the right direction in any heart is yet so feeble, that the man can contrive to stem its tide enough to stand still for a moment to ask "who is my brother?" let him go and visit the chambers of sickness and the comfortless abodes of poverty; let him find his way to the bed that supports an exhausted frame worn with pain; let him see where the touch of fever had in a few short hours put to flight the manly strength, the fund from which a whole family drew their sole supply of necessary food; let him consider whence come these appalling evils-what is the source of this principle of decay, which is so plainly and so painfully at work. There is but one answer. This is the fruit of sin a deadly evil is at work in the very nature of these beings: it is hereditary-it has come from father to son; and can be traced in all the family. And has not the enquirer often publicly and solemnly acknowledged" I have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. I have followed too much the devices and desires of my own heart. There is no health in me. Have mercy upon me a miserable sinner." By this acknowledgement, he justifies a claim to the title of brother in every child of Adam on whom the Providence of God has pleased to place any special evidence of this relationship in the suffering, which was the consequence of the fall.

This

It would seem to be one great reason for what appears at present as the unequal arrangement of God's providential favours, that under such a dispensation alone could arise the active testimony that the love of God dwelleth in us. world's goods, in larger proportions than are actually necessary, are placed at the disposal of some, while others are left with what may seem an insufficient supply; and the deficiency is rendered more painfully pressing by God's own hand, in inflicting increase of wants. The sight of suffering fellow-sinners is spread before those who are at ease in the world, and in health. These are fitting circumstances in which to trace the direction of our affections. The self-gratifying heart finds employment for all the abundance with which God's providence has tried it ;considers the world's goods, acquired or inherited, as properly applied when personally enjoyed;-pays tribute to the customs of a christian community, by purchasing a fair standing in society at the price of a few general subscriptions; the whole amount of which is but the dust in that balance with which they weigh out unsparingly the sums that are spent in personal gratification. Such a heart never makes a comparative estimate between the distressing wants of the multitudes whose supply is less than their need, and the fancied, or conventional requirements of an

exaggerated station. These last claim their attention with all the power of personality; those unfelt privations scarce awaken a passing regret. But then comes the Apostle's question,"Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" The selfish principle prevails-the current flows to the centre, not from it-the character of God's love has not been re-implanted in the heart-how dwelleth the love of God there?

But when the sight of suffering is brought within the view of one in whose heart the love of God is shed abroad, how different is the unforced testimony of the impulse which arises, and the conduct which results. The heart feels that all outward comforts and bounties are held in trust from the love which, besides endowing us with a full proportion for necessary uses, has called us to the honour and privilege of being stewards of the excess which He places in our hands; and at our christian discretion, for the benefit of those whom he calls to the trial of greater suffering and want. The knowledge of surrounding distress seems to such a heart, the way in which God digs a channel in which the stream of his bounty that springs in us, is to flow. In the olden time, God sent his prophet to a widow and her son in poverty; and by a direct exercise of Almighty power, he made the cruse of oil to be an ever ready supply, and the barrel of meal to yield without being exhausted, as long as the need for them lasted but now, having overpassed all miracles in the gift. of His own Son, and the manifestation of Christ's love, He puts such honour upon the working of that love, that it works all sufficiency of benevolence; when want arises, the love of Christ constrains the heart in which the love of Christ dwells; it is constrained to pour forth its unctious riches, and the cruse of the sufferer is filled with its oil out of one christian heart to-day, and out of another to-morrow; and an unexpected abundance supplies the barrel with meal from one and another, and all from the same source; the love of God that dwelleth in the heart of fellow-sinners is directed to its true object-turned into its proper course. And a sense of the exceeding honour of being the instruments in the use of which God has pleased to lay aside his benevolent miracles of supply, leads us to husband our resources, that we may still be helpers in the work-self-denial takes a form with which we love to be familiar. Having begun to reap the Christ-like joy of relieving distress, the sacrifice of personal indulgence which it is necessary to make, becomes of small account when we anticipate the harvest of christian comforts to

which such self-denial leads. To this end usual subscriptions to certain charities in small amount will not satisfy the heart that desires to participate in the luxury of manifesting God's love; which is felt in encreasing proportion as it is exercised. It gradually learns to estimate the conventional requirements of the world at the price of so much of this luxury as it will require us to forego. Hence results greater simplicity of life-more deadness to the world—and a juster view of the false estimate in which unnecessary things are held; and thus we get emancipated from the bondage to man's opinion. Surely the active exercise of the love of God in this direction is blessed with a large reward of peace and freedom, even in this world, as a secondary result, over and above the positive and direct comfort derived from imparting good.

