"When we have neglected its warning, when we have persisted in sin against its warning, or have let it speak unheeded.

"Is it never misled except by our fault?

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Yes, sometimes; and then we must have resort to some other teaching of authority from God. "What happened to St. Paul?

"When he was going to Damascus he was stopped by a heavenly vision, checking him in his journey, and telling him not to kick against the pricks,' on which he went into the city, and was baptized by one Ananias, a disciple; he had been struck blind at sight of the vision, and scales fell from his eyes as a type of the sins which fell from his soul.

"What did he do after his conversion?

"He went back to Jerusalem, though the disciples would not receive him, hearing he had been a persecutor, until St. Barnabas brought him forth, asserting his conversion.

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What was one of his first acts?

"A journey with St. Barnabas to carry alms to the Church at Antioch.

"What did he do after this?

"He spent his life in preaching to the Gentiles, for which purpose he was called. He founded the Church in Asia Minor, and many places. At

Athens and Corinth, in Greece, in Philippi and Thessalonica, and other places, in Macedonia, he went about confirming the Churches after he had founded them, and spent his whole life in wonderful zeal and devotion to God.

"What did he write?

"He wrote many epistles to the Churches he had founded. To the Thessalonians, the Corinthians, the Ephesians and Galatians, the Colossians and Philippians. He also wrote to the Romans, who were inclining to return to Judaism, and were cherishing jealousy towards the Gentiles, who were called into the Church of God at the coming of our Blessed Lord. He also wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews to convince the Jewish converts that in the Gospel and the Church of Christ they found all they had any right ever to expect, the fulfilment of their own church system, the sacrifice, the priesthood, and the worship. He also wrote to three individuals; to Timothy, first bishop of the Church of the Ephesians, to Titus, first bishop of the Church of the Cretians, and to Philemon, in behalf of a slave who had run away from his master, whose name was Onesimus. He wrote altogether fourteen epistles.

"Is it thought that he travelled to any great distance?

"Yes; some think he founded the Church in

England.

"How did he die?

"He suffered martyrdom by being beheaded under the emperor Nero, by the sword, for which reason his figure is always drawn with the sword. He died in the sixty-eighth year of his age.'

"When the service was over, Ellen returned with me. She was very silent and sad. The evening had set in very cold, and we were walking quickly. The figure of a man presently appeared, walking quickly after us: he overtook us it was Ellen's husband. He kindly took her arm within his. Why Ellen, where have you been to-night, and so cold as it is? it is not fit for such as you to be out,' said he, very kindly, and drawing her shawl close around her slender figure.

:

"Oh,' said she, looking up at him with an expression of more than love; thank you for that. I could be all hours in the cold to have you love

me so.'

"Hours!' said he; out hours!'

"I fancied his voice faltered as he said, 'Well, but you have not told me where you have been to.' "Oh,' said she, 'why we have been to church.'

"To church!' said he, astonished, and to-day!'

"Yes; it is St. Paul's day, and so we went: and I had a very particular reason for going to-day.'

"She had scarcely said it, when we turned the corner of the road, and saw a man with two hounds leashed.·

"He darted from Ellen's side, and springing after the dogs, 'Good bye, Ellen; be quick out of the cold; I shall soon be with you;' and in a moment he was out of hearing.

"She sighed. I don't know why, but I hardly ever heard any one sigh like it. I saw she did not draw her shawl round herself again; and I was the more grieved; tears dropped from her eye.

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Anyhow I must pray for him,' said she, as we entered the house."

Tracts for the Christian Seasons.

THE PURIFICATION.

THE evening of the first of February was of the same bright and calm kind that St. Paul's day had been, and the next day was to be the baptism of Ellen's child; I was to be its sponsor. The short time I had stayed in her house had deeply interested me in her. I could not help noticing her fragile form, which indicated but little strength to bear up against life; but I saw still more painfully how her husband's neglect of her, and, above all, his neglect of religion. weighed and pressed upon her mind. He could not understand her, he did not appreciate her. I can see her now, sitting and listening with the deepest attention to the least footfall outside which might indicate his approach; and if she heard his voice below she would spring to the door, and go away even in the middle of a sentence. I so well remember the way she used to say "Arthur," as she called him very timidly,