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THE late Albert Blest related many instances of remarkable conversions from popery. The following is one he recorded as An Account of the Conversion of James M- as related to me by himself" in 1822. master of our school in, had some time since informed me, that he found in the conversation of a shoemaker in that neighbourhood much to strengthen him and animate him in his Christian course, and that they were mutual supports to each other beneath the trials to which their conversion from popery exposed them. Having also hinted that his friend's conversion was connected with the labours of the Hibernian Society, I wished to see him, and was gratified with a visit from him on the day above mentioned. His appearance was decent, his countenance prepossessing, and his communications unaffected and sensible. He is now a married man, and has a family; and although he gave no hint that he was in distressed circumstances, the joy he expressed when on our parting I handed him thirty shillings, part of a donation entrusted to my distribution by some Christian ladies, discovered that it was a merciful and seasonable relief. In the year 1813, he resided in the county of Leitrim. In his immediate neighbourhood, a schoolmaster of the name of O- kept a free-school under the Society. According to the Society's rule, O had directions to lend Testaments and Bibles to such of the adult population in the neighbourhood as expressed a desire to peruse them, deferring the transfer as a gift, until the applicants had conversed with an inspector. In this way Mfirst became possessed of a Testament, a book he was an entire stranger to before. He had it not long in his possession, before he perceived that moral character was attached to religion, and his conscience became alarmed as his judgment became informed; could not now indulge in sin as formerly, without other apprehensions than that of settling the amount with the Romish priest. The word of God fastened on his mind a sense of accountability to God, which no anticipations of absolution from the priest could unstring or unloose, although at that time he did not entertain any doubt of the claims of the priesthood, or the purity of the communion in which he was educated. Connected with those convictions which summoned his conscience to the bar of God, the Lawgiver, and overlooked the tribunal of the church, there was, however, not a beam of light on his mind which could lead to the Balm of Gilead, or to the Physician there. The veil was yet on his understanding with respect to the testimony borne in every page of his Testament, to Jesus as the life, the truth, and the way; the doctrine of his church as taught in its catechism, of the necessity of giving personal satisfaction unto God, directed by the priest, and reformation of conduct, of course alone occupied his attention. What was the process enjoined by the priests, or what he

he

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endured in the arduous work of making satisfaction, I omitted to inquire; let them be what they might have been, they proved physicians of no value, guilt remained to burden his conscience, and every page of his Testament which he read, and the occurrences of every day, added to its weight. Under these impressions he was verging fast to despair, entertaining no hope from the offices of the priest, as he had proved them vain. Not from a doubt of the doctrine of his church, but from a fear that he was an excepted case, he neglected confession; and, convinced by many falls of the vanity of his vows and resolutions, every hope from reformation of character by abstinence from sin also vanishing, he was alone rescued from absolute despair by meeting in his Testament the assurance, that there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth.' This text shot a gleam of hope into his mind, and he again set about the work of reformation with all his might; at this he continued until he removed to Dublin, nor did he then abate his exertions for some time, until, associating with abandoned characters, his conscience separated from its monitor (for he had omitted to bring his Testament with him to the city), gradually became seared, and he had nearly slept the sleep of death. God's revelation of wrath, however, which he had learned from his Testament, was not entirely obliterated from his recollection; and as some circumstances which then occurred shut him up to reflection, conscience was again heard, and, as if to take a more signal vengeance for being so long abused, spoke in a voice of terror which made him tremblingly to look for the revelation of that fiery indignation which he was taught by his Testament was to devour God's adversaries. All thoughts of deliverance through reformation of conduct being now abandoned as hopeless, he resolved again, as the last resource, to apply to a priest: he accordingly waited on a priest, and the Sovereign catholicon-penance, was by this physician prescribed as the balm for his wounded spirit. He was directed to commence a course of stations immediately in Clarendon chapel; how often they were to be repeated, at weekly or daily intervals, I know not, for I did not inquire. Before we accompany him to the chapel, it may be necessary, however, to say why his ghostly guides had not come at the root of his disease-his meddling with that interdicted book, the Testament. The fact was, the impression made on his conscience by its instrumentality, was from the beginning recognized by him as the voice of God, so that in dealing with the priests he forgot the book, and consequently confined himself to a detail of what was written on his conscience. When arrived at the chapel, he commenced his penance in company with about fifty fellow sinners, doomed to atone for their transgressions in the same way. That you may have some idea of this process, know that, at measured distances, popish chapels have barrels hung to the wall, on each of which a cross is painted in black; the penitents

drop on their knees before the altar, worship the crucifix attached to it, repeat the prescribed number of decads, namely, ten paters, ten ave marias, and a creed for each decad; from thence they proceed on their knees the circuit of the chapel, repeating the like number of decads before each cross until they return to the altar; and this is repeated as often as directed. We have now the subject of the narrative in a situation which the Christian eye would view as almost removed beyond the limits of hope-terminating a long course of sin in a refuge of lies; but oh! the riches of Divine goodness, how unsearchable is the procedure of that grace which reigns through righteousness unto eternal life; to him this was the hour of the triumph of Satan, but it was also the time of deliverance by that God who passes by sinners when in their blood, and says, 'Live!' M- had not proceeded far in the station, bending beneath a sense of his misery, when his burden was increased by an awful conviction that rested on his mind--the conviction that he was, in the exercise in which he was engaged, adding sin to sin,-idolatry to his other crimes. Beneath this impression he sunk to the earth, nor could proceed; when, as with the rapidity of lightning, that text flashed on his recollection, ‘If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins.' Never till that moment had he a single conception of the glorious import of those passages of Scripture which testified of Christ, with which his recollection was stored; for some time he was motionless with delight and astonishment; believing, he rejoiced with exceeding great joy, when recollecting the situation in which he was placed, and regarding its idolatry with abhorrence, he sprang off his knees, and fled from the chapel, never again to visit it, or bow to a priest."

FARMER BOUSEFIELD'S PICTURE GALLERY.

WHETHER you have ever heard of Farmer Bousefield, I do not know; but of this I feel sure, that you never heard of a farmer more diligent than he was, or of one who read his Bible with more delight. Farmer Bousefield once had to call on a gentleman who had a picture gallery; and the gentleman thinking it would be a treat to the honest farmer, did not fail to show him his pictures.

Now a man may be a very good farmer, and also a very worthy character, without having much taste for pictures; therefore it was no great wonder that farmer Bousefield did not admire the paintings which were shown him so much as the owner of the gallery expected. Had

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there been among them a good picture of a ploughing match, a Durham ox, or a prize pig, very likely it would have secured his best attention.

The gentleman spoke with rapture of his paintings by the old masters, among which were some by Raphael, Rubens, Vandyke, and Rembrandt. "Well! well!" said the farmer, "no doubt these painters were great men, and knew how to handle a pencil; but to my mind, sir, the pictures in my picture gallery are better worth looking at than yours. If f you doubt my word, come and see them, and judge for yourself."

This remark called forth the surprise of the owner of the picture gallery, who felt much curiosity to know what sort of pictures they were which the farmer had to show him. To satisfy this curiosity, in a few days after his interview with the farmer, he rode over to Hilltop Farm. "Ay," thought he, "fine pictures they will be, no doubt. Perhaps a favourite old grey horse, done by some country artist; or a yoke of bullocks; or a couple of pointer dogs."

Farmer Bousefield received his guest in a warm-hearted way, and treated him with great hospitality; after which, the two walked together to see the farmer's picture gallery. In a little time they were standing together on the craggy point of Ragstone Ridge, a place that commanded four beautiful views. The sun was bright, the heavens were adorned with clouds of the most fanciful kind, and the breeze was blowing gently.

To the east was a wide heath, with broken ground, and furze bushes covered with golden flowers; clumps of firtrees, and scattered sheep, gave a variety to the scene. To the south, where the sun was half way up the sky, ran the river, a noble stream, adorned with high banks and rich foliage; here and there a tall craggy cliff of grey stone, rising up from the valley, or a beetling rock seeming ready to topple over into the stream. To the west, far as the eye could reach, wood, water, hill, and valley, were sweetly blended in rich variety with blue mountains in the distance; while to the north, cornfields, and rich pasture lands, with homesteads, and oak and elm trees of gigantic growth, and flocks and herds, were widely spread.

"Now, sir," said Farmer Bousefield, who had marked

the quick, glancing eye of his guest, who was a great admirer of the natural creation," what think you of my pictures? I cannot talk about the old painters that you talked of, for I have forgotten their queer names; but I take it, that if they themselves were here, they would own themselves outdone. 'The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord,' Psa. xxxiii. 5. 'The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork,' Psa. xix. 1. We shall never see such handywork as this on the part of man. Again I ask you, what think you my pictures?" "What do I think?" replied the farmer's guest, delighted with the goodly and glowing scenes around him; "Why, I think that they are admirable! and I must say, that though my collection of paintings is a good one, it is not for a moment to be compared with the picture gallery of Farmer Bousefield."

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RULES FOR THE CONVERSATION OF A CHRISTIAN'S FAMILY,

By a Minister of the Gospel. Written many years ago.

I. We have no time given us to throw away, but to improve for eternity. Therefore we should join in no conversation that is unprofitable, but in that only which is good to the use of edifying, ministering grace to the hearers. Eph. iv. 29; Rom. xiv. 19.

II. We are not anxious for the news of the day, or to be informed of the business of others, but we desire to hear of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Acts. i. 3; Mal. iii. 16.

III. We have not anything to say about the misconduct of others; therefore let not the faults of an absent person be mentioned, unless absolute necessity requires it, and then with all possible tenderness, and without dwelling upon it. May God preserve us from a censorious, criticising spirit, which is contrary to the spirit of Christ. James iv. 11; Eph. iv. 31, 32.

IV. We offer the right hand of fellowship to every one that cometh in the name of the Lord; but we receive none to doubtful disputations. Whosoever doeth the will of God, the same is our brother, and sister, and mother; for