for his character. It proclaims a life to come, and points to the spirit-land. It fixes the idea of responsibility in the mind, while it diffuses sympathy through the soul. It furnishes a judicious parent with an opportunity of glancing at faults, where direct admonition might be inexpedient. It greatly conduces to the maintenance of family government and order, while its spiritual advantages are invaluable.

TO-MORROW.

To-morrow is like a juggler that deceives us; a quack that pretends to cure us; and thin ice that will not bear our weight. It is a fruit beyond our grasp; a glittering bubble that bursts and vanishes away; a Will-o'the-wisp that leads many into the mire; and a rock on which many mariners have struck, and suffered shipwreck. It is an illusion to all who neglect the present hour, and a reality to those only who improve to-day.

THE THREE WHATS.

I remember reading an old author, who requests the believer "never to forget the three Whats. First, What from? Secondly, What by? and Thirdly, What to ?-What from? Believers are redeemed from hell and destruction.-What by? By the precious blood of Christ.-What to? To an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." Oh, then, believer, never forget the three Whats!

HUMAN MERIT.

We may just as well attempt to level the lofty trees of the forest with a gentle touch of the finger, to overturn with a breath the stupendous mountain, whose summit pierces the cloud, or to move the world with a lever of straw, as, with our poor performances, to remove the load of our guilt, and avert the awful consequences of Jehovah's indignation.

PAUL'S THREE DESIRES.

The Apostle had three great desires, and each centred in Christ:

The first was, to be found in Christ, Phil. iii. 9.

The second was, to magnify Christ, Phil. i. 20.

The third was, to be with Christ, Phil. i. 23. Each was realized,

FRUITLESS HASTE.

There is much fruitless haste to bring the world to rights, for want of a lively belief in a sovereign controlling power; whose wisdom, whose goodness, whose resources, whose interest, to bring the world to order and happiness, infinitely transcend ours. Thus is missed the conclusion, If He can endure to see the stream of evil flow on age after age, then discretion would set some bounds to our zeal to see all evil rectified.

SPIRITUAL ALCHEMY.

A Christian, like a bee, works honey from every flower, suffers no action or event to slip by without a question. All objects to a meditating Solomon are like wings to raise his thoughts to heaven. A mean scaffold

may serve to raise up a goodly building; we may by the dwarfish pleasures of earth guess at the high and noble joys of heaven.

THE HOME OF THE CHURCH.

The Church esteems heaven her home, this world but a tent-a tent which we must all leave, build we as high as Babel, as strong as Babylon. Friends must part, Jonah and his gourd, Nebuchadnezzar and his palace, the miser and his gold. He that hath seen heaven with the eye of faith, through the glass of the Scriptures, slips off his coat with Joseph, and springs away.

THE ROOT OF THE EVIL.

The moralists of our age, whether in lessons from the academic chair, or by the insinuating address of fiction and poetry, while they try to mend and embellish human life, have never struck one effective blow at that ungodliness of the heart which is the germ of all the distempers in human society. -Dr. Chalmers.

HISTORY.

All the entertainment and talk of history is of nothing almost but of fighting and killing; and the honour and renown which are bestowed on conquerors, who for the most part are mere butchers of mankind, mislead glowing youth, who by these means come to think slaughter the laudable business of mankind, and the most heroic of virtues.Locke.

THE ESTIMATION OF TIME.

Know the value of time. You cannot appreciate it too highly. Esteem its loss more than anything which is temporal, because it has a close, commanding, and necessary influence on eternity.

REASON.

He that takes away reason to make way for revelation, puts out the light of both, and does much the same as if he would persuade a man to put out his eyes the better to receive the remote light of an invisible star by a telescope.-Locke.

PRAYER.

It is not the length, but the strength of prayer that is required; not the labour of the lip, but the travail of the heart that prevails with God. "Let thy words be few," as Solomon says; but full, and to the pur pose.-Spencer.

THE RECLUSE.

The plant that grows in a cave is pale and sickly; so is the piety of a Christian who shuts himself out from the fellowship of God's household.

BEWARE OF SATAN,

For, as honest John Bunyan said, he waiteth to come in at the door, if Careless has left it but a little ajar.

THE ARROW THAT ENTERS
HEAVEN.

If the arrow of prayer is to enter heaven, we must draw it from a soul full bent.

BEFORE touching on the excellencies of the departed one, it will not be out of place here to remark, that from personal knowledge of him, it would, could he have anticipated it, have been exceedingly painful to his sensitive, modest, retiring mind, to be made the subject of a public discourse; and were it not richly due to him, expected by the people, and calculated to benefit some, the preacher would assuredly have shrunk from the difficult and trying task.

The text naturally directs us to the past in relation to the departed.—" Joseph is not." This implies he was; and may not improperly give rise to the inquiry as to his manner of life. Our esteemed friend's education began at home, where education should begin. There it was he had the convictions awakened which early ripened into conversion, and which lay at the foundation of his Christian graces. All good government commences under the parental roof. Did fathers, and more especially mothers think so, and deal with their children accordingly, there would be little need for police, magistrates, judges, or gaols. In useful knowledge he made no small progress. He did not, like many, leave his books on leaving school; but the moments he had at his command were devoted to reading for the edification of others as well as himself. Rarely did he indulge in the perusal of light literature. This speaks volumes in his favour, if it is correct men may be known by the persons or books they make their mates. How seldom is it recollected that the mind is being moulded by the works read and the individuals associated with! Did the people, particularly the young, believe the character of their companion would shortly become their own, we should behold them shunning with horror what they now court and delight in.

As a man of business, many a valuable lesson might be learned from the deceased. He rose early, spent little on himself, and was diligent, persevering, energetic, prompt, affable, obligng, and hopeful. Difficulties before

him, and he had not a few, were as snow before the sun. They did not discourage and paralyze his efforts; they only gave a stronger impulse to them. "The longer I live," said Goethe, "the more certain I am that the chief difference between men, the great and the insignficant, is energy-invincible determination; an honest purpose once fixed, and then victory. That quality will do anything that can be done in the world; and no talents, no circumstances, no opportunity, will make a two-legged creature a man without it." Undoubtedly our dear brother had such a quality. If he confided where he should have suspected, it arose from his freeness from art and guile. Wholly undesigning, perfectly upright, and entirely ingenuous himself, he took every one else to be so. Having no intention to cheat, it seemed not to occur to him such an intention might possibly exist in the breasts of others. If he undertook more than was desirable, it sprang not from covetousness, but from a readiness to afford the failing assistance.

In morals he was unimpeachable. He has gone down to the grave free from the vices of youth and manhood. If the bones of some which lie mouldering in the dust are full of sin, his are not. The injustice and pollution that are in the world he escaped. He did not, as the Scribes and Pharisees, make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, while within they were replete with extortion and excess. He loved to be clean inside as well as outside. All will justify the minister in the assertion that he was a man of integrity and purity. This it was, among other causes, which gave him so cheerful and benevolent an aspect-an aspect that dispersed the gloom from the hearth of every dwelling he entered, spread gladness all around, and adorned each face with a smile. Where there is darkness within there cannot be light without. The soul must be radiated with knowledge, virtue, and religion, ere the countenance can beam with intelligence, benignity, innocence, peace, and joy. Sin pro

duces its own impression as truly on the outer as it does on the inner man; and there is no image so ugly and repulsive as that of sin. It is so hideous, and so descriptive of its hardening, inhuman, contaminating, and destructive nature, that Jehovah cannot even endure to behold it, or suffer any one who bears it to stand in his presence. Oh, that the transgressor could be brought to discern iniquity as it really is! How would he loathe himself, and be covered with confusion! What anxiety would he indicate to be delivered from it! How speedily would he, by faith, flee to the fountain of Jesus' blood, plunge into it, and "lose all bis guilty stains."

Of our brother's piety we have many strikingly practical proofs. His notions of the Gospel, and of Church polity, were of the most enlightened kind, and were strenuously cleaved to; effectively, yet so modestly and graciously advocated, as not unnecessarily to wound the feelings of opponents, and unflinchingly supported and propagated by his words, money, and doings. While we should not easily be constrained to renounce the form of religion in which we were trained, we should carefully and candidly examine it by Scripture, and if we find it will not sustain the test, we should at all hazards discard it, and adopt that which will. With the strictest veracity it might be said of him, "Behold, he prayeth." In secret, at the family altar, in the tabernacle of the Lord of hosts, and at the social prayer-meeting, he called on God. If it so happened, when from home, another was in his chamber, "he did not," says an observer, "shrink from bending the knee in supplication ere he laid himself down to sleep." Reflect on this, you who totally neglect private devotional exercises, or you who omit them if you have company in your room through shame or fear, and let his example weigh with you; for the prayerless are graceless, and cannot be saved.

