My own heart tells me that it is; there is so much in it that finds me. I would believe my own intuitions when I would turn aside from other evidence. But there is plenty of other proof-the history of the Jews, for instance. How literally is fulfilled the old prophecies concerning them! They are a by-word and a hissing, and a distinct TO, Charles; it cannot be. I shall never marry a man who does not believe in a God, who has no reverence for the Bible, and no delight in the holy Sabbath. I should be afraid of you." “Do I look as if I might be frightful to people, though scattered among all nations. any young lady? he asked, playfully. But No; you are well aware that you are handsome, intelligent and scholarly. you take all these gifts of a kind Father, without a single emotion of gratitude to the giver." "Then I am truly a heathen, and it is the duty of my dear friend Ella to try to conGo ye and preach the gospel; I like to hear it from your lips." vert me. "No, sir! I shall not undertake the task. Many a poor girl has been caught by that bait. They were going to reform and Christianize the men that they married; but woe be to the woman who trusts any such delusive hopes. There is a much greater probability that her own heart will be crushed, and the husband remain the same unbeliever as before." Seriously, Ella, I would like to believe a great deal more than I do, but I cannot. All is dark to me beyond the grave-not one ray of light to cheer the heart. Glowing and dark as the depths of yon ocean, They are living witnesses of the truths of inspiration." "I confess that the history of this strange people is an argument in favor of your favorite book. But your other proof-your own feelings in regard to it - are not to be trusted. It is so because you know it is, is no reason at all; and to tell you the truth, Miss Ella, if you had been about the world as much as I have, and mingled in all kinds of society, and seen such a precious little difference between the saint and sinner, you, too, might believe a little less than you do now." If going about the world, in all kinds of society, should make me lose faith in eternal realities, in the blessed hope of a Christian, then I hope to remain at home forever. But I wish you would study the Bible. Read the simple stories of Abraham and Isaac and Joseph, the prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple; and become acquainted with the lofty strains of David and Isaiah, and the wonderful prophecies that were fulfilled in the long-promised Messiah. Read When sunlight streams o'er them with tremulous motion, the holy words of Him who spake as never As if half afraid of the silence below. Is the sea where the genius of error reposes, "When you are my wife, I will sit at your feet and learn to walk in the way that you tread so fearlessly. Be my guide to a better life." "I cannot. You have Moses and the prophets and the life and teachings of the dear Son of God. If you will not beed these, neither would you be persuaded by the words of any living friend. Do you ever read the Bible? Have you ever read it through ?" man spake, ponder the golden rule and the sermon on the mount, and the lives of the apostles who rejoiced in martyrdom for the sake of the Master whom they loved more than life" "I will do this. I will read any book that you suggest, if you will give me one little word of encouragement. For your sake I would believe that mountains might be removed and cast into the sea." into the country. The next day he was to return to New York, and to his business there as an enterprising young lawyer. Young, handsome, gifted and wealthy, his society was eagerly sought by his acquaintances, and his position gained him entrance to the best homes of the metropolis. When he was a mere lad he read several infidel books that were lent him by a designing man, and he imbibed their dangerous sentiments, and when he became a man, he openly avowed himself a sceptic. This was a great grief to his widowed mother, and she left no means untried to win him back to the sweet faith of his childhood years. Too close application to business had impaired his health somewhat, and, by the advice of friends, he finally left the city to spend three summer months with the Mowbreys, who lived in a small village among the Berkshire Hills. Ella Mowbrey was the eldest child of the village clergyman, a very beautiful girl of eighteen. From a child she had known the Scriptures, and her heart was full of love to God and love to all His created works. When Charles Hamilton came, with his city style and gentlemanly manners, she thought him everything great and good, and altogether superior to the young men she had known in the narrow circle of her acquaintance. She was surprised at his mental attainments, and almost unconsciously to herself she became deeply interested in him, and might have loved him had he not shocked her one day by sneering at the faith of the Christian. He deeply regretted that he had given her this clue to his opinions, for he saw that she was