ed unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it." Matt. vii. 26, 27. when he said, "If ye being evil, Nor should we cease to watch There is nothing, however, in as well as pray. the sayings of Christ, to discou-transform himself into an angel of rage those who are hungering and light, it is of the utmost moment thirsting after righteousness; and to be secure against his plausible there is not a man on the face of delusions. It is essential that the the earth who would not be safe in sword of our warfare be a true fleeing to the Saviour, and in living | Jerusalem blade; and such is the by faith on him from day to day. volume of inspiration. Our Lord But faith is produced by heavenly himself used this sword, when he influence, and does not exist with-resisted the tempter by referring out its kindred graces. In short, him to what was written. This, the graces of the Spirit are like the then, should be a constant weapon colours of the rainbow, in which in our warfare. Whatever leads one colour never appears alone; us to a devout attention to the and in which each colour is vivid word of God, should excite our or faint, in proportion to the vivid- gratitude to divine Providence; ness or faintness of the other co- but the word of God itself is "the lours. In the Christian life, indeed, sword of the Spirit," with which there is not at all times equal scope the Christian must fight his way to for the display of all the graces, heaven. Nor should Scripture be but as far as there is scope, the wrested from its connection. In blended colours of the spiritual fact, by such a procedure, even rainbow are found to co-exist. the atheist might receive counteNow, at all times there is scope nance in his awful error. For the for the love of holiness, and there- words, "There is no God," are fore if any graces exist, this can- certainly words to be found in Ps. not be dormant. It is impossible, xiv. 1. But the moment the contherefore, for genuine faith to exist, nection is consulted, it will be without being accompanied by the seen that this atheistical language love of holiness; and consequent- is the language of a man abhorred ly no man flees to Christ, without by the Holy One of Israel. Let wishing to be saved from the power, no man, therefore, deceive himas well as from the guilt of sin. self, or suffer Satan to deceive him, It is the want of this union of de-by separating what God has joined sires that makes the prayers of together. If any man "lack wismere professors like sounding brass dom, let him ask of God, that or a tinkling cymbal. "Ye ask," says James," and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your inordinate desires." James, iv. 3. Thus we may see the importance of being led by the Spirit of God, and thus we may learn to appreciate the encouragement given by our Lord, giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James, i. v. And having thus sought wisdom from above, let the man who wishes to be right endeavour to ascertain the mind of the Spirit of God, by diligent reading and serious meditation. Yea, let him seek wisdom as silver, sures. and search for her as for hid trea-ance of its happy effects in proThus, whilst the misled moting an heavenly tranquillity and professor has midnight darkness sacred composure of soul. Matt. around him, and an awful preci- xi. 29. pice before him (Prov. iv. 19.), "the path of the just becomes more and more enlightened, till the effulgence of day descends upon it, and makes it as safe as it is delightful." Stratford, Essex. J. F. We hinted already at the tendency of Gospel doctrines to cherish the deepest humility; let us add a more particular exemplification of that remark. Surely you cannot reflect upon any of the great truths of the everlasting Gospel, which are the sources of all your consolation, without perceiving abund THE NATURE, EVIDENCES, AND AD-ant reason to be humbled to the VANTAGES OF HUMILITY. BY THE LATE REV. DR. JOHN RYLAND, OF BRISTOL. (Continued from p. 502.) Very dust. For instance, can we think of the mediation of Christ, the foundation of all our hope, and forget what rendered a mediator THE great advantages of humility necessary? If we had been what may be easily gathered from the we ought to have been, we should preceding observations. These, have stood in no need of any. Nor and many other considerations, is it usual, among wise men, to should be improved by you, dear have a mediator employed to settle brethren, as motives to excite you a trifling dispute. But our offences, earnestly to seek after, and con- alas! were far from trifling. They stantly to cultivate, this inesti- were great-so great, that even in mable grace, as well as to watch the opinion of the Friend of sinagainst the opposite evil, pride. ners, the Mediator who undertook Humility is a characteristic where- to reconcile us to God, it must by God has often described his have been an everlasting reproach dear children, and under which he on the divine character, to forgive has addressed to them many of the them without a sacrifice. Although exceeding great and precious pro- he had such interest with our ofmises of his word. God has re- fended Sovereign, on the one hand, commended this ornamental grace and was so hearty in desiring our to you, as "of great price in his salvation on the other, he could do sight," 1 Pet. iii. 4.; and exhorted nothing in the case without becomyou to be clothed therewith, as ing our surety, and making himself with a garment," 1 Pet. v. 5. Our a sacrifice for our sins; he could Lord declares, that he that is most not pretend to desire any mitigahumble, and like "a little child, tion of our punishment, but would the same is the greatest in the king-sooner bear it all himself, than let dom of heaven." Matt. xviii. 