It is hard to love the imperfect creature, without mistakes, and inordinacy in our love. And therefore usually where we love most, we sin most and our sin finds us out : and then we suffer most: and too much affection is the forerunner of much affliction; which would be much prevented, if faith might be the guide of love, and human love might be made divine; and all be referred to the things unseen, and animated by them. Love where you can never love too much; where you are sure to have no disappointments; where the only error is, that God hath not all; and the only grief,

that we love no more.

Especially in the midst of your enticing pleasures, or enticing employments and profits in the world, foresee the end; do all in faith, which telleth you, "The time is short; it remaineth that both they that have wives, be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as though they used it not: for the fashion of this world passeth away." 1 Cor. vii. 29, 30.

by the persons referred to against the Puritans generally, he proceeds as follows:

"And now I must speak to the accuser's speeches of myself. I thank you, sir, that you feigned no worse of me. If I am a leading heretic, why would not you vouchsafe to name that heresy which I have owned. I have given you large field-room, in near eighty books: and few men can so write, as that a willing man may not find some words which he is able to call heresy. 2. But seriously, do you not know my judgment? Will not about eighty books inform you (what are my sentiments?) How then can I help it? But you know not what party I am of, nor what to call me: I am sorrier for you in this than for myself; if you know not, I will tell you; I am a CHRISTIAN, a MERÉ CHRISTIAN, of no other religion; and the church that I am of is the Christian Church. But must you know what sect or party I am of? I am against all sects and dividing parties? But if any will call mere Christians by the name of a party, because they take up with mere Christianity, Creed, and Scripture, and will not be of any dividing or contentious sect, I am of that party which is so against parties?

&c.

THE following is from the pen of Richard Baxter. It was written in answer to a person who spoke of him as a Chief Heretic, and complained that he could not tell to what party he belonged, &c. There is a very considerable resemblance in many particulars between the times of Baxter and our own times, and I doubt not but that it will be both pleasant and profitable to learn what was the judgment of so great and so good a man on some of the questions that are at present agitating the minds of many of our readers. It will be pleasing also to those who are represented as heretics and ill-designing men, because they cannot subject their judgments and consciences to the will of any party, to find that while thus reproached for conscience sake, they are suffering no more than what has fallen to the lot of the most excellent of the earth. After answering certain vile charges brought

enough, call me a CATHOLICK CHRISTIAN; not as that word signifieth an hereticating majority of bishops, but as it signifieth one that hath no religion but that which by Christ and the Apostles was left to the Catholick Church, or the body of Jesus Christ on earth.

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And now, sir, I am sorry that you are not content with mere Christianity, and to be a member of the Catholick Church, and hold the Communion of Saints, but that you must needs also be of a sect, and have some other name? And how shall I know that your sect is better than another? Were it not that the Papists are Sectaries and Schismaticks, damning most of Christ's body on earth, for not being subject to their Pope, I should not be so much against them. I find promises of salvation in the Scriptures to believers, that is, Christians as such, (if such sincerely) but none of salvation to men as Papists, Diocesans, Grecians,

Nestorians, Eutychians, &c., I would say also, nor as Protestants, did I not take the religion called Protestant (a name which I am not fond of) to be nothing but simple Christianity, with opposition to Popery, and other such corruptions. And now you know your own designs; your tongue is your own, and who can control you, whatever you will call us? But I, and such others, call ourselves MERE CHRISTIANS, or CATHOLICK CHRISTIANS, against all sects and sectarian names, and haters both of true Heresy, Schism, and proud, unrighteous, hereticating and anathematizing. Psal. 4. O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after lying But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself. Psal xii. 5. Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, for the faithful fail among the children of men.

