SOME time ago I was called to visit a young woman about twenty years of age who was extremely ill, and who much wished to see me before she died. On my arrival at her father's house I found her heavily afflicted, and death appeared to be at no great distance. I sat by her bedside with the Bible in my hand, expecting to find her, as I have too often found others in similar circumstances, entirely ignorant of the gospel. I read a portion to her, and was most agreeably surprised to find that she was a believer, and well understood the Scriptures. I asked her father how she became so well acquainted with the word of God. He said he did not know; she was always reading her Bible at every opportunity, and sometimes sat up all night for that purpose. He observed she was a very dutiful daughter; he had a large family, and she, being the eldest, and very industrious, was of great service to her mother and the younger branches of the family: the only indulgence she required was to be allowed to read the Bible when her work was done. But he could not account for her attachment to it, and it seemed very strange to him that she should attend to it so much. I asked if she was in the habit of going to any place for worship. He said she went sometimes; hut was generally prevented from distance and the large family which she had to attend to.
None of the family knew anything of the Scriptures but herself. I visited her during the whole of her illness, from the time she sent for me until she fell asleep in Jesus. Her faith was simple, her view of the way of salvation clear. She gave me many proofs of this in the various conversations which I had with her during her sickness. And how came all this about? By grace she had been led to take up and read the Scriptures. Her " heart the Lord opened, that she attended to " the written word, and by it she had been brought to a knowledge of the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He path sent; hereby was she filled with peace in believing, and the Bible was more precious to her than gold. Previous to her last illness she had enjoyed good health.
It was in the prime of youth and vigor she had read her Bible, and learned to love it; so that she had not first to seek God in this trying moment, but found Him a present help in sickness and at the approach of death. The Bible had testified of Christ to her; she had found eternal life in Him, and the Divine promises were both great and precious to her soul. S. M.