dantly above all that we ask or think, source of delight to the mind; they according to his riches in glory by touch only the proper element of Christ Jesus." The earth in this our susceptibility, and do not penerespect, with all its riches, is indi-trate sufficiently deep to be the gent. Even the splendour of Im- proper basis of our enjoyment. mortality is dark, as to any power But God, as he is a Spirit, is capaof guiding man to happiness, inde-ble of communicating himself to the pendently of the Great Eternal. spirit of his rational creatures. SpiIt belongs to him as the Father of rit comes into contact with spirit; Spirits; for he alone possesses that and this communication of himself power and dominion over all which is infinitely easy to the Divine Being. is necessary, in order to render him He can manifest himself to the the portion and happiness of his hearts of his people, disclose the people. glory of his name to them more and That in which the happiness of a more, open perpetually fresh views rational and mental creature con- of his character, give them fresh sists must be congenial to the na- sensations of ineffable delight in the ture of that creature.-The body contemplation of his excellence, may be made happy by corporeal lead them forward from one departobjects, adapted to gratify senses; ment of his perfections to another, mind can never be made happy ex- and make the whole creation itself cept by mental objects. It rejects speak forth his praises. Thus may with contempt and disdain all sensi- he accumulate the materials of ble delights as its portion. The un- ceaseless rapture to eternity; elevatderstanding must be satisfied with ing his worshippers perpetually in the light of truth, or we cannot, as adoration, at the same time that he rational crcatures, be free from dis- lays them lower in prostration before quietude; the affections must be him. Hence, we are taught in satisfied in the lovely qualities of the Scriptures to believe that these character, before the heart can find communications and disclosures of rest. Where these requisites are himself by the Deity, will constitute wanting, men often languish in the the felicity of heaven. This intimate midst of plenty; though surrounded union between the hearts of his by the means of enjoyment, cast a creatures and his own essential chalingering, despairing look around; racter, there described, is the vision and sometimes feel disposed to envy of God; or the intuitive knowledge those inferior creatures which are of him, as a Spirit, will form the placed beneath the level of ration- principal ingredient of future happiality. But the mental and spiritual ness. Our Saviour represents himbeings can only be found in God, self as the source of this happiness : who must therefore be the proper" Father, I will that they also whom guide of a thinking creature. thou hast given be with me where I

That which forms the principle of am, that they may behold my glory." our felicity must be something that The Apostle Paul, also, speaking of is capable of communicating itself the perfection of the happiness of to us. Creatures solely material, heaven, describes it as resulting from are entirely incapable of doing this. the immediate sight of the divine gloSensual pleasures can never reach ry. “Now we see through a glass our interior nature; they are not darkly, but then face to face; now sufficiently subtle to constitute the I know in part, then shall I know

even as also I am known." Even an invisible state. But now the while they continue on earth, it is darkness of the future had become the privilege of the faithful to enjoy irradiated; I could discern somethat union and alliance with the Fa- what of the scenery of the spiritual ther of Spirits, through his Son; by world; I found that there was an virtue of which they become one apparatus of mercy set up for my Spirit. They are at some favoured rescue; and that the machinery of season so filled, even to overflow- redemption had been put in motion ing, with a sense of his love, that the to deliver me from death. But my wilderness appears more beautiful ideas were tumultuous and perthan the peopled city. At such plexed, and were rather those of seasons, though all the ills that the imagination than of the intellect. afflict the flesh may attempt to assail the immortal mind, he can be so present to the heart, and impart to the soul such ecstacies of enjoyment as will more than overpower the violence of pain, and even prevail over the agonies of death.

ROBERT HALL.

MEMOIRS OF A PENITENT'S LIFE.

CHAP. VIII.

"He taught me how to live; and (oh! too high

The price for knowledge) taught me how

to die."

TICKELL.

