buried old thrones; raised up new. In a single mind it hath effected the most glorious reformations in political and religious society. It is always unexpected by an opponent, and hath moved, approached, conquered, before he is aware. It bears in grand masses upon the weak point of an adversary's battle, and cuts his strength in twain. In poetry it is epic grandeur. In architecture it is severe simplicity, able to make a man shed tears. In oratory it first simplifies, and then throws a mass of eloquent illustration upon the cleared particulars. It is unwearied benevolence in despite of ingratitude. It is a direct face and step towards Eternal Truth. It is manly simplicity of character in all things, that alone stands each test, a simplicity of which the world is never weary, and which, like the bread and water of our natural life, never breeds loathing, but is ever desired as a necessary staple in the mutual faith of men. In all things it is economy of passion and energy,—without waste,-with a deternined application.

MEANS OF ACQUIRING DECISION.

By taking care always to conquer in the beginnings of their state, the Romans gradually acquired that self-confidence, and commanded that fear in their neighbours, which led them in quick grogress to be masters of the world's fate; in matters however little important to appearance, they conqured at first by toil and anxiety; but afterwards the memory of their fathers' deeds,a noble self-respect in themselves, whilst awe in other nations,-in styling their arms invincible, made them in event almost to be so.

Thus is decision taught, which itself turns round and teacheth all things well: Thus is built up that strong and large frame-work of the mind, around which the young tendrils of genius may hang their brittle rings, till maturity swell in their stems, and the golden fruit be put forth. Whether or not all the aims of his life have been reached, the decisive man has not missed his high reward. Our health of body is nothing bettered that we have reached a certain point in our walk, it hath been improved by the exercise of the way; and happiness, which is the health of the soul, is found rather in the pursuit than in the final object; whether or not augmented in the latter, yet is it never altogether missed in the decisive measures of the former. How different the glow of energy in the well constituted mind, from the relaxed habits of the irressolute, who, a victim to the dangerous revolutions which a constant change of pursuit or profession makes in any mind, has lost enthusiasm for every thing; who, from the imprudent constitution of his habits, finds a palling uniformity in what should be delicacies; and is equally unfit for earth and Heaven! Melancholy in most cases is the portion of those who have not been taught habits of decision.

FRUITS OF DECISION.

SELF-CONFIDENCE and self-respect grow from habits of decision; not those feelings which set up self as the only oracle, and despise all opinions of others; but such as lead a man to consider well the dignity of his nature,—that noble self-government which fails not in duty towards another.

And such a man, accustomed to look on himself as heir to an immortal existence, walks in this -world as beneath the lights of starry and eternal mansions; taught to measure his hours by their appropiate exercises, he knows the real value of tine; and he is the more diligent to improve his soul from the further conviction, that he who does so now creates measures of capacity that shall never shrink; he draws back from sin as not only hateful to God, but unworthy of his own nature; and can readily appreciate that salvation which delivers from its stain as well as its punishment. The same spirit is further promoted by that generous rivalship, in which is found the great advantage of public education. Many standards are promised to the mind; and, from superiority in one case, enthusiasm is provoked and the youth is taught to aspire after the highest ; against the severe study and noble aims that are set before him, there is a strength called forth, beyond the easy appliances of learning of a bent mind; and magnificence of soul is the high result.

INSTANCES OF JUST ESTIMATION.

It is common to despise the vulgar and all their opinions; and because the learned cannot find a distinction above them in the Christian nomenclature, nor an exemption from the same humble duties, they are dissatisfied with Jesus of Nazareth and his pride-subduing precepts: this is their vanity of intellect. But when seen what Christianity is ordering from the lowest elements of human nature, and when attention and admiration and co-operation have passed into Christian

Patriotism, the vulgar can no longer be contemned-a brotherhood-the triumph of ennobling Christianity-the elements of a Heaven-lustrous as the Throne itself of God; proud intellect is humble, and acknowledges that their present degradation becomes a circumstance of sublimity. And from the same principle, the rich man begins to minister to the poor man; and sees in his thin and weather-beaten locks, if found in the way of righteousness, a mark beyond the beauty of Lebanon with its sainted cedars. This is one very difficult duty in life. So influenced, the poor man himself can smile against the world's despite, as one not known under a mask; and remembering that Christ, and after Him his Apostles wore the symbols of his condition, he is determined to teach as they did, in his own little circle, and maintain the character of poverty, giving, in good example, and dutiful submission to God, despite of hard conditions, a sublime lesson to the rich. This is another difficult duty in life. So influenced, even the poor profligate, whose better thoughts have come too late, and who weeps solemn tears, apart from his family, that he may not disgrace it, over a life destroyed, that might have been useful, and the ends of his being illaccomplished,-is yet content that his name be ever linked to the waters of infamy, if he may be a beacon to others, and even in dishonoured place, serve a little the cause of Christ. This assuredly is the most difficult contentment in life. Yet he dreads the exposure of futurity, and the rebuke of Christ the undefiled One, and the severe faces of the pure Seraphim; and cries like a little child for the sanctification of blood. And will not He, whom the hearts of a thousand Magda

lenes name of mercy, who on earth put a towel round his loins to wipe the feet of poor men, take him up and declare he shall not yet be shamed?

OF REPENTANCE.

REPENTANCE begins in the humiliation of the heart, and ends in the reformation of the life.

Though we want power to repent; yet we not want means to repent, nor power to use these

means.

He that repents of sin, as sin, doth implicitly repent of all sin.

Let not sinful pleasures prevent godly sorrows. An humble confession of sin brings shame to ourselves, but glory to God.

You cannot repent too soon. There is no day like to-day. Yesterday is gone, to-morrow is God's, not your own. And think how sad it will be to have your evidences to seek, when your cause is to be tried; to have your oil to buy, when you should have it to burn!

Let the hopes of mercy encourage to the exercise of repentance.

Turn to God, and he will turn to you; and then you are happy, though all the world turn against you,

If we think amiss of Christ, we shall never believe; if we think well of sin, we shall never repent. If we put off our repentance to another day, we have a day more to repent of, and a day less to repent in.

If we study to honour God, we cannot do it better than by confessing our sins, and laying ourselves low at the feet of Christ.