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conspicuous in the Church now, let the reader say.

Little children are, moreover, characterized by love, and their charity 'thinketh no evil.' How unsuspicious they are! But too much of the charity of the present day, so far from thinking no evil, thinketh no good. It suspects everybody. It 'hopeth' nothing. Indeed, love, and her sister peace, which used to lead the graces, are become as wall-flowers with many; into such neglect they have fallen. They seem to be quite out of the question with many. Some good men appear to think that contending for the faith is the end of the commandment, and the fulfilling of the law. But it is not. It is a duty-an important duty-one too little regarded by manyone never to be sneered at, as by some it is. I acknowledge, some treat it as it were nothing. I only say it is not every thing. There is walking in love, and following peace, which, as well as contending for the faith, are unrepealed laws of Christ's house. I believe they can all be done, and that each is best done when the others are not neglected. I am sure truth never lost any thing by being spoken in love. I am of opinion that a principal reason why we are not more of one mind, is that we are not more of one heart. How soon they who feel heart to heart begin to see eye to eye! The way to think alike is first to feel alike; and if the feeling be love, the thought will be truth. I wish, therefore, for the sake of sound doctrine, that the brethren could love one another. What, if we see error in each other to condemn, can we not find anything amiable to love? I would the experiment might be made. Let us not cease to contend for the faith-not merely for its own sake, but for love's sake, because 'faith worketh by love.' But in the conflict, let us be careful to shield love. It is a victory for truth, scarcely worth gaining, if charity be left bleeding on the field of battle.

You see why I think the Church wants converting. It is to bring her back to humility, and simplicity, and love. I wish she would attend to this matter. She need not relax her efforts for the world. She has time enough to turn a few reflex acts on herself. The object of the Church is to make the world like herself. But let her in the meantime make herself more like what the world ought to be. It is scarcely desirable that the world should be as the Church in general now is. Let her become a better model for the world's imitation. Her voice is heard for Christ; but let her 'hold forth the word of life' in her conduct as well as by her voice. Let her light shine. Let her good works be manifest. Let her heaven-breathed spirit breathe abroad the same spirit

The work of the conversion of the world goes on slowly; but it makes as much progress as the work of the conversion of the Church does. No more sinners are converted, because no more Christians are converted. The world will continue to lie in wickedness, while the ways of Zion mourn' as they do. Do any wonder that iniquity abounds, when the love of so many has waxed cold? We are sending the light of truth abroad, when we have but little of the warmth of love at home.

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We are often asked what we are doing for the conversion of the world. We ought to be doing a great deal-all we can. But I would ask, what are we doing for the conversion of the Church? What to promote holiness nearer home, among our fellow-Christians, and in our own hearts? Let us not forget the world, but at the same time let us remember Zion.-Nevins.

THE SOLEMNITIES OF THE

JUDGMENT DAY.

NONE can conceive what will be the solemnity, the joy, or the terror of the great day. Nor are the scriptural statements on this subject poetical figures, but a description of solemn facts. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God.' 'The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God.' He shall come to be admired in his saints, and glorified in all them that believe. The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible.' 'When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth the sheep from the goats; and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into eternal life.' According to these infallible testimonies the archangel will descend; the trumpet will proclaim the Judge's coming; and such a sound be heard through all the regions of this lower creation, that, compared with it, the shouts of an assembled world, or the roar of ten thousand thunders, would be stillness; for all man

kind will hear. The Lord will then visibly descend. He will come with his mighty angels in flaming fire. He will come in the glory of his Father, and in his own. He cometh with ten thousands of his saints. Now, 'all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth, they that have done good to the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation.' The righteous rise to glory, honour, and immortality; but the unrighteous also hear his voice. In their case, that which was sown in corruption, rises in incorruption,' that it may endure a death that can never die. That which was sown in dishonour,' rises to dishonour more aggravated, 'to shame and everlasting contempt.' That which was sown in weakness, is raised in power;' strong to endure immortal misery. That which was sown a natural body, rises a spiritual body, to become the accursed dwelling of that immortal spirit that prostituted its powers on earth to folly, vanity, and guilt.

