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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent etre film^s d des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour etre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filmg i partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ELIZA BENTLEY. I would not, istandiiif? as I do, Where the eternal world is just in sight, Dare to advance or utter au'^'ht untrue — tiod is my witness to the things 1 write. E. B. PRECIOUS STONES FOR ZION'S WALLS A RECORD OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN THINGS CONNECTED WITH THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH By ELIZA BENTLEY "Waitb antroOuction By rev. WESLEY R CAMPBELL, Ph.D. Pastor of St. Alban's Methodist Church, Toronto And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the Lord.— 1 Chron. xxix. 8. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones.— /iey. xxi. 19. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.— Eph. ii. 20. Dedicated to the Church of the Living God PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY WILLIAM BRIGGS WESLEY BUILDINGS, TORONTO, ONT. 1897 ■^3 2160 ^/ N T i U ■■/ /.- ^ PREFACE. The vows of God are on me, I must tell To others how He doeth all things well ; For He hath taught me on a certain line, And said, " To others you must be a sign, For all those things through which I've made you pass Contain some lesson suited tt) each class ; The poor, the sick, the tempted, and the tried, To show them all how richly I provide. And how I watch o'er all their interests here, That they may learn to trust Me without fear." I cannot say as some before have said. That by my friends I was solicited To write. No, no one but my gracious Lord Inspired or helped me by a single word ; With Him alone for Counsellor and Guide, At His command I have myself applied Unto the work my hands have found to do ; Had I been prompt I'd long ago been through. But oh, the task seemed so beyond my sphere That I've delayed the work from year to year. And now ten years have nearly passed and gone Since first in weakness was this work begun. But as a building gains by each brick laid. So line by line this book, though long delayed. Draws to a close, so doth my life's short day. Soon shall I drop my pen, lay books away. School will be out, and I shall homeward hie To join my friends in the " Sweet by and bye" ; Nor will I count my life itself too dear. May I with joy but finish my career. And leave a record of God's love and power To cheer His children in the trying hour. J ' ■ I 't MM raTRODUCTlON. •' Precious Stones for Zion's Walls " will be read by several classes of people. Those who have had the privi- lege of listening to the author tell in her wonderfully interesting manner how God hath spoken to her soul, will want to read it. Those who have had a glimpse into "the unseen world about us," will want to read what this ripe saint of God tells of " what she has seen and known." Those who have but a faltering faith in the doctrine of a Divine Providence, will find themselves greatly strength- ened by these pages. Many who have not known Mrs. Bentley will open this volume and be surprised to find themselves at a "feast of fat things," — "a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined." The facts are told in simple language that gives an added charm to the wonderful facts them- selves. A clear, confident faith lifts the curtain that we may see in a humble life the regal glory of a child of the King. If all readers but find in these pages the Christ the writer walked with for so many years of her life, and view Him with her faith, the manifest purpose of the author will have been accomplished. None can read them with- out profit. . W. F. Campbell. CONTENTS. PagK 11 25 35 Chapter I. Why this book is written— Guiding tokens— Death of my friend, Mrs. Noble— A singular impression Chapter II. Dawn of reason — School days — First whipping — Dancing- school-The Shepherd-Mother's death - Bad company- Crossing the ocean— Step-mother's death Chapter III. t Rapid changes — A robbery — Nunnery school — Illness — Father's sudden death— A dream— Adopted— Returned— Grandmother's sudden death— Cast on the world Chapter IV. Conversion— Turned out— New friends— An escape-Dreams —Spiritual joy— Misdirected— Request granted— Breach of friendship— Removal to Montreal .... 49 Chapter V, A warning — A surprise — Marriage — Twice burned out — Consolation— Drought— Rain— Promise of life , . 67 Chapter VI. Revived— Consecrated— Diary— Lesson .... Chapter VII. Business cares — Dress temptation — Dream — Despondency reproved — Roman Catholic neighbors — Note — God's messenger— 111 health— Promise of life renewed— Deliver- ance — Leaving Quebec gg 80 Chai'ter VIII. Paok Blessings and trials — The Lord's errands — Death's first visit — The price paid — Blessings reversed through disobedience — Many blessed lessons . . . . . . .110 Chapter IX. Difficidties increase — Mono Mills — Drunken doctor — Acrostic — B.D.'s plans fail — Removal to Albion — Dreams — Lessons on covetousness — Promise — At eventide — Brother G. . 124 Chapter X. Singular experience of Mr. H. — Sons of Belial — Fallen among thieves .......... 138 Chapter XI. Another sphere of labor — Deliverance — The broken leg — Death again — Ministry of angels — Victory — Tribulation . Chapter XII. 146 Spiritual communications — Death of J. W. — Poetry acrostic — The invisible— Extract from Ghrixtian Guardian — Death of Princess Alice, Prince Leopold and Duke of Clarence — How to get right impressions . . . . . . IflS Chapter XIII. Cheer him — Travail for souls — Singular lessons — The wreck — The rescue . . . . . . . . . 1G6 Chapter XIV. Vision of Bolton — Spiritual warfare — Presentiment fulfilled . 181 Chapter XV. Promises fulfilled — The guiding hand — Visit to Bolton — Death of Mrs. B. — Doth God take care for oxen ? — Message to Mrs. B. — Disobedience punished — The Lord's almoner — T. Guttery — The lost voice restored .... 200 Chai'tkh XVI. Paok Turn in there — Holy iiitolligoncea — AiiHWers to prayer — The lost hammer — Lost boots — Load of hay — Lost pail — Lost pocket welts — Let others' work alone — Visit to King Church 222 Chapter XVII. ' Divine leadings — Brother W. — No escape — May I not have tAvo cows? — Links of a chain — The devil's dust — The bee — Rev. J. D. — Death of M. R. 240 Chapter XVIII. Oliject lessons — The house in ruins — Didn't know what to do — The " dew lay all night on His branches "—The miller's wife — Another miller's wife — Be ye angry and sin not . 255 Chapter XIX. A gracious provision — The dying gift — My first cow — Hold your peace — The pillar of fire — God moves in a mysterious way— Cleansing the church — The candlestick — Instruction — Tithes— Giving and lending to the Lord . . . 268 Chapter XX. A sad error — Old shoes — Too much deference — ^Miss G. , of Georgetown — The scavenger's horse — Methodist Book Room — The enemy foiletl — Three calls to early prayer . 289 Chapters XXI. -XXVII. 21, (irimsby camp-meeting — 22, Widowhood — Fergus — 23, St. Thomas — 24, Canada Holiness Asscxnation — 25, My Roman Catholic friends — 26, Selections from " Epistles and Poems " — 27, Conclusion ...... 