the nascent libertinism be checked, the ar- With the worldly they smile, and perhaps good-naturedly shake their head at some little scruples, and some excess of strictness in the absent party, though they do not go the length of actual censure.

dent imagination fixed to other pursuits, the sentiment of virtue kindled, the taste for purity confirmed, and the habit and love of prayer established? And, above all, is it not a pity that they should be able hereafter to plead as an apology for their intimacy with such books, that they were introduced to them by a fond and careful parent ?

May we not take the liberty to ask of worthy, but, in this instance, injudicious parents, is this practice quite consistent with the command given to fathers, even under a darker dispensation that they should not limit the improvement of their children to any set hours, but that they should teach them diligently, sitting in the house, and walking by the way, rising up, and lying down?"

The Borderers.

RELIGION, and the world, used formerly to be considered as two different regions, situated separate and apart from each other. -They seldom maintained much unnecessary intercourse. One party shuddered at the strictness and severity of the other; which, in its turn, kept aloof from a communication which it feared might contaminate its own purity.

When with the religious colony, they tenderly lament the necessity imposed on them of being obliged to associate so much with neighbours from whom, they confess, there is not much to be learned, while they own there is something to be feared; but, as they are quite sure their inclination is not of the party, they trust there is no great danger.— They regret, that as they must live on terms with the world, they cannot, without a singularity to which ridicule would attach, avoid adopting some of their manners and customs. Thus they think it prudent to indulge in the same habits of luxury and expense; to conform to many of the same practices, doubtful at the best; and to attend on some places of diversion, for which, indeed, they profess to feel no great relish, and which, for the sake of propriety, are rather submitted to than enjoyed! One would not be particular, one does no good by singularity."

By an invariable discretion, they thus gain the confidence and regard of both parties. The old settlers on the fashionable side are afraid of losing them, by opposition to their occasionally joining their enemies; while the Between them lay a kind of neutral religious colonies are desirous of retaining ground, which, though it divided them, was them, and rendering them service by courte however, occasionally passed during any sy and kindness, still charitably hoping their short interval of peace, for offices of neces-intentions are right, and their compliances sity, of business, or of kindness; offices reluctant. Thus their borders are every which, nevertheless, produced at no time entire reconciliation.

day extending, and their population increasing. As they can speak, as occasion requires, the language of both countries, they have the advantage of appearing to be always at home with each, who never suspect that the same facility in the dialect of the other, equally secures their popularity there.

This neutral territory has been lately seized upon and occupied by a third party, a civil, obliging, and accommodating people, who are so perfectly well-bred, as to be desirous of keeping well with their neighbours on both sides the boundary. They are invi- In one respect, they carefully comply with ted to intimacy by the gratifications held out the Apostle's injunction, applying to it, howby the one, and the reputation conferred by ever, a meaning of their own,They let the other; present indulgence tempts on their moderation be known unto all men.'the left, future hope on the right. The pre- They scrupulously avoid extremes. They sent good, however, is generally too power- keep a kind of debtor and creditor account ful a competitor for the future. They not with religion and the world, punctually payonly struggle to maintain their own interesting themselves for some practice they rein both countries, but are kindly desirous of accommodating all differences between the belligerent powers. Their situation, as borderers, gives them great local advantages on both sides. Though they keep on the same good terms with both, they have the useful and engaging talent, of seeming to belong exclusively to that party in which they happen to find themselves.

nounce, by adopting some other which is a shade or two lighter: between these shades they discriminate nicely; and the pride they feel in what they have given up, is more sincere than the gratification at what they retain.

Thus, though hovering on the borders of both countries, they do not penetrate into the depths of either. The latitude they hapTheir chief difficulty arises when they pen to be cast in varies according to circuarhappen to meet the inhabitants of both ter-stances. An awakening sermon will drive ritories together; yet so ingenious are they in the art of trimming, that they contrive not to lose much ground with either.

