a city that is compact together; whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord."-Ps. cxxii. And when, in times of trial, he was a wanderer afar off, one of his most painful recollections was his privation of this social happiness. " When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me; for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holy day."-Ps. xlii.

With such a multitude, now returning towards home, Joseph and Mary travelled. "And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance:"-for to their party, amid the numerous assembly, they had, through the day, taken it for granted he had attached himself. But when evening came, and the different households set up their tents and collected themselves together, Jesus was missing, and then, after enquiry, they discovered

have, perhaps rapidly, acquired some imposing, but merely elementary knowledge; ❝ for shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, but drinking largely sobers it again." While yet at the commencement only of his journey, and while yet but a small section of the field of science is perceptible to his eye, the sanguine traveller regards with much complacency the progress that he has made, but as he moves onward the prospect gradually opens before him, until plains, " immeasurably spread, seem lengthening as he goes."

But the danger of self-elation is greater as it respects the kind, than the quantity of knowledge. Acquisitions in merely human sciences, commonly inflate the mind with conceit, because they occasion their possessor to be distinguished from the multitude, who, if not hindered by natural indolence and want of capacity, would yet, from the necessity of constant manual occupation, be prevented from the pursuit of such studies; and because, too, whatever they may teach the student, they do not teach him the knowledge of himself. Whence it is, that one who has made great proficiencies, who is an accomplished classic, a skilful mathematician, and

competently versed in both the elegant and useful branches of literature, may yet be filled with self-complacency and contempt of others, -proud, dogmatical, and censorious. The reason is, that he is profoundly ignorant of himself; his faults, so conspicuous to others, are hidden from his own eyes; he feeds delightedly on the literary honours which he has obtained; views himself ever in the magnifying glass of self-love; sees nothing of the moral deformity and guilt of his evil affections; and, above all, the fountain from which they arise, a naturally corrupt heart, remains undiscovered, deeply concealed beneath the mist of illusions which the praise of men and his own vanity have created.

But the knowledge of religious truth not only prevents these ill consequences, but produces effects the very opposite of them. The very first lesson of truth is one of humiliation, as its first command is, "Repent;" a lesson which is not simply proposed, but effectually taught by that Divine Agent, of whom the Mediator said, "He shall convince the world of sin." This he does by giving a clear perception of the spirituality and extent of the law of God, shewing it to be "holy,

just, and good," and leading him, to whom this perception is given, to compare his past life, his actions, words, motives, purposes, and thoughts, by this perfect standard of righteousness, and thus to see himself to be a sinner, and under the guilt of innumerable transgressions. Of the towering branches of pride, external trials and mortifications may lop off some; but by this conviction of sin alone " is the axe laid at the root of the tree." Its eradication is completed by penitence and submission to the only method of salvation, which is pardon and grace, freely bestowed, through Christ, and humbly received" by faith in his blood." Farewell now the dreams of vanity and the swellings of conceit. Self is dethroned, and God, the rightful sovereign, reigns in the willingly subjected heart. He that heretofore "trusted in himself that he was righteous and despised others," now 66 esteems others better than himself." He that thought himself to have attained, impatient to take the lead and to give the law, now feels that he knew nothing as he ought to have known it, and meekly sits at the feet of others; especially he sits at the feet of Him who alone can open the understanding and purify

the heart. There continuing, he makes large acquisitions in divine truth and heavenly wisdom, which enlighten and nourish, but do not inflate the spirit: on the contrary, as he rises in knowledge he sinks in lowliness; and though from his stores he should sometimes draw rich specimens of treasure, and even delight and surprise by "his understanding and answers,' he is still a disciple, still meekly hearing others and asking questions. He is like Christ.

The tear that glistens in the eye of that meditative and ingenuous youth who reads and ponders these things, shall be marked as a token for good. Then thou art touched; and thou perceivest the loveliness of a spirit subdued and yet exalted, humbled and yet refined by divine knowledge. And the odiousness of intellectual pride, and the meanness of vanity are apparent. And their fruits appear as opposite as the contrasted dispositions themselves. Pride begets envy, impatience, anger, malice. The offspring of humility are contentment, peace, love. Perhaps thou hast known by experience the misery that follows on the dissatisfaction, restlessness, and turbulence of pride, elated at thought of its own acquirements, ill enduring, if not hating the

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