with the flash of lightning, the awfulness of being unprepared for death. Or, in other instances, men have a sickness, and, as day goes over day, they commune more and more with their own heart; they look back to their past lives; they think over their ways; their hearts are softened, and drawn to God; they gain a gradual relish for the things of God, they go on from day to day thinking more, praying more, pondering more on the truths of God.

Ways of affliction seem indeed especially chosen for the conversion of the sinner; it is often in sorrows, in loneliness, in losses of friends and kindred, in worldly necessities, in sicknesses, that the heart of the wanderer, the spirit of the thoughtless, the light-minded, the covetous, is convinced of sin, is pricked and harassed, is humbled before God, and turned. Then the soul exclaims, "Turn Thou us unto Thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned." Amid scenes of trial, when the world grows dim, when the heart has lost its taste for the gains and pleasures of the world, the wings of the dove seem to move, the Comforter wills to draw near, speaks to the soul of the sick or the sorrowful, points to death and judgment to come, wakens in the memory the history of former sins, moves the follower of

the world to feel the vanity of the world, and to desire peace with God. How many have been brought back to Christ by distresses, trials, disappointments, reverses of fortune, deaths in their families, pains and diseases in themselves. We may call afflictions the angels of the Comforter, which He sends to prepare His way, and to keep it open that He may enter and obtain possession of the soul. Many are turned to God by these means, who before had forsaken Him; many learn the lessons of godliness in the school of affliction, who had closed their hearts against God's teaching in smoother days.

But in whatever way the Holy Ghost may work, we have this great truth before our eyes; that He does change the hearts of the disobedient; that He does waken up the sinner; that He does subdue the worldly mind, that He does cast out devils, and restore sight and hearing to the blind and deaf souls. And this is a truth, on which we may now with great reason fix our souls; there are many amongst us who need a change; many who are wandering far from Christ; many who are without heart for the things of God; many who live wildly, trifle away their days, mock the counsels of God, tread the laws of the Gospel under foot, delight in vain

things. There is a flood of iniquity around us; it is an evil time; sin abounds; sinners multiply; the devil is at work with great success; many are in his net; no one can look at our state without fear; there is cause for fear; there is great contempt of God, bold and habitual contempt; there is need of great changes in many here. I call then on all who are conscious of having followed evil ways, to turn and repent; I bid them to pray for the conversion of their souls; repent, and be converted and live; cry to God, "Turn Thou us unto Thee, and we shall be turned ;" you see that sinners have been turned; pray therefore earnestly, and hopefully, for yourselves; God's love is very high, and wide, and deep; the Holy Ghost is ever ready to lead the wanderer back; He is very near to help you in your return, while God the Father with open arms is ready to go forth and meet you, and like the father in the Parable to fall on your neck and kiss you, and to say, "This My son was dead, and is alive again; was lost, and is found."

And yet while I speak of the conversion of sinners, let me give you this earnest caution. 1. Do not go on for one moment more in sin, in the hope of being turned at some future time;

this is the very arch-artifice of the devil. 2. Do not think to say, however strongly or greatly God's Spirit may act upon your soul and change it now, that you never received the Spirit in holy Baptism; it is a grievous sin to deny the grace given in Baptism; because you did not use that grace, it is no proof it was not given. Lastly, if God does convert your soul, use His gifts humbly, make good use of them; do not talk too much about your change, nor let yourself presume your state as if you were quite secure; walk humbly with your God; do much and say little; give yourselves to plain Christian duties in a sincere and quiet way; religious feelings will not carry you to heaven. God requires the fruit of conversion, and that is a really religious life.

JOHN HENRY PARKER, OXFORD AND LONDON.

THE TONGUE.

THERE is nothing about which men are so careless as of their words; and there is nothing which requires so much care except their thoughts. I am not now speaking of lying, or cursing, or blasphemy, or obscene language which burst upon our ears sometimes like sounds from hell; as if the cries of the lost had come up through the crevices of the earth from the bottomless pit.

There is no doubt about these, that they are from hell and lead to it; but we speak rather of those sins of the tongue which people do not regard at all, or regard very slightly, vain words, light words, uncharitable words, insincere words, and the like. Men in general do not see the great sinfulness and awful power of words without discretion.

How many an unkind word slides off the