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directions for the uninstructed;' such as those written by Dr. Stonhouse, should not also be laid on the table. Some clergymen and laymen may still approve of the Bishop's tract, but others, many others, decidedly object to it.

Many quotations might be made from our Homilies; but I shall quote only one sentence :

'They are greatly deceived that preach repentance without Christ, and teach the simple and ignorant that it consisteth only in the works of men they may indeed speak many things of good works, and of amendment of life and manners; but without Christ they be all vain and unprofitable.' Homily on Repentance.

'Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.' 1 Thess. v. 21.

In requesting you to allow these observations to appear in your pages, I beg also to express my

conviction, that many Tracts are published by the Christian Knowledge Society, which all rightlyinformed Christians approve; yet still it is deeply to be regretted, that some Tracts are permitted to remain on its list. The Tract which from a sense of duty I have animadverted upon, is even among the revised Tracts, and as it appears to be a favourite Tract, and may be inadvertently given away by clergymen, I have not hesitated to mention openly and plainly my objections, which are also felt by many others. The minister of Jesus Christ, must, through God's grace, shew himself

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a pattern of good works,' must ' in doctrine,' exhibit uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,' and must pray that himself and all Christian people may be nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine,'

S. T. N.

ON DEPENDANCE ON DIVINE SUPPORT.

"Hold Thou up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not."-PSALM Xviii. 5.

THE Christian who has been much exercised in the school of Christ, feels himself to be weak, yea, weakness itself; and from a feeling sense of his perfect helplessness, considers himself as always in danger of falling. This is a frame of mind peculiarly desirable, and diligently to be sought and preserved; for a heartfelt conviction of our own insufficiency, will keep us in a watchful, prayerful spirit, and lead to a simple, and habitual dependence upon Him, who is the all-sufficient help and strength of His people. We are never in more danger than when self-confident; nor are we ever more safe, than when we most distrust ourselves. A consciousness of our weakness will frequently bring us upon our knees before the throne of grace;

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it soon after we have embraced the gospel, that we ascertain these facts. It is only after many painful experiences, that we experimentally learn, that of "ourselves we can do nothing," and that unless constantly upheld by "the everlasting arms" of Jesus, the great captain of our salvation, unless secretly strengthened by the supplies of His grace, we shall most certainly fall. Long however as Christians are in learning this lesson, to which they have, it may be theoretically subscribed for many years, as one of importance to be known, and severe as are the wounds they receive, ere they from the heart perceive and feel its truth; yet when through the effectual teaching of the spirit of God, they learn somewhat of their impotency and weakness, the knowledge thus acquired, will more than counterbalance all they have endured in its attainment, as it tends most effectually to lower their selfsufficiency, to increase circumspection, watchfulness, and humility; and leads them continually to Him, who alone can uphold and preserve them. It was not until after many painful exercises of mind, that the "man after God's own heart" felt the importance of the truth under consideration, but when his eyes were opened to perceive the slippery ground over which he had daily to walk, the snares and allurements that beset him on every side, and his own

inability to "hold on his way," he was led at once to his " strong tower and place of defence," and so long as he made" God his refuge," he was safe.

Many are the petitions recorded in the Scriptures of the saints of the Most High, who under a deep consciousness of their impotency, earnestly supplicated the Divine aid and assistance. This of David stands pre-eminent and the heart of the tried and experienced soldier of Jesus Christ, will respond to its personal application. And how encouraging, and strengthening to the soul fainting under its weakness and discouraged at the difficulties which lie in its road towards Heaven, to read in the charter of its hopes and privileges, this blessed declaration of immutable truthHE WILL KEEP THE FEET OF HIS SAINTS; while he proffers the prayer, he can rely upon the promise; and thus going forward in the strength of the Lord of Hosts, his Saviour and Redeemer, he shall in due season enter upon the enjoyment of that "rest which remains for the people of God;" and with the countless myriads of those "who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb," shall eternally re-echo the language of the Apostle, "Thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

THE TEACHING OF JESUS.

