rect information, in regard to facts and events in our revolutionary war, then recently terminated, it was difficult, almost beyond belief, to find a man, although an eye witness of what he related, who would give an accurate, unvarnished statement, of what he narrated. "I have been ready, said he, to say with David, all men are liars." He was reminded that David spoke thus "in his haste;" but indeed, my young friends, it is too true, that it is extremely rare to find a man whose words, in narrating facts, convey neither more nor less than the simple truth. Yet this is what a due regard to the command before us will lead us to aim at; and he who reaches the object of such an aim, will at once perform an important duty to his God and his fellow men, and at the same time add unspeakably to the respectability and weight of his own character. It was a high commendation bestowed on an eminent man, "that he always stated facts as if he was speaking under oath." Let it then be a distinct object with you all, to acquire the character indicated by the proverb, "his word is as good as his oath." WITHERSPOON ON REGENERATION. (Continued from p. 66.) it pleaseth God each shall possess before he be carried hence. It is easy to see, that conviction of sin which hath been before illustrated, prepares and paves the way for a discovery and acceptance of salvation by Christ. Before conviction of sin, or when conviction is but imperfect, the gospel of Christ, and particularly the doctrine of the cross, almost constantly appears to be foolishness. Or if, as sometimes happens, education and example prompts the sinner to speak with some degree of reverence of the name, character and undertaking of a Saviour, there is no distinct perception of the meaning, nor any inward relish of the sweetness of the salutary truths. But those who have been "wounded in their spirits, and grieved in their minds," begin to perceive their unspeakable importance and value. That mystery which was hid from ages and generations, begins to open upon the soul in its lustre and glory. The helpless and hopeless state of the sinner makes him earnestly and anxiously inquire, whether there is any way to escape, whether there is any door of mercy or of hope. He says, with the awakened and trembling jailer, "What must I do to be saved ?""* And with the Psalmist, "Innumerable evils have compassed me about, mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to Acceptance of Salvation through the look up; they are more than the Cross of Christ. The next great step in a sinner's change, is a discovery and accept ance of salvation from sin and misery through Jesus Christ. This is the last and finishing step of the glorious work. When this is attained, the change is completed, the new nature is fully formed in all its parts. The spiritual seed is implanted, and hath taken root; and it will arrive by degrees, in every vessel of mercy, to that measure of maturity and strength, that hairs of mine head, therefore my heart faileth me.t I have no excuse to offer, nor any shelter to fly to; the works, the word, and the providence of God, seem all to be up in arms against me, and have inclosed me as an enemy to him. O how fearful a thing is it to fall into the hands of the living God! Who shall dwell with devouring fire? Who shall dwell with everlasting burnings? Is there no prospect of relief? Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no phy Acts xvi. 30. † Psal. xl. 12. sician there? Wonderful has been my past blindness! I have awakened as out of a dream, and find myself hastening fast to the pit of destruction. What would I not do, what would I not give for good ground to believe that my guilt were taken away, and my peace made with God?" With what eagerness and earnestness, hitherto unknown, does the sinner now inquire after the way to life? With what solicitude does he "go forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed beside the shepherds' tents." The sabbaths, and ordinances, and word of God, are now quite different things from what they were before. No more waste of that sacred time in business or in play. No more serenity of heart, because he had been regularly and constantly at church, but an astonishing view of the sins of his holy things; careless, formal, heartless worship. He cries out with the Psalmist, "Lord, if thou shouldst mark iniquity, who shall stand." No more indifferent, slothful, disdainful hearing the word. No more critical hearing the word, that he may commend the ability, or deride the weakness of the preacher. With what concern does he hang upon the sacred message, to see if there be any thing upon which he can lay hold? He then hears that God is in Christ, reconciling the world to himself." The very news of salvation, the bare mention of pardon, is now a joyful sound. It rouses his attention, it awakens his curiosity, and he sets himself to weigh and ponder the important intimation. He hears that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.