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theirs was in regard to the future. The desolations were the work of man, aud all effected by the enemies of Christianity. And the prediction of these facts, in all their minute particulars infinitely surpassing human foresight, is the word of God alone. The ruin of empires, while it proves the truth of every tittle of these predictions, is thus a miraculous confirmation and proof of the inspiration of the Scriptures. By what fatality is it, then, and how much does it show the weakness of their cause, that infidels should have chosen for the display of their power this very field, where they might have read the fulfilment of the prophecies on every spot? Every fact related by Volney is a witness against all his speculations and out of his own mouth is he condemned. Can any purposed deception be greater or more glaring than to overlook these prophecies, and to attempt to raise an argument against the truth of Christianity from those very facts which, attesting their fulfilment, thereby so clearly establish it? Or can any evidence of Divine inspiration be more convincing and clear, than to view in conjunction all these marvellous predictions and their perfect completion? Such is the overwhelming and forcible testimony supplied by what is scarcely more than a bare enumeration of some of the more striking prophecies, and the facts which demonstrate their fulfilment. Surely here alone would be found enough of positive evidence to the truth of the religion of Jesus! And without dwelling upon the mass of other evidence, let it only be remarked, that the ruins of the moral world are as obvious in the sight of Omniscience as the ruins of the natural-of cities or of kingdoms; and His word can foretel the one as well as the other. And if those who scoff at religion can perceive no evidence from any historical facts, or any external objects, they might look within, and they would find engraven on their hearts, in characters suffciently legible, a confirmation of the prophecies; and if they substitute railing for reason, and think to mar religion with their mockery, to all others they stand convicted, the living witnesses of the truth. "There shall come in the last days, scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming," &c. "There shall be mockers in the last time."-2 Pet. iii. 3; Jude v. 18.-Keith: "Fulfilled Prophecies."

Ir is a fact worthy of remark, and which ought never to be forgotten, that most of the prophecies, delivered in the Old Testament concerning the Messiah, were revealed nearly, and some of them more than 3000 years ago, yet scarcely any one

of them can be applied to any man that ever lived upon earth, except to Him, who is Immanuel, God with us, the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom give all the prophets witness, (Acts x. 43). The more we contemplate these astonishing facts-the more deeply we investigate the wonderful display of Divine power, wisdom, and goodness, the more shall we be disposed to exclaim, "Truly this was the Son of God."-T. H. Horne : Prophecies relative to Christ."

66

Remains of the Rev. Richard Cecil, A.M. By the Rev. Josiah Pratt, B.D., F.A.S.

HE (Cecil) highly disapproved the manner of some parents whose reproof extends only to "Nay! my sons," where there ought to be firmness and decision. Yet he possessed also the opposite point of tenderness, in a high degree; and his delicate apprehensions will appear in a few verses which he wrote, and gave to me with a view to divert and soothe my sorrow, on a child, only one month old, being removed at daybreak; whose countenance, at the time of departure, was most heavenly:

LET ME GO; FOR THE DAY BREAKETH.

CEASE here longer to detain me,
Fondest mother, drown'd in woe:
Now thy kind caresses pain me;
Morn advances :-let me go.

See yon orient streak appearing!
Harbinger of endless day;

Hark! a voice the darkness cheering,
Calls my new-born soul away!

Lately launched a trembling stranger
On the world's wide boisterous flood,
Pierced with sorrows, toss'd with danger,
Gladly I return to God.

Now my cries shall cease to grieve thee,
Now my trembling heart find rest;
Kinder arms than thine receive me,
Softer pillow than thy breast.

Weep not o'er these eyes that languish,
Upward turning t'ward their home;
Raptur'd, they'll forget all anguish,
While they wait to see thee come.

There, my mother, pleasures centre,-
Weeping, parting, care, or woe
Ne'er our Father's house shall enter;
Morn advances: let me go.

As through this calm holy dawning
Silent glides my parting breath,
To an everlasting morning,

Gently close my eyes in death.

Blessings endless, richest blessings,
Pour their streams upon thy heart!
(Though no language yet possessing)
Breathes my spirit ere we part:
Yet to leave thee sorrowing rends me,
Though again his voice I hear,
Rise! may every grace attend thee!
Rise! and seek to meet me there.

Memoir, Mrs. Cecil.

THE assurance of that prayer being answered, which he (Cecil) so often and so fervently offered up, that, "when death approached, he might have nothing to do but to die,” opens a bright prospect beyond the grave.

Pleasing is a nice art: it requires nice pencilling: daubing won't do. Shade after shade, neither one thing nor another, but everything makes a picture.-Cecil: "Letter to his Wife."

