down from heaven; behold and visit this vine." Sometimes I feel comfort in thinking of those who have not lived to see these days of trouble, -of some whom I have known, whose warm and passionate feelings would have chafed vainly against the outrages that have been permittedI cannot help rejoicing that they are safe and at rest.

"We mourn because the church we love

Faints on its native shore:

Thou, in thy Father's church above,

Know'st guile and strife no more!"

Dear, dear friends, it is of more than one of you that I can feel it right that you are taken from the evil to come; that the sun which shone on the day of your funerals was shining then on our "protestant country," before Ephraim had altogether joined himself to idols; and before his children, though armed with quiver and bow, had turned themselves back in the day of battle.

It was in the long low room belonging to a manufactory, but rented for the school-room of a populous city parish, that I first saw Lewis. His agreeable person and his very lively manners were such as could not fail of attracting attention. He was always the centre of the little

circle in which he moved. As he stood at the door which opened between the girls' and boys' schools, in order that all might join together in the morning prayers, the eyes of all turned to him as to the favourite teacher, and every ear listened for his voice to lead the singing; but the weak attempt that he made was almost startling:-"How strangely Mr. H. sings," whispered one of the teachers in the girls' school; "Yes!" answered a second, "he is very weak, poor fellow, he has broken a blood-vessel!" The door was closed, and the teachers turned to their respective classes. From that day I knew Lewis well, and saw him often. His joyous temper, his simple and earnest piety, his natural kindness of tone and manner, were all endearing; but the bright consumptive glance of his eye, and the ready flush of his cheek, constantly kept in my mind the whisper that I had heard in the school-room, and made me look with interest and compassion on her, who was resting under this fading gourd's trembling shadow.

A year and a half past, still I saw him; sometimes looking as if the very wind that passes over the flower and it is gone might carry him away too, and sometimes appearing as if a new

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shine. His religious profession consequently met with such opposition, as a steady and conscientious profession of the truth must be content to take as part of its earthly inheritance. His attendance at the sacrament, I know he was long-perhaps to the last time of his receiving it--obliged to keep a secret. But it is a part of his history, which, since it implies censure of others, I should not have mentioned, had it not been necessary for the display of one striking and lovely feature of his character. He never complained. The fifth commandment, concerning which week after week he prayed that his heart might be inclined to keep it, was holy and binding in his eyes; and we will trust that his prayers made in many a waking hour at night, and through many a trying day, shall yet be in mercy answered.

His complaint gained ground; but his exertions at the school were still continued. His attendance there was for eight years his chiefperhaps almost his only-pleasure. I have now before me a letter addressed to a fellow-teacher on the subject nearest his heart,—the continuance of the evening school during his absence from home. It breathes an earnestness,—I had

stock of health and strength were yet laid up for him. I met him regularly at his accustomed place, at the time of the evening service; and I heard on the days between, of his exertions at the school, of his visits to the poor, of his diligence in business, and his fervency in spirit— serving the Lord. His mother had died, I believe, only a few days after his birth. He had seen the ravages of consumption in a much-beloved sister; and has told me that at that time, being strongly impressed with the utter worthlessness of earthly hope, and having a dawning perception of the glory and blessedness of eternal life, he stood many times by her as she lay in her coffin, holding her cold hand, and wishing as he gazed on the quiet face that he also were at rest. But ours is an active-not a passive religion;-a religion of exertion-not of sentiment merely; and Lewis soon arose from these impressions, and returned to the arduous duties of life.

His was in many respects a life of trial. A motherless child's youth must want its best consolation; and my friend's home was one where the blessing of religion, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding, did not yet