Nor let us forget that vigilance which such lessons should teach; lest errors in doctrine and decays of piety should insensibly insinuate themselves among us; not indeed by changes surreptitiously made in our articles, liturgy, and homilies, or superstitions introduced into our worship, which can hardly take place in an enlightened age, but by tacit neglect of the Holy Scriptures, by the magnifying of doubtful matters, by losing the power of godliness, as the Apostle speaks, while we retain the form, and un

der-valuing the great redemption of our Lord and Saviour.

Finally, how fervent should we be in our prayers to God, that he would bless the truly charitable means used by our church for the revival and purification of these ancient Christians, that every thing tending to superstition and idolatry may drop off, that the light of Christ may shine fully upon them, and that they may become themselves. a Missionary Church, and supply a goodly company of native clergy to evangelize India.

Has

CONSIDER, O my soul, what is there in this world, that should make thee fond of continuing among the inhabitants of it? not the world thou dwellest in sufficiently discovered itself to thee, as a land of mere vanity and vexation, and art thou fond of the tents of Meshec and Kedar, where the soul has so little peace?

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thou afraid to change thy dwelling place? Hast thou not been teazed long enough with the company of sinners, or the foolish and unfriendly carriage of those who are imperfect saints? Hast thou not been often ready to say, "O that I had the wings of a dove to fly away from the windy storm and tempest!" (Psalm lv. 6, 7.) to get afar off from the rage and malice of enemies, from the troublesome infirmities of friends, afar off from the peevishness, the envy, and the passion of some of thy fellow Christians? How often hast thou wished even for a wilderness where thou mayest be at rest? Behold the door of death will shortly open itself to thee, and will let thee in, not to a wilderness, but to a paradise, to a place of eternal rest, and freedom from all uneasy society, and

yet thou delayest and hangest backward, and art afraid to go!

In that upper world the saints have no follies about, them, no vicious and fretful humours, no springs of vexation, they leave all their weakness, their envy, and their anger behind them in the grave. In the heavenly country every companion is an everlasting friend, and all thy dear and pious kindred who are departed have put off every thing that once made thee or them uneasy. They are far better company above than ever they were or could be here on earth; and dost thou not want to see them all in their best raiment

of grace and glory, and to hold sweet communion with them in the purest intercourse of love.

But there are still sweeter allurements to a holy soul. God even thy God dwells in the midst of his Saints on high, and that in the full glories of his love. Jesus thy Saviour whom thou hast known, and whom thou hast loved though thou hast never seen him,-Jesus is Lord of that country, he waits for thee there. God himself dwells there as the fountain of felicity, and shall be no more absent from

thee. Thou shalt no more complain of the withdrawings of the light of his countenance or the short visits of his grace. Thou shalt sit solitary no more, nor mourn under the dark eclipse of the sun of righteousness. It is the pleasure of that heaven thou hopest for, to be for ever with the Lord, to behold his glory, to see him as he is, and to be made like him, and wilt thou not enter in at the gate into the new Jerusalem, when he calls thee, but tremble, and start backward and forward, because there is a dark short valley that lies on the side of it.

Remember, O my soul, death is thine. There is nothing in that dark valley shall hurt thee. Lift up thy head; arise, and shake thyself out of the dust. Let thy faith take a sweet prospect over the little hills of time, and beyond the vale of death. Look far into the invisible world, and banish all thy fears under the strong allurements of the joys that are prepared for thee; wait with pleasure for the hour of thy departure, and rejoice and triumph when the divine message shall come.

While thou continuest here, life is thine. When thou goest hence, death is thine; things present, and things to come are thine, and

the invisible world to which thou art hastening, has everlasting joys in reserve for thee. Heaven itself is thine! Heaven is the inheritance of all the saints: the glories laid up there are waiting for thy possession: the dissolution of thy earthly tabernacle shall convey thee into the midst of them.

Awake, arise, and meet the happy moment when thou shalt be undressed of this sinful flesh and blood. O let these defiled garments ever sit loose about thee, that they may be cast off without pain and regret. Go, my soul, at the summons of thy God and Father, and when the symptoms of dying nature shall say, "Hark! he calleth thee, let thy faith and thy love and thy joy answer, Lord, I come." Go, my soul at the invitation of thy Redeemer, at the voice of thy beloved. Behold he appears, he comes. Go forth and meet him. Drop the fleshly clothing with holy delight; arise, put on thy beautiful garments and shine, for the glory of the Lord is rising upon thee. Go, shine among the spirits of the just made perfect, a spirit released from earth and divested of all imperfection. O happy farewell to life and time! O glorious entrance into immortality.

