"Arm yourselves likewise with the "envying and grieving at the good of a same mind." UNSELFISHNESS. "For even Christ pleased not himself."- Too legibly are the characters written on the fallen heart and a fallen world -"All seek their own!" Selfishness is the great law of our degenerated nature. When the love of God was dethroned from the soul, self vaulted into the vacant seat, and there, in some one of its Proteus shapes, continues to reign. Jesus stands out, for our imitation, a grand solitary exception in the midst of a world of selfishness. His entire life was one abnegation of self-a beautiful living embodiment of that charity which "seeketh not her own." He who for others turned water into wine, and provided a miraculous supply for the fainting thousands in the wilderness, exerted no such miraculous power for His own necessities. During His forty days' temptation, no table did He spread for himself, no booth did He rear for His unpillowed head. Twice do we read of Him shedding tears -on neither occasion were they for himself. The approach of his cross and passion, instead of absorbing Him in His own approaching sufferings, seemed only to elicit new and more gracious promises to His people. When His enemies came to apprehend Him, His only stipulation was for His disciples' release "Let these go their way.' In the very act of departure, with all the boundless glories of eternity in sight, they were still all His care. Ah! how different is the spirit of the world! With how many is day after day only a new oblation to that idol which never darkened with its shadow His holy heart; pampering their own wishes; "" neighbour;" unable to brook the praise of a rival; establishing their own reputation on the ruins of another; thus engendering jealousy, discontent, peevishness, and every kindred unholy passion. "But ye have not so learned Christ!" Reader! have you been sitting at the feet of Him who "pleased not himself?" Are you dying daily;-dying to self as well as to sin? Are you animated with this as the high end and aim of existence-to lay out your time, and talents, and opportunities for God's glory, and the good of your fellow-men-not seeking your own interests, but rather ceding these, if, by doing so, another will be made happier, and your Saviour honoured? You may not have it in your power to manifest this "mind of Jesus" on a great scale, by enduring great sacrifices; nor is this required. His denial of self had about it no repulsive austerity; but you can evince its holy influence and sway by innumerable little offices of kindness and goodwill, taking a generous interest in the welfare and pursuits of others, or engaging and co-operating in schemes for the mitigation of human misery. Avoid ostentation-another repulsive form of self. Be willing to be in the shade; sound no trumpet before you. The evangelist Matthew made a great feast, which was graced by the presence of Jesus; in his Gospel he says not one word about it! Seek to live more constantly and habitually under the constraining influence of the love of Jesus. Selfishness withers and dies beneath Calvary. Ah, believer! if Christ had "pleased himself," where wouldest thou have been this day? "Arm yourselves likewise with the same mind." PARISH TRACTS. No. I. ARE YOU IN EARNEST? MY DEAR PARISHIONERS,-I intend addressing you occasionally by means of a short and simple Tract. In a short time I must render to God an account of my ministry among you; and I am quite sure you will agree with me in thinking that I ought to do everything I possibly can to promote your salvation. I have no doubt whatever, that you will receive my address in the same spirit in which it is sent to you. I believe you like to see ministers in earnest. The Lord Jesus Christ was always in earnest. And they who are His servants in the ministry, are expected to be always in earnest like Him. They are like Him to be earnest in prayer; earnest in preaching; earnest in doing good. In all they say and do, they are expected ness? He kneels down morning after to shew themselves earnest men. The morning, and night after night, and prays Bible authorizes you to expect such con- heartily to God for pardon, and holiness, stant earnestness in ministers. It be- and strength, to resist temptation. From comes them to devote themselves wholly day to day he reverently reads God's to their work. Want of earnestness in blessed Word, that he may know what them is most inexcusable and sinful. God would have him be and do. On the Sabbath, he is not to be seen spending the whole day sitting at the fire reading the newspapers, or some worldly book, or wandering about the fields; but he regularly attends the House of God; and if not at some church or school-room where there is public worship in the evening, he is profitably engaged at home. And, besides all this, he is ever striving against sin. He is ever seeking to subdue evil habits and dispositions. He is ever aiming at being wiser and better; because he is really in earnest. But if ministers should be in earnest, their people should be in earnest too; and yet, I fear, there are hundreds in the Parish who are not at all in earnest about the most important of all concerns. They may be in earnest in regard to many other things, such as obtaining food and raiment for the body; but they shew no earnestness in seeking to save the soul! But what do I mean by earnestness in religion? I shall tell you in a few words: You have all seen a farmer in his fields in Spring. He is very busy. He works hard. He ploughs, harrows, and sows the seed with care; for