is ever ready, if we earnestly seek his aid, to assist and support us.

When we consider that it was for our sakes, to save us from everlasting misery, that he sent his only begotten Son into the world to be a sacrifice for sin, that for us He came down from Heaven, took upon Him the form of man, and endured all the miseries and insults of a life of continual persecution; and at last suffered the most cruel of deaths upon the cross: I say, when we consider this, we must think that we can make no sacrifice great enough in acknowledgement of such mercy. We read that at his birth, the Heavenly Host sang praises and glorified God; how much more cause have men to glorify him, since it was for them he was sent, to call them to repentance, and to redeem sinners from everlasting death. Let us think of this and return thanks to God for every mercy that we receive at his hands.

JUVENIS.

ERRORS,

(Continued from page 302.)

No. XIII.

TOM JENKINS said that he went to church only to hear the sermon, Here was a mistake, which it is to be wished that every one who studies this little book will learn to set right. We do not go to church only to hear the sermon, we go to pray: to pray for our daily bread; for mercy and forgiveness; for support under temptation; for consolation under sorrow. The minister's discourse is useful for reproof, for exhortation, for instruction; the medicine of the soul is prayer.

Prayer is the true Balm; and Gilead has none more healing, more holy, than that which may be gathered from the prayers of our Church.

XIV.

The widow Watson, frequented the meetinghouse and the church too. She would talk about the doctrines of either pulpit. Here the churchman was at fault, here the dissenter, there the latter was just and true, there the former. Would it not be better if we indulged less in critical remarks on preaching, and studied, in deep humility, to repent of our sins, and seek for pardon through a Saviour's merits, and cultivated Christian dispositions, and Christian lives?

XV.

Bill the groom was very regular at his church, and also too regular in sleeping there. Imitate him not, ye who read this record of his offence.

XVI.

Respect for sacred places is generally found with those who respect religion. Thus even when we are not met for public worship, we ought to shew respect to the house of God, whenever we enter it. The minister once met my neighbour Johnson in the church with his hat on, and though Johnson saluted his reverence with a low bow and bareheaded, yet the minister justly said, "Johnson what is this? Do you make me of more account than God? Do you enter his sacred courts with your head covered, and yet doff your hat to me, who am but his servant? Whatever you do Johnson, shew a regard to God's holy name, and a decent respect to His house, if you would have God to respect or regard you."

XVII.

Farmer Bulman was a sober and serious man,

being withal a church-man, and regular in his attendance on the public worship for many years. On a sudden however, the farmer absented himself from his church entirely; and, on inquiring the reason, I found that he had quarrelled with the minister, and was considering this absenting himself from church, as a part of his scheme of revenge. I endeavoured to explain the folly and the sinful ness of his conduct, believing that many people who ought to know better, frequently act on the same principle. Should we give up a most important duty, and endanger our acceptance at the day of account, because we think ourselves aggrieved by a being as liable to error as ourselves? Is not this in truth, being revenged on ourselves?

XVIII.

Mrs. Ginger admired the church, and respected the chapel, but some how or other she was very rarely seen at either place of worship. Polly would say it was rainy, or it was too hot, or the wind was too high, or it was too cold, or she had to make the boys a pudding, or, which was the main defence or citadel of refuge,-she had the rheumatism.

(To be continued.)

Continuation of Short Meditations for the Aged, (see p. 296.) "Now Eli was ninety and eight years old, and his eyes were dim that he could not see."

1 Sam. vi. 15.

We have in these few words a simple and touching image of the decay of nature. It is one that we

Short Meditations for the Aged.

413

daily see or feel realized either in our own persons or in those of the aged around us. Long before we have attained the ninety and eight years of the venerable Eli, we find our bodily powers begin to fail, we feel the infirmities of old age creeping over us, and are ready to exclaim in the words of Job, "I am made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed me."

But let us consider who it is that hath appointed these things, and see what is the merciful end He has in view when he thus deals with us. "Who

maketh the deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the Lord?" saith the Almighty. We should be ready then to say with the pious Eli, "it is the Lord; let Him do what seemeth Him good:" and with his patient servant Job, "The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Nor doth He afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. When He chastens us, it is for our profit. God hath indeed done all things well; and He has wisely and mercifully appointed these infirmities and this decay of nature, in order to wean our hearts from this perishing world, and to turn our thoughts to "the things that belong to our peace." The loss of our outward faculties, may be conducive to this end by lessening those temptations to which the bodily senses but too often minister. We are exhorted to "look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." Are our eyes dim" that we can no longer see; is the faculty of our hearing impaired; do our failing limbs refuse to bear us about?-May we not feel thankful for infirmities that must exempt us from many of those worldly engagements which in our days of health and strength too often engrossed our minds to the exclusion of the higher concerns of the soul,

which have deprived us of all relish for those dangerous pleasures which were perhaps the first pursuit of our youthful days? Let us receive them as warnings to detach our thoughts and affections from this world, to turn the eyes of our spirit inward, to examine into the state of our souls, and to search out, that we may repent and put away from us every thing that can be displeasing to Him, who "is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity." Let us implore of Him the aid of His Holy Spirit to assist us in this great work, to enlighten our darkness, and to "open our eyes (the eyes of our understanding) that we may see the wonderous things of His law." Above all, let us watch and pray that what God designs as a means of our spiritual advancement, be not turned into a snare by the great enemy of our souls. His temp tations will not be wanting to draw us into fretfulness, and impatience, and sinful repining, under our infirmities and deprivations. But, when we feel the first stirring of these wicked emotions in our hearts, let us see the need of increased watchfulness, that these trials may bring us nearer to God, and lead us to His feet in earnest prayer for grace to help in time of need. We are only safe, when we are thus continually lifting up our hearts to Him; and, while we do so, we shall feel the truth of that comforting assurance, “as thy day so shall thy strength be.' "For He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength: even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." "He shall keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Him," a peace over which outward events shall have no power, but which increasing in the midst of trials and deprivations will shine brighter and clearer unto the perfect day.