more shy of him afterwards, and he acknowledged to himself that her good opinion was of more worth to him than that of any other young lady of his acquaintance. He had witnessed her daily life, her unassuming goodness, her gentle patience with her younger brothers and sisters, and the love that was given her by all the villagers. He had seen her in the rustic church and had listened to her melodious voice as she sang the devotional hymns, and those sweet strains seemed to echo in his heart during all the following week. He had also seen her in the Sabbath School, surrounded by a score of little boys whom she was trying to guide to the great Teacher who bade them come to him. He contrasted her peaceful ways with those of the city belles, whose lives were, many of them, only a giddy round of pleasure, and he felt that it would be a fortunate man who could win such a treasure for his own. Therefore, when the time came for him to leave the village, he had sought an opportunity to tell her all his heart, and ask her to tread the devious paths of life by his side. Her firm refusal was wholly unexpected, but he esteemed her the more for it when she gave her reason, so gently yet so firmly, and he left that peaceful retreat, a wiser yet a sadder man. There were some treasures wholly beyond his reach. He went again to his city home and his city business, and tried to forget the past; but that was impossible. He then began to think of the conditions,that her God should be his God; that he should be guided by the precepts of a book that he had no faith in, and did not understand. Just as if he could control his belief! His heart was full of bitterness. But when his better mood came, he thought he might, at least, examine the book that was the guide of the professed Christian, and he resolved to do it. He went to his trunk and took his own Bible the gift of his mother several years previously - and commenced reading at the beginning. he Ella said, read it prayerfully,' mused;" but long years have passed since I tried to pray. Perhaps I can pray as a certain infidel once did, O God, if there be a God, have mercy upon my soul, if I have a soul!"" He smiled at the cold unbelief implied in such a petition, and resumed his reading; nor did he lay down his book till he had finished the book of Genesis. "There! I am none the worse for that," said he, "I am pleased with the beautiful simplicity of the language in which these strange stories are told. And God said let there be light; and there was light. If that isn't a nicely constructed sentence, then I am no judge; rather different from the fixedup sentences of our modern writers; and these old patriarchs knew a thing or two. If there is a God, he knows how to take care of his own people, that is certain. Putting Joseph into the pit proved to be a good opening for the young man, that is another certainty; it led the way to his advancement." Every morning did he continue to read the Bible-sometimes a single chapter, at other times many of them, and other, better prayers begun to tremble on his lips, as he read the Psalms of David, and the Proverbs of Solomon. But it was not till he had read the life, teachings and miracles of Christ, till he heard him, the Son of God, exclaim, "The foxes have holes, the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head;" not till he had witnessed the scenes in the garden and heard his last prayer, did his own heart melt before such divine compassion. Then he exclaimed, "God be merciful to me, a sinner." With sincere penitence he came to Him who is the way, the truth, the life; and there was joy in the presence of the angels, for another sinner had repented. Another summer came, with its birds and flowers, and lengthened days, and the crowded city throngs again sought the purer airs of the country. Ella Mowbrey, in her quiet home, was still the good angel of the household, making sunshine and peace in the rustic parsonage. Had she forgotten her city lover? She never mentioned his name. She did not grow sickly and drooping, as young ladies do in novels; she was just as fond of strawberries and cream as when she ate them one year ago with Charles by her side. But in the holy hush of the evening, when the day's cares and duties were all past, and she read her little Bible and bowed in prayer, then his name dwelt lovingly upon her lips, and was borne upward to the home of the angels. One day she had been watching the golden clouds piled up against the western sky, and thinking tenderly of him, when she heard the front gate open, and in a moment he stood before her. "Charles!" "Ella!" were all the words spoken for many minutes. "I came to tell you, Ella, that I have sought and found the true riches that endure unto eternal life. I am no no longer a poor, miserable unbeliever. Will you send me away now?" how heavy the cross has been for me till I see it suddenly removed. To God be the praise and the glory." The home of Ella Hamilton is now in New York; it is a home of luxury, of peace, and of contentment. Together