His remarks on the slanderous reports circulated respecting the Puritans generally, are also worthy of notice:"Two crimes I have long ago heard the rabble charge on those whom they call Puritans, Lying and Covetousness; whereas near two thousand ministers are cast out, and suffer, which they could mostly escape, if they durst but lye: and, (as to covetousness) if I ask money for the poor, I can sooner get a pound from those called Puritans, than a shilling from others far richer than they.Can I take any men to be other than malignant liars that revile such men as Usher, Hall, Davenant, &c., or who would make me believe that such men as Hildersham, Rogers, Ames, and Bradshaw, were rogues and seditious rebels? Reader, believe not a word of any of the revilings or odious characters and stories, which any aspiring, worldly, factious clergyman writeth of such as are his adversaries. Lying is their too common language. Yea, if they do but once set themselves eagerly to seek preferment, I will never trust them, or take their words more. hath been so of old; the same man that was a saint to his acquaintance, hath been described as wicked, or a devil by others. But the piety and honesty of God's servants is such a self-evidencing thing that pious and honest men that knew them, cannot

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believe their lying slanderers. And when Satan hath done his worst, the very writings of such men as Calvin, Beza, Melancthon, Perkins, Hilder sham, Ames, Usher, Davenant, Hall, &c., will not suffer men to believe their odious revilers. Even among Papists, when I read the works of Bernard, Gerson, Kempis, Thaulerus, Sales, and the lives of Nerius, De Renti, and others, I cannot believe him that would tell me they were wicked men.

"Alas, how little are most histories to be believed, where they prove not what they say. Who can believe such palpable railers as Sympius and others, who make the vulgar believe that Luther learned his religion of the Devil, and was killed by him,

that Oecolampadius was killed by the Devil, and that Bucer [another pious reformer] had his bowels pulled out, and cast about by the Devil,-that Calvin was a stigmatized sodomite and sensualist; that Beza died a Papist (who lived long after to write a confutation), and abundance such. When I have lived in intimate familiarity with holy mortified persons, from my childhood to the sixty-fifth year of my age, and known their integrity, notwithstanding their infirmities, and then read such histories as represent them as most odious, flagitious persons, I see it is not for nothing that some men are called Diaboli, (Devils,) in the Scripture, and the Children of their Father the Devil, who was from the beginning a lying malignant murderer."

"The Lord pardon and heal our common faultiness, and give better teachers to his churches when we are dead and gone, who will take warning by all our errors and miscarriages, especially to escape a worldly spirit, pride, church tyranny, and schism, and serving the world, the flesh, and the Devil, by pretence of authority from Christ."Baxter's Church History.

THE LORD REIGNETH. THERE is neither chance nor fate in the universe: the providence of God extends over all things. "The Lord reigneth:" "His kingdom extendeth over all." And this is our consolation. We know that while the world is

under the control of God, all must be well. It is impossible that any thing should happen without his knowledge; and it is impossible that he should allow any thing to happen but what he can overrule for good. If the world were governed by chance, we could never be certain whether the good or the bad should be prosperous. Nor would the case be better if all things were governed by fate. In either case, the soul would become the prey of dark and intolerable anxieties. When troubles came upon us, we should sink in despair; we should not have a single plank_on which hope might rest herself. But this is not the case. We are neither chained down by fate, nor left to be the sport of chance: we are in the hands of God. A great, a wise, a good, and an Almighty being, orders all the affairs of time. Whatever happens is under the direction and control of Heaven, and this is reason sufficient why i should be "careful for nothing, but in every thing, by prayer, and supplication, with thanksgiving, make my request known unto God." The followers of Christ may be afflicted and persecuted for the present; but they shall have rest in the end. For a time truth may be borne down, and error may roll on like a flood, bearing down all opposition; but it shall not be so for ever. "The Lord reigneth:" and whatever may be the state of things for the present, he will at length make the truth to triumph; and all iniquity shall hide its head. The enemies of his cause shall be covered with shame and confusion, while those who stood forth boldly against error and sin, and suffered reproach and persecution for the sake of Christ, shall stand forth as the favourites of Heaven, and be clothed with immortal glories.

ing, as presenting to us so early an opinion on various topics of faith and practice. Such an opinion is the following extract, and what must give increased interest to this abstract, is the fact mentioned therein,

that Hermas was one of those disciples, who, by obeying the command "Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth," had escaped the deceitfulness of riches. The reason for the conduct of the Primitive Christians in respect of wealth is here also clearly exhibited.]

