ing to their improvement of them. He that gained ten pounds, shall have authority over ten cities; and he that gained five pounds, shall be over five cities. The apostles, those wise master-builders, shall be preferred to the distinguishing honours of sitting on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Other wise men shall shine as the brightness of the "firmament, but those who have turned many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever."

All the faithful servants of Jesus Christ, who "feed the flock of God, taking the oversight thereof, not by restraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind," shall stand with honour before "the Judge of all." But those who are attended with the largest train of happy souls, shall appear with peculiar glory. The sinners they have converted, and the saints they have edified, are now "their hope, and will be their joy and rejoicing, in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at his coming." Each of these shall be a jewel to adorn the crown that fadeth not away," which "the chief Shepherd" shall then put upon their heads,

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To conclude, let us make the most vigorous efforts for the revival of religion, that it may appear in its native purity, and triumph over every thing that obstructs the propagation of it. For our encouragement, the season is approaching, when "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord;" when he ❝ will comfort Zion," and make her wilderness like Eden. In these happy times, Christianity shall have a powerful influence on its professors; righteousness and peace shall flourish among them, and Jerusalem shall be a praise in the earth. All the dif ferent characters of Christians shall be improved; ministers and people shall be a crown of glory-in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of their God: their honourable and useful lives shall conclude with an abundant entrance into that blessed world of light, life, and love, where religion shall shine in its brightest glory, without the least mixture of imper fection or decay. Amen.

THE TRUTH OF GOD DEFENDED,

REVIEW OF "A SEQUEL TO CELEBS," &c.

(Concluded from page 359.)

It is well known, that in the fashionable walks of life in general, every appearance of true piety is represented as an effect of melancholy, madness, or fanaticism. An account of Sedley's having secluded himself from what is called the gay world, being strangely accounted for in an assembly of fashion, Colonel

* 3G 2*

Barry, in the true style of libertinism, thus addresses his former companior. in sinful pleasures: "LAST night, at Lady Bab Lawless's rout, I heard much whispering about you. On listening more attentively, I heard, 'It's absolutely shocking! he is drawn in by a methodistical set at Bath, and they say his head is quite turned.' 'Yes,' said another lady, I have a letter which I'll read you:'-'Poor Sedley's far gone, I assure you: he met with some canting hypocrite of a parson at Bath, who has a niece to dispose of, and knowing that Sedley has a good living in his gift likely soon to fall in, he has fawned upon him; and has so ingratiated himself into favour, that the man is changed from being the life of all companies, into a mere mope: he reads, walks, and rides, but all alone; nor has a soul seen him since he returned to Charlwood. They expect to find him some day hanged in one of his woods, or drowned in the canal. The servants say he is a better master than ever; but we see through this: it is told to keep up the hum-in short, he will be fit for Bedlam in a month, unless he can be taken out of these people's clutches." ‘Z——ds,' said I, who are you speaking of: not of my friend Sedley? It is a true bill,' said an old tabby who was in the group, and he is lost, you may depend on't.' Shocking!' four or five voices exclaimed at once; 'Come, Colonel, why don't you go down, and try to rouse him out of all this?" So I will, said I, and I'll set off to-morrow.' Now this is to inform you, that Harry Wilding and myself shall leave town to-morrow, and reach you to dinner at six next day. I hope half they say of you is not true; I make large allowances for what such coteries relate. Prepare for us, and be once more happy with

D, B."

In Sedley's reply to Colonel B. we discover that even the dawnings of religion invest such as possess them with a considerable portion of true, sober dignity of character. But the reader will judge for himself.

"Sir,-You desire me to prepare for you, and I obey your commands by sending to the post town, to prevent your taking fresh horses there, unless you can submit to my conditions in the proposed visit. I see no ladies at present; and especially those of the description you mention. If you choose to come alone, as an old friend, I shall receive you as such; but as I never knew much of your friend Wilding, I must beg to be excused; though had he been with you alone, I should have exercised the rights of hospitality towards him. I have indeed changed my sentiments much since I saw you, and am studying a new road to happiness, having failed of success in all others I have tried. I am not melancholy, as you will be convinced, if you choose to *We purposely omitted that part of the Colonel's letter, which describes the unhappy females which he was bringing to Charlwood.

come; but I am rationally serious. The clergyman of whom your kind and well-informed ladies spoke, has no niece to dispose of, nor any living to expect, being well settled in a parish that he would not quit for the bishopric of Durham. I have happily been introduced to his acquaintance through a family of great respectability and fortune, of easy and cheerful manners, but who think that the great business of life is to answer the end of their creation, in glorifying God, doing good to their fellow-creatures, and preparing for heaven; and this, I trust, will be my business through life. I bitterly lament the mis-spent time I have passed with you and others, to the shameful neglect of this my patrimonial domain, where I am endeavouring to make all the amends I can; and I feel every day more happy, as I find strength to persevere in the path of duty." (Page 106-110.

The gravity, manly sense, and christian resolution, manifest in this letter, prevented Colonel B. and his unhappy companions from paying their intended visit.

