insensible of them. Reality needs no pretensions: but those who have neither the trouble nor expence of maintaining the reality, can afford to be very lavish in professions. I never once heard Mr. Winter in his public services deal in the language of many, who while they call themselves," Dust and ashes," "Less than the least," " Unworthy to open their lips," shew in their general carriage, that they have no very mean opinion of themselves, and whose frown, if not fist, would probably threaten the daring individual.that would address them in the language of their own "Voluntary humility." It is doubtless possible for persons to be led into the occasional use of such expressions from ignorance, simplicity, and a sense of what they really feel: but as they are commonly employed by that class of the ambitious who are straightened for expedients, and as they are generally considered the sneaking wishes of pride, it would be better to use them very sparingly, to keep our good from being evil spoken of, and to establish our claims to this christian excellency by something less cheap and suspicious--the whole course of our lives. I remember soon after I was with him, I was called upon rather suddenly to preach at an association of minis

ters. My dear and honored tutor saw my agitation as I was ascending the pulpit; and whispered to me in the stairs by which he was standing, "Make no apology." What he suspected, I had determined upon; but confiding in his judgment, I gave up my design. He afterward explained the reason of his prohibition; and added that " A young preacher's manner out of the pulpit, and in the pulpit, will be his best apology."

If we consider his humility more immediately in reference to God, in whose right the very heavens are not clean, and who chargeth his angels with folly-What wonder from such a man we meet with language like this. " I wish always to see myself what I am, and then no varnish can so alter me, as to make me excel in my own eyes.

"Lord what am I? A sight of my own wickedness frequently bows me down, and I would if I could lie ten thousand fathoms lower, so that I might but be within the reach of mercy. It is never better with me than when I am necessitated to lie at the feet of Jesus, begging the crumbs of that bread, which because I am not worthy to receive as a son, I would thankfully accept as a servant."

A a

"The constraining love of Christ is the spur to my work, and the reward of my labor. And when the dear Jesus who bought me with his blood shall crown me with his glory, whole hierachy of heaven shall hear me shout grace, grace."

the

To Mr. L-e. "We should do what we can, if we cannot do what we would; and when we have exerted ourselves to the uttermost, it becomes us to lie prostrate at the Redeemer's feet, acknowledging that we are unprofitable servants. I feel this to be the case. Whatever formality there may be in my duties, and much there is indeed, there is none in my confession. I think as 1 speak, before God and man. I had almost said it is impossible for me to be proud. If at any time satan and my own heart take the advantage of a more than ordinary lively frame, and by the assistance of a more than usual share of spirits, I am carried through a service, the comparison of that with the many dull and plodding exercises, which connect with it, forbid me to be vain. It is probable the motives of my humiliation may be more from pride, than from a proper concern for the glory of God my divine master; if this be the case I am so much the greater

sinner before him. Of this I would stand open to conviction. Our great mercy is that whatever may be our sin, there is an infinity of pardon for it. But it should be our care not to make work for repentance, by indulging sin, or to sin that grace may abound, and thus abuse the information we have of the plenitude of Salvation and the efficacy there is in the blood of Jesus, to cleanse us from all sin."

To Mr. Sr of Bs, "I do not wonder you derived advantage from the ordination of Mr. Hickman. 1 always attend upon such an occasion, interested in all the advice given to the ordained, and frequently discover a remissness and deficiency that humbles me before God. Not having life to live over again, my convictions of what I have in many instances detected to have been wrong, humble me. I despair of fetching up time past. The decay of nature which gradually advances, will not admit of my using time present as I ought. I must therefore die repenting, and throw myself upon the mercy of God in Christ Jesus. He knows that I have always designed better than I have performed, and must rely upon his compassion to pity the weakness that he knows has ever attended my frame, and pardon the sin which he equally knows has not been inten

tional, but cleaving to my most holy performances has polluted them. And the failure of putting into practice the resolutions I have formed, makes me cautious in renewing them."

In another letter. "Oh! blessed Jesus! may we all learn of him. But Oh my dear madam with what difficulty have I brought my heart.to yield to one of his lessons since I saw you. I do not want, blessed be God, to be confirmed to this world; but while I am indifferent to this world, I am not enough confirmed to the image of the first born among many brethren."

I would only add that when a few years ago, I wrote a few verses in my native village, in which I of course was led to notice him as the instrument of my emerging from the deepest obscurity, upon my transmitting them to him: he wrote-" It is impossible I can keep the little poem to myself; and yet I truly blush at being the subject of so much honor as it intends me. I pray God that in the judgment-day, I may be found the consistent character such as I ought to be. From the many imperfections known to myself I feel shame, while from my fellowcreatures I meet with applause, to which my dearest Jay contributes much. I sometimes tremble on this account. I know that I am not disposed to make an improper use of it,