it feels nothing: now he is like a living child, he has real life; as a child may be weak, and do little, yet it has feeling and life, and differs therefore, even when asleep, from the most active piece of clock work; so is the true penitent a living man, and finds this repentance is unto life, in bis renewed nature, his spiritual powers, and feelings.

This repentance is unto life in another way. It is corrected with life in the sight, and at the bar of God. You know when a man is condemned to be hung as a thief, or a murderer, he is said to be a dead man, even before the sentence is executed; but when the king's pardon comes down, the sentence of condemnation is taken off, and he is restored to life again. Every sinner is a dead man in God's sight, as the sentence of the law condemns him ; and though it be not yet actually executed on him, it curses, and pronounces him hateful to God, and threatens to doom him to hell for his iniquity: but when he repents, pardoning mercy is extended to him, the sentence of condemnation is reversed, and he is no longer considered as dead in law, but alive unto God; as such he is regarded, smiled upon, sup

ported, and blessed in this life; and as such will be treated at the bar of God, when he will be placed at the right hand of the judge, and receive the sentence of mercy and favour, "Come thou blessed, and enter into the joy of thy Lord."

Then indeed, when admitted into glory, will be fully understand how truly this thorough change of heart and conduct, is repentance unto life; when he is introduced by it into life eternal. All that he here enjoyed, all that makes life to be life indeed, will appear to have been nothing worth the naming, in comparison of that. When in perfect holiness, and happiness, and endless joy, and glory; the soul's powers shall expand, be filled, be fully satisfied; that will be life indeed; and the former joys, which take so fast hold of man in all his powers, senses, and appetites, will not be remembered; except to wonder that men could for the sake of earthly things, lose, nay purposely and knowingly throw away, life eternal. Then, whatever sorrows, sufferings, and losses, may have been occasioned by repentance; they will all appear to have been mercies indeed; 'seeing they all belonged to repentance unto life.

HYMN.

GIVE me Lord I humbly crave,
Grace as to thy children given;
Grace from hell my soul to save;
Grace to bring me safe to heaven.

Safe to heaven!-ah, what a change Must within my soul take place; Great, and thorough, deep, and strange; What can work it but this grace?

Grace can open well my eyes,
Make me see how vile I am;

Full of folly, sin, and vice,

Overwhelm'd with guilt and shame.

Show me, make my conscience feel,
Not alone my tongue confess;

To my heart my sin reveal,
True repentance deep impress.

Hell have I deserv'd to know,

All thy wrath and vengeful ire; Suffer deep remorse, and woe,

In the lake of endless fire.

Yet there's mercy, Lord, with thee, Mercy for the deepest sin;

Let me all thy mercy see,

Pardon, save me, make me clean.

XI.

CHILDREN INVITED TO CHRIST.

Mark x. 14.

Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.

THERE are some things which men and women may do, which children must not, cannot do; because they are but children. A boy cannot work like a man; a little girl cannot keep house like a woman. Such must wait a few years, and if they take pains to learn, they may in time, do just as their parents did before them. There are some things too, which children cannot learn; neither their minds, nor their bodies, are capable yet they cannot understand business, or sciences