to record his case as evidence that the Lord hears prayer. His affliction was long and truly painful: abscesses in the back, that made their way at length into the spine, and were the means of reducing him from a fine, blooming, rosy youth of near six feet high to an emaciated skeleton, and at length to a lifeless frame. I visited him some months previous to his death, and found him in bed, with many of my tracts and sermons scattered around him. He was reading, when I approached his bed, my lecture on "Conversion." I said to him, "Henry, do you know what that word means for yourself?" He at once replied, with frankness and with anguish on his countenance, "No; I wish I did: that is what I want." From this time he appeared very anxious about his soul. After some time he was recommended a journey to the Isle of Wight, and while there, away from all earthly friends, the Lord heard prayer on his behalf, and gave him faith in that precious blood that cleanseth from all sin; so that on his return, in a hopeless condition with regard to his body, he could tell his anxious parents that his burden was all taken away by the precious blood of Christ; and from that time his soul was "kept in perfect peace with his mind stayed on the Lord." Some extracts of a letter from his father will convey to my readers the peace in which he was led through the dark valley of the shadow of death, fearing no evil, for the Lord was with him, His rod and His staff comforted him : : "I will now try to answer your letter more fully respecting dear Henry. He had for some time felt great concern about his soul, and read the Bible very much, appearing to take more delight in that than in any other book. In fact, it was his chief companion, so long as he could read; but lately he has been too weak to read much, but liked others to read it to him, and always felt a pleasure in any spiritual persons calling to see him, more particularly in the visits of a young man by the name of Portsmouth, who frequently called to see him. He is the son of a farmer in the neighbourhood, and I believe a true Christian. But it was more particularly during the time he was in the Isle of Wight that he felt his sins forgiven, and ever since he has been at home he has appeared to feel a calm and full satisfaction that he was safe. I have frequently asked him, as well as I knew how, upon what he rested his hopes; and his reply always was, 'On the Saviour.' Some time back, a friend called to see him, and asked him whether he trusted to anything he could do to obtain salvation. His answer was, No; if I did I must be lost; but Christ has done it all for me: it is on Him, and Him alone, I rest.' When asked whether he had any wish to continue here, his answer was, 'No; though Satan often tempts me to murmur and to wish to stay; but then I pray to God to give me strength to stand against it, and not to murmur at my lot.' And when he has seen any of us fretting, he would say, 'Don't weep for me; it will soon be over, and Í shall be where all is joy.' He delighted to be much alone, I have no doubt to have an opportunity for prayer and meditation; but he did not talk much, but appeared to delight in prayer; and last Thursday morning, when they were moving him, after the second abscess broke, which caused him much pain, he began to sing, and sang beautifully. And on Saturday morning I was called to him, as he was much worse. I directly saw there was a great change in him. I said, 'My dear boy, are you happy?' He said, 'Yes, I am happy; I know I am sinking fast.' I asked him whether he was still trusting in the Saviour. He said, 'Yes; He is waiting for me; I shall soon be with Him.' Frequently begging us to seek to follow Him, so that we might meet in heaven, he would sometimes say, 'I know it is a heavy burden for you, and my sufferings too are great; but it is all for the best.' And I trust that he is now enjoying that rest he was so long desirous to obtain, and may God grant we may all meet again in heaven." Dear young reader, see here a proof that "Jesus can make a dying bed Feel soft as downy pillows are." Oh, remember death is certain; and hell is sure to follow it, if you die in your sins; but if through rich grace your sins are hated, mourned over, fled from, and confessed at the foot of the cross, and your soul is hidden by faith under the purple canopy of Jesu's full atonement, for you to die will be gain. Oh, may the life and death of the righteous be your favoured lot, is the sincere desire of Your willing servant, THE EDITOR. ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA, No. 96. ADOPTION. AHIMAAZ uncertain tidings brought; Daniel a prophet was, with wisdom fraught; Adoption! 'tis indeed a charming word- HARRIETTE BLATCHLEY. A STEP AT A TIME. KNOWLEDGE must be attained in the same way the chickens eat their food-pick up a little at a time. First, we learn our letters, A, B, C; then spell little words; then read easy books, and next bigger and bigger ones. The gardener in digging takes up one spadeful at a time. The farmer in ploughing ploughs one furrow at a time. The man sawing wood saws one stick at a time. And so the garden is dug, the field is ploughed, and the load of wood sawed. They are done little by little, and little at a time. And so must your lessons be mastered-long lessons or short ones, a little at a time. Do not pout, or cry, or think it is no use to try, and play away your time; but take heart when your book is before you, and by diligently learning a little at a time, the hardest lesson will soon become easy, and the longest lesson finally conquered. DIARY OF RHODA NOBLE. (Continued from page 219.) July, 1832.-In the days when our Lord was upon earth, He had not time from His public ministry so much as to eat. He showed His kindness to His disciples, and told them to turn in and rest awhile. He likewise shows us the same care, by providing resting places for us; for when we are weary with the cares of the world, he says, "Turn into the sanctuary; there is a river the streams whereof make glad; walk beside the bank, and seat yourself, and take a sip by the way to cheer you; turn into a throne of grace, and enter within the vail, and eat of the hidden manna; turn in, hear and read the word of God, and you will find a remedy for every want and a balm for every wound." Monday. Yesterday, I approached the Lord's table. Oh, what a privilege to know the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin: not only other's sins, but one's own sins; not only the present evil of sin, but the everlasting evil of sin; not only now, but |