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Yet this spiritual mind is a SUBLIME mind. It is a vast and extended view. It has seen the ory and beauty of Christ, and cannot therefore mire the goodly buildings of the temple: as Christ, ys Fenelon, had seen his Father's House, and uld not therefore be taken with the glory of the rthly structure!

I would urge young persons, when they are stagred by the conversation of people of the world, to yell on the characteristics of a spiritual mind. If you cannot answer their arguments, yet mark eir spirit: and mark what a contrary spirit that is hich you are called to cultivate."

There are various MEANS of maintaining and romoting a spiritual mind. Beware of saying conrning this or that evil, Is it not a little one? Much pends on mortifying the body. There are silent arches which the flesh will steal on us: the temer is too apt to rise: the tongue will let itself loose: e imagination, if liberty is given to it, will hurry away. Vain company will injure the mind: carl professors of religion especially will lower its e: we catch a contagion from such men. Misployment of time is injurious to the mind: when flecting, in illness, on my past years, I have ked back with self-reproach on days spent in my dy: I was wading through history, and poetry, d monthly journals; but I was in my study! Another en's trifling is notorious to all observers: but at am I doing?-Nothing, perhaps, that has a ference to the spiritual good of my congregation! lo not speak against a chastized attention to literare, but the abuse of it. Avoid all idleness: ercise thyself unto godliness; plan for God. ware of temptation: the mind, which has dwelt sinful objects, will be in darkness for days. Asciate with spiritually-minded men: the very sight a good man, though he says nothing, will refresh

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the soul. Contemplate Christ: be much in retire ment and prayer: study the honor and glory of you Master.

On Declension in Religion.

A CHRISTIAN may decline far in religion, withou being suspected. He may maintain appearances Every thing seems to others to go on well. H suspects himself: for it requires great labor t Inaintain appearances: especially in a minister Discerning hearers will, however, often detect such declensions. He talks over his old matters. He says his things, but in a cold and unfeeling manner He is sound, indeed, in doctrine; perhaps more sound than before; for there is a great tendency to soundness of doctrine, when appearances are to be kept up in a declining state of the heart.

Where a man has real grace, it may be part of a dispensation toward him that he is suffered to de cline. He walked carelessly. He was left to de cline, that he might be brought to feel his need o vigilance. If he is indulging a besetting sin, it may please God to expose him, especially if he is a high spirited man, that he may hang down his head as long as he lives. He acted thus toward David and Hezekiah. But this is pulling down, in order to build up again.

The CAUSES of a decline in religion should be remarked.

The WORLD has always much to do in religious declension. A minister is tempted, perhaps, to sacrifice every thing to a name. If any APPETITE is suffered to prevail, it will stupify the mind: relig ion is an abstract and elevated affair: Phe way life is above to the wise, to depart from hell beneath KEEPING ON GOOD TERMS WITH THOSE WHO RESPECT Us, is a snare. A SPECULATIVE TURN OF MIND is a snare: it leads to that evil heart

nbelief,which departs from the living God. VAIN ONFIDENCE thinks himself in no danger: he knows he truth: he can dispute for the truth: "What hould we fear?" Why, that we have no fear. TRI`LING WITH CONSCIENCE, is a snare: no man inulges himself in any thing which his conscience ells him ought not to be done, but it will at length wear away his spirituality of mind.

The SYMPTOMS of a religious decline are

many:

When a minister begins to depart from God, and to lose a spiritual mind, HE BECOMES FOND SOMETIMES OF GENTEEL COMPANY, who can entertain him, and who know how to respect his character! This genteel spirit is suspicious: it is associated with pride and delicacy, and a love of ease: in short, it is the spirit of the world. It is the reverse of condescending to mean things: it is the reverse of the spirit of our Master.

It is a symptom of decline, when a man will UN

NECESSARILY EXPOSE THE IMPERFECTIONS OF THE RELIGIOUS WORLD. "Such a man," he will say, "is fond of praying; but he is fond of money. "This is the very opposite spirit to that of St. Paul, who speaks even weeping of those who mind earthly things.

A VIOLENT SECTARIAN SPIRIT is a sign of religious declension. Honest men stand firm for the vitals of religion. If the mind were right, the circumstantials of religion would not be made matters of fierce contention. The spirit of St. Paul was of another kind. If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no meat while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend-One believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, cateth herbs. Let not him, that eateth, despise him that eateth not; and let not him, which eateth not, judge him that eateth.

AVERSION FROM REPROOF marks a state of religious decline. The man cannot bear to have his state depicted, even in the pulpit. He calls the preaching, which searches and detects him, Arminian and legal. Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? Why should he quarrel with the truth? If that truth is delivered in its just proportions, his quarrel is with God!

STUPIDITY UNDER CHASTISEMENT proves a man to be under declension. He is not disposed to ask, Wherefore dost thou contend with me? He is kicking against the pricks. He is stricken, but has not grieved. He is chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke.

Such a man, too, has often a HIGH MIND. He is unhumbled boasting---stout-hearted. He is ready to censure every one but himself.

UNNECESSARY OCCUPATION is another evidence of declension. Some men are unavoidably much engaged in the world: to such men God will give éspecial grace, if they seek it; and they shall maintain a spirit of devotion even in the bustle and occupation of their affairs. But some men will be rich, and therefore fall into temptation and a snare; they will have shops in different parts of the town: they say they do not feel this affect their religious state; but I cannot believe them: a man is declined from God before he enters on such schemes: a spiritual and devout man will generally find the business in which he is already engaged a sufficient snare. In short, the symptoms may be this or that, but the disease is a dead palsy. Ephraim! he hath mixed himself among the people: Ephraim is a cake not turned. Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth it not.

On a Christian's associating with Irreligious
Persons for their Good.

CHRIST is an example to us of entering into mixed society. But our imitation of him herein must admit of restrictions. A feeble man must avoid danger. If any one could go into society as Christ did, then let him go; let him attend marriage-feasts and Pharisees' houses.

Much depends on a Christian's observing his call -the openings which Providence may make before him. It is not enough to say that he frequents public company in order to retard the progress of evil.

But, when in company of people of the world, we should treat them kindly and tenderly-with feeling and compassion. They should be assisted, if they are inclined to receive assistance. But if a Christian falls into the society of a mere worldling, it must be like the meeting of two persons in rainthey will part as soon as possible. If a man loves such company, it is an evil symptom.

It is a Christian's duty to maintain a kind intercourse, if practicable, with his relatives. And he must DULY APPRECIATE THEIR STATE; if not religious, they cannot see and feel and taste his enjoyments: they accommodate themselves to him, and he accommodates himself to them. It is much a matter of accommodation on both sides.

AVOID DISGUSTING SUCH FRIENDS UNNECESSARILY. A precise man, for instance, must be humored. Your friends set down your religion, perhaps, as a case of humor.

CULTIVATE GOOD SENSE. If your friends perceive you weak in any part of your views and conduct, they will think you weak in your religion.

AVOID VAIN JANGLING. There is a disposition in such friends to avoid important and pinching truth. If you WILL Converse with them on the subject of religion, they will often endeavor

to

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