The 25th letter contains a striking and interesting account of the surprise manifested by some persons of fashion, on finding that Sedley, after all they had heard to the contrary, continued a rational being. Being invited to dine with him, "they came with evident marks of astonishment on their countenances, to see him so cheerful and hospitable, though a changed man. Their looks (continues the writer) towards each other at table, proclaiming their wonder, rather diverted us; and at last I heard one of the ladies say, in the drawing-room, to her mother, 'Why he seems quite in his senses, I'm sure.' He conversed freely, but chose generally subjects of importance and utility, without forcing them on the company; and in this Sir George always joined him. At departing, one of the gentlemen said, 'Indeed, Sir George, I never paid such a visit as this at Charlwood since good old Mr. Sedley died; this young gentleman could never, till now, bear to be contradicted, even by much older men. Now he assumes nothing; but listens particularly to objections, and answers coolly. I heartily wish we had more such men around us: it would make this neighbourhood one of the most delightful in the world.' He was to tell the whole bench the next day the wonders he had seen,-that religion left a gentleman in the full use of his senses, and rendered him more agreeable and useful than he had ever been. What an astonishing discovery will it be!" (Page 128.)

The necessity of faith, in order to salvation, is ably maintained in the 27th letter. From a quotation contained in that part of the work, we transcribe the following excellent observations. They are such as are capable of carrying conviction to the mind of every reader, who does not arrogantly and absurdly imagine himself too wise to need instruction from infinite Wisdom.

"The Scriptures inform us of an indispensable ingredient in the religious character, without which they declare it impossible to please God. Who, then, whose desire is to please him, would want this qualification? How can a man be religious without such desire? How can he hope for acceptance, unless this desire be fulfilled? This necessary preliminary of divine approbation is Faith: the import of the very word is worth considering, as implying belief; also trust, confidence. When these fully possess the soul, as they relate to the supreme Being and his dispensations, the soul is at rest, for it reposes on the goodness of God. Thus, in some degree, may be discovered, the reason or cause that faith is so acceptable to him. Faith takes away the solicitude to know why one mode of salvation is proposed in preference to another. It believes that to be best, which it believes God to have ordained; and it acquiesces where it cannot fathom. The fall and redemption of man, subjects the most momentous that can engage the human mind, and against which infidelity is often aiming its bolts, present no insurmountable difficulties to the view of faith. Well might our Lord declare belief to be the condition of salvation! The Scripture relates the fall of man; and our experience and observation prove to us, that man is indeed in a debased state, 'serving divers lusts and pleasures, hateful and hating. The Scripture also gives an account of the occasion of this fall, which was no other than not believing a divine command. It is also worthy of remark, as we proceed, that this disbelieved and disobeyed injunction was not directed against what is called a moral evil; but immorality came quickly in upon the fall of man. Now, how simple! how little requiring the mazes of deep and critical investigation! How adapted to the wayfaring man, though a fool,' is the plain, obvious consideration, that if want of faith, made man fall, faith naturally restores him! If we pursue the subject a little farther, we may recollect, that the tempter seduced Eve by means of specious, though fallacious reasoning, against the divine precept and prohibition. So in like manner, as perverted reason led on the fall, unenlightened and biassed reason still averts the mind from the offered restoration in Christ. But before we quit this subject, it will be proper to observe the manner in which Christ effects this restoration. Not by a bare belief of that which Christ has performed on behalf of man ; but by a full belief also in all his precepts, so far as they are made known; accompanied, as it must be, with an attempt to conform to them, and with a reliance on the succour of the Holy Spirit. It may suffice that pride, anger, lust, deceit, and covetousness, must soon take their departure; and the very kingdom of heaven be revealed in the heart, where humility, love, purity, truth, and contentment, have made their abode.

"A great man, of old, said, 'O taste and see that the Lord is good.' This saying may be considered as an invitation, to let doctrine be submitted to the test of experience. And it will be found, that if any one will humbly and sincerely accept the written revelation of Scripture, and will set about the practice of a Christian life in good earnest, as he will find it there laid down, such a one will not be long without observing his own extreme inability to persevere in a steady course of true gospel obedience. He will discover the want of some help and consolation-of something that can strengthen his good purposes in the moment of temptation and weakness, and calm his almost desponding mind, dejected under the consideration of his former failings and sins. He will find that he is not to expect help from a world, whose pursuits are become irksome: he will perceive great part of his acquaintance to have little relish for religion; and many of those who make profession of it, to be as weak as himself. But the difficulty of procuring help to obtain an object, when the mind continues persuaded of its importance and value, may increase the fervency of the desire to be helped. Then feeling from certain and painful experience the want of a Saviour, the mind is glad to believe that there is one. It is the only source left from which help can be expected to spring; and most rationally, under this feeling, doth the soul address itself in secret supplication for this assistance. In due time, though possibly not exactly when it is craved, the balm arrives; the soul, to use the scripture-phrase, finds grace to help in time of need; and experiences the completion of the promises of Christ, Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.' 'Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.' So far Scripture, as applicable to the soul's particular state, is proved and found true hy experience. By experience also is faith strengthened, and hope confirmed. Then the mind is not pre-disposed to controvert difficult and obscure parts of Scripture; for doubt, like other things, requires its adequate soil to grow in the manifest is accepted, and no attempt is made with unhallowed hands, to rend the veil from that which is more mysterious; or, failing in this, to consign it to the catalogue of the apocryphal. Faith now directs the use of reason; and when faith is once firmly fixed on Christ, the most implicit obedience to the precepts of the gospel is an act of the highest reason." (Page 150-155.)

:

Sedley, after his return from the island of Jersey, to which he had sailed to perform an act of justice, and in which, before his departure, he performed several acts of substantial charity; gave, in one of his letters, the following account of an emigrant priest, who had renounced the errors of popery.

"I was enjoying moon-light on the deck, when I observed a