of that word will at last surprise thee-" Though thy beginning be small, yet thy latter end shall greatly increase."

WHY should not the charity of which we are treating," begin at home?" It observes not a due decorum if it doth not; and it will be liable to great exceptions in its pretensions and proceedings. "ODI sapientem qui sibi non sapit."* This then, is to be made an early PROPOSAL.

First, Let every man devise what good may be done for the correction of what is yet amiss, IN HIS OWN HEART AND LIFE. It is a good remark of the witty Fuller; "He need not complain of too little work, who hath a little world in himself to mend." It was of old complained, "No man repented him, saying, What have I done?" Every man upon earth may find in himself something that wants correcting; and the work of repentance is to inquire, not only," what we have done," but also," what we have to do." Frequent self-examination is the duty of all who would know themselves, or would not lose themselves. The great intention of self-examination is to find out the points wherein we are to "amend our ways." A christian that would thrive in christianity, must be no stranger to a course of meditation. This is one of the masters which are requisite to make a 66 man of God." One article and exercise in our meditation should be to find out the things wherein a greater conformity to the

* Call not that man wise whose wisdom begins not at home.

truths upon which we have been meditating, may be attempted. If we would be good men, we must often devise how we may grow in knowledge and in all goodness. Such an inquiry as this should often be made: "What shall I do, that what is yet lacking in the image of God upon me, may be perfected? What shall I do, that I may live more perfectly, more watchfully, more fruitfully before my glorious Lord ?"

And why should not our meditation, when we retire to that profitable engagement, conclude with some resolution? Devise now, and resolve something to strengthen your walk with God.

With some devout hearers of the word, it is a practice, when they have heard a sermon, to think, "What good thing have I now to ask of God with a peculiar importunity?" They are also accustomed to call upon their children, and make them answer this question: " Child, what blessing will you now ask of the glorious God?" After which, they charge them to go and do accordingly.

In pursuance of this piety, why may not this be one of the exercises which shall conspire to form a good evening for the best of days? Let it be a part of our work on the Lord's-day evening, seriously to ask ourselves the following question: "If I should die this week, what have I left undone, which I should then wish I had been more diligent in performing ?" My friend, place thyself in dying circumstances; apprehend and realise thy approaching dissolution. Suppose thy last, solemn hour arrived: thy breath failing, thy throat rattling, thy hands with a cold sweat upon them,— only the turn of the tide expected for thy expiration. In this condition, "What wouldst thou

wish to have done more than thou hast already done, for thy own soul, for thy family, or for the people of God?" Think upon this question, and do not forget the result of thy thoughts; do not delay to perform what thou hast resolved upon. How much more agreeable and profitable would'such an exercise be on the Lord's-day evening than those vanities to which that evening is too commonly prostituted, and by which all the good of the past day is defeated! And if such an exercise were often performed, O! how much would it regulate our lives; how watchfully, how fruitfully would it cause us to live; what an incredible number of good works would it produce in the world!

Will you remember, sirs, that every christian is a" temple of God!" It would be of great service to christianity, if this notion of its true nature were more frequently and clearly cultivated. But certainly, there yet remains very much for every one of us to do, that the temple may be carried on to perfection; that it may be repaired, finished, purified, and the top stone of it laid, with shoutings of "Grace, Grace!" unto it.

As a branch of this piety, I will recommend a serious and fruitful improvement of the various dispensations of Divine Providence which we have occasion to notice. More particularly: Have you received any special blessings and mercies from the hand of God? You do not suitably express your thankfulness; you do not render again according to the benefit that is done unto you, unless you set yourself to consider, "What shall I render unto the Lord ?" You should contrive some signal thing to be done on this occasion; some service to the kingdom of God, either within yourself, or

among others, which may be a just confession and memorial of what a gracious God has done for you. This is an action, to which the "goodness of God leadeth you." And I would ask, How can a good voyage, or a good bargain, be made without some special returns of gratitude to God? I would have a portion of your property made a thankoffering, by being set apart for pious uses.

Whole days of thanksgiving are to be kept, when the favours of God rise to a more observable height. Christians of the finer mould keep their private ones, as well as bear part in the public services. One exercise for such a day is, to take a list of the more remarkable succours and bounties with which our God has comforted us; and then, to contrive some suitable acknowledgments of him, in endeavours to serve him, and this by way of gratitude for these undeserved comforts.

On the other hand; you meet with heavy and grievous afflictions. Truly, it is a pity to be at the trouble of suffering afflictions, and not get good by them. We get good by them, when they awaken us 66 to do good;" and I may say, never till then! When God is distributing sorrows to you, the sorrows still come upon some errands; therefore, the best way for you to find that they do not come in his anger, is to consider what the errands may be. The advice is, that when any affliction comes upon you, you immediately reflect, "to what special act of repentance does this affliction call me? What miscarriage does this affliction find in me, to be repented of ?" And then, while the sense of the affliction is yet upon you, seriously inquire, " to what improvement in holiness and usefulness does this affliction call me?"

Be more solicitous to gain this point than to escape from your affliction. O! the peace that will compose, possess, and ravish your minds, when your afflictions shall be found yielding these "fruits o righteousness!"

Luther did well to call afflictions, " theologiam christianorum"-" the theology of christians." This may be a proper place to introduce one direction more. We are travelling through a malicious, a calumnious, and abusive world. Why should not malice be a good informer?" We may be unjustly defamed; it will be strange if we are not frequently so. A defamation is commonly resented as a provocation. My friend, make it only a provocation to do good works! The thing to be now directed is this. Upon any reproach being offered, instead of being transported into a rage at Shimei, retire and patiently inquire, "Has not God bidden such a reproach to awaken me to some duty? To what special service of piety should I be awakened, by the reproach which is cast upon me?" One thus expresses it: "The backbiter's tongue, like a mill-clack, will be still in motion, that he may grind thy good name to powder. Learn, therefore, to make such use of his clack as to make thy bread by it; I mean, so to live, that no credit shall be given to slander." Thus all the abuses you meet with, may prove to you, in the hand of a faithful God, no other than the strokes which a statuary employs on his ill-shaped marble; only to form you into a more beautiful shape, and make you fitter to adorn the heavenly temple. Thus you are informed of a way to " shake off a viper" most advantageously! Yea, I am going to inform you, how you may fetch sweetness out of a viper.