consolation. Natural and sensible consolation is one thing; spiritual, inward, and holy comfort, is another and a very different thing. The former may be common both to saints and sinners; the latter is spiritual, and is peculiar only to real Christians, and is effected by the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, dwelling in the soul. He only who has this spiritual life abiding in him is fully sensible of those comforts which refresh the soul; and possibly he alone can best appreciate their inestimable value, who having lost all earthly ties, and when there is no one who careth for his soul, feels assured that he has a Father in heaven, who will neither leave him nor forsake him. Surios

EVENING THOUGHTS.

MONDAY.

PSALM lxxvii. 5.

I have considered the days of old, and the years that are past.

THERE are few subjects more calculated to rouse or to solemnize the mind than the consideration of the days and years that are past, either in what relates to ourselves or to others but it is chiefly by serious meditation, and searching into our own hearts, and holding close communing there, that any benefit can arise from the retrospect. And this should be done frequently, steadfastly, and devoutly, as a duty of the highest importance; and which cannot fail to be productive of the most beneficial consequences. The pious in all ages have found it so-conscientiously and uniformly observing the practice. Let no one, however, suppose that mere reverie, or giving full scope to his imagination, forms any part of this salutary exercise. The many

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ways in which fancy and retrospection may be indulged, are as various as they are unprofitable and vain; and no other effects can result than a listless torpor, dull vacuity, or morbid discontent, which will preclude every higher reach of thought.

"So the fond fool, when evening shades the sky, Turns but to start, and gazes but to sigh."

If, on the contrary, any one whilst viewing the varied expanse around him can exclaim, "These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, Almighty!"

and feels a well-grounded assurance that his heavenly Father made them all, with what fervour and devotion will he lift up his heart to his divine Benefactor! And in considering the past, the present, or the future, his whole soul overflows with adoration, gratitude, and praise; while the result, as applied to himself, produces the lowest self-abasement. And thus widely different are the pious meditations of the true Christian to the cold calculations of the sceptical philosopher, or the ephemeral speculations of the vain visionary. The former-as he knows there are many things, even in the natural world, which exceed the limits of his finite capacity to compre hend; "that here we see as through a glass

darkly," and can only view a part of the stupendous whole; in full confidence that even "seeming evil still educes good," will be calmly resigned to all the dispensations of a wise and gracious God: whilst the philosopher views the events of life with stoical apathy; and the visionary wanders in the mazes of a labyrinth, from which he vainly endeavours to extricate himself, and then murmurs in sullen discontent at the. causes or consequences of those calamities. and apparent defects, for which he is unable to account on any principle within the compass of his shallow understanding. Other characters there are who appear to meditate very seriously; and who, acknowledging and perceiving their errors, will even go so far as to form many good resolutions for the future, but either procrastinate, or have not courage to put them in practice; and will, from day to day, resolve and reresolve, till they become more guilty by this neglect, and at last die the same.

"Thus living all their lives without a plan,

Their life as useless is, as when it first began.". Let us then, in the early part of our lives, so number our days that we may apply our hearts unto true wisdom, and say with the Psalmist, "I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.'