THE HOLLY-BUSH. 155 



that presents itself! — have /known Jesus Christ? 

 Him to know is life eternal. Well I know my 

 need of him : my total, and everlasting ruin with- 

 out him : I know his power and willingness to 

 save, even to the uttermost, the very chief of sin- 

 ners who come to God by him — but to say that I 

 know him as the dumb boy knew him, that I 

 can with so steady a hand lay hold on Christ, as 

 being made of God unto me, wisdom, and right- 

 eousness, and sanctification, and redemption — and 

 that, too, to the utmost bound of my necessities — 

 thus to believe, and believing to rejoice, with joy 

 unspeakable and full of glory — no, I dare not yet 

 say it. Often have I asked the boy, ' Does Jack 

 love Jesus Christ V The reply has always been, 

 with a bright and placid smile, ' Yes, Jack very 

 much loves Jesus Christ — Jesus Christ loves poor 

 Jack.' But if I ask myself, Do I love him ? I 

 can but tremble, and say, ' I desire so to do.' Yet 

 I have the full conviction that he has loved me, 

 and given himself for me ; and if I could unlearn 

 enough to become as wise as Jack, I might attain 

 to his blessed assurance. 



Taking the holly as Jack viewed it, — as a type 

 of that which is salvation to all who believe — how 

 many interesting points of resemblance may be 

 traced ! Passing through the highways, where 

 every foot is free to tread, we mark the shining 

 evergreen, with its bright berries, conspicuous by 