* Is there then," says he, "hope of mercy with God, ་་ * John iii. 16, 17. whom I have so long forgotten, and so greatly offended? hath he indeed loved a guilty world? hath he loved them in so amazing a manner, as to send his only begotten Son to save them from destruction? How great is the giver, how wonderful the gift, and how undeserving the objects of his love!" Here perhaps a difficulty may occur. "It may be so," says the soul; "but are all the children of Adam the objects of divine love? Shall every sinner be a partaker of divine mercy? Surely not. How then are they distinguished? Perhaps he intends only to save a few of the least unworthy, and to glorify his justice and severity in the condemnation of the most eminently guilty. What then have I reason to expect? None, none, none of any rank, so criminal as I. I have sinned early, and I have sinned long. I have sinned against the clearest light and knowledge. I have sinned against innumerable mercies. I have sinned against the threatenings of God's word, the rebukes of his providence, the checks of my own conscience, and the unwearied pains and diligence of ministers and parents. I have burst every bond, and torn in pieces every restraining tie." How many gracious promises present themselves immediately, to extinguish this fear? "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool; if ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.*-Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.fWherefore also he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him.‡ And the Spirit and the bride say come; and let him that heareth say come; and let him that is athirst come; and whosoever will, let him take the water * Is. i. 18, 19. † John vi. 37. of life freely." To these promises may be added many scripture examples of first-rate sinners, saved by the power of God, that none may despair. An idolatrous Manasseh, an unrighteous and oppressive publican Zaccheus, an unclean Mary Magdalene, and a persecuting Saul. Then is the soul brought to acknowledge and adore the matchless love of God; to repeat and adopt the words of the apostle Paul; "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened. Burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart."* Hear also in what manner he executed this gracious purpose. pose. "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we The sinner, in such a situation, have turned every one to his own is wholly employed in alternately way, and the Lord hath laid on him viewing his own deplorable charac- the iniquity of us all." Let us ter and state on the one hand, and also see how this matter is reprethe sufficiency and efficacy of the sented in the New Testament. remedy on the other. As these "Whom God hath set forth to be a take their turns in his mind, his propitiation, through faith in his hope rises or falls. Perhaps when blood, to declare his righteousness he again reflects on the infinite for the remission of sins that are number and heinous nature of his past, through the forbearance of offences; when he considers the God; to declare, I say, at this time holiness and purity of God's nature his righteousness: that he might be and law, he is ready to bring all just, and the justifier of him that into question, and to say, "How believeth in Jesus.t. For he hath can these things be? Is it possible made him to be sin for us, who that all this guilt can be passed by, knew no sin, that we might be made is it possible that it can be forgiven the righteousness of God in him."Ş and forgotten by a holy God? Is he not of purer eyes than to behold iniquity? Is it not said, that evil cannot dwell with him? That sinners shall not stand in his presence? How then can I presume to approach him? I, who have been so daring and obstinate a rebel? What reception can I expect to meet with, but, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into utter darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." To remove this distrust, and assure his heart before God, he is informed of the foundation of his hope, that salvation comes by a Mediator. He undertook our cause, he purchased redemption by his precious blood. Hear him saying in the councils of the Most High, It is through this man, and through his blood, that "repentance and remission of sins is preached to all nations." Is not this a sufficient and stable ground of hope? In the substitution of our surety, we see a way opened for the reception and restoration of sinners, in a perfect consistency with all the divine perfections. The spotless purity and holiness, the strict and impartial justice of God, seem to raise an insuperable obstacle to our admission into his favour; but in the sufferings and atonement of our Redeemer, we see how he may testify his abhorrence of sin, and punish it, and at the same time show mercy to the sinner. There is a perfect harmony of all the divine † Is. liii. 5, 6. § 2. Cor. v. 21. Psal. xl. 6, 7, 8. attributes in this design, and particularly a joint illustration of mercy and justice. This is the gospel of Christ, the blessed and reviving message brought unto the world by the Prince of peace. This is "the record which God hath given of his Son." How welcome, how reviving this, to the discouraged convinced sinner! His very concern and fear, when proceeding upon proper grounds, arises from a view of the infinite evil of sin, so provoking to a holy God. But in this plan laid by divine wisdom, he sees the guilt of sin sufficiently expiated by a sacrifice of infinite value. For we are not redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver and goldbut with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot."