that salvation of which itself, through grace, has been made a recipient, by directing them to Him who " came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost." The sphere of such a man's operation is that occupied by the immediate connexions to whom, by the ties of blood, he stands related, and also by the particular circle amidst which, by the allotment of Providence, he is called to move. If found in the bosom of a family where religion, even in form, is not known, there all the energies of constraining Christian affection, and all the arduous and ceaseless exertions which the word of wisdom dictates, are employed by him; and, in reference to these especially, it may be said that he endeavours

Such was the present situation of Jairus, and such also were the views and feelings by which his whole conduct was now regulated by day and night, he had, even with tears, sought their salvation. Unspotted morality, even to conduct wholly unimpeachable, characterized the entire family. Indeed, nothing was more abhorrent from their feelings than injustice or immorality in any respect. The claims of misery were never disregarded by them when they possessed ability to attend to its plaintive solicitations. The chamber of the sick and the couch of the dying, they

visited with alacrity and pleasure, to fulfil such duties as humanity required, and to which they were urged by the sensibilities of their nature.

With all these, and many other valuable qualities which externally adorned them, one thing was wanting-and one for which all others could not compensate or make atonement-LOVE TO GOD. The actions they performed, though apparently good, indeed, in themselves, were still not regarded as good by Him who "judges not according to appearance," but by the rule of "righteous judgment;" and who thus saw that they proceeded from an unholy-a selfish principle. They were, consequently, "going about to establish their own righteousness," not having "submitted themselves to the righteousness of God;" and were thus vainly seeking to "be justified by the deeds of the law." Jairus saw, and wept, and trembled for their danger, while they were relying upon their own imperfect works instead of "the blood of the atonement.

The morning arrived of the day to which the anxious youth had deferred the momentous yes or no, in answer to his filial petition. The same unabated ardour animated his soul, while in his morning supplications he exclaimed in devout agony, addressing himself to God, "O that my parents and family might live before thee!" The thought was too distressing to be allowed long to occupy his mind, that the awful possibility existed that either or both of his beloved

parents might be lost for ever! or that the partners of his childhood might not be sharers of his own hoped-for heaven. The impression, however, which the thought had produced strongly excited his mind, and operated as a stimulus to his desires, urging him onward in prosecuting his benevolent design. He wished for, and still halfdreaded the return of evening. A short time only had yet elapsed since he began to exercise in public the talent given him, by leading the devotions of others. Hence, a degree of false shame, not wholly unaccompanied by timidity, naturally struggled within him at the thought of taking the lead in the devotional services of the family, before his parents and the other members of the household, supposing they should accede to his wishes. These feelings, however, were but of short duration; he determined to follow the path of duty marked out before him by conscience and the word of God, and leave to Him the result, to whom he could appeal to vindicate the purity of the motives by which he was now influenced. Evening returned-supper was spread upon the table, around which the family took their seats: the repast was finished, the cloth was removed; and now, Jairus, full of anxiety, waited awhile for the movement of the household. As no intimation was given of any reference to the subject upon which his soul was set, he diffidently requested whether an answer could then be given to his last evening's ques

tion. All attempts to describe either his own feelings or those of the family would be idle, and might be considered by the unimaginative only as a highly-wrought poetic fiction got up to produce effect. For some time, the father gazed on his son in thoughtful silence: his mind had been deeply affected by the request which he had made. The recent conduct of Jairus had been particularly noticed; and his father had observed how closely his conversation and manners corresponded with his profession; and, while indulging his own private and unnoticed observations and reflections, he became powerfully convinced of some change, for which he could not account, having taken place within him. Aware that he was naturally hasty and impetuous in his disposition, his father had noticed with wonder the meek and lovely spirit which he had lately, on all occasions, displayed: hence, while such reflections exercised his attention, conviction fastened upon his mind; and the favourable moment had now arrived, when, through the instrumentality of his son, he was to be taght the way of God more perfectly.

He continued, awhile, to look upon him, without making any reply; displaying, indeed, “a countenance more in sorrow than in anger," until his growing feelings, forbidding any longer control, bore all before them; and, giving unrestrained liberty to his emotions, he exclaimed, while the tears, with which his eyes were suf

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fused, plentifully bedewed his aged cheeks, "O, Jairus, my beloved Jairus, while I feel proud of such a son, I blush almost to look upon you." He could add no more, articulation for the moment failed him, and he hid his face in his hands. Astonishment ran through the whole company, and the mother blended her tears with those of her weeping partner.

Jairus was the first who recovered from the surprise into which so unexpected a scene had thrown them. Silently, for a short period, he looked on, and breathed out his gratitude to God for what he had just seen and heard and then, seizing a hand of each of his still weeping parents, he pressed them to his lips, and, while the fast-flowing tears of joy and filial affection gushed from his own eyes, he replied, know not, my beloved parents, by what unutterable happiness my soul is, at this moment, animated. Long, very long, have I prayed in secret for your salvation; and God, I trust, has heard and answered my supplications."

"You

"I hope, nay, I doubt not, he has," rejoined the father. "But for those prayers, and your example, under God, we had still, as in former days, continued 'ignorant and out of the way;' and, at last, we should have perished, even while delusive hopes of heaven might have possessed us. O, how boundless," continued he, lifting his still streaming eyes, and raising his clasped hands towards heaven, "O, how bound