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not frequently raised up faithful witnesses, who have stood forth for examples to others, in like situations, of the practicability of uniting great eminence in the Christian Life with the discharge of the duties of their profession, however difficult.

FEAR has the most steady effect on the constitutional temperament of some Christians, to keep them in their course. A strong sense of DUTY fixes on the minds of others, and is the prevailing principle of conduct, without any direct reference to consequences. On minds of a stubborn, refractory and self-willed temper, fear and duty have in general little effect: they brave fear, and a mere sense of duty is a cold and lifeless principle; but GRATI TUDE, under a strong and subduing sense of mercies, melts them into obedience.

THERE is a large class, who would confound nature and grace. These are chiefly women. They sit at arome, nursing themselves over a fire, and then race up the natural effects of solitude and want of di ir and exercise into spiritual desertion. There › more pride in this than they are aware of. They re unwilling to allow so simple and natural a cause of their feelings; and wish to find something in the hing more sublime.

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pa THERE are so many things to lower a man's topqsails he is such a dependent creature-he is to pay m. such court to his stomach, his food, his sleep, his Sexercise-that, in truth, a hero is an idle word. fc Man seems formed to be a hero in suffering-not frta hero in action. Men err in nothing more than us in the estimate which they make of human labour. thThe hero of the world is the man that makes a

bustle-the man that makes the road smoke under

his chaise-and-four-the man that raises a dust about him-the man that manages or devastates empires! But what is the real labor of this mancompared with that of a silent sufferer? He lives on his projects. He encounters, perhaps, rough roads-incommodious inns-bad food-storms and perils-weary days and sleepless nights:-but what are these!-his project-his point-the thing that has laid hold on his heart-glory-a name-consequence-pleasure-wealth-these render the man callous to the pains and efforts of the body! I have been in both states, and therefore understand them; and I know that men form this false estimate. Besides-there is something in bustle, and stir, and activity, that supports itself. At one period, I preached and read five times on a Sunday, and rode sixteen miles. But what did it cost me? Nothing! Yet most men would have looked on while I was rattling from village to village, with all the dogs barking at my heels, and would have called me a hero: whereas, if they were to look at me now, they would call me an idle, lounging fellow. "He makes a Sermon on the Saturday he gets into his study he walks from end to end-he scribbles on a scrap of paper he throws it away and scribbles on another he takes snuff-he sits down-scribbles again-walks about." The man cannot see that here is an exhaustion of the spirit, which, at night, will leave me worn to the extremity of endurance. He cannot see the numberless efforts of mind, which are crossed and stifled, and recoil on the spirits; like the fruitless efforts of a traveller to get firm footing among the ashes on the steep sides of Mount Etna.*

ELIJAH appears to have been a man of what we call a GREAT SPIRIT: yet we never find him vis

See the Adventurer, No. cxxvii. J. P.

ing against the humiliating methods, which God was sometimes pleased to take with him; whether he is to depend for his daily food on the ravens, or is to be nourished by the slender pittance of a perishing widow. Pride would choose for us such means of provision, as have some appearance of our own agency in them; and stout-heartedness would lead us to refuse things, if we cannot have them in our own way.

THE blessed man is he, who is under education in God's school; where he endures chastisement, and by chastisement is instructed. The foolish creature is bewitched, sometimes with the enchantments and sorceries of life. He begins to lose the lively sense of that something, which is superior to the glory of the world. His grovelling soul begins to say, "Is not this fine? Is not that charming? Is not that noble house worth a wish? Is not that equipage worth a sigh?" He must go to the Word of God to know what a thing is worth. He must be taught there to call things by their proper names. If he have lost this habit, when his heart puts the questions he will answer them like a fool; as I have done a thousand times. He will forget that God puts his children into possession of these things, as mere stewards; and that the possession of them increases their responsibility. He will sit down, and plan and scheme to obtain possession of things, which he forgets are to be burnt and destroyed. But God dashes the fond scheme in pieces. He disappoints the project. And, with the chastisement he sends instruction: for he knows that the silly creature, if left to himself, would begin, like the spider whose web has been swept away, to spin it again. And then the man sees that Job is blessednot, when God gives him sons and daughters, and flocks, and herds, and power, and honor; but when God takes all these away-not, when the schemes of his carnal heart are indulged; but when they are crossed and disappointed.

A STUBBORN and rebellious mind in a Christian, must be kept low by dark and trying dispensations. The language of God, in his providence, to such an one, is generally of this kind: "I will not wholly hide myself. I will be seen by thee. But thou shalt never meet me, except in a dark night and in a storm." Ministers of such a natural spirit are often fitted for eminent usefulness by these means.

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THE Christian, in his sufferings, is often tempted to think himself forgotten. But his afflictions are the clearest proofs, that he is an object both of Satan's enmity, and of God's fatherly discipline. Satan would not have man suffer a single trouble all his life long, if he might have his way. He would give him the thing his heart is set upon. He would work in with his ambition. He would pamper his lust and his pride. But God has better things in reserve for his children; and they must be brought to desire them and seek them; and this will be through the wreck and sacrifice of all that the heart holds dear. The Christian prays for fuller manifestations of Christ's power and glory and love to him; but he is often not aware, that this is, in truth, praying to be brought into the furnace; for in the furnace only it is, that Christ can walk with his friends, and display, in their preservation and deliverance, his own almighty power. Yet when brought thither, it is one of the worst parts of the trial, that the Christian often thinks himself, for a time at least, abandoned. Job thought sc. But while he looked on himself as an outcast, the infinite Spirit and the Wicked Spirit were holding a dialogue on his case! He was more an object of notice and interest, than the largest armies that were ever assembled, and the mightiest revolutions that ever shook the world, considered merely in their temporal interests and consequences. Let the Chrisan be deeply concerned, in all his trials, to honour his Master before such observers!

AFFLICTION has a tendency, especially if long continued, to generate a kind of despondency and ill-temper: and spiritual incapacity is closely connected with pain and sickness. The spirit of prayer does not necessarily come with affliction. If this be not poured out upon the man, he will like a wounded beast, skulk to his den and growl there.

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GOD has marked IMPLICITNESS AND SIMPLIC ITY OF FAITH with peculiar approbation. He has done this throughout the Scripture; and he is doing it daily in the Christian life. An unsuspecting unquestioning, unhesitating spirit he delights to honor. He does not delight in a credulous, weak, in and unstable mind. He gives us full evidence, when he calls and leads; but he expects to find in uswhat he himself bestows-an open ear and a dis-e posed heart. Though he gives us not the evidence of sense; yet he gives such evidence as will be P heard by an open ear, and followed by a disposed heart: Thomas! because thou hast seen me thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed. We are witnesses what an open ear and a disposed heart will do in men of the world. If wealth is in pursuit-if a place presents itself before them-if their persons and families and affairs are the object-a whisper, a hint, a probability, a mere chance, is a sufficient ground of action. It is this very state of mind with regard to A religion, which God delights in and honors. He seems to put forth his hand, and to say "Put thy hand into mine. Follow all my leadings. Keep thyself attentive to every turn.'

A SOUND heart is an excellent casuist. Men stand doubting what they shall do, while an evil heart is at the bottom. If, with St. Paul, they simply did one

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