gifts, or painful observances; but the re ligion of the gospel teaches us, that God is not that cruel being, who rejoices in the sufferings of his creatures; but a good and merciful Being, who has sent his Son to die for sinners, that through him they might have life. Should not such a view of the excellency of the Scriptures-at the same time that it teaches us how thankful we ought to be to God, who has put them within our reach-also teach us how anxious we should be to do all in our power to spread abroad this blessed book over the world, that those poor ignorant creatures, who are buried under the darkness of error and superstition, may see the glorions light of this Sun of Righteousness?

Here, we may likewise observe, that though the conversion of De Rozaro gives the penitent sinner the greatest encourage

ment to hope for his acceptance with God, yet it gives no encouragement whatever to go on in sin. While De Rozaro continued in sin, he was unhappy; and though, after his conversion, he was supported by the hope of acceptance; yet the remembrance of his past transgressions filled his heart with poignant remorse, and pierced him through with many sorrows. But De Rozaro had an excuse, which you have not. He was born in a heathen land, and had never heard the sweet sounds of salvation, He was not taught to know that God, who gave him being, and who supported him. You have all these advantages. God has placed your lot in a land of religious light. You have the Bible to direct you: you have ministers to teach you. Harden not yourselves against his invitations. Resist not his Spirit, lest he strive no longer with you.

Reject not the light, lest your candle be put out in darkness. If ye set at nought the counsel of the Lord, and will have none of his reproof, how know ye but he will leave you to eat of the fruit of your own way, and be filled with your own devices? The Lord deals with men as with rational beings. He warns them of their danger; sets before them the way of safety; promises them the assistance of his Holy Spirit ; and then leaves them to follow their own inclinations. He does not so act upon them, as to impel them by irresistible power, but seeks to draw them with the cords of a man. Reject not then the counsel of the Lord against yourselves. Defer not the time of your repentance; for you know not how soon death may come. At any rate, you can gain nothing by continuing in sin. You only make the difficulty of returning

greater, and accumulate to yourselves a greater store against the day of grief. Therefore "seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.*

* Isaiah xxxv 6, 7.

A WALK IN THE WORLD.

BY JAMES BIRD, ESQ.

I WALKED to the valley-the blossoming flowers

Looked fair by the crystal stream; And I thought there was joy in those sunny bowers,

And that life was no idle dream;

But a precious boon of content and bliss, If we read not the page of life's volume amiss!

I walked on the mountain-and saw below, The flocks and the grazing herds;

While soft on mine ear came the fountain's flow,

And the songs of the gladden'd birds; And the more I beheld, the more I knew

Of the Giver of good, the Immortal and

True!