307 Precious Stones for Zion's Walls CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. " Gems from the mountain" of God's mighty power, " Pearls from the ocean " of His boundless love. It seems to me most proper that the opening chapter of this book should refer not to the earliest recollections of my life, but to the time and circum- stances that led me to begin this work of writing. It was in the year 1886, after about forty years of discipline and instruction in the spiritual kingdom of Christ, and about forty-five from the time of my con- version hi 1840. I had just retired for the night, and being very happy in God was repeating from my heart the words : " Happy, if with my latest breath I may but gasp His name ; Preach Him to all, and cry in death, ' Behold, behold the Lamb ! ' " Suddenly " the Voice," to which I had become well accustomed, said very distinctly, " Not with your dying breath, but with your living breath do it now, 12 phecious stones for zion's walls. do it now," and there followed these words, "The grave cannot praise thee . . . the living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day," and also said to me, " The things you have passed through were not given for yourself alone, but for others also. Write them." I said, " How shall I do it ; shall I write them and leave them for my children to attend to ? " " No, your children may never look into them — they may be burned up ; attend to it yourself." All this was perfectly distinct, as if spoken to my natural ear, but it seemed such a mountain of work that I could never climb it. I questioned, not man but God, for I could not have broached such a thing to a human being, because I felt sure that anyone less condescending than the Lord himself would think me very foolish, as I often thought myself, for enter- taining a thought of writing for publication, but my questions were answ^ered, I delayed, and was urged. I pleaded my ignorance of how to write for publica- tion, when lo ! I happened upon an article in a news- paper giving direction on this very point. Still I hesitated, and was reproved. I said, " I am too old to begin such a work." Here again my objection was met by another newspaper article giving a list of persons who did not begin their life work till they were as old, some older, than myself, being then about sixty. The following winter my husband died very sud- denly, and my daughter S. had a long illness from the shock. The doctor said we must take her away, a change was the only thing for her. We went, and H INTRODUCTORY. 13 returned late in the month of May. Late as it was, I could not think of letting my large garden lie idle, so set about planting, and while toiling at it I often heard the whisper, " This is useless toil, you should be at that writing." Still I thought if the seed were once in the ground it would be growing while I was writing ; besides it seemed so unreasonable to let the land lie idle. The work was so hard and I so run down that I was left quite unfit for writing, and it proved, as my wise counsellor had told me, " useless labor," for the season was very hot and dry, and it was so late before being planted that in the fall I hadn't the seed back, not a single onion — they died in the ground, and the potatoes were only fit to feed the fowls, they were so small. I did not get a dollar's worth for my labor. It was also useless labor in another sense, for in the fall I went with my dear friend, Mrs. G. Beatty, to Fergus to spend a couple of weeks, as I thought, but at her earnest request from time to time my visit was prolonged till April. Of this visit I shall speak again. Truly, God moves in a mysterious way and meets us unex- pectedly at many a turn in life, and speaks very distinctly when He has gained our attention. Thus a grand opportunity was lost for writing that quiet summer when only my one daughter and I were together at home. I have never had such another chance since, consequently the work has gone on very slowly, as we cannot take up writing at any moment as we do some other kinds of work, and now I find myself unable to write long at a time, it affects my 14 PRECIOUS STONES FOR ZION's cWALLS. eyes and head so badly. But having been admon- ished of the Lord to " make a business of it," I have persevered thus far, and think I have nearly done on this line. A few years ago I felt like giving it up, the interruptions and hindrances were so many, but the Lord spoke so very powerfully to me in a verse I read in the Sunday School Times, at the st me time setting a tune to it, that for a whole week the words and the music came welling up continually, filling me with divine joy : " Do thou thy work, it shall succeed In thine or in another's day ; And if denied the victor's meed, Thou shalt not miss the toiler's pay." My daughter also spent the winter with her brother and sister, who were married and living in St. Thomas, so we did not need the vegetables. It was useless toil indeed. At intervals along the line I have been stirred up to persevere in this work by certain passages of Scripture powerfully applied by the Spirit, as well as wonderfully blessed in my soul whenever engaged at it. The following are some of the passages : Esther iv. 14 : " Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this ? " and again, " If thou altogether boldest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place," showing that if I would not do my part to publish God's goodness He wr aise up some one else to do it. INTRODUCTORY. 15 Af^jain in 2 Kings vii. 9 : " We do not well : this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace : if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us : now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household." By this I was made to under- stand that I must not delay to publish the good tidings that showed God to be still near at hand till by some remarkable event this great truth should be made known the world over, like the brightness of the morning, but that I must let the King's household (the Church of God) know for their comfort. Also Daniel ii. 30 : " But as for me, this secret [these things] is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living," and at all times pressing home this truth that I did] not learn or receive these things from man, but from God. I was asked to write for the Expositor of Holiness ; three of my letters were published, a fourth the editor thought best to reserve, saying people were apt to run after the marvellous. In this I was directed of God through the words found in the eighth verse of the twenty-ninth chapter of First Chronicles : " And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the Lord, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite." It was this verse that sug- gested the title of this book. After this, I was directed to " write them in a book." This is how it came to pass that these things are written in book form, and from whence came the title. When Moses and the prophets and apostles wrote, they were not afraid of people being carried away 16 PRECIOUS STONES FOR ZION'S WALLS. with the wonderful works of God, and David said " I will abundantly utter the memory of His great goodness." I had also further evidence of the Lord's guiding hand concerning writing, which will be found in the chapter headed " Married in Two Years." Thus it will be seen that I have not rushed into writing or undertaken this work of my own mind. Several times when ill for a short period this work has confronted me as something not yet done which God required of me : not that I shun to declare the goodness and power of God — it is my joy — but there is something more difficult about writing it than speaking. Still God's way must be the best way. From the time I was bidden to write these things any further manifestations almost ceased, and I won- dered, and was afraid I had done something to make the Lord withdraw them; but while at prayer the Lord said to me concerning this matter, " These all died in faith," at the same time conveying to my mind that as those persons mentioned in the eleventh of Hebrews, and all God's children, lived and died and were saved bv faith, I must learn to do the same, for there was a danger of my coming to trust in manifestations, which were given to help me in my work that I might be able to speak with confidence like as God taught Moses, Gideon, Ezekiel and others. I felt somewhat reluctant to give up this delightful way of learning, but accepted the will of the Lord as being best, yet I had occasional manifestations, and the Voice continued. I wag afterwards reminded that as we educate our M&i INTRODUCTORY. 