I was aroused from my meditations by a touch on the shoulder, and turned round to receive a cordial and friendly greeting from Welford. The congregation had all departed; and Welford walking down the church to return to his home, surprised to see a person still retaining his seat, came up to me, and was not long in recognizing the friend of his youth. He invited me to dine with him, and I gladly accompanied him to the vicarage. The meal was sweetened by the presence of his wife and children; and at its close an interesting conversation took place between us. He told me that soon after his ordination he had been presented to the LONG after the sermon was ended living he then held, and that his I remained in the pew, lost in efforts in the cause of Christ apabsorbing reflection. It seemed peared to have been very successthat I had at length heard the secret ful. I, in return, told him without I had been sighing to know; that my reserve, the sad history of my life; deep slumbers had been awakened and was not ashamed to confess the by a voice from heaven, a voice state of degradation to which I had telling me of pardon for the past and been reduced. His sympathy was of aid for the future; promising awakened; and he immediately prorenovation and instruction, and in- mised that all the influence he posducing me to anticipate still more sessed should be exerted on my glorious revelations hereafter. behalf. We then conversed on Scarcely ever had I till to-day religious matters; I confessed to given a serious thought to God or him my errors and repentance, my eternity; I had ceased to hope fears and my hopes. He explained for any blessing even on earth; to me the only way of salvation; and I could not without pain have and, in the name of his master, attempted to carry my anticipations invited me to the privileges of the to the dim and distant unknown of gospel. He contrasted the firm

and peaceful character of the religion | one continued act of disobedience of Jesus with the heat and impe- against God; that I had pressed tuosity of an earthly ambition; he into the unholy warfare against him drew a parallel between the meek- every passion and attribute of my ness of true piety and the selfish and soul; and, trembling at this dishaughty spirit of the world; and he covery of my guilt, and in an agony entreated me to hasten to avail my- of apprehension, lest I should have self of the refuge which, after so sinned beyond forgiveness, I turned many wanderings seemed to have over the pages of the Bible, to been thrown open to me, and cast ascertain if others who had sinned myself with all my weakness and like me, had been admitted to parconscious unworthiness at the foot don and reconciliation. In that of the cross. Much more to the blessed book I found that many same purport he said to me, and my guilty persons had been forgiven; soul drank in with eagerness the I mused over the affecting histories consolations he offered. I accom- of David, of St. Peter, and of the panied him to church in the even- woman that was a sinner; I read ing, and again did the sweet whis- again and again the seven Penitenpers of the gospel message fall tial Psalms; in the parable of the soothingly on my ear. In the Prodigal Son I traced

an exact

strength of God, I determined description of my own life; and, henceforth to rank myself among finding that pardon had in these the followers of Christ;-to make instances been extended to the conthe Bible my study and the Church trite offender, I lifted up my streammy home. ing eyes to heaven and prayed, in I returned to London on the the language of Esau, "bless me, following day, but it was to make even me, also, O my Father!" arrangements for a permanent resi- And my prayer was answered; I dence at C. The active friendship gazed in faith on the victim_of of Welford soon obtained for me Calvary; the accents of the Rean appointment in the vicinity of deemer's expiring voice floated his own residence that was con- around me; and my faint and genial to my taste and habits, and trembling spirit drew encourageyielded me a competent income. ment from the declaration of ScripThus was I provided for in a manner ture that "the blood of Jesus most agreeable to my feelings, and Christ cleanseth from all sin." at the same time permitted to hold Great and continued was the comalmost daily intercourse with my bat I had to wage with sin and friend. His house and library were Satan: nor has the din of war yet open to me; nor did I hesitate to ceased, though my spiritual nature, avail myself, so far as was proper, strenghthened and assured by the of the inestimable advantages they repeated victories God has caused it to win, becomes more vigorous day by day; but the fight between holiness and corruption must still go on, till their weapons of conflict are snatched away by death.

afforded.

Of the mental struggles which followed my first consciousness of sin and preceded that peace of mind which a firm reliance on the bloodrighteousness of Christ alone can give, it would be unfit to speak at large. I felt that my life had been

I was never a theoretical unbeliever: my errors were of the heart not of the head: and my disregard

of religion was not occasioned by To me the labours of his life had my disbelieving, but by my over- been peculiarly useful; I enjoyed looking, its claims. Gradually its an almost daily intercourse with him influence over me increased, till I for upwards of twenty years; and I began to see that it was all-impor- was privileged to witness the glotant, that there was nothing on rious triumph of his death. I then earth that could for one moment be saw how a Christian could die; I put in comparison with it: and I then beheld the Monarch of Terrors wondered at the fatuity of mankind, transformed into a shape of loveliwhich led them to attach so much ness and light; for him the mouth importance to petty pursuits and of the grave was fringed with flowers, trivial joys, while despising those and the sepulchre purified of its unsearchable riches which will re-loathsomeness, for he knew that the tain their worth and their bright- body of his crucified Lord had once ness when an everlasting darkness lain there and deprived it of all its shall have swallowed up the last ghastliness. His death-bed was a fading splendours of a vanished field of conquest; he exulted at the world.

