should counteract his intentions, and rebel against his authority, or be dissatisfied with what he appoints. The most loud ap plauses and general friendship of our fellow creatures are noth ing, and can have no effect, when separated from his. All opposition is impotence, when not approved by him and the com. mands and threats of the whole world, could they be supposed to interfere with what we know he requires of us, would, if we had a just sense of things, be as much lost to us, as a whisper in the midst of thunder, or the attention to a toy in the moment of instant death and ruin. What it is he wills, we can in general be at no loss to know. Whatever afflictions or disappointments happen to us, whatever pains we feel, or unavoidable inconveniences are mingled with the lot assigned us, these it is as certain that he wills us to bear, and to acquiesce in, as it is that we at all suffer by them; since it is demonstrable, that in his world and under his eye, nothing can befall us either contrary to or without his consent and direction Whatever opportunities fall in our way of doing good, it is his will that we embrace and improve. Whatever our consciences dictate to us, and we know to be right to be done, that he commands more evidently and undeniably, than if by a voice from heaven we had been called upon to do it. And when conscions of faithful endeavours to be and to do every thing, that we ought to be and to do, with what joy of heart may we look up to him, and exult in the assurance of his approbation! When employed in acts of kindness and love, in forming good habits, and practising truth and righteousness, how resolute and immoveable must it render an upright person, and with what fortitude must it possess his breast, to consider, I am doing the will of hin, to whom the world owes its birth, and whom the whole creation obeys. I am following the example, imitating the perfections, and securing the friendship and love of that Being, who is everlasting truth and righteousness; who cannot therefore be conceived to be indifferent to those who practise them; and who possesses infinite power, and can cause all nature to furnish out its stores to bless me.' Thus does religion elevate the mind, and such is the aid, and force, and majesty it gives to virtue. The most effectual means of forming a good temper, and establishing good dispositions, is the contemplation of the divine administration and goodness, We cannot have our minds too intent upon them, or study enough to make every thought pay homage to the divinity, and to hallow our whole conversation by an habitual regard to him, whose prerogative it is, as the first cause and original of all perfection, to be the guide and end of all the actions of his creatures. Dr. Price. FROM BISHOP HUME'S ESSAYS.-A Good conscIENCE. Dr. Johnson thus speaks of his situation at Ransey, in one of the Hebrides. 'Such a seat of hospitality amidst the winds and waters fills the imagination with a delightful contrariety of images. Without is the rough ocean and the rocky land; the beating bil lows, and the howling storm; within is plenty and elegance, beauty and gaiety; the song and the dance.' Now apply this to the state of a good man's mind, rejoicing in tribulation. sings a poet of conscience. "Tis the warm blaze in the poor herdsman's hut, PATIENCE. So AN Italian Bishop, who had endured much persecution with a calm unruffled temper, was asked by a friend how he had attain ed such a mastery of himself. By making a right use of my eyes,' said he. I first look up to Heaven, as the place, whither I am going to live forever. I next look down upon the earth, and consider how small a space of it will soon be all, that I can Occupy or want. I then look round me, and think, how many are far more wretched than I am.' PLURALITIES. AN ingenious French author (Boursault) relates the following story An Abbé, who had no preferment, exclaiming one day to Boileau against pluralities-'Is it possible,' says the ecclesiastic,' that the people you named, who have the reputation of. being very learned men, and are such in reality, should be mistaken in their opinion? Unless these would absolutely oppose the doctrine laid down by the apostles, and the directions of councils, must they not be obliged to confess, that the holding several livings at the same time is sinful? I myself am in holy orders, and, be it said without vanity, of one of the best families in Touraine. It becomes a man of high birth to make a figure suitable to it, and yet, I protest to you, that it I can get an abbey, the yearly income of which is only 1000 crowns, my ambition will be satisfied; and be assured, that nothing shall tempt me to alter my resolution.'-Some time after, an abbey of 7000 crowns a year being vacant, his brother desired it for him and was gratified in his request. The winter following he got another of still greater; and, a third being vacant, he solicited very strongly for this also, and obtained it. Boileau, hearing of these prefer เ ments, went and paid his friend a visit. Mr. Abbé,' says he, 'where is now that season of innocence and candour, in which you declared that pluralists hazarded their souls greatly? Ah! good Boileau,' replied the Abbé, did you but know how much pluralities contribute towards living well! I am in no doubt of that,' replied Boileau, but of what service are they, good Abbé, towards dying well?' CHRISTIAN WARFARE. A christian is a warrior by his profession, and has, through life, a succession of enemies to encounter. Pleasure solicits him in the days of his youth, ambition disquiets his riper years, and avarice infests his old age. His condition reminds one of that observation of Plutarch concerning the Romans of the first ages, that, 'If ever God designed that men should spend their lives in war, they were the men. In their infancy they had the Carthaginians to contend with for Sicily; in their middle age the Gauls for Italy itself; and in their old age they were obliged again to contend with the Carthaginians and Hannibal.' Horne's Works, Vol. 1. FOR THE CHRISTIAN DISCIPLE. Mr Editor,-In the following hymn, founded on certain passages in the Apocalypse, [Revelation iv. 11. 3. xv. 3.] an attempt is made to retain, as far as possible the very language of the sacred writing; and all the merit of the verses, if they have any, is owing to this circumstance. Around the throne of God The host angelic throngs; They spread their palms abroad, And shout perpetual songs: Him first they own, God ever blest, Him last, and best; And God alone. Their golden crowns they fling, Before his throne of light, And strike the rapturous string, Thy praise declare, From the Monthly Repository, London, 1822. THE CHRISTIAN MOURNER'S PROSPECT OF DEATH. The hour, the hour, the parting hour, That takes from this dark world its power, And lays at once the thorn and flower On the same withering bier, my soul; The hour that ends all earthly woes, How sweet, while on this broken lyre To feel it strung with chords of fire How sweet, while waning fast away, The golden dawn above, my soul' In ever-living love, my soul! The hour, the hour, so pure and calm, That bathes the wounded heart in balm, And round the pale brow twines the palm That shuns this wintry clime, my soul! The hour that draws o'er earth and all Its briars and blooms the mortal pall, How soft, how sweet, that evening-fall Of Fear and Grief and Time, my soul! HEAVEN. Then never tear shall fall, The heart shall ne'er be cold, Then those we lost below Once more we shall enfold; And there, with eyes undimm'd by woe, There the pure sun-bow glows No thorn a tends the elysian rose, There roll the streams of love, |