How many public councils are held on this sacred day? how many state dinners given? how much worldly business transacted? Are not our roads thronged with travellers, and do not our multiplied beer-houses resound with noise and revelry ? And this men do, though God has strictly enjoined them "to remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." This they do, though God solemnly threatens, "If ye will not hearken to me, to hallow the sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in your gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched."

And are we not abandoned to a spirit of carnal confidence? When do we express our reliance on the Almighty, or ascribe preservation or success to his gracious interposition? Our proud language is, It is not God, it is our arm, our wisdom, that shall keep us. One would almost fancy, we were ashamed of a heavenly ally, and thought it a disgrace to own ourselves dependent on Omnipotence.

And amidst these crying evils are we not presumptuously secure? Scarce any lay these sins and these dangers to heart. Who mourneth for the abominations of the land? Who stirreth up himself to call upon God, if so be, he may yet be entreated to have mercy on our Zion? Are we not too much like the sinners of the old world?"They did eat, they drank; they bought, they sold; they planted, they builded." They gave themselves up to sensual gratifications and worldly cares, disregarding the admonitions that rung in their ears, and shutting their eyes to the tokens of impending vengeance; till the long-suffering of God was worn out, and the flood came, and with irresistible violence swept them and their concerns all away.

Do we not also resemble the supine and senseless people, of whom the prophet speaks? they said in their heart, "The Lord will

not do good, neither will he do evil." May not their doom be ours? Therefore thus saith the Lord, their goods shall become a booty, and their land a desolation; neither their silver nor gold shall be able to deliver them, in the day of the Lord's wrath, but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy."

Then shall there be an end of that affluence and prosperity, in which we have so much gloried: an end of that power and strength, in which we have so much trusted: an end of all those national blessings, spiritual and temporal, which we have failed to improve to God's honour.

Oh! then, that you, my dear friends, that all, may be awakened to seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call upon him while he is near. "To-day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts! Let me exhort each of you to-day, while it is called to-day, to humble yourselves under his mighty hand! Losing sight of the conduct of others, let each man look into his own heart, and examine his own life, and smiting upon his breast, let every one say, God be merciful to me a sinner!" Oh that God would make us a nation of penitents, and draw us or drive us to the foot of the cross!

I feel, it would be inhuman to make others, without a necessity for it, unhappy; but would to God, I could impart to every one such a sense of our national guilt and danger, as would disturb his repose day and night, till he was led to seek safety for his country and salvation for himself, through the prevailing intercession of Jesus. In circumstances like ours, it is in vain to disguise our danger: it would be cruel to withhold the warning: self-interest, compassion, affection, every motive of tenderness urge us to speak out. God has been visiting us year after year, looking for fruit, and has found little or none:

THE present times are distinguished by features of no ordinary character. Under whatever aspect, and in connexion with whatever varying circumstances we contemplate the state of things, we shall find much to engage our deepest attention. But widely different are the views, essentially different the principles which influence men, in their observations of the world. The philosopher regards the passing events of his time, and the actions of mankind around him, as they tend to illustrate and confirm his theories of human nature. The politician contemplates things in the aspect which they bear upon the interests of man considered in a social capacity, and as they involve the destinies of nations. But it is for the Christian, and the Christian alone, to view the times and the seasons in connexion with the Sovereign Disposer of events. It is for him to take a more exalted and commanding glance, a glance which extends beyond the passing shadows of time, to the eternal realities of another world. His mind has been enlightened by the Spirit of truth, his affections have received a heavenly tone and bias, and he is deeply sensible of the unspeakable value of the soul. Under the predominating influence of such feelings as these, it is, that the child of God contemplates the world around him. He regards passing events in the light of eternity. The great moral interests of man, as a responsible and immortal creature, fix his undivided attention. Anxious only to promote the honour of God, and to advance the interests of his Redeemer's kingdom, he earnestly marks the characters and leading features of the times, to ascertain how far they are conducive, or not, to accomplish the great objects he has in view.

But what is the aspect of the present times ? What is the spirit impressed upon them? What the religious tone and temper by which they are distinguished? If an increased cultivation of the human mind, if a more general diffusion of knowledge among all classes, if the proudest efforts of literature and science, if the imposing efforts of religious institutions, and societies, in a word, if the almost universal language of profession, were identical with the growth of vital, and heart-felt godliness, and the spread of the gospel of truth, then might England have obtained the envied eminence of religious supremacy among the nations of the earth.

