What should be my state of mind, that my hearers may value the sacred day? We can never make good music with an ill-tuned instrument. Ministers ought to pray for a heavenly frame, that the minds of the people may be kept in a heavenly frame also.

Some persons think to save themselves by coming to the Lord's table, conceiving that the sacrament is a sort of charm to bring salvation down to them, whereas it is intended as a seal to those who are saved.

Let those who do not attend the sacrament, ask themselves why? and let that little word be answered by a contrary conduct.

Those that dare not approach the altar dare still go on in sin!

The same state of mind which keeps a man from the Lord's table, will most assuredly keep him out of heaven.

SECTION XIV.

Christian Character and Deportment.-Zeal.

WHAT do I see, when I fix my eyes upon the man who is truly blest with the grace of God? He has the " same mind" that was also in Christ Jesus; he is kept in heavenly serenity in this his earthly state; he partakes of those purifying influences in time, which are foretastes of perfect holiness when time shall be no more; an earnest of the glorious inheritance dwells in him by the Holy Ghost, and he brings forth fruit in his life. Religion would be the worst of idle tales, if it were only a creed in the head without affecting the heart and life.

If "one Spirit" from God himself actuate my whole man, I shall not have my right hand at variance with my left.

Let a man live as a Christian ought to live, and he need not fear to trust his character to the Lord's protection.

I have often observed that while the chaff is being winnowed from the wheat, there is never more than a very little irregular movement in the descent of the grain. Sometimes a child of God may be shaken by a strong temptation, but he soon returns to his steady course, and will keep up an undeviating consistency of character, that he not appear may "the chaff." to go among

What wisdom and piety do men need to become exemplary heads of large families; to behave as if conscious of God's presence in their homes, and to walk before their children and dependents like priests in the midst of them.

Is it really possible that persons without grace may sometimes act with more propriety than those who have a knowledge of the truth! Shall it be said, that men of the world have been known to shew better tempers than some who are "called to be saints!" Can this indeed be so! O that the consistency of our lives may prove that God is in us, and that our religion is the finest reality that can be communicated to the heart.

Will a man who is careless of his character,

call himself a believer in the power of holiness, when he practically rejects it!

O what madness for a man to dream of heaven, when every step he takes, is in the road which leads to hell.

How do I use the outward faculties of speaking, hearing, seeing? Do I, according to the spirit created in me, take care that they are regulated, as they ought to be regulated, by the mind of God?

Whoever has a little more piety than common, is certain to be branded with a nick-name; but if we give practical evidence of the grandeur of holiness, it will soon appear that "wisdom is justified of all her children." If we avoid being a disgrace to religion, religion will never be a disgrace to us. I often think of the command "by patient continuance in well doing to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men"-let us so act that the world may be silenced by our conduct.

I have known few wiser men than good Mr. Newton. I once observed to him that I consi1 Pet. ii, 15.

dered a certain individual to be a very good man. He made scarcely any reply, so I inquired if he had heard something wrong of him. He merely answered, "I never lived at home with him." Let a Christian's character be such that those cannot fail to admire it, who live with him in his home.

True religion so bespeaks itself to be of God, that all the infidelity of the human heart cannot deny its divine origin. It manifests this by the power, dignity, and loveliness of the Christian character.

Every transaction should be conducted in the fear of God. In all our occupations we should touch nothing but with a holy hand.

Though a Christian does not desire to exhibit what he is in an ostentatious manner, yet as the sun cannot help its brightness, and as the stars are unable to keep back their lustre, so likewise the child of God must shine.

It was a favourite prayer with good old Mr. Berridge, that he might be conducted "safely and honourably through the world."