and delightful subjects on which it treats, and dispose the individual that pursues this course to such a line of conduct as it at once so authoritatively and so attractingly prescribes. The third clause of our text then follows in a natural and beautiful sequence :-"I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments."

That such should be the order and the result of divine operations in those minds which happily yield to their influence, is in conformity with the grand end which the Lord had always proposed to himself in his dealings with mankind. He raised up the Israelites of old, and distinguished them by such peculiar favours, "that they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws." (Psalm cv, 45.) His beloved Son became incarnate in our nature, and "gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." The great design of God, in all ages, and by all his varied dispensations, has uniformly been to raise up unto himself a holy seed, a new regenerate race, manifested to be such by their obedience to all his commandments. And one of the leading and sovereign truths of the perfected revelation of the will of God in the gospel, is this, that, "without holiness," considered as implying purity of heart, and consequent uprightness of conduct, "no man shall see the Lord." "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have (in a way of grace, through the atonement, but still as an essential requisite, grounded upon it) a right to the tree of life, and to enter in through the gates into the city."

Having thus considered the text in the order and after the manner proposed, we shall, in conclusion, proceed to lay before you some reflections suggested by it.

1st. We may notice, as deducible from this subject, the progress of religion in the soul, when the influence of the Spirit has free course within. Serious thought on our character and conduct, considered in reference to religion, convinces us of sin, produces an earnest desire to consult the oracles of God: we long to know his will concerning us, and are anxious to inquire at the mouth of the Lord, if there be any hope of mercy for us, and any prospect of restoration to the favour of God. A diligent perusal of the Scriptures at once shows the way of justifying faith in Christ, and the importance of keeping the divine commands: faith brings us pardon, and regeneration infuses the principle of obedience. Such is the process described in our text, and such is the process, my dear brethren, which will certainly take place in your spirits, if ever you become savingly acquainted with "the truth as it is in Jesus." The word of God will dispose your minds to obedience, not, perhaps, so much by its alarming display of the divine wrath, as abiding upon impe

nitent sinners, though this is far from being devoid of a salutary efficacy; but by displaying before the mind "the beauty of holiness," the true felicity, and the substantial excellency, connected with the service of God, and obedience to his law. These ideas are beautifully illustrated and confirmed by the psalmist in the very connexion of the text:-"The entrance of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding unto the simple." "I opened my mouth and panted; for I hunger for thy commandments." "I have longed for thy salvation, oh Lord, and thy law is my delight!"

2d. Another remark which seems to arise from the passage which has now been considered, is this,-that true religion interests and engages all the heart, and excites the greatest zeal and activity in the service of God. This is evident from the phraseology of the text:-"I turned my feet." This expression de notes decision for God, in opposition to that "halting between two opinions," which is the fatal characteristic of multitudes in the present day: they stop for a while in the broad road, but they never turn out of it. My hearer, where art thou? Then, again :-" I made haste, and delayed not." This also is a form of expression denoting great earnestness of mind on the part of the sacred writer, and such as will invariably be felt wherever there is a real work of renewing grace upon the heart. Want of earnestness and zeal in religion is perhaps a characteristic evil of the present day: there is a considerable diffusion of knowledge; but zeal, and life, and power, are deplorably deficient. There are not a few who become well acquainted with the word of God, and the economy of grace, but stop short of experiencing its quickening energy: they put not off "the old man with his deeds;" they yet remain "dead in trespasses and sins, in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity." No characters can be contemplated by the serious Christian, with more distressing sensations of regret and apprehension, than these. Beware then, my dear brethren, beware of a spirit of listlessness and indifference on divine subjects! Be faithful to the convictions you have received! Be anxious to experience all the efficacy of divine grace; and then you will, in some degree, properly appreciate its value! Seriously consider in your minds, that he who "knew his Lord's will, and did it not, shall be beaten with many stripes." It will be in vain that such will plead in that awful day, "Lord, thou hast taught in our streets;" we have attended the ordinances of thy house, and there assembled with thy people. These pleas will then be utterly unavailing; and those who bring them forward shall inevitably hear the awful sentence, "Depart from me; I know ye not, ye workers of iniquity !"

BIOGRAPHY.

From the London Missionary Register.

MEMOIR AND OBITUARY OF SIR ROBERT H. BLOSSET, KNT.

Late chief justice of Bengal, who died at Calcutta, Feb. 1, 1823, aged 46 years.

PIETY, TALENTS, AND ACQUIREMENTS.

SIR Henry Blosset, who assumed this surname on succeeding to the estate of a relative, his family name being Peckwell, was born in 1776. In 1785 he was sent to Westminster school, and in 1792 entered at Christ Church, Oxford. In 1801 he was -called to the bar, and in 1809 was created serjeant at law.

His mother, who long survived her partner, inculcated, with the most unwearied diligence, the principles of genuine piety in the minds of all her children; and to her endeavours success was granted, through the divine blessing, in every instance.

With regard to Sir Henry, it must be confessed that the ensnaring influence of the world, at his first entrance into public life, did for a season draw away his heart from God: but the principles which his mother gave him were never wholly eradicated from his breast; and when, through the preaching of a faithful minister of the established church in London, he was awakened from sin, they soon flourished with increased vigour. Being ashamed, yea, even confounaed, because he did bear the reproach of his youth, he fled, with repentance and faith, to the divine Saviour's cross, from whence he never afterwards wandered.