OBSERVE-That this enemy is the last enemy, it is so to the children of God; when they have overcome death, they have overcome all their enemies at once, and especially their worst enemy-sin, which they could never overcome fully. Blessed be God, though death came into the world by sin, yet sin shall go out of the world by death.

This last enemy shall be destroyed-by losing its sting that it cannot annoy-by losing its terror that it cannot amaze-by losing its power that it cannot destroy.

And by losing its very being, it shall be finally abolished and destroyed by a resurrection from the dead.

FIRST-Put away from you whatever may hinder your diligence, darken your evidences, and make the thoughts of God, death and judgment, dismal to you, be sure you cast off your works of darkness. Let not one sin be entertained in your heart with loving and liking, taking heed of a secret beloved sin-beware of unbelieftake heed of being pleased too much with the world and carnal delights; dread sensuality, wicked company, slightness, and formality in duty. Have a care of letting fall your watch, and wilful laziness, and putting the matters of your soul to the venture, there is no running with fetters, and no working in chains and shackles ; no coming to this joy except these hindrances be removed-never ex

pect to come triumphantly to heaven except this direction be observed. Nay a rush for all your peace, joy, and hopes, if you do not take this course. Heb. xii. 1. Isa. lv. 7. Isa. 1. 16, 18.

SECOND. Be sure the first and grand work be well laid in deep humility, sound conversion, and a heart change, if the will be really turned from sin to God, and your heart in good earnest set for him, its a mighty help to quicken diligence. What will such a man think much of. What pains will he be at in comparing himself with the rule-O search and try, and do it with fear and jealousy. Remember how deceitful your heart is-beg of God to try you, and let this be one of your constant petitions, Let my heart be found in thy statutes, that I may never ashamed. Do not easily take it for granted that you are converted. Beg, beg some faithful minister to search you to the quick, and remember a godly jealousy doth

be

always become you, and that the most confident are seldom right. Acts iii. 19. ii. 37. Psa. cxix. 80. Matt. vii. 24.

THIRD. Be much in looking to Christ and the promises-improve Christ in all his offices and relations. Let his life make you more humble, meek, self-denying, obedient, zealous, lively, active, and spiritual, and set your hearts on heaven where Christ dwells; urge his promise whereby he hath engaged to be with his to the end of the world, and to give you his peace. Remember the word upon which he hath made you to trust, a sound faith in Christ and the promises would bring in strength and consolation. If we lived more upon Christ and less upon ourselves- -more upon the promises, and less upon sense, we might have other kinds of comfort in life and death than most have. Heb. xii.2. John iv. 27. Rom. v. 13.

FOURTH.-Be earnest for the Spirit. If you asked more of it, and with more importunity, you should have no denial. You have Christ's advice to encourage your endeavours and hopes. It is by the Spirit the soul is set at liberty-it is by the Spirit that we mortify the deeds of the flesh-it is the Spirit, that fills us with sighings and groanings unutterable-it is that which fills us with joy unspeakable and full of glory. The fruit of the Spirit is joy and peace. Oh quench not the Spirit, but be most earnest in your prayers for it. Gal. v. 22. Rom. viii. 26.

FIFTH.-Let not a day pass without serious communing with your own hearts; inquire of your poor soul whether there be any thing of the acting of grace in duty, any thing of faith, love, humility, and zeal, what answers

you have of prayer, what of God you enjoy in all ordinances-in all companies inquire what progress you have made heavenwards, and what declinings and backslidings you are guilty of, and do not bear with your hearts when they begin to be dull, indifferent, and formal, and adore Divine goodness if you feel any fresh gales and spiritual incomes, be sure you give the glory of all to grace, and think still of yourself as a poor unprofitable servant. Psa. iv. 4. 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Jer. viii. 6. Psa. cxix. 59.

