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Should any talkative bold professor here start up, and say, "He has laid aside all his fears, and his legal bondage; that he has learned to walk in the freedom and liberty of the gospel, as one who knows his soul can never founder, nor his faith ever suffer shipwreck," it would be well for such person to attend to Saint Paul's admonition in 1 Cor. x. 12. "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall."

Surely when we consider the nature of our spiritual conflict, we must allow it to be awfully tremendous. "For we wrestle not only against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Eph. vi. 12.) Hence it is we are directed to "take the whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand in the evil day;" and, beyond all doubt, a watchful, humble, praying spirit, is an important portion

any more than that it is necessary for the safety of every vessel to be carried by a tempest into harbour. It is enough if we have been so brought to Jesus, as that he has been, and still “is made of God unto us, wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." This is the great end of all experience; and wherever this end is obtained, it matters not by how gentle a passage the soul was conducted to it.

of that armour. Nor is it any discredit for the most heroic Christian to confess, with the saints of old, that his fears are often multiplied, and his spirit cast down within him; that in time past he had nearly fainted, and sunk under the conflict, but that a gleam of hope still remained which cheered his soul with the persuasion, that he should one day see the goodness and the salvation of the Redeemer in the land of the living. Real Christian life is a life of conflict; a voyage made up of many storms, and some calms. It is an ocean whose waters are sometimes smooth, but more frequently rough and stormy; it is a contest and a race in which the flesh contends against the spirit. It is that entrance to heaven, which is so strait and narrow as to call forth not a few idle efforts, but our agonizing endeavours to pass its portal. Away then with all this empty, unhallowed boasting; since the Lord himself has pronounced that man blessed, who is of an humble and contrite spirit, and that trembleth at his word. May the writer and the reader be always attended by that filial, sanctified fear, which shall keep us poor in spirit, and watchful unto prayer! Then, and not otherwise, shall we be enabled to surmount the storm, to fight the good fight, to finish our course, to keep the faith, and at last through the

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redeeming love of Jesus Christ, to receive the

crown.

Oh, thou adorable and blessed Saviour, I do not ask an exemption from the allotted trials of man on earth; but I beseech thee to be a present God in every time of trouble; for,

"While thou art intimately nigh,

Who, who can violate our rest?
Sin, earth, and hell, we can defy ;

While leaning on thy gracious breast.

"I rest beneath the Almighty's shade,

My griefs expire, my troubles cease;
Thou, Lord, on whom my soul is stay'd,

Wilt keep me still in perfect peace.”

No. XV.

THE MIDDLE WATCH.

THE LORD WILL COMMAND HIS LOVING KINDNESS IN
THE DAY-TIME, AND IN THE NIGHT HIS SONG SHALL
BE WITH ME.
Psalm xlii. 8.

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THAT Ocean which we have lately considered under its rough and boisterous form, is not always thus rude and tempestuous. It is sometimes smooth and placid as the rivulet that glides gently through our meadows;—a breeze, indeed, sweeps its bosom; but it is such as might carry along the smallest skiff in safety for hours and days together. This is a pleasing sight at all times, but especially so in the midnight season. To come on deck, and find all bustling duty suspended, to perceive every sail stretched to the fair and gentle breeze, to see the vessel cut her way silently, but swiftly, through the yielding waters,to look above, and behold a cloudless sky exhibiting stars of various orders and magnitudes, dispersed through the wide expanse of boundless space, to watch the moon gliding along through their ranks, while her silver beams play across

the rippled ocean as far as the eye can pierce; —all this is pleasing, and has a natural tendency to promote reflection. Nor do I doubt but some of my readers have enjoyed these scenes in common with myself. True, there are many on board, who care for none of these things. Men who seem to have neither eyes to behold, nor hearts to admire, the wonders of creation and providence. By them, the fair weather middle watch is passed through in a variety of unprofitable ways. Some walk the deck in sullen musings on what they consider their hard fate; others, more cheerful, but equally uninterested with the works of God, collect together and tell marvellous tales of enchanted castles, of Blue Beard, or Jack the Giant-killer; others join in singing some love ditty, or warlike song of past battles and conquests; and some, wrapping themselves in their watch-coat, sleep away their time, till, roused by the call of duty, or the expiration of the watch, they descend to their hammocks. On these occasions, the thoughtful, intelligent Christian sailor will not break in upon or interrupt, his comrades in their enjoyments; so long as they appear to be happy, and no improper language is used, he will rather rejoice that they are comfortable. Though he may esteem their amusements as trifling, he will not use reproachful language, nor display the part

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