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in earnest to feel after him if haply he may find him, let us be aware how we stop him, by rashly telling him he is not seeking in the right way. This would be like setting fire to the first round of the ladder, by which one was attempting to escape. We must wait for a fit season to communicate light. Had any one told me, when I first began to think religiously, that I was not seeking God in the right way, I might have been discouraged from seeking him at all. I was much indebted to my mother, for her truly wise and judicious conduct toward me when I first turned from my vanity and sin.

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WE should always record our thoughts in affliction -set up way-marks-set up our Bethels-erect our Ebenezers; that we may recur to them in health; for then we are in other circumstances, and can never recover our sick bed views,

A CONTEMPLATIVE life has more the APPEARANCE of a life of piety than any other: but it is the divine plan to bring faith into ACTIVITY and EXERCISE. We choose that sort of walk, which we like best: if we love quiet, we are for sedentary piety; but the design of God is to root us out of every thing, and bring us into more useful star tions.

A WRETCHED prisoner, chained to the floor for a length of time, would deem it a high privilege to be allowed to walk across the room. Another, confined to lie on his back till it had become sore, would think it a great favor if he might be permitted to turn on his side for a few minutes. In a course of habitual pain, I am thankful for five minutes freedom from suffering: how forgetful have I been of fifty years of tolerable ease! How un mindful are we of what we call common mercies

ercies

In order to read the Bible with profit, we must be gin by denying ourselves every step of the way; for, every step of the way, it will be found to oppose our corrupt nature.

CHRISTIANS resemble travellers in a stage-coach. We are full of our plans and schemes, but the coach is moving rapidly forward: it passes one mile-stone, and then another; and no regard is paid to the plots and plans of the passengers.

A CHRISTIAN has advanced but a little way in religion when he has overcome the love of the world; for he has still more powerful and importunate enemies: self-evil tempers-pride-undue affections-a stubborn will-it is by the subduing of these adversaries, that we must chiefly judge of our growth in grace.

A FRIEND called on me when I was fill, to settle some business. My head was too much confused by my indisposition to understand fully what he said; but I had such unlimited confidence in him, that I did whatever he bid me, in the fullest assurance that it was right. How simply I can trust in man, and how little in God! How unreasonable is a pure act of faith in one like ourselves, if we cannot repose the same faith in God.

Some negative rules, given to a Young Minister going into a situation of peculiar difficulty.

As I know you have received much good advice, I would suggest to you a few hints of a negative kind; with a view of admonishing you to be careful, while

ou are doing your work, not by any mistakes of your own to hinder your success

By forgetting that your success with others is very much connected with your personal char

acter.

Herod heard John gladly, and he did many hings; because he knew the preacher to be a just and holy man. Words uttered from the heart find eir way to the heart, by a holy sympathy, Charcter is power:

"A good man seen, though silent, counsel gives."

If you would make deep impressions on others, ou must use all means to have them first formed n your own mind. Avoid, at the same time, ll appearances of evil-as a covetous or worldly, vain or assuming, a careless or indevout deportent. Never suffer jesting with sacred persons or hings. Satan will employ such antidotes as these, o counteract the operation of that which is effective nd gracious in a Minister's character.

I. By placing your dependance on any means, qualities, or circumstances, however excellent in themselves.

The direct way to render a thing weak, is to lean on it as strong. God is a jealous God; and will utterly abolish idols as means of success. He designs to demonstrate that men and creatures are what he makes them, and that only. This also should be your encouragement:-looking, in the diligent and humble use of means, to that Spirit of life and power without whose influence all your endeavors will be to no purpose, you have reason to expect help suited and adequate to all your difficulties.

III. By unnecessarily appearing in dangerous or improper situations.

It is one thing to be humble and condescending; It is another to render yourself common, cheap, and contemptible. The men of the world know when a minister is out of his place when they can

oppress him by numbers or circumstances when they can make him laugh, while his office frowns. Well will it be for him, if he is only rendered ABSURD in his future public admonitions, by his former compliances; well if, being found like St. Peter on dangerous ground, he is not seduced, virtually at least, to deny his Master.

IV. By suspicious appearances in his family.

As the head of your household you are responsible for its appearances. Its pride, sloth, and disorder will be yours. You are accountable for your wife's conduct, dress, and manners, as well as those of your children, whose education must be peculiarly exemplary. Your family is to be a picture of what you wish other families to be: and, without the most determined resolution, in reliance on God, to finish this picture COST WHAT IT WILL, your recommending family religion to others will but create a smile. Your unfriendly hearers will recollect enough of Scripture to tell you that you ought. like the primitive Bishop, to be one, that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity: for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?

V. By meddling beyond your sphere in temporals. Your aim and conversation, like your sacred call, are to be altogether heavenly. As a man of God, you have no concern with politics and parties and schemes of interest, but you are to live above them. There is a sublime spirit in a devoted minister, which, as one says of Christianity itself, pays no more regard to these things, than to the battles of rooks, the industry of ants, or the policy of bees. VI. By venturing off general and acknowledged ground in spirituals.

By giving strong meat, instead of milk, to those who are yet but babes-by giving heed to fables, which minister questions rather than godly edifying;

amusing the mind, but not affecting the heart: often disturbing and bewildering, seldom convincing; frequently raising a smile, never drawing a

tear.

VII. By maintaining acknowledged truth in your own spirit.

Both food and medicines are injurious, if administered scalding hot. The spirit of a teacher often effects more than his matter. Benevolence is a universal language: and it will apologize for a multitude of defects, in the man who speaks it; while neither talents nor truth will apologize for pride, illiberality, or bitterness. Avoid, therefore, irritating occasions and persons, particularly disputes and disputants, by which a minister often loses his temper and his character.

VIII. By being too sharp-sighted,too quick-cared, or too ready-tongued.

Some evils are irremediable: they are best neither seen nor heard: by SEEING and HEARING things which you cannot remove, you will create implacable adversaries; who, being guilty aggressors, never forgive. Avoid SPEAKING meanly or harshly of any one: not only because this is forbidden to Christians, but because it is to declare war as by a thousand heralds.

IX. By the temptations arising from the female

sex.

I need not mention what havoc Satan has made in the church, by this means, from the fall to this day. Your safety, when in danger from this quarter, lies in flight-to parley, is to fall. Take the first hint from conscience, or from friends.

In fine, Watch thou in all things: endure afflictions: do the work of an evangelist: make full proof of thy ministry: and then, whether those around you acknowledge your real character or not now, they shall one day know that there hath been a prophet among them!

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