divine truth; and upon their repentance evidenced its power, by their restoration and confequent glory. OF SIN. I have finned, cried David, I have not perverted the use of thy gifts, neither have I by tranfgreffion broken out into wilful rebellion; but I have fecretly deviated from uprightnefs, and broken thy precepts: I have trodden aside from thy laws, and fearched for happiness in murder and adultery. From this fcriptural view of evil I would afk, 1ft, Muft not perverfion cease when the corporeal faculties are taken away, in that lake of fire where there can be nothing to abuse? Secondly, Muft not tranfgreffion ceafe when, Cor. xv. 28. all are fubject to Chrift, and God is all in all? When, Phil. ii. 10. every knee in Heaven, earth, and under the earth, fhall bow at the name of Jefus the Reftorer, and confefs him Lord, to the glory of God the Father? Thirdly, Since the creatures of God perish for lack of knowledge, and feek for knowledge in that which profiteth not, is any thing too hard for Jehovahcannot he make them wife as he did the prodigal, by letting them eat the fruit of their doings, and long to be permitted to return to their Father's houfe? How very different is the character of Jehovah to that given him by most profeffors. By the Scriptures he is fpoken of as having hell continually before him; but by men, as banifhing the the finner from his prefence, that he may be endlessly tormented. But he hath faid of himself, that he lifts up Iniquity, Tranfgreffion, and Sin; he waits not for man to caft it away, but he himself lifts up, he takes the burden from the head of man, and removes all its dreadful confequences. Whilft we were unjust Chrift died for us-God fo loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that all who believe on him might (not be restored by that mighty power. by which he will fubdue all to himself, but might) inherit the age of life, and have, like Abraham of old, thro' his faith, an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. He lifteth up, Ifa. liii. 4. verily all our griefs, pains, labours, travails, violations, profanities (for such the original word fignifies)—he lifteth up, how this agrees with Paul, 2. Cor. v. where he declares that Christ died for all, and calls the Gospel the miniftry of reconciliation. He does not advise them to act fo as to "make their peace with God:"-this is a cant term of modern invention; but says that the Apostles, as ambaffadors, befought them to be reconciled to God, having before proved that God never had an enmity to them. This fcriptural view of Sin, fhews that Sin being contrary to the nature of God must be hateful to him; and that he having all power will correct his works, that they may give glory to their Maker by their obedience. VOL. I. It fhews the neceffity for the fore judgments, the fire of the wrath of God, to melt and feparate the drofs from the pure ore, the finner from his fin; and the Apoftles knowing the inevitable neceffity of his feverest judgments, perfuaded men not by the terrors of the law, for they would only terrify, but by the greatnefs of his love, to efcape the fecond death, thofe terrors which they knew the law held forth. What check is this view of Sin upon the finner that feels its full force? and what an opportunity does it give for the fervant of Chrift to use the utmost scope of Christian eloquence to paint the paternal tenderness of the Deity, and the utmost exertion of his power; but always acting in conjunction with that love which will have all to be reftored and comé to the knowledge of the truth. - A. W CRUELTY. HEN the Duke of Burgundy lay before Murat, in Switzerland, an army of Swiffers came unexpectedly upon him and utterly defeated him. The Duke fecing his army routed, and himfelf in danger of being either killed or taken, fpurred his horse into the lake: one of his pages, to fave himself, leaped up behind him juft as he took the water. The Duke at firft either perceived him not, or diffembled it till he he came to the other fide of the lake, which is two miles broad. The horse being flout, fwam through with them both and fet them fafe afhore. The Duke feeing into what danger his page had put him, altho' now fafe, yet barbarously stabbed him :—a very unworthy thanksgiving to God for fo great a deliverance, as the page offended more through fear of death than any malicious intention. A POETRY. ODE TO HOPE. LL hail! fupporter of the fainting mind! And make the distant glimm'ring landskip glow. Grief and anxious care, Rapt'rous delights now bring Upon thine airy wing, That facred joy may fpring Within my mind, and dwell for ever there. Without thee, Hope! there's nought in life Thou, Hope! alone, sweet Heav'n-born Maid! Pleasure and pain unite in thee, So, deep within yon dungeon's gloom, But who can paint the lover's foul, By direful doubts and fears oppreft ; When jealous pangs each thought controul, 1 And shake with rage his tortur'd breast. If unfeen obstacles arise To prevent his nuptial ties ; It may relax, not break the chain. Thou, |