heart for rifing up against it. He will view it as the fad ef fect of the plague in his heart, and as fuch will loathe himfelf in his own fight. It will be his concern to obey the voice of the rod, and not defpife the chaftening of the Lord; to follow the word, and not quench the motions of the Spirit; to make suitable returns for every display of the divine perfections. He will adore infinite wifdom, and commit himself to its guidance, not leaning on his own understanding. He will confide in infinite power, for his grand fupport and defence. He will bow to the divine fovereignty with humble refignation, well knowing that he has no right to find fault, and that his Heavenly Father orders every thing for the beft. He will fpeak to the Lord often, with boldness, but not with rudenels. He will confefs his fins unto him. He will plead with him in prayer, for promised bleffings; and not omit to praise him for those which he has already received. He can and does unbofom himself to the Lord more than to the nearest and dearest friend he has in the world. He can tell him his fears, hist foes, and all his defires. He knows he cannot ask too much, nor offend by afking too often, or with too much importunity. God attends to his fighs and groans, as much as to his finest words and fentences; and when the fit time is come, he faith unto his pleading fervant, "Be it unto thee, even as thou wilt."

In this communion, there is not only a mutual converse, but also a giving and receiving. God gives to his faints, and they gratefully receive of him; again making dutiful returns to him, which he graciously accepts of. He gives himself to them, and they give themselves to him. He fays, "I will be your God," and they fay, "We will be thy people." He gives them a fenfe of his love, fo that they feel it fhed abroad in their hearts. They enjoy it as what it truly is, love infinitely great, fovereign and free; without variableness or fhadow of turning; ancient, boundlefs, and durable as eternity; the grand fpring of every bleffing they enjoy, or for which they hope, either in this world, or in that which is to come. He gives them his infinite wisdom, to guide their feet in the way of peace. He bestows his mercy upon them according to their need. He lends them his powerful arm on which they lean; and with it he holds them up, fo that they are fafe. He renews their ftrength, yea, perfects his ftrength in their weakness. They can truly fay to him in the words of the pfalmift, "Thy right-hand hath holden us up: and again, "Thou haft holden me by my right-hand." In a word, he offers them his all-fufficiency; fo, that their fufficiency is of him, and he is VOL. I. 3 D

every thing to them. He fays to them, as he did to Mofes, "I am," whatever you need, that I am, and will be to you. Now, what fhall they render to the Lord for all his benefits? They yield themselves unto him. They give him their hearts: fet their affections upon him: yield their underftandings to the guidance of his counfel, and their wills to be ruled by his in all things. They likewife present their bodies to him as living facrifices. With their feet they will not stand in the way of finners; much lefs run after the multitude of evil doers; but they will cheerfully go to the houfe of God, and alfo vifit the house of mourning. With their tongues they will not utter lies and fcandal; but the words of truth and fobernefs, and what will be for the glory of God and the edification of man. Their hands will not be folded together in idleness, much lefs employed in doing mifchief; but therewith they will work, that thereby they may have for themfelves, and also to give to him that needeth. Not only in devotions, but also in business, and honeft industry, the faints have fellowship with Deity. Whether they be hewing of wood, or drawing of water; navigating their fhips, or digging, fowing or reaping their grounds; minding their fheep, or their fhops; or whatever else their lawful calling may be, therein they fhall enjoy the divine prefence and approbation.

After what has been advanced, it may be added, that there is no communion fo fweet, fo fafe, fo durable, fo honourable or advantageous, as communion with God. There is that in it which exactly fuits, fully fatisfies, and infinitely delights the fublime and capacious powers of the immortal foul. Senfual delights are momentary, and rather furfeit than fatisfy, after leaving a fting behind; but in communion with God, the foul finds its centre and rest. Here, the river runs into the ocean. Here, the fpirit returns to God who gave it. Here, all the scattered beauties in the wide creation are found collected together. Not the most exquifite painting to the limner's eye, nor the softest ftrains to the mufician's ear, nor yet the sweetest fragrance to the smell, or moft delicious food to the epicurean's palate, are worthy to be compared with the bleffedness of communion with God. What can be more honourable than to vifit and be vifited, to walk and talk, and have a joint interest with the King of kings? Herein we need fear no evil; neither lofs nor difgrace. We are fafe in the wilderness, and fhall not be lefs fo in the fhadow of death. The begin ning of this fellowship is the beginning of heaven below, and the perfection of it, will be the perfection of heaven

above. It is that communion, which no power, however. great, which no place, however diftant, can for a moment interrupt. Death itself, which breaks up fo many connexions and fellowships, does not deftroy, but rather brings this to perfection. How bleffed is it to be walking with God! By fo doing we fhall become like him, and ere long be with him for ever and ever.

Scarborough.

WRITTEN ON THE EVENING OF THE AUTHOR'S BIRTH

DAY.