But it is a truth which derives å melancholy confirmation from experience, that the march of intellect' is not always the march of godliness. Progressive refinement in learning and science has no necessary connexion with a "growth in grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ." The splendour which tracks the path of earthly attainment, but too often refuses to mingle its ray with the glory of the cross; and the inquiry as to the religious aspect of the times, must be followed by a mournful answer. There seems to be a disposition on the part of almost all classes to forget God, and throw contempt upon his ordinances; infidelity prevails to an alarming extent, whilst unblushing licentiousness stalks the land, under the shelter of its gloomy banner. But what fearfully deepens the shadows of the picture is this, that the great, the rich, and the powerful, are foremost in the train of irreligion and vice. "Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord; Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this ? " And the judgments of the Almighty

are already upon us: "There is wrath gone out from the Lord: the plague is begun." A tremendous malady has made its appearance; and although its progress in this country is not marked by the same desolating effects as abroad on the continent, yet it is accompanied with a serious, and alarming fatality. Still, however, "in the midst of judgment, God remembers mercy." He seems as it were to

linger in his " strange work." By his gracious providence, the disorder spreads but slowly, as if to allow time and space for repentance. Then let us avail ourselves of his forbearance; let us endeavour to profit by this kind delay. Whilst the Lord's voice crieth unto the city, let us shew that we are possessed of true wisdom, by acknowledging him in his dispensations. "Hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it."

Let us, let all ranks and degrees of men in the land, mark the uplifted

hand, and confess the justice of the blow. It is the main design of the divine dispensations, to impress the hearts of men with a sense of sin, and to lead them to repentance and faith. How cautious then, should we be not to defeat this benevolent object by our perverseness and obstinacy! Let us listen to the voice of God issuing from the cloudy pillar of his visitations, and with godly sorrow, and contrition of heart, repent of our transgressions, and seek reconciliation with the God whom we have offended, through the atoning merits of our Saviour's blood. Nor let us stop here, but with fervent devotion pray continually that God would pour out a spirit of grace and supplication upon the people of this land, convert the hearts of all men to the knowledge of the truth, and hasten the final triumph of the Redeemer's spiritual kingdom over the nations of the earth.

-S.

God. Pray for the Holy Spirit to change your heart, that you may repent of your sins and forsake them altogether. Beg the Lord Jesus Christ, to wash away all the transgressions of your life in his own blood. Strive to obey him in every thing. "Remember the sabbath-day to keep it holy." Follow your bible. "Seek the Lord while he is to be found; call upon him while he is near," "There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth." Do not let the evil spirit tempt you to put off the care of your soul. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you; draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." Reflect. You are on the brink of eternity. The Bible says, EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN

AGAIN, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD."

THE believer beholds the Law, not in the hands of Moses, and as surrounded with flames on Mount Sinai, but in the hands of that Prince of Peace who is king of Zion. He sees that the dear, the adorable, the ascended Jesus, having fulfilled its high demands, as a covenant, and released him from its awful curse, now employs it as an instrument of his benign government, for the good of the redeemed, and the glory of his own eternal name. As in the hand of Christ, it is a friend and a guide, pointing out the way in which the Christian should walk, so as to express his gratitude to God for his benefits, and to glorify the Redeemer; it shews him also how imperfect is his own obedience, and so is a happy mean of keeping him humble at the foot of sovereign grace, and entirely dependant on the righteousness of his divine Sponsor. -Booth.

As the Law, in its covenant form, is the appointed mean of convincing the careless sinner of his need of that righteousness which is revealed in the gospel, for the justification of his person before God; so the gospel, exhibiting adequate relief to the distressed. conscience, is the happy instrument of conciliating the believer's regard to the law, as a rule of conduct, that his faith may be evidenced in the sight of men. Thus the law

and the gospel are mutually subservient to one another, while both agree to promote the happiness of the redeemed, and the glory of their divine author. He, therefore, who does not pay an habitual regard to the law, in a course of obedience, has no experience of the gospel in a way of comfort. As he tramples on that divine authority, which appears in the former, so he despises

that boundless grace, which is revealed in the latter. Such an one is an enemy to both, and his state is most deplorable.—Ibid.

When one reads the Old Testament, before one's mind has been enlightened from above on the state of one's soul, the character of the Hebrew people appears surprising. It is difficult to believe such acts of rebellion against a God so gloriously inanifested, such ingratitude and unbelief. But let

a

ray of light be shed on the soul by reading the Bible, and the blessing of God will show the history of Israel in another view. O my God, will the believer say, behold my own history before thee; this is a sad picture of my faithlessness, my wilful falls, my imperfect returns, and my many rebellions in the course of my life's pilgrimage. These poor Israelites were children of Adam as I am; and this race of Abraham had just the same disposition as mine. The Bible contains the history of the human heart; and, "as in water face answereth to face, so is the heart of man to man." (Prov. xxvii. 19.)—Gaussen.

Without trials, the things of this world would please us too much, we should wish to continue always in it; and our belief of heavenly realities would be faint and weak, and our heart would belie our profession of faith-which indeed it very often virtually does.-Dr. Kennedy.

Guilt or grief is all that gracious souls get by communion with vain. souls. Brookes.

The least sin is contrary to the law of God, the nature of God, the being of God, and the glory of God; and therefore it is often punished severely by God. -Ibid.

M.