episcopal brethren, lately made partakers of the like precious faith, and preachers of the same everlasting gospel. It is as a new thing that the bickerings which we deplore should creep in; and surely it is part of the preparatory work of the Lord's servants to be at peace and in harmony with each other, when his enemies present so formidable a front of defiance, and they profess to be waiting for his triumphant coming to reign, whether personally or spiritually, over a renewed world.'

It has struck me more than once of late years, that we are very much loosing sight of the Lord Jesus. We hold fast the doctrines of grace, perhaps; but we do not so hold fast Him who is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. Do you comprehend what I mean? I find it difficult to express what I nevertheless feel.'

'I think I do there is a perceptible falling off in what I may call avowed allegiance to the Lord. The subjects of a rightful monarch, especially if his title be disputed, and the insignia of his royalty usurped by rebels, will not only in their hearts cleave to him, but his name will be a rallying word, an endearing bond of union, continually dwelt upon in their discourse. So it was in the season of awakening to which you allude: so it still is in many family and social circles ; but, to judge from my own observation and experience, if the times were numbered in which most Christians in their casual intercourse have spoken of the Lord Jesus, as those were wont to speak who thought upon his name, and also the times when such have met and parted without a word of their absent, yet coming King, I much fear the latter would prove to be to the former as ten to one, at least. religion, about churches, and forms of worship; about accessions to, and departures from the company of pro

There is a talking about

fessedly serious believers; and there is a talk too of various gifts and graces; and of the vanity of earthly things-the blessed reality of things unseen. But still there is, or seems to be, a shyness of making the Lord the subject of our discourse, which at once shews and increases the preponderance of minor matters in our minds over that which is the sum and substance of all. Now, for instance, a believer, laid under some grievous bodily affliction, though visited, and kindly addressed in the spirit of Christian love by his brethren, generally hears more of their sympathy than of the sympathy of Him who because he is touched with a feeling of our infirmities may be confidently approached as the Dispenser of the grace most needed by those who are suffering in the flesh. Oh, there is no such balm for acute pain as the Name of Jesus! Whether on a wounded body or a wounded conscience, that Name is as ointment poured forth; and to witness scarcely less than to experience, its power strengthens faith, quickens love, and realizes most endearingly the tie that binds one believer to another. This being the case, I cannot but think that a great part of the coldness so generally felt, and by many deplored, results from a slowness of speech on a subject so calculated to warm and to refresh.'

"But "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh;" and surely where the mouth is habitually silent the heart cannot be very full. I perfectly agree with you in every word that you have spoken: I must go further, and question myself, question others, as to the place that Jesus really holds in our affections. If we, by faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, can constantly realize his presence, with a lively recollection of all that he has done for us-if we can always bear in mind that it is only as seen in Him we

can desire or endure the eye of Omniscient Justice upon ourselves, then, assuredly, we shall also look upon our fellow-believers in a like spirit, and seeing Christ in them, the hope of glory, we shall make light, exceedingly light of every minor difference, and strive by all means to glorify him together. We want more of unity, because we want more of Christ: we want more zeal for the same reason: we want greater faithfulness and activity in resisting what exalteth and opposeth itself against him, because we do not fix a steadfast gaze on the exceeding majesty and beauty, the surpassing glory and unbounded love of the Saviour. Seen in that effulgent blaze, our brethren all look beautiful with reflected light; and what little specks and discrepancies may exist, are lost to our view: we cannot see them for the glory of that light. But when we turn from it, to what are the mere shadows produced by material things, when we fix our regards on creeds and formularies, whether unduly to exalt or uncharitably to condemn,-when we look on others not simply as members of Christ, but as members of this or that particular community, we find every little defect magnified, every slight difference aggravated, to a sufficient cause for disunion and dislike; and though we may not confess it to ourselves, we are willing rather that the cause of the gospel should suffer, than that we ourselves should be supposed to concede a point of our presumed orthodoxy, and place ourselves on a level with those who, though they equally follow Christ, may not do it exactly in the same order of procession that we observe. This is an evil: and the natural tendency of all unchecked evil is to grow with frightful rapidity. Alas, that the spirit of a gladiator should be allowed to pervade a heart where the love of God has been shed

abroad by the Holy Ghost! Many are the secret groans and cries that have ascended to the Lord on this behalf; and now the gracious answer is vouchsafed, in this outpouring of the spirit of love, and of a sound mind, upon so very many who have hitherto stood aloof the one from the other, they could not tell why. Oh that it may increase and spread, and unite together all the churches by the same mighty power that took the one church, of which they all are members, from the world, and espoused it to Christ.

"It is delightful to see how many are joining, who at first actually opposed the work.'

"They are like the son who said "I will not; " but afterwards went; and you know he had the testimony that he did the will of his father. Every one of us may do something towards promoting this blessed work : all can pray; many can persuade their hesitating friends, and convince the doubting. I tremble for those who hold back; for I do think this to be one of the last sifting processes, by which the real, substantial wheat will be gathered together preparatory to some most tremendous trial of faith. Assuredly, the Lord will not reign over a divided people; for in so far as they disagree they are rebels, seeing that he has expressly commanded us to love one another even as he has loved us. The mere fact of holding a different opinion on matters that the Holy Scriptures have not positively decided upon, neither implies disagreement, nor lays the parties open to a charge of rebellion. Witness the case of the man who cast out devils in Christ's name, yet followed not his immediate followers. These, of whom two had recently proposed consuming a whole Samaritan village with fire, in revenge for a direct repulse given to their Master, also forbade this man to pursue his good work, because

he followed not them and they were instantly commanded to recal the prohibition, which, of course, would have produced no effect, seeing that the person who wrought the miracle did it in the Name of the Lord, not in their name. But the lesson was given and recorded for our admonition; and if there be one class of men who especially claim to be the successors of these erring Apostles-erring through a zeal and love highly commendable, but still erring-to them more emphatically is the warning such.'

'There is another case, uncle, where an exhortation to union and brotherly love is much needed: the Protestants of Ireland, awakened to a sense of their extreme danger, and banding for mutual defence, not merely of their persons, but yet more of their faith, and the few privileges still left them : even these are not quite united among themselves and some of the energy that is required for a different purpose is misapplied in disagreeing on things that would soon come right if left to themselves; and if the grand point of maintaining Protestantism was alone kept in view.’

'Their dangers are more tangible, more clearly defined than ours; and as they increase, the absolute necessity of union will be more generally felt and acknowledged. Protestantism in Ireland-all that deserves the name is now openly and vigorously assailed. Preferment is withheld from clergymen who refuse to sanction the iniquitous education scheme, which no man who believes what the word of God declares, can sanction. This is but a negative sort of persecution, to be sure; and very cheerfully do our dear brethren submit to it, blessing God that the worst which the enemies of Christ can yet do against them is to retain them in the bosom of their present flocks, and to bar them from