The natural principle of love has been implanted in each of us; and alas! for all of us, it has been inverted by our first parent at its earliest source; and in each of us that inverted principle has worked in a wrong direction, with greater or less demonstration. The question follows-Has it, in each of us, been restored to its proper exercise and right direction? Has the love of Christ been so constrainingly presented to our affections, as to draw them to the point to which He directs them? and may each of us then know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren? The decision of this question is momentous; and requires some particularity in the examination, before it can be safely answered.

(The Christian principle of Almsgiving having been explained and enforced in this Sermon, an application may be added suitable to any particular charity in behalf of which it is preached.)

PRAYER WITH THE UNDERSTANDING. No. VI. Self-examination as to our use of the Church Services. (Continued from page 127.)

94. (b) Who are called Priests in the New Testament? State texts.

95. (b) Is there any thing in this Rubric to prevent a person in Deacon's orders from pronouncing the Absolution? and if so what?

96. (a) In what character does the Priest (or Presbyter) set forth Almighty God before the people, in pronouncing the Absolution?

97. (c) Why is this suitable?

98. (a) Is any thing stated concerning the desires of God?

99. (b) How is the knowledge of these desires obtained? State texts.

100. (c) What is meant by "the death of a sinner?" and what does the expression include?

101. (a) Is any contrast drawn between what God does not desire, and what he does? and what is it?

102. (a) From what does God desire a sinner to turn? 103. (a) What is connected with this turning?

A FAMILY PRAYER ABOUT CONFIRMATION. A Prayer to be used by the Families in a Parish during the period when the Minister is preparing the young people for Confirmation.

(See also another Prayer for this occasion in Vol. I. page 125. ALMIGHTY GOD, we confess that there is a great deal of sin and wickedness in this parish, at which thou art justly offended we confess, also, that this family must share in the blame of giving Thee this offence; because we have not stood against the evil as we ought to have done; and have not set such an example of godly obedience in all things, as we might have done, according to our knowledge, and the means of instruction Thou hast given us. We desire to humble ourselves for all these things; and we beseech Thee, for Jesus Christ's sake, not to visit this parish according to our evil doings, but spare us good Lord-spare this people, and leave us not to continue in sin and carelessness. Thou hast given us many means of grace, for which we desire to thank Thee; and Thou dost now afford a special opportunity for the people of this parish to turn to Thee, and declare that they are Thy people. We pray Thee to send the Holy Spirit at this season. Give wisdom to the minister whom Thou hast placed amongst us, that he may know how to instruct the young and ignorant; and do Thou draw them to Thee. Give grace to all who have not yet been confirmed; and, by thy Holy Spirit, make them serious, sincere, and firm in the profession of religion; and so bless them, and us, that we may all henceforth live in this world as Christians ought to live, and in the world to come may live with Christ for ever. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

OUR FATHER, &c.

THE PASTOR'S REMEMBRANCER.

WHEN Moses keeping sheep saw the fire in the bush, and God said unto him, that he would send him to king Pharao to deliver his people, he was afraid and marvelled that he, being but a shepherd, should be sent on such a message to so mighty a prince; but after that God had promised him that he would be with him, he was encouraged, and took in hand to go to Pharao on his embassage, and to lead God's people out of Egypt. When God sent his angel to Gedeon, threshing his corn, and said he should deliver the people from their enemies, which invaded their country and lay as thick in number as grasshoppers do in the field; Gedeon doubted at the matter, until such time as God said unto him, that he would be with him. And after trial of his faith in that promise made unto him, he durst with three hundred naked men, having no weapons but earthen-pots, a fire-brand and horns in their hands, set on their enemies which fled all away, as soon as they heard the potsherds knocked together.

Our Saviour Christ, after his ascension, sending his apostles into the whole world to preach and baptize, addeth no greater thing to comfort them withal in this great and dangerous enterprise, that so few unlearned men should conquer the whole world, but saith, "Behold, I am with you, even to the end of the world." What good success their preaching had, we at this present day yet feel and see: and also how he is present always with his, even to the end; and how true his prayer is, that he did not pray only for his apostles, but for all that should believe on him by their preaching. When St. Paul saith that he was persuaded, that neither nakedness, prison, hunger, persecution, nor life, neither death, angels, nor powers could pull him from the love in Christ Jesu; he had nothing to strengthen himself withal, but that God promised that he was with him, and then he boldly said, "If God be with us, who can be against us?" All be but dust, worms, and vileness in his sight: nothing can prevail against those, whom he doth assist with his grace.

Therefore, when we doubt to take in hand any good work, which agrees with the word of God, for any worldly reasons or carnal fear; let us stir up our faith, and hear God speaking and saying unto us, "I am with you, be ye not afraid." If thy conscience bear the sure witness, that thou seekest nothing but the glory of God, and the profit of his people; no doubt God will assist thee in such enterprises, and offers this his promise to thee also, saying, "I am with thee: be not afraid," but go on forwards, and I will bless thy doings, seem it never so hard or impossible to thee.-Bishop Pilkington.