* among men, that we are in danger August. SABBATH STILLNESS. We 'Tis Sabbath morn-how calm and still! He compares and contrasts, if I may so speak, the greatness of his guilt with the price of his pardon. From Mrs. Hale's Ladies Magazine for Then appears, with new and uncommon force, the greatness of this mystery of godliness, GOD manifested in the flesh. A victim no less considerable than the eternal and "only begotten" Son of God, "the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person." What is it that cannot be purchased by this marvellous exchange? The believer sees with adoring wonder, the justice of God more awfully severe, in awaking his sword against the man who was "his fellow," than if the whole race of offending men had been irrecoverably lost. At the same time he sees the unspeakable dignity and majesty of God, in his infinite and truly royal mercy, great in itself, and greater still in the way in which it is dispensed. "Herein is love indeed, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." I cannot help here observing, that this salvation is so amazing, so wonderful in its nature, and so far removed from any thing we know 1 Pet. i. 18. † 1 John iv. 10. And thou art still!-The haughty Czar, Miscellaneous. NOTES OF A TRAVELLER. "(Continued from page 154.) Rigi Culm, Switzerland, Friday. Last evening I broke off journalizing, rather abruptly, just as the sun, in all his glory, was sinking behind the Alps, whose snowy summits tinged with purple and red and blue rays, shone like vast heaps of variegated flowers. The wreaths of mist and sunshine floating along the horizon, and the long shadows projected by the immense cross erected on the very pinnacle of the mountain, and those of the visiters stretching out for many miles before the eye, were the only things about this glorious sunset, which struck me as peculiar to this spot. The prospect, however, from the tall wooden stage or open observatory, on the top of the Rigi, is said to be the most expansive and magnificent of all views; and that you may form some idea of it, I will enter into some details-The sublimity of nature, however, is inconceivable, from mere description-it must be seen. When at Lucerne, one of our party purchased a pocket map called the Panorama of the Rigi, by means of which the most interesting objects now in view can be readily determined. On one side, the chain of the Alps, sparkling with perpetual snows, stretches on the right and left to a vast distance, separating Italy from Switzerland. The northern horizon comprehends all the area circumscribed by the Rhine, from the lake of Constance to Basle, and includes all the northern and central cantons as far as the Jura. Within this circuit fourteen lakes are visible; and among the mountains, the most interesting and conspicuous are the entire range of the Bernese Oberland-the Sentis-the lofty peaks of the Forest CantonsMount Pilatus, and some others. On approaching the verge of the Rigi, and casting the eye into the immense abyss, deepening almost vertically for nearly six thousand feet below, the picture is sublime. Villages like little dove cots, or heaps of shattered rocks; lakes, and patches of cultivated ground, though acres in extent, are dwindled into little shining spots of green and silver; and waterfalls, dashing down lofty precipices, seem motionless, and like strips of white ribbon. The eye becomes giddy in gazing upon them. The natural wildness and grandeur of the objects less distant, are also striking. The vast forests of pine on the sides of the mountain, thrown into surges of verdure by the evening breeze, with the golden sunshine gleaming at the same time through their dark foliagethe jutting crags rearing their heads above the trees-the unfortunate valley of Goldau, with the fatal Rossberg near it, all contribute much to this wonderful scene. The beauty and grandeur of this landscape made a comparatively feeble impression on me, from having been familiar with the sublime views from the summits of our own Catskill mountains. There are, however, some interesting phenomena quite peculiar to this scene. rocky pass, the broad lake, the verdant valley, and the rushing torrent, are attributes of other hills-but in Switzerland alone are these to be found interspersed with the magnificent glacier, and the snow capped summit. The About an hour before sunrise, we were called to prepare ourselves for another view of the scenery I have just attempted to describe. The sky was remarka |