Shey show his compassion to sinners, and his glorious work in their stead. If you only knew that heart as it is, you would lay your weary bead with John on his bosom. Do not take up your time so much with studying your own heart as with studying Christ's heart. “For one look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ !”

Look at Rom. xv. 13. That is my prayer for you. You are looking for peace in striving, or peace in duties, or peace in reforming your mind ; but ah! look at his word. “ The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing." All your peace is to be found in believing God's word about bis Son. If for a moment you forget your own case altogether, and meditate on the glorious way of salvation by Christ for us, does your bosom never glow with a ray of peace? Keep that peace; it is joy in believing. Look as straight to Christ as you sometimes do at the rising or setting sun. Look direct to Christ.

You fear that your convictions of sin have not been deep enough. This is no reason for keeping away from Christ. You will never get a truly broken heart till you are really in Christ.See Ezek. xxxvi. 25-31. Observe the order : First, God sprinkles clean water on the soul. This represents our being washed in the blood of Christ. Then He gives “a new heart also.” Thirdly, He gives a piercing remembrance of past sins. Now, may the Lord give you all these! May you be brought as you are to the blood of the Lamb! Washed and justified, may He change your heart-give you a tender heart, and his Holy Spirit within your heart; and thus may He give you a broken heart for your past sins.

Look at Rom. v. 19. By the sin of Adam, many were made sinners. We had no hand in Adam's sin, and yet the guilt of it comes upon us. We did not put out our hand to the apple, and yet the sin and misery have been laid at our door. In the same way, “by the obedience of Christ, many are made righteous.” Christ is the glorious One who stood for many. His perfect garment is sufficient to cover you. You had no hand in his obedience. You were not alive when He came into the world and lived and died; and yet, in the perfect obedience, you may stand before God righteous. This is all my covering in the sight of a holy God. I feel infinitely ungodly in myself : in God's eye, like a ser• pent or a toad; and yet, when I stand in Christ alone, I feel that God sees no sin in me, and loves me freely. The same righteous. ness is free to you. It will be as white and clean on your soul as on mine. Oh, do not sleep another night without it! Only consent to stand in Christ, not in your poor self.

I must not weary you. One word more. Look at Rev. saii. 17. Sweet, sweet words! " Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.” The last invitation in the Bible, and the freest,-Christ's parting word to a world of sinners! Any one that pleases may take this glorious way of salvation. Can you refuse it? I am sure you cannot. Dear friend, be persuaded by a fellow-worm not to put off another moment. Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world.

You are sitting, like Hagar, within reach of the well. May the Lord open your eyes, and show you all that is in Christ ! ) pray for you, that you may spiritually see Jesus and be glad—that you may go to Him and find rest. Farewell.-Yours in the Lord, etc.

REV. W. C. BURNS.
A minister's afflictions to be improved.

June 10, 1840. MY DEAR BROTHER, -I am truly thankful that you bave been raised up again-renewed, I trust, both in the inner and outer man. “I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant." Sweet rod that drives the soul into such a precious resting-place! “I will visit their iniquity with stripes; nevertheless, my loving-kindness I will not take from him.” This has been the experience of the greater part of my life, at least of my spiritual life. Remember Edwards' magnificent resolution : “Resolved to improve afflictions to the uttermost.” Spread the sail when the breeze of adversity blows, and let it drive your vessel onwards on its course.

When I was laid aside from the ministry, I felt it was to teach me the need of prayer for my people. I used often to say, Now God is teaching me the use of prayer. I thought I would never forget the lesson, yet I fear I am grown slack again when in the midst of my work.

All these remarks I have transferred to myself, that you may learn in me the same things. Exhort one another daily. My object in writing now is to say that I have engaged to be at Collessie next Wednesday, at Alloa on Thursday, and at Errol on Sabbath week. Now the people here were disappointed by your not appearing lately; and it would be very gratifying, if you are not heller engagerl, if the Lord would direct your steps towards us. If you would take both Thursday and the Sabbath, it would be pleasant to me. I have been weakened a little by the hard labours of the Assembly, but I trust to recruit shortly for our glorious warfare. I feel there are two things it is impossible to desire with sufficient ardour,-personal holiness, and the honour of Christ in the salvation of souls.

The Lord give you both more than He has given me, and may He send you to us, if it be his will. Send me a line quickly, and believe me, ever yours in sweet bonds, etc.

TO THE REV. DAN. EDWARDS,
Before his ordination as missionary to the Jews,What he must seek.

