could," The horses were saddled, and off came father and son on the Saturday night. Sunday they came to church, and the very first discourse reached the old man's heart; and from that day, he began to confess Jesus Christ as his Strength and Redeemer. During two summers he attended at the same place, but infirmities confining him to his bed, he required me to visit him at his house, where I found him with the tears running down his cheeks, while he spoke of the hardness of his heart; yet his heart seemed tender as that of a little child. Mr. C. said I, How old are you? "Little more," says he, "than two years old, for I can only reckon from the time I knew the Lord Jesus; the fourscore years before, were but a life of death." At 84 he departed, full of faith and hope, and entered at the eleventh hour into the joy of his Lord.

February 23.

MARK V. 36. Be not afraid, only believe.

Dr. THOMAS GOODWIN died, 1679, in his 80th year. the doctor was the instrument of relieving the mind of Mr. Marshall, author of a treatise on sanctification. In his early years Mr. M. was under great distress for a long time, through a consciousness of guilt, and a divine displeasure. At last mentioning his case to Dr. Thomas Goodwin, and lamenting the greatness of his sins, that able divine replied, "You have forgotten the greatest sin of all, the sin of unbelief in refusing to believe in Christ, and rely on his atonement and righteousness for your acceptance with God." This word in season banished his fears. He looked to Jesus, and was filled with joy and peace in believing." By disobeying the commands of the law, says one, we sin against Divine Majesty, but by disobeying the commands of the gospel, we sin against divine mercy. If indeed we remember our sins, and be deeply humbled, God has promised to forget them, and be reconciled to us."

February 24.

1 THESS. ii. 12. That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

PROVERBS xxii. 1. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.

This day was fought the battle of Pavia, in Italy, 1525, between the French and the Imperialists, when the former were defeated, and their King Francis I. taken prisoner. The unfortunate monarch wrote to his mother the melancholy news of his captivity, couched in these dignified and expressive terms, Tout est perdu. Madame hormis l'honneur. All is lost but our honour.

Let us sanctify this idea, by applying it to the Christian. He is ever to remember that whatever loss he sustains, it is incumbent on him to keep up the dignity of his character. Even trifling things as they are called by some, he must watch against. What may be winked at in others will not be suffered to pass in him. When Darius, King of Persia, offered Alexander all the country which lies at the west of the Euphrates, with his daughter Statira in marriage, and 10,000 talents of gold, Parmenio took occasion to observe, that he would without hesitation accept of these conditions, if he were Alexander. So would I, were I Parmenio, replied the conqueror. Thus a Christian must not accept of any propositions made by the world beneath the dignity of his character; but must fight the good fight of faith.

To have all speak well of us, indeed, is not possible. Antisthenes, when he heard some unworthy men commend him, said, I fear I have done some evil that I know not of. And another used to say "Would we know a man, we should observe the life of him that praises him." Rarely will one praise him that takes a contrary course to himself. But this should be the care of the best to keep himself from being spoken of reproachfully and truly at the same time by the worst." Should we not always succeed in our object, it is well when we can preserve our characters from blame.

February 25.

DEUT. xxxii. 6. Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise. Is he not thy father that hath bought thee, hath he not made thee and established thee?

Sir CHRISTOPHER WREN died, 1723, in the 91st year of his age. He erected a greater number of magnificent buildings than any other man. Among these are, St. Ste phen's, Walbrook, the Monument, and St. Paul's cathedral. Ingratitude, however, it seems was shewn towards him, for notwithstanding his extraordinary merit, he was turn ed out of his office as surveyor general of the works, at the age of 86, in order to make room for another man who had better court interest: but who was an arrant block. head, and was afterwards dismissed for incapacity. Let us from this instance derive a useful lesson for ourselves. The passage above places before us the conduct of the Jews, in which as in a glass we may behold our own. How great was their insensibility, and how affecting their ingratitude. Though more highly favoured than all other nations, yet how unmindful of the Rock of their salvation. What a melting reproof is here. What an affectionate appeal to their feelings. A father, a tender father, a liberal father, yet forgotten. When the Tribunes shewed their disrespect to Scipio, he quelled their seditions, and reproaching them for their cowardice, exclaimed, "Do you think that your clamours can intimidate me; me, whom the fury of your enemies never daunted. Is this the gratitude that you owe to my father Paulus, who conquered Macedonia; and to me? Without my family you were slaves. Is this the respect you owe to your deliverers? Is this your affection." How much more may our best benefactor say to us, in beholding our disobedience to him. Is this the way in which I am to be requited? Is this thy kindness to thy friend? Is this a proof of affection? Go and weep over your ingratitude and sin no more.

