"O could I lose myself in thee,
Thy depth of mercy prove,

Thou vast unfathomable sea

Of unexhausted love!"

I am athirst for a state of everlasting happiness; for those immortal joys which live in the presence of my Saviour for ever. A holy, solemn calm flows o'er my heart—yes, I have a sweet impression that I soon shall join the spirit-music of the skies. Do I deceive myself? A little time will answer me."

In proportion as sorrows thickened around her, so did her faith increase, constantly pointing her to the mansions of everlasting peace-to the "floods of celestial light." These ardent aspirations after the love and rest which remain for the children of God, were ever breathing within her soul. In one of her reflections, written while she was with her uncle, after beautifully expressing her deep trust and repose on the arm of her Redeemer, she dilates in glowing terms upon her intense expectation of the peacefulness of heaven; and concludes by animating her soul in the beautiful language of one of her own verses:

"Beyond the gulf of death,

Go seek the realms of love's immortal rest

Where the black storm ne'er spreads its threatening crest,
Where sorrow sends no breath."

CHAPTER XII.

THE FINAL EFFORT TO RECLAIM HER-CUT OFF FROM HER NATION

-HER ACQUAINTANCE WITH MISS H

FATHER "HOW SOON WE FADE."

--RETURNS TO HER

ONE afternoon, Leila's aunt expressed a desire that on that occasion she would dine with the family. It was a pleasing surprise; and her mind was filled with imaginings of the probable cause. She thought-perhaps her uncle and aunt seeing her constancy, were about to change their conduct, and permit her to return home; perhaps her father had sent for her; perhaps he was that evening expected; perhaps he had become favourable to Christianity; perhaps the hatred of her uncle and aunt towards it was partially removed; yet, no! that could not be, for they had not been any kinder to her; their enraged dislike appeared as great as ever. Well, then, it was almost certain that she was going home; her father had either sent for her or was coming for her; and if he were averse as ever to Christianity, and if he would not permit her in his presence, it was a delightful thought that she would be under the same roof with him; she would at least be exempted from contumely and insult. Oh! how happy she felt on that afternoon. She went to her Bible, and read its promises, and thought how richly in her experience they had been fulfilled, and were still fulfilling; how abundantly God had been with her, and supported her to that moment-the extremity of her trial, for in her father's

house she would suffer nothing equal to what she was then enduring.

"All this afternoon," she writes, "I have read my Bible through tears of pure and exceeding joy. God has been eminently with me: I never felt such a weight of glory. The manifestations of his presence have been overpowering, so that I was compelled to exclaim, 'Lord, enlarge, enlarge the vessel, or my clay tenement must sink beneath this mighty revelation of thy love!' Oh! what must be the bliss of heaven! I long for heaven! I thirst for heaven! If I can enjoy so much on earth, what must be the ecstatic raptures of the spirits in glory; their faculties no longer clouded by the body-no more shackled by sense! Glory be to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for this glorious foretaste of celestial joys! I have drunk deeply of those vivifying streams which flow from before the throne of God and the Lamb for ever. O, the love of God-the boundless, unfathomable love of God! I am Christ's; and I can constantly live upon him in my heart by faith. Bless the Lord, O my soul! and to all eternity remember the blessings which thou hast this day received."

Dinner-time approached, still she was left unnoticed and alone. She heard a servant remark, "The dear rabbis have just come." There was to be company then. A bell hung upon the staircase above the room which she generally occupied. The servants had named it the "Christian's bell" because it was usual to call Leila by it, whenever her attendance was required. The Christian's bell was rung, and with deeply wounded sensibilities, Leila obediently prepared to obey the summons. As she was descending the stairs, she was met by her

cousin his eyes flashing, and his lips firmly compressed with subdued indignation. "Leila," he cried, "this is abominable. I did not know till this moment that they intended to be so gracious as to let you sit with us; else you should not have been used as you have."

"Do not mind me," replied Leila, and leaning upon his arm, she entered the dining room.

Here she found two rabbis, and several elders, and other Jews, whom she had seen before, with one or two whom, to the present time, she had never seen. They rose to receive her with apparent affection, and throughout the dinner-time, maintained towards her a kind solicitude. All this conspired to give an assurance that another trial awaited her; and she prayed that if it were so, God would be with and support her.

Dinner was ended; and accompanied by her uncle and aunt, the guests adjourned to another room. It was intimated that Leila was to follow. Her only friend first called her aside-"Leila," said he, "I know what awaits you; but be firm, and seek to keep yourself composed. God will be with you; I know he will. We are commanded to abstain from entering the room, but they should not have kept me out, only I dare not trust myself. I am sensitive, and I know not what consequences might follow if they treated you uncourteously. I am proud; you are meek and humble, and I believe will do best alone."

That none of the conversation might be overheard, the door of the room which lay beyond that one in which they now were, was fastened. Upon the table before them, a number of the principal books of Jewish

learning and theology were arranged.

Among these were the Talmud, the Targums, Commentaries, Moreh,* the Hagiographa, &c. Leila had only the Bible, and this she had not by permission (for they did not know she possessed one), but because she always carried it with her. Indeed, as soon as they saw her draw it forth on this occasion, it became a matter of discussion whether it should not be taken from her; and from their manner it was evident, that had they not intended to first ply her with blandness and seeming affection, she would not have been allowed to retain it.

One of the rabbis commenced with a long address, setting forth their love for her and her father; their intense solicitude for her soul; her breach of the commandments by grieving and disobeying her parent and relatives, &c. He concluded thus: "It is only this feeling of earnestness for your eternal welfare, which calls us here to-night. We wish, by dispensing to you our light, to free you from that fatal delusion and snare which is thrown around you. To this end we proceed orderly: we will patiently listen to all your answers to our questions, and to every remark you may interject."

Through a disquisition of seven hours, Leila modestly, but firmly, maintained her position. How delightful it is to contemplate this youthful Christian (for she was now but just entered on the twentieth year of her age), reasoning with these eight of her nation through so many hours; all of them, too, well-skilled in Jewish learning. There she sat, calm and composed-no friend

"Moreh," or "Guide to the Perplexed," the most celebrated work of Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon.