support of his plausible temptations, what artful stratagems will he not put forth to beguile and lead away, from wisdom's pleasant and peaceful paths, our children and youth? Like Job, we would need to be exercising a godly jealousy over ourselves and them; and like him, daily to be offering sacrifice according to the number of them, for it is written, "Thus did Job continually." She spoke of the lessons taught by watching the spider weaving its web so dexterously for ensnaring and catching its prey, saying, If we are not careful to watch unto prayer, Satan will be sure to draw us into his cunningly-wrought traps, by which he lies in ambush, ready to surprise and seize his victims. The blessed Saviour, when assailed by him, could say, "The prince of this world cometh, but hath nothing in me." How different is it with us-so many hidden traitors ever ready to open to the evil influences of a world lying in the wicked one! What need have we to pray, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes !" We must fight against those corruptions, and easilybesetting sins, that weaken the graces of the Spirit, and prevent them from coming to maturity. We should bring them to Christ, as his and our enemies, to be slain by the mighty power of his grace. Even "the little foxes," the very first motions of sin, should be destroyed, seeing that, if cherished, they will grow upon us, and prompt to those acts which bring forth death. We need, she would say, a new conversion

every day, crying, like the Psalmist, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me;" and she referred to the comfort and encouragement suggested by the words: "To whom coming," not merely having come to Christ, but to whom coming, every day, every hour, every moment anew, "for mercy to pardon, for grace to help."

Another subject she delighted to converse about was the tenderness of the good Shepherd to the lambs, in drawing them by "the cords of love"-in providing the tender grass whereby "the lambs feed after their manner." Young converts are generally favoured with such discoveries of the love of God in Christ, as fill the soul with esteem of the unrivalled excellence of Christ as the "chiefest among ten thousand ;" and such a peculiar sweetness is tasted in all his appointed ordinances, that all relish for the company and sinful gratifications of this poor perishing world is completely taker away, and the pleasures and enjoyments of sense are seen to be emptiness itself, compared with those invisible realities which "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard." Christ's yoke they thus feel to be easy, and his burden to be light. She would then advert with touching tenderness to the days of youth, repeating a passage that had been made very precious to her: "When I found grace in the wilderness, the Lord appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee." As we advance, she would say, in our pilgrimage, we

daily discover in the light of the cross more of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the mystery of iniquity within us, the extent and spirituality of the Divine law, our sinning and coming short of God's glory in every thing; we perceive that the christian life is indeed a warfare, a conflict, a fighting, all the way through the "good fight of faith;" and we find the need of seeking grace to comply with the injunctions: "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might;" "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God." We have many enemies to fight against, "for we wrestle not merely against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places ;" and our encouragement, amid the painful struggle, comes from our having a good Captain to fight for, and his banner to fight under, so that we can say, " in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

Mrs Johnstone mourned over weak faith, and cold affections; she groaned, being burdened with a body of remaining sin and corruption, as well as longed for the happiness of entire deliverance. The nearer she came to the blissful period of her emancipation, the more sensitively alive was her conscience, and the greater her fear of offending in thought, word, and deed; "forgetting those things which are behind, she reached forth to those things which are before;" not content with any present or former measures of grace, but aiming at higher and higher degrees of holiness of heart and life.

CHAPTER V.

Death of her sister-Care for the bereaved children-A believer's death-Rejoicing in the Lord-Communion seasons— And christian fellowship-Freedom from prejudice in hearing the gospel preached -Efforts to do good in travellingCatholic spirit-Interest in the questions at issue between the contending parties in the Established Church-Visits to Bridewell-Effort to relieve the distressed operatives.

In the summer of 1840, nearly two and a half years before her own death, the only surviving sister of Mrs Johnstone was removed, after a painful illness of several months. Though differing in many respects as to their natural character and configuration of mind, a tender love existed between them, and from early life they had encouraged each other in the good ways of the Lord. While Mrs Johnstone deeply felt all her beloved sister suffered, she was grateful for the opportunity which she had of attending her sick and dying bed, and ministering as far as was in her power, to the comfort of body and soul. She esteemed it a sweet privilege to be so engaged, and accounted it angel's work. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" She had the joy of witnessing that the

trial of her sister's "faith was much more precious than of gold that perisheth," upheld as she was by succours drawn from the Divine word, amid the affliction of the body, the prospect of its dissolution, and the pangs of separation from her loved family, whom she was enabled to leave upon the care of "the Father of the fatherless," pleading that "the God who had fed her, and led her all her life long," would, when father and mother had forsaken them, take

them up.

Mrs Johnstone cared for them, during the short period she survived her beloved sister, with all a mother's tenderness; and, next to her own children, they felt most keenly her removal as the withdrawment of their best earthly friend and counsellor.

Although Mrs Johnstone had scarcely ever been separated from her sister's companionship, because of their lot having been cast in the same neighbourhood, she was upheld under this trial as she had been under the distress and death of her husband; and, feeling that another pleasant tie to earth was loosed, and that her own departure was hastening on, her concern was to "keep herself in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

In speaking of her sister's death, she said, that at evening time it was light with her she knew in whom she had believed, and gently breathed her spirit into the hands of her reconciled God and Father, falling asleep in Jesus. And, O! how does