may be convinced, by the most awful demonstrations of an enraged conscience, that you are going to everlasting burnings, yet that ten thousand worlds will be too poor to purchase for you a single hour? Need you be told, that your merciful and just Judge has repeatedly reminded you of these solemn truths, by the languages of his providences, by the death of some of your friends, by the warnings of his Word, by the intimations of your consciences, by the strivings of his Spirit, by the offers of his favor and the threatenings of his wrath, and that in all these the authority of the high and holy One has commanded you to "Redeem the time?" Though his explicit command alone would seem sufficient, has he not condescended to give you the strongest and plainest reasons for the precept? Has he not touched every spring of hope and fear, of joy and anxiety, which could influence a rational creature? Has he not placed before you life and death, heaven and hell, in all the glories and all the terrors which frail humanity could bear, to allure or to drive you to a serious consideration of the things concerning your everlasting peace e? What more could infinite wisdom and goodness have done? What stronger motive could have been presented to induce you to redeem your precious time? Those who die in their sins, without GoD and without CHRIST, and go down to the blackness of darkness for ever, surely will have no excuse to alleviate the anguish of their woe; will have nothing to say, unless it be to justify GoD, and pronounce a horrible “ amen to his awful sentence against themselves.

Consider, that every day you live not only puts you under greater obligations to God, but brings you nearer to endless life, or interminable misery. Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. JESUS still invites. The door of mercy is still open. The calls of love are still addressed to you. The crown of glory is still offered. All that is delightful in heaven, all that is dreadful in hell, still urges you to "redeem the time." Part, then, with no moment but for its worth. Let the life which you live in the flesh be by the faith of the Son of GOD, who loved you and gave himself for you. Let it be CHRIST for you to live. Then will your days bring a good report to heaven. Then will it be gain for you to die. And eternity, so dreadful to the dying unbeliever, will open to you the most ravishing prospects of never-ending felicity.

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CHRISTIANITY.

CHRISTIANITY is the religion of Jesus Christ, a system which is heaven-born, and calculated for the salvation of the world. All its doctrines, its precepts, its immunities, its promises are love. It is a scheme of mercy, propounded by infinite goodness; established in the world by the deepest suffering, and, in boundless compassion, freely extended unto man. It addresses sinners of the blackest enormity, and proposes to make them pure and clean. It can chase every doubt,

lighten the heaviest load, cheer the darkest soul, and proclaim peace to the troubled conscience.-Its blessings are apprehended by faith, enjoyed by devout obedience and self-denial, and are thus made the full felicity of the obedient soul. In the crooked way of terrestrial life, it can open a straight and royal road. In the very wilderness it brings an abiding welcome. In the midst of life's thorns, it can plant the flowers of holiest comfort; at the time of keenest trouble, it can produce feelings of most resigned tranquillity and composure. In poverty it is riches, in pain is ease, in trial is deliverance, and in sadness is song. It can sustain the weariest pilgrim, aid the least befriended, and relieve the most distrest. It can point the shipwrecked mariner to a haven, smooth the most tedious journey of the traveller, and give him rejoicings in the way. It indicates the path of life, and, by introducing a cross, conducts to a crown. It prepares us for living with Christ's faithful ones below, gives us the victory over death and the grave, and fits us for the society of angels in the world which is to come. As it begins in faith, it abides in hope, advances in grace, and issues in immortal glory. Its choicest fruits shall adorn the heavenly paradise; the voice of every glorified one shall warble its divinest lays; every breath of celestial music shall gather from its sweetness, all shall testify to its transcendent excellence, shall point to its great Original, and declare him the Christ-the Sent of God.

Reader, have you this Christianity? I do not ask, are you a nominal Christian, or even a professing Christian? but, Are you happy in the enjoyment of that religion which alone can save the soul? A certain king once said to the great apostle of the Gentiles, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian," and multitudes arrive at this almost persuasion, but they advance no further; hence will they at length discover their utter confusion in everlasting misery. Oh! reader, if you have not the inestimable treasure of true religion, you are poor, and blind, and naked; fly then to Christ that he may enrich and clothe you with his righteousness and make you happy. Penzance.