When alone with one party, they take care never to speak warmly of the absent.

them, for a time, beyond the usual geogra phical degree; an amusing novel, or a new Canto of Childe Harold, will seduce them to retreat. Their intentions however, they [flatter themselves, are generally on the right

side, while their movements are too frequent- the strange country, than that they bring ly on the other. over the other party to their side. It may, But though their language can accommo- therefore, perhaps be safer not to contract date itself to both parties, their personal ap- these unholy alliances till there is a conquest pearance is entirely under the direction of obtained by the small territory over the great one of them. In their external decorations, one; an event which, if we may judge by they are not behind the foremost of their the present state of the parties, seems at a fashionable friends; and truth obliges us re- very considerable distance. luctantly to confess, that their dress is as lit- But enough, and perhaps the scrupulous tle confined within the bounds of strict deli- Christian will say, too much, of this light cacy, as that of women the rest of whose manner of treating a serious subject. We conduct is more exceptionable. The conse- acknowledge the charge; we bow to the corquence is not unnatural; for to those who rection: confessing that we scarcely knew must do like other people, it is also necessa- how to approach this important and interes ry to look like other people. It does, how-ting class of persons, without the thin veil of ever, seem a little incongruous, to hear the something between fiction and fact, between language of one of the countries spoken, even with a strong accent, by ladies in the full costume of the other.

These borderers are frequently disposed to be benevolent, partly from a warm temperament, partly from a conviction that charity is a duty. They profess to give whatever they can spare, but of that proportion they allow vanity, and not piety, to be the arbiter. If personal ornament, if habits of luxury, did not swallow up their money, charity would have it. Charity is the next best thing to self-gratification.

allegory and true history. We felt an almost sinful reluctance to say any thing which might seem revolting to those pleasing characters who have shown some disposition to religion, who love its disciples, without having courage to imitate them.-But real concern for their best interests will not allow those who assume to advocate the cause of Christianity, to conceal the distance at which they at present appear to stand from its constraining power, and from its practical consequences.

Perhaps your creed is not very erroneous. Should they continue their present course, Probably the rectitude of your religious and their numbers increase, or, as is com- friends, whose doctrines are sound, and the monly the case, should continual motion ac- indifference of your fashionable friends, who celerate progress, the land-marks of separa-care for none of these things,' have pretion between the several countries will insensibly be lost, and it will be difficult to define the exact limitations of the invading neighbours.

It has frequently been regretted that an amicable accommodation between the adverse parties could not be accomplished by the interference of this intermediate region. But whenever it has been attempted, it has not always been successful. The coalition, it has been found, could not readily be brought about. Prejudices on the one part, and rigorous demands on the other, have hitherto perpetuated the separation.

Terms of peace, indeed, cannot easily be made where one side expects so many sacrifices, and where the other has so much that must be parted with. The worldly territory having, beyond all comparison, the larger population, is of course the stronger, and therefore most likely to hold out.

served you pretty clear from errors of opinion. Whilst the occasional society of the pious has kept your sentiments in order, the amusements of the worldly have indemnified you for the severities of the other quarter. But opinions do little till they are ripened into principles. It is reputable to say with one party, strait is the gate and narrow is the way;' but the company of the other lets you see that it is not so easy to enter in at that gate, and to walk in that way, as you had flattered yourself you should have found it.

To you the world is by far the most formidable foe of the triple alliance, of the three confederate enemies, which the Scripture tells us war against the soul. We have presumed that your opinions may not be very erroneous, but there are moral as well as speculative heresies, of which worldliness is the originating principle, and in which it is But though no actual flag of truce has yet the practical operator. The WORLD is the been sent out for a general peace, yet alli- grand heresiarch. There are many more ances are frequently contracted between in- who love the world, and the things of the dividuals of the hostile countries, but on very world,' than who care whether doctrines are unequal terms; for it unfortunately happens true or false. While they themselves are that the party from the more correct side, let alone to follow their own devices; while who come out to visit the daughters of the they are left undisturbed to their own purland,' have been seduced by the cheerful suits; you may propound, or controvert, or music, splendid banners, and gay attrac-adopt any opinion, sound or heretical, with tions of the other; and have been prevailed equally little danger, or equally little benefit upon to settle in the cnemy's camp. To them to them.

it more frequently happens that they gradu- To the devotee of pleasure there is someally forget all they learnt in their father's thing harsh and repulsive in doctrines and house, and insensibly adopt the manners of dogmas; to take part with them would be VOL. II. 67

which is shared among so many, cannot be injurious to the individual; forgetting that every man must bear his own burden, and suffer for his own sin; for, though multitudes may give countenance to your errors here, they will not answer for you hereafter.

