wonderful, that we feel such a cold indifference about their eternal salvation; and in fact do so little to pluck them as brands out of the burning, and prevent their utter ruin? When we turn our attention to them as being formed rational creatures, furnished with noble and immortal powers, in their nature adapted to please and glorify their God and Saviour, and to promote their own and the highest present and eternal good of his moral kingdom, the worth of the soul rises beyond the loftiest conceptions of Angels. Creatures formed with such powers, furnished for the noblest service and for enjoying the highest kind of blessedness, are of some real worth, even on supposition their existence would terminate with this momentary life. Of what incomparable worth must they then be, if after as many millions of ages have rolled away, as there are sands on the sea shore, or drops of water in the ocean, their eternity is but beginning? How can it appear to us a matter of such indifference, whether creatures of such incomparable worth, be saved or lost for ever? For there is no other alternative. If they are not saved they will certainly be lost. Is it possible, looking on any individual in the circle of our acquaintance, that we can think it a matter of little importance whether he be useful and happy even through life? Much rather it would seem impossible that we can feel a cold indifference whether he should be useful and happy for ever and ever. How wonderful is our lukewarmness in this grand business! How astonishing is it that we do so little and are so little engaged! Our astonishment in view of our feelings and conduct, with respect to the salvation of our fellow sinners must rise much higher, when we consider what infinite love has done to save man. God the Father has given, and sent forth his dear and wellbeloved Son, to be a propitiation, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life. With reference to this, the Son of God has become incarnate, fulfilled all righteousness, and humbled himself and became obedient to death, the painful ignominious death of the cross. With respect to this the holy Spirit exerts his almighty energy in convincing of sin, righteousness and judgment, and in shewing Christ to them, and if unwilling, making them willing to renounce the world, to forsake all and follow Christ. With respect to this, prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers have been given, and

and the golden candlesticks have been set up in the world, and divine ordinances have been instituted. With respect. to this, angels are ever on the wing.

Can we think for a moment on what the Father of mercies has done, and of his unspeakable gift? Can we read the memoirs of the incarnation, the obedience and sufferings, life and death of the adorable Son of God, how he agonized in the garden and poured out his soul in tears and blood, on the accursed tree, and not feel amazement in view of our feelings and conduct, that we are so languid, so very lukewarm in our endeavours to save souls from eternal death, and hide the multitude of their sins? Truly I am a wonder to myself, that I am so lost to all feeling and tender concern for my fellow sinners, who are rushing on in a mad career into the devouring flames, and am disposed to do so little. May we not blush and hide our heads for shame, that we so little resemble the Father of mercies; that we are so exceedingly unlike him whom we call our Lord and Master, who came from the bosom of delights to that very cross to save sinners, and is now high enthroned and vested with universal dominion, that he might deliver poor sinners from sin, death and hell, and raise them to the heights of blessedness in heavenly places?-Yea, shame may cover us that we fall so far behind the Apostles and the first churches, in the zeal we employ in this momentous business. They breathed the very spirit of their divine Master, and closely followed him in their painful labours and travels for the salvation of sinners. What ardor of soul did the great apostle Paul breathe? How gloriously did he exert himself? Nothing seemed to him too much to do and suffer in this allimportant business. In transacting this he was undismayed in the view of the most threatening danger. In prosecuting this, he was willing to spend and be spent-yea, to spiil the last drop of his blood. Nothing was sufficient to damp his ardour, or divert the current of his endeavours. His very soul was all love to sinners, and he was indefatigable in his labours for their salvation. His fellow-laborers and the first churches of the saints breathed the same lovely spirit, and followed him as he followed Christ, and nobly exerted themselves in the same glorious business. The grand things the sacred three have done and are doing in the prosecution of this work, the interest which the inhabitants of heaven take in the salvation of sinners, for "there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth," and the zeal of the apostles and the Vol. VI.

C

first christians, upbraid our stupor, and call upon us to engage in this business according to its importance. If we saw sinners. surrounded in the flames of their houses, should we not fly to their relief, and do every thing that could be done? And should we not much rather exert ourselves to save them from everlasting burnings? Their danger is great and pressing; the world, the flesh, and the devil, are combined to effect their destruction. And, alas! the poor creatures are, in general, in a death-like, sleep, fearless of danger. What a great and blessed thing would. it be, if we, through the Lord's grace, might be instrumental in saving even one of our fellow sinners from misery? Let us put on Christ, and imbibe large measures of his spirit, and follow him; let us imitate the example he has left us, of the kindest tenderest love to souls; let us keep him in view, and like him, let us be ready to make any sacrifice in such a cause, and be, ready to do and suffer as we have ability and opportunity, for the salvation of souls, and finally may we shine in that kingdom of our Father, among those who win souls and turn many to righteousness. Yours, &c.

