to the God of his fathers to become his teacher.

He pleaded the mercy shewn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and all the rich promises to their seed. He asked to be kept from error, and to be made willing to receive truth: and though the Name that is above every name was not spoken by his lips in that whispered prayer, his heart yearned towards the Crucified, and its secret language to him was that of the doubting suppliant. If thou cans't do anything, have compassion on us and help us.'

He rose, with a feeling of encouragement quite new to him, and without hesitation began to read the Gospel of St. John. The decided language roused his attention more than anything in the New Testament had done. "The word was God... The word became flesh and dwelt among us... He came unto his own, and his own received him not; but to as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God." "Why; here is the whole matter in a nutshell,—according to this, Jesus would be God his own, that is the Jews, would not receive him, and were cast off: others, that is, the Gentiles, received him, and so obtained our place and privileges. Can this be?' He read on and came to the Baptist's testimony-" Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!" "That alludes to the lamb slain in sacrifice, which the Christians say was a type. I remember the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who alone was worthy to open the seals of the book, is described as a lamb that had been slain and Jesus said to John, "I am He that liveth and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore." How these passages do dovetail into one another! "Taketh away the sin of the world".

how? not in the lump, I should think: for the sacrifices were of no avail except to those who observed them as an ordinance of God. The Israelite had to lay his hand on the animal's head and confess his own sins, in order to partake of the benefit; and then they were carried away into the wildernesscarried away: "taketh away the sin of the world,”another coincidence. So then, I must, if this be truth, have my sins taken away by this Lamb of God. What sins can I have committed, to need such a removal?'

Here was the turning point: Alick closed the book, and began to examine his past life.

He had no settled standard by which to measure himself: at first he thought he must take the ceremonial law, and all that the Jews recognized as binding on them for the purpose; but it struck him that the Gentiles who had by receiving Christ become sons, could not have that law as a rule; therefore he sought for something common to all men. He recollected that his father had said, and Mrs. Ryan also, that the ten commandments were exhibited in Christian churches, an universal code of divine law; and on this ground he selected the precise rule by which any true believer would have directed him to try himself. Turning to Exod. xx. he began, and the reading of the first commandment afforded him perfect satisfaction; I neither have had, nor will have, any other God but the Lord my God, who brought my fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.' The second delighted him still more, 'Oh, I am not only clear in this matter, but I have borne an open testimony in the public streets against the sin of idolatry. If all goes on

6

like this, I may be easy enough.' The third startled him. 'Well, I have used that name too lightly, in a moment of anger or levity. I have taken it in vain ; may the Holy One forgive me!' He would have proceeded, but was unable. This is a sin, and I as an Israelite should have to confess it on the head of the animal, to be forgiven. Well there's no scape-goat, nor lamb for a sacrifice here, so how can I? "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!" I see how a Christian would apply it. But this was only a fault of the tongue : I meant no sin, and surely it will be forgiven. I won't be guilty of it again.'

He read the fourth, and was confounded, 'I know how strictly our people keep this day, though we did not. The Christians have a sabbath too, and finely they keep it! Men-servants driving their carriages about; maid-servants cooking rich dinners; cattle fagged to death; and the stranger within their gates coming and going by means of such poor overworked cattle, and feasted by the labour of such servants. Come, we can none of us plead innocence here. If I was the master of a house, I'd feel uncomfortable but being only a child in the house, I could do no otherwise than my parents did, who have run in the face of this commandment ever since I can remember, more shame to them,' said Alick, and passed on to the fifth.

This proved a terrible blow to him: he had always loved his parents, but never honoured them, until within a few days his feeling towards his father had become more respectful-better suited to his deportment. He was a spoilt child, and managed them both by finesse, and encouraged the younger chil

dren to carry any point by teasing. Of their respective infirmities and peculiarities too he had accustomed himself to speak very freely and irreverently, so as to provoke many rebukes from Esther, and not a few from his own better feeling. In short, no excuse that self-justifying plausibility could frame, would avail him here. He had habitually and systematically broken this law-knowingly too, thanks to Esther and old Susan, who had kept him perpetually aware of his fault: and how to get rid of this weight he knew not. He could not make light of it, as he had done of the preceding two; and his distress of mind was great. He scarcely noticed the four following, but the tenth confounded him. 'Not covet!' he exclaimed; 'I have coveted every thing that pleased me, no matter who it belonged to. If attainable, I have purchased it; if not, I have gone on coveting and secretly murmuring about it. These four commandments condemn me; and there are many and many things not specified here, which I know to be sinfully wrong, yet I have done them times unnumbered; and even if I were forgiven the past, I fear I should be doing the same things, through habit or thoughtlessness, often again. Oh, for a lamb to take away all these sins; and for help to do right in future!'

The more he reflected, the more uneasy he became: memory was awake, conscience roused, and he quailed under their rapidly succeeding accusations. It was long ere he slept, and on rising he felt ill and gloomy; 'I will listen to no more of their talk: I am young and have plenty of time before me' here

the recollection of the mangled head suddenly startled him: 'oh no, I must not reckon on life; but

surely I need not spoil all the pleasure of the voyage by brooding over such distressing things.'

When he went on deck, a consultation was being held, as to the disposal of the corpse. The weather was sultry, the ship small, and all being willing to attest the accidental nature of the poor lad's death, the Captain agreed to commit him to the deep, which was done with so many superstitious observances and idolatrous prayers as made it a most painful spectacle. Mr. Cohen did not appear till it was over; and then he was introduced to Captain Ryan, to whom he took an extraordinary liking; doubly extraordinary in Alick's sight, contrasted as it was with the usual polite indifference of his deportment. The sad event of the preceding night was soon adverted to, and Captain Ryan strongly animadverted on the cruelty of that system which seals up the souls of men in an idolatrous delusion. To this Mr. Cohen warmly assented. There are great differences between your creed and ours,' he remarked: but I really think you Protestants abhor idolatry equally with us.'

'We do indeed: yet you too often confound us with those who practice it; not knowing that the watchword of our faith is, like yours, Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord!"' 'Did you hear of that young fellow's adventure in Malta?'

'I did, and recognized in it the spirit of Gideon breaking down Baal's altar. May the God of his fathers make him ever valiant for the truth!'

In order to be so,' said Mr. Cohen very thoughtfully, he must first know what that truth is; I fear we have been deficient in acquainting him with things most needful to be learned.'