17 children for the business we mean them to follow, so the Lord had educated me on these lines that I niio-ht show Him to be a God near at hand and able to save to the uttermost all they who put their trust in Him for temporal as well as spiritual help, and, like as Paul was not sent to baptize but to preach the Gospel, and John was sent to baptize and prepare the way of the Lord, so by these things the minds of the people, and the Church in particular, were to be stirred up, for indeed there are many in the Church, both ministers and people, who can hardly believe that God talks with man nowadays except in soul matters. Yet it is the good old way. When did it cease ? Some earnestly contend that God speaks only through the Scriptures, but many Christians can testify that God has spoken to them otherwise, though perhaps most frequently by the w^ritten Word, applying portions distinctly to the mind, bearing especially on the needs of the hour. So I have found it. Another lesson powerfully pressed home is con- tained in the twelfth chapter of First Corinthians, where Paul speaks of the diversity of gifts, but by the operation of the same Spirit ; but the manifen" tation of the Spirit is given to profit withal, and so whatever the Lord hath wrought out for me or mani- fested to me it is for profit, not only for myself, but others also. The weakest member of His body (the Church), no matter how feeble, has a work peculiarly its own to do, and it is important that each member WT 18 PRECIOUS STONES FOR ZIONS WALLS. does its own work, even the eye, though so delicate and sensitive that it will shut its door and hide away if anything comes too near, and so helpless tliat it cannot wipe away its own tear, yet O how indispensable for the welfare of the body ! Then weak as I am I have my part to do, and this writing is part of my work which God hath set me. February 8th, 1897. — I have this day reviewed my manuscript to see that it is (juite ready for the pub- lisher, and there is a gladness in my heart. I feel as if my marriage was being consummated, and that the work the Lord had married me to was being done. For the last two weeks I have felt that this work must come to a head — it had been growing long enough I have been making it a matter of definite prayer, renunding the Lord that it was at His bidding it was begun, and by His help continued and com- pleted. And He too has been speaking to me by the Spirit and the Word, u)'ging me to proceed, remind- ing me of His promises and of all the wa}'' He has led me in this work. I did not feel called to undertake the publishing of this work in any uncertainty as to the means of defraying the expense. I have a great horror of debt, and besought the Lord to make the way very plain S3 that no one should suffer in this matter, as it is His work, and He has graciously answered my petition. All is clear, the means provided. Glory to God! I might continue writing, as old memories and new incidents are springing up every day, but I am admon- INTRODUCTORY. 19 ished and restricted. There are some things, as Paul saith, which are not lawful to be uttered, that is, not proper to be told ; and if I would write the story of my life it would fill another and larger book than this, of which it might also be said, " truth is stranger than fiction." It is not the private family affairs of my life that are written, but only small portions of them, that go to show the hand of the Almighty God in connection with the things of earth. "His glory is my only aim. His glory let me still maintain." In the Christian Guardian of December 80th, 1896, on the first page, is an article headed " Prayer." It concerns Mr. George Muller, founder of the Ashley Down Orphan Homes, who addressed the Western Union of the Young Men's Christian Associations at their recent annual conference in Bristol. Mr. Muller had passed his ninety-second birthday. He said that " he had had many thousands of ansivers to prayer within the last seventy-one years. . . . Every stone of the Homes, every particle of timber, was the result of prayer. Whenever he saw he was warranted to ask for a blessing, he pleaded the merits of Christ and exercised faith in the power and willingness of God, and he invariably went on praying till he got the answer." Here I differ somewhat in the way I was led. My habit has been, for some years past, to present my petition before the Lord for His inspection and await His decision. If I find the Spirit prompt- ing me to say spontaneously, " For Jesus' sake," I 20 I'llEClOUS STONES FOR ZION S WALLS. have found that tluit prayer was sure to be answered. Mr. M. says "he took up Ids orplian work especially with the object of j;'ivin(( a visible demonstration to the whole world and the Clmrch of God of what prayer could do," This book is written for the pur- pose of showing what God will do for those who make Him the man of their counsel, and was undertaken at His command. But the half can never be told. DEATH OF MRS. A. NOIiLE. I had heard of the illness of my friend Mrs. N. and that her end seemed near. On the day before her death I had been helping a friend with some sewing, but was unusually quiet that day — could not talk much, such a sweet stillness and solemnity resting upon me. On returning home in the evening, after all my family had retired I sat down with my Bible, and looking back over the day was regretting that I had been so silent. I thought I had been dull and stupid, and that I should have spoken more of the things of the Kingdom, but that Voice (so present) said, " The Lord does not want you to be always talking." On opening the Bible the first words that met my eye were the last verse of the fourth Psalm : " I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep : for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety." And at the same time I was told where the Lord was well pleased with my silence that day when the conduct of a certain person had been criticized. It was in my power to have added my portion, for she INTHODUCTOUV. 21 lijid treated iiie very badly, but I held 1113^ peace because I knew the Lord would rather. All these tliino's caused me tears of gratitude — they were falling on the open Bible. Suddenly such a Divine and heavenly influence filled the room that I closed my eyes and the book and said, " What is it, Lord ? What is it. Lord ? " (F'or I had ofVn found that when the Lord had something to comnmnicate my attention was first arrested by this kind of Divine influence.) It announced a Divine presence. I was answered by these words twice : " It is Ann Jane Noble going home. It is Ann Jane Noble going home." (She died the next day.) My impression is that ministering spirits were on their way to her and called to communicate it to me, for we were very much united in spirit when we were neighbors. After her death my thoughts and feelings flowed out towards her and composed themselves into verses, which came as if by inspiration, and it was while going about my household duties that five verses were written down. I waited for more but was told " There is no more — that is all." There seemed also a voice pressing the (piestion, " What could you do that would give her pleasure now, even in heaven ? " I studied, and tlie thought came, write a letter of sympathy to her family and enclose those verses. This I did ; and, by putting two lines into one, they were printed on her memorial cards. One of them