land of vision; we have Sabbaths, and Bibles, and religious ordinances and teachers-yet as to a knowledge of the peculiar truths of the Gospel, and the reality of Christian experience, numbers are as ignorant as Heathens-"The light shineth in darkness, but the darkness comprehendeth it not." Must we go on? What

do many Christians, real Christians, who have long had the great Teacher with them-what do even they know? What do they know of their own interest in him? Are they not yet unable to determine what their spiritual condition is, and to say, with Thomas, my Lord and my God?-How little do they know of his salvation! How little of the glories of his person! How little of the nature of his dispensations towards them: so that they are confounded with the fresh discoveries they make of the evils of their own hearts -perplexed with their afflictions-desponding if diffi culties multiply, and they see no means, or way of escape and ready to conclude that he has shut out their prayers, because he does not immediately and sensibly answer them:-all from their knowing so little of the manner in which he deals with his people.

Yet the defectiveness of their knowledge is very censurable, especially after long intimacy with Him. Hence the Apostle reproaches the Hebrews: "When for the time ye ought to have been teachers, ye have need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God." Hence our Lord said to his disciples on another occasion: "Are ye also yet without understanding?" And here again he says: "Have I been so long with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?" He had scarcely been three years with them then; and he had very gradually developed himself, and kept back many things for a future communication. Yet it was a long period, considering its importance and privileges. And always having access to him, with their inquiries; and hearing his discourses; and witnessing all his conduct; they ought to have gained much more than 3 K

VOL. I.

they did. But they were slow of heart, and made very little progress, as we see by their various mistakes and embarrassments. Yet what right have

we to cast a stone at them? How few, how poor, how wretched have been our attainments!-And yet he has been much longer with many of us-tentwenty-forty years-years, too, abounding with every assistance. Four things ought to make us blush at the thought of this.

First. The necessity and value of the knowledge we have made so little proficiency in. How much depends upon it-our usefulness-our preservation from error-our peace and comfort-and our progress in the Divine life: for though we may grow in knowledge without growing in grace, we cannot grow in grace without growing in knowledge. Religion does not act upon us mechanically, but morally; i.e. through the influence of just views and motives.

Secondly. Some have made far greater advance. ment in much less time, and with very inferior advantages. They set out long after; but they soon passed us on the road. They have had very little pious intercourse, and have seldom heard a gospel sermon. Yet when we converse with them; and observe them in the relations, duties, and trials of life-how much below them must we feel!

Thirdly. Our obligations and responsibility rise with our means and opportunities. What an advantage are pious relations! What a privilege is a gospel ministry! What a precious talent is time! Where is conscience, while we look at our improvement of all these? Where much is given, much will be required.

Lastly. Our unprofitableness is the subject of divine disappointment and complaint. "What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes ?" The thought of displeasing and dishonouring him is

nothing to some. But shall we provoke, and grieve his Holy Spirit? Can we who love him and know what he has done for us-can we be insensible to the Saviour's decision-"Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples?"

What remains-but that we admire and adore the patience of Him who still bears with us, though we have so often constrained him to ask, " How long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you?"And let us search and try our ways, and turn again unto the Lord. Let us guard against indecision and sloth. Let us be diligent in the use of all the means of religious improvement. Let us not cease to pray that we may be "filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. That we may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God."

"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord. His going forth is prepared as the morning. And he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."

JUNE 15.-"When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel."

Deut. xxxii. 8.

THIS is an important and interesting communication. It supplies us with two facts.

First. That God originally divided the nations their inheritance. When, after the Deluge, he gave the new earth to the children of men, he did not throw

it in among them, so to speak, for a kind of scramble, that each might seize what he could: but he assigned them their several portions, that the discontented might not invade the peaceful, nor the mighty prey upon the weak. God permits what he does not approve but nothing can be more contrary to his design and pleasure, than for powerful states to invade and incorporate little ones. And the crime generally punishes itself. Such unjust and forced accessions add nothing to the safety, strength, or happiness, of the acquirers; but become sources of uneasiness, corruption, and revolt-so difficult is it to suppress old attachments, and patriotical instincts that are almost equal to the force of Nature. Paul justifies the sentiment of Moses: "He hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us."

Secondly. In the arrangement of the limits and conditions of mankind, He had an especial reference to the future commonwealth of Israel. For they were by far the most important detachment of the human race. They were the Lord's portion, and the lot of his inheritance. They were the depositaries of revealed religion-the heirs of the righteousness which is by faith. To them pertained the adoption, and the glory, and the covenant, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; theirs were the fathers, and of them, as concerning the flesh, Christ came. We cannot trace this fact perfectly, for want of more materials; and we know not all the purposes of God in making and keeping the Jews a peculiar body-otherwise we should clearly see how all the dispensations of God corresponded to their privileged destination. One thing is to be observed. They were not intended to engross

the Divine favour, but to be the mediums and diffusers of it. They were not only to be blessed, but to be blessings. Hence their being placed in the midst of the earth, that from them knowledge might be derived, and proselytes to revealed religion might be made; and that, in the fulness of time, out of Zion might go forth the Law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem; and that the great Supper, as our Lord calls it, and which was designed for the whole family of Adam, might be spread in the middle of the earth, and be accessible to all.

While we here see that there is nothing like chance in the government of the world, there is what may be called a peculiar providence in particular instances. And we cannot help thinking of our own country. No country on earth bears such a comparison with Judea, in privilege and design. Its appropriation and appointment will account for its preservation, and emerging from difficulties which seemed likely to swallow it up. And when we consider what it is, and what it more than promises to be, we can find reason for its insular situation; its government, laws, and commerce; its talent, and learning, and influence, and dominion. We are a sinful people; but as "the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so, says God, will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all." We cannot approve of every thing we have done, especially in the West and East Indies; but we cannot be ignorant that God is overruling it for good: and has ends in view far beyond slaveholders, and mercantile companies, and heroes, and statesmen. We have fought, and we have conquered: but the Negro is instructed; and the captive is made free; and openings are made and occupied for the spread of the Gospel.

The economies of heaven on earth have always been regulated by one end-the cause of the Messiah: and could we view things as God does, we should