opposition and contempt, and found his evil nature ready to burst out in open abuse of me; but he had just been pleading with God to deliver him from this temptation of Satan, and he now told me it was right, and hoped I should go on to preach boldly, however offensive the truth might be. I have now nothing to complain of but a hard and unthankful heart, which is slow to praise God, and apt to be afraid of those opportunities of more extended service, which I had even prayed for."

DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH OF ROME.-No. III.

2 Peter i. 20." No prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation." This passage is adduced by papists in proof of their assertion that private Christians have no right to interpret Scripture for themselves, but must receive the interpretation of the church, always meaning thereby the Romish church. To this there is a twofold answer: 1st. The reference is only to prophecy, not to Scripture generally. 2nd. The meaning of the passage is wholly mistaken, if not wilfully misrepresented, when it is quoted for the abovementioned purpose. The intention of the apostle was to show, that the fulfilment of Old Testament predictions clearly proved their Divine origin. As the prophecies themselves were not of human invention, but "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost," so their true interpretation is to be sought in the history of the church. Events will point out, in successive ages, the mind of the Spirit. Every prophetic vision has its "appointed time," Hab. ii. 3, and we need not be surprised if, till then, its true meaning be partially hidden, and therefore often misapprehended. In other words, prophecy has a language of its own, and must be interpreted accordingly. The accomplishment of predictions has, in many instances, shown that their meaning was different from what was generally supposed, and has corrected our judgments of those the fulfilment of which is yet future. For the rest

"God is his own interpreter,

And he will make it plain."

Dr. Doddridge pertinently remarks on this passage, that "to understand it in opposition to the right of private judg ment in the interpretation of Scripture, is foreign to the apostle's purpose, as well as injurious to common sense.

"He will guide you into all truth," John xvi. 13. Believing this precious promise, we may be fully assured that whoever diligently searches the word of God, praying for the teaching of the Holy Spirit, will attain the desired end. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given im," James i. 5.

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OCCASIONAL MEDITATIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS. UPON THE SIGHT OF TULIPS, MARIGOLDS, AND OTHER FLOWERS IN HIS GARDEN,

THESE flowers are true clients of the sun; how observant they are of his motion and influence! At even they shut up, as mourning for his departure, without whom they neither can nor would flourish; in the morning they welcome his rising with a cheerful openness, and at noon are fully displayed in a free acknowledgment of his bounty: thus doth the good heart unto God. "When thou turnedst away thy face I was troubled," saith the man after God's own heart; in thy presence is life, yea, the fulness of joy: thus doth the carnal heart to the world; when that withdraws its favour, he is dejected, and revives with a smile. All is in our choice; whatsoever is our sun will thus carry us. 0 God, be thou to me, such as thou art in thyself; thou shalt be merciful in drawing me; I shall be happy in following thee.

TRACT MAG., THIRD SERIES, NO. 101, MAY 1842. F

UPON A BURLEAF.

Neither the vine, nor the oak, nor the cedar, nor any tree, that I know, within our climate, yields so great a leaf as this weed, which yet, after all expectation, brings forth nothing but a bur, unprofitable, troublesome; so have I seen none make greater profession of religion, than an ignorant man; whose discreet forwardness yields no fruit but a factious disturbance to the church, wherein he lives. Too much show is not so much better than none at all, as an ill fruit is worse than none at all.

UPON THE SIGHT OF AN HEDGEHOG.

I marvelled at the first reading, what the Greeks meant by that proverb of theirs-" The fox knows many pretty wiles, but the hedgehog knows one great one;" but when I consider the nature and practice of this creature, I easily found the reason of that speech, grounded upon the care and shift that it makes for its own preservation: while it is under covert, it knows how to bar the fore door against the northern and eastern blasts, and to open the back door for quieter and calmer air. When it is pursued, it knows how to roll up itself round, within those thorns with which nature hath environed it, so as the dog, instead of a beast, finds now nothing but a ball of pricks to wound its jaws, and goes away crying from so untoothsome a prey. He that sent the sluggard to school to the pismire, sends also, in effect, the careless and imprudent man to the hedgehog, while he saith, If thou be wise thou shalt be wise for thyself. The main care of any creature is self-preservation, whatsoever doth that best is the wisest. These creatures that are all body, have well improved the instincts of nature, if they can provide for their bodily safety. Man that is a reasonable soul shall have done nothing, if he make not sure work for the better part. O God, make me soulwise, I shall never envy their craft that pity my simplicity.

Bp. Hall.

REFLECTIONS ON THE CHARACTER OF ABRAHAM. THE father of the faithful had was always equal to his day.

many trials, but his strength None of his trials equalled

OCCASIONAL MEDITATIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS. UPON THE SIGHT OF TULIPS, MARIGOLDS, AND OTHER FLOWERS IN HIS GARDEN..

THESE flowers are true clients of the sun; how observant they are of his motion and influence! At even they shut up, as mourning for his departure, without whom they neither can nor would flourish; in the morning they welcome his rising with a cheerful openness, and at noon are fully displayed in a free acknowledgment of his bounty: thus doth the good heart unto God. "When thou turnedst away thy face I was troubled," saith the man after God's own heart; in thy presence is life, yea, the fulness of joy: thus doth the carnal heart to the world; when that withdraws its favour, he is dejected, and revives with a smile. All is in our choice; whatsoever is our sun will thus carry us. O God, be thou to me, such as thou art in thyself; thou shalt be merciful in drawing me; I shall be happy in following thee.

TRACT MAG., THIRD SERIES, NO. 101, MAY 1842.

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this life.

There are some things recorded of this patriarch, in which he is a warning to us instead of an example. When such a man as Abraham falters in his duty, alas! what will become of me, if left to myself? "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall," 1 Cor. x. 12. Be careful, my soul, "and watch unto prayer." Alas! how often has my faith failed! How often have I turned aside after vain things, which could not profit, for they are vain! Oh that I may henceforth walk circumspectly, redeem the time which I have lost, and prove myself to be indeed a child of Abraham, by faith in Jesus; that so I may be blessed with him who believed God, and it was "counted to him for righteousness!" Gen. xv. 6. Sometimes it is the business of faith to sit still, and to “wait for the Lord." While we look on, the Lord "does wonderously." When I am in great straits, let me refer myself to the Author and Giver of every grace and of every blessing, and say, "God will provide himself a lamb. How often has he appeared for me already! Is his hand shortened? Is his mercy clean gone? This is my infirmity."

Our heavenly Father strengthens the faith of his people, and makes his strength perfect in their weakness. By faith the believer overcomes the world, the flesh, and the devil. Faith in God is victorious; nothing can stand against it. Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief," Mark ix. 24. 3. Abraham had an altar for God before he had an habitation for himself. Let the young Christian learn of him how to begin the world, as he would wish to thrive and prosper in it, and more especially as he would wish his soul to prosper. The house in which no prayer is offered to God, wants both "a foundation and a covering." The family in which the word of God is not read, and in which no family worship is found, is not yet begun to be furnished. Make room for your Redeemer, invite him into your house, and he will come and bless you, and by his Spirit abide with you for ever. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all other things shall be added unto you, Matt. vi. 33.

Oh that all professWhere no true fear of much good order or

Abraham ruled well his own house. ing Christians were more like him! God is in families, there is seldom government. Let heads of families imitate Abraham. God