w^as sent to me, but it was in the month of May, though she died on the 4th of 22 PRECIOUS STONES FOR r.lOS S WALLS, Marcli. There was a connection between my receiv- inif that card just at tliat time and the fullihnent of another matter of which I had been foretold two years before, and which shall be next related, as it stands in connection with these things, and shows that behind the scenes there are invisible a<;encies at work with whom we are also working our part. Her daughter told me the letter afforded them much comfort. Her remains were brought from Thomson v^ille to her brother's house in Albion, and it w^as seeing her in her coffin there that gave rise to the thoughts expressed in the verses. To me she scarcely looked like one dead, but rather as if in a sweet sleep. She had been very kind to me, which caused me to entitle the lines A Tribute of Gratitude. Oh ! that beautiful clay, how calm it lay, With the folded hands at rest, In snowy robes and white kid gloves, And the flowers, the flowers on her breast. She looked like a bride, so satisfied, Life's tumult all hushed to rest ; And stamped on her brow were the characters, I'm perfectly, perfectly blest." Now Yes, we all read it there, as she Tay on her bier, Ere they laid the frail casket away. Till Jesus shall come to reclaim from the tomb That beautiful, beautiful clay. INTRODUCTORY. 2.*^ Then we'll meet her again in a land free from pain, And join in His praise evermore ; There His mercies review, there our friendship renew, And never, no never, part more. Then let us press on after those that are gone And have gained their eternal reward ; It will not bti-long till we join the glad song Of praise to our conquering Lord. MARRIED IN TWO YEARS. One mornine case of a wicked youii^ woman who became converted to the Roman Catliolic Churcli. She had a very line head of hair of wliich she was very proud. This she cut off, made a crown of it and placed it on an image of the Virgin. She fell back into sin and died out of the Catholic faith. Then the image of the Virgin spoke and said, " Take the hair cro' . n off my head, for it is the hair of a damned person." When I recovered and returned to the school room ihe head teacher said to me one day, " We don't want you to be a Catholic unless you choose." But my choice was already made and I began learning the French Catholic catechism, which teaches that out of the Roman Catholic Church there is no salvation, and that all other religious teachers only serve to delude men. I also went to confession three times, told my sins as far as I knew them, and answered all the questions put to me by the priest truthfully ; even such things as I had not thought of he (juestioned me about. At this time my highest ambition was to be a nun, and when Father Bedard came occasionally to v^isit the school I earnestly wished for a scrap of his sash to keep as a precious relic. Even at that time good- ness and ])urity seemed to me the most beautiiul and desirable things on earth, though we were taught nothing about heart purity nor of any way of getting rid of sin but by confessing it to the priest, and no way of salvation but by being a Roman Catholic, and this was all my desire. RAPID CHAN'GES. 39 In the fall ol' 18o7, bcin*; at home for awhile, 1 went to visit (^randinother (as I always called my step mother's mother), and while there we were aroused one nioht by a messenger telling us that my father was taken very ill. We hastened to the city with all speed and found him unconscious. He had been out to see us on the Sunday previous and this was on Tuesday night. It appears from what the servant maid told us that after shutting up the shop he had made his glass of toddy and given Margaret hers too, for he was generous to all about him, though very irritable, and had sat down to read the news- paper. As Margaret passed the room door on her way upstairs ht, called her. She answered, but before she had time to reach him he called again. On entering the room he said, drawing his hand over his face, " Don't I look white ? " *' No, sir," she said, but on coming closer to him she said, " Oh, yes sir, you do." He said, " Catch me or I'm gone," and fell back and slid from his chair and never spoke more, though he lived till four o'clock the next morning, but in a stupor. How sad to say my father's irritable temper had inspired me with such a dread of him that [ did not mourn for him or feel my loss, and was too young to understand how we may love our children very dearly and yet if we are not delivered from our sinful tem- pers they will not believe in our love. My father was not worse th:in others in many respects ; he clothed us well and fed us well, and attended to our education while he lived, and as long 40 PRECIOUS STONES FOR ZION's WALLS. US li(j liad !i wife kept a well i'lD'iiisluMl house and servants. But now, after buiyino- his third wife, and bein^ pilfered by unprincipled servants, with no one to love or care for him or us, and far advanced in life without the consolation of reli^-ion, what wonder if he was irritable when it needs the peace and love of God to smooth the wrinkles out of our lives. Thirty years after, when I was " In the thick of the strife Of the battle of life," I found this same nervous, irritable spirit growing in myself. Although in my ^^ounger days there seemed no trace of it, yet doubtless it was constitutional and only needed circumstances to bring it out. One day I was suddenly arrested by the thought, " Why, I am getting cross like my father, and if 1 act like this m}^ children will be as afraid of me as I was of him." This sent me to God with strong cries and tears to be saved from this evil, and He heard me. In my early religious life I could not see any ground to hope that my father had experienced a change of heart, which we deem necessary ; but in later years, after learning myself more of the patience and love of God, and the value of an immortal soul, I think I can discover the hand of God at work to convince him of sin, and also some token that he was feeling after God, for he had me read sometimes in the Bible, as he said, to see how I was improving in reading, while I, even in my unccm verted state, fre- RAPID CHAN(!ES. 41 (juently clioso tlie fil'th of IMattliow, layiiii;' stress on the words, " But 1 Hiiy unto you, swear not at all," which he was very a])t to do. I am persuaded that (Jod in mercy often pursues people to the verge of the ^rave if possible to save them. Many yeai^ after his death I had a dream concerning him that leads me to hope he is saved, as I have several times had a glimpse beyond the veil, and received intelligence that satisfied me. I will not circulate my thoughts on the subject, as I have no positive Scriptural grounds, and the secret things belong to God ; but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children. Yet I will relate a dream which I had a short time before his death, as it has pleased the Lord frecpiently to forewarn me by this means, and also to instruct me. In a room upstairs, on a side table there stood a glass stand on which tumblers and wine-glasses were kept. In my dream I was standing near it, when suddenly there dashed into the room a naked boy. As he shot past me like lightning, I looked after him, and noticed that the back of his heels were as sharp as a knife. And Jibout a year before my little daughter died I saw her pass out of the room in a dream, and, looking after her, saw the same thing. She was naked, and her heels were sharp in like manner ; and I gather that the naked body repre- sented the unclothed spirit, and the sharp heels the shortness or sharpness of time in which it would be accomplished. But to return to my first dream. While I looked 42 PRECMOrs STONES FOR XION's