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A poor blacksmith, bending with age and weakness, was passing through a country village; he stopped at a good woman's cottage, and rested himself on the railing before the door. The pious dame came out, and the weary traveller remarked that his time here would be short; he was often ailing; he added, "Ah, Nanny! I sha'n't be long for this world, I reckon!" She thought of his words, and replied, "Well, John, then I hope you'll prepare for your journey!" The blacksmith passed on, and his call was soon forgotten by Nanny; but that simple sentence was impressed on his memory by the Spirit of God, never to be erased. He pondered it while walking home, and soon consumption laid him on a bed of pain. Again and again did he think about "the journey," and about being "prepared" for it. He began to pray, and all around him were continually hearing the old woman's advice. No pious friends were near to converse with him, hut it is confidently believed that the aged sinner was led to look to the Saviour through the simple incident related above. Almost his last breath was spent in thanking God that the good old woman ever warned him "Be instant in season, out of season": sow beside all waters, that thou mayest reap a glorious harvest at the coming of the Son of Man.

(Christian Miscellany.)

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KJV: I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

WEB: I command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom: