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other, after having hurried down || These often get credit for less re

their victuals, have either gone, or have been called away to business; so that before the whole family had finished their meal, one third of the members of it were not to be found. There are, it is true, some families so well regulated, that this secession is never permitted; yet, even among these, I have always found it the best way to have prayer before meals, and especially at the breakfast hour.

Should you be invited to any place where you are not permitted to pray with the family, never go thither again: and give them your reason. An ambassador of God should be transacting the business of his Master whithersoever he goes; and where he is not permitted to do it, there God has not sent him. Be steady, keep a good conscience, and a good conscience will keep you.

If you wish to keep a good conscience, you must walk as in the presence of God. Extremes beget extremes. Take heed then, that while you avoid levity on the one hand, you fall not into sour godliness on the other. There are some who have the unhappy art of making a jest out of every thing; and even apply Scripture in this way. Such conduct is execrable. There are others, who, being of an unhappy cast of mind, through a kind of natural or factitious melancholy, strip a man of salvation for a smile, and condemn him to the pit for being cheerful. Avoid both these extremes; and remember that levity will ape religious cheerfulness, and sourness of temper will endeavour to pass itself off for Christian gravity. But do not judge from such appearances. There are some who are naturally of a quiet, grave turn of mind; which, in general, gains them credit for much more godliness than they possess. There are others who are naturally of a merry, volatile spirit.

ligion than they enjoy. Mr. Whitfield once judiciously observed on this subject, that an ounce of grace went farther in some than a pound in others. For light on this and many other matters of importance, remember that every human spirit has its own peculiar, natural characteristick which was given it by its Creator; and which he never changes, nor designs should be changed. The business of divine grace in converting the soul, is not to destroy its natural characteristicks; but to purify, refine, and adapt their

vast varieties to the innumerable purposes of his wisdom and goodness displayed in their creation.

Tell your secret trials and temptations to very few.-Your weakness, &c. should be known only to God and yourself. No one should he trusted, except that friend whom you know well, and to whom you can at all times trust even your life. I have known some who were telling their trials, weaknesses, &c. every where ; the consequence was, they were despised, or pitied, without being esteemed.

Wherever you go, discountenance that disgraceful custom (properly enough termed) Bibliomancy; i. e. divination by the Bible. I need scarcely observe, that this consists in what is called dipping into the Bible, taking passages of Scripture at hazard, and drawing indications thence concerning the present and future state of the soul. This is a scandal to Christianity.

Never go in debt for food, clothes, or any thing else it is no sin to die in a ditch through hunger or cold; but it is a crime to go in debt when there is not the fullest prospect of being able to pay.

It is the most certain

and honourable way, never to sit down to the food, nor put on the clothes, till the bills for both are

1

earnestly beg God to bless your coming ;-to bless you to the family, and to the congregation, so that you may leave that place with an increase of spiritual life, and with the comfortable satisfaction of having been a messenger of peace to that house, and to the people of that place.

Show yourself satisfied with every thing you receive. Be not nice in your food. Do not keep a lordly distance from the family: -Be so familiar with them as to

discharged. By these means you will keep clear of the world, and make the most of the little you have. Every word of the old adage is true, "Live not on trust, for that is the way to pay double." Never go out on parties of pleasure, however innocent they may be. What, in this case, would be considered as no evil in another, might be reputed a crime in you. Excursions for the benefit of health, and these may often be needed, are not included here. Get a genuine friend whenever gain their confidence ; that you you can, and prize him much may the better succeed in talking when you have got him. Beware with them concerning their souls. of forming hasty friendships: they At the same time keep a due disare seldom solid. Confide little tance, that, while you are esteemed in the person who suddenly pro- as a brother in Christ, you may be fesses uncommon affection for acknowledged as his minister. you. He may be sincere; but depend upon it, he will not be steady. Remember the proverb, Hot love is soon cold. Those who form hasty friendships are always fickle. This is bad, but it is not the worst in this business; for these very persons through the changeableness of their hearts, soon withdrawing their affections He who despises little things, from you, will accuse you of in- shall fall by little and little. Do gratitude and unkindness; while not, therefore, disregard the folthe whole is owing to the uncer-lowing small advices.

There is much truth in that proverb, "Too much familiarity breeds contempt."

Speak closely and lovingly to every person in the family: but let it be as much apart as possible; for members of the same household seldom speak freely before each other.

tainty of their own character, and Give the family where you lodge the fickleness of their own hearts.as little trouble as possible: never Shun such as you would an ene-desire any of them, not even the my for they are not less injuri-servants, to do any thing for you ous. On this subject I will give that you can conveniently do for you two Asiatick proverbs: 1. Never trust to appearances; behold, the drum, with all its noise, is empty within. 2. If you have a friend who takes offence at trifles, break entirely with him, for he is not to be trusted.

yourself. It is an odious thing to see a person, whose character should be the servant of all, pressing every body into his service; giving unnecessary trouble whereever he comes; turning a house upside down; and being dissatisfied with every thing that is done for him. I have always seen, that those who require most attendance are the most difficult to be pleasHOUSE ed: for they are generally of a proud or discontented spirit; and such a spirit is never satisfied. A man of a truly christian and noble mind, finds it his highest

CONCERNING THE BEHAVIOUR OF
A MINISTER IN THE
WHERE HE LODGES.

On your arrival, get as speedily
ON
as possible to private prayer; and
DEC. 1826.

47

interest to have few wants; and || much to your own comfort, but will

esteems it a luxury to minister to his own necessities.

acquire you credit wherever you come. Remember, that cannot be considered as a small thing to you, which either prejudices a family against you, or is instrumental in acquiring you their good graces.