Having finished the usual course of education at Oxford, he chose for his profession the study of the law. With what pleasure do we add his name to that long list of distinguished lawyers, who have rendered splendid talents still more illustrious by piety, and who thus refute the malicious remarks of ignorant men, who connect, as of necessity, the practice of the law with an irreligious turn of mind.

Much need not be said in proof of his possessing illustrious talents. The circumstance of his being appointed chief justice must show how highly they were estimated by those in authority but this was the case also with all who became acquainted with him; for the writer of this well remembers how gratified the inhabitants of Cambridge were at having him, although educated at a different university, as their recorder-and how eagerly the assistance of his professional talents was sought after throughout the whole Norfolk circuit, which he frequented. As a natural consequence of such talents, improved by unwea

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ried industry, and adorned with the most winning sweetness of manners, he rose gradually to the highest honours of his profession.

He was master of French, Italian, German, Latin, and Greek, with some knowledge of Spanish. The sacred tongue (Hebrew) he was familiarly acquainted with, and often spoke of it with delight. How beautifully he spoke and wrote in his mother tongue, thousands can witness. When we remember that all these attainments were added to a profound knowledge of the law, which alone is the labour of a life to many, we must be filled with admiration at his unwearied diligence and brilliant talents.

APPOINTMENT TO THE CHIEF JUSTICESHIP OF BENGAL.

At length the post of chief justice of British India being vacant; it was offered to him, and accepted.

It may not be amiss to declare here what were his motives for accepting it. It is asserted with the fullest confidence that they were not pecuniary. It had pleased God to crown his labours with abundant increase of riches, still farther enlarged by the fortune of a relation bequeathed to him. But, when riches increased, he set not his heart upon them: his bounty was ever as profuse as his means were large: his thoughts were ever, not for himself, but for others; and remembering who was the giver of all that he possessed, he rendered unto Him again, in acts of mercy and charity, a large portion of that which he had received.

It is not surprising that to such a person every thing connected with the endeavour to extend the gospel should be an object of interest, and that all such exertions should be encouraged by him to the utmost, and such societies supported largely by his bounty: this they were indeed. Among the various regions of the earth to which his attention was directed, as spots where missionary exertions were making, none seemed so intensely interesting to him as India. He loved, he pitied, he prayed for the people of India, if possible, more than other heathens. When, therefore, this appointment was offered to him, and an opening seemed to be made for his doing some good in that very land, so long the object of his attention and prayers, he did not hesitate to resign a very lucrative practice, and to quit for ever (as he himself presaged) his native country. Giving up, therefore, for the benefit of others, that which he had acquired in England, he went to India for the purpose of doing good by every means in his power; and especially, by using that influence which his rank and fortune would give him, to promote the spiritual as well as temporal welfare of the Hindoos.

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DILIGENT IMPROVEMENT OF THE TIME OF HIS VOYAGE TO INDIA.

The ship in which he sailed left Portsmouth on the 5th of June. On the subject of his voyage we shall quote Sir Henry's own words, in a letter to the friend whose ministry he had chiefly attended. This letter presents a picture of a man of piety and talents vigilantly improving the leisure of a voyage for the highest and best purposes, which may well serve as a stimulus to every one of that increasing number of persons, who are continually going forth to spend those years among the heathen for which they will have a most solemn account to render to God.

"I have," says he, "my time more at my command than at any period of my life, and am able to employ a very large portion of it in reading the Scriptures, and in prayer and meditation. Our chaplains, also, are very attentive to their religious duties, and furnish us with regular service both in the morning and the evening. But my cabin is the temple of comfort, and truly deserves the name of a STUDY; and I trust that the hours which I spend in it will be a very improving period of my life. With nothing to distract my attention, I can sit and review the scenes of my past life, and look forward with no small anxiety to that part of it which is to follow, and which is connected with so many important duties, and exposed to so many temptations, that I daily feel a stronger sense of the necessity of the divine assistance to carry me through them, and to enable me to fulfil, in any degree, the hopes of my friends and of those who have sent me to this station. Still, however, I trust that He, whose providence seems in so remarkable a manner to have pointed out this path for me, will not suffer me to want his guidance and direction while I walk in it, nor leave me without the aid of his holy Spirit, for which I daily and hourly pray; and I trust that I may consider the manner in which I am now spending my time, the increased delight that I take in reading every part of the word of God, and my desire to live every day nearer to him by prayer and a holy life, as, in some degree, an answer to those prayers, and as a proof that he has not suffered this change to take place in my life without a gracious design of ordering these events for my eternal welfare.

"As probably you will be glad to hear how I dispose of the rest of my time, I can only tell you that I believe the period of my voyage will be considerably too short for the different tasks which I have proposed to myself: consequently you will believe me when I tell you that time does not at all hang heavy on my bands. I make rapid progress in the Hindoostanee language, and read many books connected with India, in respect both of the Indians themselves and of the history of our settlements there, as also the lives and proceedings of the most eminent missionaries and chaplains-which lives not only contain many excellent thoughts in a religious point of view, but are full also of interesting details respecting the character and customs of the natives. I have, besides all this, several branches of the law to make myself, in some degree, acquainted with before my arrival; as