ness. Upon the face of this passage I would propose two. questions; First, Were the words directed to the Church as a BODY, or to certain Individuals in that Church? Secondly, Are the words any directory to the Churches now, and how far does the direction extend? Yours respectfully, Papers from the Port-folio of a Minister.in A Gentleman once sent his servant, forbidding this good man to tread a foot upon his ground, to whom he sent this reply, That if it please your master to walk upon my grounds, he shall be very welcome, but if he please to come to my house he shall be still more welcome. He thus made the other his friend for ever, by heaping coals of fire upon his head. * The Church-Meeting in Heaven. By the late Rev. J. RYLAND.. } "What.singing! what shouting! what heavenly greeting! got! But, Lord! thou dost know it; thou only canst bend it A good Christian according to a Bishop of the seventh Century. HE is a good Christian who goes frequently to church, and exhibits the oblation which is offered to God on the altar; who does not taste of his own fruits unless he first offer a certain part to God; who, as often as the solemn assemblies arrive, abstains for days before-hand from every thing that may tend to sully his chastity, in order that he may approach the altar of God with a safe conscience; who keeps in memory the creed, and the Lord's-prayer. Redeem your souls from punishment while you have the remedies in your power-bring offerings and tythes to the churches; light up candles in consecrated places, to the extent of your ability -go to church still more frequently, and humbly solicit an interest in the patronage of saints-If ye observe these things, you may securely approach before the tribunal of the eternal judge, at the day of judgment, and say, "O Lord give to us, for we have given to thee." This curious description of a Christian, in which there is neither the love of God nor the love of man, is the production of St. Eloi, bishop of Nayon! How different from that taught by John Calvin, who was born in the same city, in the sixteenth century ! The source of Talents. Dr. Erskine remarks that " God makes men great, by bestow ing on them distinguished genius and talents." Some of the courtiers of the Emperor Sigismund, who had no taste for learning, enquired, Why he so honoured and respected men of low birth on account of their science? The Emperor replied, "In one day, I can confer knighthood or nobility on many; in many years I cannot bestow genius on one. Wise and learned men, are created by God only." No advantage of education, no favourable combination of circumstances, produce talents, wherever the Father of Spirits dropped not the seed of them in the souls which he made. Attention to Study. It is recorded of Mr. Cecil that he never seemed weary of his studies; they were not only his business, but his enjoyment and recreation; and he used to call them his rest: he felt any demands that infringed on these, his labour, and the return to his study his rest. Few more carefully aimed to redeem time, and to spend it only in what was worthy of a man and a christian minister. Often repeating For at back I always hear, Time's winged chariot hurrying near; Deserts of vast Eternity! MARY TYRED. Obituary. a Mary Tyred, K Bucks, was born in the year 1781, of poor parents, with few advantages for education; so that she could hardly read a plain chapter in the new testament. Her childhood and youth were spent in vanity and carelessness; until it pleased the Lord to visit her, (then about the age of twentytwo,) with a slow and fatal disorder, which confined her to homely cottage, in which situation she was but little known until Oct. 1806, when her case was laid before a Society in the neighbouring Village, for religious visiting, and relieving the distressed. By this means access was gained to her, and a conversation commenced, (after a little attention to several particulars relating to the body and its afflictions) respecting her views of eternity, and whether she thought the present affliction would terminate in death? She seemed quite sensi. ble it would, and expressed herself as not being much afraid to die, hoping her heart was not so very bad, but God would forgive her; adding also, that she thought she had not been so great a sinner as many. These expressions, with others, of a similar nature, convinced the visitor, she was deceiving her own soul, with the thoughts of peace, peace, without any acquaintance with the Lord, or the spirituality and extent of his law, which is holy, just, and good. The law was opened and explained to her, with questions and personal application from parts of the seven first chapters Vol. IV. of Matthew, James's epistle, and Paul's to the Romans and Galatians; from which epistles it is clear, that by the deeds of the law can no flesh living be justified. This visit was closed by commending her to God, with prayer for the Holy Spirit to convince her of sin, and render the means used effectual for her eternal welfare. She appeared to be somewhat impressed, and wished for another visit.. Before another opportunity offered for visiting her, the Visi tor heard that the minister of the parish had been to give her the Sacrament of the Lord's supper. On enquiry, it appeared that not one word had passed about the state of her mind, or in what way she thought to be saved. All this, however, had but little effect upon her, it neither made her more thoughtful, nor more content in carnal security. Hearing of this circumstance, led the Visitor to introduce himself on the next visit with that most valuable little tract, entitled, The History of Mrs. Wilson; some parts of which being read, completely detected the faise grounds of her confidence; and was, by the blessing of God, of lasting use to her. Even to the last, she would with pleasure repeat some of that little book, though