sion-" the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." He knew this, as well as I could tell him, for he was no novice in theology; but still he exclaimed-"Oh, my unprofitable life! all gone, wasted, thrown away!" As I left him, he added, and these were the last words I ever heard him utter,— 'I have finished my course, but I cannot say that I have kept the faith." A few days afterwards, he died.

I have not published this incident for the purpose of recommending the plan of praying by task-work. But caution is seldom necessary in that direction. And, whatever may be our views, as to the seasons and method of prayer, the man who cherishes the hope that his soul can prosper and be in health without a large measure of private devotion, may as well persuade himself that his next discovery will bring to light the phoenix, the griffin, or the salamander. "Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for, whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap," Gal. vi. 7. "They have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind," Hosea viii. 7. It is impossible to know much of the religious world, without observing the fact, that only a very small measure of happiness is commonly

associated with Christian profession.

Just

enough of the consolations of God, to sustain them under the cares and burdens of life, is all that the faithful, in general, seem to attain or desire. "Joy unspeakable and full of glory," such as the primitive disciples were wont to realize amidst their "manifold temptations," 1 Peter i. 8, they regard as exclusively the product of another sphere, and so they content themselves to wait for it, till that which is perfect shall come, and that which is in part shall be done away.

Desertion is the loss of happiness, but in a more aggravated form, and as a positive infliction resulting from divine displeasure. It is one of the many ways in which God gives his saints to see how evil and how bitter a thing it is to forsake him, Jer. ii. 19. Whatever of real enjoyment belongs to religion, springs from his presence. With him is the fountain of life, and in his light they see light, Psalm xxxvi. 9. When, therefore, he hides his face, they are troubled. When he withdraws the sunshine of his love, they walk in darkness. Some would regard this infliction as the issue of mere sovereignty; but, since God does not willingly afflict nor grieve the children of men, Lam. iii.

33, it is well to inquire-Is there not a cause? Whatever may be the case in particular instances of mental depression or constitutional infirmity, as a general rule, desertion is attributable to declension, and has with it precisely the same connexion which usually subsists between sin and suffering.

Another consequence of backsliding, is probably the loss-and possibly the contented loss of usefulness. When our own condition is unsatisfactory, we are not likely to do much for the benefit of others; and the little we attempt, will be of too cold and feeble a character, to warrant the hope of success. We cannot be too careful to remember that neither is he, that planteth, anything, nor he, that watereth; but, at the same time, we must not forget, that when Paul planted, and Apollos watered, God gave the increase, 1 Cor. iii. 6. For this reason, if Christian husbandry, in our hands, is unproductive, it behoves us to try some other methods. Or, to speak plainly, and without a proverb, if sinners cease to be converted, and saints established, through our instrumentality, it is high time for us to examine afresh the evidences of our own discipleship.

When the religious professor can satisfy him

self with an unproductive Christianity, it is not unlikely that circumstances, which at other seasons would excite no notice, will be assigned as reasons for standing aloof from every undertaking which requires some little amount of self-denial. Hence, perhaps, he pleads-offence, when had the real cause been stated, it would have been-declension. The individual has retired from united effort, under the pretence that he could not bear the obstinacy of one, the dictation of another, or the ill temper of a third; whereas, if the whole truth were told, he would have to confess, that he has ceased to serve the Saviour, because he has ceased to love him.

Whatever may be the reason, the fact is undeniable ;-that multitudes who would think themselves deeply wronged to have their piety called in question, are doing nothing, or almost nothing, for Him to whom true discipleship would constrain them to devote their bodies, souls, and spirits. Meanwhile, though Christian charity may induce their brethren to take the most favourable view of their conduct, the world, understanding no such thing, will not only think them guilty of hypocrisy, but will disregard the truth, because they only half believe it.

Distressing as are these results, they are immeasurably aggravated when the individual happens to be a teacher of others. When the pastors become brutish, the flocks are scattered, Jer. x. 21. Nor is this the worst; for it may be that the scattered flock will find pasturage

elsewhere.

Or, to drop the figure, the sanctuary may be forsaken, and yet the worshippers may not be lost to the church of God. The mischief is, in this case, comparatively small; for bare walls and empty benches are insusceptible of moral contamination. But, the more awful probability is, that the ordained backslider keeps up an unsullied reputation, retains the attachment and confidence of his people, and so, preaches and prays and visits them down-to his own level, till, at last, they love to have it so, and should a man of another spirit cross their path occasionally, he must expect to receive about the same measure of courtesy that the legion of devils, at Gadara, bestowed upon his Master-"Let us alone! What have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth?"

Declension, when once it enters a church, soon spreads. Young converts take the character of their piety from those who were in Christ