affords facilities, both in reading and study, which none but those who understand the language can appreciate. I persevered and succeeded; and I found myself amply rewarded for the labour by the pleasure I derived from first reading a verse in the Greek Testament correctly.

By frequent correspondence with the newspapers on ecclesiastical and literary subjects, I acquired considerable facility in composition. On one occasion, about three months after my marriage, among the "Notices to Correspondents" in a certain newspaper, was a request that the writer of some articles which had appeared anonymously in its columns would favour the editor with a call, at his private residence. What this foreshadowed I knew not, and conjecture was useless, especially as the editor had the notoriety of being a learned eccentric. I went, as requested, and found him sitting in bed, with a small writing-desk on his knees, a pen in his hand, a curious, aristocratic-looking night-cap mounted on his head, and the bed and the table at its side covered with newspapers, books, slips, and proofs, in admirable disorder.

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"Good morning, Sir," exclaimed the learned editor, 'you find me in a regular pickle! It is a case of 'pie,' to use a professionalism. Perhaps you will ask, with the immortal Will, 'How cam'st thou in this pickle?' The fact is, I have got a villanous headache! The cause of 'the people,' most of them scoundrelly ingrates, threatens to put Finis' to my career! Did you read my last article on our magnificent ministry? What do you think of it?"

This was the first time we had met; and as the circumstances, together with these pithy sayings, were sufficiently ridiculous, I laughed, and replied,

"It is well written, but somewhat severe.”

A TEMPTING OFFER.

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"Severe-yes! Ah, ha! Spice is up in the market! Nothing else will go down with the mad Rads. Besides, the imbeciles who disgrace office at present must be held up to richly-deserved contempt. I am greatly obliged by your able contributions; but I wish you would turn your pen to politics. I want some first-class articles on the present state of parties. There is a conspiracy against my paper. It must be exposed, braved, trampled under foot! By-and-by we shall be able to pay handsomely for your services. What d'ye say?"

Here was a revelation which suggested caution; and I replied, briefly, that though sincerely attached to the cause of the people, and anxious for the prosperity of the country, I had no taste for political excitement.

"Ah! Here are the sheets of a pamphlet on the corn laws, which I mean to get out next week. I wish you would look over them, and suggest such alterations as may strike you, as I wrote in violent haste."

I complimented his ability—and with great sincerity— on that subject, as greatly superior to mine; and said that I entertained no doubt the pamphlet would do without revision.

Finally, he intimated that his paper would speedily become valuable property; and asked whether I would invest some money in it, for which I might calculate on six per cent. at least, and enter into literary partnership with him.

The affectation of wealth, in the case of a poor man, is one of the most despicable exhibitions of human pride. As I have always felt this, I at once undeceived the worthy editor, and said that whatever I might have thought of his proposition-for which I was obliged-under other circumstances, it was out of my power to advance money for any purpose whatever. After some further

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ONCE MORE AT SEA.

conversation we separated; and thus ended my interview with a man of singular intellectual ability, which, had it been balanced and controlled by something still nobler, would probably have raised him to eminence, and given him a name among the literary nobles of his fatherland. His career has ended. His dust lies in a quiet, country churchyard. Peace to his memory!

One morning, shortly after this, we were all startled by the mournful intelligence that the head of the firm had died very suddenly. Not long subsequently, in consequence of losses in India and other misfortunes, the house stopped payment, bankruptcy followed, the clerks were discharged, the premises were closed, and I was— both metaphorically and literally—at sea. The causes of this movement will be found in another chapter.

AN APOSTROPHE.

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CHAPTER VI.

CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE.

"God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform:

He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
"Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,

He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.

"Blind unbelief is sure to err,

And scan His work in vain;

God is His own interpreter,

And He will make it plain."-Cowper.

APOSTROPHE TO COWPER'S SHADE-DOTH GOD LEAD MEN? -POSITIVE TRUTH-ADDISON-FAITH AND FATALISM-DISAPPOINTED PLANS AND REALISED HOPES-THE MISSIONARY DEPUTATION-I THINK OF EMIGRATING-BREAKING-UP HOUSE A BRIGHT LIGHT MORE DISAPPOINTMENTS-THE BROOMIELAW-STARTLING INTERVIEW— FEARFUL HURRICANE AT SEA-LIVERPOOL-LODGINGS FOR A NIGHT -A TALKATIVE LADY-AMERICAN SHIN-PLASTERS"-GRIEF AND POVERTY-BIRTH OF MY FIRST CHILD-A DARK PERIOD-BENEVOLENT CLERGYMAN-THE TEMPTATION-OUTLINES OF A SERMONTHE BLESSED SABBATH-THE

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"NEWS ROOM"-EXCITING ADVERTISEMENT I AM EXAMINED AND APPOINTED THE WORLD IN TRANSITION-THE JOURNEY OF HUMANITY-THE HUMAN SIDE OF THE QUESTION-THE DIVINE SIDE-REVOLUTIONS-THE STAKE AT ISSUE CHRISTIAN PARADOXES- COMMENCEMENT OF MY PUBLIC MINISTRY-MANY CALLS TO PREACH-NOTICES OF TWO OR THREE MINISTERS EXPECTATIONS OF THE WORLD-EDUCATIONAL AND CHRISTIAN AGENCY-TRIUMPH OF GOOD.

SHADE of "the stricken deer that left the herd," if, in these days of spirit-journeying, thy calm felicity is

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DOES GOD LEAD MEN?

ever interrupted by a transitory visit to England, and if thou art capable of hearing the words of mortal lips, accept my thanks for these pathetic lines, whose poetry is equal to the sentiment it clothes, and whose sentiment is strength to the faith of men led by God!

"Led by God?" Doth GOD lead men? Sad is the history of humanity, gloomy the retrospect of six thousand years; but the one were sadder, and the other far more gloomy, if He did not! In that case, if war, pestilence, and famine, and the myriad inferior scourges of the world, had not long ago exterminated the race, the cloud that envelopes the story of man would be infinitely darker than it is. In Divine condescension, and with Fatherly care, God leads men. There is not the pillar of cloud by day, and of fire by night, as there was in the case of the wilderness wanderers, but the absence of a visible symbol of the Divine Leader's presence does not involve the absence of the Invisible Guide. Strangely, mysteriously, but safely, are Christian men conducted. Their personal experience is a record of, and a commentary upon, the fidelity of Him who is bringing "many sons unto glory." There is surprising diversity in the circumstances of that experience, but there is essential unity in the fact, that all its modifications are under the control of a Hand that never committed an error, or omitted to do the best thing at the best time. Doubtless, there are times when even the eye of Faith is so dim with tears that it cannot see that Hand; and there are seasons when the heart is so cold by the frosty fogs of the wilderness that it feels not the warmth of the Elder Brother's love; but these things affect not the "Yea" and "Amen" of the Unchangeable Promiser. The "blind" are as safely led as are those who journey through a clear horizon to the land of rest. That the word of the Immutable is ample security for