WALLS. aft(ii" the naked boy as he daslied tlirongli the room, all the o-lasses on the stand rattled and sliook and fell, smashing to pieces. A great terror seized me, and I fled out of the room and down the stairs without seeming to touch the steps with my feet. When about three steps from the bottom, I sat down exhausted and trembling, and on looking up at the hall door opposite me, I saw the skeleton of a large man leaning against the door with his arms extended flat against it, and I heard him say, " But poor death withers away." And as he said these words I saw the fingers drop in pieces from the hands. Just then I awoke in great excitement, but soon for- got the dream. At the time of my father's death, and before the funeral took place, while looking over the contents of a trunk in his room, I came upon a roll of bank bills and counted out somewhere about one hundred and twenty ; these I carried to Grandma Rees, my step- mother's mother, as I expected to go and live with her, and thought she had the best right to them. She was then in the house with us. Mrs. Rees had also in her possession a box of very valuable articles belonging to my father, which I sup]wsed had been left in her care when he went to Montreal in search of the person who stole his desk. This box had not been brought home again. I knew it was there, and many public persons in Quebec knew he had these articles ; for while he was dressing the gentlemen's hair he frequently told them incidents concerning the French Revolution, and showed them RAPID CHANTJES. 43 some of tlic tliiiiirs contained in tlio hox : tliero had also been InlLs priiiteil advertisiii*^ some of them for sale. Some thinf^s that 1 remember seeing were silver toddy ladles and teaspoons, gold French repeating watches, silver shoe buckles set with clear wdiite stones, which I understood were diamonds (l)ut per- haps they were not), and gentlemen's dressing cases silver mounted, but that which interested us most was the Highland outfit, consisting of the pouch with silver mounted dirk with knife, fork and silver spoon hid in the handle ; both silk and cotton Highland hose and a very handsome piece of satin goods which he frecjuently said was to be my wedding dress. The Highland outfit, I think, had belonged to his father or grandfather, as I have heard him tell how he was taken from his plough and compelled to go to the war, and I suppose this will account for my father being at one time hair-dresser to Napoleon Bonaparte and at another tilling the same office for one of the Georges of England. Many changes in my life and circumstances now followed in (juick succession. (Jrandma Rees and Mr. Devery, a neighbor, were made executors and my little step-brother and I went to live with Mrs. Rees, who warned me strictly never to tell any- one that I gave her the money or that the l)o.x; of valuables were in her possession, and 1 never did till many years after her death : for although I had an idea it rightly belonged to us, yet she gave me to understanrl it might bring us into trouble if it were known. 44« riiEcious STONES for xion's walls. A sliort tiiiK^ boi'oiH! my i';itlKM''s deatli, one of liis custoiiuTH was in s;('ttiii<;" her hoy's liair (h-essed and lamenting tlie deatli of lier only daiigliter, an infant. My fatlier said, in a joke, 1 suppose, " I'll give you my little girl." This lady, wife of Mr. Wm. Patton, merchant, had six sons, and had buried two or three baby daughters. When she heard soon after of my father's sudden deatli, she remembered his words, and made a})plication to Mrs. Rees to get me for her own. They arranged matters between tliem and I was transferred to my new home without having .any voice in the matter. Her three oldest sons went to the seminary and only came home on Saturdays, but two of them were so roucfh and rude I dreaded their 'JT> cominjjf home. At one time one of them swung' his bag of school books so as to strike me in the face, and used bad language. I told Mrs. Patton, but sh«^ ou]y said, " Well, you must tell ^Ir. P." I thought she meant what she said, and when Mr. P. came home I told him. He said nothing, but taking off his slipper gave his son a whipping. Mrs. P. never forga\e me : I think she did not expect I would tell him. She was then lookino; for an increase in the family and asked my grandma to take me home till the event was over, but when she found she liad another baby girl she did not want me back, and agreed that if Mrs. llees would take me back she would clothe me. She l)Ought me a few yards of cotton and I returned to grandma's, and it ended there ; she never did anything more for me. Soon after this, I heard that her two eldest sons RAPID CHAXGES. 45 were drowned, or died at sea wliile on a voyage to England, and soon after Mr. P. died very suddenly. He was an extremely v^orpiilent man. "At the time I was with them they lived on the Cape, and we had a fine view of the vlisplay of fireworks at the time of the coronation of Queen Victoria. About a year and a-half after my return to Mrs. Rees, she died very suddenly. She and I were out walking by moonlight, about the premises ; we lieard the cannon fire and knew it was nine o'clock, as this was the sii^nal to call the soldiers in. There were two regiments in Quebec at that time. We soon went in and began to prepare for bed, but before we had time to undress, grandma began to be xery sick, purging and vomiting. There was still tire in the stove and hot water in the kettle, and as the custom was in those days with almost everyone, she always kept liquor in the house. I made her a liot drink but she could not swallow it. She said, " 0, if I could drink that it would do me good." Her whole cry was "Lord Jesus, what shall I do :*" Tliis she repeated many times, then she threw her arm round my neck and said, "O Eliza, wliat will become of you?" and she was ""one. These were her last words. She never mentioned her own daughter's child, then about five years old, and fast aslecip at tlie farther side of the bed. Perhaps she could trust his many relatives to take care of him, but I had no one to care for me. So died (Irandma Rees, with about twenty minutes' illness. Of course her i'Mmiiy took possession of all her 46 PRECIOUS STONES FOR ZIOX's WALLS. property and money. I never once saw any of tlie valuable articles that were in that box, but I heard that their children were flaunting the gold watches about in their pockets. I did see the piece of French satin goods by chance, once. Some years after, hap- pening to call one day on Mrs. Morgan (Mrs. Rees' daughter), I found them preparing for their eldest daughter's wedding and utilizing what my father said was to have been my wedding dress, yet they did not give the least explanation or excuse, though they knew and I knew it was lawfully mine. Tliis did not cause me a moment's pain, for by that time I had found the robe of rigliteousness that Jesus gives to them that come to Him, and was per- fectly happy and contented with my humble lot and plain dress, and would by no means have worn it, nor had I the least desire for it ; they were quite welcome to all they got since I had found my Saviour. Yet, looking back upon it now, it seems a heartless trans- action, but as I had spent a little while in their family before going out into the world to earn my own liv- ing, pei'haps they thouglit they had a right to any- thing there was. When I came into their home Mrs. Morgan dis- charged her servant, and I can't l)lame her, for times were hard and her husl)and (a tailor) did not make much, and she had opened a gentleman's boarding house. Perhaps I was not able to fill her servant's place, never having been put to work during my father's lifetime, not so much as to wash a cup or handle a broom, but kept at school. IlAl'ID CHANGES. 