. Pleased by an attractive
appearance, winning manners, or something else of this kind, they are
beguiled away beyond the line of demarcation which divides the church
from the world, until, by-and-bye, they consummate a union of the
flesh, where there cannot be a union of spirit, and light and darkness
make a poor attempt to dwell together.

Self-deception is a very easy thing in matters of this sort; it is
seldom difficult to find arguments in favour of that which the heart is
set upon. The one that knows the Lord, will pray until the other is
brought to him; neither will be guilty of casting the slightest
hindrance in the way of the other, etc., etc., but how often have these
pretty delusive devices been cast to the winds, or broken to atoms like
glass toys in after life, and their framers made to pay the bitter
penalties of disappointment, regret, and even backsliding for their
early transgressions? The selection of a husband or wife is not a
question of mere sentiment or feeling, but one which involves an
important principle. In making it, we should take God into our
counsel, and abide by His decisions. A young man who was a member in
one of our churches once opened his mind to me on this subject; he very
much admired a young person whom he mentioned; he said he had been
praying about marriage with her for some time, and had left it entirely
with the Lord, but said he, "I must have her, come what may." Prayer
with submission like that is only a solemn mockery, and is sure to meet
with its deserved reward. If we ask God to guide us, we must permit
Him to lead; and whether the outcome suit our feelings or not, we may
rest assured it will be for our ultimate welfare.

In the choice of his wife Abe Lockwood was wisely led, as a long and
happy life together afterwards proved. It appears that soon after his
conversion, Abe, who was always fond of singing, joined the choir of
the Huddersfield Chapel. That was the age before organs were thought
of in Methodist places of worship; other musical instruments obtained
in those good old times: fiddles and bass viols, clarionets, flutes,
hautboys, cornets, trombones, bassoons and serpents, delighted the ears
and stirred the souls of our forefathers with their sacred harmony.
Grand old times those were too; there was some scope for the musical
genius and taste of men in those days, when if a man could not
manipulate the keys and evoke the religious tones of a clarionet, h