will make me holy, and fit me to live with God for ever." Many other things he said, which most satisfactorily showed that "Christ was all and in all to him," and that he trusted not in any righteousness of his own, but simply in that Divine Saviour who had died, "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." He often spoke of himself as a great sinner, and greatly did he mourn over his past life, all spent without God and without Christ in the world; but he felt and spoke with great thankfulness of the love and mercy of God, in not suffering him to die in his sins.

His anxiety for the poor widow and her son was great. He prayed most earnestly that the Lord would bless them and reward them for their care of him, and that he would be pleased to make them believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they might be saved, and to give them new hearts to love and serve God.

My last interview was a very solemn, yet most comforting one. His strength was nearly exhausted, but his countenance brightened up when we spoke of the joys at God's right hand, and he listened with deep attention and delight while I read the last two chapters of the Revelation, and the 23d Psalm. In taking leave, he said he hoped we would meet at the throne of God, and for ever sing his praises. I felt we should meet no more till that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed, and I was amazed at the love and power of God, in producing such a change in the soul,

James slept in Jesus a few hours after I left him. The widow told me he spent his last night in praying for her, for her son, and for me, and exhorted his companion "to seek the Lord while he might be found."

As I gazed upon his lifeless remains, I could not help adoring the wonderful grace of God in calling this uneducated and neglected orphan from darkness unto light, "from the power of Satan unto God." What a lesson I have learned, "not to be faithless but believing." "With God all things are possible." We should never despair of the greatest sinner, but use all the means in our power to lead him to that Saviour, who will " save to the uttermost all who come unto the Father by Him.”

Reader, what is the impression this narrative has produced on your mind? Doubtless you are astonished to think that in this highly-favoured land, an individual should have lived for sixteen years in such complete darkness, as to be totally ignorant of the being of a God, or of a future state. It is indeed a melancholy fact. But let us acknowledge the infinite mercy of God in being pleased, even at the eleventh hour, to bring this wandering sheep into his fold. By the Spirit's teaching, and the reading of his holy Word," which is able to make wise unto salvation," he led this poor lad to a simple, confiding trust in the "Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world."

Consider that if your privileges have been greater than were those of poor James, your responsibilities

are more. Perhaps you have sat for years under the sound of the gospel, the Bible has been in your possession from early childhood, the plan of salvation has been clearly pointed out to you! And what has been the result? Have you fled for refuge to the hope set before you in the gospel? Are you a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ? And is his Word a light unto your feet, and a lamp unto your path? Or are you still living without God and without Christ in the world? The hour is fast approaching when we shall all have to answer for every opportunity of grace we have had here. He that believeth shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be condemned."

Let every Christian reader of this narrative reflect on his or her responsibility in the sight of God. Each has in some degree influence over others, and the smallest effort made for Christ's sake, and in humble dependence on Him, will be accepted by Him who has said, "a cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple, shall in nowise lose its reward." True, it is not in our power to change the heart, nor even to implant one good thought, but God works by means, and often honours the very weakest instrument, that all the glory may be His. Let none despair of opportunities of usefulness; "acknowledge God in all thy ways, and he will direct thy paths." If you have indeed tasted and felt that the Lord is gracious, and has revealed himself to you as your God and Father in Christ, O use your influence in proclaiming his love to those around you; and while feeling the value of your own soul, be not unmindful of the souls of others.

"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." Phil. ii. 4.

THE SOUL.

What is the thing of greatest price,
The whole creation round?
That which was lost in paradise,
That which in Christ is found?

The soul of man-Jehovah's breath:
That keeps two worlds at strife;
Hell moves beneath to work its death,
Heaven stoops to give it life.

God, to reclaim it, did not spare
His well-beloved Son;

Jesus, to save it, deign'd to bear
The sins of all in one.

The Holy Spirit seal'd the plan,
And pledged the blood divine,
To ransom every soul of man;
-That price was paid for mine.

And is this treasure borne below,
In earthly vessels frail;

Can none its utmost value know,
Till flesh and spirit fail?

Then let us gather round the cross

This knowledge to obtain,

Not by the soul's eternal loss,

But everlasting gain.

JAMES MONTGOMERY.

REMARKABLE DREAM.