he would not spare even his own children, if they entertained sentiments contrary to the Catholic church.” Pride in one person, passion in a second, prejudice in a third, and in a fourth, investigation, generates difference of opinion. Should diversity be deemed an evil, it is incumbent on rational beings, and congenial with the dignity of the Christian profession, to improve it to valuable purposes. It is a fact, that different denominations have, in every age of the church, kept a jealous eye over each other; and hereby the Scriptures, the common standard to which they appealed for the truth of their respective tenets, have been preserved in greater purity. It may also be added, that diversity of opinion quickens our inquiries after truth, and gives scope for the exercise of our charity, which in one passage of the sacred writings is pronounced "superior to faith and hope," and in another passage termed "the bond of perfectness.' Much improvement have good men extracted from the common evils of life, by these evils giving rise to graces and virtues which otherwise would have no existence; or, at least, would have been faintly called forth into action. To perceive the justice of this observation, it is not necessary that we be profound contemplators of human affairs.

Under the accumalated difficulties of faith and practice, by which we are embarrassed in this sublinary state of imperfection, we should meditate on the doctrine of Providence, which administers the richest consolation. The dominion exercised by the Supreme Being over the works of his hands, is neither partial as to its objects, narrow in its extent, nor transitory in its duration. Unlike earthly monarchs, who expire in their turn, and who are successively borne into the tombs of their ancestors, "The King of Saints liveth and reigneth for ever and ever!" Evils, indeed, have entered the world, and still continue to distress it. But these evils have not crept into the system unknown to its great author, and the attributes of Deity ensure their extirpation. Our rejoicing is, "The Lord God omnipotent reigneth!" Glorious must be the termination of the divine dispensations. The august period is predicted in sacred writ, and lies concealed in the womb

of time. Distant may be its arrival, but its blessings once realised will compensate the exercise of your faith, and the trial of your patience.

One part, one little part, we dimly scan,

Through the dark medium of life's feverish dream,
Yet dare arraign the whole stupendous plan,
If but that little part incongruous seem:
Nor is that part, perhaps, what mortals deem :
Oft from apparent ills our blessings rise-
O! then renounce that impious self esteem,
That aims to trace the secrets of the skies,
For thou art but of dust-be humble and be wise.

Beattie.

Finally-penetrated with a sense of the imperfection of this present life, let us be cautious how we form our religious sentiments, watch unremittingly over our tempers and conduct, and aspire to that better world, where pure and unadulterated truth shall be disclosed to our view!

Of all the subjects presented to the human mind, religion claims the first and the greatest attention. A God, a Providence, a Saviour, and a future State of Retribution, ought to be pressing upon our minds, and presiding over our conduct. To familiarize ourselves with their evidences, to lay open our souls to their energy, and promote, by every honourable method, their spread among mankind, should be our ambition. Zeal is an elevated passion. It is repeatedly enjoined in the sacred writings. It forms the leading trait of excellence in the most enlightened characters. Indeed, an individual can scarcely be pronounced truly good, except he possesses a portion of this celestial fire. Zeal, confined within the limits prescribed by reason and scripture, is attended with blessed consequences. Loosened from these restraints, like the devouring conflagration, it involves in one undistinguished ruin the victims of its fury, and triumphs in the desolation it has effected. How different is the Christian influenced by a zeal purely evangelical, from the monster who is either swollen with the venom of ucharitableness, or is pregnant with persecution for conscience sake!" Mistake me not (says good Richard Baxter) I do not slight orthodoxy, nor jeer at

the name: but only disclose the pretences of devilish zeal in pious or seemingly pious men. The slanders of some of these, and the bitter opprobrious speeches of others, have more effectually done the devil's service, under the name of orthodoxy and zeal for truth, than the malignant scorners of godliness." Thus also the pious Matthew Henry declares, that of all the Christian graces, zeal is most apt to turn sour! Dr. Doddridge, in his Family Expositor, has this remark: Wisely did Christ silence the suspicious praises of an unclean spirit! and vain is all the hope which men build merely on those orthodox professions of the most important truths, in which Satan himself could vie with them." To use the words of Gilbert West, a most worthy member of the church of England-Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God'—An appelation infinitely more honourable than that of pastor, bishop, archbishop, patriarch, cardinal, or pope; and attended with a recompense infinitely surpassing the richest revenues of the highest ecclesiastical dignity!"

