ieve in him, and
thus obtain, through faith, a power to love him, and live to his praise
and glory. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir, I believe I do; and it is very comfortable to my thoughts to
look up to Christ as a living Head, and to consider myself as the least
and lowest of all his members."

"Now tell me what your thoughts are as to being a child of God."

"I am sure, sir, I do not deserve to be called his child."

"Can you tell me who _does_ deserve it?"

"No one, sir."

"How, then, comes any one to be a child of God, when by nature we are
children of wrath?"

"By God's grace, sir."

"What does grace mean?"

"Favour; free favour to sinners."

"Right; and what does God bestow upon the children of wrath, when he
makes them children of grace?"

"A death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness; is it not, sir?"

"Yes, this is the fruit of Christ's redeeming love; and I hope _you_ are
a partaker of the blessing. The family of God is named after him, and he
is the first-born of many brethren. What a mercy that Christ calls
himself 'a _Brother_!' My little girl, he is _your_ Brother; and will
not be ashamed to own you, and present you to his Father at the last day,
as one that he has purchased with his blood."

"I wish I could love my Father and my Brother which are in heaven better
than I do. Lord be merciful to me a sinner! I think, sir, if I am a
child of God, I am often a rebellious one. He shows kindness to me
beyond others, and yet I make a very poor return.

'Are these thy favours day by day,
To me above the rest?
Then let me love thee more than they,
And strive to serve thee best.'"

"That will be the best way to approve yourself a real child of God. Show
your love and thankfulness to such a Father, who hath prepared for you an
inheritance among the saints in light, and made you 'an inheritor of the
kingdom of heaven, as well as a member of Christ, and a child of God.' Do
you know what 'the kingdom of heaven' means?"

Just at that instant her mother entered the house below, and began to
speak to a younger child in a passionate, scolding tone of voice,
accompanied by some very offensive language; but quickly stopped on
hearing us in conversation up stairs.

"Ah, my poor mother!" said the girl, "you would not have stopped so
short, if Mr. --- had not been here. Sir, you hear how my mother swears;
pray say something to her; she will not hear me."

I went t