I HAVE seen many people very desirous of being told their faults; but I have seen very few who were pleased when they received the information.-Cecil.-Pratt: "View of Cecil's Character."

THE Conscience cannot be kept too sensible and tender; but scrupulousness arises from bodily or mental infirmity.-Cecil: "On the Christian Life and Conflict."

GOLD will lie for a month in the furnace without losing a grain.

PRESUMPTUOUS carelessness indicates danger. "Who fears?" This is to be feared, that you feel no cause of fear. Such was Peter's state: "Though all men forsake thee, yet will not I." THERE is a large class who would confound nature and grace. These are chiefly women. They sit at home, nursing themselves over a fire, and then trace up the natural effects of solitude and want of air and exercise into spiritual desertion.

There is more pride in this than they are aware of. They are unwilling to allow so simple and natural a cause of their feelings, and wish to find something in the thing more sublime. AN unsuspecting, unquestioning, unhesitating spirit God delights to honour.

A SOUND heart is an excellent casuist.

TROUBLE or difficulty befalling us after any particular step, is not of itself an argument that the step was wrong. A storm overtook the disciples in the ship, but this was no proof that they had done wrong to go on board.

"I CAN wait," says Lavater. This is a high attainment.

THERE is not a nobler sight in the world than an aged and experienced Christian, who, having been sifted in the sieve of temptation, stands forth as a confirmer of the assaultedtestifying from his own trials the reality of religion, and meeting by his warnings, and directions, and consolations the cases of all who may be tempted to doubt it.

THERE is great encouragement in that commendation of our Lord's, "She hath done what she could."-On the Christian Ministry.

CHRIST is God's great ordinance. Nothing ever has been done, nor will be done to purpose, but so far as He is held forth with simplicity.

SUFFICIENT it is to us to know what we have to do. There are different ways of doing the same thing, and that with success and acceptance. Each hath his proper gift of God; one after this manner, and another after that.

WE must condescend to the capacity of men, and make the truth intelligible to them.

OUR system of preaching must meet mankind: they must find it possible to live in the bustle of the world, and yet serve God, after being worried and harrassed with its concerns. Let them hear cheering truths concerning Christ's love, and care, and pity, which will operate like an enchantment in dispelling the cares of life and calming the anxious perturbations of conscience. Bring forward privileges, and enforce duties in their proper places and proportions.

A MAN may be labouring in the fire; he may be turning the world upside down, and yet be wrong. If the wheel hitches, let him, by any means, discover where it hitches. A minister should consider how much more easily a weak man can read a wise man than a wise man can read himself, and that for this reason no man can see and hear himself. He is too much formed in his own habits, his family notions, his

closet notions, to detect himself. He who stands by and sees a game played has vast advantages over the players. Besides, preachers err systematically, learnedly, scientifically. The simple hearer has an appeal to nature in his heart; he can often feel that his minister is wrong, when he is not able to set him right. Dr. Manton, no doubt, thought he had preached well, and as became him, before the Lord Mayor; but he felt himself reproved and instructed, when a poor man pulled him by the sleeve, and told him he had understood nothing of his sermon. There was an appeal in this poor man's breast to nature. Nature could not make anything of the doctor's learning. When Apelles took his stand behind his picture he was a wise man; and he was a wise mau, too, when he altered the shoe on the hint of the cobbler. The cobbler, in his place, was to be heard. A just man can afford to lose; a little insignificant fellow is afraid of being snuffed out.

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"I TREAD on the pride of Plato," said Diogenes, as he walked over Plato's carpet. Yes, and with more pride," said Plato.

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LET us ask, "What is man ?" He is a creature of feeling as well as of intellect. We must interest him as we can. is unphilosophical to depend on the mere statement of truth. No doubt there is a contrary error; for what is the end of exciting attention, if there is nothing deserving attention? It is of the first importance to put meaning into every part of the service. In either extreme, of appealing to the understanding or the feelings, there may be no meaning. In a dull and lifeless preacher there is no meaning; and, in one of a contrary character there may be nothing worthy of the name. There is, besides, too little attention, in many churches, to man as man. I would consult his convenience in all lawful points. If he could sit easier on cushions, he should have eushions. I would not tell him to be warm in God's service, while I leave him to shiver with cold. No doors should creak; no windows should rattle. Music has an important effect on devotion. Wherever fantastical music enters, it betrays a eorrupt principle. A congregation cannot enter into it; or, if it does, it cannot be a Christian congregation. Wherever there is an attempt to set off the music in the service, and the attempt is apparent, it is the first step toward carnality. Though there is too little life in the style of music adopted among the Moravians, ret the simplicity of Christianity pervades their devotion. Order is important. Some persons, by coming in when they please, propagate a loose habit of mind.

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