he knows that unless he do so, he cannot reap a good crop in harvest. He is in earnest. Many of you have been reading in the newspapers the accounts from the Seat of War. The Siege of Sebastopol is going on. The trenches are dug. New and larger guns have been mounted on the batteries. Our soldiers are in earnest. You have all your employments. You don't spend your time in idleness. From day to day you labour at one trade or another; for you know that it is only in this way you can gain a livelihood for yourselves and your families. You are thus in earnest. When any of you are sick, what efforts will you not make to recover! What nauseous medicines will you not swallow! What painful operations endure! What long conversations will you engage in about your maladies! Why? You are in earnest. And so in regard to religion. The earnest man is thus anxious about the welfare of his soul. He looks upon salvation as the one thing needful. He believes that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour of the world, and that it is through Him alone he can be saved, and that this salvation is now or never! He believes that there is a great harvest of the world coming, and that it is only they who sow to the Spirit, who shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting; and that he must sow now. He believes that he has many spiritual enemies, and that if he would conquer, he must be ever on his guardwatch, and fight! Believing all this, he is in earnest. And how does he show his earnest Now, how comes it that so many in the parish are not in earnest about religion? I am not for the present going to speak to you about the natural depravity of the human heart, or about the unwillingness of men to give serious thought to such a subject as this. I wish rather to shew you the worthlessness of one or two of the common excuses which some make why they need not be so earnest about their souls. A man sees hundreds around him in no way earnest about religion. They are spending their days, regardless of God's will. Their whole thoughts are taken up with the present world. The future state seldom or never occupies their minds. He is no worse than they, nay, in some respects he is far better; and, accordingly, he seems to think that if so many are utterly careless about religion, he need not be so very earnest about it. But how strange the infatuation of such a man! We are all separate beings. Each of us is a responsible agent. Every one of us must bear his own burden. "Each man must give an account of himself to God." Each must for himself receive a sentence of everlasting weal or everlasting woe. Others again seem to reason in this way. God is a very merciful Being. He has no pleasure in the punishment of any one. Such punishment, at all events, He can inflict only on those who are openly and grossly wicked-drunkards, swearers, thieves, liars, habitual Sabbathbreakers. These may be cast into hell. But it must be very different with us. We are quiet, decent, respectable. We are kind to our relatives, and friends, and neighbours. We would not, for the world, do anything wrong or dishonourable. We cannot say that we are at all earnest about religion. But we say our prayers and read our Bibles at times. We attend the church pretty regularly. We always go to the Lord's table. God, surely, can never punish us at last. But are you born again? Do you love Christ? Are you "striving," "believing," "giving all diligence?" Are you in earnest? Many others again seem to reason in this way. We are not what we ought to be. We confess that we have hitherto been very thoughtless about religion. We acknowledge that what you say about the necessity of being in earnest in order to be saved is true. But wait a little. We will not be long ere we begin to give greater attention to religion. It will be more convenient for us in a short time to do as you would wish. How often do I hear people pleading one excuse or another for putting off attention to the soul and eternity! Infidelity has slain its thousands; but Procrastination its tens of thousands. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." Hundreds resolve, and re-resolve, and die the same. "Now," not to-morrow or next year, but "now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation." And why is it so important to be in earnest about religion? For a very simple reason. Without earnestness, you cannot be saved. The Christian life is compared to a race to a wrestling-to a fight. It is spoken of as a "striving to enter in at the straight gate"-as "a labouring to enter into rest"-as "an abounding in the work of the Lord." It is described as a "praying in the Spirit," "living in the Spirit," "walking in the Spirit." If these be correct representations of the Christian life, it is very evident that you must be in earnest if you would be saved. Are you in earnest then? Are you bearing in mind, from day to day, that you are immortal beings? Are you looking upon heaven and hell as no fables, but as solemn realities; and are you seeking, through Christ, to obtain the one and escape the other? Are you striving against sin and longing after holiness? Are you living not for yourselves but for Him who died for you and rose again? If so, all is well. You may be called-blessed! But are you not in earnest about religion? Are you living only for time? Are you regardless of the great future which awaits you? Are you making no endeavours to prepare for eternity? Are you living to self? Are you among those who seldom bow the knee in prayer-who seldom read God's blessed Word--who