FROM THE PIOUS MINSTREL.

How sweetly flowed the gospel's sound,
From lips of gentleness and grace,
When listening thousands gathered round,
And joy and reverence filled the place!
From heaven he came-of heaven he spoke
To heaven he led his follower's way;
Dark clouds of gloomy night he broke,
Unveiling an immortal day.

"Come, wanderers, to my Father's house, Come, all ye weary ones, and rest!" Yes! sacred Teacher-we will come

Obey thee,-love thee,-and be blest.

ALPHA.

MISCELLANIES.

EZEKIEL Viii. 17. And lo, they put the branch to their nose. This extraordinary expression alludes to the abominations practised by the apostate Israelites, who stood with their faces towards the earth, and worshipped the sun. The fireworshippers, we are told, when they were praying before the sacred fire, held a little bunch of twigs in their hand. [Perhaps the twigs were perfumed.]-Parkhurst.

All the notions and sentiments of men, with regard to religion, have neither weight nor value, nor deserve belief, except so far as they are found conformable to the written word of God.-M. de St. Dalmas.

Would you judge of the lawfulness or unlawfulness of pleasure, (said Wesley's mother to her son) take this rule: whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin in you, however innocent it may be in itself.

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Memorandum found among the papers of the late Rev. David Brown, of Calcutta.

AGENDA DIVINA.

My soul, cease from man, and wait thou only on the Lord. Walk with God, looking unto Jesus, as thy example in all things. He was meek and lowly in heart. Matt. xi. 29. Heb. xi. 26, 27.

DAILY. 1. Renew thy peace with God, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.

2. Calm thy heart, and subdue every notion there to the obedience of Christ.

3. Be watchful in thy walk, in thy words, and in thy ways.

4. Consider what lies before thee in daily life, and look no further.Life of Brown.

The following stanzas, taken from Herbert, appear to have been written on the occasion of some disappointment. They are well worth the attention of every minister.

But that thou art my wisdom, Lord,
And both my eyes are thine,
My mind would be extremely stirred,
For missing my design.

Were it not better to bestow

Some place and power on me?
Then should thy praises with me grow,
And share in my degree.

How knew I, if thou should'st me raise,
That I should then raise thee?
Perhaps great places and thy praise
Do not so well agree.

Men are but the instruments that Providence makes use of for our correction, that is, for our amendment; and sometimes men answer the design pretty well towards one another, though instruments have little merit to plead in their behalf-Lord Pitsligo, the friend of Fenelon.

M.

OBITUARY OF MRS. HUBBARD.

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THE subject of this obituary was born at Titchmarsh, in the county of Northampton, in 1790. As a child of fallen Adam, she was by nature a child of wrath, even as others, and walked according to the course of this world, in the vanity of her mind; without God in the world. In the year 1812, the providence of God called me to the village where she lived, to assist the rector in the duties of the parish. The day of my arrival was Ash-Wednesday; and I was quested to preach in the evening. My text was Luke xix. 41, 42. And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes. This sermon was the means, in the hand of the Eternal Spirit, of reproving her of sin. She then felt her state before God, and began to mourn over her lost condition. She found that she needed pardon, and prayed earnestly for it. At length, she was enabled to see that there was mercy for her in the fulness of Jesus' salvation.

In 1818, she went to Spratton to conduct a school, where her Christian conduct endeared her to the children under her care, to her employers, and to the people of God. When she left that place to return to her home, her loss was felt and regretted. Her health was never strong; and, during the few last years, had shewn a more than usual tendency to that complaint which took away her life.

In the course of the summer, a cough, accompanied by hectic fever, proved but too clearly that consumption of the lungs was beginning to take down her earthly house. Remedies were tried, and hopes of recovery were indulged; but, in the autumn of that year, it was

manifest to every one, that all that could be done was to alleviate what could not be cured.

