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or theft, which he is committing, all is well! Because a man's bed is his own, he may idle away in it his inestimable time! Because his business is lawful, a man may intoxicate his mind with the pursuit of it!

THE very heart and root of sin, is an independent spirit. We erect the idol SELF; and not only wish others to worship, but worship it ourselves.

We must take care when we draw parallel cases, not to take such as are not or cannot be made parallel. For instance--we may ask, before we act, "What would Jesus Christ do in this case? or what would St. Paul ?” but we cannot be guided by this rule in every thing, because Christ's mission was peculiar: it was an unparalleled event: it was for three years only: and like a great fire, he was always burning-always intent on one point. St. Paul also was in peculiar circumstances: he was sent on an especial errand. In every thing which is in any degree sinful, we should turn to these examples; but, in the conduct peculiar to our station, our application of these examples must be governed by circumstances.

MANY inexperienced Christians are apt to look for wrong kinds of evidences, and so distress themselves about their state. The questions which we should put to ourselves, in seeking the best evidences, are—“ Do I hate sin! Is it my grand fear?-Is it my grief, that, while I have a good hope of pardon, I yet should make such ill returns? Have I brokenness of spirit ?"—Godliness is analogous to the principle of gravitation, in that it reduces every thing to its proper centre.

THE difference between what is called FATE, and PP J DESTINATION, is something like that of a house withar a governor, and a house, with a governor. The Fu talist says, "Every thing must, of necessity, be as it -as a stone must fall to the ground, fire must asceu 4 &c. The Predestinarian says, that every thing is do termined by a wise Governor, who inspects, orders. and superintends the whole machine; so that a sparrow does not fall to the ground, or a hair of the head perish, without permission.

WE are so accustomed to see sin within and without us, that we seldom deeply feel it, or are so shocked at it, as we should be were it less frequent. If an inhabitant of the court were to walk through some of the filthy streets and alleys of the metropolis, how would he be disgusted and terrified! while the poor wretches, who live in them, think nothing of the matter. Thus a clearer view of sin and of the holiness of God, made the prophet cry out, Wo is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.

It is much easier to SETTLE a point, than to ACT on it.

I ONCE said to myself, in the foolishness of my heart, "What sort of sermon must that have been which was preached by St. Peter, when three thousand souls were converted at ONCE ?"-What sort of sermon !-such as other sermons. There is nothing to be found in it extraordinary. The effect was not produced by St. Peter's eloquence: but by the mighty power of God, pre

sent with his word. It is in vain to attend one minister after another, and to hear sermon after sermon, un less we pray that the Holy Spirit accompany his word. Neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

THAT humility which courts notice, is not FIRST-RATE. It may be sincere, but it is sullied. Do not sound a trumpet, nor say, "Come and see how humble I am !"

WE should be careful never to discourage any one who is searching after God. If a man begins in earnest to feel after him if haply he may find him, let us beware how we may stop him, by rashly telling him he is not seeking in the right way. This would be like setting fire to the first round of the ladder, by which one was attempting to escape. We must wait for a fit season to communicate light. Had any one told me, when I first began to think religiously, that I was not seeking God in the right way, I might have been dis- ✅ couraged from seeking him at all. I was much indebted to my mother, for her truly wise and judicious conduct toward me when I first turned from my vanity and sin.

WE should always record our thoughts in affliction -set up way-marks-set up our Bethels-erect our Ebenezers; that we may recur to them in health; for then we are in other circumstances, and can never recover our sick-bed views.

A CONTEMPLATIVE life has more the APPEARANCE of a life of piety than any other: but it is the divine plan to

bring faith into ACTIVITY and EXERCISE. We choose that sort of walk which we like best: if we love quiet, we are for sedentary piety; but the design of God is to root us out of every thing, and bring us into more useful stations.

A WRETCHED prisoner, chained to the floor for a length of time, would deem it a high privilege to be allowed to walk across the room. Another, confined to lie on his back till it had become sore, would think it a great favor if he might be permitted to turn on his side for a few minutes. In a course of habitual pain, I am thankful for five minutes' freedom from suffering: how forgetful have I been of fifty years of tolerable ease! How unmindful are we of what we call com

mon mercies!

In order to read the Bible with profit, we must begin by denying ourselves every step of the way: for, every step of the way, it will be found to oppose our corrupt nature.

CHRISTIANS resemble travellers in a stage-coach. We are full of our plans and schemes, but the coach is moving rapidly forward: it passes one mile-stone, and then another; and no regard is paid to the plots and plans of the passengers.

A CHRISTIAN has advanced but a little way in religion when he has overcome the love of the world: for he has still more powerful and importunate enemies : self-evil tempers-pride-undue affections-a stubborn will;-it is by the subduing of these adversaries,

that we must chiefly judge of our growth in grace.

A FRIEND called on me when I was ill, to settle some business. My head was too much confused by my indisposition to understand fully what he said; but I had such unlimited confidence in him, that I did whatever he bid me, in the fullest assurance that it was right. How simply I can trust in man, and how little in God! How unreasonable is a pure act of faith in one like ourselves, if we cannot repose the same faith in God !

V

Some negative rules, given to a Young Minister going into a situation of peculiar difficulty.

As I know you have received much good advice, I would suggest to you a few hints of a negative kind; with a view of admonishing you to be careful, while you are doing your work, not by any mistakes of your own to hinder your success

I. By forgetting that your success with others is very much connected with your personal character.

Herod heard John gladly, and he did many things; because he knew the preacher to be a just and holy man. Words uttered from the heart find their way to the heart, by a holy sympathy. Character is power :

"A good man seen, though silent, counsel gives."

If you would make deep impression on others, you must use all means to have them first formed on your own mind. Avoid, at the same time, all appearances of evil-as a covetous or worldly, a vain or assuming, careless or indevout deportment. Never suffer jesting

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