alternative, if thou live, to "live unto the Lord," or if thou die, "to die unto the Lord," so that "living or dying, thou mayest be the Lord's," and the Lord's for ever?

you the Word of life, is for ourselves to.
answer, and for God to judge; but the
faithfulness of the minister must bear
witness against those, to whom his mes-
sage is declared in vain. We must be,-
it is the condition of our office, and it will
be the test of our stewardship, we must
be "the savour of death unto death,"
where we are not "the savour of life
unto life."

Brethren, since I last addressed you from this place, the earnestness with which I ought ever to speak on a subject like this, has been quickened by a twoWhom we cannot lead to fold visitation. I have looked upon death Christ as a Saviour, them shall we be conin my own dwelling; death in its calmest strained, at the last, to accuse before and least repulsive form,-for which I Christ as the Judge. Oh! let it not be would thank God; and I have received our reluctant witness against any of you the solemn tidings of death from the "I spake to thee in thy prosperity, and house of the Lord. For the domestic vi- thou saidst, I will not hear." Rather, sitation, though literally "at midnight "to-day if ye will hear His voice, harden the cry was heard," I had been prepared; not your hearts." There may be onebut for the removal of a minister of God, there may be more than one here prein the apparent enjoyment of ordinary sent, to whom to-day is all that remains health, and after the performance of the of the allotted period of probation upon customary duties of the sanctuary, I was earth. Oh! then, let none depart withnot prepared. That intelligence came out asking of his own heart the question upon me like a thunderbolt; and I could -If I shrink from the communion of not refrain from whispering in my own the Church below, how can I be fit for heart, "Alas! who shall live when God the companionship of the Church above? doeth this ?" I could not but be remind-"How shall I escape, if I neglect so great ed of a similar instance-an instance salvation ?" which some of you have not forgotten, occurring in another contiguous parish where the servant of the Lord literally spent his departing breath in the utterance of his Master's message. And if, within so comparatively limited a space, and within so short a time, the blow has thus fallen twice upon ambassadors for Christ, ought not we, who are put in trust with your souls, to ask of our own hearts the solemn question-And who may be the next? Ought not we to examine ourselves, whether we have faithfully "declared to you the whole counsel of God;" whether we have " kept back anything that was profitable;" whether we have taught you publicly in the temple," and, as opportunity presented itself, in the house of sickness and sorrow, what is that foundation which God hath laid, on which we, who dwell in houses of clay, which are " crushed before the moth,' may erect for ourselves a building which shall endure throughout eternity? And ought not you to examine yourselves, when you know not at whose breast the arrow may next be aimed, to whose dwelling the next summons may be dispatched, who may be the next to occupy a vacant spot in "the house which is appointed for all men living?"

Whether we faithfully dispense among

66

Do we

Brethren, at the longest, life is short; and at the strongest, man is frail. We know that we are dust. Do we know, then, experimentally, the " exceeding great and precious promises," by which the apostle Peter declares we may be partakers of a Divine nature?" know that truth, which is the germ of a glorious immortality? Are we "born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, that liveth and abideth for ever?” "For all flesh," continues that same apostle, "is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass; the grass withereth,

and the flower thereof falleth away but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever." And oh! how can any rest contented, in a world like this, without the experience of a lively hope within, when this Word that "abideth for ever," "is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you :" the Word, by which ye may be saved, and by which ye must be judged?

"I am the resurrection and the life,' saith the Lord; "he that believeth in Me,though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me, shall never die." The question, then, is, brethren, -will ye die? or will ye live for ever?

THE MOTHER TAUGHT FROM THE SACRED SCRIPTURES. pp. 234.

Religious Tract Society.

RARELY has the Tract Society issued so admirable a treatise as this. It is filled with judicious counsel, in regard to the most important, though ordinary duties of life. It is arranged in chapters, entitled Eve-Hagar-Rebekah-The WidowsThe Shunamite-Elizabeth and Mary-Mary; the method being to draw from each of these histories its peculiar lessons. We subjoin a short extract from "the Shunamite :"

Thus, week after week is spent-in most devoted diligence spent; and time so fully occupied steals almost imperceptibly away. But there comes raging scarlet fever, or hopeless water in the head. Perhaps the victim is the most robust or the merriest of all the circle. Stupor or delirium speedily cuts off all rational communication with him. And what are her sad reflections as she sits dismayed by his restless couch? She remembers, that the plain and wholesome meal was always ready for his eager and healthy appetite; and whatever labour it might cost, no one ever saw him with an unmended garment, or a dress unsuited to the cold and heat of changing seasons. But what has she done for his soul? When did she endeavour, by patient illustration, to excite his interest in Divine truth? Can she feel assured, that of all the hymns and Scriptures committed to memory, there was one of whose meaning he had a clear and definite idea? Was there ever a time, when chastisement was followed by serious and tender expostulation? or a calm and soothing twilight hour, secured by previous and careful contrivance, when she tried to engage his last waking thoughts, on a Saviour's love, or a heaven of holiness and bliss? Did he ever kneel beside her, while she bewailed his guilt and danger, and importunately pleaded the Divine promises on his behalf? Alas! no such resting-place can memory find. Oh! what would she not give, in that distressing hour, for one recollection-one single season in the retrospect, when the intelligent question, or the glistening eye, expressed some degree of interest in the things belonging to his peace? With what agonising earnestness does she entreat that his life may yet be spared! How fervently does she resolve, to be diligent for the future! But the disease advances; the symptoms of approaching death become so apparent, that even her own fond wishes no longer can deceive her. ried as she already is, with vainly searching the records of the past, she watches now with breathless eagerness for some faint sign of returning consciousness—a transient gleam of rational composure-that should permit her to whisper the name of Jesus. But she watches in vain: even her once familiar voice obtains not a response; and, at length, the tumult of her agitated thoughts must give place to the one mournful assurance, of his being gone for ever, beyond the reach of her efforts or her prayers.

And wea

"In such a case, is there no hope? We dare not say so. Neither dare we assert, that had there been the recollections, which have been described as fruitlessly sought for, they alone would have furnished a ground of hope. But without contradiction it may be said, that they would be precious, unspeakably precious, in such a trying hour. And certainly it is of vast importance, that every mother should seek daily to use discipline, instruction, and prayer, as she would wish to have done, should they be thus abruptly and speedily terminated. She may have many hindrances, many difficulties, many disadvantages. But let her often bring her habitual discharge of duty, to the test of such a scene as that imperfectly described; and faithfully examine, whether she is really making the very best use of the opportunities she does possess. Let her endeavour to realise the possibility that the close of these opportunities is just at hand, and strive to improve each of them in the spirit of that stirring admonition, Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest,' and whither thy children may go before thee."

6

THE CHANGE NECESSARY FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF HEAVEN. By the Rev. JOHN KELLY. With a Memoir of W. H. Lacon. pp. 72.

A SIMPLE memorial of a pious and talented youth, removed hence, like so many promising plants, by consumption, as a worm at the root. Mysterious such providences are to us who "know in part," but doubtless clear to those, who read all that book, of which the pages beyond the present are sealed from our search.

Consecration of Churches and Burial Reformation, The, 60

Darkness (Works of), A Sermon by Rev. J. Review of Books, 19, 39, 63, 83, 103, 139,