sayings may be quoted as illustrative of her feelings when about to enter the dark valley. Her friend remarked, 'A Christian has comparatively little to fear.' 'Ah, my dear,' she replied quickly, 'that is because you do not know what it is to die! Death, at the very best, is an awful thing, and nature shudders at it.' But, lifting her eyes to heaven, 'I will fear no evil; Thou art indeed with me-Thou wilt bring me safely through! O my Saviour,' she prayed in strong agony, 'thou art full of compassion! Take me from this state of suffering, or give me patience to wait and bear it!' It was remarked, 'That it was a great blessing rather to desire death than to dread it.' Ah,' she replied, 'there is my danger! I fear I may desire it too much, and so become impatient. I would not wish for any thing, only that God may be glorified in my suffering, or in my dying.' เ From this time she was not heard to utter one desire for her deliverance, however submissively; only that faith and patience might be granted. 'O pray for me—pray for me, that I may trust in God-simply trust in him. There is nothing like a simple dependence on the Saviour as a sinner— nothing but a sinner! I never before felt the meaning of those words which the Saviour uttered, 'My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death.' Ah! exceedingly sorrowful, and very heavy: I understand it, but cannot tell you any thing about it very heavy!' 'And we feel,' I said, 'my dear, all the benefit of the Saviour's sorrows.' 'So oppressive were his sorrows,' she continued, still dwelling on the words, 'that it was necessary to send an angel from heaven to strengthen him.' 'And,' I observed, 'they are all ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation.' 'Yes, they are!' she replied with earnestness, dwelling on it for some time, and then continuing:-'Brother! notwithstanding all my affliction, I am happy. I have no wants-no fears! I had, indeed, a hard struggle to give up my life without having done something more for my Saviour. I wished, had it been his will, to live to be useful; but now his will is my will. My soul doth magnify the Lord, and rejoice, yea, exceedingly rejoice, in his salvation! It is enough-quite enough! 'Now, Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation!" 'O, brother, my soul is in bitterness-such pain! But the Lord is righteous-He is good.' 'Nor less,' she replied, taking up the words, 'nor less when he denies.' And yet,' she continued, 'it is mysterious, is it not? To think how easily dear Miss W. was dismissed; just walking across the room, and then lying gently down to die! How different is my situation! But I am sustained-just sustained!' 'And will be sustained, my dear! and the more we are called to suffer, the more the strength of divine grace is manifested in supporting us.' 'Yes, brother! let God be glorified, whether by suffering, or life, or death!' 'O, brother, I am so frail-so helpless-so very helpless! In these deep waters I often seem just like Peter, ready to sink ;"and, like him, I cry, 'Lord, save, or I perish!'' 'But you did not like him, challenge Providence.' 'No, no, brother; the Lord brought me here, and he supports me, and will support me?' 'Oh I cannot sufficiently admire the Saviour, who, in such circumstances as his were, could say, 'Not my will, but thine be done!' He was human as well as divine; he saw all his sufferings beforehand; and his sufferings were every way peculiar and inconceivable; and he felt every thing as we do; and yet he said, 'Not my will, but thine be done!' Oh what resignation !' She lingered till the Sabbath, when she quietly fell asleep in Jesus, and entered upon that everlasting rest which remaineth for the people of God. To her to live had been Christ, and to die was no doubt unspeakable gain.” And so, her friends tell us, Martha died. Would not you, young reader, so wish to die? I believe you would. But you will not, if you do not now give your heart to Christ. He loved you, and gave himself for you. What can you do less than give yourself to him? Then if, like Martha, you are called to suffer affliction and die, you may sing on your dying bed "How happy every child of grace, Who knows his sins forgiven! A country far from mortal sight- The land of rest, the saint's delight, O what are all my sufferings here, Give joy or grief, give ease or pain, I come to find them all again, ST. PETER'S AT ROME. THE City of Rome is one of the most renowned in history. There are many curious and foolish tales about how and when it was built, and who built it. I need only tell you now that the first houses, or huts, were built on the banks of the river Tiber, and extended afterwards over seven hills, and at length a large portion of the country around for several miles was covered with buildings for the rich, like London at this day. The people were fond of fighting, and they went on fighting with one nation after another until they became masters of the world. All this was not done without much cruelty and bloodshed both among themselves and others. At the time when our blessed Lord was born, Rome was at the height of its power. You have read in "the Acts of the Apostles" how Paul was sent prisoner to Rome, and how he there preached the gospel; and you know that long letter of his which is called the "Epistle to the Romans." The first christians in that city were much persecuted by Nero, the Emperor; and it is very likely that Paul was put to death there, though we are not told so, by that cruel tyrant. For many years the christians in Rome and other places were persecuted and put to death by the Roman Emperors; and yet they multiplied. At length an Emperor professed himself a christian, and among other things which he did, he erected a building called a basilica, on the spot where it was said Peter was buried. But there is no proof that the apostle Peter was ever in Rome at all. This was in the year 324. The christians now began to obtain favour, and their |