narratives. Their greatest enemies have never attempted to throw the least stain upon their characters; and how then can they be supposed capable of so gross an imposition, as that of asserting and propagating the most impudent fiction? They could gain by it neither pleasure, profit, nor power. On the contrary, it brought upon them the most dreadful evils, and even death itself. If, therefore, they were cheats, they were cheats without any motive, and without any advantage; nay, contrary to every motive and every advantage that usually influence the actions of men. They preached a religion which forbids falsehood, under pain of eternal punishment; and yet, on this supposition, they supported that religion by falsehood; and whilst they were guilty of the basest and most useless knavery themselves, they were taking infinite pains, and going through the greatest labour and sufferings, in order to teach honesty to all mankind. Is this credible? Is this possible? Is not this a mode of acting so contrary to all experience, to all the principles of human nature, and to all the usual motives of human conduct, as to exceed the utmost bounds of belief, and to compel every reasonable man to reject at once so monstrous a supposition?-Porteus.

CONVERSION

Conversion is a change of the natural and carnal mind, wrought by the Spirit of God, from the degradation of things seen and temporal to the desire and pursuit of those that are divine and spiritual. It begins in the heart and mind, in serious and sorrowful reflection upon our sinful state, as destitute of the supreme love of God, alienated in desire and in practice from his holiness, with the heart devoted to sin or worldly trifles, and, in consequence, under Divine displeasure, and condemned by the terms of God's perfect law. When such convictions are deeply lodged in the mind by the Spirit of God, it is made anxious for the pardon of sin, and it searches the Scriptures with this view. Then Christ appears as the one Mediator, the one sacrifice, through which "whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life," John iii. 16. Conversion is effected, when, on account of the burden of our sins, we feel our need of him, and, through his grace given unto us, we believe the precious promise which says, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved," Rom. x. 13; and, "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely," Rev.

xxii. 17. Man by nature loves sin in some of its degrees and forms, or so loves and pursues innocent and lawful things, as to exclude the supreme love of God. But, in conversion, he turns with disgust from all direct iniquity, and looks with comparative indifference upon natural joys, under the sense of possessing, in the promise of the gospel, a far higher good. Hence, the Scripture represents conversion as a new birth, a new life, a new nature, a new creation, effected by the Spirit of God. "Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new," 2 Cor. v. 17.-Redford.

GOSPEL OBEDIENCE.

Consider, O my soul, the motives to a holy walk. Put them all together. Weigh them carefully again and again. Do it faithfully, as in the presence of God; and then try if thou art walking in the way of duty with a free spirit. Dost thou proceed upon evangelical or upon legal principles? Dost thou serve God for wages or for love? Examine thy heart. God looks chiefly at it. How is it in duty? Is thine obedience to justify thee in the least, or does it spring from thy sense of being justified freely and fully? Art thou going about to establish thine own righteousness, or dost

thou submit to the righteousness of God? Art thou working from life, or for. life? I require thee to examine diligently, by the light of the word, and by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, what thy motives are; for there is no acceptable obedience but what is done in faith. Whatsoever is not of faith, is sin. If thou art acting aright, the love of Christ is constraining thee to obedience. Thou art living under the influence of free grace. Thy conscience is at peace with God. Thou hast sweet liberty to serve him without fear. Thy heart delights in his service, and love makes his ways the joy of thy soul. Thou knowest what Jacob felt when he served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed unto him but a few days for the love he had to her. A gospel spirit does the same to God-love makes long service short, and hard service easy. Nothing is pain which love does. And this is gospel obedience. It is faith working by love which refines duty into a grace-the commandments are exalted into privileges-the ordinances become happy means of fellowship with God. The believer meets God in them, and by free converse he exercises and improves his love.-Romaine.

THE NEW MAN.

The Spirit of God makes known to the believing soul the mercies of God in Christ Jesus; and by this manifestation of God's love, he constrains the believer to "give himself up, a living sacrifice to God;" and from a consciousness that he has been bought with a price, to "glorify God with his body and his spirit, which are his." From this time, the man enters on a new course, mortifying the whole body of sin, and crucifying all his corrupt affections; as it is written, "They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts." From this time, also, all the fruits of the Spirit are brought forth by him, and he progressively abounds in "all the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Holiness, in all its branches, is now the chief desire and delight of his soul. By walking "in the Spirit," he is kept from any desire to fulfil "the lusts of the flesh." He can no longer "commit sin," as he once did, because he is "born of God." Were it possible, he would become "holy," as God himself "is holy." His continual prayer is that "the God of peace would sanctify him wholly; and that his whole body, soul, and