Reader, is it not the most dreadful infatuation to trifle with eternal things, on the brink of that awful world, into which more than

"A thousand wretched dying souls have fled

Since the last setting sun?"

WATTS.

Thou art yet in the number of the "living, who know that they shall die." Oh! may it be thy concern and mine, so to "number our days, that we may apply our hearts to that wisdom," which makes men "wise unto salvation, through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.”

COMPARISON OF HOPES.

Dum spiro, spero!....Dum expiro, spero.

"THERE still is hope," the worldling cries,
"Whilst there is life and breath!"
The Christian looks beyond the skies,
And looks for life in death!

A FREE PARAPHRASE ON THE LORD'S PRAYER.

OUR Father, who in heaven art!

Whose grace to wo doth joy impart,

O, hallowed be thy name!

May thine eternal kingdom come;

And, when I stand to take my doom,

l'reserve my soul from shame.

Through the short space that time shall run,

On all the earth thy will be done,

E'en as in heaven above:

Give us this day our daily bread;

And while our mouths are richly fed,

O fill our heart s with love!

Our every trespass, Lord, forgive;

And the same grace shall men receive,
Who against us offend;

O, keep us from the trying hour;
And, when oppress'd by satan's power,
Thy gracious succour send!

For thine's the kingdom, mighty God!
O happy state, O biest abode!

The power and glory's thine:

And when the bounds of time are past,

Thy kingdom shall for ever last,

Eternal and divine.

ON SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES.

THE following rules are very useful: 1st. No part of scripture appears mean, if it be rightly understood. 2d. Though there be a most lively and alluring simplicity, in the true explication of scripture, yet, nothing but spiritual experience can make that evidence rightly understood. 3d. As a passage of scripture truly understood, under the illuminating influence of the Holy Ghost, doth by its own light and power, manifest itself to be the true mind of God, it is not safe to deal too much in criticisms; as they are apt to lead men into uncertain speculations. 4th. If a truth be manifested to our conscience, as clearly taught or enforced in many places of scripture, we ought to hold it fast, notwithstandingman yapparent difficulties, still waiting on the Lord, till he solve them in his own time and way. Prov. ii. 1-7. 5th. Though every adult child of God be, in his own measure, enlightened in the knowledge of the scriptures, by the Holy Ghost, all of them ought earnestly to endeavor to obtain more and more of his illuminations

6th. As we must

Hos. vi. 3. 2 Pet. i. 19. Prov. iv 7. carefully beware of imposing a meaning of our own upon any text of scripture, so we ought to beware of confining its sense, and so neglecting to dig farther into its meaning. In many cases, a proper consociation of parallel texts will be found of great use for explaining of the Lord's word, which is exceeding broad.

WISE REPLY OF A PIOUS ARCHBISHOP.

WHEN archbishop Leighton was asked why he did not preach on the political sentiments of the times, as all the rest of his brethren did? he answered, "That if all the rest of the brethren preached on time, then surely one poor brother might preach on eternity.”

HAPPY DELIVERANCE OF A YOUNG MAN, WHO HAD BEEN LONG UNDER DIVINE CONVICTIONS.

"AT last," says he, "when I had lost all hope, these words were deeply impressed on my mind; • Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' I cried out, in an agony, What is believing? What is real scrip. tural faith? Lord, teach me! I know nothing! I can do nothing! If thou save me not, I perish! It was then brought to my mind, Cast all thy care upon him: I cried Lord, the burden of my sin is all my care, and may I cast this upon thee? Wilt thou receive such a sinner? I know thou art able to save me, and thy blood is sufficient to atone. But art thou indeed willing? It came into my heart; only believe, I felt a rising hope, and cried, I will; but my sins stared me in the face, and I thought, O, it is VOL. I.

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impossible! My sins have been so secret, so complicated. It came to me again; only believe. I thought, it cannot be now. I must repent more, be more in earnest. It is impossible he should be so merciful, to forgive all my sins now. It was applied a third time; only believe. I said, Lord, help me to believe, and to cast my soul upon thy free mercy! Let me know, that I am indeed born of thee; that I do believe to the saving of my soul. I have nothing to plead; but Jesus came to save sinners, even the lost. I am lost! Thou hast said, Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. I am weary and heavy laden; I come; therefore, the promise is for me. While I was thus pleading, I was enabled to venture my soul upon the Redeemer, with an assured confidence in his promises. Then I was happy indeed. His love was shed abroad in my heart; and those precious words were applied; he that loveth, is born of God. Now, if I had a thousand souls, I could have trusted him with them all. I found a real change in my heart; I was a new creature; I was a child of God."

GOOD ADVICE TO A YOUNG MINISTER.

AN aged minister, having asked a young preacher, if ever he sought the blessing of God on his learning, he having answered that he had not, he told him, with an austere look, that "unsanctified learning had done much mischief to the church of God." His words leaving a deep impression on him, he afterwards, when in any strait, prayed for the Lord's help and blessing.

FEMALE ORNAMENT RECOMMENDED.

THE word of life is to be preached orally in the pulpit, and practically in the conversation. The former is the province of Christian ministers; the latter is the com. mon business of all Christian professors. When the power of religion is known, love to Christ, and love to souls, will constrain the believer to the practice of good works, that so the doctrines of grace may be adorned; and that even "those who will not hear the word, may be won," by a holywalk. This idea will receive additional force by the following anecdote;

A married woman was called effectually by divine grace, and became an exemplary Christian. Her husband remained in the gall of bitterness, a lover of pleasure and of sin. When spending an evening, as usual, with his jovial companions, at a tavern, the conversation happened to turn on the excellences and faults of their wives. The husband, just mentioned, gave the highest encomiums of his wife, saying she was all that was excellent, only she was a d...d Methodist. "Notwithstanding which," said he, "such is her command of her temper, that were I to take you, gentlemen, home with me at midnight, and order her to rise, and get you a supper, she would be all submis. sion and cheerfulness." The company, looking upon this merely as a brag, dared him to make the experiment, by a considerable wager. The bargain was made; and, about midnight, the company adjourned, as proposed. Being admitted, "Where is your mistress?" said the husband to the maid servant, who sat up for him. "She is gone to bed, sir." "Call her up," said he, "tell her I have brought some friends home with me, and desire she would get up,