While attending her dying bed, I took notes from day to day of her Christian experience as exemplified during my daily visits to her; and I only record that which fell under my own observation.

She mentioned to me a temptation by which she was assaulted, and by which the enemy of souls was desirous to distress her mind; namely, ' It may be that religion is all false, and that the soul will end its existence with the body.' I assured her that she was not the only person thus exercised; for that I myself had been made to groan under the same fiery dart. I asked her, 'Do you wish for annihilation?' She quickly replied, O, no! the idea of it is very wretched.'

She had three small children, and felt toward them very tender love. The expected condition of these, as motherless babes, would often fill her mind with anxiety and her eyes with tears. But she was enabled sometimes to look to the promise of a faithful God, and to pray that she might cast her care, and the care of her children, on Him; remarking, I was deprived of my mother when young; and God hath taken care of me, and blessed me, and hath given me his grace. He can take care of my little ones: but it is sad work to say indeed, Not my will but thine be done.'

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On Sunday, December 16, she was taken much worse; and on the following morning I saw her. She was very weak indeed, and I thought the last enemy near. Her soul was stayed upon God. Looking unto Jesus, she regarded death, not only without fear, but with comfort and joy. The Saviour was indeed, as she said, precious to her. His obedience unto death, his dying

upon the cross, his resurrection from the dead, and his sitting down at the right hand of God, formed the foundation of her hope. Observing some unpleasant symptoms, I said, These are the forerunners of death.' She received my remark with sweet composure, and entered most delightfully into the verse I then repeated:

Rock of ages! cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee:
Let the water and the blood,
From thy riven side which flow'd,
Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and pow'r.

It was observed to her, ' We must come back to first principles, and look to the simple declaration, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.'

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I saw, and, lo, a countless throng, &c. and having prayed with her, she was much affected with the mercy and grace of God, in calling her from the ways of error and of death, and said,

'Why was I made to hear thy voice,

And enter while there's room! When thousands make a wretched choice, And rather starve than come.

'Twas the same love that spread the feast, That sweetly forc'd me in; Else I had still refuş'd to taste,

And perish'd in my sin.'

On the Tuesday morning I perceived her, to all appearance drawing very near to her eternal home. Indeed, I was sent for, under the impression that her departure was at hand. Her soul was truly waiting upon God. Oh,' she said, that I had a thousand tongues! that I might make all the earth to

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hear that Christ Jesus came into the -world to save sinners! Since I have lain here, I have often been struck with the great love of Jesus, in thinking of his people from eternity, in coming down to earth, in going to the garden, and from the garden to the cross, and from the cross to where I hope soon to be.' Her aged father, on hearing she was worse, arose and came into the room. Being deaf, he could scarcely hear what his daughter said. I wish,' she observed to me, I could speak to my poor dear father about his soul. Do you, Sir, speak to him, and tell him of Jesus.' I said to her, 'Your death may be the means of your father's life. It may be so,' she replied, 'the death of God's people hath been blessed to many.' I saw her again twice in the course of the day, and read to her the eighth chapter of the epistle to the Romans, which she much enjoyed. She spake of the time when her mind was first influenced to attend to the things of God, and of that blessed season when she first felt the mercy of God applied to her wounded spirit, with a brightened countenance indeed. The recollection of the moment, when her heart danced for joy upon tasting the sweetness of redeeming love, refreshed her soul. 'I am still in need of prayer,' she observed, 'and shall be so long as I am here. But God is so merciful and kind, he deals so graciously with me. What a call for thankfulness !'

On Wednesday, she had revived a little. On my going into her room, she said, 'I almost feel disappointed. I had hoped to have been in heaven before now.' I told her, God's time is the best time. The when, the where, and the how, are appointed by him.' She replied, 'I have often said so at Spratton ; and I now wish to be resigned to his will. I cannot complain, he deals so lovingly with me.'

She was in the same calm and

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