Indeed, the light and darkness now blended together, instead of generating a spirit of scepticism, or precipitating us into acts of violence, should impel us to look for the new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. "What ye know not now, ye shall know hereafter"—was our Saviour's declaration to his disciples, respecting an event which occurred whilst he continued to sojourn amongst them. It is reasonable to believe that we shall not remain ignorant of matters of superior importance, when the period of communicating higher degrees of information arrives. We may be assured, that the Spirit of God guides all good men into necessary truth. This is a sentiment in which the wisest of mankind concur; and upon which the learned divines, after their most penetrative researches, are obliged to rest. A Christian father pronounced the greatest heresy to be, a wicked life? This was also the sentiment of Wickliffe. Devoutly is it wished that those who are clamourous about speculative tenets, would level their artillery more against the violation of the perceptive part of our reli

gion.

The eloquent Saurin exclaims-"Why are not ecclesiastical bodies as rigid and severe against heresies of practice as they are against heresies of speculation? Certainly there are heresies in morality as well as in theology. Councils and synods reduce the doctrines of faith to certain propositional points, and thunder anathemas against all who refuse to subscribe them. They say, cursed be he who doth not believe the hypostatical union, and the mystery of the cross; cursed be he who denies the inward operations of grace, and the irresistible efficacy of the Spirit. I wish they would make a few canons against moral heresies. How many are there of this kind among our people!" These observations made by the intelligent Saurin,respecting the refugee Protestants in Holland, are applicable to the Protestants in our times. Their anathemas are directed more against error than against unrighteousness. Whereas vice is the more formidable enemy to the welfare of mankind. To the word of God, therefore let us have recourse, and thence derive the doctrine which is acccording to godliness, pure as the light of heaven, and refreshing as the dew of the morning! The Gospel of Jesus Christ, justly understood and cordially believed, enlightens the mind, calms the troubled conscience rectifies depraved propensities, and introduces us into the habitation of the spirits of just men made perfect. "Men who profess themselves (says Mr. Cowper) adepts in mathematical knowledge, in astronomy, or jurisprudence, are generally as well qualified as they would appear. The reason may be, that they are always liable to detection, should they attempt to impose on mankind -and therefore take care to be what they pretend. In religion alone a profession is often slightly taken up and slovenly carried on, because forsooth candour and charity require us to hope the best and to judge favourably of our neighbour; and because it is easy to deceive the ignorant, who are a great majority, upon this subject. Let a man attach himself to a particular party, contend furiously for what are properly called evangelical doctrines, and enlist himself under the banner of some popular preacher, and the buisness is done: Behold a Christian,

a Saint, a Phænix! In the mean time, perhaps his heart and his temper, and even his conduct, are unsanctifiedpossibly less exemplary than some avowed Infidels!! No matter he can talk-he has the shibboleth of the true church-the Bible in his pocket, and a head well stored with notions. But the quiet, humble, modest, and peaceable person, who is in his practice what the other is only in his profession; who hates noise, and therefore makes none; who, knowing the snares that are in the world, keeps himself as much out of it as he can, and never enters it but when duty call, and even then with fear and trembling, is the Christian that will stand highest in the estimation of those who bring all characters to the test of true wisdom, and judge of the tree by its fruit."

But alas! mankind, instead of ascertaining what is truth, and how it can best exert its influence over the several departments of conduct, are occupied in schemes of interested ambition, or sunk into criminal indifference. Upon death they seldom bestow a thought. Though awful in its nature, frequent in its recurrence, and alarming in its consequneces, it leaves no impression. Without emotion they behold their fellow-creatures snatched from off the busy theatre of action, and driven one after another, either by disease or accident, into the house appointed for all living! Upon the disease, indeed, of relatives and friends, they heave a sigh, utter an exclamation, shed a tear, but clothing themselves in the garments of sorrow, the tragedy is quickly over. Reassuming their former views, and laying their minds open afresh to the dominion of their passions, they return with avidity to the occupations and amusements of life. Thus proceeds the tenor of their existence on earth, till they also are swept away into the receptacles of the dead.

Pilgrims and sojourners on earth, we are hastening to an eternal world, and a few more fleeting years will place even the youngest of us before the tribunal of Heaven. Whether we can abide the scrutiny which shall be instituted at the last great day, "for which all other days were made," is a question of infinite importance, and concerns rational and accountable creatures. Amidst the din of