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of religion, by pleading that they can do nothing without the sensible influence of grace upon their minds. I once heard," adds Mr. Buck, a zealous minister (now with God) talking in his sleep, which was a very customary thing with him, and lamenting this disposition in some professors, which he thus reproved: I am a poor creature, says one; and I can do nothing, says another. No, and I am afraid you do not want to do much. I know you have no strength of your own, but how is it you do not cry to the strong for strength?"

Chap. iii, ver. 8, 9.-Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

An Indian and a white man, being at worship together, were both brought under conviction by the same sermon. The Indian was shortly after led to rejoice in pardoning mercy. The white man, for a long time, was under distress of mind, and at times almost ready to despair, but at length he was also brought to a comfortable experience of forgiving love. Some time after, meeting his red brother, he thus addressed him :-" How is it, that I should be so long under conviction, when you found comfort so soon ?” Oh brother," replied the Indian, "me tell you; there come along a rich prince, he propose to give you a new coat; you look at your coat, and say I don't know; my coat pretty good; I believe will do a little longer. He then offer me new coat; I look on my old blanket; I say, this good for nothing; I fling it right away, and accept the new coat. Just

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so brother, you try to keep your own righteousness for some time; you loth to give it up: but I, poor Indian, had none; therefore I glad at once to receive the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Chap. iii, ver. 12.-I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Mr. John Welsh, grandson of Mr. Welsh of Ayr, being pursued with unrelenting rigor, was one time quite at a loss where to go, but depending on Scottish hospitality, and especially on the providence of God, he in an evening called at the house of a gentleman of known hostility to field preachers, and particularly to himself. He was kindly received. In the course of conversation, Welsh was mentioned, and the difficulty of getting hold of him: "I know," says the stranger, "where he is to preach to-morrow, and will give you him by the hand." At this the gentleman was very glad, and engaged the company of his guest with great cordiality. They set off next morning, and when they arrived at the congregation, they made way for the minister, and also for his host. He desired the gentleman to sit down on the chair, where he stood and preached. During the sermon the gentleman seemed much affected: At the close Mr. Welsh gave him his hand, which he cheerfully received, and said, "You said you were sent to apprehend rebels, and I a rebellious sinner have been apprehended this day."

Chap. iv, ver. 11.-I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be con

tent.

To a clergyman who once visited Mr. Newton when confined by weakness, he said, "The Lord has a sovereign right to do what he pleases with his own. I trust we are his, in the best sense, by purchase, by conquest, and by our own willing consent. As sin

ners, we have no right, and if believing sinners, we have no reason to complain; for all our concerns are in the hand of our best friend, who has promised that all things shall work together for his glory, and our final benefit. My trial is great; but I am supported, and have many causes for daily praise.'

Chap. iv, ver. 18.-But I have all, and abound I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.

"Last week," says General Burn, "just as my heart was poring over the disappointment I met with in my expected promotion, and anticipating all the miseries of accumulating debt, a dear friend of mine, in the military profession, called upon me; and taking me aside into a private room, made me promise I would ask him no questions, which, when I had done, with some hesitation, he put a bank note into my hand, saying, he was desired to give it me, but with the strongest injunctions never to divulge from whence it came. I put it into my pocket without looking at it, repeatedly thanking him, and my generous benefactor, for the very acceptable present. Dinner being upon the table, we went in, sat down, and dined; my mind all the time occupied about which of my creditors I should pay off first, imagining I had perhaps a ten or twenty pound note, which I longed to look at, but was ashamed to do it before my friend. Soon after dinner, I took an opportunity to step out of the room to satisfy my anxious curiosity. But oh! how was my heart filled with grateful emotions when I found two notes, one of five and the other of a hundred pounds, a present of an hundred guineas! To attempt a description of my feelings at that time, would be in vain; those who have experienced the overflowings of a grateful heart can only guess at them. I was so overcome with a view of the Lord's

goodness, that I knew not how to express myself, and was afraid my friend would think me insensible of the favor bestored. When he was gone, and I had communicated the purport of his visit to Mrs. B. we both wept, and in broken accents with eyes and hearts directed to heaven, expressed our obligation to the God of all our mercies, for his seasonable and ample supply, in answer to our united and repeated prayers.

I have now enjoyed the pleasure of paying all my debts, of contributing to the relief of others, and of purchasing many articles absolutely necessary to my family. Oh how good the Lord has been to us, unworthy as we are of the least of all his mercies!"

COLOSSIANS.

Chap. i, ver. 13.-Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

When Libussa, princess of Bohemia, bad first ennobled and then married Primaslaus, who before was a plain husbandman, in remembrance of his first condition, he brought with him a pair of wooden shoes. Being asked the cause, he answered, "I brought them, that they might be set up for a monument in the castle of Visegrode, and shown to my successors, that all may know the first prince of Bobemia was called from the cart to this high dignity; and that I myself, who am brought to wear a crown, may remember I have nothing whereof to be proud." Let the Christian be humble and grateful, when he contrasts his former with his present state.

Chap. i, ver. 28.—Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

During a recent voyage, sailing in a heavy sea,"

near a reef of rocks, a minister on board the vessel, remarked, in a conversation between the man at the helm and the sailors, an inquiry whether they should be able to clear the rocks without making another tack; when the captain gave orders that they should put off, to avoid all risk. The minister observed, “ I am rejoiced that we have so careful a commander." The captain replied, "it is necessary I should be very careful, because I have souls on board. I think of my responsibility; and should any thing happen through carelessness, that souls are very valuable!"The minister, turning to some one of his congregation, who were upon deck with him, observed, "The captain has preached me a powerful sermon; I hope I shall never forget, when I am addressing my fellow creatures on the concerns of eternity, that I have souls on board."

Chap. ii, ver. 15.-And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Mr. Venn, in his last illness, exhibited at times, in the midst of extreme feebleness of body, signs of great joy and gladness. Some of his friends, who visited him in his declining state, endeavoured to encourage his mind, by bringing to his recollection his useful labors in the Lord's vineyard. While one of them was enlarging in the same strain, the dying saint, raised from a state of oppressive languor, and deeply sensible of his own insufficiency, with great animation exclaimed, “ Miserable comforters are ye all,— I have had many to visit me, who have endeavored to comfort me, by telling me what I have done. • He hath spoiled principalities and powers,-He hath made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in his cross.' This, sir, is the source of all my consolation, and not any thing I have done."

Chap. ii, ver. 23.-Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship and

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