ON BAD COMPANY.

"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."

The very sound of the words bad company, is painful to a prudent and pious ear. The soul of a good man trembles at the thought of being the friend of the wicked. And he has many reasons for it. He has reasons which relate to time; and reasons which relate to eternity. He knows such company to be disgraceful. The wise and good judge of men by their company; and with them it is always deemed disgraceful to be seen amongst those, whose character is stained. Evil company also hinders religious improvement; takes off the heart from God; lessens by degrees the fear of sin; leads men, before they are aware of it, to do what is wrong; and in this way destroys both the usefulness and the comfort of life. It has been the ruin of thousands and tens of thousands. By it multitudes have been led on to actions and crimes, at the 'bare thought of which their souls once shuddered. By means of evil company, they have had their minds filled with fears, and their consciences overwhelmed with horror; and for one that has escaped, by true faith and sincere repentance, there is reason to suspect many have gone down to hell. If therefore, you value your credit and comfort in life, your peace in death, or your happiness in eternity-shun evil company as destruction; and remember, that under the name of dangerous company, we are to include, not only the drunkard, the profane swearer, the unchaste, or the dishonest; but likewise all who do not love God, and obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ.Lord keep me near thyself.

A CALL TO SINNERS.

Now is the day of salvation, fellow sinners!

We must every one of us give an account of himself to God; and before we are called upon to do it, surely some inquiry should be made into our state. Ask yourselves the following questions; and, as in the presence of God, and as standing before the dread tribunal of heaven, let conscience frame an answer to each, to be written in the blank spaces.

1. Will the road in which I am now walking, lead to heaven or to hell?

2. Will the supposed advantages of sin here, be equal to the real and eternal loss of heaven hereafter?

3. Going on as I now do, shall I run no risk of being damned?

4. Have not I neglected many duties, and committed many sins, and hereby provoked God's anger?

5. If God should this moment, or this day, call me to his bar, am I prepared to meet him?

From John iii. 3, 8. I learn that all men must be born again. Am I born again?

1. Do I rest my hope of heaven on my own doings; or on the merits and mediation of Christ?

2. Do I humbly and diligently read the word of God, that I may know his will, and learn the way to heaven?

3. Do I believe in Jesus, and have I a good hope that my sins are pardoned?

4. What evidences do I give of my faith in Jesus?

5. Do I pray to God?

6. Do I pray sincerely, fervently, constantly, with all humility of mind?

7. Do I heartily repent of every known sin, hate it, and endeavour to flee from it?

8. Is my will subject to the will of God?

9. Do I desire holiness, as much as I desire happiness? 10. Do I hate vain thoughts, and shun vain company? 11. Is it my desire to be like Jesus in the temper of my mind, and in the tenor of my life?

12. Do I pray to be right in my creed, in my affections, and in my conversation?

13. Do I love Christ sincerely, and obey him uprightly? 14. In my dealings with men, do I do to them, as I should wish them to do to me under the same circumstances?

O my soul, weigh these questions well. Let my conscience dictate the answers, and my pen faithfully record them.

Lie not to God. Let me not trifle with my judge. My life is short, my death is certain; and may be very, very Let me defer no longer to attend to those things, which affect my eternal welfare.

near.

If I am a stranger to God, my case is truly awful; but blessed be his name, it is not desperate.

There is a remedy provided, proclaimed, and offered to all who feel their need of it. Let me no longer despise it, or make light of it. Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost. Let me not for one moment neglect so great salvation. Blessed Saviour, help me to come unto thee, to trust in thee; for thou art able to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by thee. Thou hast said, "him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." My soul, how canst thou resist such goodness? wilt thou reject him and perish; or embrace him and be saved? Does he not invite thee? "Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest?"-" If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink."

Does he not intreat thee? "Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."-And again, "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."

O then let me not turn a deaf ear to his call, or neglect his invitations; lest he, another day, be deaf unto my cries, and swear in his wrath, that I shall not enter into his rest. Now is the accepted time; to day, let me hear his voice.

Now let me hear my Saviour's voice,
He'll make my broken bones rejoice;
Should I continue to rebel,

My last abode must be in hell.

Cast your eyes where you will, you shall hardly look upon ́any thing, but Jesus Christ hath taken the name of it upon himself. If you look up to heaven in the day, and behold the sun, he is called the Sun of Righteousnsss.—If you look in the night upon the stars, or in the morning, upon the morning star, he is called the Bright and Morning Star.—If you behold your own body, he is called the Head, and the Church, his Body.-If you look upon your own clothes; he is compared to raiment: put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ. -If you behold your meat, Christ is called bread, the Bread of Life.-If you look upon your houses, he is called a Door. -If you look abroad into the fields, he is called the Good Shepherd-the Lamb-the fatted Calf-If you look upon the waters, he is called a Fountain. The blood of Christ is a Fountain. If you look upon the stones, he is called a Corner-Stone.-If you look upon the trees, he is called the Tree of LifeBridge.

The word of God may be divided into five parts, all of which the believer will find most useful: the doctrines are the ground and foundation of his hopes: the precepts are his guide and directory: the threatenings are warnings and guards against whatever might be hurtful: the promises are

his support and comfort, by which he is encouraged to encounter the many difficulties and dangers through which he must pass to the kingdom: the historical part is an illustration of all the rest, shewing in various instances and characters, the truth and reality of the doctrines-the stability of the promises, and their actual fulfilment to those who have trusted in them-the safety of the precepts to those who have walked in them--and the awful execution of the threatenings upon those who have been disobedient. This makes the word of God truly precious to the real Christian: he views it as that, without which he should soon turn aside to the paths of the destroyer; or sink and perish in those afflictions, trials and temptations, with which he may be exercised. •Anon.

Death to a good man, is but passing through a dark entry, out of one little dusky room in his Father's house, into another that is fair and large, lightsome and glorious. O may the rays and splendours of my heavenly apartment shoot far downward, and gild the dark entry with such a cheerful gleam, as to banish every fear when I shall be called to pass through! Watts.

Men live as carelessly as if they should never die; and die as securely as if they should not live in the next state, to receive the just punishment of their sins.- Bates.

Many in the present age go to their meals as beasts to their fodder, without any thought of God: and others ask grace after a slight and negligent manner, which makes it as sinful as the omission.Bishop Wilson.

Our gracious King, we present unto your Majesty this book, the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is wisdom; this is the royal law; these are the oracles of God. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this book; that keep and do the things, contained in it. For these are the words of eternal life; able to make you wise and happy in this world, nay wise unto salvation, and so happy for evermore, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. AMEN. Coronation Service,