poor, boldly adventuring their goods upon the waters, do most of all thrive, and prosper in the world.

HOW TO LIVE UNSPOTTED FROM THE WORLD.

Ir becomes the Christian never to enter upon any course of conduct, however trivial, while a doubt of its propriety continues on his mind,never to tamper, under any circumstances, with a conscientious doubt. "He that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Aim, therefore, in all things to act as one "that feareth always." Walk circumspectly and cautiously through the world, seeking purity in the midst of its pollutions. Always in a questionable matter adopt that course which is more likely to tend to the glory of God, than to the gratification of the propensities of your own deceitful heart. Let your motive be the love of Godyour aim the glory of God-and the result for which you are in search, God's blessing and favour. Let it be your endeavour, as far as possible, to give to earth, in your society, your pursuits, your habits, and your affections, and unearthly characters; to breathe in it something of the holy atmosphere of heaven;-to spread the sacred influence of Scriptural principle over the sphere in which you move;-to win others round you to join in the same blessed course ;and endeavour daily to attain a nearer resemblance to him whom you adore, and a more intimate fellowship with him whom you love. This is to keep yourself "unspotted from the world."

DECISION.

THE intercession of Christ at the right hand of God ought to make us decided, undaunted, and zealous in the profession of his gospel. Too many bear his name, who neither wear his image, nor keep his commands. Dreading the ridicule of the scorner, and the persecution of the ungodly, they do not go forth without the camp to follow the Captain of salvation, bearing his reproach. A timid time-serving spirit casts dishonour upon Christ. What! did he engage to redeem us, and forget his solemn promise? Did he leave the arduous work unfinished? Has he forfeited his claim to our gratitude and obedience? Did he descend into the grave to moulder there and see corruption? Christians, you know both where he is, and what he is doing. The eyes of your understanding are enlightened by the anointing of the Spirit, you see him clothed with light and glory, continually carrying on his gracious mediation, to advance your best interests. And while he acknowledges you before God, will you not openly confess him before men? While he successfully pleads your cause in heaven, will you not boldly plead his cause on earth? Let it be made manifest, whose you are, and whom you serve.

PEACE.

THERE is no peace which can ever be incorporated with a worldly or an irreligious life-no peace which can accord with the ignorance or the pride of infidelity-with the presumption of the

scorner-or with the impenitence of the hardened. But great peace have they who live by the faith of the Son of God, and who love God's law. Nothing shall offend them, whatever may be their lot, and whatever may be the department of duty, or the course of discipline selected for them. The peace of God rules in their hearts, amidst all the vicissitudes of this uncertain world; and they go from strength to strength, while they anticipate, with faith and confidence, the blessedness and the security of an eternal world.

If they shall remain long in this world, they believe and know that God is with them. If " the time of their departure is at hand," they are as firmly persuaded by the Lord Jesus Christ, that they shall be with God. "The God of hope fills them with all joy and peace in believing; and they abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." He will not forsake the works of his hands; nor will he suffer them to be tempted or afflicted above what they are able to bear.

Amidst the storms and tempests of the world, there is a perfect calm in the breast of those who not only do the will of God, but "love" to do it. They are at peace with God, by the blood of reconciliation; at peace with themselves by the answer of a good conscience, and the subjection of those desires which war against the soul; at peace with all men by the spirit of charity; and the whole creation is so at peace with them, that "all things work together for their good."-No external troubles can rob them of this "great peace;" no offences or stumbling-blocks, which are thrown in their way by persecution or tempt

ation, by the malice of enemies, by any thing they see, hear of, or feel, can detain or divert them from their course. Heavenly love surmounts every obstacle, and runs with delight "the way of God's commandments."

CONTENTMENT.

The Lord of men and angels was also the king of sufferings; and if thy coarse robe trouble thee, remember the swaddling-clothes of Jesus ; if thy bed be uneasy, yet it is not worse than his manger; and it is no sadness to have a thin table, if thou callest to mind that the king of heaven and earth was fed with a little breast-milk; and yet besides all this, he suffered all the sorrows which we deserved. We therefore have great reason to sit down upon our own hearths, and warm ourselves at our own fires, and feed upon content at home. For it were a strange pride to expect to be more gently treated by the divine providence than the best and wisest men, than apostles and saints, nay the Son of the eternal God, the heir of both the worlds

THANKSGIVING.

To God, I

WE are to give thanks to God. say; that is to Him, unto whom we are obliged, not for some small and inconsiderable trifles, but for the most weighty and invaluable benefits; from whom we receive not few or some, but all good things; whatever is necessary for our sustenance; convenient for our use, pleasant for our

enjoyment; not only those that come immediately from his hand, but what we obtain from others, who from him receive both the will and the power, the means and the opportunities of doing us good; to whom we owe, not only what we ever did or do at present possess, or can hereafter hope for of good; but what we were, are, or shall ever be in capacity to receive any; to the Author, Upholder, and Preserver of our being, without whose goodness we had never been, and without whose care we cannot subsist one moment.

To Him, who is the Lord and true owner of all things we partake of; whose air we breathe, whose ground we tread on, whose food sustains us; whose wholly we are ourselves, both the bodies we carry about us, (which are the work of his hands,) and the soul we think with, which was breathed from his mouth.

To Him, who hath created a whole world to serve us, a spacious, a beautiful, a stately world for us to inhabit and to disport in; who hath subjected so fair a territory to our dominion, and consigned to our use so numerous a progeny of goodly creatures, to be managed, to be governed, to be enjoyed by us.

So that wherever we direct our eyes, whether we reflect them inward upon ourselves, we behold his goodness to occupy and penetrate the very root and centre of our beings, or extend them abroad toward the things about us, we may perceive ourselves inclosed wholly, and surrounded with his benefits. At home we find a comely body framed by his curious artifice, various organs fitly proportioned, situated, and tempered for strength, ornament, and motion, actuated by