47 However, she soon found a place for me in the family of Judge Carr, or Kerr. Tlu.'re was just tlie old {»;entleman and two daughters, not very young. They kept a cook, and a man came every day to do any rough work, while I had to dust tlie rooms and make the ladies' bed, but was not able for the latter so the cook had to come up to help me, being small for my years. But what seemed like adversity was the beginning of better days for me. The cook, Jane IVIcTntosh, had been converted about eight months before, and, as a consequence, cared for my soul. She talked a good deal to me but I could not take it in, it made no impression on me. One night after we had been in bed some time, and she had been trying to lead me to God, she said, " Let us get up and pra3\" I got up merely to oblige her, but I could only repeat something I had learned by heart. I must have seemed very hard and stupid. She also lent me her hymn book, and being very fond of poetry this accomplished what she could not. I admire the goodness of God in this, for if she had lent me her Bible very likely I would not have read it, but the beauty and sublimity of the poetry caught my atten- tion and the Spirit of the Lord applied the truths. Now came the turning point in my life. I became convinced of my sinfulness and my need of a Saviour, and of the goodness of God the Father in providing such a Saviour, and in wishing that we should be reconciled to Him, truly I can say, " The goodness of God led me to repentance." Oh, how my lu^art flowed out in penitential tears and gratitude for His love. V^et 48 I'KECIUUS STONES FOR ZIONS WALLS. I said not a word to Jane, but would linger up after Hhe had gone to bed. Then I would get the hymn book, place the candle on a chair and kneel down, and with flowing tears make use of the words therein to address the Lord. There was one verse in particular that I used to repeat over and over again, as the light of God increased in my soul : " Jesus, the sinner's Friend, to Thee, . Lost and undone, for aid I flee ; Weary of earth, myself, and sin. Open Thine arms, and take me in !" CONVERSIOX AND THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. 49 CHAPTER IV. CONVERSION AND THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. • I NOW desired to attend the Metliodist elmrcli whore Rev. James Cau^hey was lioldiiiii;; revival services, and thouf^h I don't remember that any- thing* lie said impressed me, yet at my second attendance, when an invitation was given to tliose who were seeking tlie Lord to come up to the front seats, I and a few others innnediately went forward. A brother came along, speaking a few words to each. When he came to me he said : " Do you believe that God for Christ's sake forgives or pardons your sins ? " (he put it in the present tense, that means now), and I answered " Yes." If it had been set before me in any other way I might not have accepted it so readily. As I spoke the word "yes," I also believed it in my heart, and at once felt a calmness and peace steal gently over me. At first it was so slight that it seemed like a little rill as small as a pipe-shank running into my heart, and at the same instant, with my spiritual vision, I distinctly saw what seemed like a stream of liquid light come down and cross over my right shoulder straight into my heart: it was like lightning as we see it in the sky in chain or fork. All this took place so quietly that those on either 4 50 ruKciors stonks koh zions walls. side of me would not suspect that so «j;n>at a trans- action liaubled. till at last I sought refuge in the cellar, and there, kneeling among the coals, confessed my sin in deep r^orrow with many tears. Thinking over this of late years, I believe it was only a suggestion, and many times in after life have I made the same mistake and many times did the Lord defend me and deliver me from my satanic per- secutors. Of this I may spi'ak again. It is Satan's business to annoy and per[)lex the children of God, and if possible to throw doubts on their sonship, as he said to oui* Lord, " If thou be the Son of God." Oh, how Satan plied the " ifs," but Jesus plied the sword of the Spirit. " And when he had ended all the temptation he nt H«' knows our tlu)U<;lits hel'ore we cm put them into words, and the answer came, " Well, do you wish to withdraw the sacriHce ?" In a moment my eyes were enli<;htemMl, and I saw that the Lord had looked upon it as it really and truly was, a sacritiee, a crucifying- of my own will, with the idea that He approved of my deed, and I saifl, "Oh no, no: if CJod has looked upon and owned the ort'erini:", h't me endure to the end." In about a year and a-half after this W(^ were mari-ied in Quebec by the Rev, Wnj. Sfpiires, Rev. J. Borland being also present, in the month ot April, 1845. It was a dark night and pouring rain, and if I were a believer in omens, 1 might say it foreshadowed my future, for troubles came very soon. As the time for our marriage drew near, I had to go to the Lord with another request. As I have often said, I would have thought it an h')nor to be his servant, such was my reverence for good men and for this one in pai'ti- culai', but 1 felt 1 had not the Io\e which I thought 1 ought to have towards one who was to be my husband, so I asked the Lord for this also, and Ho granted my refjuest. Though troubles came thick and fast, as Ion;; as love was there evervthinii- else could be en was not tli(! convonicnc*^ tlicn for cxtiniiuish- inif tires tliat we liMve now. and I saw what niitdit fol- low. 1 hastened lionie and leaninj^ my head against the mantol- shi'H'; it stole over me in the words of the l)eautiful hynni that V)e_i;ins : " My Sliephoid will supply my need, Jehovali is I J is nanie." And every line of the whole hymn was powerfully spoken to my heart, esjtecially the words: " When I walk thnmi^h the shades of death, Thy presence is my stay ; A word of Thy supporting Itreath Drives all my fears away." it seemed like walkin<^ in the shadow of death, so many were dyin^, an." She seeMie(l annoyed and said, " More shame for you," and walked away." I felt hurt that she should speak in that maimer to me. " ])Ut tlie words of the wise are as goads, and as iiails lastened in a sure place." 'IMiough at first ott'ended, 1 aftiirwards l)egan to consider if they were true, and the more I thought of it the more the words worked their way into my conscience, and I had to acknow- ledge that there was some truth in them and that it was a shame to be getting behind-hand. Doubtless the Lord used these words as a ut a worm, (hist and a.shes. The brittle thread of life is every moment liable to be snappe*! asunder, Imt I was tilled with love and my soul could sing : "Then let this feeble body fail, And let it droop and die, My sou. .ihall tjuit this mournful vale And soar to worlds on high." January 2Lst. Am nnich better, though still feeble REVIVED — CONSECHATEIX 89 Glory to God lor his {ilnindant ffoodness. This lo have been the niereies of my (lod, various tlie temptation.s of the enemy to draw mo aside, but, blessed be God, through the light of the Holy Spirit I am not left in ignorance of his devices, and through all my conflicts can say, "My heart is fixed, O (lod. my heart is fixed" to triumph in Thy love. August 10th. () Lord, 1 will record Thy faithful- ness, that my soul may look back and be encoin*aged. I praise Thee that Thou hast enabled me to speak a word in season for 1'hee, and to write to my brother in a distant lan % v^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY 14580 ( 716) 872-4503 92 PRECIOUS STONES FOR ZFON's WALLS. This day I have lived in the Spirit; seeking direc- tion, proving deliverances, obtained victories, some- times cast down through various temptations, yet