which this is ever subject. He who made all things has the reins of government in his hands, and all men at his control. And we are sure that he will over-rule all the convulsions which distract the present times, and threaten the disturbance of the future. The storms will spend themselves, and the calm will ensue, which will no more be interrupted, when all nations will be blessed. May we exercise faith upon whatever God has promised, and more immediately upon these promises which respect ourselves, our present concerns, and our eternal glory. We shall then rejoice while others mourn, and our joy no man taketh from us."

"I catch the retirement of the morning to drop a few lines; I wish they may find you well in God. Then you will be prepared for sickness, should it please him to inflict it upon you. He knows how to deal with us. Nothing shall occur that is really evil in its consequences, if we love him and put our trust in him. If he designs our good, we may submissively let him do his pleasure with us; it will terminate in everlasting happiness, and that is sufficient. In all the revolutions of your constitution, think of the state that undergoes no change, and where your youth will be renewed like the eagle's. In sickness and in health it becomes us to meditate upon this; and it will be natural for us so to do, if we live under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and are taught so to number our days as that we apply our hearts unto wis dom. We live in a dying world, and must expect to die. He lives most properly who thinks more of death than of life, and thus dies daily, and lives

with an ungrasping hand. I think it is not vanity nor pride in me to say, so I do. I may not, I shall not have done all I should wish when I come to die, but I do not therefore neglect to look forward, rather to a dying day than to a long life. What is it that can make death friendly to us, but an interest in the death of the blessed Jesus? He destroyed death, and him that had the power of death, in favour of all who make him their friend.”

"I am much better than I was, but am yet under, I was going to say, complaint-but why should a living man complain, especially the man whose ten thousand mercies stand opposed to a few, very few inconveniences? Through mercy, I know what it is to be fed with the hidden manna, and at this time I enjoy access with confidence into the holiest of all."

—“It is well we live as yet secure from invasion. I am inclined to think before war ceaseth I shall be in the realms of eternal peace: yet, as far as my reflections extend, I feel for posterity. But when I reflect that the Lord reigneth, I may dismiss my fears. He who governed the world long before I had my existence, will continue his reigu long after I am out of the memory of every oue. It is enough if I reign with him, or am one in the retinue in which he will be glorified."

"This reminds us that we must shortly put off our tabernacle, and if we have put on the Lord Jesus, the sooner the better. I trust this is now become our case. The evidence of it keeps me unmoved by storms, and unshaken by tempests,

though the awful falls of my neighbours jar me; and I cannot hear of them without being deeply affected. O how dreadful is it, to know the evil of sin by experience, after we have made a most glaring profession, that we know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! Merciful Saviour! never suffer me to fall into that horrible pit. If I must took into it, hold me up in thy everlasting, never-failing arms, and I shall be safe. The promise is sure; "I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." But in order to its accomplishment, the precept must be attended to, Watch thou in all things. O that I may never be unwatchful, till the enemies which assault me now shall assault me no more for ever. Then will be the time to put off the harness; and the pain of vigilance, will be exchanged for the joy of rest."

"There is a deal in this state of mortality to make us desire the change, but this desire should be regulated by a submission to the divine will. Sinful selfishness often pushes us towards heaven, rather than a growing heavenly frame; and if we desire it rather as a convenience, than for the sake of conformity to our blessed Saviour, the desire is itself sinful. We are not better than our fathers who passed through the same evil world, and found it the same as we do.Our duty is in patience to possess our soul, and to endeavour to bear with a Christ-like temper, whatever comes upon us, till we are ripened and prepared for that glorious estate where our happiness will spring from our holiness, and we shall be made perfect in love."

-"At present, blessed be God, there is nothing in the world that charms me, but what I shall enjoy to infinite perfection in the world of spirits."

Why should we fear? The grave is not to be a prison-house, but a bed-chamber. We shall not be thrown into it as criminals, but kindly conducted to it as friends-there our toil will be at an end, our conflicts will cease for ever; endless joy will take place of transient sorrow, and an eternal weight of glory be the substitute for the afflictions of a moment."

"Here I am like a ship at anchor in a windbound condition, longing to sail to the haven of eternal rest. O what a day when I shall behold his face! I now find him the shadow of a great rock for refuge, and as rivers of water for refreshment. I have peace and quietness now; and assurance for ever in that which he calls me, to possess.'

-So SPOKE Aspasio, firm possest.

Of faith's supporting rod;

Then breath'd his soul into its rest,

The bosom of his God.

He was a man among the few,

Sincere on virtue's side;

And all his strength from Scripture drew,

To hourly use apply'd.

That rule he priz'd, by that he fear'd,

He hated, hop'd and lov'd;

Nor ever frown'd, nor sad appear'd,

But when his heart had rov'd.

{'

For he was frail as thou or L

And evil felt within;

But when he felt it, heav'd a sigh,
And loath'd the thought of sin.

SUCH LIV'D Aspasio: and at last,
Call'd up from earth to heaven;
The gulph of death triumphant pass'd
By gales of blessings driven.

His Joys be mine, each reader cries,
When my last hour arrives;

They shall be yours, my verse replies,
Such only be your lives.

CHAPTER IV.

REMARKS.

THROUGH all the preceding pages, reflections have mingled with facts, and the perusal of the whole narrative, will, it is hoped, make some useful impressions. Yet knowing that people are generally more disposed to indulge their curiosity, than to aid their improvement, and that there is nothing, to which they are so indifferent as the application of what they either hear or read to themselves; it may not be improper to bring together in a distinct form, some additional remarks of practicable utility.

First. What improbable and marvellous changes often take place in the conditions of mankind! Many have reached an eminence, towards which, at one period of their lives, they could not have aspir