cifying Phebe. Her mother mentioned the circumstance to the owner of the tree, and requested of him that she might have the plums; but still she was deeply affected; and being asked, what it was that troubled her now? she said that she wept, BECAUSE IT WAS SIN. She declared, that if Eunice were to ask her a hundred times, she would not go again, and she retained an aversion to that fruit for a long time after.

Q. 15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?

A. The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit.

The late Mr. Thomas, one of the missionary brethren at Serampore, was one day, after addressing a crowd of the natives on the banks of the Ganges, accosted by a Brahmin as follows: "Sir, don't you say that the devil tempts men to sin?" "Yes," answered Mr. Thomas. "Then," said the Brahmin, "certainly the fault is the devil's; the devil therefore, and not man, ought to suffer the punishment.' While the countenances of many of the natives discovered their approbation of the Brahmin's inference; Mr. Thomas observing a boat with several men on board, descending the river, with that facility of instructive retort for which he was so much distinguished, re plied. Brahmin do you see yonder boat?" "Yes." Suppose I were to send some of my friends to destroy every person on board, and bring me all that is valuable in the boat--who ought to suffer punishment? Ifor instructing them, or they for doing this wicked act?" "Why," answered the Brahmin, with emotion, "you ought all to be put to death together." Ave, Brah

66

min," replied Mr. T. and if you and the devil sin together, the devil and you will be punished together."

"There is." says one, "a tree called the manchaneel, which grows in the West Indies; its appearance is very attractive and the wood of it peculiarly beautiful; it bears a kind of apple, resembling the golden pippen. This fruit looks very tempting and smells very fragrant; but to eat of it is instant death; and its sap or juice is so poisonous, that if a few drops of it fall on the skin, it raises blisters, and occasions great pain. The Indians dip their arrows in the juice, that they may poison their enemies when they wound them. Providence hath so appointed it that one of these trees is never found, but near it there also grows a white wood, or a fig-tree, the juice of either of which, if applied in time, is a remedy for the diseases produced by the manchaneel. Now when I read this account, I thought of sin and salvation. Sin, like this poisonous apple, looks pleasant to the eye, and men desire it --eat of it, and die. We may think there is no harm in such a thing it is only a little sin: but who would eat only a little poison? The least sin, if not forgiven, will ruin our souls for ever. This is fruit that must not be tasted; yea, it ought not to be looked upon or thought of. It is sin that gives to the darts of Satan all their fiery qualities; and to the arrow of death all its bitterness. all who have looked upon the fruit of this tree have desired it, and have eaten of it; and if not delivered from its fatal effects will surely die: but there is a remedy at hand; it is the precious blood

Now

of the Son of God, which soothes the troubled conscience, and cleanses it from all sin.

"Not balm, new bleeding from the wounded tree, Nor bless'd Arabia with his spicy grove,

Such fragrance yields.'

ROWE.

Apply therefore, to this means of cure! fly to a crucified Saviour! there is no time to be lost!the poison works within!-the disease every moment is increasing ?-Go to the great Physician without delay and say 'Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me whole!""

Q. 15. Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgres sion ?

A. The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, ut for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression.

A pious minister having preached on the doctrine of original sin, was afterwards waited on by some persons, who stated their objections to what he had advanced. After hearing them, he said, "I hope you do not deny actual sin too?" No," they replied. The good man expressed his satisfaction at their acknowledgment; but to show the absurdity of their opinions in denying a doctrine so plainly taught in Scripture he asked them, Did you ever see a tree growing without a root?"

When Melancthon was first converted, he thought it impossible for his hearers to withstand the evidence of the truth in the ministry of the gospel: But after preaching a while, he complained, “That old Adam was too hard for young

Melancthon."

"some

"I overheard a discourse," says one, thing like altercation, between a deacon, his son, and servants. Some one had informed him that the cattle had broken into the corn field, and were making great ravages. His servants were ordered to make haste and turn them out and repair the breach, How came they in there?" says one; Which way did they get in?' cries another; It is impossible, the fences are good,' says a third; Don't stand here talking to no purpose,' cries the deacon, with increased earnestness they are in the field destroying the corn. I see them with my own eyes. Out with them speedily and put up the fence.' As I approached him he began to be more calm. Your pardon, sir; these fellows have quite vexed me. They make one think of our pastor's sermon on the origin of sin, spending their time needlessly, inquiring how it came into the world while he ought to be exhorting us to drive it out.' 'Your observation is just,' said I, 'and your directions to your servants contain sound orthodox doctrine; -a good practical improvement to the discourse we have heard to-day."

Q. 17. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind? A. The fall brought mankind into a state of sin and misery.

The Rev. and pious Dr. Ives, whose house was on Oxford road. and by which the criminals were carried weekly in carts to Tyburn used to stand at his window and say to any young friends who might be near him, pointing out any of the most notorious malefactors. "There goes Dr. Ives!" -If an explanation was asked. he took occasion to expound the innate corruption of the human

tors,

heart; and appealed to the experience of his audi"whether they had not felt the movements of those very passions, errors, prejudices, lusts, revenge, covetousness, &c. whose direct tendency was to produce the crimes for which these offenders satisfied the claims of public justice, and which were solely prevented from carrying them to the same dreadful fate, by the restraining grace of God."

"I have this evening," says Mrs. Houseman, in her diary, had iny dear child with me in my closet, conversing with her, endeavouring to awaken her, and convince her of her sin and misery by nature and practice. The child was seemingly affected, and melted into tears; so greatly was she distressed that I was obliged to turn my discourse, and tell her God was good, and willing to pardon and receive sinners, especially those children that were desirous to be good betimes, and in their younger days set themselves to love God and serve him. I told her she must pray to God to pardon her. and give her grace to serve him. The child seemed willing to pray, but wanted words to express herself. I asked her if I should help her, and teach her to pray?" The pious mother adds, "O Lord, may this dear offspring rise and call thee blessed!"

Cyrus, the Emperor of Persia, after he had long been attended by armies, and vast train of courtiers, ordered this inscription to be engraven on his tomb, as an admonition to all men of the approach of death, and the desolation that follows it; namely, "O man! whatsoever thou art, and whencesoever thou comest, I know that thou wilt come to the same condition in which I now