as the works of the natural man, and those of the disciples of Christ! Let us beware how we suppose that because a man cannot be saved by morality of one sort, therefore he can be saved without morality of the other sort; that because one who rejects the gospel will not be saved for being a moral man, therefore,— there is a hope of salvation for an immoral professor of the gospel! Christian morality assumes to itself no merit-it sets up no arrogant claim to God's favour-it pretends not to open the gates of heaven; it is only the handmaid in conducting the christian believer in his road towards them. Without it, no man shall enter in : but they who disesteem and reject it, are well apprised by God's word of the evil which they shall incur; when Christ shall command "the workers of iniquity," the slothful and unprofitable servant to depart from him, and when “vengeance shall be taken in flaming fire on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."-We see here, that christian morality is the handmaid of religion-that it is its constant companion, and that the good fruits which should grow from religion will not ripen nor even bud, unless, moral sanctions are obeyed, and christion morality the daily principle of your life. Without it, in fact, no man shall enter heaven! Take Christ's counsel-" sin no more, lest a worse thing befall you." Glory not in your shame. In Deut. xvii. 12 & 13th, when a presumptuous sinner is punished, God says,— "all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously." It is certain that the wicked are intended by God as examples, and monuments of his wrath and vengeance to terrify others. This is corroborated by the Psalmist," Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword: from men which are thy hand, O Lord; from men of the world which have their portion in this life." (Psalm xvii. 13 & 14th verse.) And again in the 145th Psalm, 20th verse. All the wicked will he destroy." "The Lord hath made all things for Himself; yea, even the wicked for the day of evil," (Prov. xvi. 4th verse.)

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We cannot shut our eyes to the fact, that even with the besto f

us, there is a bias which strongly sways us to evil. And one great cause is the want of good example. There are many walking in the ways of their natural state, who would feel much displeased were you to suspect them deficient in christian morality, since their outward professions of religion appear good, and therefore would be ready to say as Hazael did to the prophet, What! are thy servants dogs, that they should do such great things as these are? If however, they are discovered in their true characters, and they are found to be but nominal Christians-they will take you back to primitive times, as a justification of their individual failings; and also the inconsistency of those living around them. Thus the intemperate will look upon Noah as a companion, and discover thereby his nakedness in a worse sense than ever Cham did :—would point to Lot, who was incestuous; to David who murdered, and Peter who abjured.—The unclean sensualist will also quote David, and call him in to be the patron of his debauchery—to be the palliation of his wickedness.

When error overtakes a godly man, profane scoffers take advantage of it, and eagerly exclaim,-"This is one of your godly ones; This is one of the sanctified gang!" But remember, this is blasphemy against religion. It is not the righteous man who errs, but it is the corrupt part in him; as St. Paul says, "It is no more I, but sin that dwelleth in me, for the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." (Rom. vii. 17 & 19.) "Take heed," says our Saviour, "lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life." St. Paul writes-" Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. Put off all anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth." God is no respecter of persons, and every one that feareth him, and worketh righteousness will be accepted by him. "Pure religion and undefiled before God

and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

I have been induced to dwell at great length on this subject,— because I think it expedient for all; especially in the training up of the rising generation. The Young are taught that christianity is a system of spiritual influences, of internal operations on the soul, and of repentant preparation for another life; whilst they cannot be too often reminded that it is an exposition of pure and lofty principles, addressed to responding faculties in human nature itself, and therefore capable of being practically applied in this world. God is one, and therefore we may reasonably infer that he has created harmony, and adapted the physical department to the moral, and the moral to the physical, bringing all into one. The very command of the apostle "to set our affections on things above,” to value our souls by endeavouring to save them, to be charitable as belonging to the temple of God, to eschew selfishness, contention, and the vanities of life, to exercise brotherly love, to walk by faith and be given unto good works, clearly prove that our nature is capable of following these precepts and rendering us happy or miserable, as far as we practise or neglect them.

Nevertheless, we find sin still abounding, and some pleading that "they cannot help it, it is their natural infirmity; and that their position in the world, and the world's demands upon them, render them unfit for acting as their convictions lead them, and their conscience tells them to be necessary." Thus many meet together and encourage one another in sin; but what awaits them? "If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." (Hebrews, x. 26 & 27th.)

Remember Lot's wife! She set out with her husband from Sodom, concluding she was safe. She looked back, and became a pillar of salt. Are there none like her looking back? What is the frame of mind with most of us during the week? Greedy of gain, 1 seeking a livelihood. Anxious to do well in the world, and

almost wholly directed to pursuits which tend to this result. Sunday dawns upon us-we are seen in the Lord's house, and if asked the question "Friend how camest thou in hither?" many of us would be puzzled to find an answer. We are awakened by some impressive sermon, we are commanded to love God with all our heart and soul, to resist the world, the flesh, and the devil, and we are implored to take heed against the subjugation of animal pleasure, sordid selfishness, and worldly ambition. At the time we assent to these truths, and resolve as it were to reform,—we are perhaps alarmed by the admonitions of scripture, and feel we will no longer be like Agrippa, "almost persuaded to be a Christian;" but that we will at once believe, repent, and pray, and lead henceforth a sober, righteous, and godly life, not separating religion and morality, faith and works, but proving our religion by our moral conduct in christian holiness, and our course of living; and showing our faith by bringing forth good fruits which will be plenteously rewarded in the world to come.

But on Monday morning, where are we? What are we doing? Away flies the merchant to his bargains, the farmer to his plough, and the lawyer to his briefs, with corresponding assiduity :-the manufacturer, the mechanic, the artizan again commence their ceaseless toil; and all are carried down the great stream of enterprize, and social institutions, and pursuits. I do not say that men err by gaining means for supporting themselves, but I do disapprove of an undue attention to worldly business in order to amass wealth, and be thought great in the world, richer than our neighbours; and it is this which renders the mind and heart less capable for carrying out those religious and moral duties which characterise the christian condition. Such, I assert, are like Lot's wife, looking back! Some may say, are we then not to provide for ourselves, by attending to our worldly interests?" Certainly, yes! for "if any provide not for his own, specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel ;"but you are to be in the world, and yet not of it,-to live above it :

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to soar by conduct and principle, as well as by knowledge, above the follies and impurities of this life; and assume our station in the world not only as rational beings, but as Christians, turning away our eyes from beholding vanity, and quickened by the grace of God. Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

"How far the little candle throws his beams!

So shines a good deed in a naughty world."

Perhaps, my reader will exclaim, “This is all very true, but how can I act up to it?" Remember, to walk in communion with God, and to live peacefully with man, requires no obvious nor intrusive labours. You may be no orator, yet when the ear hears you, it may bless you; you may be no wit, yet you may cause the widow's heart to sing; you may be no author, but your life can be an epistle. No coal from the altar may kindle your lips, but the thoughts of your heart may hold sweet converse with your heavenly Father. No persecutor may summon you to martyrdom, but you may give up your life, counting it not dear, so that you win Christ and be found in Him. You may not be called to fight with the beasts at Ephesus; but you are commanded to conquer passions, propensities, and appetites within; and whatever may be your calling and station in which Providence hath placed you here, be assured you have the power to follow after holiness; and "without holiness, no man shall see the Lord."

Therefore, let this bring before you, your great responsibility! for every thought and word that " coming out of the man, defile the man.' Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." Be useful, by exercising influence over those who are living in irreligion and immorality