February 26.

PSALM CXix. 111. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

Mr. JAMES HERVEY was born 1713-14. He was eminently distinguished for his piety, writings, and bene

volence. He was ardently attached to the sacred scriptures. "Were I to enjoy Hezekiah's grant," says he, "and have 15 years added to my life, I would be much more frequent in my applications to a throne of grace. We sustain a mighty loss by reading so much, and praying so little. Were I to renew my studies, I would take my leave of these accomplished trifles, the historians, the orators, the poets of antiquity, and devote my attention to the Scriptures of truth. I would sit with much greater assiduity at my divine master's feet, and desire to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified! This wisdom, whose fruits are peace in life, consolation in death, and everlast. ing salvation after death,-this I would trace, this I would seek, this I would explore, through the spacious and delightful fields of the Old and New Testament." Dec. 25, 1758.

He died

February 27.

JOB XXviii. 28. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding. PROVERBS iii. 18. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her.

JOHN EVELYN, Esq. died in the year 1706. He was interred at Wotton in Surry, under a tomb of about three feet high of freestone, shaped like a coffin, with an inscrip. tion on the marble with which it is covered, expressing, according to his own intention, that "Living in an age of extraordinary events and revolutions, he had learned from thence this truth, which he desired might be thus communicated to posterity: that all is vanity which is not honest, and that there is no solid wisdom but in real piety." He wrote a book intitled Sylva, or a Discourse of Forest. Trees, which was well received. In the concluding part of this work he exclaims, with somewhat of the quaintness of the times, but with a seriousness which shews that his favourite pursuit did not lead his heart astray. "Let us no more admire the enormous motes and bridges of Cali gula across to Baiæ; or that of Trajan over the Danube (stupendous work of stone and marble) to the adverse shores, whilst our timber and our trees, making us bridges to the furthest Indies and the antipodes, land us into new

worlds. In a word (and to speak a bold and noble truth) trees and woods have twice saved the whole world; first by the ark, then by the cross; making full amends for the evil fruit of the tree in paradise, by that which was borne on the tree in Golgotha."

February 28.

ACTS vii. 59. Lord Jesus receive my spirit.

Mr. PATRICK HAMILTON, the first Scotch Reformer, burnt 1527. At the place of execution, he gave his servant that had long attended him, his gown, coat, and cap, and his other garments, saying, "These are the last things you can receive of me, nor have I now any thing to leave you but the example of my death, which I pray you to bear in mind: for though it be bitter to the flesh, and fearful before men, yet it is the entrance into eternal life, which none shall inherit who deny Jesus Christ before this wicked generation." He was then bound to the stake in the midst of wood and coal, which they attempted to set on fire with gunpowder; but it neither killed him nor kindled the fire, only exceedingly scorched one side of his body and face. During the painful interval of their going to the castle for more powder and combustibles, the friars called frequently upon him to recant; and when the fire was kindled, it burnt so slowly, that he endured great torment, which the friars endeavoured to increase by setting some of their own creatures to cry out in a clamorous manner, "Turn thou heretic, pray to the virgin, say salve regina, &c." to whom he answered, " Depart from me and trouble me not, you messengers of Satan." His last words were, "How long, O Lord, shall darkness overwhelm this realm? and how long wilt thou suffer the tyranny of these wicked men:" And at length, with a loud voice, he cried, as he had frequently done, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" and died.

February 29.

DANIEL iii. 18. We will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image thou hast set up.

Such was the magnanimous language of these celebrated heroes. But grace inspires the same sentiments

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