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The scenes of final judgment advance, and, amidst their solemnities, 'the heavens pass away with a great noise, and the elements melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein are burnt up!' O, reader! in meditation anticipate this day! View it as come! Think you hear the cry, 'The great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand!' The sun, moon, and stars have ceased to shine! The heavens have passed away. The cares and businesses, the pursuits and delights of earth have vanished like a dream. The tumults of nations, the contentions of statesmen, the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride, of joy or of weeping, are heard no more. The oath is sworn that time shall be no longer, and all its scenes are ended. The dead are raised, the Judge is come. There he sits in majesty, and at his bar the nations are collected to hear their doom. He sets the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left. The righteous meet him with rapture; the unrighteous are dragged before his awful bar. Within them gnaws the worm of conscience that never dies. All appear in their real character; there is no deception and no mistake here. There is no middle condition. There is no mingling among the pious if not pious; the ungodly often mingle with the pious now, but not then. There myriads of angels observe the solemn process, and wait and watch the conduct of their King. Above opens the higher heaven to welcome his redeemed. Below burns the pit of fire and darkness prepared for the devil and his angels, and ready as the prison of the lost. All are about to rise or sink for ever, and you and I are there. Long has this day been spoken of; long believed, long dis

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believed; but it is come. The believer and the infidel alike believe in it now. is come. The last day of man's probation is over, and all are assembled for their eternal doom. It is come. The Judge is seen; how different from what he once was seen! how changed from what he then appeared; how changed are all his followers too! and O how changed his foes! Where is now their unbelief? their pride? their haughtiness? their scorn? It is come. Time has rolled its last year, its last hour away. This day seemed slow to come; the day of mercy lasted long, but it is over, and this judgment day is come.

The Judge eternal now pronounces man's unchanging doom. He says to them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.' He owns their humble services of faith and love; and according to his solemn promise, confesses them who confessed him. O, sweet words of eternal life!. they are pronounced, and suspense, and doubt, and fear are vanished for ever. Now, indeed, the righteous come to Zion with everlasting joy upon their heads; now, indeed, sorrow and sighing are fled

away.

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But hearken to a different sentence. hold a different scene! Besides those on the right hand, there are myriads on his left. What says the Judge to them? Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels !' I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity? Oh, the horrors of that sentence, and of that day! If you should be among them, how will you meet that day?

O reader, remember these things are no cunningly-devised fables; and, as in the view of death and judgment, now embrace unfeigned religion.—Pike.

THE CABINET.

TROUBLE THE LOT OF THE CHRISTIAN.

MANY of our fellow-creatures, yea, many of his own dear children, have a rougher path appointed; some of the heirs of glory have scarcely bread to eat; some spend a great part of their lives in wearisome pain or pining sickness; some are disposed, by lowness of spirits, to such gloomy thoughts and black temptations, as deprive them of comfort in any outward situation of life. A little attention may presently lead our thoughts to cases which we must acknowledge much more distressing than our own. But in the worst, we see the Lord supports his people. If, like the bush which Moses saw, they appear to be in the midst of

flames, like that bush likewise, they are preserved unconsumed, because the Lord is there. Trouble is laid upon their loins; they go through fire and through water; but at length they are brought out into a wealthy place.-John Newton.

THE LORD LOOKED UPON PETER.

SURELY no malefactor condemned to suffer for the violated laws of his country, ever heard his last hour strike upon the prison bell with half the agony of feeling with which that cock-crowing rang upon the ears of Peter. Still was there a sight which smote far deeper than that sound; 'The Lord turned and looked upon Peter. Who can pourtray the silent eloquence of that last look? What volumes must it have spoken to the fallen apostle! Could he behold that well-known countenance, and again repeat, I know not the man?' Could he see his divine Master as a sheep before his shearers is dumb,' and again break forth into oaths and imprecations? Could he bear the reproach of that meek eye, and yet remain in the guilty scene amidst those enemies of the Saviour and of his own soul? No! that single glance was all that was required to send home the arrow of conviction and repentance to his bosom; he instantly remembered the word that the Lord had spoken, and he went out and wept bitterly.'-Blunt.

THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

'REPENTANCE towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ,' was the sum of the apostolical instructions. It is not an occasional invocation of the name of Christ, or a transient recognition of his authority, that fills up the measure of the terms, believing in Jesus. This we shall find no such easy task; and if we trust that we do believe, we should all perhaps do well to cry out, in the words of an imploring supplicant (he supplicated not in vain), Lord, help thou our unbelief.' We must be deeply conscious of our guilt and misery, heartily repenting of our sins, and firmly resolving to forsake them; and thus penitently fleeing for refuge to the hope set before us.' We must found altogether on the merit of the crucified Redeemer, our hopes of escape from their deserved punishment, and of deliverance from their enslaving power. This must be our first, our last, our only plea. We are to surrender our lives up to him, to be washed in his blood,' Rev. i. 5; to be sanctified by his Spirit; resolving to receive him for our Lord and Master; to learn in his school; to obey all his commandments.-Wilberforce.

THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS IS THE SEED OF THE CHURCH.

