power to him. I have expressly engaged to take the Almighty God for my whole portion and felicity, looking on nothing else as any part of my happiness. Now henceforth I am not to act in any respect as my own. I shall act as my own, if I ever make use of any of my powers to any thing that is not to the glory of God; or do not make the glorifying of God my whole and entire business; if I murmur in the least at afflictions; if I am any way uncharitable; if I am angry because of injuries; if I do any thing purely to please myself; or avoid any thing for the sake of my ease; or omit any thing because it is great self-denial; if I trust to myself; if I take any of the praise of any good that

I do, or rather God does by me; or if I am any way proud."

To the sentiments and resolutions of this holy man, let me add those of one of a former age, who lived in a period of great persecution: I refer to the eminent non-conformist minister, Joseph Alleine. In a letter to a friend, he thus wrote :

"I desire to know no other business than to please and honor my God, and serve my generation, in that short allowance of time that I have here, before I go hence and be seen no more. Shall I commend to you the lesson that I am about to learn? It is to be entirely devoted to the Lord, that I may be able to say after the Apostle, To me to live is Christ,'

that in all my actions, whether sacred or civil, I may be doing but one work, and pursuing but one design. My desire is, that God may be pleased by me, and glorified in me, not only by my praying, and preaching, and almsgiving, but even by my eating, and drinking, and sleeping, and visits, and discourses that I may do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving glory to God by him.' Too often do I take a wrong aim, and miss my mark; but I will tell you what are the rules I set myself, and strictly impose upon myself from day to day :-never to lie down, but in the name of God; not barely for natural refreshment, but that a wearied servant of Christ may be recruited and fitted to serve him

better the next day :-never to rise up but with this resolution;-Well, I will go forth this day in the name of God, and will make religion my business, and spend the day for eternity:never to enter upon my calling, but first thinking, I will do these things as unto God, because he requireth these things at my hands, in the place and station to which he hath appointed me-never to sit down to the table, but resolving, I will not eat merely to please my appetite, but to strengthen myself for my Master's work :-never to make a visit but upon some holy design, resolving to leave something of God wherever I go. This is that which I have been for some time learning, and am pressing hard after ;

and if I strive not to walk by these rules, let this paper be a witness against me."

Long as these extracts have been, I must add a few sentences from the Life of the holy and devoted Brainerd. When he had nearly finished his course of self-denying labors, he said: "My heaven is to please God, and glorify him; to give all to him, and to be wholly devoted to his glory. This is the heaven I long for; that is my religion, and that is my happiness, and always was, ever since I suppose I had any true religion.-It is impossible for any rational creature to be happy without doing all for God: God himself could not make him happy any other way. I long to be