Vanity is always circumscribed, because the vain man does not make knowledge the aim of his attainments, but applause, nor does he seek to please others, so that others be pleased with him.

Our chatty coterie had no such impediment to the gladness of their evening union; each brought a voluntary offering to the aggregate of general enjoyment, and as the whole was laid on the altar of love, it lighted into a playful flame, which threw a harmless radiance over the humblest material. Such an intercourse of courtesy and improvement is undeniably delightful, and yet "it lacketh the one thing needful." Souls thirsting for that water which springeth up into everlasting life, will not be satisfied with any inferior draught of happiness; they may partake of other refreshments, but they will thirst again; these secondary gifts will be as emblems and allegories of a greater gift to come, and as persons intent on any one acquisition, make every thing subservient to the plan and progress of its attainment; so, a child of God directed heavenward, whatever may be the age of his

birth in grace, will climb a step in his ascent by the aid of every twig which can assist his

movement.

Experience proves where the heart is won, that persuasives to pursue its dictates are little needed; precisely as every wish of a worldly spirit is alert in worldly business, so will every wish of a renewed spirit be engaged in divine things and we do not require a better evidence of our condition than to ascertain on which side our industry predominates. If Jesus has claimed his purchase of our heart, the Lord has bespoke the uses of our time, but if Satan holds captive the one, he will serve himself of the other.

I know nothing in the scriptures which so familiarly exemplifies the communication between earth and heaven, as the assurance which is given to believers that wherever the Lord's people are talking one with another of their master, "He hearkens and hears."-Mal. iii. 16. The words do not alone express the Lord's presence, as He is Omnipresent, but they imply a condescending rejoicing which is wonderfully sweet. If we were more deeply impressed with this truth, how limited would be the time spent

in any other converse? What would be the document of senatorial debates, or rumours of war, or literary entertainment in comparison with those exalted subjects which have grace, mercy, and peace,' for their claims on our 'wonder, love and praise?' When proper recreations are duly kept within their own bounds, they are not to be rejected; but in granting that they have a suited station, we must be vigilant that they do not exhaust time instead of embellishing it.

Under the glowing conviction of the Lord's promised attention, I became sincerely desirous to terminate every innocent enjoyment in some measure congenial to its blessedness, and it was as the dew of heaven descending to fertilize our barren nature, when I found that none present shrunk from the name of Jesus; but that the sound would leave an awe and stillness over our thoughts, as if to obliterate the levities of all previous discourse.

In speaking with Mrs. S on the things which accompany salvation, I selected passages from Luther on the Galatians, in elucidation of the views and hopes I cherished as to gospel doctrines. She had not been aware of the

author from whom I quoted, and expressed some surprise that I should have procured the writings of her own favourite and respected minister. This mistake was speedily rectified, but it proved a delightful incident in the immediate circumstances of my mind; because I had been seeking such a faithful preacher for edification and establishment in divine truth.

I pity the frigid faith of that believer who does not see the leadings of the Lord in the whole series of these minute transactions. My introduction to Mrs. S-, her own satisfaction in our society, the growth of our cordial feelings, and the bias of our conversation which produced a result so answerable to my chief desire, all is soon related and apparently trifling when heard, yet by such small records, the position with which I set out is best established. We must measure the love of Jehovah to us, not by what we estimate as to the importance of its manifestations, but by the constancy of Almighty care and protection. How beautifully is this unchanging faithfulness of a covenant God, expressed in the word sent to the church by Isaiah, "I will water it every moment, lest any hurt it, I will keep it day and night.”

If we analyze the infinite tenderness of this language, it includes the diary of our lives, and embraces the period of our death; it blunts the point of every sorrow, it gives stability to every hope, it dispels every danger, and sifts the chaff from every joy. "Whoso is wise, and will ponder these things; even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord."— Psalm cvii. 43.