding night, engaged in earnest attendance on the religious exercises in church. The visit was blessed to her own soul, and, we trust, has proved a blessing to others.' On her return, before she reached home, the damp cold air of the evening had fallen. This confirmed a cold, which probably originated in her having continued till a very late hour in her chamber that night, in devotional exercises, and in making notes of what she had heard in church, so that she went to bed excessively chilled. But ten days elapsed, before her health appeared to have sustained serious injury. On that subject, she remarked, if her body was harmed, her soul was refreshed.' On the Sabbath, she read the notes she had taken of Mr Burns' sermon, to her class of young women; pouring out her heart in earnest entreaties that they would make sure work of their souls' safety, by surrendering them now to Christ. During that week, her hands were, as usual, full of work, ticketing and cataloguing Sunday school library books, and making a list of those which had not been returned, visiting the sick, reading to the aged, and teaching the young. A domestic remarked that, for a long time before, she never staid a few minutes in the nursery, without mentioning some plan for the benefit of some one. Her husband observed her increased activity, and when he urged her to delay various exertions till her cough should be relieved, she seemed as if she felt time too short and precious, --she must work to-day, for the night was coming. Even her delight in music was swallowed up in the pursuit of christian duties, and spiritual occupations, so that, for a long time, the evening hour had not been cheered by her strains. At this time she wrote to Dr Paterson, whose christian exertions in Russia, and elsewhere, have made his name familiar in all the churches. Her object was to promote the education of a youth in the neighbourhood, who was not solicitous to what body of Christians he was united, so that he might become qualified to seek lost souls; and she felt it a pity that any portion of zeal and love should be lost for want of a little exertion. The good man, in his reply, expressed his pleasure in observing that catholic spirit, which, in these days of division and estrangement, dwelt uncontaminated in her breast and enabled her to apply to a dissenter with as free a heart as to a churchman; and it is for the purpose of exhibiting this trait of her character, which could not have been perfect in love without it, that the inci dent is named. All who loved the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, were her brethren on earth;-all who love him in sincerity are her brethren in her eternal abode. The paraphrase on a portion of Isaiah was produced in consequence of a request made to her. There exists, in the minds of many, a feeling of the deficiency in the collection of Paraphrases for the use of praise in our church, not in number and variety only, but in christian love and doctrinal faithfulness. A missionary compartment, in particular, would form a valuable addition; and the Church of Scotland's Mission to the family of Israel having been pointed out to Mary, she at once entered into the idea, and the following was the result : ' ISAIAH, CHAP. LXII., VER. 1-5. 'For Zion's sake,-chastised of God,- I'll daily wrestle at his throne Of Judah; are they not his own? Yes; when his church is stirred to pray, O Salem! for thy line, As orient light of breaking day Thy righteousness shall shine. As lamp that cheers the gloomy night, Gentiles shall hail thy rising light, 3 T |