The advice and experience of Welford were of great use to me in these spiritual exercises. I heard the lessons of Christianity from his lips, and I beheld their operation in his life. I sometimes accompanied him in his pastoral visits to the abodes of the poor: I saw the sick man's dull eye kindle with unwonted lustre at his approach, and age forgot awhile the paralysis of its powers in its eagerness to welcome the beloved priest. No sinner was so desperate that this preacher of righteousness dared not reprove him, and no hovel so offensive as to drive away this herald of mercy from its door. At all times and seasons was he ready to instruct, to admonish, and to console his flock: his erudition startled the sceptic, and his tenderness and delicacy delighted the sensitive and the young. Guilt stood abashed in his presence, and the songs of revelry were hushed when he was known to be within hearing.

Yes, in his duty prompt at every call
He watch'd and wept, he pray'd and felt for all;
And as a bird each fond endearment tries
To tempt its new-fledged offspring to the skies,
He tried each art, reproved each dull delay,
Allured to brighter worlds and led the way.'

thought that the last enemy was about to be subdued, and his trembling lips were tasked to frame songs of victory. Relying on the infinite love which had redeemed him, he committed his soul into the hands of God; and then laid himself down on his pillow, and closed his eyes, and crossed his hands on his breast, and composed his body for its last, long sleep; and then his spirit stole softly and imperceptibly away to its appointed resting-place in heaven. So gentle was the touch of death that it did but add to the ordinary benevolent expression of his countenance a more hushed and deepened tranquillity; and the departed saint, as he lay on his couch, resembled an infant that had fallen asleep on its mother's bosom, with a smile on its lip.

BAXTER'S MINISTRY.

gage the attention of man,—the Creed, the Commandments, and the Lord's Prayer; or according to his

IN few instances have the minis-own simple definition of themters of Christ been honoured to be the things to be believed, the things so extensively useful to the souls of to be done, and the things to be detheir hearers; and where eminent sired. These were the leading, success has occurred, we have not indeed, the only topics of his minisalways been sufficiently informed of try. Into these he entered with the means by which it has been pro- all the intense ardour of his acute, moted. The secret of his success, and deeply impressible mind. He Baxter has disclosed to us in the never spoke like a man who was most faithful and interesting man- indifferent whether his audience ner. While we admire the grace felt what he said, or considered him of God which so abundantly rested in earnest on the subject. His eye, upon his labours, we cannot but his action, his every word, were notice at the same time, the extra-expressive of deep and impassioned ordinary suitableness and adaptation, earnestness, that his hearers might both of the instrument himself, and be saved. His was eloquence of of the means which he employed in the highest order; not the eloquence the work he was honoured to ac- of nicely-selected words or the complish. To a few points in the felicitous combination of terms and preceding statement, I hope I shall phrases, or the music of exquisitely be forgiven for turning the attention balanced periods (though these of the Christian minister. properties are frequently to be Abstracting all the temporary and found in Baxter's discourses): but local circumstances to which Baxter the eloquence of the most important adverts as favourable to his success, truths, vividly apprehended, and the simplicity and intense ardour of energetically delivered. It was the his preaching demand our notice. eloquence of a soul burning with It was admirably adapted to instruct ardent devotion to God and inthe ignorant, to rouse the careless, spired with the deepest compassion and to build up the faithful. He for men; on whom the powers of sought out acceptable words, but the worlds of darkness, and of light, he had neither time nor taste for exercised their mighty influence; making what are called fine ser- and spoke through his utterances, mons; he studied point, not bril- all that was tremendous in warning, liancy. His object was not to daz- and all that was delightful in invitazle, but to convince; not to excite tion and love. He was condesadmiration of himself, but to pro- cending to the ignorant, faithful to cure the reception of his message. the self-righteous and careless, tenHe never aimed at drawing attention der to the timid and afflicted; in a to the preacher, but always at fixing word, as a preacher, he became all it at home, or guiding it to Christ. things to all men, if by any means He never "courted a grin," when he might save some. It was imhe might have "wooed a soul;" or possible that such a man should played with the fancy, when he labour in vain.

should have been dissecting the Another thing which strikes us in heart. His subjects were always the ministerial conduct of Baxter, the most important which can en- was his careful avoidance of every