his person; and, as for his message, he is described as a teacher of lies. (Isaiah ix. 15.)

But why, my dear friend, listen to the insinuations of our bitterest enemies? Of the Of the present spiritual prosperity, and most thriving state of our national church, we have every proof. We may find ample testimony of this on all sides; the conviction is forced from the declaration and admission of our foes themselves, nor can any dispassionate and reflecting mind doubt the fact, who is at all conversant with the history of our church for the last half century. There is a great and growing alteration for the better: irregular functionaries would not be tolerated, as formerly; nor the same worldly compliances be admitted for one moment. The churches would be deserted, as is even now the case in many places where the gospel is not faithfully preached, and where there is not a corresponding practice. But while I make this declaration in her favour, and believe our whole established system is on the advance, there is still much evil remaining, and many just grievances to be removed; and these should tend to humble us before God; to exercise our patience and forbearance; to draw out our souls in united prayer, that there may a speedy and amicable adjustment in all matters subordinate; it should lead us to holy jealousy over ourselves, that we may ever be kept, as a nation professing godliness, from taking a hasty and precipitate plunge into projects without investigation of their merits; and never to yield up the ark of God, and the palladium of our

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country into hands of faction, or give way to untried experiments.

Meanwhile, and in parting for the present, allow me to request that you will keep your mind free from every undue bias; ever bear in your heart, as regards good or evil befalling the church, that the whole community are equally interested in the general result; instead of cherishing prejudices, or listening to them who tell you that the voluntary system is the only responsible one, and that independent power in a church is abstraction from all responsibility—I say, instead of taking all this for granted, rather believe that such instructions are only base aspersions; neither founded in facts, nor supported by experience.

PART III.

MANHOOD OF PHILEMON.

SECTION XXI.

NECESSITY OF GREAT WATCHFULNESS.

TIMOTHEUS.-EPAPHRAS.

Timotheus.-The distinctive features of real Christians are strongly marked in Scripture, and I have no great difficulty in reading them; but in the world at large, and in particular instances, I know not how to judge aright.

Epaphras. You mean, there are so many unconscious hypocrites in the world, and such multitudes of self-deceivers, who put on religion as a cloak, only to cover their shame, and to hide from us their besetting sins.

Timotheus.-Doubtless there are too many even of that class, and whatever may be their common talk and outward appearance, they hate inwardly the very name of purity; but if they cannot endure the very name of purity in poor, weak, sinful creatures, like ourselves, how much would they hate the purity, and presence, and infinite perfections of Christ, even supposing them to go to him.

Epaphras. Of such, however, and long before they go to the place of all living, times and circumstances make great discoveries; the hope of

all such is well compared in Scripture to a spider's web, which is drawn out of its own bowels, and upon which it suspends itself; and what better condition is that of the hypocrite? however he may talk of Christ, and speak of his all-sufficiency in him, he has no hope in the world, depend on it, but what he spins out of himself: he builds his present and future expectation on the slender thread of his own formality and empty profession. Timotheus.-With remarks in respect of such persons, I quite agree; but here is my difficulty I see the growth of real Christians, but I am at a loss to fix the precise stage of their growth I feel my ignorance daily as it respects classification.

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Epaphras. And yet at this I marvel: in nature's works you have no difficulty whatever; decision is simultaneous with sight. Can you not tell whether any individual you meet is young, old, or middle-aged? Is there an animal, plant, or tree, the very beholding of which does not direct the judgment? When you are more conversant with the mind of the Spirit in the Scriptures, and with the inmost workings of your own heart, the want of discrimination which you feel will be sensibly diminished, if not wholly done away.

Timotheus.—I am well aware that the Lord adapts the teaching of his Spirit, not to our state as sinners generally, but also to the very age and circumstances of his people particularly.

Epaphras.-Would that there were always sufficient attention paid to this subject! much of the preaching of the present day loses great weight for want of adaptation: it is ofttimes just as fitted

to one congregation as another: things may be true in themselves, but wholly unsuitable. Would you give milk to a person of manly growth, or strong meat to babes?

Timotheus. Much wisdom, I am more and more convinced, from above, is needful to adapt the doctrines of grace to the spiritual growth and strength of our hearers: it is easier far, I find, to shoot above them, than to come down to the level of their several capacities.

Epaphras. Very true; and, therefore, he who can discriminate well spiritually, will in general preach profitably. But as it is in your heart to range the several members of Christ's mystical body, it is vastly important that you mark well what is recorded respecting each of them: thus, when the Spirit of God is speaking of evil passions and propensities, of wayward lusts and fleshly desires, he seldom directs himself to old men or children: hence you infer, that young men are principally intended, and for this reason, the former have outlived youthful lusts; the latter have not felt them: the one has passed them; the other has not come to them.

Timotheus.-I almost wonder the thought never struck me before; but now the thing is quite clear, and this method of judging of the state of Christians by analogy, is as true in itself as it must be convincing.

Epaphras.-Young men, for example, are possessed of many of the leading features in a spiritual, which are common to them in a natural sense they are for the most part strong in weakness; it is their nature to be resolute and active,