it, for all that. Other people may pose us, but the closest method of questioning is, to question ourselves. Are we, then, what we appear to be? For if we are either ignorant of the evil of our own hearts, or railing against others when we are more guilty than they are, it is high time that such a state of things should be altered.

Were the Searcher of all hearts to put the inquiry to you, and to me, Art thou what thou appearest to be? would not the reply be, "If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth," Job ix. 20; xl. 4.

PART OF A LETTER,

COPIED OUT BY

OLD HUMPHREY.

ON Monday last I received a long epistle from my zealous friend Gideon, and as I think a profitable hint or two may be taken from one part of it, that part I will now copy out for your perusal. It is as follows:

"In the days of my youth, I once saw a man, blindfolded, dancing in the midst of some eggs, laid at different distances from each other on the ground; and this he did without breaking them. A minister that I heard yesterday, who denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ, put me in mind of him. I thought that he was as much blindfolded as the other; and I am sure that he took as much pains to avoid certain texts of Scripture, as ever the dancer did to avoid the eggs.

"Oh, what a blessing it is, Humphrey, to have a clear view of the Lord of life and glory, both in his Divine and human nature, with a single eye to his praise!

"There are many who, though not Jews, Turks, infidels, or heathens, can hardly be said to be Christians; that is, they do not worship the God of the Bible; the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost of Holy Scripture. If Christians were at liberty to accept one part of Divine revelation, and reject another; if, at pleasure, they might add to, or diminish from, the attributes of Almighty God, as set forth in the pages of Holy Writ, then soon would there be gods many, and lords many, among Christian professors; but we have not this liberty with holy reverence we are bound to believe, to love, to honour, and to obey our Leader and Lord as he has made himself known in his

word.

"When the true God is not worshipped, it matters not what idol we set up in his place; whether it be the sun or the moon, a brazen serpent, or a golden calf, a crucifix, a god of our own making, or our own unrighteous selfrighteousness, it matters not the value of a straw. In all such cases, we rob God of his glory. It matters not whose subjects we are, if we renounce allegiance to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

"I trust that some day or other, through mercy, the bandage will be taken from the eyes of the preacher I have heard, that he may read the whole of his Bible, to the praise of the Redeemer

and the good of his own soul; and then among other texts of Holy Scripture he will find the following :-There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour,' Isa. xlv. 21, 22. 'I and my Father are one,' John x. 30. Grieve not

the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption,' Eph. iv. 30. We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true

God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols,"" 1 John v. 20, 21.

ON ORDER.

THE subject of Order is well worth your consideration, for it is one that may have an influence over the affairs of every day, and every waking hour of your lives. Now, try to go with me in my view of the matter, and do not pass it over as a trifling affair. None can speak so feelingly of an advantage as he who has suffered by his folly in neglecting it. The trouble that I have endured in years gone by, through carelessness and neglect of orderly habits, leads me to give you some advice.

It would perhaps be difficult to determine which is the greater; the comfort derived from order, or the inconvenience brought about by disorder. Order renders all affairs clearer; disorder confuses them. Order relieves the memory; disorder increases the duties it has to perform. Order removes a burden from the back; disorder lays an additional load on the shoulders. If you have ever seen an impatient girl attempting to unravel a knotted skein of silk, or a peevish boy vainly trying to undo the tangled tail of his kite, you