SIXTH.-Improve all ordinances, providences, and societies for the quickening of your grace, the raising your experience and bringing you nearer to God. There is a divine art and skill, if we could learn it, of turning every thing into gold, and making ourselves richer by losses, stronger by weakness, healthful by sickness, and by making every gale to fill our sails, and bringing us nearer to our harbour. Prov. x. 29. Psa. xxv. 10. Rom. viii. 25. Isa. xl. 31.

SEVENTH.-Maintain a constant holy care and solicitousness about your soul, and remember that to serve God and save your soul is your business, and that all other things are little or nothing but as they have respect to this. O stir up yourselves with all your might in all duties, and count it a madness to be careless and slight in any thing that concerns God and your souls-do what you can possibly to

shake your sloth off-do all with your might which relateth directly to God and your eternal state. Psa. cxix. 5. Matt. vi. 33.

EIGHTH.-Meditate upon the eye of God the excellence and reality of invisibles. Is it possible to be dull and idle in presence of such a master as we serve. What

made Enoch, Noah, Abraham, David, to live at such a rate as they did? Did not Faith quicken their obedience, and make unseen things present-did not that shew them the glory and assure them of nearness and propriety. Oh let us look to the things that are not seen, and less to the things that are seen. And then we shall be quickly of Paul's mind, to prefer heaven before earth, and even long that we may be dissolved, that we may be with Christ.

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NINTH.-Look oft Scriptures, and dwell truths that are there. cious promises are there! Who can believe them and be slothful in God's service. You may with joy draw water out of these wells of salvation. Rom. xv. 4. Psa. cxix. 15, 16. Psa. xix. 10.

TENTH.-Think much of the grave, judgment, and eternity, and in thus doing you may be quickened in duty, filled with experience, and at last come to this blessed privilege, to have an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

A REPORT of the Bible Society of Nismes, in France, contains the following anecdote of one of their subscribers, who was formerly attached to Bonaparte's army. An officer of the Society, struck with his modest zeal in support of the cause, ventured to ask him whether his attachment to the Society, did not proceed from a knowledge

of the soul-enlivening contents of the Bible. "It is so," said he, " and I will inform you how it took place." He then added :—

"Under the late Emperor, I was attached to the army; and being taken prisoner and carried to England, I was confined in one of the prison-ships. There, huddled together one above the other, and

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ing effect::- My heart bleeds for your losses and privations, nor is it in my power to remedy them : but I can offer consolation for your immortal souls; and this consolation is contained in the word of God. Read this book, my friends; for I am willing to present every one with a copy of the Bible, who

is desirous to peruse it.' The tone of kindness with which he spoke, and the candour of this pious man, made such an impression upon me, that I burst into tears. I gratefully accepted a Bible; and in it I found abundant consolation, amidst all my miseries and distresses. From that moment the Bible has become a book precious to my soul out of it I have gathered motives for resignation and courage to bear up in adversity; and I feel happy in the idea that it may prove to others what it has been to me."

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alteration is unjustifiable. What can be a more proper form of commencing the service than by the minister, as is directed in the rubric, reading with a loud voice, those impressive sentences of scripture addressed to the sinner, after which he proceeds to the exhortation, then to the confession, then to the absolution, and so on with the rest of the service, the congregation joining in Psalms or Hymns of praise, at appointed intervals.

I have been led to make these reflections by a circumstance which happened recently in my parish church. It had been closed for repairs. On re-occupying my pew, I was surprised by the service commencing in an unusual manner. The organ struck up, and the charity children began singing ;when the noise had ceased, I discovered that they had been chanting the sentences which are ap

pointed to be read by the minister. The impropriety is so glaring, that I trust it is unfrequent. I am aware that in some churches the service is preceded by a Hymn or a Psalm, after which the minister commences the service as directed in the book of Common Prayer by reading the introductory sentences.

I have frequently had opportunity of observing that this plan is attended with some advantage. Many in every congregation are accustomed to loiter about the church till the bell has ceased to ring, and others may be prevented by unavoidable circumstances, from attending with their accustomed punctuality. By occupying a few minutes in the manner alluded to, those persons are enabled to take their places without disturbing the congregationand the proper commencement of the service by the minister, takes place with more solemnity and order than if the plan were not adopted.

All extraordinary displays are apt to distract the mind which is prepared to attend the worship of Almighty God with devotion, and for that reason should be discouraged. SENEX.