public, I am under much greater obligation to my readers for forbearance, than they are to me for talent and discretion. To this I answer, that, though too often the natural vanity of my heart gets uppermost, yet there are seasons when I take just the same view of the matter that you do-seasons when I am ashamed at my own deficiencies, and amazed at the degree of indulgence awarded me. I will try to call this subject to mind more frequently: who can tell, Gideon, but your friendly comments may be made useful to me? He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding,' Prov. xv. 32.

"You tell me that I avoid controversy, and fight shy in the expression of my Christian views ; that my creed is not clearly enough set forth; and that, for any thing my friends know to the contrary, I may possibly be holding dangerous doctrines, looking forward as though heaven could be gained by my own deeds.

"Now herein, Gideon, I think you bear hard upon me; I am no wrangler, no splitter of hairs in doctrine, and leave disputed points to those who are qualified by education, calling, and inclination, to adjust them. I wish to go quietly through the world, in peace with every man, and have more joy in raising up the humble, than in

attempting to push down the proud; but for all this, 'I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ : for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth,' Rom. i. 16.

"My creed, Gideon, is the Apostles' Creed, in which I am a humble though unworthy believer; and as to gaining heaven by my own deeds, I should almost as soon think of gaining it by my misdeeds; for what deeds have I performed of myself that were not begun, carried on, and completed in infirmity and sin? You are hard upon me, Gideon, indeed you are!

"I know and feel and confess myself to be a sinner, altogether dependent on Divine mercy. I hold that every faculty of my soul and body is the gift of an almighty and gracious God; that every emotion of my mind, every desire of my soul to know him, to love him, to honour him, and to obey him, is a manifestation not of my own deserts, but of his condescending goodness and grace. I hold, also, that in the work of my redemption I am wholly and unreservedly indebted to the merits and all-atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ; and that I have no more to do with it, no more part and lot in the matter, in the way of merit, than I have in the forming of the sun, moon, and stars, and setting up the throne of the Eternal in the highest heaven.

"In one word, Gideon, in the midst of my manifold infirmities, I am clear on this point, for without reservation, I renounce all other hope, and look to the Saviour, and to the Saviour alone, for salvation. That Christ has died for me is my hope and my joy, the rock on which I stand, the boat in which I hope to pass the swellings of Jordan. I have no other plea than this for justification at the judgment day, and no other claim to enter the kingdom of glory."

A TONER FOR THE DAY.

I QUESTION much if you were to look into the dictionary whether you would find the word "Toner" there; but never mind that, it suits my purpose, and better men than I have been allowed to make words, and to pass them too, as currently as half-crowns are passed, without being taken up for coining.

No doubt you have seen and heard before now, an orchestra of musicians tuning their instruments before they burst off into some glorious composition. Without that tuning, or toning, they would make but a bad piece of business of it, but with it, how delightfully they perform!

Now, the parts we have to perform in the world, are quite as important as those of musicians, and our hearts and souls require quite as much toning. Dr. Watts felt this when he said,

"Oh! may my heart in tune be found,

Like David's harp of solemn sound!"

Prayer, and praise, and reading God's holy word are capital toners; so also are meditation and self-examination. I want you to resort to

the same practice, and that you may do so, I will furnish you with a toner that is likely enough to suit you; it is this question, "What am I?” I sadly want toning myself just at this moment, let me put the question first to myself.

What am I? What? Why a weak and unworthy worm! An unprofitable servant! A guilty sinner! If this be true, and true it is, how lowly, how humble, how contrite, how watchful, how prayerful, I ought to be! Lord, let not my heart be haughty, nor mine eyes lofty, neither let me exercise myself in great matters, in things too high for me, Psa. cxxxi. 1.

Did

But, again; What am I? What? Why the handiwork of God. "And God formed man of the dust of the ground," Gen. ii. 7. The temple of the Holy Ghost. "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost?" 1 Cor. vi. 19. An heir of eternal glory. Ye are "heirs according to the promise," Gal. iii. 29. God really make me? Is the Holy Spirit within me? And am I with Jesus Christ a joint heir of glory? How pure, then, how exalted, how holy, and how heavenly, ought my thoughts, my words, and my deeds to be! "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer !" Psa. xix. 14.