and sat down.P How sweet was the air! How fair were the fruits and flowers! How clear the atmosphere! Behold, this is the place our Prince loveth, and here does he delight to dwell.s

r

P Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. Ps. cxvi. 7.

a Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits. Cant. iv. 16.

r

My delights were with the sons of men. Prov. viii. 31.

S

My vineyard which is mine, is before me. Cant. viii. 12.

CONCLUSION.

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too

Thus have I brought my allegory to a close, being fearful of continuing it, lest it should be said, I was going far." I do not end with these words, "And I awoke, and behold, it was a dream!" because, God be praised! it is no dream, but a sober reality, as any may know, "who follow on to know the Lord." Let them only believe his promises, and they will find that his strength is sufficient; and if they will be obedient to his invitations, they will not fear going "too far," but lament that they stop so short of his requirements.

If, indeed, they are not in the right path, the farther they go, the worse it

will be for them; but if they are led by the Spirit of God in the paths of holiness, there will be no danger of their becoming too holy, by placing before them the high calling of God, as the mark to which they are directed by the Scriptures. They will find that the nearer they attain towards perfection, the more humbled they will be, from acquiring a greater knowledge of themselves and of their God. For it is only such as have attained unto sanctification, whose spiritual vision can discern the essential holiness of Jehovah, or discover the corruptions of their own hearts; so that it is only an advanced saint, who can in truth feel himself to be the chief of sinners.

It is not the intention of this tract to despise the day of small things, or to under-rate the positive duty of labouring

in the Lord's vineyard. But its aim is to lead Christians onward beyond first principles. It is so much our propensity to rest in low attainments, that it is desirable we should provoke each other to emulation, and stir each other up to endeavour to reach that standard which the Bible holds forth, remembering, that we were not born again of the Spirit that we might continue as babes, but in order that we might grow to the full stature of the measure of Christ.

This, however, is no easy matter, and therefore, we would rather think that in religion, externals are every thing. External religion is good, and necessary: but internal religion is better. It is equally practicable, but incomparably more difficult. There is pleasure in administering to the wants of others, and in giving a helping hand to any

organized plan for promoting the glory of God. Even if this labour of love is fatiguing, we have something to shew for it, something to lay hold of, something that can be seen, known, and approved. But it is hard to correct indwelling corruption, to take up the daily cross with cheerfulness, and to overcome sinful propensities. To do this, we must retire from observation, and in the hidden sanctuary of the closet, fight a hard fight with none to witness, and labour with a sorrow that no one knows. Then go forth, and in our contact with the world, bind with unseen cords, that strong man within, who is invisible to others.

This is not pleasant, but it is the work that brings us nearest to our God. And as in his presence is fulness of joy, so, as we approach that presence, shall we ex