1

660

dead. The inexperienced adven- weight of meaning might they be turer in the practice of open im- addressed, in the language of Christ, preiy furnishes an illustration of Alas, for you, assembly of hardenthe same truth. With hesitating ed sinners !-had the heathen, had progress he advances to the ex. the inhabitants of the wildernesstreme boundary of correct deport- had the young known what you ment, then crosses the line, be- have known, they would have recomes familiar with vice, and no pented long ago. It shall be more longer shudders at the commission tolerable in the day of judgment of gross crimes. The same is true for them than for you. The truth with respect to the means of awa. brought to view in the words of the kening and conversion. The hea- text, therefore, is established, as then, when they understand the a matter of fact. It teaches us truths of the gospel, are more sus

that those who have long enjoyceptible of religious impressions ed great privileges, and still rethan the inhabitants of Christian main impenitent, become so insenlands who have long been familiar sible, as to be little affected by the with these truths.

The same

common means of salvation, and preacher of the gospel, after hav- are given over to hopeless unbeing laboured almost in vain in a lief and hardness of heart. long established religious society, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killmay retire to some new settle- est the prophets, and stonest them ment in the wilderness, and there, that are sent unto thee; how ofwith the same means of instruction ten would I have gathered thy and awakening, may collect togeth- children together, as a hen doth er from the distant cottages, a gather her brood under her wings, group of listening, weeping, re- and ye would not !

Behold your penting hearers. It is a fact also, house is left unto you desolate." that the same exhibition of divine -6 And when he was come near, he truth, and the same striking dis- beheld the city and wept over it, plays of an over-ruling Providence, saying, if thou hadst known, even produce a deeper impression upon thou, in this thy day, the things the young, than upon the aged. that belong to thy peace ! but now When " the pestilence that walk- they are hid from thine eyes. Let eth in darkness” commences its the young give a listening ear. desolating progress, we often see "To-day if ye will hear his voice, children and youth become alarm- harden not your hearts !--Now is ed and penitent, while the harden- the accepted time, now is the day ed, aged sinner goes on his chosen of salvation !" way unmoved. We often see the II. They who become hardened by tear stealing down the youthful misimproving great privileges, will cheek, under the powerful exhi- receive, at the day of judgment, a bition of divine truth, while the

condemnation, than those aged are carelessly nodding away who have not been so highly distinthe precious hours of devotion. guished.

" But I say unto you, that We observe the same difference it shall be more tolerable for Tyre between the aged and the young and Sidon at the day of judgment in revivals of religion. Were an than for you.” This truth is so obaudience collected together, com- vious that it does not need to be posed entirely of age sinners, who supported by arguments. It results had from infancy been to the house as a necessary consequence from of God, and should they be, as they the justice of God, and the accountprobably would be, but little affect- ability of men, that those who have ed by the clear exhibition of di- misimproved the greatest blessings, vine truth, with what a solemn if found at the judgment-seat im

severer

was

And are you

penitent, must receive a greater giveness of sios, by self-inflicted condemnation, than those who were cruelties, and wearisome pilgrimnot so highly distinguished. “ That ages : you have known that there servant which knew his Lord's will is One, who bare the sins of men and prepared not himself, neither in his own body on the tree. You did according to his will, shall be have not been left to the delusion beaten with many stripes. But of bowing the knee to "gods of he that knew not, and did commit wood and stone :” you have been things worthy of stripes, shall be taught the spiritual worship of Him beaten with few stripes. For unto who is “God over all, blessed for whomsoever much is given, of him

ever :"

you

have been “ exalted to shall be much required; and to heaven” by the blessings of light whom men have committed much, and knowledge : you have experiof him they will ask the more.” enced the greatest variety of judgTo the Jews, much more ments and mercies. given than to the benighted Gen- still in the ranks of those who retiles, and far greater must be their ject the Saviour ? If

you

shall at condemnation. When the graves last “ die in your sins," what shall shall give up their dead at the be your sentence at the day of sound of the last trumpet, the pa- judgment ? Tyre and Sidon shall gans of Tyre and Sidon will be rise up to your condemnation—the shaken with less consternation than crimes of the greatest Gentile sinthe enlightened sinners of Chorazin ner shall be forgotten in compariand Bethsaida. It cannot be oth

son with yours. erwise. If, in a Christian land, the III. Those who remain impenitent widow, abandoning her little or- after having long witnessed great phans to an unfeeling world, should exhibitions of the power and goodconsign herself to the funeral pileness of God, are left in a hopeless conof her husband,-if the helpless dition. The cities of Chorazin and aged should be left by their rela- Bethsaida were highly distinguishtions to perish upon the margin of ed by the personal instructions of some consecrated river if the car Chist. There he explained his of idolatry were substituted for the doctrines and confirmed the truth of Christian temple, would not these them by mighty works. But he crimes exhibit a deeper crimson in prevajled not against their obduthe clear beams of the “Sun of rate unbelief. They had become Righteousness,” than they would in familiar with miracles and the truths the faint glimmerings of pagan

of divine revelation ; they were darkness? Will not conscience hardened beyond the impressions of more severely condemn the Chris religious instruction, even in its tian idolater than the pagan? This most convincing forms. They were truth should be deeply impressed therefore rejected by the compason the mind of every impenitentsionate Saviour, and doomed to the hearer. From the cradle you have just consequences of their wickedbeen carried to the house of God!

