tural and simple.

tenderness in it.

There must be urbanity and

A man must not formalize on

every thing. He, who formalizes on every thing, is a fool; and a grave fool is perhaps more injurious than a light fool.

WE are called to build a spiritual house. One workman is not to busy himself in telling another his duty. We are placed in different circumstances, with various talents: and each is called to do what he can. Two men, equally accepted of God, may be exceedingly distinct in the account which they will give of their employ.

A REGULAR Clergyman can do no more in the discharge of his duty, than our Church requires of him. He may fall far short of her requirements; but he cannot exceed, by the most devoted life, the duties which she has prescribed. What man on earth is so pernicious a drone, as an idle Clergyman!-a man, engaged in the most serious profession in the world: who rises to eat, and drink, and lounge, and trifle; and goes to bed; and then rises again, to do the same! Our office is the most laborious in the world. The mind must be always on the stretch, to acquire wisdom and grace, and to communicate them to all who come near. It is well, indeed, when a Clergyman

of genius and learning devotes himself to the publication of classics and works of literature, if he cannot be prevailed on to turn his genius and learning to a more important end. Enter into this kind of society-what do you hear? Have you seen the new edition of Sophocles?"-"No! is a new edition of Sophocles undertaken?". and this makes up the conversation, and these are the ends, of men who, by profession, should win souls! I received a most useful hint from Dr. Bacon, then Father of the University, when I was at College. I used frequently to visit him at his Living, near Oxford: he would say to me, "What are you doing? What are your studies?""I am reading so and so"-" You are quite wrong. When I was young I could turn any piece of Hebrew into Greek verse with ease. But, when I came into this parish, and had to teach ignorant people, I was wholly at a loss: I had no furniture. They thought me a great man, but that was their ignorance; for I knew as little as they did, of what it was most important to them to know. Study chiefly what you can turn to good account in your future life." And yet this wise man had not just views of serious religion: he was one of those who are for reforming the parishmaking the maids industrious, and the men sober and honest-but when I ventured to ask, Sir, must not all this be effected by the infusion of a divine principle into the mind?-a union of the

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soul with the great head of influence?" No more of that, no more of that, I pray!"

A WISE Minister stands between practical Atheism and Religious Enthusiasm.

A SERMON, that has more head infused into it than heart, will not come home with efficacy to the hearers. "You must do so and so: such and such consequences will follow if you do not such and such advantages will result from doing it :"— this is cold, dead, and spiritless, when it stands alone; or even when it is most prominent. Let the preacher's head be stored with wisdom; but above all, let his heart so feel his subject, that he may infuse life and interest into it, by speaking like one who actually possesses and feels what he says.

FAITH is the master-spring of a Minister. "Hell is before me, and thousands of souls shut up there in everlasting agonies-Jesus Christ stands forth to save men from rushing into this bottomless abyss-He sends me to proclaim his Ability and his Love I want no fourth idea!-every fourth idea is contemptible!-every fourth idea is a grand impertinence!"

THE meanness of the earthen vessel, which conveys to others the Gospel Treasure, takes nothing from the value of the treasure. A dying hand may sign a Deed of Gift of incalculable value. A shepherd's boy may point out the way to a philosopher. A beggar may be the bearer of an invaluable present.

A WRITER of Sermons has often no idea how many words he uses, to which the common people affix either no meaning, or a false one. He speaks, perhaps, of "relation to God:" but the people, who hear him, affix no other idea to the word, than that of father, or brother, or relative. The preacher must converse with the people, that he may acquire their words and phrases.

It sometimes pleases God to disqualify Ministers for their work, before he takes them to their reward. Where he gives them wisdom to perceive this, and grace to acquiesce in the dispensation-such a close of an honourable life, where the desire to be publicly useful survives the power, is a loud AMEN to all former labours.

ON

INFIDELITY AND POPERY.

INFIDEL writings are ultimately productive of little or no danger to the Church of God. Nay, we are less at a loss in judging of the wisdom of Providence in permitting them, than we are in judging of many other of its designs. They may shake the simple, humble, spiritual mind; but they are, in the end, the means of enlightening and settling it.

There are but two sorts of people in the world. Some walk by the light of the Lord; and all others lie in the wicked one, in darkness and in the shadow of death. Where there is not an enlightened, simple, humble, spiritual mind, notions and opinions are of little consequence. The impudent and refuted misrepresentations of Infidels may turn a dark mind to some other notions and way of thinking; but it is in the dark still. Till a man sees by the light of the Lord, every change of opinions is only putting a new dress on a dead carcase, and calling it alive.