brought by your pleadings within the influences of sovereign grace! The Book in the Court: ITS POWER. "The soul has dealings with its God: In such an hour we may not write,-- When all His grace is shed abroad, And darkness melts in floods of light "Thus, even now, that mercy came, And righteous retribution slept, The man could trust a Saviour's name, And like a little child he wept." _Mrs. Sewell._ CHAPTER III. BLACK POLL--NIGGERS--RESCUED--TOM AND BESS--COSTERMONGER'S WEDDING--A BAPTISM--PLEDGE TAKEN--THE PRISON GATE--THE BIBLE ON THE HOUSETOP--THE CONVICT'S WIDOW AND SON. THE BOOK IN THE COURT: ITS POWER. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." PS. xix. 7. "Pioneers are required in my parish," said the Rector to the Missionary, at the time of his appointment. "In these densely populated parts of London the people have outgrown the influence of the Church. I, for instance, have upwards of 16,000 poor, and very few of the better classes. Not twenty of these poor attend church, and the dissenters draw very few. The sad truth is, that through neglect of religious duties the people are fast losing the knowledge of God; and their close contact with the depraved and criminal, is demoralizing them with the leaven of wickedness. Several of my curates have attempted to grapple with the evil, but its magnitude has overpowered us. In addition to over-crowding, the migratory habits of the people increase the difficulty. I am assured that in several of the streets the inhabitants are changed once or twice a year, and in the courts there are often monthly changes in the rooms. As soon therefore as good is done some of the people leave, and fresh comers require the work to be done over again. This difficulty can only be met by an order of men with special qualifications for the work, and sufficiently numerous to cover all the bad neighbourhoods; so that the people wherever they move to may be brought under Christian influences. Your society has an aggressive element of simple Christianity, which is calculated to accomplish this, and to keep your agents down to their work, and I therefore give you a hearty welcome, and the assurance of my sympathy in your labours."