Human writings were not allowed to usurp the place of Divine writ. Indeed, most of those studied were a help to the better understanding of the inspired word. The former are but streams, and are often seriously affected by the channel through which they flow; the latter is the fountain, the limpid, living fountain. While,

ven.

therefore, we should not refuse to drink at the one, we should, as much as possible, have recourse to the other. On the Sabbath, he did not think his own thoughts, speak his own words, or do his own pleasure; but reverenced God's holy day, calling it a delight, and the holy of Jehovah, and regarding it as honourable. So far he trod in the footprint of the saints in all ages. With them the Sunday was ever a high day. Pitiable is the condition of those who desecrate its hallowed hours. To them it is a preparation day for hell instead of a preparation day for heaThe Sabbath-breaker's course is downward, not upward. Even here it proves so in numerous instances. The house of the Lord he equally revered and loved. He had a seat in it, and that seat was invariably and cheerfully occupied if in the town; if not, he was in a sanctuary in some other part. He did not attend while with relations merely, but when far from them. The last enemy did actually find him in the sanctuary ready to join in the hymn of praise, and, as in the recent case of the preacher whose eloquence many of you remember, literally made it the very gate of heaven to his soul, ushering him into the temple above, to unite in the perpetual song of the redeemed. Nor did he let slip a favourable season for checking Sunday trading, or for inviting the careless and indifferent to public worship. If our piety is to be measured by our humility, and if we have just as much piety as we have humility, he had a considerable portion. Vanity and pride were not his besetting sins. He did a great deal for the needy, and for the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom; but it was silently and unostentatiously done. His left hand knew not what his right hand did. Lowliness of mind characterised his deportment. Then, if "charity thinketh no evil," he lacked it not; for he would not only avoid seeking to impugn the motives, but always endeavour to put the best construction on the proceedings of others. To him it was extremely distressing to be thrown into the society of those who are so hawk-eyed as to spy out the defects of their brethren, and so purblind as not to perceive their good properties. His general plan was, if he could not say anything praiseworthy, he would say nothing re

proachful of an individual. Oh, that in this matter he were more imitated! What hard thoughts, what bad feelings, what wounding words, what ruthless deeds would be prevented! How much more unity, harmony, love, and kindness would there be among professors! What prosperity would mark the churches now shattered to fragments by contentions and feuds! How vastly more attractive would Christianity be to mankind! What a widely different world this would be!

While our friend would rebuke, counsel, and exhort, he was a thorough pacificator. No means would he spare to quell strife and restore tranquillity. Not only did he refrain from sowing the seeds of discord, but laboured to root up those which were sown. The blessing Christ proclaimed to be the peacemaker's he assuredly entitled himself to. Judging from his demeanour, he was evidently a lover of good men. His heart, hand, and house were ever open to them. Their acquaintance and communion he invariably sought, and was never more happy than when laying himself out for their comfort, which he frequently did when he could ill afford the time. Add to all this, that he was a succourer of many, and of myself also. He had a large heart, and numbers well knew it; for they received not a few palpable and demonstrative tokens. Already have we heard one and another saying, "He helped me in my trouble," and the pastor can subjoin he has been more than a brother to him. Humanly speaking, our sanctuary might have been closed but for his aid. The plate at the door for the weekly contributions of the people towards defraying the expenses of Divine service did not suffer from his latterly repeated absence; for the deacon observed that he invariably, on his return, gave according to the period he had been away. Nor was the Sabbath-school neglected; for he was a regular teacher for many years. Our denominational

literature likewise met with liberal support from him.

The text also naturally directs us to the present in reference to the departed. "Joseph is not." The expression "is not " denotes his dissolution, which transpired at the age of fifty, and tends to turn our thoughts to it. Death was unexpected. Neither neighbours nor friends had the slightest idea he

VOL. XII.

was about to expire. No such idea, as far as we can tell, entered his own mind. There was nothing in his appearance, movements, or feelings, to awaken the idea. He was the very picture of health. Taking all things into account, one might have fairly concluded his life would have been prolonged some years. So completely unanticipated was his removal that its announcement struck everybody with surprise. Little did the preacher imagine when discoursing on Newyear's night on the passage, "The day is at hand," and he sat in front of him, that he was so soon to fall a prey to the King of terrors.