4. it be suspected that God could Accordingly, the most eminent connive at such guilt as ours. But saints have always excelled in this can we ever forget what made such grace. It is one of the most con- a mediator and such a sacrifice spicuous beauties in the lovely necessary-a sacrifice of more character of Jesus, and wherein he worth than all the universe? The particularly exhibits himself as his need of such merit proves our depeople's example, sweetly inviting merit, and thus reflects shame on them to learn of him, who is meek us in the highest degree. If we and lowly in heart, with an assur- would lie low, let us repair to foresaw our universal apostacy, have determined to sacrifice one sinner to his justice as another, when he knew all would do things worthy of death. You, therefore, have no room for boasting; since unmerited grace alone prevents your calling the damned your brethren, and hell your home. But your election was free and absolute. For if God would have us, he must be determined in the matter. Oh, brethren, with what shame and thankfulness should this idea fill your breasts! Calvary. Say, why did the Son you." If you, brethren, who are of God die the most shameful of called to be saints, look back to all deaths? Was it not that he suf- the original source of your salvafered for the most shameful of all tion in your eternal election, you crimes? Why did he make his exit have equal cause for gratitude and with the wicked, but to shew what self-abasement. How right was we deserved? Why between hea- it for God to take state upon himven and earth, as if unworthy a self, and say"I will have mercy place in either, but to point out on whom I will have mercy!" He our real character? We glory in might as well have passed by one the doctrine of imputed righteous-creature as another, for he was not ness, but even this reflects disgrace bound to insure the happiness of on us. Had we not been naked to any by an absolute decree; and our shame, we should have stood might as well, when he clearly in no need of the righteousness of another. We rejoice when we recollect our effectual vocation, but how should it humble us to reflect what it was which rendered that work necessary! Had we not been like the deaf adder, which stoppeth her ear, which will not hearken to the voice of the charmer, charming never so wisely, the calls of God's word and providence had been sufficient. But we were proof against them. Christ's servants piped to us the melodious songs of of salvation, but we would not dance; they mourned to us, in doleful accents, of hell and damnation, but we lamented not. Mercy and wrath concurred to woo and awe us; were not these sufficient? No, we had loved strangers, and after them we would go. We hated Christ without a cause, and would not come to him for life. Not but that a return to God was a thing right enough in itself, the rightest, fittest, happiest thing in the world. Surely there was misery enough in our former state to sicken us, and charms enough in Christ to allure us to him. Nothing prevented it but wilful ignorance, obstinacy, enmity, unbelief, pride, and madness. It must be our extreme badness of heart, that rendered that promise necessary "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within Furthermore, do we rejoice in an unchangeable covenant? Never let us forget what rendered such a covenant necessary. Was it that God wanted binding? Was he ever known to be fickle or false? No, but he knew what we should prove. Every promise in the covenant of grace implies something exceeding bad in us. Why did Jehovah say, "I will make a new covenant?" Was it because the former covenant was a bad one? No, but finding fault with THEM, he saith, will make a new covenant," &c. Heb. viii. 8. Why did he add, “I will be their God, and they shall be my people?" No need of this, but for that he knew we would not have him for a God; we would sooner substitute any idol in his room, and give ourselves to any one than him. As if he had said, "I know you; you would sooner the strength of our sinful passions, make a god of your bellies (you and giving God an opportunity to beasts!) than have me; you would display his transcendent wisdom sooner give yourselves to any idol, and glory. Pride is the most stubto any sordid lust, than be my born enemy to God in the human people: but I will, and you shall!" heart, and therefore God will perHis saying, "I will put my law in sist, all through life, in contriving their inward parts, and write it in and executing ways and means to their hearts," &c. is as if he had mortify it. All the way he leads said, "I know that such is their us through the wilderness is a right abominable depravity, I might way to humble us, and bring us write it any where else in vain! down to our own place, that we and even then, so bent are they to may readily give him his own backsliding, that were I not to place, and rejoice in his highness. exert my almighty power, they Study humiliation, therefore, for would go off and apostatize after God is determined to humble you all." So then, if we look forward, if ever he saves you. Indeed, if the promises of continued sancti- you have any true