1. Traditions are varying and in- in the condition of Italy, in the condefinite. dition of all pope-ridden countries, and so beholding them, we adjudge that the tree is corrupt; and in holy indignation, and zeal for the restoration of the dignity of God's insulted word, we cry, "Down with it, even to the ground!"

3. They have always led to error. Christ has shown us to what error they led the Jews, and he has given us an unfailing rule by which to try them: "By their fruits ye shall

The Letter Box.

ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?

which will be irrevocably fixed his desires, his affections, which are sooner or later. Strong and une-spiritual, holy, divine. He seeks to quivocal evidence is demanded of please God, and to walk in the light, our having an interest in Christ, as he is in the light. He is looking before we can enjoy settled peace, with humble assurance to his acand quietness of mind, amid all the ceptance of his Lord and Master changes and vicissitudes of this when he shall be called from his mortal life. A Christian is one who sphere of labour into his immediate not only fears God, but loves and presence. Hence the Christian finds honours him. He is "born not of that godliness is not only profitable blood, nor of the will of the flesh, for this life by the peace he enjoys, nor of the will of man, but of God." but also by the joy which fills his John i. 12, 13. He has passed heart in anticipation of his future from death to spiritual life, Eph. and eternal glory. ii. 1. He has a new spiritual existence. He has deeply repented of his past sins before God, and they are blotted out for ever, Acts iii. 19. He lives a holy, God-like life. His conversation is in heaven, Phil. iii. 20. His delight is in communion with his God. He possesses a tender conscience, and opposes all that is sinful within, hating what is evil, and following what is good. He is dead to the pleasures of the world, and crucifies the old nature, with the lusts of the flesh, Rom. xii. 1-2. He lives, and moves, and has his being in Christ spiritually, and by the power and influence of the Holy Spirit, he resolves to fight the good fight, to be a faithful servant, and to glorify his Master by a life of holy obedience, abounding in the works of righteousness. The atonement of Christ is the groundwork and foundation of his hope for glory hereafter. His joy and rejoicing is in Christ Jesus, in whom alone he glories with joy unspeakable and full of glory. He has the witness of the Spirit within him that he is born of God, and knows therefore his calling to be of God by the change in his feelings,

Are you, then, a Christian? Look to your evidences, and if you cannot set to your seal these marks of relationship to Christ, and adoption into his spiritual family, rest assured there is reason for deep anxiety that you do not belong to his inheritance. Deception in such a case is indeed a serious matter, involving, as it does, a fearful reality of neverending woe. There is no middle path, no possibility of escaping the everlasting punishment, except in believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, and loving and following him. Many have a name to live, as if they belonged to Christ, but they are dead in trespasses and sins. Mere formal or outward religion will not avail, will not save the soul. Saving faith is a principle wrought in the soul by the Spirit of God alone, and is most distinct in its nature from the gene. ral faith in our common Christianity, or in the general truths of the Bible. There may exist a full acquaintance with the word of God, and at the same time an entire absence of all real, vital, practical religion in the heart. When the incorruptible seed or word is engrafted in the heart by

God's Holy Spirit, as the great The Judge standeth at the door, and Agent in its spiritual change and his voice must be heard, "Lovest renovation, it takes root, and grows, thou me?" He that seeks to save and brings forth the fruits of right- you and invites you to yield your eousness. To believe with the heart heart to him will not tarry, will not unto righteousness, is to manifest delay to summon you before his and show forth the nature and con- righteous tribunal, to give an acdition of the true faith of the Gos- count of your stewardship; and then, pel, and affords indubitable proof of if not a Christian, not in Jesus, not the reality and possession of the in the fold of the great and good inward principle of grace. Shepherd, you will never enter into his glory. There is no time to be lost in seeking with all earnestness and anxiety the salvation of the soul. The present is the only opportunity given to call upon the name of the Lord, to seek his face, to implore his mercy, to entreat his forgiveness, to beg for the influence and power of the Holy Spirit to convert the soul, and to bring you as a humble penitent to the foot of his cross. There alone you will see by faith the precious blood of the Lamb of God to cleanse you from all sin, and to make you righteous in his sight, who will accept and wel

It is essential to our happiness to know for a certainty what is the foundation of our hope for eternal salvation, and never to allow a doubt to exist on this momentous question. To take for granted the existence of real, heartfelt piety, without a deep search and investigation into its distinctive and genuine character, is to be bold, presumptive, and reckless. Nothing is so sad or grievous as to manifest indifference or apathy on the one thing needful; and to slight the warnings of conscience; to resist calm, deliberate, and patient inquiry into the question of all others the most important; to post-come you, and clothe you with that pone to a future period the minute investigation of the solemn truths of the Bible, is to exhibit a folly deplorable as it is sinful, and to risk the utter loss of all that is valuable and good.