without sense of guilt, but while in conversation with some Christian friends the snare of the enemy was broken. Thus the Lord sends timely help. " Midst scenes of confusion and creature complaints, How sweet to the soul the communion of saints." October 6th. O what shall I render to the Lord for all His o-ifts and blessino-s ? " Here I'll raise my Ebenezer, Hither by Thy help I'm come, And 1 shall, by grace, assisting Safely yet arrive at home. " O my God, I have proved Thy faithfulness to keep and to save under all circumstances. A worldling has spoken well of me and evil of one of Thy dear chil- dren, who is far more experienced and devoted than I ; this has deeply humbled me, knowing that the friendship of the world is enmity with God. I was rather alarmed that the world should speak well of me ; I desire rather tlie portion of Thy despised followers. To the Christian the world's frown is more valuable than its smile. I was tried lately by an accpiaintance calling on us in a half- intoxicated state. My sorrow was stirred for his lost condition, cind I felt the disgraceful appear- ance of his coming in that state. I wept and prayed for him, and when he had sobered ofi* somewhat I got REVIVED — CONSECRATED. 93 him to pray for himself and prayed with him, and truly I have not been so much blessed, comforted and encouraged for a long time, as while praying with this poor half-drunken man. The Lord was present, we had a melting time, and the poor fellow responded heartily to the prayers. May the Lord fasten it in his heart as a nail in a sure place. I was amply repaid for the trial of his coming, for had he gone elsewhere the opportunity of speaking to him would not have been mine. My good name is nothing; let it be sacrificed if good may be done. " Let me be little and unknown, Loved and prized by God alone." I am led to pray that the Holy Ghost, the spirit of peace, may dwell in and rule our family. I am tried by the peevishness of the little ones, and my own ill health helps to make them so. I find it hard to entertain them as they need, and my own besetting sin was ever that of impatience ; but in this also I have besought the Lord, and He has appeared to my help. I have seen His salvation, and many times when their fretfulness troubled me, I have, while looking reprovingly at them, silently lifted my heart to the Lord, and the evil spirit has died out of them without my speaking a word, and I was kept in perfect peace. Soon after this I had a lesson of another kind. My husband had backed a note for D. A., a person gener- ally believed to be a good man. He was a tract distributor, and in the habit of talking to and praying 94 PRECIOUS STONES FOR ZION's WALLS. with people, but like ourselves, had been burnt out in the great fires of Quebec a few years previous, and was in difficulty, not being able to meet his payments. Of course we were all much surprised when it was found that David had left, no one knew where for, but it seems the poor man had gone where he could have peace from his creditors and opportunity to make better wages and send his earnings to pay his debts. The time came when the note was due. We could not raise the money, and as we heard Mr. V. was a hard man, we expected to be put to trouble, so decided to move our household efiects next door to my father-in-law's house, not to escape paying it, but that our things might not be sacrificed. While busy at this I continually heard the inward Voice saying, " If any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also." It seemed I ought to be quiet and trust in the Lord, but my fears were stronger than my faith ; yet if we had obeyed the Voice we would have sufiere.d no harm. We did not find Mr. V. bad to deal with ; he kindly took what we could give him and waited for the rest, which we paid, but did not lose, for David came back after a time and paid us all. Thus God defended His poor servant and brought forth His righteousness as the light, and His judgment as the noon-day. David was honest. Some people say if we are led by the Spirit we don't need the Letter, but I am sure it w^as the Spirit who was teaching me lessons by the Letter. One of REVIVED— CONSECRATED. 95 these was on the subject of lending. A neighbor borrowed my Italian irons and returned them with part of the handle burnt oft' one of the heaters, I did not like it, for it was new ; but she sent again repeatedly for them, each time returning them more injured. But the Voice kept saying so distinctly, " From him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away." Thus the Lord taught me first to obey the Letter, and when I had got well exercised on that line He showed me that it was the spirit of the letter He required. 96 PRECIOUS STONES FOR ZION's WALLS. CHAPTEK VII. B USINESS CA RES— DELI VE RANGE. I COME now to speak of another lesson. We had bought a phice in the outskirts of the town, on Valier's Road, and I conceived the idea that it would help our circumstances if I w^ere to start store -keeping. My husband's father was favorable to the project and helped it forward, and though I afterwards saw that warnings had been given me, yet the still small voice was drowned in the din of plans and purposes that had taken possession of my thoughts, and I heard it not. True, I prayed the Lord to bless my undertaking, and never for a moment suspected it w^as going to interfere w^ith my spiritual welfare ; but I found to my sorrow it came near destroying my body and mind, for hindrances came from a quarter I least expected, and made it impossible for me to succeed. But I will be silent — the day of the Lord will reveal all things. My health gave way again. The labor and anxiety affected my nerves, and being now farther removed from the means of grace, I had not the spiritual help I needed. I struggled hard to hold my ground, but felt the worldly care gaining upon me, and was terri- bly grieved to tind my thvuglits, even on the Sabbath BUSINESS CARES — DELIVERANCE. 97 day, in spite of all I could do, stealing away into the store, and it seemed as if my treacherous heart would follow them. I was also beset by a new temptation, for dress had never troubled me much since my conversion. One passage of Scripture spoken to my heart by the Spirit, while making a purchase, has served to warn me ever since. It was this, " The lust of the eye." But a new kind of goods called " lion skin " was in use which made very nice-looking, warm cloaks, but of course it was expensive, and not to be thought of under present circumstances. I labored to put away the desire from me, but my enemy kept it so persistently before me that at last I began to entertain it, and to wish I could get one, with a black velvet bonnet, for the winter. Just here I think the Lord helped me by a dream. I thought I had obtained the coveted articles and was standing before the looking-glass trying them on when I discovered there were also artificials in the bonnet, a thing I had never worn (except one white rose for a few weeks) or thought of wearing since my childhood. All at once I dis- covered Satan looking over my shoulder in the glass too. In my dream I rushed away in terror and awoke in great agitation, but so disgusted with " lion skin " coats and velvet bonnets that it troubled me no more. The enemy now tried to persuade me that all the glorious blessings received when consecrating myself to God had been imagination, and that I need never hope to enjoy such blessedness again, and it sc'i'iued as if the powers of darkness were let loose 7 98 PRECIOUS STONES FOR ZION S WALLS. Upon me. Still my cry was goin<^ up to God con- tinually that He would preserve nie from sin, for the Spirit bade me beware of attributing the manifesta- tions 1 had received to any other power than that of