EXPERIENCE warrants, and reason justifies and explains the assertion, that persecution generally tends to quicken the vigour, and extend the prevalence, of the opinions which they would eradicate. Christianity, especially, has always thriven under persecution. At such a season, she has no lukewarm professors; no adherents concerning whom it is doubtful to what party they belong. The Christian is reminded at every turn, that his Master's When all kingdom is not of this world. on earth wears a black and threatening aspect, he looks up to heaven for consolation; he learns practically to consider himself as a pilgrim and stranger. He then cleaves to fundamentals, and examines well his foundation, as at the hour of death. When religion is in a state of external quiet and prosperity, the contrary of all this naturally takes place. The soldiers of the Church militant then forget that they are in a state of warfare. Their ardour slackens, their zeal languishes Like a colony long settled in a strange country, they are gradually assimilated in features, and demeanour, and language, to the inhabitants, till at length almost every vestige of peculiarity dies away.-Wilberforce.

A PRAYER TO THE SAVIOUR.

COME, O thou that hast the seven stars in thy right hand, apoint thy chosen priests according to their orders and courses of old, to minister before thee, and duly to dress and pour out the consecrated oil into thy holy and ever-burning lamps. Thou hast sent out the Spirit of prayer upon thy servants over all the earth to this effect, and stirred up their vows as the sound of many waters about thy throne. Every one can say, that now certainly thou hast visited this land, and has not forgotten the uttermost corners of the earth, in a time when men had thought that thou wast gone up from us to the farthest end of the heavens, and hadst left to do marvellously among the sons of the last ages. O perfect and accomplish thy glorious acts; for men may leave their works unfinished, but thou art a God, thy nature is perfection The times and seasons pass along under thy feet, to go and come at thy bidding; and as thou didst dignify our Fathers' days with many real actions, above all their foregoing ages, since thou tookest the flesh, so thou can vouchsafe to us, though unworthy, as large a portion of thy Spirit as thou pleasest; for who shall prejudice thy allgoverning will? Seeing the power of Thy grace is not passed away with the primitive times, as fond and faithless men imagine; but thy kingdom is now at hand,

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AFFLICTION A BLESSING.

AFFLICTION well sustained improves every part of our religion. It teaches compassion and sympathy towards others in their troubles. It gives an edge to our devotion, an ardency to our prayers, tenderness to our hearts, and a life to our grace. It is the trial and triumph of our faith. Patience hath its perfect work; our resolutions for God are confirmed; so that we take faster hold of God, and of those things that cannot be taken from us. Our sorrows, at longest, are but short; and we shall shortly ourselves go the same way. How diminutively does the apostle speak of the afflictions of this present time! Our light afflictions, which are but for a moment.' You call them heavy, he calls them light; and those light afflictions but for a moment;' and that moment of light afflictions worketh for us.' You are apt to think they all work against you, but they work for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' The contrast lies between affliction and glory: light afflictions and the weight of glory, light affliction for a moment and glory eternal: Spoken as much like an orator, as like an apostle

And who was it that said all this? One that knew as well what affliction was-one that had as much of it to his share, as any man in the world.-Grosvenor.

FAITH ON EARTH AND SIGHT IN HEAVEN.

GOD makes all things double; the eye for light, and light for the eye. While he is preparing the character of the believer for heaven, he is also preparing heaven for the believer; and the believer himself is laying up treasures in heaven, which can never be taken away from him, 'where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal.' Every step of advancement in holiness upon earth, is an acquisition that will last to him throughout eternity. He is not only gaining in heavenly wealth, but in heavenly adaptation. Here those who walk by faith are opposed to those who walk by sight, the new nature is opposed to the old, and the mind of the believer is divided against itself; as Paul expresses it, ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption,

to wit, the redemption of our body." We groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.' But when the trial is over, and the principle of holiness perfected, faith and sight will be reconciled and united. Then they who have believed in him whom they have not seen, shall see him in whom they have believed. And they who now see but a small portion of the divine footprints in creation, shall then see the divinity manifesting itself in its fulness, flowing out into acts of divine energy, and filling with inexhaustible happiness the capacities of numberless creatures.-Douglas.

THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN.

THE saints in heaven shall have the glorious presence of God, and of the Lamb. God is everywhere present in respect of his essence; the saints militant have his special gracious presence. There they are brought near to the throne of the great King, and stand before him, where he shows his inconceivable glory! There they have the tabernacle of God on which the cloud of glory rests, the all-glorious human nature of Christ wherein the fulness of Godhead dwells, not veiled, as in the days of his humiliation, but shining through that blessed flesh (that all the saints may behold his glory), and making that body more glorious than a thousand suns so that the city has no need of the sun, nor of the moon; but the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof (properly the candle thereof), the Lamb is the luminary or luminous body which gives light to the city; as the sun and moon now give light to the world, or as a candle lightens a dark room; and the light proceding from that glorious luminary, for the city is the glory of God. Sometimes that candle burnt very dim, it was hid under a bushel in the time of his humiliation, but that now and then it darted out some rays of this light, which dazzled the eyes of the spectators; but now it is set on high in the city of God, where it shines, and shall shine for ever in perfection and glory. It was sometimes laid aside, as a stone disallowed of the builder; but now it is, and for ever will be, the light or luminary of that city; and that like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crytsal.—Boston.

