s hopefulness. It
wants hope in God, and faith in his providence. Here is the grand
want; hope in God and faith in his providence. God is doing his work
in this world at this hour; his spirit moves on the waters now,
bringing peace out of discord, and light out of darkness; and the
people should know and feel it as a vital truth. When they do, they
will rely on his love, and enjoy his religion."

"I wish you would give us a sermon on this subject," said Fabens.

"I will," said the Minister, and they concluded the conversation,
attended prayers and retired to rest.

Arrangements were made, and notice, circulated for the meeting. The
hour of the meeting came, and it was a placid and splendid hour as ever
gilded a country Sabbath.

XVII.

THE MEETING.

A country Sabbath! who can go out of the city and enjoy that even in
imagination, without bringing the day, and all its placid light, and
all its green and tranquil blessings home with him in his soul? It
steals upon you like the floating raptures of a trance, and O! there
are such smiles and splendors of God in the sky; there is such a spirit
of worship in the hushed and reverent air; there are such songs of
praise from all the temples of Nature rising on wings of holy melody to
heaven; and you behold such comely forms and faces descending the green
hills, and emerging from the woods and lanes: you forget this
prison-durance, and seem to walk in a higher sphere.

The Minister was a little man, of perfect form, lithe as a spirit;
ardent, open, affable; with a high and swelling forehead; a deep, warm,
lustrous eye that darted forth the living fire of intelligence and
love; a long thin nose, winding in a slight and not ungraceful curve
toward the right shoulder; an eloquent gesture, a clarion voice, and a
face benignant and bland as the mild morning star.

A large concourse of people assembled to hear him, and after the usual
service of introduction, he rose, and casting those kindling eyes
around on the audience a moment, in a voice round and clear as a forest
warbler's, he said, "_The Spirit of God moved on the face of the
waters._" This was his text, and,--"I suppose it is commonly
conceded," said he, "that the book of Genesis is the most ancient, if
not most sublime of all the writings that enrich the world. The
learned have cited the first verses of this book as specimens of
sublimity unequalled by any language. And though the prophets, and the
g