Christian, I shall be surprised. You will no longer be tortured with doubts, or tormented with fears, or be glued to the world; but with holy confidence, you will depend on Jesus, with steady courage you will overcome your inward foes, and walking with God, you will live above the world, its smiles and its frowns.

Well, reader, what do you say to my representation of a humble Christian, is it correct? Do you admire it ? Do you desire to be one? Such are peculiarly favoured, "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." The humble Christian therefore, will have God for his guest, and as such he will revive, comfort, and make him happy. God will be the portion of his inheritance and of his cup, and will maintain his lot. His trials may be many, but his supports will be great-his sorrows may be various, but his comforts will be strong. With God for his Father, providence for his friend, the promises as his security, and all things as his property; he will learn in whatever state he is, therewith to be content. Gratitude will become natural to him, his peace will flow like a river, his joy will be unspeakable and full of glory, his life will be honourable, and his death

will be happy. If all this was understood, I do not wonder at friend Thomas, saying, "I only want to be a humble Christian.' I hope he did not mean a little Christian, or only just a Christian, for that is neither wise nor becoming. Friend, are you a Christianone with Christ, possessing the Spirit of Christ, and living to the honour of Christ? Are you a humble Christian-having low views of yourself, high views of your fellow-believers, and the most exalted views of Jesus? Do you, while you realise that your desert is hell, believe that your portion is heaven-and while you at times wonder, that God should ever cast a propitious look at you, yet rejoice that he loves you with an everlasting love? If so, I doubt not but you are humble, and the more you know and enjoy of these things, the deeper and the more influential will your humility become. May every reader, after reading these lines, be able to lay his hand on his heart and say, "I WANT TO BE A HUMBLE CHRISTIAN."

The blessings now by me implored,
Are in my Saviour richly stored;
And more than men or angels know,
From him eternally shall flow.

By him my wants are all supplied,
And in his likeness satisfied;
I soon before his throne shall fall,
And in him "find my heaven, my all."

THE EFFECT OF PARDON.

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IN one of our garrison towns, a few years ago, a soldier was about to be brought before his commanding officer, for some misdemeanour. The officer entering the soldier's name, said, "Here is so and so again, what can we do with him, he has gone through almost every ordeal ?" The Sergeant-Major apologised for intruding, and said, "There is one thing that has never been done with him yet, sir." "What is that, SergeantMajor ?" "Well, sir, he has never yet been forgiven." Forgiven!" said the colonel, Here is his case entered." "Yes, but the man is not before you, and you can cancel it." After the colonel had reflected for a few minutes, he ordered the man to be brought in-when he asked what he had to say relative to the charges brought against him. Nothing, sir," was the reply, more than I am sorry for what I have done." After making some suitable remarks, the colonel said, we are resolved to forgive you." The soldier was struck with astonishment, the tears started from his eyes, he wept. The colonel, with the adjutant, and others present, felt deeply, when they saw the man

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so humbled. The soldier, thanked the colonel for his kindness, and retired. The narrator had the soldier under his notice for two years and a half after this, and never during that time was a charge brought against him, or fault found with him. Mercy triumphed! Kindness conquered! The man was won!

This is just the method God adopts with us in the everlasting gospel. We are guilty. The charges are brought against us. The case is entered. But the Lord delighteth in mercy. He seeks to melt us by his love. He is ready to forgive. He sends to us saying, "Only acknowledge thine iniquities." And then offers us a pardon-a pardon which cost him the life of his only begotten Son. A pardon, not of one sin, but of all our sins. A pardon that will exempt from punishment, all punishment. A pardon that will bring peace to the conscience on earth, and entitle us to eternal rest in heaven. The soldier, in the case before us, gladly ac cepted the pardon, was melted down by the kindness of his colonel, and wept as a child would weep. But sinners, too often hear of God's forgiving love without emotion, and instead of frankly confessing their sins, and gladly embracing the pardon offered, they treat it with neglect, or contempt. What can be the reason of this? The reason is, they do not realise their criminality, or the danger to which they are exposed-they do not believe in an eternal hell, as the punish

ment which their sins deserve, and therefore they treat the gospel, as if it were a fable, or a subject of no importance.

Reader, have you felt that you are guilty before God? Guilty of breaking his law, which is holy, just, and good? Guilty, not

of breaking the law once, but ten thousand times-not in one form, but in a multitude of ways-so that if God were to punish you according to your desert, he must sentence you to hell for ever? Have you understood the gospel, which tells you that God is loath to punish you, that he has no pleasure in the death of a sinner; to prove which, he spared not his Son, but delivered him up, to die the just for the unjust; to bear our sins, to atone for our guilt; that so God may be just, and yet pardon and justify every sinner that believes on him? Do you see that God offers to pardon you, invites you to come to his throne of grace, that you may obtain mercy -and has long been, and is now, waiting to be gracious unto you? What would you have said, if the soldier referred to, had insulted his colonel, when he told him that he had made up his mind to forgive him; and had told him he did not want his pardon, but that he preferred being punished? What could you say, but that he was a most hardened and ungrateful wretch? Yet, if you refuse, or neglect to humble yourself before God, and ask for the pardon promised in his word; you are acting just such a part before