God, for in so doing I was bordering on the unpar- donable sin in ascribing the work of the Holy Spirit to other causes. Thus I was led to cry mightily to God for help, and again was delivered and taught by a dream. Standing at the back door of our house and looking up, there seemed a great commotion in the sky; the clouds parting and rolling away, and an immensely large figure apjjearing in sight which I knew to be the Saviour. The clouds rolled away till the whole person to the very feet was revealed. Seeing this, I was tilled with joy and began to clap my hands and exclaim, " Now He's coming ! Now He's coming ! He knows my heart — He will set all things right ! " The joy within was like a mighty moving power that lifted me up from the earth (and I have always thought that is the way we wall rise to meet the Lord in the air), but as I was going up I began to think of my husband and to wish he would come along too. I could hear .him in the store talking very loud in argu- ment with some men. I was very loath to go without him, and tried in vain to make him hear. But a voice said to me, " H* you wait for your husband you will lose the Saviour, as you lost that sight when a child" (that was twenty years before), and I was afraid to turn my head to call him lest the glorious sight should disappear and be lost, as was a previous sight . BUSINESS CAKES — DELIVERANCE. 99 of the Good Shepherd, when I was a little child, when I turned my head to call my mother to see it and it was gone. (See Chap. II.) So I tried to tap on the window to make him hear without turning my head, and in my anxiety about him forgot the warning and turned my head for an instant. What was my dismay to see the clouds hurrying together and hiding the Saviour from my view. My grief was now as great as the joy had been, and in my despair I felt myself coming down to the ground. A black dog put its head out of the ground and bit me on the side. I awoke, and several lessons were taught me through that dream. First, that though much cast down and sorely tempted, God had not forsaken me ; that it was His spirit within me which caused the joy that lifted me up from the earth and was still drawing me to himself. Secondly, that I must not tarry or look back, even for my husband, or I would lose my Saviour. Thirdly, that it was the design of Satan to turn me out of the way to heaven by persuading me to engage too deeply in the things of earth, thus to confuse and darken my mind and then drive me to despair. This was the black dog that put its head out of the earth and bit me. One circumstance happened about this time that I can never forget. Being 'very sick and weak I felt deeply the want of a mother or sister to come in and help or sympathize, but I had none. It was the first time I grieved about my mother, for she died when I was so young that I never knew my loss, While 100 PRECIOUS STONES FOR ZION's WALLS. lying on the sofa, my little girl, who had been playing outside, came in with a bunch of clover and butter- cups and said, " Here is a posy for 'ou, ma.'' As she handed me the flowers, these words were spoken to my heart distinctly, " If God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith ? " Thus I was both reproved for my want of faith and encouraged to trust in God, who was more than mother to me. Though so many years ago, the mention of that passage of Scripture brings up all the circumstances afresh. I have also another sweet Ebenezer in review. R. S., who was in poor health, visited us. In my own weak state, and already too much to do, it was a task to entertain him, but I sought help of God and He richly rewarded me by the blessing He left me, and the light He imparted on the Scriptures. As we were living in the midst of a Roman Catho- lic neighborhood, it was no uncommon thing, as we returned from our worship, to see through the open windows some one playing the fiddle and a company dancing, as their Sabbath observance ends with the Vespers, or afternoon service. The rest of the day is given up to recreation. This was so in Quebec at that time. Now in Toronto I see people thronging to the Catholic church in the everftng. We were so accus- tomed to this sort of thing that it ceased to be a matter of surprise to us. Some members of the family were ridiculing their folly and passing remarks on their weaknesses. I h !■• If BUSINESS CARES — DELIVERANCE. 101 Brother S., wlio had been silent, now said, " Thou fittest and wpeakest against tliy brother; thou shm- derest tliine own niotlier's son." The thought came to me, " So saying, thou condemnest us also," but the next moment I saw the justice of the condemnation 1- and accepted it. A light fell upon my spirit and sliowed me that we were in a very low condition, spiritually, and not so much raised above those they were slighting, though we were professing Christians, and Methodists at that. When we went to family worship, S. was asked to pray, but he only repeated the Lord's prayer. My impression was that God was displeased with our state and therefore gave His servant no liberty for any further intercession. About this time we might have been burned out again but for the devotion of these same Catholic neighbors. It was the custom in the winter for one to rise and make on the fire and get into bed again, till the house w^as warm. This had been done, but all unknown to us the pipes upstairs were on fire, and our neighbors, returning from early worship, saw the flames towering out over the roof (which was covered with shingles), and gave the alarm. My husband, on account of his lameness, could not walk without his boots, and his lame foot could not be dressed in a hurry, as it had always to be bandaged, so that but for the speedy help afibrded by the neighbors we could not have saved the house. I remember them with gratitude, and thank God for the deliverance brought us through the devotion of our Roman Catholic friends. But every J02 PRECIOUS STONES FOR ZION's WALLS. sentence of that prayer seemed wreatlied in glory and sublimity as I had never seen it before, and the light lias remained upon it and upon several other passages of Scripture which he gave utterance to. The Sword of the Spirit, whicli is the Word of God, was mighty in his hand, and truly I would say, " Did not our heart burn within us while he talked witii us and opened to us the Scriptures ? " At one time while he was expounding a certain passage, as I looked up at him for an instant his countenance changed and I saw the glory of God in it, and at that moment it was revealed to my soul that Christ in very deed inhabits those who follow Him fully, and this transfiguration was the more obvious, as he was not at all comely looking ; his hair had grown long, he was unshaved (a very uncommon thing at that time), he was pale and sallow through sickness, and withal squinted very badly, but I realized that God was with him. I don't think others did, for when he left he in his turn became the subject of jest and ridicule. How truly the natural man does not discern the things of the Spirit. I have since thought the Lord sent him to be a help to some and a reproof to others, and have reason to bless God to-day for the light then received. My health had now become so bad that it was with difficulty I could attend to the store and my family, and being in the midst of a French-Canadian neigh- borhood where rarely one could speak English, I had to attend to everything myself, for my husband could BUSINESS TARES — DEMVEHANCE. 10.'] Speak IK) Frcncli, uiid it fiv(|uently liappeiicd tluit while dressing my little ini'aiit he had to be laid down while I went to wait on some custonierH, who would perhaps buy a few cents' worth and keej) me a lono- time from my w^ork or my meals when weak and weary. My di