that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." 'We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things' (that is, the reward of things) done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.'" 'When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.' That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 'The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.' The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, the Lord hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day.' Still more clearly is this set forth in the Revelation; wherein it is declared that the obstinately wicked 'shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and 1 Rom. xiii. 2. 2 2 Cor. v. 10. 3 2 Thess. i. 7-9. Jude 6. they have no rest day nor night." Again, St. John, in relating a vision which has always been understood as prophetic of the Last Judgment, tells us, 'I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it ;and I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened :— -and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.' " 23 2 Jane. 66 Certainly, if all persons who have been taught their duty, bore in mind these menaces of God's displeasure, they would be deterred from those practices which would incur it." Mary. "How careful they ought to make us, how watchful over ourselves, over every motion of our hearts; how attentive not to be the means of leading others astray by our conduct or words. A few light words spoken heedlessly may make more impression on those who hear them than we have idea of; and that we did not intend to do harm 2 Rev. xx. 11, 12, 13, 15. any 1 Rev. xiv. 10, 11. will be a very poor excuse, and of no avail in preventing the evil.” Jane. "How very grateful we ought to be to our Saviour, who has given us the hope of everlasting life and happiness!" Mary. "Yes. Through Him alone can we hope for pardon here, for happiness hereafter. I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord; he that believeth on Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me, shall never die.' 999 1 Bessy. "What is the meaning of Amen ?” Mary. "I have been told that, at the end of the Prayers, it means, 'So be it!' and at the end of the Creed, 'So it is!'-the one expressing our hearty desire that the things which have been asked may granted to us; the other, our firm belief and adhesion after reciting the Articles of our Christian Faith. be "We have come to the conclusion of all we had to say on the subject of the Creed just at the right moment, for I see my aunt coming through the garden." 1 John xi. 25, 26. CHAPTER VIII. "Time's waters will not ebb, nor stay; Deep in the heart her searching view Through shades of setting life can see heaven's work begun." KEBLE. THE next day, Bessy said to Mrs. Thorpe, "Do you know, mother, we had such a nice afternoon yesterday, talking with Mary. She read us some things from a little book Miss Howard gave her, and told us much we did not know before." "I am very glad of it, my dear," was Mrs. Thorpe's reply; " and I hope you will make good use of what you know. Unless you strive to do so, learning is of little use." "Very true, indeed, dear mother," said Jane, looking up from Mary's little manuscript book, which she had been reading very attentively; "but I trust we shall not be of the number of those of whom it 1 may be said, in the words of our Saviour, Seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand,' There is a passage in this book which Mary has lent to me, so much in accordance with what you have just said, that I should much like to read it to you, if you please, mother." Mrs. Thorpe having assented, Jane then read as follows: "Remember that being able to give a reason for your faith is a totally different thing from having faith; and that, unless the faith be really in you, your being able to give a reason for it, will only be a witness against you for having it not. Do not imagine that your knowledge will produce faith; scarcely will knowledge strengthen it. Faith, as a practical power, can only be strengthened practically; and this of itself is a conclusive proof that faith is mainly a practical power. A single act of faith, a single prayer offered up from the bottom of the heart, a single exertion of self-denial, of self-control, for Christ's sake, a single effort to walk in the footsteps of your Lord and Master, will do more to strengthen and establish your faith, than all the learning of all the theologians." " 2 Mrs. Thorpe expressed herself as being very much pleased with this extract. On her niece coming into the room, soon after, she said, "Mary, dear, there is one thing I want to ask you about. I observed, the first Sunday you were here, and have often thought 1 Matt. xiii. 13. 2 Archdeacon Hare. H |