'I have a melancholy sorrow of heart which I can scarcely describe to you when I am in the company of those who seem totally ignorant of these free gifts of God, and I can enter into the feeling of the peculiar privilege of being enabled to know them by the affecting comparison of my mercy with their darkness. Here I find myself come to the point of that scripture which engages our attention; whilst I am conscious of superior privilege, and perceive the want of it in others, I ought to be watchful for that grace which shall make my understanding and knowledge, as far as it comprehends the things freely given us of God, of that nature which shall give proof of my adoption; so that as far as it respects my calling of God I may not be nothing.'

"And how then,' Henry asked, ' are you practically examining yourself to this end? Do you instantly labour to set before these immortal souls the way of everlasting life, and open to them the mystery of which they are not aware, that they are the servants of sin, in natural blindness to their condition, and led captive by Satan at his will? Do you warn them of this danger, and like the commissioned angel lay hold of them with that energy that earnestly seeks their safety; and charge them to escape for their life, pointing unto Jesus; Haste thee! escape thither!'

I made no answer, for I was too conscious of losing many opportunities of this exercise of love, and felt ashamed to think how often I might, at least, have set forth the Saviour's love or the winning grace to draw their souls to seek after him who will be found of them that seek Him.

My judicious and kind friend, doubtless saw the conviction of my soul, and whilst he forbore to urge

the subject, he ventured not for some time to interrupt the painful reflections which occupied my mind and saddened my heart. However he left me not to be swallowed up of overmuch sorrow, but feelingly adduced another view of our subject by saying,

'I can contrast the objects of your compassion, those who know nothing; by some of a different character, who know every thing, or as the Apostle says, understand all mystery and all knowledge, having, under long instruction and abundance of means, imbibed a full knowledge of the letter of both law and gospel, and an ample acquaintance with the things of grace and of nature, and yet seem neither to have, nor to desire to have any vital influence on themselves-no life of the faith they profess-no sprinkling of the blood they confess-no devotion to the Lord they name. And here I confess I am in an utter difficulty. You can tell them nothing they do not know, nor advance any thing in which they do not acquiesce. I feel the awful import of those words of the Apostle, "It is impossible to renew them." They have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, and yet have remained without the quickening influence: and even in some instances have fallen away from an apparent persuasion of heart.'

Then how little they know, under this seeming knowledge: in fact "nothing yet as they ought to know." They have not, neither can they, search into the deep things of God. They want the Spirit, and alas, where he dwells not, the very light that is in them is darkness. How great is that darkness!'

It is strange they should be satisfied with such knowledge without experience, and as it were, to

look at the Lord as an external object, without putting Him on; and imagine they have a saving faith, though they have never sought that righteousness which is by faith, the righteousness of God. It is well expressed by an old writer, "Though carnal men may know and discover, yet it is only as a man that has gotten an inventory by heart, and the prices also, and so may know it; yet never was he led into the exchequer and treasury to see all the jewels themselves, the wardrobe of grace and Christ's righteousness, to see the glory of them; for these are all spiritually discerned." The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain!'

'So we come again to the first principles on which we began," Looking unto Jesus," and, as the Proverb says, "Wisdom is before him that hath understanding, but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth;" ever seeking new objects, and departing from the Fountain of wisdom and knowledge. Oh! for more of that settled, decided wisdom, which determines to abide at the feet of Jesus. "Lord, whither shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life."'

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'But besides this deficient knowledge and understanding of which we are speaking, there is a deficient faith; all lacking the same thing-charity. It may appear strange, because faith is faith, but it is possible to be defective in its saving character, as it is expressed, Though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." The Apostle assumes a case of which there were and are also many instances. You remember, when the disciples had faith to believe they could consume Samaria by calling fire from heaven; but the Lord told them they knew not

The

what manner of spirit they were of. And with what assurance the Lord himself describes the professors of faith to lay claim to an entrance into the kingdom of heaven, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name done many wonderful works!" These gifts must have been exercised without charity; the Lord may have allowed them for purposes of grace to others; and we are by them most awfully admonished not to count on the gifts alone, as evidences of a true state of grace. Spirit's saving operation must be one consistent with himself, and needs the accompanying graces which ever hang in connection, and are not to be severed. The fruits of the Spirit are such as are necessary to form the regenerate character, and are imparted to the new creature in Christ Jesus; for he must have the Spirit of Christ, or he is none of his: they are like the breath of life, which, breathed into Adam, made him a living soul. Run through the lovely sacred list, Gal. v. 22. and in so doing, we shall perceive that, to make up the true Christian character, not one of them must be wanting. Let faith be alone, and what will it be without the others? Faith without love, like faith without works, is dead. Let love be the master-grace, and all else will sparkle round it, like the clustered constellations in the heaven. God is Love; and where he dwells and rules, there must be the Spirit of Love.'

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We sometimes see a kind of bold intrepid confidence stepping forward to encounter all difficulties, undergo all hardships, endure all fatigue, suffer all privations, for the professed purpose of the glory of God and the good of souls; and yet, whilst compelled to admire the zeal and activity of their course, there

is a manifest want of that grace which would make their words and actions more assimilating with His who was full of grace and truth, and whose words dropped as honey, and the honeycomb.'

'There are many examples of this nature, but I think of Judas Iscariot, who, with the other Apostles, saw the very devils subject unto them, through the name of Jesus, and yet-awful truth! he permitted Satan to enter into his own heart; and though he had been sent out in company with the others, as lambs among wolves, yet so wretched was his inward state, that he was denominated by Him who searcheth the heart, "a devil, the son of perdition." A sentence which he confirmed, when he pressed the kiss of treason on the cheek of Love, and sealed it when he was constrained, by the torments of conscience, to declare he had betrayed the innocent blood.'

Faith, then, without love, is, greatly to be feared, as it may deceive the heart to rest in the gift as an evidence of inward grace, though destitute of the Spirit of Life. How great the snare might be, where there is great missionary usefulness and success! What mountains of heathenism, infidelity, opposition, are surmounted by the zeal of faith and labour of love! I was led into much reflection on this power, when reading the Church Missionary Register for last month. What an evidence, under the blessing of God, is afforded in the impression making, as there recorded, in New Zealand, and other parts of the benighted world. May the God of all grace and mercy keep his faithful servants, and shed abroad in their hearts that love which is everlasting, and which shall keep alive the flame of zeal, even when faith may be ready to fail, so that no obstacle shall appal