Preparation for baptism.

arrows of conviction from his soul. He sought to banish his serious reflections by becoming immersed in professional engagements, and at length his seriousness began gradually to wear off.

Mrs. Lindsley observed this with alarm. It was Sunday morning. She had been long hoping, as the morn of that sacred day week after week returned, that he would announce to her his desire to approach the baptismal font. But she had waited in vain. She determined to wait no longer. She therefore renewed the conversation on the subject of their receiving this holy ordinance.

Mr. Lindsley at first seemed averse to speaking upon the subject. Mary Anna was present, and ventured to make a remark. "Do," said she, " my dear father, resolve to be on the Lord's side. Let us all go together, and give ourselves up to God in baptism."

The sensibility of the father was touched by the solicitude of his child, and he thus replied:

"I do not think that my feelings or character will warrant so solemn a profession on my part, as I must necessarily make in receiving baptism. But do not wait for me. Next to being admitted myself into the fold of Christ's flock, nothing can give me so much pleasure as to know that my wife and child are numbered among the children of God. Appoint next Sunday for the time of receiving that holy ordinance, and perhaps❞—a tear started from his eye as he spoke " perhaps I shall then think differently."

The rubric that precedes the baptismal service in the Episcopal church requires, that in all cases where adult persons are to receive baptism, "timely notice shall be given to the minister, that so due care may be taken for their examination," to ascertain whether they possess the proper qualifications. In conformity to this standing rule, the intention of Mrs. Lindsley and her daughter was signified to the clergyman to whose congregation they were attached, with a request that he would call and allow them to converse with him on the subject. The request was

Christ all our strength.

most cheerfully complied with, and the evidence they gave that they were truly under the influence of divine grace was every way satisfactory.

A part of the conversation that passed between the clergyman and Mary Anna was as follows:

"I am rejoiced," said he, "to see one so young resolving to devote herself to the service of her heavenly Father." "I fear," was her judicious reply, "I fear I am not too young to be lost if I should die without a Saviour." "Very true," replied the minister. But have you duly considered the responsibility that you take upon you by this act? There are many pleasures and gayeties styled in the catechism the vanities of the world,' to which young people are usually devoted; these, by your baptismal vow, must be for ever renounced. That vow binds you to all the duties and high responsibilities of a Christian. It was customary in the primitive church for persons, immediately upon receiving baptism, to be presented with a white robe, which they were to wear for a number of days, in token of the purity of life which, by profession, they were bound to exhibit. Remember, my young friend, that you are about to put on a robe that will be soiled by every contact with the world."

"The pleasures of the world," said Mary Anna, "“I can renounce without regret; but I am sensible of my own weakness. To keep that white robe unstained is, I am persuaded, utterly beyond my power. But may I not hope, that if I give myself up to Christ, soul, body, and spirit, and look to him continually for guidance and support, I shall be kept by his power, and that his strength will be made perfect in my weakness ?"

"Indeed you may, my child,” replied the pastor, deeply affected by the degree of spiritual knowledge which one so young evinced. "This is the true secret of all our strength. For though St. Paul declared that he had no sufficiency in himself, yet when he looked to the all-sufficient Saviour,

The feelings with which Mrs. Lindsley approached the baptismal font.

he immediately added, 'I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.'"

It was hoped by Mrs. Lindsley that her husband would have been present at this interview. But he evidently sought to avoid it, and was accordingly absent at the time.

The next Sunday arrived. The afternoon of that day had been appointed as the time of receiving that long anticipated rite which was to engraft Mrs. Lindsley and her daughter into the visible body of Christ. But when she rose from her seat to go forward to receive that holy rite, her frame trembled, her step was unsteady, a deathlike paleness came over her countenance, and her heart was weighed down with sorrow. It was not that she went reluctantly to dedicate herself to the service of her Saviour, but that she went unaccompanied by him whose happiness and salvation were as dear to her as her own-that she went thus wrapped in a cloud. The thought at that moment crossed her mind, that they might finally and everlastingly be separated. It was that dreadful and agonizing thought that shook her frame with trembling, rendered her step unsteady, spread paleness over her features, and pressed her down with a load of sorrow.

When Mrs. Lindsley and her daughter came forward and stood before the chancel, many eyes in the congregation were turned towards Mr. Lindsley's pew, a disappointment being evidently felt, in not seeing him by the side of his wife and daughter; but his pew was empty. This struck every one as singular, inasmuch as Mr. Lwas seldom absent from church; and the thought very naturally occurred, that he would feel a peculiar interest in being present on such an occasion.

The ceremony proceeded. The meek, humble, and subdued appearance of the mother and her daughter-the tender, affecting, and solemn language of the service, made a deep impression upon the congregation. The ordinance, as there is every reason to believe, was made the channel

The trying test.

of rich consolation and much spiritual strength to the recipients themselves.

We are now coming to a period in their history, when the reality of their principles was to be put to the test, and all the sustaining influence of divine grace, of which they were partakers, was needed to uphold them.

The sad decline.

CHAPTER IV.

FATAL DERELICTION.

And as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind.

Epistle to the Romans.

ABOUT four years had now elapsed since the occurrence of the events related in the last chapter. And in reference to those sweet scenes of domestic happiness which formerly gladdened the dwelling of Mr. Lindsley, it might well be said, "How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed!"

From the Sunday that his wife and daughter received baptism, his views and feelings seemed totally changed. The effort which he made to withstand the strong wrestlings of the Spirit, that then urged him to a surrender of himself to the service of his Saviour, seemed to burst at once from around him all those bands of religion which parental instruction had at first imposed, and which the belief of years had been strengthening. His respect for divine things was evidently diminished. His trouble of soul was gone. He entered upon the theatre, and took an active part in the scenes, of political life. In the contest and collisions in which he was engaged, and the measures which he thought necessary to adopt to carry his plans, he began to contract habits of dissipation. His business was neglected. A frown, which never before had darkened the sunshine of his home, was now frequently seen on his brow in the midst of his family. Things continued to wax worse and worse; and at the time to which our narrative now refers, Mr. Lindsley seemed to have reached a point