"take warning, take warning by me; I neglected my poor soul till it was too late, and now I find

"There's no repentance in the grave

No pardon offered to the dead."

Nothing can save you but the blood of Jesus Christ: to him then I refer you with the assurance that none who come to him shall be cast out.

T. P.

WARNING TO PROFESSING CHRISTIANS.

Dear brethren, I must and will bless the Lord as long as I live, that he has made me a messenger to you, to proclaim his law, and preach his excellences, and to woo you to him, and espouse you to him, presenting you as a chaste virgin to Christ. It is, verily, a good choice that I have recommended; oh! that there might not be one found among you, that has not made Mary's choice, that "good part which shall not be taken away from her." Brethren, let those who have no better portion, be content with this world. Let them have its glory, riches, and splendour. Alas! you have no reason to envy them. How soon will their hopes fail them. How soon will the crackling blaze be out, and leave them in eternal darkness! But for you I am jealous, that some of you should come short of the glory of God. I long for you all to be heirs of an endless life, "an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." Oh! why should not all of you be happy! I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, lest a promise being left you of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it." Alas! how it grieves me to see this rest neglected! and that any of you should fall short of it! That any of my

flesh should perish, when Christ hath done so much for you; and when his ministers, through his grace, have done something to recover and save you! How often, when I besought you from the pulpit to accept of God's mercy, has it grieved me to look over such a large congregation, and to think that I could not, for the life of me, persuade one quarter of them to be saved. How it moved me to see your diligence in flocking to the stated exercises, and also to opportunities attended with danger; and yet to think, that many who went so far, were

likely to perish for want of going further! I must praise your diligent attendance on all opportunities. But oh! how gladly would I carry you further than the outward profession. How troubled am I, to think that any of you should go far, and hazard much for religion, and yet perish for ever, through some unmortified sin; as secret pride, or untamed passion, or an unbridled tongue, or (what I fear most of all) a ruling love of the world in your hearts. Oh! my people, in the name of the Lord Jesus, who shall shortly judge you, I beseech you to look to the securing of your everlasting condition; and for your life, take heed of resting in the outward part of religion: never rest till you find that the frame and bent of your hearts is new. True religion is in the hidden man of the heart. For Christ's sake, for your soul's sake look to it, that you build upon the rock, that you be sure in the foundation-work, that you heartily deliver yourselves over to the Lord, to be under his command, and at his disposal in all things. See that you make no èxceptions, no reserve, that you be ready to part with all for Christ, that you take him alone for your whole happiness. Do not wonder, that I teach this so often; if it be well here, all is well; if unsound here, the fault is on the foundation, and you are undone. Brethren, I see great trials coming on, when we shall see professors fall like leaves in the autumn, unless they be well settled, therefore look to yourselves. And as for you, whose souls have been truly wrought upon, oh! make sure, and keep your evidences clear, whatever you do. How dreadful would your temptation be, if you should be called to part with all for Christ, and not be sure of him neither! Get a right and clear understanding of the terms of life. Be much in prayer, in examining your own hearts, and crying to God for assurance. If you cannot decide upon your state yourselves, go to somebody that is able and faithful, and fully tell them your case; be very strict and watchful over yourselves, and I doubt not but you will quickly grow up into assurance. The Lord strengthen your hands and hearts, lift you up above the fear of men, and after you have suffered awhile, make you perfect! J. Alleine.

THE TABERNACLE.

The tabernacle was a type or emblem of Jesus Christ. The Word was made flesh and dwelt, or, as the original expresses it, "tabernacled among us," John 1. 14. As the Most High dwelt visibly within the sanctuary, even on the ark, so did he reside in the human nature and tabernacle of his dear Son; for "in Christ dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," Col. 2. 9.

The tabernacle was a symbol of every real Christian. God dwelt within the sanctuary in the wilderness. He dwells within every renewed and believing heart. In the soul of every true follower of the Saviour does the Father dwell, the object of his worship, the author of his blessings, the principle of his spiritual and everlasting life.

The tabernacle also typified the church of the Redeemer collectively, as well as the individuals who compose it. Materials of different value, from the most precious to the most humble, were employed in the erection of the Mosaic tabernacle. And in the spiritual building of the Redeemer's church, God is no respecter of persons. The meanest and the mightiest are alike dear to the Father's love, freely exercised through faith in Christ.

The tabernacle was a significant type and emblem of the heavenly temple, Rev. 21. 3. What, then, will be the splendour of his appearance, when the cloud shall be withdrawn, and his faithful worshippers shall see him as he is! Buddicom.