66 Woe unto thee, Chorazin ! From childhood, you have been woe unto thee, Bethsaida !" And taught the way of duty and eternal this unhappy condition is not peculife. You have not received your liar to the inhabitants of these cibirth in a ind, where you might ties: multitudes in every age of have vainly endeavoured to wash the Christian religion have shared away your guilt in rivers of water: the same doom. The danger and the you have been directed to the all- probability of perishing at last in sufficient fountain of atoning blood unbelief, after having passed You have not been left to the fruit- through a long course of religious Hess hope of purchasing the for- instructions, and a long series of great judgments and mercies, is arouse him from his desired insenconfirmed by facts, and we are led sibility. He closes his Bible-forto infer this from several consider- sakes the house of God-passes ations.

by the bed of sicknes and deathAnd first; In the plan of salvation, looks not into the grave-avoids evmeans are inseparably connected ery thing that would remind him vith the end, and means long used of eternity. What hope remains without success gradually lose their of his salvation ? effect. The experienee of every A long course of disobedience, hearer of the gospel confirms this finally, is followed by judicial blindfact. He can look back upon the ness and hardness of heart. There time, when he was deeply affected are many within the circle of our acby the clear and solemn exhibition quaintance, who appear to be given of divine truth; he can remember over to their own chosen way. They the period, when the striking in- are neither allured by the “glad stances of Divine Providence filled tidings" of the gospel, nor alarmed him with alarm, and when the con- by its fearful truths. They stand versation of a pious friend affected unmoved amid the descending him to tears and produced solemn judgments of heaven. Nothing can purposes of reformation. But now soften, nothing can alarm them. it is far otherwise. The most They resemble in character the alarming truths of the gospel fall impenitent Israelites, and like them upon his ear like echo of distant may send up, too late, the despairthunder. And this results, as a ne. ing cry for mercy. “They refused cessary consequence, from the con- to hearken, and pulled away the stitution of the human mind. shoulder, and stopped their ears Things that are new, produce a that they should not hear: yea deeper impression than when they they made their hearts as an adahave been frequently repeated. mant stone, lest they should hear The first impression may be pow- the law, and the words which the erful, but the succeeding impres- Lord of hosts hath sent in his Spirit sions are fainter and fainter, till by the former prophets ; therefore scarcely a trace is made by the came a great wrath from the Lord same object that once produced so of hosts. Therefore it is come to powerful an effect. In human prob- pass that as he cried and they ability, the hope of salvation be- would not hear ; so they cried and comes less, as men cease to be in- I would not hear, saith the Lord of terested or alarmed by the truths hosts.” The compassionate Saviour of the gospel.

stood and wept over a city of hopeSecondly: Not only do the ap- less sinners, saying, “ if thou hadst pointed means of salvation lose known, even thou in this thy day, their effect, but the heart becomes the things that belong to thy peace; hardened by the misimprovement of but now they are hid from thine them. Serious impressions have eyes.” Wisdom also, wearied by been so often worn away, and the long neglect, has turned her soft convictions of duty so frequently and plaintive voice of entreaty, into resisted, that conscience scarcely the bitterness of reproof ; " Because performs its office. The sinner I have called and ye refused; I begins to close his ears against the have stretched out my hand and no truths of the gospel; for he wishes man regarded ; but ye have set at to avoid the painful feelings that nought all my counsel, and would may arise from a true know

none of my reproof: I also will ledge of his condition. By de- laugh at your calamity : I will mock grees also he deprives himself of when your fear cometh: when every means which might tend to your fear cometh as desolation, and

9

Your eyes

or

your destruction cometh as a whirl- the human eye can discover, an imwind; when distress and anguish penetrable gloom rests upon your cometh upon you; then shall they prospects. Few and faint are the call upon me, but I will not answer, rays of hope that fall upon the dark they shall seek me early, but they cloud. Already you seem to be shall not find me : For that they numbered with the inhabitants of hated knowledge, and did not choose Chorazin and Bethsaida ; it shall be the fear of the Lord ; they would more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon none of my counsel : they despised at the day of judgment than for you. all my reproof. Therefore shall To the young our subject applies they eat of the fruit of their own with peculiar interest. You are way, and be filled with their own not yet hardened beyond hope. devices.'