ONCE more the glorious luminary of heaven has with

drawn his beams from our hemifphere, and is gone to enlighten other regions. The feathered fongfters of the grove, and the harmless tenants of the field are retired to their nightly coverts; and the fons of industry and toil have now concluded the labours of the day, and are preparing to close their weary eye-lids in the gentle arms of sleep.

At this ftill hour of folitude and contemplation, not a found is to be heard in this peaceful retirement, fave the whisper of confcience-"the ftill fmall voice" of God. Come, O my foul! let me now take a retrofpective view of the past twelve months, and visit, in ferious meditation, the tomb of my departed hours. Another year of my short life is ended, and (awful confideration) has carried with it a register of all the follies, fins, and imperfections it has witneffed in my conduct, in order to give it up in evidence againft me before a Judge of infinite purity, unblemished juftice, and unlimited power. Solemn thought! melancholy catalogue! thus does every day rife up and reproach me with vanity, and folly, with goodness abufed, moments unimproved, and mercies difregarded! Engaged by the moft facred vows, by the most endearing ties of gratitude and love, in the fervice of my Lord, how often, in this one year alone, have I broken thofe engagements and forgot thofe ties! how often, even during my moft folemn acts of devotion, have my affections wandered from them, and entangled themfelves in a thoufand trifling fcenes of

bufinefs or amufement. How then shall I dare to stand bes fore him, or expect to escape deserved punishment? Jefus, my Lord! my Saviour! I fly to thee, and caft my trembling foul into thy compaffionate bofom. I have, it is true, broken the righteous law of God, in ten thoufand inftances; but thou haft died upon the cross, and there haft made a full atonement for all my tranfgreffions. O do thou plead my caufe! and when offended juftice demands fatisfaction for my crimes, do thou ftretch forth thy wounded hand, and declare what thou haft fuffered in my behalf; so shall the flaming fword be sheathed, and I fhall obtain that pardon which thou haft purchased for every penitent who trufts in thee: and, O my deareft Lord! do thou thyfelf condefcend -to come and take up thy refidence in my heart, and make me the willing fubject of thy glorious kingdom, fo fhall my future days be distinguished by love to thy perfon, zeal for thy cause, and diligence in thy fervice; fo fhall I be enabled to glorify thy name, and fhew forth thy praises on earth, and at last, through thy free and unmerited grace, be admitted into thy glorious prefence, where, free from folly, fin, and imperfections, I fhall celebrate thy love through eternal ages.

Sandwich.

E. TATLOCK.

ADDRESS TO A NEW MARRIED COUPLE.

I FEEL an impreffion upon my mind to drop on this paper a word of friendly advice, which I hope will be read in the fame spirit of candour and good-will as that in which it is written. I feel a concern for your welfare. You have now taken the most important step that can be taken in relation to the prefent life. You are united together in lafting bands. May every bleffing in nature, Providence and grace, unite to render them happy to the end of your days!

With regard to your refpectability in the world, much depends upon your fubfequent conduct. Let fobriety, fteadiness, and prudence mark all your fteps. Industry and prudence are generally refpected in the world. against a fupercilious deportment, and every thing that looks like it. Be condefcending, but not mean; affection

Guard

ate, but not fond. Never, for a moment, think that outward glare, or a flashy appearance, will advance your confequence and refpectability. These things have little or no weight with perfons of difcernment and worth.

Never be deaf to good advice. Do not proudly disdain the good counfel of those who are more advanced in years than yourselves; if you do, there may come a time when you may want fuch counfel, and not be able to obtain it at any price. Guard well against a waste of time; it is too precious to be wafted. Never angrily thwart and oppofe each other, but by the fincereft love ferve one another. Refpect your relations and friends, for that is the most certain way to be refpected. Do not affect independence when your property fhall be at your own difpofal; it may betray you into difficulties before you are aware. Never be hasty

in taking any step, nor violent in pursuing any object. Let difcretion go first, and mark out the line of conduct which is most just and eligible to be pur fued, and then never decline because of difficulties or dangers in the way. Let the religion of the Bible be your religion. May the grace of God infpire and implant it in your hearts. Be not afhamed to profefs Jefus Chrift and his truth. May that bleffed Lord befriend you, blefs you, and keep you for evermore. I intreat you confider that an all-seeing eye is upon you; may that eye never be a witness to extravagance and wafte, to Sabbath-breaking and vice. May you enjoy every felicity, and above all, a good hope through grace.

MILES EMERITES.

ON EXAGGERATION.

EXAGGERATION, and a difpofition to exaggerate.

are great and growing evils, of which many profeffors of religion, as well as the men of the world in general, are guilty. This evil confifts in magnifying any circumstance, more or lefs, in a hyperbolical manner. Not to reprefent any matter as near its reality as we can, is certainly a deviation from truth; and a deviation from truth is furely a crime. This will be a growing evil in thofe in whom it is not checked; for, being lavish in our words, either in the praise or dispraise of perfons, or any other objects, we in