zealous to support one another; nor yet the partiality of friendship. Our Lord exposes this: "For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye?”. Real "brotherly love" should also be distinguished from that tenderness and humanity which is constitutional in some. Eli seems to have been a kind and affectionate parent, but a miserable judge. Beware of any sinful connivance, which must not bear the name of kindness. A Christian is called to bear witness to the truth. St. Paul was as benevolent as any man his love was such, that he wished himself "accursed from Christ" for his brethren according to the flesh; and yet he speaks with vehemence upon certain occasions: (see Gal. i. 9.) He new how to cherish, and how to reprove. Christianity is not merely speculative, nor is it merely devotional. If a man could be always upon his knees-if he could worship as the saints in heaven -yet, it is not enough. He has to consider what are the duties of his station on earth, and what may be reasonably expected of him. See Rev. ii. 2: "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience," &c. We must attend to what God would have us do;-and we must be willing to endure. The Christian is to be a light;-not put under a bushel, but on a candlestick. An ability, and an opportunity to do good, ought to be considered as a call to do it. Nothing discovers more of the presence of God in the soul than self-possession: it is one effect of having put on those graces described Col. iii. 12, 14. The presence of God is a great antidote to fear. Psalm cxii. 7. Isa. xliii. He who fears God, has nothing else to fear: he is made free from slavish fear, which hath torment. He may imagine fearful things: just as a child when asleep in his Father's house, if he awake suddenly, and find himself alone and in the dark, he is afraid, though he is perfectly safe all the while. The Christian's heart, like a clock, has a continual tendency to go down, and equally needs winding up again. Sabbaths are good days for this purpose; but the business must also be repeated every day; and the most advantageous time is the morning, before the cares and anxieties of the day begin to intrude. There is no better way to end a truly spiritual life, than daily to begin such a life. "Our inward man is renewed day by day." This refers to the work of sanctification, and implies diligence. Though spiritual life be given at the time of conversion, yet the functions of this life require time and growth, as in a new-born infant. Neither the mind nor the body are made perfect at once. The advancement of spiritual life is promoted by a diligent attention to the means of grace, meditation on God's word, self-examination,-earnest prayer,patience under affliction,--and charity towards all men. It is but a partial view which many pious persons seem to have of the Church, at this day, with respect to its Ordinances. They are not satisfied if they do not individually receive some help and improvement from the preacher. They do not consider that going to church is rendering homage to God. Though that Ordinance may impart much good to the hearer, it is rather intended as a public acknowledgment of God as a Governor and Protector. Sunday is particularly set apart for that consideration: it is an opportunity for manifesting our regard to Him, ast God. Therefore there can be no excuse for our not frequenting the church, because the minister is not all we could wish. The Children of Israel did not cease to frequent the Tabernacle, though Hophni and Phinehas administered: they still made their acknowledgments. God has said, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst." Abraham planted a grove: perhaps it was more convenient in hot countries. The sons of God presented themselves before the Lord: it is an act of homage: the place is nothing;-it is the sentiment. The Israelites came only to the door of the Tabernacle, because there was no room for the whole congregation. There is, however, no general position which will not meet with objections: but that is no argument against it; for the position is the same, though liable to objections. "We are come to the spirits of just men made perfect," and hold communion with them by our spirits. We have communion with them in their love to God, as Children of the same Father-as claiming the same title-as having the same inheritance-the same blessed mansion; and we unite with them in the same praises. INDEX. ABASEMENT of soul, 140, 305, 451, 458. Abstract theorems, truths of Scripture considered as, 355. Achan, 556. Aching void, none to the Christian, 354. Acts of faith, public benefits, 161. Adoption, Spirit of, 441, 443, 457, 467. Adoration, 140, 366, 383, 401, 423. Adam's, Rev. T., Private Thoughts, reference to, 76, 259, 260. Afflictions, three sources of, 2. supported by Christian hope, 522. aspect of judgments, 124. blessings in disguise, 468, medicinals, 233, 498. Affliction, the post of honour, 124. design of, process of, 187, 499. purifying and sanctifying effects of, 231, 323,347, 435. Afflicted Christian, address to the, 498. Alienation of heart from God, the greatest evil, 498. Allied armies, their entrance into Paris, 308. Amusements, Rules concerning, 13-idle, 145, 555. Answer, made by one of the Fathers, 507. Antinomianism, the real Christian in no danger of, 425. Apollyon, Christian's fight with, 10. Approach of Christ, sometimes alarming, 125—of death, 299. Arbour of rest, in the Christian journey, 289. Arduous work, requires a fixed and single eye, 127. 00 Ark, used figuratively for Christ, 475. Assaults of Satan, 52-3, 133, 160, 483. Asylum, chapel at the, 18. Atheists, benevolence of, what, 551. Atheism, of the heart, 266. Atmosphere, of the world, hurtful, 82, 492. Atonement, resting on the, 443, 548. Attacks of Satan, 153, 469, 480. Attainments, in religion, have humbling appendages, 511. Backsliding, danger of, 39, 70, 82, 555. a Christian always liable to, 309. Barren state, spiritually, 75. Bates, Mrs. Ely, her letters to Mrs. Hawkes, 66, 176. Beatific vision, anticipations of the, 369, 399, 467. Beauty, resulting from a combination of excellencies, 54, 485. B-tt, Mrs., letter to, 328. Berridge, Rev. John, his letter to Mrs. Wilberforce, 448. Best days, 92. Better days, how considered of, 247, 363. Betchworth, Mrs. Hawkes's removal to, 285. Behmen, Jacob, 320. Beulah, Land of, 346. Beveridge, Bishop, his remark, 235, 289. Bible, without notes, 37-a directory, 517-a standard, 534, right way of reading the, 353—present of a, 79—a bul- Bigots, complexion of their charity, 551. Birth of Mrs. Hawkes, 2-spiritual, 441. Birth-place, spiritual, St. John's Chapel, 212, 265, 414. Birth-day, memorandums on her, 362, 376, 404, 419, 430, 441. Mrs. Hawkes goes to, 29, 31, 45, 104, 127, Bligh, Captain, 524. Blindness, judicial, 58. Boarding school, Mrs. H. has thoughts of opening a, 188, 246, 260. Books, written without God, 550. Bounty, his Majesty's armed vessel, The, 524. |