Shun tea drinking visits these, in general, murder time, and can answer no good purpose either to your body or soul. If you go out in this way at any time, let it be only where you have every reason to believe your visit is likely to be useful to the souls of the people. But is it likely to be very useful where there is a large party?

Never pull off your boots, shoes, or gaiters, in a parlour or sittingroom. Leave your hat, whip, great-coat, &c. in the hall, lobby, or some such place. Do not leave your linen, dirty clothes, shoes, &c. about in the room where you lodge. After having left your bed uncovered for some time, lay on the clothes neatly when you quit your room; and always throw up your windows when you go out. Empty the basin in which you have washed your hands, &c. and leave it always clean. Don't splash the walls nor the floor. Wipe every drop of water off the How can those exclaim against wash-stand, and spread your towel needless self-indulgence and waste always to dry; and when dry, of time, who go out on such ocfold it loosely up, and place it on casions in the evenings? It is a the head of the water-bottle. || mystery to me which I never wish Never comb out your hair in a to be able to unravel, how men sitting-room, or before company; can act in this way, and preach —this is an unpardonable vulgari- afterwards! I have often wonderty nor brush your cloths in a ed that this matter is never spoken bed-room-this spoils the furni- of to the young preachers when ture. See that you spill no ink they are admitted. But who can, on the floors, tables, &c. Leave with propriety, warn them against every thing in the place where you this evil? Only those who are found it; and habituate yourself guiltless and where are they? to put every chair you sit on in -Alas! alas! do we not make a its proper place when you rise. great outcry against evils, how"He who lives not by rule, lives ever discreditable to us as Chrisnot at all." I would just observe, tians and ministers, which are in that a rule for every part of a man's themselves, and in their necessary conduct is not easily obtained; consequences, of little moment, but example teaches more forcibly, in comparison of this epidemic and and more effectually. Thirty- dangerous disorder? But if our three years ago I was appointed own conduct in this respect reto travel in Plymouth circuit with proach us, should we, while honest the late excellent Mr. J. Mason. men, withhold the word of cauI never met with a more upright, tion and advice from our brother? orderly, regular, decent man. From his conduct I learned more on the above subjects, than from all the precepts I ever received, or from all the books I ever read. When you meet with such a person, thank God for the privilege, and endeavour to profit by it.

Observe rule and order in every thing; and it will not only be

Go out as little as possible to eat and drink. Why is the positive command of Christ, on this head, so generally disregarded? Go not from house to house, Luke x. 7. The acting contrary to this precept has often brought great disgrace on the gospel of God. Stay in your lodgings as much as possible, that you may have time

for prayer and study. I have || tion to go out for a morsel of heard pious people (who received bread. If you take not this adthe preachers of the gospel into vice, you will do no good, get no their houses) remark, that they good, and utterly evaporate your always found that preacher to be influence and consequence. The most useful, who kept most in his people should see to it, that such a closet." Seldom frequent the provision be made for their preachtables of the rich or great. If you ers at home, as to lay them under do, it will unavoidably prove a no necessity of going out for a snare to you the unction of God morsel of bread; but this is not will perish from your mind; and always the case. When you do go your preaching be only a dry bar- out, let your visits be short. The ren repetition of old things.-The only time that a man of study and bread of God in your hands will business can spare is the evening, be like the dry, mouldy, Gibeon-after all his work is done :-But itish crusts, mentioned Joshua ix. take care, if you sup out, never to 5. Visit the people, and speak do it to the prejudice either of to them about their souls, as often early rising, or morning preachand as much as you can; but being. not at the mercy of every invita

POETRY.

THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM.

REV. 21 AND 22.

COME, let our thoughts and wishes rise
To the fair city of our God;
Jerusalem above the skies-

Our everlasting safe abode.

There we with God shall ever dwell,
And never leave his presence more;
Bliss shall be ours unspeakable,

Soon as we reach that heavenly shore.
God will be ours, our sovereign friend,
Our Father through eternal day;
No more shall grief our bosoms rend,
And pain and death are pass'd away.

How infinite the free reward,

Given to the souls who overcome !
They are my sons, I am their God,

All things are theirs and heaven their home.

No temple there shall meet our sight,
Nor sun nor moon are needed there;
God and the Lamb its glorious light,
God and the Lamb its temple are.
Nothing unclean shall enter in,

Nor aught defiling there be found;
No liar shall be seen within

Those gates, or on that holy ground.

They, who are written in the Lamb's
Volume of life, shall there reside;
Inscrib'd therein are all the names
Of those who love the Crucify'd.

There floweth from the throne of God
And of the Lamb, a river pure—
A living, life-sustaining flood,

Whose crystal streams shall e'er endure.
And on the rivers' side there grew
The trees of life, immortal food,
Sweet to the taste, and fair to view,
No curse annex'd-'tis unmix'd good.
God and the Lamb together reign,
His servants there shall HIм adore ;
How blest are they! They shall remain
With him, and serve him evermore.

They shall behold his face forever,

His name upon

their foreheads stand,

Shall reign with Him, their God, and never
Depart from that celestial land.

CHRISTIAN ODE.

Friends, for whom the Saviour died,
Friends, who have a heavenly Guide,
Welcome here for, side by side,

We must take our stand:
Now's the time for us to meet,
Girt in panoply complete,
Sharing in communion sweet,

An immortal band.

See ye not the world is set,
Hostile to salvation yet?
Heed ye not the subtle net

By the tempter spread?

Know ye not the senses still,
War against the hallow'd will,
Aiming all the heart to fill?

Will ye be misled?

Friends, to holy conflict wake,
Every spell of ruin break,

Rouse ye for the Saviour's sake-
Can ye slumber more?

Arm! the standard blazes high-
Hark! 'tis JESUS' battle cry-
Strike! salvation now is nigh-

Rest forever more!

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