members, however they may be distinguished from each other by names or parties.

Unexperienced, as you still must be, in the ways of Providence, permit me to suggest a few thoughts on that delightful subject. Settle it as an indubitable maxim, that the Lord hath appointed all your steps through this wilderness, and that it is therefore your duty simply to follow him as he is pleased to lead you. Perhaps in nothing does the true spirit of Christianity discover itself more evidently than in this. We are naturally self-willed and hasty. Grace, as it gains the ascendency, subdues this propensity. Tired by numberless disappointments, the fruit of our unwarrantable frowardness, we at length become willing to submit ourselves implicitly to infinite wisdom. My young reader, I hope, hath taken the Lord as his guide, and given himself up to his direction. O let the reality of your having done so appear in your whole deportment! Pray that the Lord may check the impetuosity of your temper, and make you able to distrust yourself. However men, wise in their own conceits, may judge, such a frame of spirit is an inestimable blessing. If you acknowledge the Lord in all your ways, you discover the truest wisdom, and shall undoubtedly find that he directeth your steps. Follow this plan, especially when proposing any change in your lot, and you shall not be suffered to stumble. Let all your affairs be conducted by prayer, and by laying yourself open to the direction of God in his word. Comforts enjoyed in this way acquire a double relish; and even crosses and difficulties are comparatively easy and pleasant. Thus you 'shall advance in solid religion. Freed from much pain and anxiety, you will possess your soul in patience, satisfied in the Lord, as the portion of your inheritance, and the maintainer of your lot.

With regard to your social intercourse, let your conduct be marked by modesty and meekness. How essential are these graces in the Christian character, and how comely when eminently possessed by a young Christian! The Spirit of Jesus is inconsistent with every appearance of supersilious or conceited behaviour. Humility and self-denial, notwithstanding the highest increase in knowledge and gifts, are its leading features. What pity when young Christians give occasion for such reflections as these: He seems to be zealous and lively, and his conduct is, upon the whole, changed; but there is something so imprudent and offensive

In his manner, that it always pains me to observe him." Far be it from me to discourage honest zeal and affection; nor do I expect to find in a babe what I look for in a young man or in a father: I only wish to give the friendly hint, and I hope it will be seriously attended to. Every species of self-seeking is below the dignity of a Christian. Nothing tends more directly to offend our brethren, or to mar our own comfort, than this base corruption. If we walk as in the sight of God, we shall be afraid of yielding to it, even in the most secret manner.

I hope you are concerned to maintain the utmost integrity of character. Simplicity and godly sincerity are the peculiar ornaments of Christianity. Dissimulation of any kind is a flat contradiction to the profession of the Gospel. The smallest departure from strict veracity must wound your conscience, and detract from your respectability: Above all, it brings a reproach upon that worthy name by which you are called. In this matter, the eye of the world is particularly watchful; and evěry failure is urged as an ar gument against the truth, Any thing gained by dissimulation, is a poor recompence indeed for what is lost by it. Fair and open uprightness of conduct recommends our profession as amiable and inviting. If we behave otherwise, we belie the truth.

What has been said on the necessity of maintaining the spirit of religion, is by no means intended to slacken your attention to your occupation. This were to exhibit a very limited view of our holy profession. That we serve the Lord Christ by diligence in business, as well as by fervency of spirit, is a comfortable reflection. Be it your studyt act, consistently in both. Negligence in either marks an unfinished character. He is the most advanced Christian who approves himself faithful in whatever Providence calls him to do: And it is a noble testimony to religion, when his neighbours are forced to acknowledge, that now he acts with a propriety and regularity to which he was formerly a stranger. Your affections, my dear young friend, are now warm and lively in divine things, and Satan may tempt you to slight relative duties. Be not ignorant, however, of this device. Your lawful business is an important part of your religion. If you neglect it, you reproach your profession, and open the mouths of the profane. Regular habits of industry are beneficial both to soul and body.

These hints are thrown out on the supposition that you are acquainted, in some measure, with the nature of living

by faith upon Christ, as your strength for the performance of duty, as well as your righteousness for the justification of your person. To speak of forcing one to a holy life, is the greatest absurdity. We are created again in Christ Jesus unto good works, and holiness can only be maintained by vital union with him. In this, and every other necessary truth, may the Lord himself, by his word and Spirit, fully instruct you! May he preserve you from the numerous temptations to which you are exposed! May your path be as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day! Amidst the reproaches of the world, and the other discouragements which you must lay your account to meet with, may the Lord strengthen, settle, and comfort you Having endured to the end, useful in your generation, may you finish your course with peaceful cheerfulness, and enter into the joy of your Lord!

PRIVATUS.

