metropolis, his friends unanimously fixed upon the profession of medicine, as that most likely to yield his labours a lucrative return. He accordingly proceeded to Edinburgh, to study the healing art; and there became acquainted in a more diversified, if not more extensive, circle, than any in which he had hitherto moved. Some of his associates being Jews; some Infidels; some nominal professors of Christianity; and some sincere and zealous Christians. Although, for a season, he regarded the last as enthusiasts, he, after a while, could perceive they were not less happy than others; and he had frequent occasion to esteem their moral excellence and superior worth; and thus feel his prejudices against Revelation gradually diminished.

But there were, at this time, concurrent circumstances to produce a great and beneficial revolution in his mind the daily sights and sounds of woe which now were wont to shock him, as he visited the hospitals, began to call forth many solemn thoughts, as he meditated on the various corporeal ills "that flesh is heir to;" and the brevity and uncertainty of life, (so pregnant with wants and woes,) rendering man, at his best estate, "altogether vanity."

On one occasion, in particular, going over the wards of some public asylum of disease, he noticed a woman, of decent appearance, seemingly in the last stage of a consumption; and asked a medical companion "if there were any chance of

her recovery?". "None: he expected her to die next day," was the answer.-" Did she know her danger?"—"No: there was no use in saying anything about it-she might as well be allowed to die comfortably." Such an exit struck him as being not comfortable but comfortless: he felt his compassion powerfully excited; and could not refrain from addressing her himself. She seemed surprised at hearing that all hope of recovery was over. He enquired, "if she had any relation or friend at hand, who could soothe her last moments?" She had not: all her relations lived at some distance in the country; and time did not now permit her to send for them, with any chance of their timely arrival. Then, indeed, he most forcibly felt how desolate our condition was in the hour of death, if there were nought beyond the grave to cheer the departing spirit: and taking up a Bible that lay in the room, he began to read aloud from it in the hope that he might alight on some consolatory passage. He feared he did not; for he was quite ignorant of the New Testament, and knew very little of the prophetical books of the Old, and was therefore a stranger to all its spiritual springs of healing influence. But the lesson he thus learned, of the utter nothingness of all human pursuits and pleasures, in the apart. ment of that expiring invalid, was not one of a transitory character.

A pious friend, who frequently visited the Tolbooth, sometimes introduced him within the walls

of that moral lazar-house: and, not long after the above event, conducted him to the cell of a woman convicted, beyond all doubt, of murder. She was an avowed atheist-defied the living Godand died with "a lie in her right hand;" a frightful picture of our degraded condition, when sin has openly displayed its mastery over the soul. And then, too, he began to see how vain is all the power of mere ethics,-how unavailing the maxims of the purest philosophy, to raise man, when thus fallen, from his loathsome debasement. The result of all these impressions was, that (God having blessed and sanctified them to his soul) he was finally led to "search the Scriptures," and to compare "spiritual things with spiritual: nor had he been long seriously engaged in their perusal, when he perceived the close affinity between the latent import of the Mosaic ceremonials; the predictions of the Jewish prophets; and the historical facts, set forth as the fulfilment of those types and prophecies, in the Gospel, with respect to the advent, the life, the crucifixion, and doctrines of Messiah and as conviction increased, and doubts diminished, he renounced the principles of Infidelity, and garb of Judaism; and boldly declared his belief in "Jesus of Nazareth." And then it was he saw that if many, accounted wise and learned among men, believe not, such persons have probably expended more time in dissecting a butterfly's wing, or measuring the solid contents of a plant, than in examining the

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evidences and tendencies of Holy Writ: wasting their time and strength in what, when not directed to the glory of God, or the welfare of their fellows, is, with all its human lustre, but "strenuous idleness." When this great change took place in his profession, they "of own household" were, at first, among his most bitter foes; but he had been abundantly enabled, by the gracious aid of his God, to stand fast in the evil day of domestic persecution; and he had also much cause of heartfelt rejoicing, in his subsequent experience of the mercies of his heavenly Father. There was one dear sister, especially, who said, in the beginning, that she would willingly follow him to the foot of the gibbet;-and of her he now had good reason to hope, that she would, ere long, accompany him to the foot of the Cross.

He then descanted eloquently on the general importance of missions among the heathen, in pleading the cause of the peculiar society whose friends were gathered together, commended to the earnest prayers of all present, the spiritual restoration of the outcasts of Israel; and sat down, nearly an hour after he had risen, with the interest he first excited fresh in the mind of every auditor.

My respected friend finally, as their minister, addressed the assembly in a most solemn and impressive manner, on the obligation of Christians, by every means in their power, to send the Gospel

to the uttermost ends of the earth: and the meeting then adjourned, with highly approving sentiments towards the great and glorious work in which they (humble and unworthy instruments) were called on to promote.

Having lingered at the house of a relative in the neighbourhood, I proceeded, the following day, to visit a beautiful spot, not far distant, called Kiltynan,-the only remarkable adjacent locality, although the general aspect of the country is pleasing. There is a melancholy gratification in turning off the high road, into a gentleman's domain, in most parts of my native country. With a fertile soil and genial climate, Ireland remains, from age to age, a land of poverty, ignorance, and misrule; and the eye of humanity can scarcely deny the tribute of a tear to the temporal wants and spiritual destitution of her children: for, generous and intelligent, laborious and patient under extreme privations, in vain do we seek among them for any extensive traces of successful industry, of useful knowledge, of faith exhibited in filial reverence towards God and fraternal love towards their brethren of mankind. Yet there may often be much instruction derived from seriously considering objects, against the contemnplation of which the mind instinctively revolts. Generally speaking, in England the eye is not shocked, to any great degree, by the manifold miseries of the poor. The workhouse contains, within its walls, those figures of squalid penury,