going out of the way: while to those who ry intermediate state between the children can contrive to make right opinions live on of wrath and the children of God. Rest not friendly terms with wrong practices, it till you have attained that entire consecrawould be a gratuitous folly to add to the tion of heart, whose object, aim, and end, is faults of conduct the errors of speculation. eternal life. Forget not that they who run In this affectionate remonstrance, we al-in a race, though they may come closer to lude not to what might be called palpable the goal, yet, if they come short of it, fail of and tangible offences; these the decorums the prize as completely as those competitors of their condition set them above any temp-whose distance is greater; and, if we come tation to commit. We speak not of any short of heaven, whether we lose it by more disbelief or contempt of religion; these are or fewer steps, the failure is equally décisive, not the immediate perils of their position: it the loss equally irreparable. is not infidelity but indifference-a disincli- Those worldly persons with whom you nation to Christianity, not as opposed to un-associate are intrenched on every side by belief, but as it contradicts the maxims, the numbers; they therefore act as if they manners, the habits of their associates.-thought that the evil, supposing it to be evil, Their danger consists in a supreme attachment to present objects, and a neglect of such as are future; it consists in preferring the pleasures and the interests of the world to the service of Him who made it. They are governed by other principles than those of that gospel whica has proclaimed that the friendship of the world is enmity against Do not follow those who have no settled God.' They are influenced by its opinions, course of their own-who are hurried to and misled by its example, enslaved by its fro by every breath of custom-whom amusements; they fear lest any deviation fashion leadeth whithersoever it listeth. from its prescribed code should bring their The persons against whom we would guard good sense and good taste in question; lest you, though confident, are not without their withdrawing from its practices should bring fears; but it is worth observing, that their on them the imputation of narrowness or fears seldom lie on the same side with their enthusiasm. In short, they go with the dangers. They fear not great practical ermultitude that keep holiday,' not, indeed, in rors; these they soften down and treat with the Scriptural sense, but in direct conformi-complacency; these are tenderly mentioned ty to the vulgar acceptation of that term. as the infirmities of nature-weaknesses to Worldly allurements find in the unrenew-which we are all liable. Almost every exed heart a willingness to meet them, a dis-cess in personal gratification is thus kindly position accommodated to them by tempera-palliated: Why did God give us both the ment, a readiness to pursue them, increased disposition and the means to indulge it, if inby habit. The natural heart is already on dulgence were a sin? There is but one the world's side. Before the world has time excess they guard against-an excess, into begin its attack, the citadel is disposed to deed, of which they are in little danger,yield. Before the assault is made, there is we mean a high degree of religion; for a mutual good undrstanding, a silent con- surely excess is little to be feared, where the nivance between the besiegers and the be-thing has not yet even been entered upon! sieged. As soon as the trenches are opened, the disposition to parley and to submit is nearly the same act.

You appeared, however, to take the first step in what is right, by occasionally joining religious society, and by the pleasure you expressed in it. By that introduction you seemed not undesirous of ranging yourself partly on that side. Having broken through that first obstruction, it was hoped that every subsequent step would have become less irksome.

That religion has its difficulties, we do not pretend to deny ; but, with a hearty concurrence of the will, nurtured by cordial prayer, strengthened by a full reliance on the Saviour, and sustained by the aid of His Spirit, which is offered you, the difficulties will dai ly diminish. Rest not, then, in that low state of religion which is satisfied with the hope of escaping punishment; calculate not how small a measure may suffice to effect that escape. Scarch not out for an imagina

Be assured, that whatever serves to keep the heart from God, is one and the same spirit of irreligion, whether it appear in the shape of coarse vice, or whether it is softened by the smoothness of decorum, and the blandishments of polished life. We are far from comparing them together, as if they were equally injurious to society, or equally offensive to decency; but we must compare them together as equally drawing away the heart from the worship and the love of God. Courteousness, which is unaccompanied by principle, will stand the most courteous in no stead, with Him who is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Some of these well-bred persons, who exercise this large and liberal candour towards practical offences, and treat with tenderness certain vices, not thought disreputable by the world, and who even put a favourable construction on things very unjustifiable in the sight of God, lose all their kindness, put no favourable interpretation, when sound re

ligion is in question. They are, indeed, too venly Father, to establish in your heart. He discreet to reprobate it under its own proper did not suffer that His children might be exname, but the ready appellation of enthusi- cused from self-denial; nor that, because asm presents itself is always at hand to vin- He was holy, they might be negligent. He dicate the hastiest judgment, and the most suffered, that the women that are at ease contemptuous construction. might rise up; that the careless daughters might hear His voice, and give ear unto His word.'

