fluence; and wherever, over the face of the earth, the spring is now returning, even amid nations uncheered by the light of the Gospel, the poor inhabitant is yet every where preparing some rude solemnity, to express the renewal of his joy and the return of his praise.

ALISON.

THE CONGREGATION OF THE WICKED SUFFICIENT TO CONSTITUTE HELL.

Now this is precisely the state of things in the nether world. There is no hope, there is no end, there are no good beings to hold the balance against evil, and there is no restraining providence of God. Were there nothing more, I hold this to be enough to constitute the hottest, cruelest hell. I ask no elemental fire, no furnace of living flames, no tormenting demons, nothing but a congregation of the wicked, in the wicked state in which they died and appeared at the tribunal, driven together into one settlement, to make the best or the worst of it they can. Let every man arise in his proper likeness, clothed in his proper nature, which he did not choose to put off, but to die with; let beauty arise with the same pure tints which death did nip, and wit with all its flashes, and knowledge with all its powers, and policy with all its address; let the generations of the unrighteous gather together;-and because of their possessing none of the qualities which God approves in his volume, nor caring to possess them, let them be shipped across the impassable

gulf to some planet of their own, to carry on their several intrigues and indulgences for ever;-then here were a hell, which neither fire nor brimstone, nor gnawing worm, are able to represent. For observe, it is such only in whom godliness could take no root that were transported thither, in whom selfishness carried it over benevolence, lust over self-control, interest over duty, the devil over God; and that in a world where hope and encouragement were all thrown into the good scale. Now, if the evil principle predominated here, where it was discountenanced by the institutions of God, and many institutions of men, and most of all by the shipwreck of present and eternal good which it brought on-much more there, where no checks exist, nor tendency in things to right themselves. It must be that seeing the good would not flourish here, where the whole atmosphere and influences of heaven wooed it, die it must there, where not one genial ray can reach it. Angels and ministers of grace come not there; salvation of Christ comes not; hope comes not; and the determination of death comes not there are no just men to parry off mischief, or to overawe it. Every one is condemned for the predominancy of evil in one shape or other. How can it otherwise be, then, but that the good principle will die and be forgotten, the evil principle rise in strength, and riot in the activity of the unhappy people.

IRVING.

THE

ADVANTAGES OF EARLY PIETY,

CONSIDER further, If we will deny God the hearty and vigorous service of our best days, how can we expect that he will accept the faint and flattering devotions of old age? wise men are wont to provide some stay and comfort for themselves against the infirmities of that time; that they may have something to lean upon in their weakness, something to mitigate the afflictions of that dark and gloomy evening; that what they cannot enjoy of present pleasure, may in some measure be made up to them in comfortable reflections upon the past actions of a holy and well-spent life.

But on the other hand, if we have neglected religion days without number; if we have lived a vicious life; we have foolishly contrived to make our burden then heaviest, when we are least able to stand under it; we have provided an infinite matter for repentance, when there is hardly any space left for the exercise of it; and whatever is done in it will, I fear, be so done, as to signify but very little, either to our present comfort, or to our future happiness.

Consider this, O young man, in time; and if thou wouldst not have God "cast thee off in thine old age, and forsake thee when thy strength fail, do thou remember him in the days of thy youth; for this is the acceptable time, this is the day of salvation."

Acquaint thyself with him, and remember him NOW; defer not so necessary a work, no not for a

moment: begin it just now, that so thou mayst have made some good progress in it before the "evil days come," before the " sun, and the moon, and the stars be darkened," and all the comforts and joys of life be fled and gone.

TILLOTSON.

THE FACULTIES OF HUMAN NATURE, AND THEIR PERVERSION.

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EXAMINE first with attention the natural powers and faculties of man; invention, reason, judgment, memory; a mind "of large discourse," looking before and after," reviewing the past, thence determining for the present, and anticipating the future; discerning, collecting, combining, comparing; capable, not merely of apprehending, but of admiring, the beauty of moral excellence with fear and hope to warm and animate; with joy and sorrow to solace and soften; with love to attach, with sympathy to harmonize, with courage to attempt, with patience to endure, and with the power of conscience, that faithful monitor within the breast, to enforce the conclusions of reason, and direct and regulate the passions of the soul. Truly we must pronounce him "majesty, though in ruin." " Happy, happy world!" would be the exclamation of the inhabitant of some other planet, on being told of a globe like ours, peopled with such creatures as these, and abounding with situations and occasions to call forth the multiplied excellencies of their nature. "Happy, happy world, with what

delight must your great Creator and Governor witness your conduct, and what a glorious recompense awaits you when your term of probation shall have expired."

"I bone, quo virtus tua te vocat: i pede fausto

Grandia Laturus meritorum præmia."

But we have indulged too long in these delightful speculations; a sad reverse presents itself, on our survey of the actual state of man; when from viewing his natural powers, we follow him into practice, and see the uses to which he applies them. Take in the whole of the prospect, view him in every age, and climate, and nation, in every condition and period of society. Where now do you discover the characters of his exalted nature?"How is the gold become dim, and the fine gold changed?" How is his reason clouded, his affections perverted, his conscience stupified ! How do anger, and envy, and hatred, and revenge spring up in his wretched bosom! How is he a slave to the meanest of his appetites! what fatal propensities does he discover to evil! What inaptitude to good!

WILBERFORCE.

THE DANGER OF SINS OF OMISSION. A FARTHER danger to good kind of people seems to arise from a mistaken idea, that only great and actual sins are to be guarded against. Whereas sins of omission make up, perhaps, the most formidable part of their catalogue of offences. These generally supply in number what they want in weight, and are the more dangerous for