THERE is no true godliness but what springs from gospel principles; no true contentment with our lot but what springs from true godliness; no true care but where our soul is our first and chief cor⚫ cern.-Brown,

THOMAS GRANT, PRINTER, EDINBURGH.

THE INVISIBLE WORLD.

A BELIEF in invisible being is a univer- | sal principle of the mind of man. That there exists a world beyond the cognizance of the senses, men of all ages and of all nations have agreed; and wild and wondrous are the phantasmagoria with which they have peopled it. The Greeks, the grandest idealists of the human family, peopled their invisible world with creations of magic, poetic beauty. They gave to every operation of nature an invisible agent; to every mountain, river, and plain, a presiding genius; to every attribute of mind, a spiritual representative, linking them all into one great family, sprung from one fountain of being. We see in this something more than the phantasies of imagination. It is the gropings of the soul after truth, the central truth of all, the existence of a great, universal cause. They recognised, too, the separate principles of good and evil, clothing their deities with attributes of benignity or the reverse.

These deities were by far the least terrific of the phantoms which the mind of man has conjured up from that abyss of dark ness-the invisible world. Horrible and doleful creatures have arisen from it and held the soul of man in fearful bondage; creatures delighting in blood and devastation; devils before whom he has crouched and trembled, fitly representing them to his senses by forms as hideous as their attributes, and worshipping them with rites which they themselves might perpetrate.

All the while revelation was holding forth its lamp into the darkness; the light was in the world, but the world chose the darkness rather than the light. Only on one altar was it kept alive. To the faithful Israelite, the invisible world was no region of gloomy terrors, or fantastic images. It was filled with the mysterious, all-holy presence of his God, and the smiling faces of angels looked out from it, with benignity upon him. And when light and immortality was brought fully to light, the lingering shadows seemed to be chased away, and the land beyond to shine out; the grand desire of the creature was accomplished, that of beholding with fleshly eyes its Creator and Sustainer.

But the lamp of truth, after shedding its rays far into the surrounding night, became at length clouded and bedimmed with error, and superstition again resumed its sway. Throughout the dark ages, every agency of the invisible world, angels and devils, sainted and perished souls, were brought into contact with the concerns of

life, and rained their good or evil influences on men. There voice were heard in the moanings of the wind through the ruined edifice, and in the silent chamber of the watcher, their footsteps were every where traceable to men's imaginations in the blessing, or the blight which followed them.

With the advance of physical science all these delusions have been swept away. It is well, since they darkened the minds of men, and enslaved them with false fears; but the tendency of the age in which we live is too much to ignore the invisible, and to rest in what is tangible, or at least within the grasp of reason, thus tending to the opposite extreme of materialism.

All acknowledge, we mean all professing Christians, the various elements of the invisible world. A malignant spirit of evil, with his satellites, intent on the frustration of God's gracious plans, and permitted by him to have power for a time, a mystery which we cannot fathom. A hierarchy of angelic spirits, who walk the earth unseen,' perhaps (we speak it reverently), like knight errants succouring the unfortunate. A cloud of witnesses, hovering over the course, while the race is running, not permitted to prompt us to reach the prize; but standing afar off, and crowned. And an all-presiding spirit, pervading all things, upholding all things, from the star dust' of the furthest firmament, to the mote in the sunshine of our chamber.

In what relation, then, do we stand to this invisible world? We answer, that depends entirely to which of the two great classes we belong Whether we are the children of darkness or of light. Of the precise nature of the influence exercised over us, by good or evil spirits, or how that influence reaches us, we know nothing, nor is it capable of being treated in these narrow limits; but if we belong to the former class, we are led captive by Satan at his will, we are objects of pity, perhaps, but not love to angels, and standing in the awful relation of rebels to the King of kings. If, however, we belong to the latter, our relation to the invisible world is changed; then, though subject to temptations from the spirit of evil, all the more dangerous, that they may not be distinguishable from the suggestions of innate depravity, we are sufficient to resist them; yea, often more than conquerors; then we are objects of guardian care to ministering spirits, and standing in the hallowing and endearing relationship of children to the eternal Father. Strange that men in their daily world life-men who believe these

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