But though we think far better things of you, whom we are addressing, yet may you not, in this society, be tempted to disavow, If you are disposed to think that what you or, at least, to conceal, even the measure of must give up is great, compare it with what piety you actually have, for fear of exciting you will gain, and you will be ashamed of that dreaded suspicion, of being righteous over much? May not this fear, strengthened by this society, keep you back till your pious tendencies, by being suppressed, may gradually come to be extinguished?

your miscalculation; you will think the sacrifice as small as the objects sacrificed were worthless; for Christianity, though a selfdenying principle, yet denies you nothing which, even now, adds to your real happiness. It only disenchants you from an illusion, and gives you substantial peace in exchange. It will rob you of nothing which good sense and sound reason do not condemn, as well as the New Testament.

We are ready to acknowledge, and to love, all that is amiable in you: but we must not forget, that the fairest and most brilliant creature, the most engaging manners, and the most accomplished mind, stands in the same need of repentance, forsaking of sin, Perhaps you have just religion enough to redemption by the Son of God, and renova- render you occasionally uneasy. The strugtion by His Spirit, as the least attractive. gle between the claims of the world aad The more engaging the manners, and the your casual convictions, is far from being a more interesting the acquirements, the more happy state. The flattery which delights, is it to be lamented, that those very attrac- misleads; the diversions which amuse, will tions, by your complacency in them, may not console: the prospect which promises, have stood between you and heaven,-may, disappoints. Continue not, then, working by your resting in them, have been the cause of your not pressing towards the mark for the prize of your high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Bear then in mind, that you may be pleasing to others, while you have an unsanctified heart; that politeness, though it may put on the appearance of humility, is but a poor imitation of that prime grace; that good breeding, though the beautiful decoration of a pious mind, is but a wretched substitute for

the want of it.

in the fire for very vanity.' Labour not to reconcile two interests, which, spite of your endeavours, will ever remain irreconcileable.

A life governed by Christianity differs in every thing from the worldly system. It is free from the turbulence and the agitation of its pursuits: it has none of the anxieties and jealousies of its competitions; consequently none of the lassitude and the vexation of its disappointing results. The further you proceed in its paths of pleasantness, the pleaBe assured, however, at the same time, santer they become. Its difficulties dimithat true religion will in no wise diminish nish, its delights increase. It has pleasures your natural or acquired graces; so far from of its own, higher and better; satisfactions it, those graces will be more estimable; they which depend not on human admiration, will be even more admired, when they are but on His favour, whom to know is eternal known not to be the best things you have. When you set less value on them yourself, they will be more pleasing to others; who, though they will not estimate them above their worth, will not depreciate them below it.

life.

Continue not, then, to live as if the great end for which you were sent into the world, was already accomplished. Continue not to act as if you thought you had done all for which God gave you an intelligent mind, We are persuaded that you are too rea- reasoning faculties, aspiring thoughts, capasonable to expect that Christianity will cities for endless happiness. Let not those change its character, or lower its require- powers which were meant to fit you not only ments, or make the strait gate wider, or for the society of angels, but for the vision the narrow way broader, or hold out false of God, be any longer wasted on objects the colours, in order to induce you to embrace most frivolous; on things which, at best, it. It is not that easy and superficial thing must end when this world ends. which some suppose, as requiring little more nounce pursuits, some of them below a rathan a ceremonious attendance on its forms, tional, unsuited to an accountable, and altoand a freedom from the gross violation of its gether unworthy of a never-ending being! commands. This may be nominal, but it is Renounce them for objects more becoming not saving Christianity. It is not that spi- a candidate for an inheritance among the ritual, yet practical religion, for which the saints in lights, better adapted to an immaSon of God endured the cross, that He terial, immortal spirit, and commensurate might establish it in the hearts of His follow-with eternity.

ers,-which He is pleading with His Hea

Oh! re

REFLECTIONS ON PRAYER,

AND ON THE ERRORS WHICH MAY PREVENT ITS EFFICACY.

