Notwithstanding these instances of usefulness and encouragement, I continued to be very unhappy, for want of more general work, and felt as if God had cast me off.  I can now see that this testing and perplexing dispensation through which I was passing, was not altogether such a barren desert as I felt it to be at the time.  It was fraught with many lessons, which have stood by me ever since, though I must confess I never revert to this period without many unhappy memories.

I will record one more lesson which I was taught in this place, and then go on to other subjects.

One warm spring day, while I was sitting in my house with the doors and windows open, a gentleman came running into it in great haste, somewhat to my surprise, he being a perfect stranger to me, and I to him.  Standing in the passage, and looking into the room where I was seated, he said, “Sir, are you a clergyman?”

I replied, “Yes, I am.”

“For God’s sake, come; follow me!”

So saying, he went away.  I immediately took up my hat, and ran after him down the side of the square, and noticing the gate where he turned in, I walked leisurely to the same place, and found him in the passage of his house panting for breath.  He had run so fast that he could not speak, but made a sign to me to go upstairs; then pointing to a door, he bade me go in.  On doing so, I saw at once it was a sick-chamber, and found myself alone in the presence of a lady, who was sitting up in the bed.  I bowed to her, and said, “Can I help you?”

She said, “Oh, no! it is too late!”

“Too late for what?”

“I am dying; I am lost!  I am lost!  It is too late—­too late!”

“But Christ came, and is present, to-save the lost.”

“Oh, yes!  I know all that.  I taught it to others, but I never believed it myself.  And now it is too late:  I am lost!”

“Then believe it now!  Why not ’now’?”

“Because it is too late!”

“While there is life there is hope!  Lose no more time.  ’God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish’” (John 3:16).

“That is not for me.  I know that text very well, but it will not do for me.  I am lost!  I am lost!  It is too late!”

While I was speaking I saw her falling over the side of the bed.  Springing forward, I put out my arm, and, with her head resting on it, and her despairing eyes looking into my face, she expired.  I could scarcely believe it, when I saw that flush on her face fade away unto the pallor of death.  She was gone!  I placed her poor head on the pillow, and rang the bell for assistance.  Her mother and sister came in, saying, “Is it not dreadful?”

I said, “Look at her.  She is gone.  She said it was too late, and that she was lost for ever.”

“Oh,” exclaimed the mother, “it is most dreadful!—­most dreadful!” This poor young lady used to be a Sunday-school teacher and district visitor; but she was never converted, and she knew it.  She had full head-knowledge, but no heart experience, and thus she died in unforgiven sins.  Lost—–­for ever lost!