seldom enter the sanctuary? If so, with my whole heart I pity you, and beseech you to beware. You are in a state of fearful peril. You are on the very brink of everlasting ruin! Oh, that ere it be too late you would calmly consider your condition in the sight of God, and give heed-earnest heed-to the things which belong to your eternal safety and peace! But Perhaps you may disregard this warning. If so, I cannot help it, though I deeply deplore it. But ere I close, I must tell you that I know a time when one and all of you will be in earnest. Men may continue indifferent to religion through life, and I have seen some apparently indifferent to religion even when on their death-beds. there will be no indifference on the morning of the resurrection. There will be no indifference when you stand before the great white throne. There will be no indifference when it is your turn to receive the sentence from the Judge. Ah, no! Then will you be in terrible earnest. Christ-the Soul-Eternity, will then wholly fill your souls. But what will earnestness then avail? It will then be too late-too late even to be earnest. Earnest about these things, is the fervent prayer of, Your most affectionate Friend, MANSE OF C Gleanings from the Mission Field. THE GLASGOW MISSION TO SCUTARI. THE REV. Mr. Macleod, the Secretary, has received a Note from their much esteemed missionary, Mr. Ferguson, of date 4th June. He says→ was expected. Now, however, I am gaining strength very fast, and hope soon to be able for duty. There are not many sick here now, and the work is light comparatively. Mr. Cannon, a minister of our Church, has had charge of my field since I became ill. He will remain in "I have not recovered so rapidly as charge of it, and when I resume I shall relieve our friend, Mr. Drennan, a little distressed soul of a dying man this day. in the Barracks. I was recommended to go to Prince's Islands or Therapia for change of air, and in the beginning of last week I got a certificate from Dr. Calder, which Dr. Cumming, G.I.H., recommended, and of which Lord Wm. Paulet approved; so I spent last week at Prinkipo with much advantage. I returned here to spend the Sabbath, and I go off to Therapia in the afternoon, intending (D. V.) to return again on Saturday first, when my fortnight's leave of absence expires. It is quite long enough for me, as the expenses are high. On Thursday first, I shall have been eight weeks off duty-which, of course, I regret, but you need not be told that it was not my choice." He is of the Church of England, but the nurse called me, as she could not find his own chaplain. When I first saw him, he was convulsed, and apparently quite unconscious. I spoke into his ear, and he seemed as if he heard me, and the nurse said that he liked it. By-and-by he opened his eyes, but could not speak. His eye caught my tracts, and he plucked one from the bag, with the eagerness of a dying man thirsting for the "Bread of life," and held it as a sign that he wished to hear instruction. I spoke to him again for a few minutes, and then offered prayer shortly. When I saw him again, in a little while, he was able to whisper, and he prayed earnestly and constantly, "O Lord, O Lord, have mercy upon me -have mercy upon my soul." Next time The following is a portion of Mr. Fer- and as soon as he saw me, he inquired, I called to see him he was able to speak, guson's Journal, and is interesting, as "Are you the minister?" affording what we know to be a truthful learned that I was, he said, "God bless and unexaggerated account of his valu-you-God bless you." I put my hand upable labours, which we hope are by this on his head, and said, "God bless you." I then repeated to him a few texts, which he seemed to prize much. When I made a pause, he said, "Pray," which I did in a few sentences; and at the close, he repeated, with a loud voice, “AMEN, AMEN, AMEN." He expressed a confident hope in the mercy of God through the Redeemer. I left him, commending him to the care of Him who careth for all His people-promising to write to his mother time resumed February 10th.-Commenced duty today in the hospital, and made the acquaintance of fifteen Scotchmen. All seemed glad to see me. Spoke also to several English and Irish. Every one appears thankful for the smallest attention. February 11th.-Sabbath. Visited in the forenoon, and returned to preach at four P.M.; but not one solitary hearer made his appearance! though several had promised, and I ordered a written notice, to be read by the ward-master in all the wards. Rather discouraging. I hope such apparent carelessness may be satisfactorily accounted for. Must devise some sure method of giving notice throughout the whole hospital. February 12th.-Wrote four letters at the men's bed-sides-a very pleasing duty. Many men without Bibles, who seem anxious to have one. February 13th.-Took a pot of jam to R. B., whose gratitude could not find utterance. Think him one of the Lord's people. Slung round my shoulders a bag full of tracts, which created quite a sensation in the wards. Intended them only for my own people, but I could not resist the wistful looks of many as I passed along. Many asked for them, promising to return them when read. Have talked with thirty-eight Presbyterians. Took the addresses of the relatives of two men seemingly dying. February 14th.-I am satisfied that I was the means of helping to comfort the When he and hoping to meet him in glory. He wished me to tell his mother that he had every comfort he could desire, and that he died in hope of heaven. February 15th.