SOME SERIOUS, SOUL-SEARCHING THOUGHTS, FOR THE CHRISTIAN'S CLOSET OF SELF-EXAMINATION.

First, I have earnestly sought the Lord, for the assistance of his Spirit, which can only manifest my own heart to me, and shew me the true state thereof; which is that thing my soul doth most earnestly desire to know; and I hope the Lord will answer my desire therein, according to his promises. Luke xi. 13. John xiv. 26.

Second, I have endeavoured to cast out, and lay aside selflove, lest my heart being prepossessed therewith, my judgment should be perverted, and become partial in passing sentence on my state. I have in some measure brought my heart to be as willing to judge and condemn myself for a hypocrite, if such I shall be found on trial, as to approve myself for sincere and

upright. Yea, I would have it so far from being grievous to me so to do, that if I have been all this while mistaken and deceived, I shall rejoice and bless the Lord with my soul, that now at last it may be discovered to me, and I may be set right, though I lay the foundation new again. This I have laboured to bring my heart to, knowing that thousands have dashed and split to pieces on this rock. And, indeed, he that will own the person of a judge, must put off the person of a friend.

Third, It hath been my endeavour to keep upon my heart a deep sense of that great judgment-day, throughout this work; as knowing by experience, what a powerful influence this hath on the conscience, to make it deliberate, serious, and faithful in its work: and therefore, I have demanded of my own conscience, before the resolution of each question; O! my conscience, deal faithfully with me in this particular, and say no more to me than thou wilt own and stand to in the great day, when the counsels of all hearts shall be made manifest.

Fourth, Having seriously weighed each mark, and considered wherein the weight and substance of it lieth, I have gone to the Lord in prayer for his assistance, ere I have drawn up the answer of my conscience; and as my heart hath been persuaded therein, so have I determined and resolved: what hath been clear to my experience, I have so set down; and what hath been dubious, I have left it so.

Fifth, I have made choice of the fittest seasons I had for the work, and set to it when I have found my heart in the most quiet and serious frame. For as he that would see his face in a glass, must be fixed, not in motion; or in water, must make no commotion in it; so it is in this case.

Sixth, To the end I may be successful in this work, I have laboured all along carefully, to distinguish betwixt such sins as are ground of doubting, and such as are only grounds of humiliation; knowing that not every evil is a ground of doubting, though all, even the smallest infirmities administer matter of humiliation; and thus I have desired to enterprize the great business. O Lord! assist thy servant, that he may not mistake therein; but if his conscience do now condemn him, he may lay a better foundation whilst he hath time; and if it shall now acquit him, he may also have boldness in the day of judgment." From the life of Flavel.

6

A MORNING REFLECTION.

As I was just about to open my Bible, that I might behold wondrous things concerning Jesus, and salvation through him, and eternal life in him; my attention was drawn to an immense number of atoms of dust playing in the sun-beams: a thought struck me, whether I was not at that moment contemplating a lively emblem of the honours, wealth, pleasures, pomps, and vanities of this ensnaring, wicked world. Lord, how unsubstantial are its honours, what a bubble its riches, how sordid its pleasures, how gilded its pomps, what a vanity its vanities; "vanity of vanities, all is vanity." And where are those atoms of dust? I look, but they are for the most part vanished out of my sight. Thy word, O Lord, tells me that riches make themselves wings and flee away; favour is deceitful, beauty is vain, the honour that cometh from man despicable, and he that is deceived thereby is not wise. May I, (as I have engaged to do in my baptismal vow in my infancy, at my confirmation before the Bishop, at my ordination for the sacred ministry, whenever I frequent thy table, as often as I appear in thy courts, and by the whole profession of the Christian faith,) renounce the devil and all his works, &c. When tempted to love this world, to bow at the shrine of pleasure, to court filthy lucre, to forget my God, my Saviour, my soul, eternity, heaven, may I remember the atoms floating in the air, preaching to me a lesson which I ought ever to bear in mind, until I rise from the shadows of time, to the glorious realities of eternity.-Amen.

R. L.

ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRAYER.

Mr. Flavel being on a voyage from Dartmouth to London, had advanced within five leagues of Portland, when they were overtaken with a dreadful tempest, insomuch, that between one and two in the morning, the master concluded, that unless God changed the wind, there was no hope of life; it was impossible for them to weather Portland, so that they must of necessity be wrecked on the rocks, or on the shore. Upon this Mr. Flavel called all the hands that could be spared, into the cabin to prayer; but the violence of the tempest was such, that they could not prevent themselves from being thrown from one side unto the other, as the ship was tossed; and not only so, but