the husband and wife seek to do good and promote the happiness of each other and of all around them. Time has only deepened the religious experience of the husband, and he, too, is grateful for the firm but gentle decision that was the means, under God, of his salvation from the cold doubts of the sceptic. A CONFERENCE-ROOM PAPER. BY THE LATE MRS. MARY MURKLAND. WITH ITH devout gratitude to "the author as Universalists, that exposition of Christianity which is the highest and noblest held by any of the various sects into which the church is divided. We alone adore a perfect God; we only acknowledge a successful Saviour; and our doctrine alone, satisfactorily solves the great problem of human existence, making individual happiness consistent with the supreme good of the whole. There are those who think we have not yet arrived at the truth; that new light will yet dawn upon us, and a purer form of faith will yet be ours. That many things may shine in clearer vision that are dark to us now, is certain, but why may not Universalism as it stands to-day recorded, exist. a thousand years hence? Other creeds become outgrown and obsolete; ours, brief but sufficient, contains nothIng to bar eternal progress, for it gives scope to the full expansion of our highest faculties. The vanity of human reason may attempt a more daring flight; but inteilect cannot go beyond spirit, and it must fold its wings at last, and rest, like everything else, on the "Rock of Ages." Now with all our superiority of doctrine, what are we doing? Relying on the certainty of universal salvation, we seem to fold our arms, and lazily sit down to wait for the time when God shall bring about the desirable result. But God does not consummate his plans in an arbitrary manner; he uses means, sometimes so insignificant and gen tle that it almost appears as if he left his creation to itself. So in the vast scheme of salvation, though his power is sufficient to make all evil subserve his purpose, yet he chooses to make us the humble instruments of the world's regeneration, he working in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure; and only in proportion as we obey the divine voice within, shall we be able to reap "the peaceable fruit of righteousness." An unerring eye measures our faith, not by our assent to certain statements, but by the corresponding extent of our works. Judged by this standard, though we have nominally the most comprehensive form of belief, yet other denominations of narrower views stand justified rather than we in the commendation, "Well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things;" while we who have stood in blind confidence, expecting the heavenly gates to open to our indifferent Lord, Lord,' hear the answer, 'Depart from me, ye are wicked and slothful servants." While we profess to believe in the infinite love of our God and Father, those who limit this attribute appear to have a deeper reverence for it, and do more to extend the knowledge of it, than we do; and they also better carry out our own principle of universal brotherhood, though in so doing they set themselves at variance with their conceptions of the character of God, whom all theoretically consider the highest model of excellence. The cause of our failure to bring about results in the same ratio as those of more limited profession, is a less fixed unity of purpose. One portion of our people are active in the social department, another in the financial, and another in the purely devotional; but though all are anxious for our prosperity, yet there is no suflicient central union, which will infuse a common and permanent life through the whole. Our creed is composed not of opinions, but certain immutable principles, which each individual may apply according to his measure of inner light; the field thus opened for speculation is large, touching the borders of ignorant credulity on the one hand, and radicalism on the other; and as a not unnatural consequence, our denomination has been more active in exploring this region from motives of curiosity, than from any real desire to make a practical use of its advantages. This diversity of sentitment has been a fancied impediment to union; but we are just beginning to realize that the greatest, liberality of thought is not inconsistent with the most determined purpose of action. On the contrary, it increases our capacity and responsibility. Shall we allow ourselves to be found wanting when weighed in the balance? As individuals, if we are earnestly sincere, we may do much, very much, to bring the gospel kingdom into our own hearts and those of our race; but it is by united effort that we can soonest build the massive walls of the New Jerusalem. The question arises, what shall be our bond of union? Evidently for our foundation we must take the "Chief Corner Stone," which is Jesus Christ; for "there is none other name under heaven whereby we must be saved," and as our knowledge of life and immortality came to life through him, so we must follow him as our guide, till in the