surrender of reason in matters of faith and nothing is so much against reason as the surrender of one's reason in matters which are not of faith. To be guided by reason only and to deny the right to reason, are excesses equally dangerous.

7. "If I had seen a miracle," say some peo. ple, "I would be a good Christian, and would be converted." They would not speak thus if they knew what conversion was. They think that, to be converted, they have only to acknowledge that there is a God; and that adoration consists in talking to him occasionally, much as the pagans did to their idols. True conversion is to bow one's self down to nothing before this Great Being whom we have so often angered, and who has a right to destroy us at any moment; to acknowledge that we can do nothing without him; and that we have deserved nothing but his ill-will: it consists in knowing that there is an unconquerable opposition between God and our fallen nature, and that, without a mediator, we cannot have aught in common.

8. Do not wonder that simple-hearted people believe without reasoning: God has given them a love of his justice and a hatred of themselves. He bends their hearts to believe. None will ever believe with a true and useful faith unless God incline their hearts; and when he has inclined them, they will believe

at once.

David knew this well when he said "Incline my heart unto thy testimonies."

9. The Christian religion is proportioned to every mind. Most people look no further than that it exists and is established: and the religion is such that its mere existence proves its truth. Others look back to the Apostles. The most learned go back to the beginning of the world. The angels look into it further still; and behold it in God himself.

10. Those to whom God has granted to feel religion in their hearts are quite happy and convinced. But to those who do not, we must strive to impart it by argument;-hoping that God will himself impress it upon their hearts, without which faith avails not to salvation.

11. Those who believe without having looked into the proofs of the truth of Christianity, do so because their inward dispositions are holy, and because they are told that our religion is suited to them. They feel that God has made them; and they seek to love him only, and to hate only themselves. They feel their own weakness: that they cannot go to God; and that if God does not vouchsafe to come to them, they cannot meet him. They are told that our religion teaches that man should love only God, and hate only himself; but that being fallen and unable to soar to God, God has become man to unite himself to man. Nothing more

than this is needed to convince men who have such dispositions in their hearts-such a knowledge of their duty and of their unworthiness.

12. Those who are Christians without knowing the prophecies and the proofs of Christianity, can judge of its truth as well as those who have this knowledge. They judge by their hearts, as others do by their minds. It is God who inclines them to believe; and thus are they quite convinced. I own that one of these Christians who believes without proof will not perhaps be able to convince an unbeliever. But those who do know the proofs of the truth of religion, can easily prove that this simple-hearted believer is really inspired by God, although he might not be able to prove it himself.

13. Let us not deceive ourselves: we are body as well as mind; and hence, demonstration alone will not convince us. How few things are really demonstrated! Proofs only convince the mind: but custom gives the strongest proof. It inclines those senses which lead onward the mind unawares. Who has demonstrated that the sun will rise to-morrow, and that we shall die? And yet what is more universally believed? It is custom, then, that persuades us of it. It is true that we should not begin with custom in seeking for the truth: but we should betake ourselves to it when once

the mind has found what is the truth; that we may steep ourselves and imbue ourselves in a belief of which we cannot always call all the proofs to mind. We must acquire that easy source of belief which springs from habit; and which, without violence, without art, without argument, gives us faith, and inclines all our powers towards it, so that our souls give in to it of themselves. It is not enough to believe only on conviction, if our senses lead us the other way: but we must accustom our minds and our feelings to act together:-our minds by the arguments which it is enough to have owned once in our lives, and our feelings by everyday custom, and by never allowing them to swerve aside.

14. The mind believes naturally, and the heart loves naturally: and it is for want of true objects that they give themselves up to false ones.-PASCAL.

INWARD PEACE.

"The kingdom of God is within you," says the Lord. Turn thyself to the Lord with thy

whole heart; and leave this and thy soul shall find rest.

wretched world,

Learn to scorn

outward things, and to give thyself up to the

inward, and thou wilt see the kingdom of God come to thee. For the kingdom of God is peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, which is not given to the wicked. Christ will come to thee, shewing thee his consolation, if thou wilt prepare a worthy mansion for him. All his glory and beauty is in the inward man, and it is there he pleases himself. Many are his visits to the inward man, sweet are his inspirations, pleasant his solace, great his peace, wonderful his kindness!

Oh faithful soul! prepare thy heart for this thy spouse. For he says, "If any man love me, he will keep my word, and we will come to him, and we will make our abode with him." Make room, therefore, for Christ, and refuse entrance to all things else. When thou hast Christ, thou art rich, and he is enough for thee. He will get all things needful for thee, so that thou wilt not need to trust in man. For men quickly change and fail us: but Christ remains for ever and stands by us to the last. No great trust can be placed in weak and mortal man, although he be available at times, and beloved; nor shouldst thou take it to heart, if he be sometimes against thee and cross thee. For those who are with thee today may be against thee to-morrow, or otherwise change as often as the wind. But put all trust in God, and let him be thy fear and thy