EVERY thinking man will look round him, when he reflects on his situation in this world; and will ask, "What will meet my case? What is it that I want? What will satisfy me? I look at the RICHand I see Ahab, in the midst of all his riches, sick at heart for a garden of herbs! I see Dives, after all his wealth, lifting up his eyes in hell, and begging for a drop of water to cool the rage of his sufferings! I see the Rich Fool summoned away, in the very moment when he was exulting in his hoards! If I look at the WISE-I see Solomon, with all his wisdom, acting like a fool; and I know, that, if I possessed all his wisdom, were I left to myself I should act as he did. I see Ahithophel, with all his policy, hanging himself for vexation! If I turn to men of PLEASUREI see that the very sum of all pleasure is, that it is Satan's bed into which he casts his slaves! I see Esau selling his birth-right for a mess of pottage! I see Solomon, after all his enjoyments, leaving his name a scandal to the Church to the latest age! If I think of HONOUR-take a walk in Westminster Abbey--there is an end of all enquiry. There I walk among the mighty dead! There is the winding up of human glory! And what remains of the greatest men of my country? -A boasting epitaph! None of these things, then, can satisfy me! I must meet death----I must meet judgment-I must meet God-I must meet Eternity!

ON THE

OCCASIONS OF ENMITY

AGAINST

CHRISTIANITY.

THE

HE cause of enmity against real Christianity is in the heart. The angel Gabriel might exhibit the truth, but the heart would rise in enmity. To suppose that there is any way of preaching the Cross so as not to offend the world, is to know nothing of the subject.

There are many occasions, however, of calling forth this enmity. Any man, who should bleed me, would put me to pain; but he would greatly aggravate my pain, if he rudely tore my skin. Occasions may render the reception of that truth morally impossible, which, under the most favourable circumstances, is received with difficulty.

IGNORANCE, in Ministers, is an occasion of exciting enmity against Christianity. A man may betray ignorance on almost every subject, except the way of salvation. But if others see him to be a fool off his own ground, they will think him a

fool on that ground. It is a great error to rail against Human Learning, so as to imply an undervaluing of Knowledge. A man may have little of what is called learning, but he must have knowledge. Bunyan was such a man.

Religious profession was, at first, a CONFLICTa SACRIFICE: now it is become a TRADE. The world sees this spirit pervade many men: and it is a great occasion of enmity. Men of learning and character have confirmed this impression: they have brought out this mischief, and exhibited it to the world. Let any man look into Warburton's "Doctrine of Grace," and he may sit down and wonder that God should suffer such occasions of enmity to arise.

FANATICAL TIMES furnish another occasion. The days of Cromwell, for instance. The great enemy of godliness will never want instruments to make the best of such subjects of ridicule. As long as such a book as Butler's Hudibras is in the world, it will supply occasions of enmity against real religion.

An UNHOLY, INSOLENT PROFESSOR OF RELIGION Occasions enmity. He scorns and insults mankind. His spirit is such as to give them occasion of contemning the truth which he professes. The world will allow some men to call it to account; they will feel a weight of character in a holy and just man.

ECCENTRICITY, in religious men, is another

occasion of enmity. Ask an eccentric man a question: he will stare in your face, and look very spiritual. I knew one of these men who called out to a farmer as he was passing, "Farmer! what do you know of Jesus Christ ?" Much spiritual pride lurks under this conduct. There is want of breeding and good-sense. The world is led to form wrong associations by such characters: 66 Religion makes a man a fool, or mad: therefore I will not become religious."

INJUDICIOUS PREACHING increases the offence of the Cross. Strange interpretations of Scripture-ludicrous comparisons-silly stories-talking without thinking:-these are occasions of enmity.

The LOOSE AND INDISCREET CONDUCT of Professing Christians, particularly of Ministers, is another occasion. The world looks at Ministers out of the pulpit, to know what they mean when in it.

An OSTENTATIOUS SPIRIT in a professor of religion does great injury--that giving out that he is some great one. Even a child will often detect this spirit, when we think no one discovers it.

The MANNer of condUCTING THE DEVOTIONAL PART OF PUBLIC SERVICE is sometimes offensive. It is as much as to say, "We mean nothing by this service. Have patience, and you shall hear me!"

* Exod xii 26.

SLIGHTING THE OFFENCE OF IRREGULARITY has done much harm. It was a wise reply of a Spanish Minister to his King; "Omit this affair: it is but a Ceremony!"-" A Ceremony! Why the King is a Ceremony!"

Good men have given occasion of offence by MAINTAINING SUSPICIOUS CONNECTIONS. There is a wide difference between my not harassing and exposing a doubtful character, and my indorsing and authenticating him.

CONTEMPT OF MEN'S PREJUDICES OF EDUCATION will offend. It was not thus with St. Paul: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

A WANT OF THE SPIRIT OF THE CROSS IN ITS PROFESSORS increases the offence of the crossthat humility, patience, and love to souls, which animated Christ when he offered himself on the Cross for the sins of the world.

way

These are some of the stumbling-blocks in the of the world. And woe unto the world, says our Lord, because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come, but woe unto him by whom the offence cometh! Every man, who is zealous for the diffusion of true religion, should keep his eye on all occasions of offence, since religion, of itself and in its own native beauty, has to encounter the natural enmity of the degenerate heart.