Section Iii.--Early Piety Recommended.

A man eighty-seven years of age, meeting another aged man not quite as old as himself, the other inquired of him how long he had been interested in religion. "Fifty years," was the old man's reply. "Well, have you ever regretted that you began so young to devote yourself to God?" "O no," said he; and the tears trickled down his cheeks. "I weep when I think of the sins of my youth."

Another man between sixty and seventy years of age, said, "I hope I became a disciple of the Lord when I was seventeen;" and he burst into a flood of tears as he added, "and there is nothing which causes me so much distress as to think of those seventeen years--some of the very best portion of my life,--which I devoted to sin and the world."

This was the experience of David, who, in his old age, prayed, "Remember not, O Lord the sins of my youth." And it will be the reader's experience, should he ever be brought to a knowledge of the truth, after giving the flower of his days to the service of sin and Satan.

Danger of delay.

A---- M---- was an impenitent youth. His friend, who had just embraced the Saviour, in the ardor of his first love, besought him to turn to the Lord. He acknowledged the great importance of the things which were urged upon his attention; and said that, long before, the Spirit of God had called upon him, and he was "almost persuaded to be a Christian." Once he stood almost on the threshhold of heaven. "But now," said he, "I am fallen, fallen--O how far! I know that I am not a Christian now. I am a great sinner. I have quenched the Holy Spirit. If I should die as I am, I know I shall be eternally lost, for I believe the Bible. You may think, because I am so careless now, I shall die unconverted. But no, I have more thoughts about death than many suppose. I mean to repent before I die, and become a Christian. I cannot think of dying as I now am; but you need not be concerned about me, for I mean to repent yet." Not many days afterwards, he was crossing a river, with a number of others, for the purpose of spending the day in amusement. The skiff upset, and they were plunged into the water. All the rest of the company but A---- (who was the best swimmer among them), reached the shore. He was heard, as he struggled towards the bank, to utter a fearful oath, calling upon God to damn his soul. God took him at his word. He sunk to rise no more--a fearful warning on those who presume on future repentance!