128 THE iieart's-ease. 



single combination of tints ; unless when, in the 

 actual scene of some passing day, circumstances 

 called forth a separate, a peculiar manifestation of 

 the grace most needed at the time. It was as 

 when 1 cull one flower from the many, and bear 

 it away, to ponder on its individual beauties. 



I have spoken of gifts : now one remarkable trait 

 in D. was the tenacity with which he clung to the 

 principle, that all in him not hateful and repulsive, 

 was a special gift, purchased by the blood of the 

 cross. The usual close of his letters ran in these 

 words, ' yours, by the grace of God, most aft'ection- 

 ately.' I once asked him why he used this expres- 

 sion ; his answer was, • Because, by nature, I am 

 so vilely selfish, that sovereign grace alone can 

 implant in my spirit one riglit impulse of disinter- 

 ested affection. " Hateful, and liating one anoth- 

 er," is the description of such as me : and I could 

 not honestly love you, if the constraining love of 

 Christ did not compel me to it.' Many can use 

 such depreciating language concerning themselves, 

 and, doubtless, many do so with sincerity : but there 

 was a sorrowful earnestness in his remarks on the 

 inward depravity, that always left me without 

 power to reply. 



On one occasion, when several of us were assem- 

 bled, the conversation turned on passing events, 

 scenes, and persons. 1). bore his part in it with 

 his accustomed sprightliness ; but presently leaned 



