of death.

That the difference between

true Christians and mere professors, was proved by the manner in which they were prepared to meet this last enemy. True Christians might indeed be at first startled by his approach, but still they had that knowledge and faith which would enable them, in humble confidence, to go forth and meet their Lord; but mere professors would then feel that they still had that to seek which alone would make them ready to meet death. Now this alarmed me, because, when death does not appear to be near, then I think I could meet it,-but when the cry-that the Bridegroom is coming, seems really at hand, then I am all in confusion, and can only implore him to delay his coming.'

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You always remember the alarming part of a sermon, Mary,' said Jessy, and I always remember what is comforting. Have you forgot what Mr. said that light

was, which could alone enable us to meet the Lord?'

• Not very well,' answered Mary.
He said,' continued Jessy,

that our

last meeting on earth with our Almighty Redeemer, would be in the valley of the shadow of death;' but that true Christians knew what it was to meet with him,-they so knew it as to seek constantly for his presence as their chiefest joy. They had by faith, time after time, come to him, and laid their sins on him, and for his precious blood's sake, received remission and forgiveness. Thus they had often, often, met with him as their Saviour. They had met him in affliction as their refiner,-they had known him as their intercessor, as their deliverer from the power of sin,---as their Advocate with the Father. In their last earthly meeting with him, he taught them to regard him in a new character. As their trials would then be severest, this character was the one of all others whose love is most tender, and anxious, and watchful, and which is only borne immediately previous to an everlasting union. It is only the light

of the faith and knowledge of Christ, that can enable any poor soul to enter without fear into the valley of the shadow of death.' 'O! I remember now,' said Mary.

6

It is want of faith,' said Jessy, that makes us shrink back.'

·

• And consciousness of sin,' added Mary. 6 But shall we ever be without that consciousness?' asked Jessy. Is there not a something wrong,--a little trusting to our own works for acceptance with God in this, Mary? And does not St. Paul say, that by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified in his sight?'

Yes,' replied Mary, but he also says, that without holiness no man shall see the Lord.'

You know, Mary, Mr. said, that holiness without which no man could see the Lord, was not a holiness that was to acquit us at the tribunal of God, but a holiness which made us meet to enjoy the presence of God.'

He did say so, I remember,' answered

Mary.

But, Mary, are we not confusing these two kinds of holiness? We both feel that the thought of heaven is delightful to us. On earth the Sabbath is our day of happiness. We would wish every day to be a Sabbath. May we not hope that this, in some measure, is a beginning of that love of spiritual things, which will make heaven a place of delight and joy to us? But when we think of appearing before God in this poor holiness, all the sins that still cleave to us come into our thoughts, and we feel so defiled, that no wonder we tremble. If we trusted wholly in that righteousness in which there is no spot, to justify us before God, as we suppose we do, then, instead of trembling at the thought of our continual shortcomings, we would rejoice that we were going where sin would forever leave us.'

'Sometimes I think I see clearly that it ought to be so,' replied Mary; but then again, I meet with some passage in scrip

6

ture, or I hear something said, which turns my thoughts to what is less comforting.' · "Turns your thoughts from trusting in Christ!' said Jessy; and as there is none other name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved,' so, when we lose our confidence in him, we feel that we are without hope.'

Jessy and Mary often talked thus together, and helped each other in their course. As the summer passed away, Jessy did not feel that her strength returned, and in the autumn, she began to suffer frequently from a pain in her side, and oppression on her breathing. These gradually increased as the weather became colder; and at last she found that she could not go out, without making herself so ill as to oblige her to sit up half the night, and this prevented her being able to work part of the next day. Jessy's friends brought her work when she could no longer go out, and for a time she continued to support herself. Before the winter was over, however, she became so