est blessing of our lives that we have the scriptures of truth; for while these give us the only sure understanding how sin may be forgiven, and the only promise of God's gracious acceptance; they are, also, the source of that moral instruction, which, in some degree, restores order and safety to a sinful world, and disarms sinners of the weapons by which they intend each other's death. While we read the gospel, let us imbibe its spirit, and become the sincere followers of the Lord Jesus Christ in meekness, humility, brotherly love and obedience to all the laws of God.

P. T. M.

I

the prospect of eternity, into which we all must pass. On some day in June last, I was walking in the garden, and observed a drooping flower. stopped to consider it, when suddenly, from what cause I know not, the following thought passed my mind: "Dost thou consider this flower? in the same manner, thou shalt decay and must die." Although I did not consider this to be a premonition of sudden death, yet from that moment, I have generally been unhappy. My first thought was, why hath not my minister taught me this, for I have never heard him speak of death, in such a manner, as made me believe I must die; but I soon checked myself with reflecting, He is a minister of the sanctua

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CON- ry of God, the fault is my own

NECTICUT MAGAZINE.

and not his.

I returned pensive to the

ON seeing your proposals for house, and attempted to resume

publication, I immediately my wonted cheerfulness; but determined to write you con- with new power, the thought recerning the state of my own turned, "Dost thou consider mind, and get some advice for this flower? in the same manmy good. I am an unhappy ner thou shalt decay and must person. I was educated in a die," and to this reflection there thoughtless way, on the estate was a solemn addition," Art thou of my father, which was such as prepared for death?" To give rendered us comfortable, though you a particular account of all not rich. My father died some the thoughts which passed in years since, at mid-life and in a my mind, through several days, thrifty condition. My mother would be difficult. I attempted had a frail constitution, and al- to pray, and could not succeed: though a serious woman, as II read the scriptures, and could hope, was so reserved in her not understand them; I was manner, that she rarely spoke, distressed indeed! Every sin except to give some family or- of my past life frightened me, der, or to check some undue and I called each one, as I relevity; so that I had little ad- collected it, the greatest, until I vantage from maternal instruc- was led to see the fountain from This tion. I am settled in life, and which they proceeded. am happy in every thing, but fountain is my own heart. When the state of my own heart and I first saw it, I was astonished

that the streams are not more | truth, and on this head, if I misbitter! All the scene surprised take not, he said something conme, until an aged and pious wo- cerning Balaam. His second man in the neighbourhood told head of discourse was, that all me "I was in no bad way, the talk concerning unconverted and that Christ died for the ministers is unscriptural. He told chief of sinners." But this us that truth was received by doth not satisfy me, my question the understanding, which is as now is, did he die for me? At perfect in bad as it is in good a certain time, when reading the men; so that Saul was as capscriptures, I found the following able of teaching, as Samuel the passage, "Now unto the king prophet, if his natural powers eternal, immortal, invisible, the were as great. I suppose the only wise God, be honour and reason of his taking this subglory for ever and ever." My ject was, that a little before, heart was melted, and my ima- there had been, in a neighbourgination was so animated, that ing parish, much talk about a I could realize an allsufficient preacher, who confessed that he Saviour on the cross, ascending had no knowledge of experi to heaven, and now seated on the mental religion. Being uncon right hand of glory. But these verted myself, I was no judge were the feelings, only of a few of the point and derived no inmoments. Can you tell me struction from the discourse. how I may recall them, for if I could, I should willingly bid farewell to so bewildered a state as the present world. Another thing on which I wish your advice, is, how I shall profit under the instruction of my minister? From the time I saw the droop-ly mourned with him under the ing flower, and I shall always loss of his property and children. remember how it appeared, I The second part of his discourse have attended the public wor- was to show us, that as the text ship of God's house, unless sick-was found in the holy scriptures, ness prevented. I will state to you the substance of three or four discourses and request you to inform me why I did not profit by them, for doubtless the fault is my own. The first sabbath after my melancholy way commenced, as some of my neighbours call it, he preached from 1 Sam. x. 11. "Is Saul also among the prophets?" After some remarks on the power of God, he attempted to establish two points; First, that God could make bad men speak the

