chapter might be indefinitely multiplied, but the truth intended to be enforced has been, perhaps, sufficiently illustrated. We have seen, in the course of our narrative, many individuals rescued from imminent danger by means the most obviously providential in their character. At the time of their escape they have been ignorant, or unmindful, of the great Deliverer who rescued "their souls from death;" but in after life they have, with adoring gratitude, owned "the good hand of God upon them." There are few lives, however, in which at some period or other remarkable deliverances have not been enjoyed. Yet how rare the instances in which the life forfeited by sin, threatened by danger, yet preserved by God, is devoted to his glory! Still, as with the lepers healed by our Lord,

"Ten cleansed, and only one remain!

Who would have thought our nature's stain
Was dyed so foul, so deep in grain?”

Alas! that life should be spared only to give space for the man to fill up the measure of his iniquities to the uttermost!-only that he, by despising the riches of His goodness and forbearance and long-suffering, may treasure up unto himself wrath against the day of wrath

and revelation of the righteous judgment of God! Of this we have a mournful illustration in the life of the notorious and profane infidel, Thomas Paine. He himself thus recites some of the events which happened to him during the reign of terror in France:

"I was one of the nine members," he says, "who composed the first committee of constitution. Six of them have been destroyed; Sièyes, and myself, have survived-he, by bending-I, by not bending: the other survivor joined Robespierre, and with him signed the warrant for my arrest. After the fall of Robespierre, he in his turn was seized and imprisoned.

"Herault Séchelles was my suppléant as member of committee; that is, he was to supply my place if I had not accepted or had resigned it. He was imprisoned in the Luxembourg with me, was taken to the tribunal and to the guillotine; and I, his principal, was left.

"There were but two foreigners in the convention, Anarcharsis Cloots and myself. We were both put out of the convention by the same vote, arrested by the same order, and carried to prison together. He was guillotined, and I was again left.

"Joseph Lebon, one of the vilest wretches who ever lived, who made the streets of Arras run red with blood, was my suppléant for the department of the Pays de Calais. When I was put out of the convention, he came and took my place; when I was liberated from prison; and voted again into the convention, he was sent to the same prison, and took my place there; and he went to the guillotine instead He supplied my place all the way

of me. through.

"One hundred and sixty-eight persons were taken out of the Luxembourg in one night, and a hundred and sixty of them guillotined the next day, of which I know I was to have been one; and the manner I escaped that fate is curious, and has all the appearance of accident. The room in which I was lodged was one of a long range, the doors of which opened outward and fell flat against the wall, so that when it was open the inside of the door appeared outward. When persons, by scores and by hundreds, were taken out of the prison for the guillotine, it was always done by night, and those who performed that office had a private mark or signal by which they knew what rooms to go to, and what number to take.

"We were four, and the door of our room was marked with that number in chalk; but it happened, if happening is the proper word, the mark was put on the door when it was open and flat against the wall, and thereby came on the inside when we shut it for the night,—and the destroying angel passed by me. A few days afterward Robespierre fell. During the whole of my imprisonment there was no time when my life was worth twenty-four hours' purchase."

And yet thus warned, and thus marvellously preserved, he continued insensible to the kind and gracious Hand which had sustained him; and he died, as is well known, with his mouth filled with alternate blasphemies and supplications for mercy.

CHAPTER II.

FAITH AND PRAYER REWARDED BY SIGNAL DELIVERANCES FROM IMMINENT PERILS.

THOUGH "the Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works," yet the promises of providential care are made, the pledges of it are given, to the righteous exclusively. With them it is a matter of express stipulation and covenant, that "all things" shall "work together for their good." "Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy." His "eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of those whose heart is perfect towards him." The ultimate design of universal providence is, the welfare and safety of " them that love God, who are the called according to his purpose." Just as a kind and affectionate father regulates his household, and manages his estate, with a special reference to the interests of his children; so