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in Jesus.'

I have been affected on account of the dying, who have appeared to me the most pitiable of all creatures. Composure should indeed belong to the Christion on the verge of eternity, for all his highest hopes and expectations lie beyond the grave; but then he has a rational ground for his composure. Any other ground is presumptuous, and is but the sandy foundation which can never bear the superstructure. In many instances, if the dying person be asked, why he is composed, he can give no reply, unless it be-God is merciful! But should he not remember too, that God is just, for he will find him so-'a just God,' although a Saviour. But we see the guilty creature, who has spent a life in folly, who has never given proof of having loved and served God, who has never repented-never cried for mercy like one that felt a need of it, nor in the way that it is to be obtained, through the blood and righteousness of the Saviour-yet, quite composed. Surely, this is the composure of a delusive opiate, poured into the mind by the enemy of souls-the strong man armed, who keeps possession of the palace, while the goods are in peace! Surely, it is the calm that precedes the tremendous storm-the fatal stillness that augurs the earthquake!

Quite resigned, say some. But how? Is it the resignation of the criminal going to execution, who is resigned because he cannot avoid it, or is it the resignation which genuine religion inspires, and which says— thy will be done? The infidel may be quite composed and resigned. The Christian's resignation must, therefore, have something to distinguish it, and should be founded on a hope that maketh not ashamed; a hope which purifies the heart, and raises the soul above the world, and enters within the vail, whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus.

Quite prepared. Indeed! What by being made meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light-by a life of previous devotedness to God? By a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the

Resurrection and the Life? If so, all hail favoured soul! Thou hast nothing to fear for eternity! Heaven is thine in reversion. Thou mayest smile at the last enemy. Death is divested of his terrors. There is, therefore, now, no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus! But-short of this, art thou prepared to meet thy God? Is a life of sin a life of preparation? Art thou prepared for Heaven, when thou hast scarcely ever even thought about it? God save thee, reader, from such delusions! How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?'

Life is the time to serve the Lord,

The time to insure the great reward.'

If you would be truly composed-truly resignedtruly prepared-Seek the Lord, while he is to be found; call upon him while he is near." He may, indeed, be found on a dying bed; but the hazard is great, and the sinner must have the painful reflection, in dying, that in his health and life he has never served God. All that he can express of sincerity is what he would do for his honour, not what he has done; and at most, to the memory of such an one, the Scripture can scarcely be applied:-Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, for they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.

MONITOR.

MINUTIE.

THE COURTLY CAPUCHIN.

A Capuchin preaching before Louis XIVth. at Fontableau, began his sermon thus-" My brethren, we shall all die;" then suddenly stopping and turning to the king, who had a remarkable aver

sion even to growing old, much more to mortality, he added, Yes, sire, we shall almost all die!

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THE CHRISTIAN WOMAN!

Some gentlemen of a Bible Association lately calling upon an old woman, to know if she had A BIBLE, were severely reproved with a spirited reply, Do you think, gentlemen, that I am a Heathen, that you should ask me such a question?? Then addressing a little girl, she said, run and fetch the Bible out of my drawer, that I may shew it the gentlemen.' The gentlemen declined giving her the trouble, but she insisted on giving them ocular demonstration that she was no Heathen. Accordingly the Bible was brought nicely covered, and on opening it, the old woman exclaimed, "Well, how glad I am that you have come, Here are my spectacles that I have been looking for these THREE YEARS, and didn't know where to find'em!

REVIEWS OF THE LAST MONTH.

THE MONTHLY REVIEW does not notice any work on theology.

THE BRITISH CRITIC commences with A Sermon, preached at the Anniversary Meeting of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, in Foreign Parts. By the BISHOP OF BRISTOL.-The Valedictory Address of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, delivered by the BISHOP OF BRISTOL, to the Bishop of Calcutta, with his Lordship's Reply.A Sermon, preached in Lambeth Chapel, at the Consecration of the Bishop of Calcutta. By A. B. WRIGHTSON, M. A. These articles are all under one head. Extracts from Bishop Heber's Reply are included in the review. In alluding to the late Bishop

Middleton, he observes, 'Nor did Bishop Middleton seek to lay any other (foundation) than that, of which the first stone was laid in Golgotha, and the building was complete when the Son of God took his seat in glory, on the right hand of his Father.' 'If ever the time should arrive when I may be enabled to preach to the natives of India in their own language, I shall then aspire to the still higher distinction of being considered the Missionary of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge.' These extracts exhibit in a pleasing light the views and spirit of the newly-appointed Bishop. Mr. WRIGHTSON'S Sermon is commended, and from it we give a short extract: 'But where the agency of miracles has been withdrawn, the support of secondary causes has been accorded. The mighty of the earth have become the Nursing Fathers' of Christianity; and it is hard to believe that our own nation, to which such opportunities have been granted, is not bound to employ, to the best of her power and wisdom, those gigantic means, to the glory of Him, from whom she has received them. This obligation, indeed, so plainly deducible both from reason and from Scripture, has been recognized by our legislature itself, in its professed anxiety to enlighten and inform the subjects of our Eastern Empire. How, then, is this solemn pledge to be redeemed? It is not alone by the diffusion of science and the arts of life, that the abominations of the native faith will be abolished. In the refined societies of ancient Italy and Greece, the grossest superstition dwelt in the midst of learning. The utmost attainments of Pagan philosophy in the very principle of religion, the formation of the world, are known to have been a mass of error. Their boasted wisdom was deficient and unprofitable in the one thing needful to man. The scheme of redemption was foolishness to the arrogance of the Grecian sage: and in a period of the utmost advancement of literature and science, it was pronounced, by undisputable authority, that the world by wisdom knew not God. Henceforward, therefore, with discretion, and with zeal,

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may England 'Do the work of an Evangelist,' to this her distant empire. May she make full proof of her ministry, in maintaining Christianity among those who profess it, and in disseminating its saving truth among sixty millions of Heathens! In pursuit of this latter object, persuasion is her only weapon. It is not by the sword, it is not by menaces, it is not by compulsion, indirect or immediate, that this end is sought to be gained. Preach the Word' was the only direction npon the subject ever issued from on high. Preach the Gospel to every creature. Sound it, that is to say, in the ears of men. Proclaim it as an herald throughout the world; it carries along with it its credentials, which will sooner or later gain it universal reception. The tidings of the Gospel were originally promulgated in pure and perfect love; joy and gladness were its only concomitants. It interfered with no civil or political establishments. It gave unto Cæsar the things that were Cæsar's, and unto God the things that were God's.' This is the only course which Christianity can acknowledge, and thus may it ever work its way till the cross of Christ is erected upon the ruins of Heathenism.'-GILLAN'S Scottish Pulpit is commended as a whole; while the merits of each Preacher are severally discussed. The reviewer, however, sneers at the critical learning and theological knowledge of the Scotch Clergy.-DR. LAMONT'S (the present Moderator of the Church of Scotland) Sermon is considered as an every-day discourse,' the language of which is unpolished and bombastic."— DR. CHARTERIS' is praised, as far as he amuses the fancy, and sometimes casts a gleam of new light on the dark places of a text.'-DR. SOMERVILLE's, of Jedburgh, is remarkable for good sense, and seriousness; impressive, without being positively eloquent; familiar, without being trite.'-DR. WILLIAM L. BROWN, of Aberdeen, Principal ofa College,&c. is rather severely handled, for what is deemed a piece of rank fustian, that would disgrace the first essay of a lad of sixteen.-DR. MEARN, Divinity Professor at Aber

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