desire the blessings I sought; or did I only mention them as a necessary part of prayer? Had I a deep sense of my unworthiness, and a full conviction of the necessity of my Mediator's blood and merits? In my petitions, was my soul drawn forth in solicitude for others; or did I confine them to myself?

Having left my closet, did I watch unto prayer? I besought God to keep me from sin; but has my conduct this day been in unison with my prayers? I prayed for sanctification; but have I detected and suppressed the first risings of secret iniquity? I entreated God for more light and knowledge; but have I meditated on his works, and studied his word? I deprecated my easily besetting sin; but have I endeavoured to avoid it? I prayed for Zion, and for the salvation of the impenitent; but have I spoken a word of warning or exhortation to any person this day? Have I watched the leadings of Providence? Have I advanced in the knowledge of God? Have I made any new discoveries of his glory? Have I learned more of the machinations of Satan; or seen deeper into the deceitfulness of my own heart?

These are a few general questions, which may serve as a guide to one who wishes an outline of daily self

examination.

LETTER XVIII.

In my last communication, I instituted some inquiries, which, as I supposed, would be profitably connected with a retrospect of the day. I am aware, my young friend, that one person cannot lay down rules on this subject, which shall apply precisely to the feelings and circumstances of others. I give you, therefore, only a sketch, by which your inexperience may possibly be benefited.

The questions which one would wish to propose, in taking a retrospect of the day, must of course vary, according to circumstances.

must inquire, more particularly, into my fidelity. Have I wrestled this day for the souls of my beloved people? Have I improved every opportunity to do them good? Have I preached the truth as it is in Jesus?

But you, in inquiring into your conduct, must adapt those inquiries to the circumstances by which you are surrounded. You have personal and relative duties which are peculiar. Parental esteem and obedience are obligatory. How, you should inquire, have I conducted myself towards my dear parents this day? Have I alleviated any of their cares? Have I been obedient and affectionate? I have sisters: have I done my duty towards them, instructing them, and exhibiting an example which they might with safety follow? I am surrounded by companions, some of whom profess the same hopes as myself; but others are yet in "the gall of bitterness and the bonds of iniquity: " have I, so far as opportunity would permit, encouraged the former, and warned the latter? What studies have I pursued, or what books perused? What benefit have I derived from either? Have I done any thing this day for the glory of God? These are some of the questions which I should suppose would occur to one in your circumstances.

If, upon such a daily review, you find that you have advanced in holiness; that you have gained an advantage over your spiritual enemies; that you have profited by the means which a kind Providence has given for your improvement; it will afford matter for praise and thanksgiving. It will kindle up a lively gratitude in your soul, and give a zest to your devotions. If you discover much to condemn, many sins and failures, as you undoubtedly will, it will afford subject for humiliation, and prostrate the soul in penitential confession before God. Thus, while you advance in the knowledge of your own heart, you will have all the ingredients of acceptable worship. Your prayer will be full of praise, and full of contrition. Your mercies will call forth the one, and your transgressions prompt the other. Prayer, with you, will then be, not a cold formality, but a deep spiritual intercourse with God and your own heart.

precious, the merits and intercession of Jesus, your High Priest and Saviour. A review, even of a single day, must, if it be close and careful, ever cover you with confusion of face. The sins committed, even in that short period, will appear numerous. The soul would sink under their heavy load, were it not for the encouraging promise, "If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." As your sins appear numerous and aggravated, Jesus must ever appear proportionably precious. You willcast yourself all guilty in his arms, and find that "though sin has abounded, grace doth much more abound." After such a review as I have recommended, will a new application be made, and a new pardon supplicated, from the hand of the Saviour. He will thus be brought constantly in view, and made increasingly precious and delightful.

