COMPUNCTIOUS RETROSPECTS. 85 
life abiding in him, and ask, “ Ought I go to 
Jesus Christ for pardon ? were any murderers of 
their own children ever forgiven ?” 
While some would ask such questions as these, 
or state them as the exercises of their own minds, 
there were others who would speak of the cruelties 
of which they had been guilty, with a want of 
feeling that has appeared to border on insensibility 
to their enormity. Many, however, especially 
those who were most sensible of the mercy of God 
through Christ, would on these occasions expatiate 
on the amazing forbearance of Jehovah, in sparing 
such merciless creatures as they had been. They 
would also express their astonishment at the love 
of Christ in dying for them; and the abundance 
of his compassion, in continuing to send them the 
intelligence of his salvation, and, after they had 
long disregarded it, not only forbearing, but mak¬ 
ing them willing in the day of his power; melting 
their hearts, drawing them with cords of affection, 
and now causing them to rejoice in his love shed 
abroad in their hearts. 
Occasionally they would, in most affecting 
strains, allude to the anguish which the sight of 
their neighbours’ children produced, by recalling 
to remembrance those whom they had destroyed. 
The contrast they often drew between their own 
childless and desolate condition through their 
former cruel practice of infant murder, and that 
of those happy parents who, under the reign of 
the Messiah, were surrounded by their children, 
was touching and painful. These were topics that 
could not be discussed without emotion, either by 
those who brought them forward, or by those from 
whom direction and advice were sought. 
There was another matter connected with this, 