Are you a Christian? The appeal is urgent, solemn, impressive. It cannot be set aside. It must be answered. There is no escape, no subterfuge, no way to avoid its call.

spotless robe which shall make you perfect and complete when you appear before his glorious presence.

Are you a Christian? Oh, decide this point now, at once, and leave not a moment more to pass without examining your condition by the infallible standard of God's most holy word.

Tiverton, May, 1856. F. S. G.

The Counsel Chamber.

PURPOSE AND ENGAGEMENT.

Ir scarcely need be remarked, that | be held as no less binding than a to be purposeless is to be useless, positive engagement; we should feel more absolutely so than the weather- as thereby committed, if not to cock, which, by its unconscious others, yet to ourselves. To think movements, at least indicates in and act otherwise is of most perniwhat direction the wind blows. Of cious tendency. An instability of more importance is it to observe, character will thus be gradually but that purpose, not less than engage- surely acquired, which will extend ment, should be sacredly fulfilled. its influence to matters of the most This, we feel persuaded, is not ordi- serious consequence. Various relinarily done. Not to speak of per- gious duties or benevolent offices sons who are most ready to make which it may have been our purpose engagements, but equally careless to fulfil at a more "convenient seaabout fulfilling them-an evil of son," will be left undischarged. gravest magnitude-there are not a Perhaps, in all that is important, few who pride themselves that "their our "goodness" will come to resemword is their bond," who neverthe- ble "the morning cloud" or "the less allow their purposes, on occa- early dew, which goeth away." sions without number, to sink unregarded into oblivion. True, purposes which are inconsiderately formed, or which it is improper to form at all, cannot be too soon forgotten; but no such purposes ought to have place in the mind. Indeed, whilst the great and all-commanding purpose of every man's life should be that of doing the will of God, and in the manner he has prescribed, not only in dependence on his atonement and grace, but in devotedness to his service and honour, "cleaving unto the Lord with purpose of heart." There are many inferior purposes which may, and should be so managed, as not to be antagonistic, but subservient and auxiliary to that which is ever to be held as supreme. Any purpose, proper in itself, and formed with due regard to time and circumstances, should

On the other hand, the course which it is wished to recommendto recommend especially, though not exclusively, to the young-will give to the mind a masculinely energetic tone of highest practical value; will present to temptation a barrier not easily moved or surmounted, and invest the character with a consistency and integrity whose brightness cannot fail to be recognised, and whose influence, if not always plea sing, will be more or less usefully felt, even by those who may be least inclined to acknowledge the benefit. Of such it may be said, that their "path is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

Norwich, May 8, 1856.

J. C.

get ahead, and sets out for California

STICK TO SOME ONE PUR- or the Colonies. But, in most cases,

SUIT.

THERE cannot be a greater error than to be frequently changing one's business. If any man will look around, and notice who have got rich and who have not, out of those ・he started in life with, he will find that the successful have generally stuck to some one pursuit.

pro

Two lawyers, for example, begin to practice at the same time. One devotes his whole mind to his fession; lays in slowly a stock of legal learning, and waits patiently, it may be for years, till he gains an opportunity to show his superiority. The other, tiring of such slow work, dashes into politics. Generally, at the end of twenty years, the latter will not be worth a penny, while the former will have a handsome practice, and count his tens of thousands in bank stock or mortgages.

Two clerks attain a majority simultaneously. One remains with his former employers, or at least in the same line of trade, at first on a small salary, then on a larger, until finally, if he is meritorious, he is taken into partnership. The other thinks it beneath him to fill a subordinate position, now that he has become a man, and accordingly starts in some other business on his own account, or undertakes a new firm in the old line of trade. Where does it end? Often in insolvency, rarely in riches. To this every merchant can testify.

A young man is bred a mechanic. He acquires a distaste for his trade, however; thinks it a tedious way to

the same restless discontented, and speculative spirit which carried him away at first, renders continuous application at any one place irksome to him; and so he goes wandering about the world, a sort of semicivilized Arab, really a vagrant in character, and sure to die insolvent. Meantime his fellow-apprentice, who has stayed at home, practising economy, and working steadily at his trade, has grown comfortable in his circumstances, and is even perhaps a citizen of mark.

There are men of ability in every walk of life who are notorious for never getting along. Usually it is because they never stick to any one business. Just when they have mastered one pursuit, and are on the point of succeeding, they change it for another, which they do not understand; and in a little while what little they are worth is lost for ever. We know scores of such persons. Go where you will, you will generally find that the men who have failed in life are those who never stuck to one thing long. On the other hand, your prosperous man, nine times out of ten, has always stuck to one pursuit.

RELIGION AND MORALITY.

DEPEND upon it, the world cannot be held together without morals; nor can morals maintain their station in the human heart without religion, which is the corner-stone of the fabric of human virtue.-Lord Erskine.