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No. LXXXII. AN INCIDENT IMPROVED.

MAY 12th, 1810. Saturday, a quarter before one o'clock, as I was walking with Mr. Shepherd, through an arched passage, into the green park, not perceiving that in the middle of the passage, the edge of the arch is not more than five feet high, I did not stoop, but walking briskly before Mr. S., the passage being narrow, I struck my head against the bricked edge and for a moment was stunned. How very, very near to eternity do we live! What poor guardians are we of our own lives, much more so of our own souls! A single moment, in health of body, may transmit the spirit to God who gave it. Shall I ever forget this incident! Rather let me devote a spared life to its guardian and its Lord, with renewed activity, as the best expression of my gratitude : let me leave my family only under motives of duty and in the spirit of a christian husband, father and friend; and living and walking, sleeping and waking, eating and drinking, "in jeopardy every hour," let me "die daily."Surely I ought to examine if my soul is safe for eternity? And whether I have not overlooked some previous interposition of a divine hand in my favour; or, whether I am sufficiently awake to present calls of duty?

No. LXXXIII. DEPENDANCE ON GOD.

THE design of GOD, in all dispensations towards his people, is to cure the disease of self-sufficiency, and teach them a spirit of dependance. There was to sense, no probable way for Israel to conquer Amalek, but by a skilful general, leading brave soldiers to battle. But the success, in reality, was made to depend on the perseverance of Moses, in holding up the rod of GOD, at a distance from the battle! That rod was a memorial of past miracles and a pledge of future operations on their behalf. Holding up that rod in obedience to God, was denying their own will, and trusting divine power. When by faith in all-sufficiency, engaged by promise, solicited by prayer, we preach or hear, engage in duty or suffer temptation and trials-we must succeed.

No. LXXXIV.- GROWTH IN GRACE,

CHRISTIANS should grow in grace proportionably, 2 Pet. 1, 5, 7, as a child in every member; not with one foot or hand, this is monstrous; so is knowledge without faith, zeal without knowledge, godliness without temperance and patience, patience and temperance without godliness.

Uniformly in the degree of our graces,-grace, every grace is like a seed.

God has provided for the believer means of growth, in his word and ordinances. If he does not grow he declines, as a body or a plant; his happiness is advanced by it and his usefulness, 2 Pet. i. 8.

This should be done by proving first, that he is in Christ, has grace, Phil. 1,6; or, ordinances are like water to a dry stick in the ground. Planted in Christ, you may grow. We should survey our barrenness; avoid all that is a hindrance in worldly things and worldly society. Chiefly regard union and communion with Christ, by repeated acts of confidence; and plead the promise made to such as are planted in the church, in Christ, and in the truth. To such, God will be as the dew, and they shall grow.

Many professors, alas! imagine they were called years since, and either grow not, or grow worse. They were proud and passionate, but not without remorse; now, their evil tempers are indulged in as if it were a privilege.

They grow peevish under trials, angry with disappointments, contentious about trifles, irritable and resentful if the least contradiction is offered to their opinions. They grow more suspicious and censorious of others, and of themselves more conceited. They may possess more money, more knowledge of their neighbours, more acquaintances, but not more grace.

No. LXXXV.-AFFLICTIONS.

AFFLICTIONS are, to believers, "grievous, for the present,” in different degrees, as "chastisements," expressive of parental care of their souls, and displeasure against their sius. Believers are "exercised thereby;" instructed, disciplined, trained. The rod enforces instruction. They are exercised in learning important lessons. The vanity of the world, the evil of sin, the shortness of life, the sinfulness of the heart, the omissions of duty of which we have been guilty, the suitableness of the promises, the necessity of the spirit, the malice. of satan, the glory of Christ's salvation the worth of health, the faithfuluess of God, the degree of our grace, the connection of providential dispensations with spiritual operations, the wisdom and love of God to elect and redeem souls, the unutterable value of the soul, and the pre-eminence of eternity to time, are some of the lessons taught by this salutary exercise.

No. LXXXVI.-TRIALS.

Ir is one part of spiritual wisdom to improve rather than complain of present trials. If, without a trial, we are secure and indolent, trials are, in our fallen state, natural and necessary. This we readily admit, and object not to a trial, except the present one; any thing but this I could endure.

Two good men, travelling to visit a friend, often complained that the dust was so exceedingly troublesome, and longed to arrive at the beautiful pasture-grounds of the friend to whom they were going. Not long after they entered the first beautiful field, a number of flies stung the horse and rendered him unmanageable. "Ah!" said dear Mr. Cecil, ever ready to every good word, "I suppose we must expect the dust or the fly in every place. In the road, we longed for the field, but did not see the fly."

Let us therefore remember, that trials await us in every place, in every state, in every relation of life. Instead of expecting an exemption by any outward change, let us be as happy and useful as possible, in present circumstances.

No. LXXXVII.-BACKSLIDING.