W. H. R.

FIRMNESS AND OBSTINACY.

THESE are terms which bear a widely extended comparative signification. There is no generally acknowledged human standard by which the meaning, to be affixed to them can, in every case, be measured and determined. Each man, according to his own peculiar mental organization, fixes for himself the precise point, at which firmness loses its characteristic qualities and becomes obstinacy. Hence arises the extreme difficulty of arriving, at a satisfactory general definition, applicable to this subject. And yet all must be conscious of the importance of having a correct understanding, as to where firmness ends and obstinacy begins. Do we not daily see men, who pride themselves upon possessing a spirit of resolute determination, sacrificing, at the shrine of their reputation, upon the most frivolous pretexts, the interests and happiness of all around them? Friends may warn

and entreat, but the voice of reason and of conscience pass alike unheeded, and the only reply vouchsafed by these dogged reasoners will be, "that what they have said, that will they do." Most men will be agreed in designating conduct like this, as stubbornness, or obstinacy. But on the other hand, how frequently has it happened that men, whose minds and hearts have been wedded to a great principle, have waxed faint, and turned back from pursuing it to its legitimate results, scared by the reproach of obstinacy and self-will. Here we see an illustration of the opposite extreme. Fear leading a man

to vacillation of purpose, and ultimately to the abandonment of truth. Is it not evident, then, that in this matter we require direction? That we need a guide, a sure and safe one, to lead us through the perils that beset us in our researches after, and pursuit of truth? Where shall we find this needful light? We have it. In the book of God we shall find ample knowledge to instruct and enlighten us as to our duty on this point. Precept and example, not "here a little, and there a little," but "here much, and there much," are conjoined, for our edification. On this head, let the teachings of our Divine Master be our rule, and his daily example our pattern. He requires of those who would be his disciples, that they do three things. 1. Deny self. 2. Take up the cross. And 3. Follow Christ. All these requirements are indicative of firmness and determination; and we may hence safely deduce the conclusion, that where principle is concerned, obstinacy is unknown. In our adherence to truth, we are to be firm and unyielding "even unto death." Having proved all things, we are to "hold fast that which is good." Here then we have an infallible guide to direct our footsteps. Where the truth is in question, irresolution is not only a criminal dereliction of duty, it is absolutely dangerous. The command is, "Be thou faithful unto death." And the reward, A crown of glory," is contingent upon our obedience. Onward then, timid,

wavering, doubting soldier of Christ. Let not the dread of mortals' frowns, or the quakings of thine own fearful heart appal thee. Before thee, in the path of duty, lie safety and honour; behind thee waits grim destruction, ready to overwhelm the fainting soul that loiters by the way. Onward then, thou who art fighting foremost in the ranks of Christ's warriors. Thy fellows lag behind. Some chide thee

for thy progress. But heed them not. Thou art nearing the goal of thy holy ambition. Press onward, onward still, and soon, amid heavenly choirs shalt thou sing,

"I have fought my way through;

I have finished the work thou didst give me to do."

Our feelings, desires, and affections, and the subjection of all these to the Divine will, are ruled by an inflexible law, which admits not of yielding or compromise. Not so with our property. True, it is all derived from God, and is therefore his, and we must hold ourselves accountable to him for our disposition of it. Nevertheless, we are possessed, in reference to things temporal, of a certain degree of discretionary administrative control, which we have not where things spiritual are concerned. On this point, therefore, On this point, therefore, "charity is to rule our actions.' The law of love to our neighbour here must be brought

into operation; and even where we might in strict justice be firm, we may lawfully yield. In short, we are required so to do. Christ enjoins us "to do unto our neighbour as we would that he should do unto us." How beautifully does this exemplify the ruling principle of our religion, and its admirable adaptability to every phase of human life and character. The Christian, whilst he lives in obedience to the supreme law of love is found yielding in his temper-yet without vacillation or irresolution on minor points; but where faith or conscience is concerned, he is steadfast to "obey God, rather than man," and in the midst of all opposing hindrances can sing,-

"Though waves and storms go o'er my head,

Though strength and health, and friends be gone;
Though joys be wither'd all, and dead,

Though every comfort be withdrawn ;

On this my steadfast soul relies;

Father, thy mercy never dies."