WHAT IS VIRTUE?

A question this of universally acknowledged importance: since there is, perhaps, not any thing in the world, of which so much has been said and written, and of which we have so many studied. definitions, as Virtue. I, for my part, would be glad of such a definition of it, as could be readily understood and comprehended by even the most unlearned reader,

Here we do not speak of Divine virtue, nor of that of angels: but merely of human virtue, or that which a man is capable of practising. This is, in my opinion, a determined disposition and inclination of the heart, in all things to think, speak, and act, comformably to the will of God.

-To love this disposition, and to ask for it, as a Divine favor, this is, to love and embrace virtue. And, to desire, think, speak, and act, agreeably to this disposition is, to practise virtue, or to live virtuously.

The determined disposition of the heart, in general, is, as it were, the tree deeply rooted in the heart; the particular zirtues are the branches; and those thoughts, words, and works, which are truly good, and conformable to the will of God, are the fruits.

To instance it, by way of illustration: if the heart of a man is filled, in general, with this determined disposition, to think, speak, and act, conformably to the acknowledged will of God, in every thing, and with a view to every object; in this case Chastity is a particular virtue springing from virtue in general, a beautiful branch of that good tree; and chaste thoughts, words, and actions, are sweet fruits of this beautiful branch of that good tree. In this sense virtue is something which must be possessed in the heart. But I said above, that this determined disposition, in all things to think, speak, and act, conformably to the will of God, is to be asked for, as a divine favor. This is indispensibly necessary for, since the fall, no child of man is naturally possess→ | ed of it, nor can be. God himself testifies of the heart of man by nature, That" every imagination of the thoughts of his heart, from his youth, is only evil continually." Gen. vi, 5. ch. viii, 21. Thus the heart of man cannot possibly, at the same time, be possessed of a disposition for" that which is good." Virtue cannot dwell in the heart together with the seed of "evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness;" which things Christ declares to "proceed from within, out, of the heart of man." Mark vii, 21, 22. From these "evil things" which "defile the man," v. 23. the heart must first be cleansed and this cannot be effected otherwise than by faith in Christ, through His atoning blood. Consequently, without a previous surrender of the heart unto Christ, true virtue cannot be expected to dwell in it. Virtue and Christ are inseparably united together.

The Virtue of the Man Christ Jesus is exalted above all, and shines far beyond the virtue of imperfect and sinful men, being distinguished from it, not as the original from the copy only, but as the virtue of the sinless and Holy One from that of the sinner, as the sun from the dark planet he illumines, I might almost say, as the body from the shadow: for His virtue consists in the capacity, naturally indwelling in him, of thinking, speaking, and acting perfectly right, in every thing, and with a view to every object; and from this capacity, which he exerted in all cases, according to the disposition of his heart perfectly good, sprang all his particular virtues, and his thoughts, words, and works, perfectly right and good.

These His Virtues, Christians are called and appointed to imitate and "shew forth." This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise. Isa. xlv, 21. As this is not required of teachers only, but of all believers, "whom he hath called out of darkness into his marvellous light;" therefore it must be possible to all and so it is. For it simply consists in a cordial, earnest, and active endeavour to follow him in his virtues, to tread in " His steps," and, as far as possible, so to act in all cases, as he acted, while walking here on earth. And this endeavour, confessedly, belongs to the duties of all believers, which each of them, in his or her special calling, and respective station, ought, and is enabled to fulfil, in the most simple and unaffected manner, according to the opportunities and occasions given them for it.

He, for instance, that is in a situation in which he is to practise obedience; having "Christ's being subject unto His parents," (Luke 2. 51.) and His whole meritorious obedience, constantly before the eyes of his mind, will endeavor to become like unto Him in this respect, consequently will seek to practise obedience with all faithfulness, unconstrained, and with all his heart, and thus will show forth the obedience exercised by our Saviour.

He that is in such circumstances as require the exercise of patience; reflecting on "the patience ofour Lord," strives to" follow His steps" in this view, approving himself, though imperfectly, yet from the heart, perseveringly patient; and thus shows forth this virtue of Jesus, even His patience.

Whosoever is an eye-witness of these things, will be constrained to confess," Can these persons, though sinful still, yet living by faith of the Son of God, and having the virtues of the Man Christ Jesus always set before them, prove, amidst all their infirmities, so exemplarily obedient, and so patient; how glorious and excellent must the obedience and the patience of Christ Himself have been!" Such a showing forth of Christ's virtues, therefore, yields praise and glory unto Him.

But I must repeat it, that we shall ever be conscious, in the clearest and most distinct manner,—and much more so than any enemy could tell it us,—at what an awful distance, alas! we are left behind our great Original! how very little we have attained

1 Peter, ii. 9. Tas ageras the virtues; as in the Old English Translation.