according to his ability to their necessities. How much, therefore, do you deceive yourselves, ye pretended disciples of Jesus, whose hands and hearts are not constantly employed in dispersing abroad and giving to the poor. Though you may appear to your fellow creatures devout, and maintain the outward form of religion in your family, yet if you are wanting in christian charity, ye are self-deceivers.

The last particular mentioned in the text as demonstrating the Christian character is at least equal in importance to those preceding. Cornelius is described as having been habituated to constant prayer. How much this duty and privilege are neglected by the best among us, our deadness of heart, the little progress we make in the divine life, the power of sinful temptations over us, and distressing doubts and fears that harass and torment our minds are undeniable evidences. Sweet and profitable as this exercise is, yet what Christian does not feel its difficulty, the distractions of thought, and the inability of utterance which oppress and impede the devout suppliant in his addresses to a throne of grace. The duties, however, of the believer are neither to be abandoned on account of their difficulty, nor relaxed in by reason of his natural infirmities; "My grace is sufficient for thee,"* should encourage the most feeble to persevere, and that Power which can change a

* 2 Cor. xii. 9.

persecuting into a praying spirit, is able to impart the gift of constant unceasing supplication: be it, however, observed, that this phrase refers to the general prevailing frame of mind rather than to the expression of our petitions, prayer consisting more in the spirit than in the language of the lips.

So much is suggested by the text as to the outlines of a Christian's character in LIFE. What the death of such an one must be, is obvious enough. Not only by the law of nature which prescribes certain effects to flow from corresponding causes, but most satisfactorily by the word of God are we assured that his end is peace. The life of the righteous cannot but secure his death: serene in the approach of eternity, he beholds the heavens opening to receive him, and though his mouldering corpse must for a season become the tenant of that house appointed for all living, yet he lies down to sleep the short sleep of death in sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection ; "I know," says he, "that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another." *

Time will not allow me to do more than thus

Job, xix. 25, 26, 27.

glance at the life and death of a believer in Jesus; let us proceed to observe a little of his experience. Though "devout," let no one imagine his course to be uninterrupted by various trials and sharp conflicts. In addition to his troubles as a man, to which all are born, his Christian profession will expose him to more than ordinary difficulties. In the former character he participates in all the miseries of frail human nature; in the latter he has to contend with a triple foe, the devil, the world, and the flesh. The best of men are not exempt from various causes of anxiety and care, and though it is their privilege to "cast their care on Him who careth for them," yet their faith is not always so strong as to raise them superior to painful solicitude. The duties of a family, and of our stations (especially if they be public) in society, - will yield no small degree of disquietude to an affectionate and honest mind. But let it be understood that all these agitations, however great in number and degree, only serve to purify a subject of grace of his remaining dross, exhibit the pure metal more clearly, and glorify that almighty arm of love which corrects in order to amend, and afflicts his people that he may draw them nigher himself and fit them for a purer world.

In this painful exercise, the enemy of souls is ever active in persuading them to cast away their confidence, and in injecting doubts and fears the

most distressing: but the grace of Jehovah is more than sufficient to support the humble believer under, and deliver him out of these grievous assaults; his language will be, "I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him, against that day.":

Severe as the Christian's experience is, one truth is revealed, which sweetens the bitter cup, and blunts the edge of sorrow; he is not only assured that these afflictions are working out for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, but that this glory is at hand. Every departing hour brings him nigher eternity; every pain of mind and body leaves one less to be endured; the adverse storm drives his bark forward to the Refuge from every storm and tempest; till at length the welcome moment comes and liberates him from toil and trial? Liberates him did I say, from toil and trial? O yes, infinitely more; he is then not only at rest from his labours, no longer troubled by the wicked, but blessed, for ever blessed with the Lord; he exchanges heaviness for joy, tears and mourning for songs of gladness, anxious fears for shouts of victory; his harp, unlike the one on earth, so often hung upon the willows, is tuned to sounds celestial, and swells the praises of redeeming love: there he meets the prophets, apostles,

2 Tim. i. 12.

and martyrs of every age; in sweetest intercourse they wait the resurrection dawn, when in a perfect glorified body they shall rise triumphant to the skies, and dwell for ever with the Lord.

Faint indeed is this attempt to describe the character, life, death, and recompense of a real Christian. Happy, thrice happy they, who, experiencing the power of God in their hearts, are humble, sincere followers of them, who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises. It is death which strips the man of disguise, the counterfeit believer may pass current in the world, but when disunion of soul and body are about to ensue ; when the awakened conscience anticipates its final doom, and beholds its everlasting destiny, calm, settled peace, waiting to be gone, or distracting horror, shrinking from the scene will bespeak its future condition.

Next to the anxiety we must feel each for the salvation of his own soul, the longing desires which actuate every gracious heart for the happiness of those dear to him in the flesh, are both natural and to be encouraged. Some go down to the grave in such a state as to prevent the expressions of scriptural confidence; others, alas! what multitudes, of whom the utmost extent which charity will permit us to go, is, to be silent. But here and there a spiritual planet, for a season is exhi