she had not seen or heard it for near ly three years. As she began to read a little for herself, several little books were lent her to read, and appeared of use to her. Bu der's Village sermons were al o read, and heard, with now and then an observation, by which means she became acquainted LI with the depravity of human nature, the excellency of the law, and the way of Justification, far better than many who attend the public preaching of the Gospel. Some unthinking friends again endeavoured to persuade her to take the Lord's supper, but she turned a deaf ear to it, convinced that she had once thoughtlessly taken it, and thinking how many seem to depend on it at last for help, she was determined not to countenance a practice by which so many souls had been fast Julled asleep in carnal security. On another occasion her mind beginning to be enlightened, she exclaimed, with a mixture of serious cheerfulness, "O! what a blessing it was for me that I was thus visited. What a kind and merciful God to spare me! If I had died before, I know where I must have been; for I thought myself good,and yet was ignorant, blind, and wicked. Once I hardly liked to own myself a breaker of all the ten commandments, but now I think surely there never was a more wicked creature suffered to live; I seem all sin; my heart is so wicked, I can hardly bear it. I try to prayrepent mourn for sin-think of God, and that dear Saviour above, but it seems as if I could not-the more I try, sometimes I think the worse it seems." At another interview, she said, "O dear me! how it does astonish and surprise me to think of that precious, sweet Jesus! What he did and suffered for such poor wicked creatures as I am especially! When I think of him! my pains, though sharp at times, appear but trifles. I am attended to and waited on, so that I think my cup runs over with blessings. O what a mercy! Those words of some hymn suit my case very much, Yes, tho' of sinners I'm the worst, I cannot doubt thy will; For if thou hadst not lov'd me first, I had refused thee still." "Ah!" continued she, "it is all of God's grace to make me to differ from what I once was. I should never have loved him, if he had not first loved me." On another visit, she said, “If sinners can make their peace with God, as some people talk, it seems to me as if Christ died in vain. I'm sure I can't do it, my sins are so great, that instead of paying off, or making any satisfaction by my works, I seem all sin; my sins seem too great, at times, even for the blood of Christ. Oh! I do hate sin so, I do not know what to do! Sometimes I try to think of good things, and it grieves me to find something draw me off so. O! what a wicked heart." At another time, she expressed her grief on hearing her Saviour's name prophanely called on around her, and the holy Sabbath so neg. lected, "It troubles me a great deal," said she, "because my brother comes from service now and then to see me, but always on the Sabbath day; I wish he would come on another day; for I feel a good deal concerned about my parents and relations. I tell them religion is important, and I want them to hear the truth as often as possible. I sometimes feel as if I really must get up and go to hear the Gospel; I can hardly help thinking but I could go, though I know my weakness to be such, that I can hardly dare venture off my bed. From what I hear around me, I think but few believe what they hear. Sometimes I hear them say they do not think things will be quite so bad as the Bible and faithful ministers say; thus they quiet their consciences and all is soon forgotten." Calling in one evening, she began telling me that she liked her old companions very well, but yet she liked them best at a distance. "It seems," said she "as if they had the plague, or something, for when they call in to stay with me, it really seems to infect me, and make me worse; but when religious friends call in, my pains seem gone, my spirits revive, my thoughts take a fresh turn, and my dear Saviour becomes the subject of my meditations. That makes me so glad to see you, because it brings Jesus to my thoughts, and it seems as if I could love him more, and serve him better. Oh! the love of Christ is a woude ful thing! Once I thought nothing of it, but blessed be God for sending the means, and inclining my heart to attend; for alas! many have the same means, and yet they are none the better." Sometimes she lamented she could not be always alike. "I often feel," said she, "dead to what I love, and alive to the poor things of this vain world, though I know it is nothing to me, for my time here cannot be long, at any rate." Calling in to see her, June 29, 1810, she exclaimed, "O that sweet name Jesus! my Saviour! to-day I have been enabled to see - his name in the book, and it has so revived me, you cannot think. His love and work are all my thoughts and all my desire. I think of heaven and hell; but Jesus is the chief subject of my meditation. His sufferings in ke sin look more dreadful than hell itself! Ah Sir! 'twas the cross, the cross that made me mourn His righteous law approves it well." But as hell seems to be the pri son for all who die hating God and loving sin, I hope the Holy Spirit has changed me, and made me unfit for a companion of such unholy beings-my present experience and prayer is, wash my soul from every sin, And make my guilty conscience clean, Here on my heart the burden lies, And past offences pain my eyes.?" When I think of what I have done, and how little I love my Saviour, I say, "Shew pity Lord, O Lord, forgive, Let a repenting rebel live." Towards her last days, she said to me, "What hard hearts we have by uature, but when Christ breaks the heart in pieces, the evil Spirit can't rest there any more.' Speaking of her affliction, she would often say, "Not a pain too many, or an hour too long-l should be glad to be rid of sor |