as were many of the traditions and ceremonies then in practice among the Jews.

But we need not dwell longer on this point than to observe that it was manifestly the custom of our Lord and his Apostles, and has been adopted by the Church, to sanction and commend special services and religious practices which might help forward the spiritual interests of individuals "dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world," whilst they condemned the resting in such observances—the making religion consist in them—the being subject to ordinances after the commandments and doctrines of men." Colossians ii. 20-23.

66

But we proceed to consider how we may best direct our thoughts to the future, and derive instruction from the season before us. Here the word of God will be found to contain abundant stores of timely counsel and exhortation. Psalms xxxix and xc may be studied with especial profit at this season. The latter is of great interest as "a prayer of Moses the man of God," one well instructed in spiritual things by the blessed Teacher. The view of eternal things contained in this wondrous composition is humbling to man " that is a worm," when mentioned together with Him" who inhabiteth eternity," and the effect is evident on the mind of the Psalmist. Nothing will satisfy him, after mention has been made of the transitory condition of man "spending his years as a tale that is told," but the prayer "O satisfy us early with thy mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days."

If we study well these precious portions of Scripture we shall indeed (by the blessing of God, to be obtained by faithful prayer) be unspeakably benefitted by the season so rapidly passing over us. But that we may have human aids as well as those more especially inspired, the advice of a minister,* who filled up his days on earth *The Rev. E. Ward, minister of Iver, Bucks.

with "works of faith and labours of love," will not be unseasonable. In a new year's address to his parishioners he gives the following friendly admonitions, "as the affectionate counsels of a good and holy man who died daily while he lived, and who well knew what alone could give the sinner peace at the last.”

1. Sit loose from the world, that you may be ready to depart at a sudden warning.

2. Intrench not on God's prerogative, in the laying out of future time.

3. See that you be rich towards God, however poor in worldly wealth.

4. Be the death of your sins, that they may not fasten upon you when you are most helpless.

5. Observe the approaches of your enemy-the warnings of death, daily.

6. Dare not to live in such a course as you would not wish to die in.

7. Be always engaged in your heavenly Father's busi

ness.

8. Make conscience your friend.

9. Remember your sick-bed resolutions.

you

10. Set your houses in order in good time, that may not have your worldly affairs to settle when God requires your souls.

11. Look often into your coffins.

12. Above all, speed to the city of refuge; get well secure a saving interest in Jesus Christ.

within it

Well, if our days must fly,

We'll keep their end in sight,

We'll spend them all in wisdom's way,

And bid them take their flight.

They'll waft us sooner o'er

This world's tempestuous sea;

Soon shall we gain the peaceful shore

Of blest eternity.

W.S.

WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD.

By a Country Clergyman.

No. I.

THE INFIDEL.

"Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth, that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? He shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?" Job xx. 4-7.

In the early period of my ministry the "bounds of my habitation" were fixed in the neighbourhood of the principal town of the county of B. The general Baspect of this place was but too faithful a picture of the moral state of its people; and I believe few ever left the town of A- without having been struck with the air of gloom and desolation and wretchedness that pervaded it. During the period to which I have alluded, the town of A was notorious for the general infidelity of its inhabitants. This "pestilence that walks in darkness, and this destruction that wasteth in the noonday," had entered more or less into every rank of society, though it raged most fearfully among the tradespeople; and at the time of my residence in the neighbourhood it was a common observation that there were not six young men in the town, in that class of life, who were not infected with its poison.

The cause of this fearful evil is what I wish to call attention to, because I think it full of the most important instruction, and because it holds out an awful warning too much and too generally slighted in the present day.

A- had long been known as the seat of infidelity. First, during the life of a nobleman celebrated sixty years since for his talents and his profligacy: afterwards, during the life of the notorious Wilkes, who held the office of president of the club. There are some striking

circumstances relating to the breaking-up of this club, mentioned in a work called "Chrystal, or the adventures of a Guinea," proving in the most forcible manner, that infidels are the "fools who say only in their hearts, but not in their heads and understanding, that there is no God in other words, that infidelity is the wish and belief of the heart, and not the conviction of the understanding; and that infidels, whilst they affect to disbelieve in the existence of either a God or fallen spirit, are the most superstitious and credulous of all characters; and whilst professing to have banished from their minds every cause of fear, are so encompassed with terrors, that the "sound even of a shaken leaf shall fright them."

I will not, however, dwell on the character or history of the founder, or first supporters of this club; I wish only to speak of what I have myself witnessed, and to trace out as distinctly as I can, the history of a man whose character is emphatically drawn in the Epistle of Jude, "these are-trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever."

The reviver and head of the infidel club in the town of A, at the period of my residence in the neighbourhood, a professor of religion, and had held the office of a religious teacher. He had been brought up among the Wesleyan Methodists, and had commenced his public life as a preacher in that connexion. I had once an opportunity of reading the copy of the first sermon he ever preached, and it was evident from this that he was a man of considerable talents, much knowledge, and deep convictions. His character at that time could not have been more faithfully drawn than in the words of an Apostle; he had "been enlightened, had tasted of the heavenly gift, had been made partaker of the Holy Ghost, had tasted of the good word of God, and of the powers of the world to

come." Like Balaam, he was a man whose eyes were open to see the visions of God, and to know the knowledge of the Most High; and yet, like Balaam also, he was the " man whose eyes were shut," so that he did not know "the things belonging to his everlasting peace." The progress of this man from the height of a religious profession to the depths of infidelity, was most striking. Possessed of considerable talents, and of much information, with great confidence in his powers and knowledge, and especially in his talent for argument, he ventured to "stand frequently in the place of scorners." He entered into argument with some of the surviving infidels of the dispersed club, was urged on by the applause and flattery of many that listened to him, till at length his own belief began to be shaken; doubts began to rise in his mind respecting the truth of his own arguments; secret prayer ceased to be considered either a privilege or a duty; his religious profession, and connection with a religious body, were felt as a burden no longer to be borne. His moral character began to yield to the allurements of his companions, till at length the "light that had been in him became darkness;" because he had "held the truth in unrighteousness, he was given over to a delusion to believe a lie;" and under the influence of this delusion, publicly renounced the Bible as a "cunningly devised fable;" gave up his profession of religion, and publicly declared his intention of lecturing every week, to all who would hear him (I speak it with the deepest reverence), on the follies and impieties of the Bible! Thus, from standing in the way of scorners," he came to "sit down in the seat of the scornful," and from a confidence in his own powers, and pride of his own strength, having, like Sampson, laid his head in the lap of Delilah, said, "I will go out and shake myself as at other times;" but he "wist not that the Lord was departed from him."

It would occupy too much space were I to dwell