"Depend upon it, my dear friend," I replied, "you have denied yourself
one of the richest means of growth in grace, and one of the most
delightful pleasures afforded the Christian; and while your pastor's
remarks may have been true of _some_, I cannot agree with him in
condemning all, for I have read most that have come within my reach for
ten years past, and have seen but two that I thought merited censure."

"But you will admit," continued my friend, "that those published of
children are extravagant, and quite beyond any thing seen in common
life."

"No; I can admit nothing of the kind, for let me tell you what I
witnessed when on a visit to a friend missionary's family at Pairie du
Chien: The mother of little George was one of the most spotless
characters I ever saw, and as you witnessed her daily walk you could not
but realize that she enjoyed intercourse with One who could purify and
exalt the character, and 'keep staid on Him in perfect peace the soul
who trusted in Him.' And should it have fallen to my lot to have written
her memoirs, I am quite sure it would have been cast aside by those who
think with you that memoirs are extravagant. I cannot think because
David committed adultery, and the wisest man then living had three
hundred wives, and Peter denied his Savior, that all other Christians
living in the present enlightened age have done or would do these or
like grievous sins. It has been my lot at some periods of my life to be
cast among Christians whose confidence in Christ enabled them to rise
far above the attainments made by the generality of Christians, indeed
so far as to be almost lost sight of, who would shine as brightly on the
pages of written Christian life.