On the Corruption of Human Nature.

with equal fidelity? Why are we told of the twice repeated deceit of the father of the THE most original French writer of our faithful? Why of the single instance of vaown time, but who employed his powerful nity in Hezekiah? Why, of the too impetutalents to the most pernicious purposes, ab-ous zeal of Elijah? Why of the error of the ruptly begins his once popular work on edu-almost perfect Moses? Why of the insincecation with this undeniable truth,- All is good as it comes out of the hands of God, all is corrupted in the hands of man.'

In his first position, this sceptic bears a just testimony to the goodness of his Creator; but the second clause, his subsequent application of it, though also a truth, is not the whole truth. He ascribes all the evils of man to the errors of his education.

rity of Jacob? Why of the far darker crimes of the otherwise holy David? Why of the departure of the wisest of men from that piety, displayed with sublimity unparalleled in the dedication of the Temple? Why seems it to have been invariably studied to record with more minute detail the vices and errors of these eminent men, than even those of the successive impious kings of Israel and of JuNow, though it cannot be denied that ma-dah; while these last are generally dismissny of his faults are owing to a defect in edu-ed with the brief, but melancholy sentence, cation, yet his prime evil lies deeper, is ra- that they did that which was evil in the sight dical, and must be traced to a more remote of the Lord; followed only by too frequent and definite cause. an intimation, that they made way for a sucHad the writer been as enlightened as hecessor worse than themselves? The answer was ingenious, he would have seen that the is, that the truth of our universal lapse could principle of evil was antecedent to his edu-only be proved by transmitting the record of cation; that it is to be found in the inborn those vices, from which even the holiest men corruption of the human heart. If then, were not exempt. from an infidel, we are willing to borrow an And as these affecting details unansweraavowal of the goodness of God in the crea-bly establish the truth of the doctrine, so tion of man, we must look to higher autho- they are not recorded for barren doctrinal rities to account for his degeneracy, even to information. They are recorded to furnish the sacred oracles of God himself. Christians of every age with salutary caution, with awful warning.

The subject of man's apostacy is so nearly connected with the subject of Prayer, being indeed that which constitutes the necessity of this duty, that some mention of the one ought to precede any discussion of the other. Let, then, the conviction, that we are fallen from our original state, and that this lapse furnishes the most powerful incentive to prayer, furnish an apology for making a few preliminary remarks on this doctrine.

The doctrine is not the less a fundamental doctrine, because it has been abused to the worst purposes: some having considered it as leaving us without hope, and others, as lending an excuse to unresisted sin. It is a doctrine which meets us in one unbroken series throughout the whole sacred volume; we find it from the third of Genesis, which records the event of man's apostacy, carried on through the history of its fatal consequences in all the subsequent instances of sin, individual and national, and running in one continued stream from the first sad tale of woe, to the close of the sacred canon in the Apocalyptic Vision,

And, to remove the groundless hope, that this quality of inherent corruption belonged only to the profligate and abandoned, the Divine Inspirer of the sacred writers took especial care, that they should not confine themselves to relate the sins of these alone. Why are the errors, the weaknesses, and even the crimes of the best men recorded

Surely the best man among us will hardly venture to say, that he is more holy than Abraham, Moses, David, or Peter. If, then, these saints exhibited such evidences of not having escaped the universal infection, will not every reflecting child of mortality yield to the conviction, that this doctrine is as true as the history which has recorded it? Will he not proceed further to say, 'How then shall I be high-minded! How shall I not fear? How shall I deny the cause of the evil tendencies of my own heart, the sins of my own life, the thoughts of foolishness, and the actings of iniquity within myself? And will not such serious enquiry, by God's grace, acting on the study of the characters of these highly eminent, but not perfect worthies of old times, patriarchs, prophets, and saints, lead the enquirer, through the redemption, wrought for all, and faith in the operation of the blessed Spirit, to that effectual repentance and fervent prayer, to which, in this same Divine history, such gracious promises are made?

Had the Holy Scriptures kept back from man the faithful delineations of the illustrious characters to which we have referred, the truth of the doctrine in question, though occasionally felt, and in spite of his resistance forced upon him, would not have been believed; or, if believed, would not have been acknowledged.