-H. W., mentioned above, died in peace last night. Three of my men apparently fast going the same road-shall not be astonished though two of them be dead by the morning. Spoke to those whose strength could bear it, in stronger language to-day than I have formerly used. Several seemed to listen with deep interest. Two Episcopalians are apparently deeply impressed, but not through my words; one of them, I fear, is dying. How needful is wisdom, to be at once faithful and judicious! Had a long talk with a sergeant of the 63d at the gate-touched his feelings acutely, when I asked if he had a wife and family. "Ay, Sir, that's the worst of it,-that we may die here, and never see those dear to us again." February 16th.-Made the acquaintance of several for the first time, and visited all those in a dangerous state. Had much encouragement from some. A few apparently under convictionsothers, alas! seemingly dying, trusting to their own good deeds, or rather, comparative innocence. A Methodist wished to speak to me-he wept much, but said he was enabled to say, "Thy will be done." I read to him from "The Sheltering Vine,' parts iii. and iv., page 163: "Thy will be done." My God, my Father, while I stray A beautiful hymn. It seemed as if it had been expressly written for his case. I would here again thank Mr. M'Leod for that book. It has cheered the hearts of many! to persevere in earnestly addressing the men. Two died-one in the morning, whom I had seen only twice, and the other in the afternoon-the Methodist spoken of, Feb. 16th. I doubt not he has gone to the "Happy Land." A young man said, when I asked how he did, "I am just going; I shall not see to-morrow;" and so it was. Alas! he made no response to all I said to him. February 21st.-Still saddened at so many being so ill. Yet what a change in the health of my people! Scarcely one but had to tell me that he is decidedly better. Exhorted all to give the praise to God, and to express their gratitude. Many were in tears. One to whom I had spoken only twice before, declares he shall rise, February 17th.-Wrote letter for W. if God spare him, a new man. The first MN. to his wife. Spent the rest of the time I spoke to him, he appeared exceedtime among those seemingly dying, and ingly indifferent. The next time I called those under convictions. To myself a he was asleep, and I did not awaken him. profitable day, and I trust to others even Two days ago I found him awake, and more so. Two, formerly indifferent, melt- seemingly glad of my visit. When I told ed under the word. God grant that these him I had found him asleep last time I impressions may not soon pass away. It is came round, he said, twice over, "You necessary to be earnest with all, but espe- should have awakened me; I like always to cially with dying men. Visited the Sable hear a few words now and then." He was Hospital for the first time, and found five now very low, and seemed rather apprehenPresbyterians. Went to the Palace Hos- sive of death. I offered to pray with him, pital, to inquire whether any Presbyterian but to my surprise he declined. To-day officers were sick; none. Dr. Menzies he received me gladly, told me he had said that the Scotchmen seem more received bad news, and put into my healthy than the English and Irish. Two hands a letter informing him of the death of my people gone this morning. Have of his father. He said, "When I saw hope of one; but, alas, none of the other! February 18th.-Sabbath. Other two of my people gone; know nothing of the state of either. Very many dangerously ill. Must exert to see them often, and be faithful to their souls. Had a meeting for public worship at 4 P.M. Eight convalescents attended, and six or seven others, of whom some seemed deeply impressed. Hope to have a larger attendance next Sabbath. We had no psalms, and could not have singing; but our meeting, such as it was, is the first that has been held at Scutari in the Presbyterian form. you come in at the ward-door, I said to myself, then the Lord is sending me a friend to comfort me in my sorrow." He wept much, and exclaimed, "Oh, what the Lord hath done for my soul!" The Scriptures are very precious to him now. He tried to repeat the 2d Paraphrase, which he said he remembered from his youth. He could scarcely repeat it for tears. Every word seemed to tell upon him. He said it was his prayer. Το God be all the praise. February 22d.-Wrote three letters, and thirty-two notices of the hour of public worship on Sunday, to be posted February 19th.-A very pleasant day. on the ward-doors. Visited the Palace Several seem deeply humbled. Wrote Hospital, and found fifteen men who have four letters. Many still very ill, and a special claim on me; all seemed glad to some apparently dying. One, to whom I see me, some extremely so; the whole proclaimed the fullness of the Gospel getting better; the whole much in want offer, said, "It is too late now." I re- of books; some want Bibles, and desire plied, "No! it is not yet too late. Be- particularly to have the Scotch Psalms hold, now is the accepted time; behold, and Paraphrases. Left four notices of now is the day of salvation."" He cried Sunday meeting, in case any of the bitterly, and said I had quoted his father's surgeons or others able to do so might text. He added "Amen" to the prayer wish to attend. with much fervour. He seems very near his end. February 20th.-Another pleasant day among my people. Feel much encouraged As I passed along one of the wards, inquiring for those to whom it is my special mission to minister, my attention was arrested by the giant-like appearance |