The next Sermon which I heard was from Jobi. 11. "But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and hẹ will curse thee to thy face." The first part of his discourse was on Job's affliction, and I tender,

which are the word of God, we must expect that all men, when under trouble, will have some uneasiness with divine provi dence: this actually happened in Job, although he was the most patient of men; yet, that these necessary infirmities of human nature will certainly be forgiv. en, for the latter end of Job was more prosperous than his be ginning. At this moment, I thought within myself "O that all my wilful sins and neglects of duty were changed into such

MA

Advice to Matilda.

pitiable infirmities as must necessarily be forgiven. His next text was in Proverbs xviii. 21. "Death ATILDA, I will not for and life are in the power of the get thee. Sink not into tongue." After mentioning that gloom of which you speak. sundry sins of the tongue, he There is a Saviour, who is divine, turned us to a passage in one of almighty, eternal and allsuffithe apostles," With the mouth cient: I humbly hope for you, confession is made to salva- that at some time, you will retion," and from both these pas-ceive such views as those of sages attempted to establish which you speak when your this proposition, that, "A pub-heart melted, under the truth. lic profession of religion will Your reasoning is correct. A certainly entitle men to eternal Saviour, who is not divine, allife." This was a subject which mighty and eternal, cannot deli gained all my attention, for I ver such sinners, as you and I had thought of making a pro- must confess ourselves to be. fession; but on the whole nei- If Christ were not very God, he ther my heart nor conscience could not have made a sufficient were satisfied. atonement for sin. You doubtless feel that a mere example, without plenary atonement, can

The last Sabbath, he spake from the words of John, Chap. xi. verse 35." Jesus wept." In-never save your soul. If he stantly on hearing this passage, were not divine, he could not I felt myself beside the tomb of have purchased those influences Lazarus, and my own tears sym- of the Holy Spirit, which awa pathetically flowed with those of ken and sanctify sinners. You Jesus, Mary and Martha. Sun- say, you do not know whenoe dry tender things were said con- the thought proceeded, but I cerning friendship, and seeing tell you it was the Holy Spirit, our friends in a state of death. purchased by divine blood, which But the doctrinal part of the dis-said unto you in the garden, course was to show us "that" Dost thou consider this flow. weeping, at the best, is but an infirmity; that infirmities cannot be in God; therefore that Jesus Christ, although the first of prophets and a perfect example for Christians, was only a mere creature." I felt alarm-see your heart to be the fountain, ed and was near fainting, when the from which all your sins proservice concluded. A Saviour ceeded. It was he who, through who is not divine, almighty and the mouth of the woman in your eternal cannot deliver so great, a neighbourhood, preached to you sinner as I knew myself to be. the gospel," that Christ died for I am in deeper distress than ev- the chief of sinners." It was er. Say only a few words in he who gave you the joy of answer, and it may save me loving the truth, when you read, from that deep gloom into which "Now unto the king eternal, I feel myself sinking. Pity the immortal, invisible, the only unhappy MATILDA.

er? in the same manner thou must decay and die." In that moment the Lord mercifully awakened you, and be careful not. to resist him. It was the Spirit of God, which enlightened you to

wise God, be honour and glory | for ever and ever ;" and it is he, who continues this anxiety in your mind to know and obey the truth.

formed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and perfect and acceptable will of God.

