the city, and in the view, not only of his disciples and much people who went with him, but of much people of the city who were with the widow, did our Lord shew that he is the restorer, and if the restorer, then the source of life, natural as well as divine.

We now enter Nain, that we may obtain a place for rest and meditation. That we may reflect upon, and profit by, this act of sovereignty and love. That we may consider its probable effects upon the more immediate objects of divine mercy, upon the disciples and sincere followers of the Lord, and upon the nation of the Jews.

To the house of the widow salvation is brought in the knowledge of a Redeemer. Her son is no longer an idol, but a precious gift of God, ever reminding her of the Giver who has now the first place in her heart; and when affliction again shall visit her, as visit her it must, while she is in this vale of tears, and when every other source of relief shall fail, she will find the Lord Jesus a very present help in trouble, ever as near to his praying people as he was to her, when he stopt the bier at the gate of Nain.

Upon all who were present when the young man arose, there came a fear which led to an instant ascription of glory to God, who had visited his people, and by whose power a great Prophet, even Messiah himself, is risen up in the midst of them.

It must needs be that this rumour of the dead being brought to life, will go throughout all Judea and all the regions round about, and thus lead to an extension of the knowledge of the glorious gospel of Christ.

Communicated by a friend to H. V. H.

CHARITY.

"Charity envieth not." 1 Cor. xiii. 4.

THE difficult temporal circumstances in which Mrs. Reynolds was placed, appeared to be drawing to a crisis more speedily than was expected. The opposition of the two candidates for the right of inheritance, was carried on with such promptness and energy, that the business was not allowed to sleep, and the solicitor of the first claimant called upon her, to inquire if she held a certain document which was not forthcoming, by which he supposed he should gain a decided triumph.

'The truth is,' he said, as Mrs. Reynolds was making an endeavour to recall the paper to recollection, ' my client, I begin to think, fears he shall lose the cause: and I fear so too,' he was going to add ; but the indelicacy of the speech struck him in time to arrest the expression, and he quickly turned, I fear, dear madam, our opponent will establish his cause too well for either you or Mr. Owen.'

Mrs. Reynolds' heart beat a little quick, though she had sincerely resigned the whole affair into the hand of the Lord; yet so pointed a declaration, that it would be decided against her, for a moment agitated her feeling, notwithstanding her habitual selfcommand enabled her to restrain the outward de

P

monstration. She bowed ber head in reply, and continued searching the records of her mind to trace out the desired papers.

‘But that paper, madam,' he again said. 'I confess, if my client does fail,-I beg pardon, madam, but I speak without personal interest, only as a matter of business. If he should fail, I say, I really shall enter into his feeling, for now he is bent, if possible, on depriving Mr. Grenville of the possession; so that it is not unlikely in the issue, all may turn in your favour, and we shall unitedly exert to re-establish you in the possession. Matters are now so obvious that I have very little hope in behalf of my client. And really, as he says, it would be somewhat provoking to see the property enjoyed by one who has started up so unexpectedly, to embroil the business, and delay the judgment of equity.'

This observation touched a deep-seated root of bitterness in my dear friend's own bosom, and for an instant she felt a something pass over her heart as if she too would think it provoking, without the present desire for herself, or a moment's fellow-interest for the solicitor's client; but it was accompanied with a pang which every regenerate heart can understand when this evil is made to spring,-a feeling so discordant with the other sentiments of her mind, that she felt the tumult within; and putting her hand for a moment before her eyes, she softly repeated, "The spirit that is in us lusteth to envy." Like a flash of heaven's lightning, it was followed by the softer tone of the Holy Spirit, "Charity envieth not." The conflict ceased, and all was hushed into peace.

The solicitor mistaking her action for the sorrow

of self-pitying disappointment, began a long string of common-place arguments on motives for submission to the reverses of fortune, giving the short history of some cases where, from inaccuracies in deeds of law, others, and even widows, had been, from affluence, unexpectedly plunged into poverty: but her thoughts being too much engaged within, she made no reply. He rose to take leave, saying he would call again in the evening, in hope of finding her successful in the discovery of the required do

cument.

This brought back her inquiring recollections, and whilst so engaged, her own solicitor was announced.

My dear madam,' he said, ' we find the case now taking so decided a form, that we have no doubt your first claimant will have to withdraw all further molestation; but if we could lay our hand on one paper, which seems by some accident, not to be among those you gave up, I think we should there obtain what evidence we still want; and had it not been for the opposing claim of Mr. Grenville, you would soon have repossessed what your departed husband evidently designed and trusted you would enjoy. Have you ever deposited such paper in the hand of any one?'

A sudden recollection made her involuntarily start, as she answered,' I believe it is in the possession of Mr. Grenville himself.'

'Do you think so?' he replied, and then remained silent.

'I do,' she answered.

Without further conversation he instantly withdrew.

This left her in a a reverie, from which she was roused by the entrance and voice of her dear boy: nor can it be surprising that at such a moment she welcomed him with tears.

There was a kind of delicate respect in this little boy to his mamma, whose sorrows he had of late learnt to read in the lines of her expressive features, which forbid him to ask a question. With a tender touch of his little hand he conveyed the feeling of his sensitive mind, but he spake not a word. He withdrew behind her chair, and there watched till he saw her resume her composure, and then with an intention to supply her with other thoughts, he took a bible off the table, and opening it into the chapter of investigation, put it into her hand.

Her face beamed with love and acknowledgment of his little action as she took the book, and, pointing to one sentence, said,' Read that, Edmund, it will be sufficient for me at present.'

He read, "Charity envieth not."

He looked up at her, and then ventured to say, "Who does envy mamma?'

'Dear boy, I am not quite sure, but I fear mamma's heart has betrayed this bad propensity. I am trying to trace what my feeling is under the information I have received, and which seems to imply that dear papa's cousin is too likely to possess himself of papa's late property.'

Then he will take it away from you, mamma?'

'Yes, and from you, dear Edmund. But,' she continued with firmness, it is not man, you know. Edmund, who rules all our affairs. The silver and the gold are the Lord's; and if only he gives to us the Holy Spirit, and the sense of his presence in