their lot in this world, and from whose all seeing eye nothing can hide them for a moment. Talk to them of their high destiny as immortal beings,—and of the great provision which is made in the gospel of Christ for the nourishment and growth of the soul. Talk to them of this life which is hastening to a close, and of that eternal life which is never to end;-and point out to them from the word of God, the way to eternal peace. Gather them around you, and kneel before the throne of God,-seek his mercy and his grace,-commit yourself and them to his guidance through life, and to the power of the Holy Spirit to prepare and purify you for the life which is to come. Thus shall you return to the labours, the cares, and the uncertainties of the world, with the high bearing of one who is pursuing a better portion than all that the world can give. Thus shall your habitation be the abode of happiness, of peace, and of love. Thus shall your children rise up to call you blessed. They shall go out from their father's house with impressions upon their minds of "things which

are eternal,"-impressions calculated, by the blessing of God, to preserve them from the evil that is in the world, and to lead them through the labours and anxieties of life as heirs of immortality.

HARMONY OF CHRISTIAN FAITH

AND

CHRISTIAN CHARACTER.

"And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly-kindness; and to brotherly-kindness, charity." 2 PETER I. 5, 6, 7.

IN the style and composition of the sacred writings, nothing is more remarkable than the manner in which, by a few simple expressions, there is laid before us a detailed and harmonious display of Christian faith, and Christian character. In such expositions, each single word is often found to be a clear and distinct subject of contemplation in itself, while the

combination is arranged with such consummate skill, yet simplicity and clearness, that it becomes at once a study for the philosopher in moral science, and a guide to the most humble Christian in his daily conduct through life. A beautiful example of this nature is furnished by the passage which we have placed at the head of this essay;-and, in its connection with the observations which go before it, taken along with the peculiar relation of its own component parts, it displays the foundation of Christian hope, and affords a delineation of Christian character, in a manner the most harmonious and comprehensive.

This striking exhortation is addressed to those who profess to have received the truth respecting the divine character and atonement of the Messiah, and to rest their hope, in the sight of God, on that great revelation of his mercy and grace which is contained in the gospel of peace. The apostle expresses to them his earnest desire that they may grow and in peace, founded upon the knowledge which they receive, in the gospel, of the cha

in

grace

racter of God as it is displayed in his Son; and he strikingly calls their attention to the provisions which are therein held out to them, so adapted to all their spiritual necessities. He reminds them that God has himself provided for them, in the gospel, all that is required for their spiritual life, and for their sanctification to his service; while he has enriched this message of mercy with "great and precious promises," calculated to bring them into a state of conformity to the nature of God, and to preserve them from the evil that is in the world through the degradation of the moral nature of

man.

Having thus laid before them the ground of their hope in the sight of God, and the means provided for their progress in the divine life, he goes on to impress upon their attention those qualities of individual character, which every one, who is resting his hope upon this foundation, is called upon to cultivate with the most anxious care, as his great concern to his passage through this scene of moral discipline. He is required to "give all diligenee" in this