The following story related by Mr. F. B. Carpenter, the artist who painted the picture of President Lincoln and his Cabinet, considering the Emancipation Proclamation, illustrates the readiness with which Mr. Lincoln summoned Bible doctrines to aid him in the performance of official duty, according to the promptings of his loving heart. Mr. Carpenter says:

My friend, the Hon. Mr. Kellogg of New York, was sitting in his room at his boarding house one evening, when one of his constituents appeared-a white-headed old man—who had come to Washington in great trouble, to seek the aid of his representative in behalf of his son. His story was this: "The young man had formerly been very dissipated. During an absence from home a year or two previous to the war, he enlisted in the regular army, and after serving six months, deserted. Returning to his father, who knew nothing of this, he reformed his habits, and when the war broke out, entered heart and soul into the object of raising a regiment in his native county, and was subsequently elected one of its officers. He had proved an efficient officer, distinguishing himself particularly on one occasion, in a charge across a bridge, when he was severely wounded, his colonel being killed by his side. Shortly after this, he came in contact with one of his old companions in the 'regular' service, who recognized him, and declared his purpose of informing against him.

"Overwhelmed with mortification, the young man procured a furlough and returned home, revealing the matter to his father, and declaring his purpose never to submit to an arrest, he would die first.''

"In broken tones the old man finished his statement, saying: 'Can you do anything for us, Judge?—it is a hard, hard case!' 'I will see about that,' replied the representative, putting on his hat; 'wait here until I return.' He went immediately to the White House, and fortunately finding Mr. Lincoln alone, they sat down together, and he repeated the old man's story. The President made no demonstration of

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particular interest until the Judge reached the description of the charge across the bridge and the wound received. 'Do you say,' he interrupted, 'that the young man was wounded?' 'Yes,' replied the Congressman, 'badly.' 'Then he had shed his blood for his country,' responded Mr. Lincoln, musingly. 'Kellogg,' he continued, brightening up, 'isn't there something in the Scripture about the shedding of blood being the remission of sins?' 'Guess you are about right there,' replied the Judge. 'It is a good point, and there is no going behind it,' rejoined the President; and taking up his pen, another 'pardon' -this time without 'oath,' condition, or reserve-was added to the records of the War Office."

Somehow there was a close bond of fellowship between Mr. Lincoln and Father Chiniquy, and in a prolonged interview with that devoted friend, Mr. Lincoln is reported to have given utterance to the following sentiments: "Why did God Almighty refuse to Moses the favor of crossing the Jordan, and entering the Promised Land? It was on account of the nation's sins! That law of divine retribution and justice, by which one must suffer for another, is surely a terrible mystery. But it is a fact which no man who has any intelligence and knowledge can deny. Moses, who knew that law, though he probably did not understand it better than we do, calmly says to his people, 'God was wroth with me for your sakes.'

"But though we do not understand that mysterious and terrible law, we find it written in letters of tears and blood wherever we go. We do not read a single page of history without finding undeniable traces of its existence.

"Where is the mother who has not shed real tears and suffered real tortures, for her children's sake?

"Who is the good king, the worthy emperor, the gifted chieftain, who has not suffered unspeakable mental agonies, or even death, for his people's sake?

"Is not our Christian religion the highest expression of • Six Months in the White House, pp. 318-319.

the wisdom, mercy and love of God? But what is Christianity if not the very incarnation of that eternal law of divine justice in our humanity?

"When I look on Moses, alone silently dying on the Mount of Pisgah, I see that law in one of its most sublime human manifestations, and I am filled with admiration and awe.

"But when I consider that law of justice, and expiation in the death of the Just, the divine Son of Mary, on the Mount of Calvary, I remain mute in my adoration. The spectacle of the Crucified One which is before my eyes is more than sublime, it is divine! Moses died for his people's sake, but Christ died for the whole world's sake! Both died to fulfill the same eternal law of the divine justice, though in a different measure.'

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Lincoln believed in the doctrine of

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The most remarkable feature of Mr. Lincoln's religious life was his faith in, and constant reliance upon, the Holy Spirit. The third person of the Holy Trinity he always and properly regarded as the executive of the Godhead. He seems to have kept constantly in mind the truth so clearly taught by the Scriptures and by the symbols of the Church that "whatever God does He does by the Spirit." All his literary works, whether carefully or hurriedly written, as well as his spoken words, abound in direct or indirect references to the Holy Spirit. They are also dominated by a sense of the Spirit's presence and leading. Nothing of value concerning religious matters would be left in his literary productions if those portions relating to the Holy Spirit were removed. His references to God, the Father Almighty, and to Jesus Christ, would be utterly without significance apart from his declared or understood faith in the Holy Spirit. It is so certain as to be universally admitted, that Abraham Lincoln lived and wrought 10 Fifty Years in the Church of Rome, pp. 706-711.