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had to do with a very different character: he was a simple, but weak man: it pleased God, however, to shoot an arrow by his hand into my heart: I had been some time in a dry, fruitless frame, and was persuading myself that all was going on well: he said one day, at Lewes, with an indescribable simplicity, that "men might cheer themselves in the morning, and they might pass on tolerably well perhaps without God at noon; but the cool of the day was coming, when God would come down to talk with them." It was a message from God to me: I felt as though God had descended into the church; and was about to call me to my account! In the former instance, I was more surprised and astonished than affected religiously; but, in this, I was unspeakably moved.

CONSTITUTIONAL bias is a suspicious interpreter of PROVIDENTIAL LEADINGS. A man's besetting sin lies in that to which his nature is most inclined; and, therefore, to walk wisely and holily, he should be very jealous of such supposed leadings in Providence as draw with his constitutional propensity. He is never safe, unless he is in the act of collaring his nature as a rebel, and forcing it into submission. A sanguine man sees a sign and token in every thing: in every ordinary occurrence, his imagination hears a call: his pious fancy is the source and food of an eager, disquieted, and restless habit of mind. An enterprising man has great facility in finding God in whatever seems to open to honor, or infiluence, or power. But he has lost the right estimate of things: if God seem to draw with an enterprising mind, the man should stand and tremble. Providence may really lead some retired and humble men into situations which the ambitious man would covet; but, even in that case, it is not to be regarded as an evidence of favor, so much as an

increase of trial and responsibility: but he can never open before an enterprising and ambitious char-, acter, unless in judgment, or in such imminence of trial as should call the man to self-suspicion and humility. A pleasurable man easily discerns God's hand in every thing, which seems to put his favorite indulgences within his power: such a thing was a great providence! and he is vastly grateful! while he sees not that he is led away to broken cisterns. An idle man has a constant tendency to torpidity. He has adopted the Indian maxim-that it is better to walk than to run, and better to stand, than to walk, and better to sit than to stand, and better to lie than to sit. He hugs himself into the notion, that God calls him to be quiet:-that HE is not made for bustling and noise!-that such and such a thing plainly shew him he ought to retire and sit still! A busy man is never at rest: he sees himself. called so often into action, that he digs, too much to suffer any thing to grow, and waters so profusely that he drowns. The danger in all these cases is, lest a man should bless himself in his SNARES!

ADAM well observes:-"A poor country parson, fighting against the Devil in his parish, has nobler deas than Alexander had." Men of the world now nothing of true glory: they know nothing of he grandeur of that sentiment-Thou, O God, art he thing that I long for! You may, perhaps, find, his sentiment in the corner of some monastery, here a poor ignorant creature is mumbling over is prayers: or, it may even be found to exist with he nonsense and fanaticism of a Swedenborgian; at, wherever it is, it is true dignity.

Look at the bravery of the world! Go into the ark. Who is the object of admiration there?The captain swelling and strutting at the head of

his corps! And what is there at the court"Make way! Make way!" And who is this? bit of clay, with a ribbon tied round it! Now i makes nothing against the comparative emptines and littleness of these things, that I or any ma should be ensnared by them, and play the fool with the rest of the species. Truth is truth, and dignity is dignity in spite of the errors and folly of any ma living.

But this is the outside. What are the greates minds, and the noblest projects of the world, com pared with a Christian! Take Mr. Pitt for a instance; and contrast him with the most insigni cant old woman in the church of Christ! If the Bible be not true, you have no standard: all your reasonings, and science, and philosophy, and metaphysics, are gross absurdity and folly. But, if the Bible be true, Mr. Pitt, great and noble as he yet, considered as a mere politician, even Mr. Pit has a little, contracted, mean mind!-a drivelleran earth-worm! Compared with his projects and schemes, the old woman, who rises at two o'clock in the morning, lights her farthing candle, stands all day over her wash-tub, at night puts on her red cloak, steals out to some place of worship, hears the truths of the gospel mangled perhaps with ignorant yet honest zeal, but draws in good into an honest and prepared heart-why, this we man is a heroine-a noble mind-compared with the greatest of men, considered as a mere man of this world!

Bishop Wilkins has said admirably, That nothing in man is great, but, so far as it is connected wit God. The only wise thing recorded of Xerxes, his reflection on the sight of his army-That no one of that immense multitude would survive a hundred years: it seems to have been a momentary gleam of true light and feeling.

APPENDIX.

REMARKS BY MR. CECIL, COMMUNICATED TO THE EDITOR BY SOME FRIENDS.

A HIDING-BLACK implies secrecy. He, who can say unto God, Thou art my kiding-place, may go abroad about his affairs, and may pass through a thousand dangers, and yet, at the same time, have such a hiding-place, in the favor and protection of God, that, when he seems to be exposed on every side, still he is secured and hidden from every evil,

A GREAT man,however high his office and talents, is dependent on little things. Jonah was exceeding glad of his gourd. However splendid and towering, man is crushed beneath the moth, if God does not uphold him: so that, while we are admiring the great man as he is called, and however he may be disposed to admire himself and to speak great swelling words of vanity, facts will shew that he is a poor, dependent creature, who cannot live a mo ment without God. If the Holy Spirit opens his eyes, he will perceive that he cannot stand alone; but can only support himself and climb, like the ivy, by clasping one stronger than himself.

No man

DREAMS are common to sleeping. begins to slumber in religion, but he falls into some golden dream. It is a device of Satan to seduce men into a drowsy state, and then to beguile them with some dream. When the duties of religion become irksome, then he presents some novelty

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which allures and deceives us: whereas, had we been in life and vigor, we should have detected the deceit.

THERE are no greater objects of pity in the world, than men who are admired by all around for their nice discernment and fine taste in every thing of a worldly nature, but have no taste for the riches that endure for ever-no love for God or his word -no love for Christ or their souls. In such a state, however admired or respected, they cannot see the kingdom of God.

A SPIRITUAL man is a character that rises far above all worldly wisdom and science. He is described by our Lord as born of the Spirit. Spiritual senses are given to him. He has a spiritual TASTE, that rejects whatever is injurious, and gladly receives whatever is salutary to the spiritual life: he desires the sincere milk of the word, that he may grow thereby. He has a spiritual SIGHT: he looks not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. He SMELLS a sweet savor in the things of God: His name is as ointment poured forth. He has a quick FEELING. And he has a

spiritual EAR: My sheep hear my voice. He lives in a world of his own: he is tried by spiritual conflicts, and supported by spiritual comforts. If the things of God do not afford him consolation he droops, and nothing in this world can lift up his head: he will say to every other object, Miserable comforters are ye all! He is pursuing a spiritual end, and while others boast and are puffed up with their great attainments, he is humbled in the dust and gives all glory to God.

THERE are critical circumstances, under which man who is in general on his guàrd, is called t

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