Mr. Wilson had been ill some time, he had an affection of the throat, and the doctor had enjoined silence. Some of his parishioners had died, and he had not been with them; and now he felt a little better and was taking a walk, when he met Truman. The good old man could feel for his clergyman, and when, in a few low words, he told him his trouble, Truman replied, "I was thinking, sir, what happened to that great preacher and pastor, the disciple John -how everything went against him, souls needing the bread of life, and he not able to give it to them, and being sent away to that desert island-perhaps he might fear he should never do any more good in the world. And then our dear Lord came to him, and uttered those two beautiful words, 'Fear not.' And what views he had of the other world, and how thankful John is now that he ever went to Patmos; and how thankful millions since have been that John was ever banished. And the same Saviour says to us, in our Patmos of sickness and trial, 'Fear not.'" The old man went away, but Mr. Wilson raised his hat from his head, for he felt that the place on which he stood was holy ground; and was conscious of the presence of his Master, comforting and supporting him; and when, after the lapse of a few weeks, he ascended the pulpit, every one felt an influence accounted for only by the fact that he had been with Jesus. How solemnly he warned the wicked, and how gentle he was to the weak and erring and to those in darkness and sorrow, bidding them "Hope in the Lord." Miles Sweeney; or, "the Blight." OOD MORNING, Miles." "Good morrow, your honour, ma'am." "How heavy the rain is getting." "Yes, it is a fine, soft day; glory be to God for it!" said Miles Sweeney. I felt rebuked. We had both been driven to take shelter under a wide, overhanging hedge, through which, as I crouched down, even the thick, large drops could not fall upon me; but I had some particular outdoor work to get done, and felt inclined to quarrel with the weather, not recognising, as my companion did, who ordered it. He was a fine specimen of an Irish countryman, young and tall, and strong and active-looking, his brown cheek glowing with the colour. of health but, alas! one sleeve of his comfortable flannel jacket hung loosely pinned across his broad chest; he had lost an arm. "The farmers are busy now," I said. the ground. 66 The corn lay on Yes, ma'am, but it's little I can do; howsomever, it is the will of God, and we must be content." "I am glad you have such a right spirit about it. We should, indeed, submit ourselves entirely to the will of God, for He is so much wiser than we are. Isn't it strange, Miles, that we can do this in little things, and yet are so slow to do it in the greater matters of eternal life and death? For He has distinctly told us, 'this is His commandment,' and this is His 'work,'' that we should believe on the name of His Son, Jesus Christ.'" 1 "But sure, your honour, every one believes on Himevery one in this counthry, I mane.” "I wish it were true, Miles, but I am sure it is not; for it is written, 'As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.' 2 You see this is something different from being created by Him, and placed in a world which He has made; something which takes place afterwards. Now, I don't think if you look around even you will be prepared to say that every one is a son of God.” "There be bad sons, you know, ma'am, as well as good ones; but God is merciful--He will not be too hard upon us." "He is merciful and loving, Miles, beyond what we can 1 I John iii. 23; John vi. 29. 2 John i. 12. imagine; but He is also just and holy, and must punish for sin-either you, or some one else in your room and stead. If another suffers for it, and God is satisfied, and you are satisfied, it must be all right, and you go free." He looked puzzled, but did not answer; and I went on : "God is satisfied; He indeed 'was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.'1 He so loved the world as to give His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Are you satisfied? Now, to believe about a person, and to believe in him, is quite a different thing. I'll engage you read the papers, or hear them read, and know all about the King of Prussia and Emperor of the French. You have not the the smallest doubt that such people are really living, and at war at the present time. But this is not the thing. Suppose I set myself up to be some great person, with power to heal the sickness of the body, and forgive sins, and speak as no one else ever spoke; and you hear of the great things I do, and are convinced of their truth, and of my readiness to help. You protest you believe in me. What do you mean? —that you believe in my appointed work, and that I am what I say in my power and love? What effect would this have upon you?" 2 He paused for a moment. Miles Sweeney had a reason ing mind, but its powers were little exercised. 66 "I know I should get my arm back agin, safe and sound, the fust thing," he said. I thought it best not to weary him, and so asked: "How long is it since your arm was taken off, Miles ?" "Jest two year, my lady." "How did it get sore at first?" "I dun'no whether I hurted it, or what; some people say I got a blast." "A blast, Miles ?" 66 Yes, your honour, a blight, or, as we calls it, a blast." "How is that?" 2 Cor. v. 19. 2 August, 1870. He answered with some reluctance. "A blight may come in many ways; either as a punishment, or through the ill-will of one who has an evil eye." "I understand you-like a curse." "Exactly so, your honour." "Oh, I know that, for I too had a blight." He looked up with awakened interest, and drew a step nearer to me. "For goodness' sake," he said, "when was that?" "There was one who had indeed an evil eye," I went on, "and who wished to make me bad, and wicked, and miserable like himself. He followed me wherever I went until he got me to look in the directions he pleased, and drew me on to go after him wherever he liked. His breath seemed to penetrate into my heart, and it tightened and tightened there like a desperate grasp, for there was something within me which answered to it. I fell into a deadly sleep, and did not know or feel that it was spreading like poison through my veins; that I was in the power of a terrible disease, which came upon me, as a curse from the one with the evil eye. "At last I awoke, and saw my lost condition-death staring me in the face. I trembled, and was afraid. When, lo, the figure of a man as an angel of light appeared to me. He told me the curse under which I suffered He had taken upon Himself; the death I deserved He had undergone ; and that now when I believed this, and trusted in His work, the power of the disease would be stayed, and healing assuredly come. So I just fell at His feet; I had no power to speak, and seemed to feel His hand laid upon me—it was a pierced hand-saying, 'Fear not; I am the First and the Last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.' 1 'Trust me! And so I took Him at His word, and here I am to-day, the consequences and the power of the blight removed, and every remaining trace of it to be done away in that day when I 1 Rev. i. 17, 18. shall be made like unto Him, without sin or sorrow for ever more. But there is a "Now, Miles Sweeney, if there was one here with power to heal diseases, you know what you would do to get the consequences of the fancied blight removed from your body -your arm 'restored even as the other.' You would go straight to him, taking no denial; you would not allow any one else to interfere with you or put you off. more terrible blight still upon your soul. Jesus; tell Him all about it; you will find Him ready to receive you; He will forgive your sins and iniquities,' for 'His blood cleanseth from all sin.' And remember this, His own Word has declared, 'Where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.”” Go straight to The shower ere this had entirely ceased, and a patch of blue sky become visible. The sun was soon pouring its glad beams over the earth, and every drop on blade and leaf glistened, and was finally dispelled, and there was "a clear shining after rain." I went my way, with a heart lighter for having delivered my message, and I could see that Miles Sweeney walked homeward slowly and, it seemed, thoughtfully. I never had any further conversation with him on these subjects, for the very next week he sailed for America. But I could tell you-only I would not like to betray confidence of a few lines not very plainly traced with a left hand, accounted amongst my treasures, which gives me very good reason to hope that, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, my correspondent now rests solely and entirely with a simple trust and sure confidence on the finished work accomplished long ago on Calvary's cross by Him "Who bore the curse to sinners due, |