DUNDEE, June 15, 1840. MY DEAR FRIEND, - . . . . The grand matter of study, however, must still be divinity,-a knowledge of divine things, a spiritual discernment of the way of pardon for the chief of sinners. I feel that the best of ministers are but babes in this. Pray for more knowledge of your own heart,—of the total depravity of it,of the awful depths of corruption that are there. Pray for glorious discoveries of Christ,-his person, beauty, work, and peace. But I need not tell you these things; only I feel persuaded that God will put all natural and literary qualifications in the dust, if there be not the simple exhibition of Christ for us in the preaching of our missionaries.-Yours, etc.

TO THE SAME.

Holiness and success.

DUNDEE, October 2, 1840. MY DEAR FRIEND, I trust you will have a pleasant and profitable time in Germany. I know you will apply hard to German; but do not forget the culture of the inner man,-I mean of the heart. How diligently the cavalry officer keeps his sabre clean and sharp; every stain he rubs off with the greatest care. Remember you are God's sword,—his instrument, -I trust a chosen vessel unto Him to bear his name. In great measure, according to the purity and perfections of the instrument, will be the success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to

Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God. I am now almost well, but have not yet got my full strength. We had a sweet night last night, though there was no external movement. Some waited after ; one from St Andrews, awakened deeply, she knows not how. God is still working here, and I look for far greater things. I am very anxious to know how I could do more good to many people and to the whole world; and not to know only, but to do it. It is our truest happiness to live entirely for the glory of Christ,—to separate between “I” and “the glory of Christ.” We are always saying, What have I done? —was it my preaching--my sermon—my influence ? whereas we should be asking, What hath God wrought? Strange mixed beings we are! How sweet it will be to drop our old man, and be pure as Christ is pure! I hope you will come and see us again before your departure for your mission station. The Lord direct all your steps, comfort your heart, and stablish you in every good word and work to do his will.-Yours, etc.

TO MRS THAIN, HEATH PARK.
When invited to rest a while.

DUNDEE, June 1840. MY DEAR MRS T.,-You know how glad I would be of some such retreat as Elijah had by the brook of Cherith, where I might learn more of my own heart, and of my Bible, and of my God, where I might while away the summer hours in quiet meditation, or talking of his righteousness all the day long. But it is only said of the dead in the Lord that they rest from their labours; and I fear I must not think of resting till then. Time is short, my time especially, and souls are precious; and I fear many are slumbering because I watch not with sufficient diligence, nor blow the trumpet with sufficient clearness.

I have to be away so much on business, that I feel I dare not be away on pleasure only—at least at present. I rather think I must be in Ireland next week, at the Synod of Ulster, which prevents me coming to Mr Macdonald's communion.

There is some request as to another communion in St Peter's also, which I shall be glad to see carried into effect, provided it be done with all the heart of the Lord's children. In these circumstances, you must not think me neglectful of your kindness, if I put off my visit to you a little longer

I trust that you are keeping strong, and able to enjoy the open air, and that your souls all prosper,—that you have often such times as Jacob had at Mahanaim, when the angels of God met him,-or such times as that at Peniel, when God had to cry out, “Let me go, for the day breaketh.” Alas, we do not weary God now with our wrestlings, but with our sins. The dark clouds gather, and the church and we should all be entering into our chambers, and shutting our doors upon us. “ In that day sing ye unto her a vineyard of red wine.” His song will be with us in the dark night. May you and yours be hid in the day of the Lord's anger! A smile of his can lighten up a thunder-cloud.

Read Psalm xxix. and meditate on the last verse. Live near to God, and so all things will appear to you little in comparison with eternal realities.-Ever yours, etc.

TO A STRANGER.

Intended to lead on cne whose face was Zionward, but who was not fully

decided.

DUNDEE, July 1840. MY DEAR FRIEND,—I do not even know your name; but your cousin has been telling me about your case, and wishes me to write you a line inviting you to lay hold on Jesus Christ, the only refuge for a perishing soul. You seem to have been thinking seriously of your soul for some time. Do remember the words of Peter (2 Pet. i. 10), “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure.” Never rest till you can say what John says (1 John v. 19), “ We know that we are of God.” The world always loves to believe that it is impossible to know that we are converted. If you ask them, they will say, “I am not sure-I canuot tell;" but the whole Bible declares we may receive, and know we have received, the forgiveness of sins.-Sec Ps. xxxii. 1; 1 John ii. 12. Seek this blessedness,—the joy of having forgiveness; it is sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. But where shall I seek it? In Jesus Christ. “God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” “He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son hath not life,” 1 John v. 12. Get deeply acquainted with yourself, your sins and misery. Most people are like the Laodiceans-Rev. iii. 17. Even those that are most deeply concerned about their souls do not see the millionth part of the blackuess of their hearts and lives. Oh! if we could but put our sius