Your ears still listen to the glad tiAll these facts considered collect dings of salvation.

still ively—that the means of conversion moisten at the relation of a Saafter being repeatedly used, pro- viour's sufferings for guilty man. duce little, or no effect that the You have not yet ceased to be heart becomes insensible to serious

alarmed by the opening grave, impressions under the misimprove the signal exhibitions of an over-rument of great light and knowledge ling Providence. You have not yet --that a long series of disregarded closed your ears against the voice judgments and mercies are suc- of pious counsel, nor forsaken the ceeded by judicial blindness and sanctuary of God. But if you rehardness of heart,--render it suffi- main impenitent under the great ciently evident that those who re- variety of blessings with which inmain impenitent, after receiving dulgent heaven has distinguished such great blessings must be left in you, if you resist the clear convica hopeless Icondition. For what tions of duty, and the admonitions hope remains of the conversion of of conscience, and disregard the those, who can be neither allured attractive voice of wisdom, uttering nor alarmed by the momentous her cry in the streets ; your hearts truths of the gospel? We may speak may become hard like the “ ada. of “everlasting burnings,” but no mant stone;" your feet may turn fears are excited; we may describe aside from the paths of rectitude, the blessings of redeeming grace,

to the labyrinth of infidelity ; you but the angel-voice of mercy no may forsake “ the house of God, longer penetrates the ear; judg- and the gate of heaven;" your pious ments and mercies may be poured friends may leave you in the bitterdown like the showers of heaven, ness of despair ; angels, who have but the callous heart remains un- long waited to sing a new song at moved. Alas for thee, hardened the tidings of your repentance, șinner! what hope_if the solemn may drop the tear of pity from appeal can reach thy conscience heaven, the compassionate Saviour "seared as with a hot iron,”-what looking down from the throne of hope remains of thy salvation ?- mercy, may say : “ If thou hadst The inexplorable riches of grace known, even thou, in this thy day, may be magnified in your redemp- the things that belong to thy peace; tion—a sovereign arm may descend but now they are hid from thine from heaven to pluck you at the eyes.” Beware then how you re"eleventh hour,"like a brand from main impenitent under the blessings the burning ;" but how small is the of light and knowledge. If you probability How few of your un- delay the work of repentance till happy number become subjects of a a more convenient opportunity, the kingdom of grace. So far as your hopes may be lost in the im

a

timely grave; or if life be spared, you as of Ephraim, “ He is joined till your heads are whitened by the to his idols, let him alone !" frost of many years, God may say of

MISCELLANEOUS.

OBSERVATIONS OF AN AMERICAN IN

ENGLAND

For the Christian Spectator.

same fondness for a garden and flowers may be traced in the lowest artisans and cottagers; and

when they are denied the luxury of THERE There is a family at Winson, a garden, they will make a garden Green, just in the vicinity of of their houses, and fill every win

, Bắm, which I have occasion- dow with flowers, and plants. The ally seen ; and as I consider them, garden which we were now survey. in their manners and style of liv- ing, was enclosed with a welling, a very good specimen of those trimmed hawthorn hedge, and two in the middle walks of life, I will gravelled walks led up each side of give you an account of a late visit a close-shaven, oval grass plat, to there, and will mingle character the front door. Trees of various and description with incident. At kinds mingled with shrubbery skirtthe close of a fine day, a young ed the edges, and gave to the cenBostonian and myself, conducted tre a charming aspect of pensive by a son of the family, called at retirement, and rural quietness. their cottage. By cottage, you The lawn, by the use of a cast iron will not understand me to mean a roller, and frequent shaving, had one-story, straw-thatched building, become extremely smooth, and was half hid in woodbine, but a neat not only cheering to the eye, from two story brick mansion, covered its vivid green, but pleasant and with slate. We paused a few mo- soft as down to the foot. From the ments, in the front garden, to look at front garden we were conducted its arrangement. I bave often had through a gate at one corner of the occasion to admire the taste, which house, into the fruit and flower Englishmen of this class exhibit in garden. This was somewhat larlaying out and decorating their gar- ger than the other. Like that, it dens and pleasure grounds. When- was enclosed with a hawthorn ever they fix upon a spot, and call it hedge, which, by constant trimming "home, they collect about it eve- and good management had become ry little comfort and elegance so closely interwoven and matted that their means will admit. A together, as to form as effectual a garden seems to be a primary barrier against the intrusion of catobject in their rural economy; tle or the prying curiosity of man, and even when their means are as a stone or brick wall itself. The scanty, and they are necessarily hedge, under the hand of a skilful confined to a narrow spot of ground, gardener, can be made to assume they contrive to throw over that the most fantastic shapes. This spot, a thousand beauties. This was so close, that neither the hand taste, I conceive, cannot be too nor the eye could penetrate it; highly commended. It is not less and clothed as it then was, in the elegant in itself, than it is favoura- brightest green, it far surpassed in ble to purity of manners. The beauty, any fence or railing, and

a