We must never think of those who disqu der to forgive them: we must regard Go makes use of them to exercise our humil and our love of the cross. We shall herea ful they have been to us who have crucifie us to the cross with Jesus Christ. The will soon pass away, but the fruit resultin be everlasting.

Let us then, with humble confidence, bea that spring from our own hearts, as well have to encounter from without us. Let us be ourselves up to God; and in every tempest, to Him, who means to show us the shipwre should be exposed, did not His almighty han

ICK MAN'S FRIEND.

The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou, [ ] wilt make all his bed in his sickness." Psalm xli. 3.

NO. 27.

NEW YORK:

PRINTED BY MAHLON DAY,

NO. 372, PEARL-STREET.

THE SICK MAN'S FRIEN

AMONG the various troubles and sorro permitted to befal us in this mortal life, more frequent, or more trying, than sickn is long and painful, we are too apt to comp it a misery and a heavy affliction: but, my comes from God-and it must therefore be fo if we make a proper use of it. It is a means Him to bring us to glory and happiness; refuse to bow down before him, and than whatever he sees needful for so blessed a know, from his own gracious words, that " willingly grieve, nor afflict the children of m him he does it in mercy; and we must pray our weak minds, and enable us not only to b tience, but with thankfulness.

When we are in health, and the world goe are we not apt to forget the Giver of all good live as if this were our abiding place, and as if no other home, no better country? To a m case, to one leading a careless or a worldly life be gracious and merciful in God, to send a fi which would force him to consider his ways into the state of his soul? and ought he not f to thank the merciful Being, who wakes hin dream of childish folly, to a sense of his real c

O reader, whoever thou art, waste not the ti given for the glorious purpose of attaining et ness, in a foolish pursuit after the enjoyments of few years must take from thee, and which may in a single hour! Should some sudden accide the death in such a state, what wo

ow will he who has led a profligate and sinful life, who has any crimes to answer for, appear before Him "whose eyes e too pure to behold iniquity ?" With what fearful remorse ad horror will such a one look back upon his past days, nowing that they are gone for ever! That the precious me which was granted unto him to "work out his salvation," come to an end; and that he must be judged by what is ast!

No scene which the eye can look upon, is so dreadful as e death-bed of a wicked man. Yet let us not fly from a llow-creature who is so miserable: while his breath reains, let us show him kindness, and, as far as we are able, ase his bodily pains.

Should the Almighty raise him from the fearful state in hich he lay, and bless the endeavours of his family and eighbours to prolong his life-what joy, what thankfulness, hould fill his heart! Yet let him rejoice with trembling, est returning health should bring back his old desires and clinations.-Greatly would he want a true christian friend, who might address him thus:

"Keep constantly in mind, all that thou felt when thou believed thyself to be upon thy death-bed. What worlds hou would have given, that thou had "remembered thy Creator in the days of thy youth," and served him while thy trength remained. How thou dreaded the awful punishnent of thy sins; how earnestly thou prayed for a year, month, a week of lengthened life, to prove by the warmth of thy piety, and the strictness of thy obedience, that thy repentance was sincere.

"Be thankful then-be truly thankful, that these thy fervent prayers have been heard, and granted.-God has raised thee up; and it is now thy part, to strive with all the pow ers which he has thus a second time bestowed upon thee, to make his gracious bounty a real blessing.

"Begin with offering the tribute of a grateful heart, to Him who has thus given thee a new life, and whether it be long or short, devote it all to him, by making it thy daily study to learn and obey his holy commandments. But, before we consider what he chiefly requires from thee, I will in a few words tell thee what thou must carefully and resolutely avoid for," ceasing to do evil," is the first and most necessary step towards "learning to do well."

"The Almighty gave a solemn command Moses, that no man should take his sacre and our Saviour Jesus Christ never spoke m when he said, "Swear not at all." It is ag the apostle James, "Above all things, my not!" Yet there is a vice too common amon themselves worshippers of God, and discipl Son, that of profane cursing and swearing shameful and degrading, that one would thi the lowest and most depraved of the human guilty of it; and to which no man can say, ed, either by profit or pleasure. Can it the me to warn thee against thus wantonly insu and Holy One, who has so lately delivered greatest danger to which a human creature c that of dying in a sinful state? But, as "the deceitful," and old habits are ever heady to s us in unguarded moments,-I do solemnly check the forbidden words, as they rise to th guarding against the return of this sin, it is thou get the better of another, by never giving Remember the patient endurance of our bless treated with the most cruel insult and barb thou in like manner bear with the provocatio by thy fellow-creatures, remembering the d which we are taught to pray for the pardon o "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive thos against us."

"Why has thy merciful Creator raised the of sickness, but to give thee one more oppo thy soul? And will thou render this wonderfu his part of no effect, and heap up the measure by base ingratitude? No, we will hope be As "a good soldier of Jesus Christ," make wa ry evil habit and inclination: never stop or res him, God has given thee a glorious victory: a sured, he will not fail to do, if thou thyself art n