of conviction in her heart, was pleased to extract them; and apply to the bleeding wound, the balm of consolation and hope. "With gentle force soliciting the darts, He drew them forth, and heal'd, and bade [her] live.” Without communicating the change in her feelings, and prospects, to any of the family; she hastened to the house of Mr. Tennent, where many were convened to consult with him on the state of their souls; and threw herself at his feet, crying out, "O my spiritual father, my spiritual father!" She could say no more. The emotions of her heart were too big for utterance. The good man took her affectionately by the hand, and seated her by his side: and after a few words of advice, suited to the state of her mind, he prayed with her; and then resumed his attention to those with whom he had been conversing before. As the company retired, he requested her to call on him the next day; when she would find him alone; and be bet disclose the On her way ter able than she then was, to exercises of her mind. home, she called at the house of a broth er, who was a violent opposer of the work which was then rapidly progressing in the town; told him she had found a Savior, and that she could say of him, as did the queen of Sheba, when beholding the glory of Solomon, "The half was not told me." He received the information with marked displeasure; affected to pity her weakness; and expressed a hope, that she would soon be restored to her right mind again. "Never, my dear brother," replied she, "have I been in my right mind before. I have been wandering from the fountain of living waters, and seeking happiness in objects which cannot impart itI have been feeding upon husks-empty husks, to the starving of my immortal soul. But blessed be God, I have come, I trust, to myself; and returned to my Father's house, where is bread enough and to spare. O that you, my dear brother, might be as I am, for I was as you are: and can assure you there is no enjoyment comparable with that, which results from an experimental knowledge of Christ." After addressing her brother in a strain like this, she returned home, and communicated to her parents the change through which she had passed. They were almost overwhelmed with joy; and united with her in a tribute of thanksgiving to Him, who had raised her feet from the horrible pit and the miry clay, in which they had been so long sunk; and put a new song into her mouth, even praise unto the Lord. The next day at the hour assigned, she went to Mr. Tennent's. He gave her much judicious counsel, the value of which, in the ardour of her first love, was less appreciated than afterwards, when she came to experience the diffi culties, and dangers, of the Christian life. She was much surprised, and griev ed, at his telling her, that she would not always continue as she then was-full of confidence and joy. But many weeks had not passed away, before his predictions were verified. A cloud overshad. owed her mind; and she was almost ready for a season, to doubt the genuineness of her past experience. This season, however, though distressing, was short. The design of it being answered, in her realizing conviction of her own weakness, and momentary dependance upon that grace which had begun the good work within her, the light of the divine countenance was restored; and with it, the consolations and hopes which had fled. This is by no means uncommon, When a soul is first " brought out of darkness into the marvellous light" of the Gospel: when the fulness of Christthe beauty of holiness-the glory of the promised inheritance, are first revealed by the Holy Spirit, the subject of this discovery fondly imagines, that the days of his mourning are ended; and that nothing but peace, hope, and joy, are before him. But though possession is gained where Satan had long held his empire, the hidden enemies of the heart, like the Canaanites to the children of Israel, are to be resolutely resisted. This conflict, so unexpected to the young convert, often fills him with dismay and apprehension, lest his hopes have been vain-he imputes the temptations of Satan, and the remains of indwelling sin, to a total destitution of religious feeling; and hanging his harp upon the willows, sits down in despair. But as he progresses in the knowledge of himself, and of the word of God; and remembers that even an apostle could say, "I find a law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivi ty to the law of sin which is in my members," this conflict, though it keeps him humble, and causes him to walk softly before God, is not able, prevailingly, to cloud his evidences of acceptance in the Beloved. This state of religious experience, is thus beautifully described by Newton : "Though the morn may be serene, Often thus, the child of grace, |