God hears all their contentions for the law of works; and is the best judge how their life, walk, and actions, agree with that rule; and no doubt he will judge them by that rule for which they contend: and it will be well if, when God lays righteousness to the line, and judgment to the plummet, there be no refuges of lies for the hail to sweep away; if their hearts, lives, and actions, have been as pure as their words and pretences. And it is well for such as you and I that Christ came into this world to save sinners; and that he was "made sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Blessed are they who are born again. Blessed are they who love God, and believe in his dear Son; "The righteousness of the law is fulfilled in them who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

I shall conclude with counsel that never came from Sinai. Hearken, O daughter, and consider; incline your ear to what hath been said; forsake the fleshly family, and your old father Adam's house so shall the King of kings greatly desire thy beauty. He is thy Lord, and worship thou him, saith the Father of mercies, who hath loved us with an everlasting love. In the bond of which I subscribe myself your servant to command in this present state, and a joint partaker with you the glory that shall be revealed.

Winchester Row,

Paddington.

W. H.

of

A VISION.

THE RIDDLE.

"And Samson said, I will now put forth a Riddle unto you, if you can certainly declare it within the seven days of the feast:-and they said, Put forth thy Riddle, that we may hear it," Judges xiv. 12, 13.

IN gloomy visions of the night
I saw a formless form appear:
Amazement seiz'd me at the sight,
Which fill'd me with tormenting fear.

Abash'd, I fled; but he pursu'd,

Yet neither ran, nor walk'd, nor fled:
His shapeless shape would still intrude,
Nor could I shun the monster's dread.

I saw his body act and move,

But form'd like no created race:
In darkest paths he loves to rove,
Yet never shuns to shew his face.

Long time I stood in fright, to gaze
And view this exhibition strange :
My mind was fill'd with great amaze
To see the moving monster range.

Bow'd with old age, in hoary hairs,
Yet seeks the crown, and royal horn;
He liv'd and mov'd five thousand years
Before begot, conceiv'd, or born.

I fought and strove, with groans and tears,
To drive the rebel from my home;
And, though he brings a thousand fears,
I always love to see him come.

He's caus'd my mind the utmost smart,
And from his presence oft I flee;
And, though we live some miles apart,
He never was one mile from me.

I court his wrath, some court his smiles;
In ev'ry house he finds his home:
He dwells throughout the British isles,
Yet only rents one single room.

The lion bold he dar'd oppose,
With warlike scorn defy'd his rage;
From out his den in fury rose,
Although five thousand years

of age.

And why surpris'd to hear the date?
He is not twice the age of me;
And, though his years appear so great,
There's women older now than he.

Long did this dreadful battle last,

But still the monster wav'd his paw;

And, though of savage, brutal cast,
He yet observ'd the rules of law.

I saw the warlike hero yield;

I saw him taken, try'd, and slain;
I saw him bury'd on the field;
Yet he reviv'd, and liv'd again.

Disarm'd again, and put to flight,
The dawn of day he try'd to shun,
And, though confin'd in shades of night,
He rose again, and fought the Sun.

This foe hath won a thousand fields,
And been by millions put to flight:
To impotence he often yields,

And yet resists immortal might!

Yea, countless hosts have been employ'd,
Equipp'd and arm'd with might and skill:
From endless date he's been destroy'd;
And yet exists, and always will.

His body's void of form or shape,

Like monsters seen from foul embrace:

Yet few there are his charms escape;
He still begets eternal race.

He's not a man, nor yet a brute;
He's neither reptile, fowl, nor fiend;
Yet has a voice, though always mute;
And God doth oft his cries attend.

Defy'd he is by small and great,
Yet none at times refuse his call;
Detested with the utmost hate,

Yet loy'd and serv'd by one and all.

By high and low in great esteem:

The crowned head will condescend; Both youth and age will mourn for him; And yet he always kills his friend.

Oppos'd, at times, by all at large,
And oft engag'd by num'rous host;
And those who give the warmest charge
Are chiefly them that love him most.

The blushing damsel yields her charms;
Defenceless falls before his woo;

Yet nought but death attends his arms;
He slew his sire, and mother too.

His parentage 'tis hard to trace;

His ancient rise few understand:

He never had a senior race:

He's neither angel, brute, nor man.

A body void of flesh and blood;
Of joint or member, as we call;
And yet, so anxious after food,

He preys on friends, yea foes and all.

He wears the robe, the crown, and ring;
He sways the sceptre, fills the throne:
For him they mourn, of him they sing;
He makes their mirth, and makes their

By thousands curs'd to endless wo,

While thousands love to hear his fame; Yet he's compris'd in number Two ;

Yea couch'd beneath a single name.

groan.