grievous and burthensome, more noisesome to a true Christian, than the guilt of sin itself.

Should a poor wretched and diseased creature, full of sores and ulcers, be covered all over with purple, or clothed with scarlet, he would take but little contentment in it, whilst his sores and wounds remain upon him; and he had much rather be arrayed in rags, so that he might obtain but soundness and health within. The Gospel is a true Bethesda, a pool of grace, where such poor, lame, and infirm creatures as we are, upon the moving of God's Spirit, may descend down, not only to wash our skin and outside, but also to be cured of our diseases within. And, whatever the world thinks, there is a powerful Spirit that moves upon these waters, the waters of the Gospel, spreading its gentle, healing, quickening wings over our souls. The Gospel is not like Abana and Pharpar, those common rivers of Damascus, that could only cleanse the outside: it is a true Jordan, in which such leprous Naamans as we all are, "may wash and be clean.". "Blessed, indeed, are they, whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered: blessed is the man, to whom the Lord will not impute sin;" but yet, rather blessed are they, whose sins are like a morning cloud, and quite taken away from them. Blessed, thrice "blessed are they, that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied: blessed are the poor in heart, for they shall see God."

THE TESTIMONY OF A PHILOSOPHER.

I HAVE known what the enjoyments and advantages of this life are, and what the more refined pleasures which learning and intellectual power can bestow, and with all the experience that more than threescore years can give, I now, on the eve of my departure, declare to you, (and earnestly pray that you may hereafter live and act on the conviction,) that health is a great blessing; competence, obtained by honourable industry, a great blessing; and a great blessing it is to have kind, faithful, and loving friends and relativesbut the greatest of all blessings, as it is the most ennobling of all privileges, is to be indeed a Christian. But I have been likewise, through a large portion of my later life, a sufferer sorely afflicted with bodily pains, languor, and manifold infirmities; and for the last three or four years have, with few and brief intervals, been confined to a sick room, and at this moment, in great weakness and heaviness, write from a sick bed, hopeless of recovery, yet without prospect of a speedy removal. And I thus, on the brink of the grave, solemnly bear witness to you, that the Almighty Redeemer, most gracious in his promises to them that truly seek him, is faithful to perform what he has promised; and has reserved, under all my pains and infirmities, the inward peace that passeth all understanding, with the supporting assurance of a reconciled God, who will not withdraw his spirit from me in the conflict, and in his own time will deliver me from the evil one.

Eminently blessed are they who begin early to seek, fear, and love their God, trusting wholly

in the righteousness and mediation of their Lord, Redeemer, Saviour, and everlasting High Priest, Jesus Christ.

SHORT SENTENCES.

Ir is one of the striking characters of the Omnipotent, that he is strong and patient. It is a standing evidence of his patience, that he is provoked every day. How beautifully do these characters reflect lustre upon each other! If he were not strong, his patience would want its distinguishing perfection. If he were not patient, his strength would instantly crush those who provoke him, not sometimes, but often; not every year, but every day.

God blotteth out transgressions, aggravated and innumerable, as easily, and as completely, as the wind sweeps away a floating cloud from the face of the sky.

God hides himself and his providence, behind second causes.

The Creator is to be first loved for his own sake, for his infinite goodness and perfections; and then the creature, as his work, and in proportion to its resemblance to him.

It is observable, that, when God would show his power, he makes a world: when he would manifest his justice, he prepares a tophet; when he would manifest his wisdom, he finds out a

Mediator; but when he would proclaim his love, he gave his Son to sufferings and to death.

What can we wish for in an heritage that is not to be found in God? Would we have large possessions? He is immensity. Would we have a sure estate? He is immutability. Would we have a term of long continuance? He is eternity itself.

The presence of God's glory is in heaven, the presence of his power on earth, the presence of his justice in hell, and the presence of his grace with his people. If he deny us his powerful presence, we fall into nothing; if he deny us his gracious presence, we fall into sin; if he deny us his merciful presence, we fall into hell.

Fear God for his power--trust him for his wisdom-love him for his goodness-praise him for his greatness-believe him for his faithfulnessand adore him for his holiness

HOLY SCRIPTURES.

THE veneration we shall feel for the Bible, as the depository of saving knowledge, will be totally distinct, not only from what we attach to any other book, but from that admiration its other properties inspire; and the variety and antiquity of its history, the light it affords in various researches, its inimitable touches of nature, together with the sublimity and beauty so copiously poured over its pages, will be deemed subsidia

ry ornaments, the embellishments of the casket, which contains the "pearl of great price."

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Upon every reading of the Bible, it grows more precious to the Christian, as it did to David; because it is not only the discovery, but it is become also the conveyance of the unsearchable riches of Christ. These are revealed in the word, and applied by the word. Faith is the lawful key, which opens the infinite treasury, and here is the proclamation of grace: O ye that are seeking durable riches-these-all these are yours Come, take all you want-use all you wish." You cannot do the free Giver a greater favour, than to enrich yourselves daily out of his boundless stores. Read his promises, how exceeding great, how exceeding precious they are. Read his faithfulness to them-only trust-take-use -all that is in the promises shall be yours in time; yea, yours in eternity."

INTERNAL EVIDENCE OF THE SCRIPTURES.

SEARCH diligently the word of eternal life enriched and ennobled as it is with the chain and the accomplishments of its prophecies; with the splendour of its miracles; with the attestation of its martyrs; the consistency of its doctrines; the importance of its facts; the plenitude of its precepts; the treasury of its promises; the irradiations of the Spirit; the abundance of its consolations; the proportion of its parts; the symmetry of the whole altogether presenting such a fund of instruction to the mind, of light to the path,