ingratitude and folly: ingratitude, for what a requital is this for being sealed to the day of redemption! and folly, inasmuch as we may fitly say on this, as Paul did on a different occasion, "Who is he that maketh us glad, but the same that is made sorrow by us?" Have we any other comforter when he is withdrawn? Can a single ray of light visit us in his absence, or can we be safe for a moment without his guidance and support? If the immense and infinite Spirit, by a mysterious condescension, deigns to undertake the conduct of a worm, ought it not to yield the most implicit sub-. mission? The appropriate duty owing to a faithful and experienced guide, is a ready compliance with his dictates; and how much more. may this be expected, when the disparity between the parties is no less than infinite! The language of the Holy Spirit, in describing the manners of the ancient Israelites, is awfully monitory to professors in every age: "They rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and fought against them." As we wish to avoid whatever is more curious than useful, we shall not stay to inquire precisely on what occasions, or to what extent, the Spirit is capable of being resisted. It may be sufficient to observe, it is

evident from melancholy experience, that it is very possible to neglect what is the obvious tendency of his motions, which is invariably to produce universal holiness. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, meekness, gentleness, temperance, faith:" whatever is contrary to these, involves an opposition to the Spirit, and is directly calculated to quench his sacred influence.-R. Hall.

LOOK TO JESUS.

In every enjoyment, O Christian, look unto Jesus; receive it as proceeding from his love, and purchased by his agonies. In every tribulation look unto Jesus; mark his gracious hand managing the scourge, or mingling the bitter cup; attempering it to a proper degree of severity; adjusting the time of its continuance ; and ready to make these seeming disasters productive of real good. In every infirmity and failing look unto Jesus, thy merciful High Priest, pleading his atoning blood, and making intercession for transgressors. In every prayer look unto Jesus, thy prevailing advocate, recommending thy devotions, and "bearing the iniquity of thy holy things." In every temptation look unto Jesus, the author of thy strength and captain of thy salvation, who alone is able

to lift up the hands which hang down, to invigorate the enfeebled knees, and make thee more than conqueror over all thy enemies. But especially, when the hour of thy departure approaches, when thy flesh and thy heart fail, when all the springs of life are irreparably breaking-then look unto Jesus with a believing eye. Like expiring Stephen, behold him standing at the right hand of God, on purpose to succour his people in this their last extremity. Yes, my Christian friend, when thy journey through life is finished, and thou art arrived on the very verge of mortality—when thou art just launching out into the invisible world, and all before thee is vast eternitythen, oh then, look unto Jesus. See by faith the Lord's Christ. View him as the only "way" to the everlasting mansions, as the only "door" to the abodes of bliss.-Hervey.

REDEMPTION.

If the goodness of God is so admirably seen in the works of nature and the favours of providence, with what a noble superiority does it even triumph in the mystery of redemption! Redemption is the brightest mirror in which to contemplate this most lovely attribute of the Deity. Other gifts are only as mites from the

divine treasury; but redemption opens, I had almost said exhausts, all the glories of his glorious grace. Herein God commendeth his love; not only manifests, but renders it perfectly marvellous; manifests it in so stupendous a manner, that it is beyond parallel, beyond thought, and above all blessing and praise.Hervey.

PATIENCE.

Patience is the guardian of faith, the preserver of peace, the cherisher of love, the teacher of humility. Patience governs the flesh, strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper, stifles anger, extinguishes envy, subdues pride; bridles the tongue, refrains the hand, tramples upon temptations, endures persecutions, and consummates martyrdom. Patience produces unity in the church, loyalty in the state, harmony in families and societies; comforts the poor, and moderates the rich; makes us humble in prosperity, cheerful in adversity, unmoved by calumny and reproach; teaches us to forgive those who have injured us, and to be the first in asking forgiveness of those whom we have injured; delights the faithful, and invites the unbelieving; adorns the woman, and approves the man; is loved in a child, praised in

I

a young man, admired in an old man; is beautiful in either sex and every age.--Bishop Horne.

BEAUTIES OF THE PSALMS.

The fairest productions of human wit, after a few perusals, like gathered flowers wither in our hands and lose their fragrancy; but these unfading plants of paradise become, as we are accustomed to them, still more and more beautiful; their bloom appears to be daily heightened; fresh odours are emitted, and new sweets are extracted from them. He who hath once tasted their excellences, will desire to taste them yet again; and he who tastes them oftenest, will relish them best.-Bishop Horne.

RELIGION THE SOURCE OF COMFORT IN
ADVERSITY.

In the hour of misfortune, when a man, once in prosperous circumstances, sits down, amidst the wreck of all his comforts, and sees nothing but the fragments of his fortune for his wife and family, what, in this storm of affliction, is to cheer him but religion? and this can do it, and enable him to say, "Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the