fulness of time he shall lead us to the Father, and his omnipotent love. Wich his arm to sustain us, and with our hearts cheered by the comforting assurancë of Him who has "known our infirmities and borne our griefs," the way of life will be a pleasant journey, and its trials will be as nothing compared to the unspeakable riches which will be abundantly bestowed upon us. We must keep our guide ever in sight,—and in what more appropriate manner than in that sacrament which he himself ordained as his perpetual memorial? Let us unite in it on the broad platform of the unity of love, and the omnipotence of God as revealed through his son, Jesus Christ. Thus from time to time renewed and strengthened by divine power, and encouraged by mutual sympathy, we shall more fully experience and extend the glorious liberty of the children of light. The feeling of unworthiness need not prevent us. Was it for spotless virtue that Christ accepted the simple offering of the woman who bathed his feet with tears and kisses? Was it ever the standard by which he received his followers? "He shall save His people from their sins." Here is, first, the acknowledgment as his people, and the salvation afterwards. He himself said, "They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick," and, "I came not to coll the righteous but sinners to repentance." The deeper our sense of guilt, the more need we have to go to Him, and we know that he who seeks shall find. The responsibility of a Christian profession is great, but if we hesitate for that reason to assume it, let us remember the apostle Paul, who said, “I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me." The very consciousness of our own insufficiency will be our greatest assurance of success, if it leads us to rely in more trusting confidence on Him who is the "head of all power." This union will not rear a wall of partition between us and those who do not receive the divine call to enter. There are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all." By one Spirit are we all baptised into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, bond or free," and the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee;" and if any, whether in the visible church or otherwise, who assume the Christian name and faith, shall say to another, "I am holier than thou," they are unworthy disciples, and shall receive the denunciations poured out on the head of the hypocrite. Many of us suffer for that "bread which cometh down from Heaven," and thirst for that precious Blood which is the "living water;" and who shall dare interpose be tween our needy souls and that beneficent Saviour, who not only offers us supply, but commands us to partake ? Just as I am. without one plea, Just as I am-Thou wilt receive, O Lamb of God, I come! SUPPOSE you were attending to hear a will read where you expected a legacy; would you employ the tie in criticising the manner in which the lawyer read it? No! You would be giving all ear to hear if anything had been left to you. So you ought to hear the gospel. THE ROCK OF THE LEGION OF HONOR. From the German of Berthold Auerbach. A TRANSLATED BY JULIA A. SPRAGUE. I. MASQUERADE IN A RAILROAD CAR. Ta railroad station in the midst of a mountainous district in Central Germany, stood an elegant open carriage and a span of gray horses, under the shade of a large beech tree, with its fresh spring foliage. A young lady in a plain gray dress leaned back against the yellow damask cushions with her arms crossed, and her large, dark eyes directed towards the mountains as they stood in the distance in beautiful waving outlines. Now she threw back her head, on which she wore a kind of fashionable Tyrolese hat with green plumes; raised herself, and taking from a side pocket in the carriage a large, linen bound portfolio, began to draw; now quickly glancing at the landscape, then fixing her eyes closely on her paper. Her face grew more earnest in its expression; this face was somewhat long, complexion slightly inclining to the brunette, and was no more in the first bloom of youth. Now she became flushed; she compressed, as if in anger, the finely-cut mouth on whose upper lip a faint down could be discerned; she seemed dissatisfied with her work; often stopped, shook her head, yes, even once she closed the book. Then with a resolute nod of the head, as if to encourage herself, she opened it again and continued her work; gradually her countenance gained a quiet, almost satisfied expression. Through the laying out of the railroad, an opening had been made by which a new standpoint was gained for observing the beauty of the landscape, of which perhaps otherwise no one would have been conscious; for it is a characteristic of our age, that upon all sides things are observed from new points of view. The young lady grew more and more earnest in her drawing. Notwithstanding the only mild warmth of the spring day, she seemed to become heated; and hastily removing her hat, placed it beside her on the seat; the dark hair, laid back smoothly from |