THE COURSE AND THE COMPASS.

No. IV.

WE have here a body of persons very different from the last which we considered, for not only a few among them, but the whole class assume the Christian name; it is not in their nominal creed that the unbelief lies, it is in their practice. Were we to tell them that they are not Christians in reality, they would either start back with horror, or flame with indignation; they would tell us that they are natives of a Christian land-that they have been baptized as well as ourselves-that they consider themselves members of some Christian body, (the church of England, very likely,) and that, therefore, they are, and must be Christians; and they are 'astounded at our incredible ignorance, or our consummate assurance in denying the fact. I can only repeat what I have before said concerning them, they profess that they know God, while in works they deny him.'

In order more clearly to prove this, let me distinguish them into the four following sub-divisions: the open profligate; the man of honour; the man of the world, and the man of business; and looking at each separately and in order, let us observe the comment which their conduct affords upon certain passages of that scripture which is the Christian's guide.

TEXT I:

"As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy." 1 Peter xv. 16.

ILLUSTRATION:

THE OPEN PROFLIGATE.

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In the above exhortation, we have a rule for the whole of the Christian's life, shewed forth by an heavenly example, and supported by a divine injunction: "Be holy in all manner of conversation," says the fervent apostle, as he who hath called you," even your God himself, "is holy;" and for this reason, because he commands it, saying, "Be ye holy, for I am holy." Now this is equally binding on all Christians; therefore when the illustration of this section (the open profligate) takes to himself the Christian name, I am bound to examine how far his life exemplifies that holiness which is enjoined in the compass by which he professes to shape his

course.

We need be at no loss to find a living instance of this seemingly paradoxical character; one whose name is to be found in almost every periodical that leaves the press, as being implicated in either private or political profligacy. I will call him A. as he is my first example, and also because I do not wish to give any real initials in these pages.

Of his early life I am neither able nor desirous to say more than that he was born of an influential, and now ennobled family, and from the station and character of his parents, he was, doubtless, educated much in the usual manner of young men in genteel life. His present position and character are now my concern, and the most striking proof I can give of

their moral degradation is, that on his name being mentioned to his exemplary mother, she has been known to reply, Pray do not speak of him: I do not acknowledge him as my son.'

'Steeped to the lips' in debts and immoralities, supported by the gaming-table, and the guilty earnings of an abandoned female, his private life is divided between the indulgence of the lowest vices, and the deception of indignant creditors; nor is his public character more virtuous or more honest.

Deputed to the legislature of our country by the votes of men "professing godliness," who “liberally" and charitably described his scandalous life as the commission of a few levities,' he promised every thing required of him, and engaged to carry through sundry measures, ruinous to the religious character of certain ancient seats of learning, but greatly desired by his constituents and their allied political friends.

He' voted for them, undoubtedly, but soon after, in a drunken frolic, he threw the whole legislative assembly into so complete a tumult as to drown the voice and utterly destroy the arguments of the advocate for these very plans, which he was himself pledged to support,-cast an air of ridicule and absurdity over the entire proceeding, and gave a fair excuse to the higher house for contemptuously rejecting the scheme in toto.

Was ever known an act of more complete and perverse faithlessness? Were not his supporters well repaid for the sacrifice of duty and principle which they had made in electing so notoriously immoral a person to represent their religious party.

And yet, this promise-breaking, trust-deceiving,

dishonest politician; this impure, inebriated, gambling, degraded profligate, calls himself a Christian; yes, and moreover, an attached member of the church of England'!! He is not only a Christian in general, but a churchman in particular, and publicly avows himself as warm a friend to the establishment as any it possesses. Hear it and be astonished.

And now, after what I have recounted, shall I venture to write the word 'holy' again on my page? I should insult the common sense of my readers, did I attempt to set forth the discrepancy between the divine example of holiness commended to us by the apostle, in the text, and the vile career of such a man as A, and yet what churchman or Christian can we find, on whom it is not incumbent to be "holy as he who hath called him is holy"? Who is the person that is entitled to claim exemption from the rule, "Be ye holy, for I am holy?"

X. Q.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHRISTIAN
LADY'S MAGAZINE.

MADAM,

I AM one of those privileged persons, who, having refrained from encumbering themselves with the cares of a family, are enabled to give their attention to what concerns the world in general. Being naturally of a philanthropic turn, I do feel exceedingly interested in the affairs of my neighbours; I am zealously concerned for their reputation, and anxious to point out to them the best way of promoting their own credit and advantage. But alas, alas! many are the repulses that I meet while engaged in this benevolent pursuit. People are so blinded by selflove, so puffed up with self-conceit, that they persist in fancying themselves better judges of their particular concerns than a looker-on can be.

I need not, Madam, point out to a lady of your penetration, how erroneous this is: for surely the unruffled surface of an unoccupied mind will reflect surrounding objects far more accurately than the troubled waters of one busily hurrying on.

When Miss Markwell, for whom I entertain a profound esteem, began her series of papers,, I was led to hope that much light would be thrown on subjects very interesting to me. But she has struck into a path considerably out of my usual track, passing