CONVERSION OF A FARMER,

BY A CIRCUMSTANCE RATHER UNCOMMON OHN DICKSON, a farmer, in the parish of Ratho, near Edinburgh, was long a stranger to the inexhaustible riches of grace. He paid no regard to the sacred ordinances of the Gospel, or, if ever on the Lord's day he entered the church, it was more from a desire of ridiculing, than profiting by what he heard. The word preached did not profit bimy not being mixed with faith. In this dreadful situation was he, when, on the roth of March, 1790, his wife died, after bringing into the world an infant daughter. The good providence of that gracious God, who calleth the weak things of this world to confound the strong, had ordained, that the nurse of this child should be a woman of exemplary faith, who walked in the Spirit, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost." The carnal mind of the Father still continued at enmity with God," but he was ere long to be brought to a full conviction of his own unworthiness, and a delightful experience of the riches of redeeming love. The child being now about twenty months old, and beginning to prattle a few words, was one day sent for by the father, who was sitting after dinner with some of his profane acquaintance. To his great astonishment, the child repeated two or three times, in its infant tones, "O the grace of God!" These words made a deep impression upon the father. He began

to

to reflect upon his sins, and the power of that grace "which cleanseth from sin," so long the subject of his impious ridicule. The Holy Ghost had opened his heart," and now brought him, like a sheep that had been astray, into the fold of divine love. Since that time, he has ever walked as becometh one" called in the Lord, bringing forth fruits meet for repentance." The words which, through the grace of God, became the happy instrument of his conversion, were the customary.ejaculations of the pious nurse, and had thus been learned by the infant: So truly was the Scripture verified, that "out of the mouths of babes and sucklings the Lord hath ordained praise."

EPAPHRODITUS.

ANECDOTES.
HONESTY.

ONE NE day, when a vacant see was to be filled, the synod observed to the Emperor, Peter the Great, that they had none but ignorant men to present to his Majesty. «<< Well, then," replied the Czar, you have only to pitch upon the most honest man; he will be worth two learned ones." Voltaire's History of Russia.

THE POWER OF RELIGION.

LORD Peterborough, when on a visit to Fenelon, at Cambray, was so charmed with the virtues and talents of the Archbishop, that he exclaimed, at parting, « If I stay here any longer, I shall become a Christian, in spite of myself." Anecdotes of Distinguished Persons.

SINGULAR PROVIDENCE. WHEN Mr. Abernethy, in his youth, was diverting himself, with a servant who attended him, upon the great bridge at Belfast, happening to cast his eye upon something at a distance which catched his fancy, they ran off on a sudden; and the moment they removed, the arch, upon which they had been standing, fell down; so they narrowly escaped being rushed to death.

UNDI

Preface to bis Sermons, page 3.

EPITAPH FOR THE LATE MR. ROMAINE. NDERSTANDING an epitaph is in contemplation for that blessed servant of Christ, lately departed, Mr. Romaine, though the following may be very inferior to others which may be produced, it is the cordial tribute, to his memory, OF AN OLD FRIEND.

His salten accumulem donis.

Beneath

Beneath this Stone lies all that is

MORTAL

Of that great and eminent Minister of the
Everlasting Gospel,

WILLIAM ROMAINE, M. A.
His extended life

Was the best comment and bright exemplar
Of those doctrines of Grace
Which he gloried to proclaim.
His Enemies,

For he was a Christian, and could not but have them) will allow,

That a strong understanding,

Improved by all the advantages of science and literature,
Entitled him to class with the first men of the age
In which he lived.

His Friends

Will ever admire and revere

The striking simplicity of his preaching,
His fervent zeal, and singular success.
LIVING,

He stood among the first of the Ministers of Christ
For labours and usefulness,

DEAR SIR,

And, DYING,
Was lamented

As the greatest loss to the Church
Which he adorned..

In his WORKS, and the
Living monuments of his ministry,
He, being dead, yet speaketh.

OBITUARY.

Death of William Gray.

PLEASE to accept a fhort account of what I remember of the death

of a child at Buckingham, who died July 14th, 1795; of a truth "out of the mouths of babes and fucklings the Lord has perfected praife." This I have lately feen fulfilled in Wm. Gray, and I commit it to paper as one of the gracious tokens of divine favour in early life, which fhould be an encouragement to those who have children, to pay the tenderest attention to their morals, and endeavour to impress fuch ferious truths upon their minds as are able to make them, as they did Timothy, from a child, wife unto falvation. Then might parents have joy in their life, and confolation in their death. Little Gray was a very fenfible child, and only 11 years old when he died. He never enjoyed a good flare of health; was a lover of his book, especially the Bible, and, had he lived, was to have had a new one for learning the 5th chapter of St. John