You see, then, how many and great are the advantages connected with frequent and close self-examination. Can you, then, live without it a single day? Are you not resolved, that, under all ordinary circumstances, it shall be entered upon and performed with as much punctuality, as prayer and the reading of the word of God? I am persuaded, that, after what has been said, you will by no means omit it. I think you must perceive, too, that the difficulties, though great, may, by the plan which I propose, be all surmounted. They arise, as I have before observed, from neglect. Days, weeks, and months roll away; and the soul immersed in the busy cares of life contracts a defilement, and collects a rubbish, which a momentary and hurried examination may render visible, but can never remove.

The soul of the delinquent is neglected,-shamefully neglected. He deserves to have his hope obscured, his faith weakened, his doubts increased. He may be left amid these perplexities, until he is suddenly called to a death-bed, and compelled to take a direct look at his case. It is then a fearful scene. Clouds and darkness curtain his dying pillow; anguish insupportable heaves his dubious. bosom. There is no clear sunshine upon his soul; but he lies on the fluctuating wave, uncertain whether he shall

Would you avoid such a scene? O yes; I know you would. Then know yourself, ere it arrive. Be faithfully and intimately acquainted with your own heart. Then shall your life be happy and useful; and your death serene, perhaps gloriously triumphant. May you live the life and die the death of the righteous!

SPECIMENS OF OLD ENGLISH. No. XV.

EPICURUS was the author of that sect which was called by hys name Epicurea. He did coumpt the chiefe felicitie to consist in pleasure; but not in the pleasure of the body, as Aristippus did, but in the pleasure of the mynde; that is, in the lacke and absence of all griefes and sorowes. He condemned logike, affirming that philosophy myght be comprehended in simple and playne wordes. He sayd the goddes had no providence of worldly thynges. Thys Epicurus Lucretius so much preferreth and commendeth, that he sticketh not to affirm that he doth so darcken the light of all other philosophers, as the sunne doth darcken the clearnes of the starres. He is sayd to have bene of most continent lyfe; but yet it came to passe, that through the name of pleasure, (in which he sayd man's chiefe felicitie to consist,) soch as be given to pleasure were called Epicures. Laertius writeth that Epicurus was a man of a very spare diet, and that he lived only wyth browne bread and water. Notwithstanding hys disciples did degenerate from hymn, and tourned their master's opinion to a bodily and beastly pleasure.

*

CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY.
(Continued from page 271.j

Q. WHAT is light?

A. An unknown but highly important substance, the medium of vision, and by which surrounding objects become perceptible.

The Poore Man's Librarie. By G. A., Byshop of Exceter.

Q. You designate it a "substance :" do you take it to be matter in some form?

A. It is generally taken to be material, though it has not been yet ascertained to be ponderable, to possess gravitation or aggregation. By some, light is regarded as the undulations of an ethereal medium, which in the eye leads to the sensation of sight, as the vibrations of the air lead to the sensations of sound in the ear.

Q. From whence does light proceed?

A. From all luminous bodies, and especially the sun.
Q. What is a ray or pencil of light?

A. An exceedingly small portion of this substance.
Q. What is a beam of light?

A. A body of parallel rays.

Q. What are parallel rays?

A. Rays of light which proceed in the same direction.
Q. What is a pencil of rays?

A. A body of diverging or converging rays.

Q. What are diverging rays?

A. Rays which, as they proceed from some point, continue to separate.

Q. Do rays of light keep the same distance from each other as they proceed onward?

A. No: they are supposed to spread, in proportion to the squares of their distance from the body from which they proceed; that is, at the distance of two spaces they are four times thinner than at one; at three spaces, nine times, &c., spreading upwards, downwards, sidewise, &c.

Q. What are converging rays?

A. Rays which tend to, and meet at, some common point. Q. What are reflected rays?

A. Rays which, from the surfaces of bodies, are sent back to the eye, and by which those objects become visible. Q. What are refracted rays?

A. Rays which are bent from the line in which they had proceeded, by entering a more dense or more rare medium. Q. Are all rays of light alike refrangible?

4. No: it is supposed that some rays are more refrangible