burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and

so continued to do, till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre, where it fell in, and I saw it no more.

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"Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said, with a merry heart, He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death."" Mr. R. And at the end of the paragraph

it says, 66 Christian gave three leaps for joy; and went on singing." And this is just the way, my dear children, in which many a heavily burdened pilgrim comes to a throne of grace, with a feeling of devotion. He feels the weight of his sins, and fears the judgments that are declared against sinners; when all at once, as he is pouring forth his heart in

prayer, the welcome truth comes upon him with power, that Jesus Christ died for sinners, and rose again for their justification; then what a change takes place! The weight of his sins is at once gone, his mourning is turned into rejoicing, and his prayer into praise; and, like Christian, he is ready to give three leaps for joy; and to go on singing.

Long after Mr. Railton had left his children, they kept looking at the picture of Christian losing his burden at the cross; and when again their father joined them at the hour of evening prayer, nothing could be plainer than the fact, that they listened to the chapter which he read, and the prayer he offered, with great attention and pleasure.

CHAPTER XIX.

ZEAL.

THERE was very much wonder expressed by the young people as to what subject would be next brought forward by their father. William at first thought it would be wisdom; but recollecting that wisdom was not a feeling, he then guessed it would be contentment.

Mary thought it likely enough to be gratitude; for, she said, she felt quite sure that her father wished all of them to be grateful. Indeed she had wondered why he had not spoken about gratitude before.

George guessed that the subject would be peace; and his wonder was, that his father had been able to go on so long, giving them something new every Wednesday. "I think that I shall be right in my guess," said he; "but we shall soon see."

Neither Susan nor little Fanny guessed about the matter, though they listened to what their brothers and sisters said. Wednesday soon came, and once more the children assembled to learn to feel.

Mrs. Railton was delighted to observe, not only the increased interest the young people took in their meetings, but the increasing advantages they derived from them. There was among them an evident watchfulness over

themselves—a calling forth of their best feelings, and a struggle to repress those of a contrary kind; and that on scriptural principles. It was plain, too, that they were not hindering one another by vain-glorious competition; but helping one another with affection and love. There were, at times, it is true, little outbreaks; but they were of a trifling kind, and were soon corrected: so that, on the whole, both Mr. and Mrs. Railton had reason to congratulate themselves on the success which had attended their friendly gatherings.

"Our subject, on this occasion, must be Zeal," said Mr. Railton, as he gave a kiss to little Fanny, and seated himself among his children; "and I hope that all of you will feel and practice it." William, Mary, and George gave a look at each other, as much as to say, We were all wrong in our guesses; after which William spoke.

William. I had this copy to write last week in my copybook, "Zeal, in a good cause, deserves applause."

Mr. Railton. Well would it be if all were zealous in doing good only, and not in doing evil; but you will find in the world much more zeal in evil things than in good. Open your Pilgrim's Progress, Mary, and turn to the account of the jury who were to try Faithful. You will see that none of them were deficient in zeal to destroy the guiltless. Mary reached the book, and when she had

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found the place, read as follows: "Then went the jury out, whose names were Mr. Blindman, Mr. No-good, Mr. Malice, Mr. Lovelust, Mr. Live-loose, Mr. Heady, Mr. Highmind, Mr. Enmity, Mr. Liar, Mr. Cruelty, Mr. Hate-light, and Mr. Implacable, who every one gave in his private verdict against him among themselves, and afterwards unanimously concluded to bring him in guilty before the judge. And, first, among themselves, Mr. Blindman, the foreman, said, I see clearly that this man is a heretic. Then said Mr. No-good, Away with such a fellow from the earth. Ay, said Mr. Malice, for I hate the very look of him. Then said Mr. Love-lust, I could never endure him. Nor I, said Mr. Live-loose, for he would always be condemning my way. Hang him, hang him, said Mr. Heady. A very sorry scrub, said Mr. Highmind. My heart riseth against him, said Mr. Enmity. He is a rogue, said Mr. Liar. Hanging is too good for him, said Mr. Cruelty. Let us dispatch him out of the way, said Mr. Hate-light. Then said Mr. Implacable, Might I have all the world given me, I could not be reconciled to him; therefore, let us forthwith bring him in guilty of death. And so they did; therefore, he was presently condemned to be had from the place where he was, to the place from whence he came, and there to be put to the most cruel death that could be invented."