"But what are the white and round stones, lady, which are not proper for the building of the Temple! She answering, said unto me, How long wilt thou continue foolish and without understanding; asking every thing, and discerning nothing? They are such as have faith indeed, but have withal the riches of this present world. When, therefore, any troubles arise, for the sake of their riches and traffic they deny the Lord. I answering, said unto her, when therefore will they be profitable to the Lord? When their riches shall be hewn away, says she, in which they take delight, then they will be profitable unto the Lord for his building. For as a round stone, unless it be hewn away, and cast something offits bulk, cannot be made square; so they who are rich in this world, unless their riches be pared off, cannot be made profitable unto the Lord. Learn this from thy own experience: when thou wert rich thou wert unprofitable, but now thou art profitable, and fit for the life which thou hast undertaken; for thou also wert one of those stones."—Book 1. vis. i. sec. 6.

When Hooker was called on to give his judgment respecting a severe and violent work published by an adversary, he simply replied, "All that I mean to say is but this: there will come a time, when three words uttered in charity and meekness shall receive a far more blessed reward than three thousand volumes written with disdainful sharpness of wit. But the manner of men's writings," added he, "must not alienate our hearts from the truth, if it appear they have the truth.”

MRS. CECIL.-"My first convictions on the subject of religion, says the late Rev. R. Cecil, were confirmed by observing that really religious persons had some solid happiness among them, which I felt the vanities of the world could not give. I shall never forget standing by the bed-side of my sick mother. "Are not you afraid to die?" I asked. "No." "No! Why does the uncertainty of another state give you no concern?" "Because God has said, 'Fear not; when thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. Let me die the death of the righteous.'

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A YOUNG MAN.-"The Rev. Thos. Doolittle, at one time, having finished prayer, looked round upon the congregation, and observing a young man, who had just been put into one of the pews, very uneasy in his situation, adopted the following singular expedient to detain him. Turning to one of the members of his church, who sat in the gallery, he asked him this question aloud, "Brother, do you repent of coming to Christ ?"" No, sir," he replied, "I never was happy till I came; I only repent that I did not come to him sooner." The minister then turned to the opposite gallery, and addressed himself to an aged member in the same manner, "Brother, do you repent of coming to Christ?" "No, sir," said he, "I have known the Lord from my youth upwards." He then looked down upon the young man, whose attention was fully engaged, and, fixing his eyes upon him, said, "Young man, are you willing to come to Christ?" This unexpected address from the pulpit, exciting the observation of all the people, so greatly affected him, that he sat down and concealed his face. The person who sat next him encouraged him to rise and answer the question. The minister repeated, "Young man, are you willing to come to Christ ?" With a tremulous voice he replied, " yes, sir." "But when, sir?" added the minister in a solemn and loud tone. He mildly answered, now, sir," "then stay," said he, "and learn the word of God, which you will find in 2 Cor. vi. 2: Behold, now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation.' By this sermon, he

cr

was greatly affected, and came into the vestry, after the service, bathed in tears. The reluctance to stay, which he had discovered, was occasioned by the strict injunctions of his father, who threatened, that if he went to hear such preachers, he would turn him out of doors. Having now heard the Gospel, and being unable to conceal the feelings of his mind, he was afraid to meet his father. The minister sat down and wrote an affectionate letter to him, which had so good an effect, that both father and mother came to hear for themselves. They were both brought to a knowledge of the truth; and, together with their son, were joyfully received into Christian communion."

J. CARTER "The Rev. J. Carter, one of the Puritan ministers, once came unexpectedly behind a Christian of his acquaintance, who was busily occupied in his business as a tanner. He gave him a pleasant tap on the shoulder; the good man looked behind him, started, and said,

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Sir, I am ashamed that you should find me thus." Mr Carter replied, "Let Christ, when he cometh, find me so doing. "What!" said the good man, doing thus?" "Yes," said Mr Carter, "faithfully performing the duties of my calling."

