Part 16 (1/2)

”Your sins are pardoned,” I said, by way of explanation, in order to get her to co froot very confused ”You know,” I continued, ”that it is a happy day when Jesus takes our sins away” This only reatly e she was free enough; but the moment I ether bewildered

At last, with a kind of forced effort, she said, ”I have been a child of God for eleven years”

”Thank God!” I said, much relieved; ”that is what I mean You have been converted and pardoned for eleven years It is all right, then I did not intend to perplex you, and a in a better manner”

But I could not slad when the five ot ready, and went It happened to be a children's service, and our subject that afternoon was Joseph's reconciliation with his brethren Three questions, a others, were asked and dwelt upon

First, ”Was Joseph reconciled with his brethren while they were self-convicted before hi their brother?”--”No”

Second, ”Was he reconciled when he feasted with them, and made merry?”--”No”

Third, ”When, then, was he reconciled?”--”When they surrendered themselves, and all the eleven were prostrate at his feet, like the eleven sheaves which bowed to Joseph's sheaf in the harvest field; then he ave them It is not when a soul is under condemnation, nor yet when it is happy, that it is saved; but when it is actually, once for all, surrendered to Christ for salvation, then it is He makes himself known to them, even as Joseph did to his brethren”

The lady went away I did not ascertain who she was, nor where she came from; I was not much taken with her, nor was she with ion which I had not ain

The next day I went for a few hours' rest and change to the sea-side at Perran, but there was a burden of prayer on my soul I could not thank God for that unknown lady, but I could pray for mercy for her The impression on my mind was very clear: I felt that she was not saved The day following the burden was heavier still, and I was onfor her for several hours in the day In the evening I was quite in distress The next day I wasbut pray, even with tears This lasted till the following day (Thursday), when I happened to go into the drawing-roo on the table I remembered that I had seen that same book in the lady's hand on Sunday I took it up, and saw a na inquiry of the servants I found out that she cah I wrote a note ireatly burdened for her soul, and should much like to see her She sentMonday for my visit

On that day I called, and found her very kind, and seely thankful for the interest I expressed in her welfare I said that she had nothing really to thank me for, for I could not help myself; the burden had been laid upon me Then I asked her if she would tell me how she became a child of God

She did so readily, and toldand pleasure as others hoaiety she was called to the death-bed of a cousin, as just such a lover of pleasure as herself Her cousin said, ”Oh, Mary, give up the world for ive it up!”

Soon she died, poor girl, just awakened enough to see and feel herself hopelessly lost--a dying worldling No one was near to point her to the Saviour, so she departed as she had liked to live, without salvation

Mary wept at the reet it ”Well,” I said, ”and what did you do then?”

She answered firmly, ”I knelt down then and there, by the side of the bed where my poor cousin had just died, and I called God to witness that I would give up the world I did so; and have never had any inclination to go back into its gaieties and pleasures since I began froo to church; and I love these things now better than I did the things of the world before”

At the tielical truth was preached sihtened as to the way of salvation She fully assented and consented to what she heard, and therefore becanty of God and the doctrines of grace, and all suchof the Levitical types and offerings; could speak of dispensational truth and prophecy; was very zealous about missions to the heathen, and was also earnestly devoted to many charitable works at ho in the oodness She had not much patience with elementary Gospel sermons, orin perishi+ng souls; she loved rather to be fed with high doctrines, and the s There are sos, even beforethe how many people there are just like Mary, who seem to care more for doctrines than for Cod Himself--more for favourite truths than for souls A simple, elementary Gospel address, with so Mary wanted for her own soul's good, ainst which she was prejudiced, for she abhorred ”anecdotal ser her story, I said, ”It is very interesting; but there is one great deficiency in it You have not toldto say about the blood of Jesus, and about your sins?

Have you had no real transaction with 'God about them?”

She said she ”did not knohat I meant”

”Did you never coiveness of your sins?”

”No,” she replied; ”that is what I do not understand about your teaching”

I showed her, as plainly as I could, that she had not told me about conversion, but reformation ”You have only turned over a new leaf, and kept your resolutions prayerfully and well for eleven years; but this is not turning back the old leaves of your past life, and getting them washed in the blood of the Lamb 'He that covers his sins' in this way, 'can never prosper' If a man owes a debt for which he is very sorry, and deterets--this will not pay his past debts”

She went on to justify herself, and said, ”that she knew a great ood Christian people, and that none of them had ever suspected her as I did”

I endeavoured to assure her that I was dreadfully alarmed about her condition, and was certain that if she died like that, there would be no more hope for her salvation than for her cousin's This seemed to rouse her hostility, and I saw that I had lost influence However, I could not blame myself, for I had only said what I felt to be true I returned hoht I could not sleep, andwith God I felt as if a restless bird was flying about the rooed ain