DESIGN OF GOD IN AFFLICTING.

WHAT is the obvious design of those particular evils that belong to our individual condition? What are they, what can they be, but a thorn planted in our earthly nest, to make us arise and go out of it, and seek for happiness in some high quarter? And as to the frustration of the well-laid schemes of earthly joy, by some unexpected occurrence as to the over-clouding of all our worldly prospects, by some interposition of cloud and calamity-as to the springing up in our lot of some irremediable woe, of some incurable ill-what can be the design of them all, but to make us seek after our happiness from a source which is not liable to such disasters? Affliction tames a man, and brings down the pride and stubbornness of his nature. It demonstrates to him that he cannot be the arbiter of his own destiny, the author of his own happiness. It shews him, that the way of man is not in himself; that "it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps; but that he is encompassed and environed with a power that he cannot control. And though at first he is like one of those wild beasts that are taken in a net, and foams and rages to get loose, yet, finding at length it is all in vain, and his strength is gone, he is gentle and tame: and now he is teachable, and prayerful, and an anxious inquirer : now he says, "Who will show me any greater good? Where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Where is God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night?" And to us there is always an interpreter ready. Job represents this as somewhat uncertain, because he lived in a time when revelation was scarce : he says, "God chasteneth man: then he openeth his ears, and sealeth their instruction. If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness "-that is, God's righteous way, and lead him to a knowledge of the truth. But under the Gospel,

where the means of instruction abound, there are such interpreters on every hand. Every Christian minister is one; every private Christian is one; every copy of the Scriptures is one; every good book written upon the Scriptures is one: and they come to a man in this state, and they teach him the meritorious cause of afflictions, which is sin. They show him how to be delivered from the guilt of sin, by the mediation of Christ; and how to be freed from the pollution of sin, by the renewing energies of the Holy Spirit; and how to walk in the path of holiness, which leads to happiness and heaven. I do not mean to say that afflictions, of themselves, can do this: they may be prevented from everything of the kind, by the obduracy and obstinacy of the human will: but I mean to say, that such is their design and tendency, from their very nature.

And that such is their design, is evident from the result of them in many cases. There are thousands of converted persons at this time on the earth, who would acknowledge this beneficial effect to have accrued from their afflictions. If you were to go into the Church, and ask many of its members, how they came into the narrow path, they would reply, that the broad way was hedged up with thorns, and they were driven to seek another. If you were to say, "How came you into this ark?" they would reply, "It was the only refuge left and I heard a voice saying, 'Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' But I never should have gone, unless the waves of the deluge of trouble had left me no where else to rest." Yes, brethren, there are many converted persons who would not hesitate to say, "My undoing in the world was the making of me in religion: I was emptied of my perishable cargo, that I might be laden with durable riches and righteousness. I was sent out by cross winds from the deceitful port I was approaching, and driven to this island of the blessed." And thus it is that thousands of Christians will have to say to God in heaven,

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Among the choicest of thy mercies here,

Stand this the foremost-that my heart has bled."

"Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock at first unaccustomed to the yoke: but at length, through affliction, I was brought to my God."

LEIFCHILD.

HAPPINESS OF HEAVEN.

How often are we shocked to observe either the calamities of our country, or the sad disasters of our relatives and friends, whom we have daily occasion to mourn, either as groaning under the pressure of poverty, pining away under languishing diseases, tormented by acute ones, or carried off by death, while we ourselves are, in like manner, very soon to draw tears from the eyes of others! Nay, how often are we a burden to ourselves, and groan heavily under afflictions of our own, that press hard upon our estates, our bodies, or our minds!

C