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CONTENTMENT.-MARTIN LUTHER. In the last will and testament of this eminent reformer, occurs the following remarkable passage :—“ Lord God, Î thank thee, for that thou hast been pleased to make me a poor and indigent man upon earth. I have neither house, nor land, nor money, to leave behind me. Thou hast given me wife and children, whom I now restore to thee. Lord, nourish, teach, and preserve them, as thou hast me." This has been the character of every true Reformer: there is no mention of any one being useful in reforming their age, who had not first risen above selfishness and worldly anxiety.

Whatsoever we do, if our own secret judgment consent not unto it as fit and good to be done, the doing of it to us is sin, although the thing itself be allowable. St. Paul's rule therefore generally is, "Let every man in his own mind be fully persuaded of that thing which he either alloweth or doeth." Rom. xiv. 5.-Hooker.

AN AFRICAN SLAVE." The first time the Rev. John Campbell went to Africa, visiting a meeting of slaves, and observing one among them who was particularly attentive, he was induced to make some inquiries respecting him. He was informed that this man had long been an eminent Christian; and that formerly he had endured much opposition from his employer on account of his religion. One day his master assured him that if he went to hear a missionary preach, he would flog him. The poor slave, with simplicity and Christian meekness, replied, I must tell the Lord that." The saying so wrought on the mind of his master that he not only permitted him to go, but his other slaves with him; and after a while he and his wife were found there also."

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A MAN IN INDIA.-"The late W. Ward, of Serampore, once preached from Eccles. xi. 9: "Rejoice, Oh young man, in thy youth," &c. A notorious drunkard became, under this sermon, very seriously convinced of the importance of religion; and, with his wife, a short time afterwards, made a profession of religion. Previously to this, his master had used every means he could devise to persuade him to be sober, but in vain. After this change his employer wished to prevail on him not to attend the chapel; but he replied, "You know, Sir, what a drunkard I have been, and how often you have urged me in vain to leave it off; yet by going once to chapel, I was constrained to do that which none of your remonstrances were able to effect: therefore I wish to go again."

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REMARKS ON A HARSH SPIRIT AND MANNER OF PREACHING." I be lieve," says Cooper, no man was ever scolded out of his sins. The heart, corrupt as it is, and because it is so, grows angry if it be not treated with some management and good manners, and scolds again. A surly mastiff will bear, perhaps, to be stroked, though he will growl even under that operation; but if you touch him roughly he will bite. There is no grace that the spirit of self can counterfeit with more success than religious zeal. A man thinks he is fighting for Christ, and he is fighting for his own notions. He thinks that he is skilfully searching

the hearts of others, when he is only gratifying the malignity of his own, and charitably supposes his hearers destitute of all grace, that he may shine the more in his own eyes, by comparison. When he has perform ed this notable task, he wonders that they are not converted: "he has given it them soundly, and if they do not tremble, and confess that God is in him, of a truth, he gives them up as reprobate, incorrigible, and lost for ever." But a man that loves me, if he sees me in an error, will pity me, and endeavour calmly to convince me of it, and persuade me to forsake it. If he has great and good news to tell me, he will not do it angrily, and in much heat and discomposure of spirit. It is not, therefore, easy to conceive on what ground a minister can justify a conduct which only proves that he does not understand his errand. The absurdity of it would certainly strike him, if he were not himself deluded."

A PIOUS DAUGHTER.—“ Children, says the Rev. W. Jay, have conveyed religion to those from whom they ought to have derived it. "Well," said a mother one day weeping, her daughter being about to make a public profession of religion by going to the Lord's table, "I will resist no longer. How can I bear to see my dear child love and revere the Scriptures, while I never look into the Bible-to see her retire and seek God, while I never pray-to see her going to the Lord's table, while his death is nothing to me? Ah," said she to the minister who called to inform her of her daughter's intention, wiping her eyes, "Yes, sir, I know she is right, and I am wrong-I have seen her firm under reproach, and patient under provocation, and cheerful in all her sufferings. When, in her late illness, she was looking for dissolution, heaven stood in her face. O that I was as fit to die! I ought to have taught her, but I am sure she has taught me. How can I bear to see her joining the church of God, and leaving me behind-perhaps for ever?" From that hour she prayed in earnest, that the God of her child would be her God, and was soon seen walking with her in the way everlasting."