In an hour's time he was called again, and not having strength to work at the pump, he went to the helm. It was while standing here that serious reflections forced themselves upon his mind. He began to think of his former regard to religion-of the extraordinary changes in his life, the calls, warnings, and deliverances he had met with,—and especially his memory reverted to his habit of making the gospel history the subject of profane ridicule. He felt assured that, on the supposition that the Scriptures were true, there never was, nor could be, such a sinner as himself, and that his case must needs be hopeless. Many passages of scripture, which in earlier life he had learned, now came fresh to his recollection, and seemed so exactly to suit his case and character, that they brought with them a presumptive proof of their Divine original. The efforts to save the vessel promised to be availing; and as the gleam of hope arose, he thought he recognised the hand of God displayed in this favorable circumstance. To use his own expression, "I began to pray." I could not utter the prayer of faith-I could not draw near to a reconciled God, and call him Father, -my prayer was like the cry of the ravens, which yet the Lord does not disdain to hear. I now began to think of that Jesus whom I had so often derided. I recollected the particulars

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of his life and death—a death for sins not his own, but, as I remembered, for the sake of those who in their distress should put their trust in him. And now I chiefly wanted evidence. The comfortless principles of infidelity were deeply riveted, and I rather wished than believed these things were really facts. The great question now was, how I should gain an assurance that the Scriptures were of Divine inspiration, and a sufficient warrant for the exercise of hope and trust in God. One of the first helps I (subsequently) received, (in consequence of a determination to examine the New Testament more carefully), was from Luke xi. 13. I had been sensible that to possess faith in Jesus Christ, when, in reality, I did not believe his history, was no better than a mockery of the heartsearching God; but here I found a spirit spoken of, which was to be communicated to those who ask it. Upon this I reasoned thus:—if this book be true, the promise in this passage must be true likewise. I have need of that very Spirit, by which the whole was written, in order to understand it aright. God has engaged here to give that Spirit to those who ask-I therefore must pray for it—and if it be of God, he will make good his own word. My purposes were strengthened by John vii. 17,-"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doc

trine whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." I concluded from thence, that though I could not say from my heart that I believed the gospel, yet I would for the present take it for granted, and that by studying it in this light I should be more and more confirmed in it. If what I am writing could be perused by infidels, they would say (for I too well know their manner) that I was very desirous to persuade myself into this opinion. I confess I was; and so would they be if the Lord should show them, as he was pleased to show me at that time, the absolute necessity of some expedient to interpose between a righteous God and a sinful soul, Upon the Gospel scheme I saw a peradventure of hope, but on every other side I was surrounded with black, unfathomable despair.

Such were the workings of Mr. Newton's mind, commencing amid the terrors of the tempest, and carried on as the vessel drew nearer its port. His leisure was chiefly employed in reading, meditating on the Scriptures, and prayer for mercy and instruction. Before the voyage was ended, he adds, "I had a satisfactory evidence in my own mind, of the truth of the gospel as considered in itself, and of its suitableness to answer all my need. I saw that by the way it pointed out, God might declare, not

his mercy only, but his justice also, in the pardon of sin, on account of the obedience and sufferings of Jesus Christ. My judgment at that time embraced the sublime doctrine of "God manifested in the flesh, reconciling the world to himself."-I stood in need of an Almighty Saviour; and such a one I found described in the New Testament." This was the commencement of the spiritual life of this eminent servant of God. By degrees his religious knowledge increased; his principles became confirmed; and through a course of events, in which it is impossible not to discern the hand of Him, who is alone the God of providence and grace, he resolved to consecrate his life to the service of Christ, in the discharge of the honorable and responsible duties of the christian ministry.

The Scriptures contain many interesting examples of this kind.

The Eunuch, at the very moment when he was reading the prophecies of Isaiah, has an interpreter, who joins his chariot, just at the time his mind was prepared to receive the first light of the knowledge of Christ. Acts viii. 26, 30.

In John iv. 4, it is observed that Christ must needs go through Samaria, because it lay just in the road between Judea and Galilee, and that at the sixth hour, he rests himself upon Jacob's

well, still seeming to have no other design but to refresh himself by sitting on the well and quenching his thirst. But behold! what a train of blessed, effects follow what seemed but an accidental thing. First, the woman of Samaria believes in Christ, then many more believed through her instrumentality.

We might refer also to Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened, to the Jailer at Philippi, and to Saul of Tarsus, for instances of the wonderful workings of providence to effect their conversion.

Sometimes the simplest circumstance is overruled to produce the change. The reading of a good book, the dropping of a kind word, the death of a husband, wife, or child, a season of sickness, with many such like occasions, have been thus employed by Providence for the conversion of souls.

It is related that a lady once spoke to a workman who was repairing a garden wall, and pressed him to take some thought concerning eternity and the state of his soul. Some years afterwards she was speaking to another on the same subject, and said to him, "Thomas, I fear you never pray nor look to Christ for salvation." "Your Ladyship is mistaken," answered the man: "I heard what passed between you and James at such a time, and the word you designed