You intimate that your neighbours have, of late, called your state a melancholy one. This is not strange; but I presume, that with all the trouble of mind you express, you would not exchange it for your thoughtless state before you walked in the garden, if the possession of the whole world were given in the bargain. In your present state, you will wish to banish from the minds of other people, the prejudices they have imbibed against a religious life. Unite cheerfulness with sobriety; teach your neighbours, that you are neither afraid nor ashamed to speak of the world to come ; assure them, that if you are saved it must be by the free grace of God; and let your whole conduct give evidence, that you are a better neighbour, more wise companion, and more discreet person than you were before your melancholy commen

By the history of your early life, and the account of your present state, it appears that you need instruction in the great doctrines of the gospel. Cleave fast to the doctrine. That Jesus Christ is both God and man; for if this be yielded, concerning the faith, you will make shipwreck. Never omit stated seasons for prayer, but remember, you will need the aids of the Holy Spirit to enlighten and warm your heart. You need not be afraid to begin prayer, although your heart feels cold; for it is a principal means, appointed by divine wisdom, to enlighten the understanding and enkindle holy affections.Collect a small library of the most approved pious writers. Be careful to make the selection, not so much for elegance of style as for perspicuity, and the pious, humble and evangelical sentiments which are expressed.ced.

Above all, daily read the holy scriptures, which contain the words of eternal life, and were penned under the direction of unerring truth. While the writings of uninspired men contain many errors, and hurtful disputes, which have no tendency to advance a life of godliness, in the scriptures you will find the words of salvation; in these you will find a Saviour, whose allsufficiency is suited to remove your guilt, and relieve all the sorrows of your weak heart.Remember, not to be conformed to the world, which lieth in spiritual ignorance; but be trans

With respect to your minister, it is evident from your letter that you are not satisfied, and I must express my own disbelief of his scheme of faith. A profession of religion without sincerity, will save no man. I am a sinner who have hoped in Christ, but if he be not very God, my whole faith is shaken to the foundation. Still, Matilda, be not rash. Converse with the elderly woman of whom you spake. I have a presentiment that she will be a good adviser, and that she is acquainted with a little circle in your neighbourhood, who will be helpful in your pre

sent condition. If such a com- | to apprize you of your danger,

pany can be found, meet weekly and pray that your minister may be enabled to preach the gospel in demonstration of the Spirit and in power. If he doth not edify you, God may bless you as an instrument of saving him. If you continue to write me, I shall esteem every line and every word as a pledge of Christian respect.

S

A Preservation.

ED.

you would naturally have turned to look behind you; and the surprise of finding yourself in such a dreadful situation, would have hastened your fall. I had, therefore, no other method of retriev ing you but by acting as I did."

Not altogether dissimilar to this is God's conduct to his people. It is the vain employ of sinful man, by the imperfect duties of his life, to draw his own portrait, in such delusive colours, as to esteem himself worthy the attention of the Almighty; and, after the performance is executed, to view IR JAMES THORNHILL was himself in every favourable the person who painted the light to gratify the vanity of his inside of the famous cupola of self-righteous heart, although St. Paul's, London. After hav- every step he takes in the reing finished one of the com-view, hastens his unwary feet to partments, he stepped back, a fall which must complete his gradually, to see how it would destruction. But it is the delook at a distance. He receded termination of the God of grace, so far (still keeping his eye in-to stain the pride of all human tently fixed on the painting) that glory; and, as the by-stander he was got almost to the very daubed the painting of Sir James. edge of the scaffolding, without Thornhill, purposely to save his perceiving it; had he continued life from death, so the Lord the to retreat half a minute more, Spirit mars our legal performhe must have fallen to the pave- ances, shews us the guilt that ment beneath, and completed his attends them, and their ineffidestruction. A person present, ciency to justify us before the who saw the danger the great tribunal of JEHOVAH ; then diartist was in, had the happy pre-rects our attention to Jesus, the sence of mind to snatch up one Son of God, the Lord our rightof the brushes, and daubed it eousness; who, being the brightover the painting. Sir James,ness of his FATHER'S glory, and transported with rage, sprung the express image of hisPERSON, forward to save the remainder of having purged our sins, becomes the piece. But his rage was soon our only salvation. Then, inturned into thanks, when the stead of our hearts arising in person addressed him: "Sir, resentment against the conduct by spoiling the painting I have of the Almighty, in destroying saved the life of the painter. the works of our hands, we You had advanced to the extre- thankfully adore his grace, and mity of the scaffold, without triumph in his love! knowing it. Had I called to you,

[Ch. Pocket Lib.