Death was sudden. The deceased had no warning. The dread foe shot his dart as quick as lightning. In an instant he fell. The firm and active limbs which had just borne him to the Lord's house became powerless; the countenance changed; the spirit fled; the body ceased to perform its functions. Oh, how relentless and cruel is death! He pays no regard to the tenderest and most endearing ties, but abruptly bursts them asunder, and rudely tears the beloved object of affection from our embrace. He is deaf to every entreaty, void of all sympathy, unaffected by the acutest grief and the bitterest lamentations, and heedless of the direst consequences.

Death found him in the path of duty. It was the Sabbath (February 18th, 1855), and he was in Myrtle-street Chapel, Liverpool, and there a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes before time, when the Master sent for him by the grim messenger. This was as it should be. Awful would it have been had it been otherwise. Had he been arrested in the very act of violating the Lord's-day, or in the commission of some other sin, as many are, how distressing overwhelmingly distressing-would it have been to survivors! and how disastrous inexpressively disastrous for him! They would have had to sorrow as those who have no hope, and he would have had to sink to perdition.

No

Death has taken him from us. more shall we have him to enliven, solace, stay, and guide heavenward the family circle; or to render attractive, cheer, improve, and hallow the fireside of neighbours and friends. No more will he be at our side, to rejoice with us in the benefits bestowed on us, to

M

mingle his tears with ours, to advise us in perplexity, to reprove us for sin, to encourage us in amendment, or to assist us through our trials. No more will he appear in our midst, to bear up the minister's hands by his attendance, his zeal, his devotion, his sympathy, and his substance; to stimulate to Christian effort, or to swell the notes of praise. No: "Joseph is not." Ye shall see his face no more in the flesh, neither hear his voice, nor be favoured with any token of his presence. Nevertheless, though dead, he yet speaketh, both by his life and by his death. Oh, listen to him! and so far as he followed Christ, follow him.

The text likewise naturally directs us to the future in regard to the departed.

"Joseph is not." This is true and false in relation to the person to whom it primarily refers. Though the son of the patriarch's love was as good as dead to the father, he was in being, exalted to the splendours of a rich and magnificent earthly court, and arrayed in lordly authority, happiness, and dignity, with the brightest prospects. The passage is equally so in reference to the deceased. To us he is extinct, yet he is in existence, raised to the ineffable glories of the celestial court, and clothed in regal and priestly domination, sanctity, bliss, and honour, with indescribably brilliant expectations. These are not the imaginings of an inflamed brain, or a device of priestcraft, but the words of truth and soberness. God has sufficiently drawn aside the curtain which hides the future from our gaze, to free us from all doubt and suspense on the theme. In the Scriptures, he unequivocally and positively states that, although we began to be, we shall never cease to be; that there is a heaven and a hell; that death does not destroy, only introduces us to the tribunal of Christ; and that the judgment consigns us to eternal punishment, or confers upon us an everlasting reward. Weep not then; your brother shall rise again. Already is he in the mansions of the blessed, where he can give full scope to his gracious feelings without fear of imperfection: "Absent from the body, present with the Lord." The vile body committed to the ground shall, on the morning of the resurrection, be fashioned like unto Christ's glorious body; his glorified soul and body shall be re-united, no more to be separated;

and he, with all the ransomed Church of God, shall gather around the throne, see the King in his beauty, have every tear dried by the hand of infinite compassion, walk with the Saviour in white through the golden streets of the New Jerusalem, and be by him fed and conducted to living fountains of waters. "Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." J. S.

THE DEATH OF BAXTER.

Not long after his last sermon, he felt the approaches of death, and was confined to his sick bed. Death reveals the secrets of the heart. Then words are spoken with most feeling, and least affectation. This excellent saint was the same in his life and death. His last hours were spent in preparing others and himself to appear before God. He said to his friends that visited him, "You come hither to learn to die; I am not the only person that must go this way. I can assure you, that your whole life, be it never so long, is little enough to prepare for death. Have a care of this vain, deceitful world, and the lusts of the flesh. Be sure you choose God for your portion, heaven for your home, God's glory for your end, his Word for your rule; and then you need never fear but we shall meet with comfort."

Never was penitent sinner more humble and debasing than himself; never was a sincere believer more calm and comfortable. He acknowledged himself to be the vilest dunghill worm (it was his usual expression) that ever went to heaven. He admired the Divine condescension to us, often saying, "Lord, what is man? What am I, vile worm, to the great God?" Many times he prayed, "God be merciful to me a sinner! and blessed God that that was left upon record in the Gospel as an effectual prayer. He said, "God may justly condemn me for the best duty I ever did; and all my hopes are