WHILST good men are anxious to know, whether they are backsliders, or are in an unconverted state, Satan often takes an advantage of this frame of mind: First, he leads them to conclude, from past experience, that they have been converted to God; and from this, tempts them to conclude, that whatever degrees of guilt they contract, and how long soever they continue in sin, they must be restored, because God's love to them is unchangeable. What awful delusion! What evidence can they possess of God's love to them, while under the reign of guilt and sin? Ought they not to doubt their conversion to God? How many have deceived themselves— "held fast deceit”—until the " light within them was darkness;" their consciences were seared, their affections joined to idols, until they "died in their sins." Or, secondly, they have been left to fall into outward sin-were cast out of the affections of God's children— they gave up their profession, and died in presumption or despair.

A third class, with a false assurance of their interest in the electing love of God, the redemption of Christ, and the supposed work of the spirit in conversion, have indulged a false hope, that sooner or later, God was obliged to restore them, or forfeit his faithfulness: or they have imagined that his design, in permitting them to fall so awfully, was to glorify his abounding grace; and then dreamed of mercy in their false peace, until the light of eternity undeceived them!

If the enemy of souls cannot support this persuasion, that they were converted to God, he may suggest to them, they are hypocrites; that they never knew the grace of God in truth;" that they are not of the number of the elect; that all their efforts are vain; and so fill them with despair of salvation.

These facts prove, that to depend on past experience of converting grace, whilst continuing in sin, is "the snare of the Devil," of the most dangerous tendency. The safer way is to treat with ourselves, as the Apostle did with the Galatians: "He stood in doubt of them. And in such a state we should "stand in doubt" of ourselves; and apply to God, as sinners, by repentance, faith, and prayer, crying, "Turn THOU me; and I shall be turned or converted."

But as an unconverted professor may be a backslider, he should come to God, sensible of his aggravated sin, of backsliding from his profession, his resolutions, his convictions, and attention to the means of grace. He has gone back from his former conversation, his acknowledgment of the value of his soul, and the importance of salvation. He has stifled his convictions, worn out his impressions of hell, of heaven, of sin, of Christ, and of eternity. His last state is worse, more guilty than his first;" and he must confess it, and plead, "Lord pardon my iniquity, though it is GREAT!" He must come to God, not as an awakened heathen, an awakened publican, or harlot; but as under the additional guilt of abusing past advantages and for such returning to God, "there is forgiveness and plenteous redemption."

The difficulty of a backslider, in approaching God for mercy, is greater than that of a sinner under his first convictions. It is true, the backsliding christian has more enlightened and enlarged views of the grace and mercy of God; the efficacy of a Redeemer's atonement and intercession; the influence of divine invitations and promises but then, he perceives and feels his guilt, proportionably aggravated, by his knowledge and experience!

When David repented of his sin, although aggravated by every consideration that could provoke God, or tempt himself to despair, the same mercy which sent the prophet Nathan to reprove him by a parable, and to lead him to accuse and condemn himself, sent the same prophet with a token of reconciliation!

"He sent by the mouth of Nathan the prophet, and he called his next child's name Jedidiah, that is, beloved of the Lord." And it is added, this name was given" because of the Lord:" that is, because of his grace and mercy to the father and mother, and his love to the child. What backslider's heart on reading this, does not melt, and hope, and pray and praise ?

No. LXXXVIII.-DEATH OF INFANTS.

THE death of infants proves that original, not actual sin, is imputed to them.

It should regulate our affections to our offspring-moderate our anxious cares for their future wants in this world,-excite our prayers for them in early life,-render our surrender of them in baptism, solemn and unfeigned, cherish our submission to providence, prevent our estimating the divine regard by outward events.

On the death of young twelve years of age, seized suddenly with an inflammation in his arm-the disease rapidly increased, reached his brain, and destroyed his life,-Learn,—

1. The value of parental and early instruction. He confessed, that his life and heart were sinful. He felt his condition and in

intervals of reason, cried for mercy.

2. The importance of sunday schools, and of accustoming our children to attend the word of God.

3. The folly and danger of delaying to seek the salvation of the soul.

4. The importance of placing children where they can have access to the means of grace.

5. The wisdom and kindness of God, in his counsel to the young. Eccl. xii. 1; Mat. vi. 33.

6. The folly of neglecting present and presuming on future time. Health, means, reason, life-all are uncertain.

7. The duty and privilege of parents, in dedicating their children to God:-by instruction,-example,-discipline,-prayer,-baptism. 8. The awful condition of ignorant and careless children and youth!

No. LXXXIX.-LOOKING TO JESUS.

THE enemy of souls diverts us from looking to Jesus, in a manner which conceals his art.

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He directs us to look only at our sins, Ps. xl. 12., that we may despair of mercy. To apostles, that we may despair of persevering. To our imperfect duties, to bring us into bondage. To the frame of the heart, to make us rise, or sink, by a life of feeling. Providence: and walk by sensible appearances, for or against us. To the Saints, in their excellences to discourage us, or their singular convictions, as a standard; at their assurance to persuade us we have no faith, or to their faults, to imitate them, or doubt the reality of religion. Or Satan may fix our eyes on the world, and ask us what is to become of the people in it? On its allurements, to entice, or its oppositions, to intimidate; but the christian's distinguishing

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