therefore, I hope never to consider these things unimportant, while a sojourner here below. Trifling, indeed, they are, when considered independently of eternal things. Oh, when the mind is indeed suffered to grasp the grand outline of Christianity, as you call it, it is lost in wonder! When this world, with all its varied pursuits and anxieties, is closing upon us, how will it appear to those who have made it their resting place, instead of their scene of warfare and usefulness? What will then be said of its paltry pleasures, its corrupting customs, the "goodly price" that the Saviour was prized at! Zec. xi. 13. When Jordan's waters shall appear, which shall discover the whited sepulchre, and sweep away" every refuge of lies," where will the trembling soul find rest or shelter? How many go trifling on, vainly thinking, "my Lord delayeth his coming,"* while death and judgment are advancing, to find ungirt loins, untrimmed lamps! Some snared in the fear of man: some choked with cares or pleasures; and but few, alas! asking earnestly "their way to Zion, with their faces thitherward."+ In that day, it will be seen, whether it was wiser to obey God or man, to listen to the scoffs of gainsayers, to those who accuse us of being *Luke xii. 45. + Jer. 1. 5. 66 righteous overmuch," or to hear him, who saith, "strive, wrestle, fight, run, give diligence, work, labour." If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly, and the sinner appear?" The world, the flesh, and the devil cry out against a holy and diligent life, but God has commanded it, and confutes their every clamour and objection. Therefore it is He who is accused, and not we—) -He who commands, and not those who obey. But if this were not the voice of Scripture, it would be that of the renewed heart. "What shall I render unto the Lord, for all the benefits that he hath done unto me?"+ Mercy clothes, and feeds, and guards us. We are encompassed with mercies. The heavens shower them down upon us, and the earth breaks forth with them on every side. Our watchful Shepherd maketh us to lie down in green pastures, and feedeth us beside still waters; and though he maketh the fair and the flourishing to fade before our eyes, and the fingers of decay to touch our every possession, it is but to attract our heart and our affections to that "inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, which he has reserved in heaven" I for his people. The child of God can therefore * 1 Pet. iv. 18. + Psalm cxvi. 12. + 1 Pet. i. 4. G rejoice in all that fades, as much as in all that flourishes. All tell alike of a Father's tender love. All animate his heart-for when witnessing the wonders and beauties of creation-of a world upon which the curse rests- he can but anticipate with a hope full of immortality, the possession of a "new heaven and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." ""* When this invigorating hope is in exercise, he finds himself quite ready to obey the injunction, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might.”† He reacheth forth, to this prize of his high calling, and prays that he may be enabled to walk worthily of it. 66 Emily.-You always cheer and comfort me, my dear friend, and give me such delightful views of our Christian calling, that I wonder I am not always rejoicing; and I leave you, feeling that I can do all things through Christ strengthening me." I hope, when next we meet, I may be a companion more suited to you; and that, instead of discussing the grovelling opinions of a passing world, I may be enabled to enjoy, with you, higher themesthemes better becoming "heirs of God, and jointheirs with Christ." * 2 Pet. iii. 13. + Eccl. ix. 10. Phil. iv. 13. Catharine.-May it be so, my dear friend, for your own sake! In thankfulness for "the day of small things," look onward with faith and confidence, and be ready to say of every anticipated difficulty, or distress," Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain; and he shall bring forth the head-stone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it."* Zech. iv. 7. THE END. J. Dennett, Printer, Union Buildings, |