ing will it be; not among foreigners and strangers, but among dear friends who have preceded us to the. blessed country. And there shall be no night there!

There can be no situation so distressing or dangerous, in which faith will not fetch in comfort from God, by fervent prayer. We are apt to show our troubles too much to ourselves, aggravating and poring upon them, which does us no service, whereas by showing them to God, we might cast the cares upon him who careth for us, and thereby ease ourselves.

Many weak Christians perplex themselves with questions and doubts about their election, whether they are of the house of Israel or not. Let them continue earnest in prayer for mercy and grace; throw themselves by faith at the feet of Christ, and say, "If I perish, I will perish here ;" and then that matter will by degrees clear itself. If we cannot reason down our unbelief, let us pray it down. A fervent, affectionate "Lord, help me" will help us over many discouragements, which seem ready to overwhelm us. "O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come!"— Psalm lxv. 2.

A female distinguished for her piety as well as by her eminent station in life, being engaged in her youth to seek earnestly after the knowledge of divine things, was introduced to a pious man; he spoke not a word for some time, when she briefly told him her difficulties about prayer. He presently replied, it was because she sought that without which she had within; adding, "Accustom yourself to seek God in your heart, and

you will find him." Having said these words he left her they operated like the stroke of a dart which pierced her heart asunder. "I felt," said she, "at this instant a wound very deep, smitten with the love of God; a wound so delightful that I desired it never to be cured. These words brought into my heart what I had been seeking so many years; or rather they made me discover what was there, and which I did not enjoy for want of knowing it. Oh, my Lord! thou wast in my heart, and demanded only the turning of my mind inward to make me feel thy presence. Oh, infinite Goodness! Thou wast so near, and I ran hither and thither seeking thee, and yet found thee not. My life was a burden to me, and my happiness was within myself. I was poor in the midst of riches, and ready to perish with hunger, near a table plentifully spread, and a continual feast. Oh, Beauty, ancient and new! why have I known thee so late? Alas! I sought thee where thou wast not, and did not seek thee where thou wast. It was for want of understanding these words of thy gospel, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo, here, or lo, there for behold, the kingdom of God is within you.' This, I now experienced, since thou became my King, and my heart thy kingdom, where thou reigned as sovereign and did all thy will.”

JUDGE HALE IN SICKNESS.- "It is true it is a popular theme that every man hath in his mouth, from Solomon-all is vanity;' and yet those things that notionally and verbally we call so, we pursue as our greatest happiness; as if those expressions of ours were not our meaning, but a design to discourage

others from the prosecution of that which we would alone enjoy. And thus, one man pursues honour and great place and authority, and prides himself much in the acquest, and in the retinues, observances, distances, and addresses that wait upon such preferment. Another pursues after wealth, and makes it the whole business of his thoughts and life, and when he hath gotten it, blesseth himself with the rich man :-' Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; eat, drink, and be merry.' Others pursue the gratification of their senses and sensual appetite, rare pictures, and stately houses and gardens, luxurious diet, pleasant wines, choice meats and fruit, fine flowers, amorous and wanton company, and the fruition of unlawful lusts. And in these they place their happiness, and spend the flower and strength of their souls and bodies; exhaust their supplies, and consume their time that will one day be wanted, but never recalled. And these for the most part are the business of the generality of mankind. But when the approaches of death come, nay, when a strong disease, a burning fever, or a violent ague drinks up the blood, and consumes the spirits, and wastes the flesh, and contracts the sinews, and casts languishing and dimness upon the eye, nauseousness and loathing upon the stomach, pain and distemper upon the whole body-these conditions do undeceive the man and render all those things that men make their business and their happiness as nauseous and insipid as the most unacceptable thing in the world."

I was meditating yesterday upon death, till I was amazed that it is almost the only subject which is never

treated of in conversation further than as a mere uninteresting fact. Were any number of persons intending to embark for a distant, unknown country, of whom some might be called to-morrow, and all must be called. soon, would they not, whenever they met as friends and fellow-travellers, be inquiring amongst themselves how each was provided for the journey; what accounts each had heard of the place; the terms of reception; what interest and hopes each had secured, what treasures remitted, what protection ensured; and would they not excite each other to despatch what was yet possible to be done, and might to-morrow be irretrievably too late?—I think it would sit pleasingly on the mind, when a friend was vanished out of this visible world, to have such conversations to reflect upon ! What astonishing scenes are now opened to the minds of many with whom, a few months ago, we used familiarly and triflingly to converse; with whom we have wasted many an inestimable hour! what clear views have they now of those great and important truths, for which the foolish bustle of this world leaves scarcely any place in the immortal mind!—TALBOT.

Self-abasement, self-examination, and prayer, are the best preservatives for all who have entered on a religious life, and are especially becoming in incipient Christians.-MORE.

How truly animating, when the Christian is adding grace to grace, strength to strength, beauty to beauty, joy to joy! Our Lord hath said, "To him that hath shall be given, and he shall have more abundantly." Progress is delightful, whether it be in nature or in

grace. It is pleasant to see a fine edifice rise from the foundation to the top-stone, to see the outline of some grand picture accurately filled up and finished, to see the progress of vegetable life, from the first starting of the germ to the full maturity of the plant; but how much more delightful is it to observe the prosperity of souls, and to note their proficiency! When the mind expands, and the Holy Spirit is poured into all its powers, to rouse its energies, and quicken its graces, then how truly pleasing to observe the symptoms of approaching maturity, when the prepared soul must burst its prison walls, and rise to the full enjoyment of heavenly felicity.-DENNANT.

To a woman who has been properly instructed, and who has a knowledge of her own concerns, it is a source of peculiar satisfaction to know, that what she requires of her domestics is consistent with the obligations they are under to her. And the mistress who treats them with mildness and suitable attention, is generally much better served than she who treats them with harshness and severity. Their love and attachment create a desire to please, and their mutual interests contribute very much to the quietude and happiness of all around them.-ANON.

O! how sweet is love! how pleasant is its nature! how takingly does it behave itself in every condition, upon every occasion, to every person, and about everything! How tenderly, how readily doth it help and serve the meanest! How patiently, how meekly doth it bear all things, either from God or man, how unexpectedly soever they come, or how hard soever they seem!