spiritual wisfication and persevering grace dom, you will be thankful for every should still farther excite self- means that promotes this happy abasement. For after God has end, and endeavour to improve all brought us into his ways, we your trials for the increase of your should never hold on if he had not humility. Study the law and gosengaged for us, "they shall not pel, and your own hearts and lives, depart from me.' So then, if ever with this very point in view. Look we get to heaven, it will be be-back on the mischievous madness cause God willed it, and owing to of your former course. Compare nothing else, for we never do any your present attainments with your thing of ourselves but turn away advantages and your obligations. from God. Oh, what humiliating Notwithstanding all the sweet and truths are these! What glory is awful methods God has taken with due to God, and what shame to you, the obligations he has laid 'us! Well might he say, "Not for you under, the infinite pains he your sakes do I this, saith the Lord has taken to bring you to a right Jehovah, be it known unto you; spirit, how much unmortified pride be ashamed and confounded for and rebellion remains to this day! your own ways." Was ever wretch so vile! How far, how infinitely far are you from being what you ought to be! What shame and confusion of face belongs to you! Could you once have thought you would have proved such a froward, ungrateful creature, as you have been since As all the doctrines of God's word are calculated to humble us, so it may be expected all the dealings of his providence will be wisely adapted to answer the same happy end. The most common occurrences of every day may well remind us of our incessant depend-your conversion? How must holy ence on God, and the more remarkable interpositions of his hand in our favour, should inculcate the same truth with additional weight. Our special trials are designed to abase us in a variety of ways, by trying the weakness of our graces, angels or saints in heaven abhor your frame of mind! How must God himself abhor you, did he view you otherwise than as clothed with the righteousness of his Son! Watch, then, and pray against pride; and make the growth of humility a main test of all growth | ed by the Court of Proprietors, at in grace. Examine-do you get the recommendation of John Poynpoorer in spirit than ever, more der, Esq. of Bridewell Hospital. inwardly and deeply sensible of It is gratifying to find, from your wants and weakness, your some papers recently printed by vile and sinful defects, your entire the House of Commons, that "the dependence on God, your infinite resident and local officers of the obligations to free grace? And Oriental Government are in favour does this humility appear genuine, of the practicability of abolishing by its influencing your whole con- that sanguinary rite, without the duct, making you more watchful, slightest danger to the British empatient, meek, forgiving, modest, pire in India." thankful, more willing to be the servant of all, &c. ? You cannot well thrive in any other grace, unless you grow in this; and if you increase in real, genuine humility, you cannot be in an ill condition. Without it, all gifts, privileges, honours, and external advantages, are likely to become ruinous temptations to pride, and means of falling into the condemnation of the devil. So far as it is possible for a person to have the exercise of any other grace, while he is greatly de-practice, and the abhorrence in ficient in humility, there is danger which it must be held by the Suthat Satan will take occasion from preme Being, whose protecting thence to lift him up to the pinnacle arm the British Government is the of spiritual pride, that he may instrument of extending to them afterwards cast him down into an for every good purpose, and for horrible pit of sin and sorrow. In shielding them from every injustice fact, all supposed experiences that and oppression." are not accompanied with deep humility, are suspicious and dangerous, if not wholly delusive. BURNING OF WIDOWS IN INDIA. The Report of the Committee thus concludes: "If the result should be a determination to prohibit the practice, we would recommend that the prohibition be accompanied or preceded by a conciliatory address to the inhabitants of the districts in which the practice prevails, expressive of the benevolent motives, and regard to their happiness in which it originated, and pointing out the extreme wickedness and cruelty of the REGISTER OF BIRTHS. IT will be gratifying to our readers to be informed, that from a decision of the Vice Chancellor, Nov. 1827, the validity of the register of births at Dr. Williams's Library has been established. FOR some years past the hideous practice of Suttees, or of widows being burnt with the bodies of their deceased husbands, has not been It having become necessary in a done without the permission of the Chancery suit, that a person named British Resident of the district John Wood, of Croydon, whose having been first obtained. It parents and himself were of the appears that the Court of Direct- Baptist denomination, should be ors had sent a letter of instructions proved to be of age, a copy of the to the Bengal Government (which register of his birth from the above they refused to adopt), previously mentioned Library was obtained, to the condemnatory resolutions and his father and another person, of the horrid practice lately adopt- who were present at his birth, |