Refine

away the force of antagonist power and principle. Many a fair monument of human skill, shall perish in the storm which must try every edifice, whether it be founded in the sand, or on the rock. ment of mind, and courtesy of manners, are estimated by the brilliancy and effectiveness they impart to the great moral machinery, at whose vibrations society thrills with expectation. This machinery awaits but the promised touch of the finger of God; whose hand alone, while earthquakes rock the mountains, and remove the isles out of their place, can sustain and elevate.

CHAPTER VI.

COMBINED AND SYSTEMATIC EFFORTS OF

BENEFICENCE.

SECTION I.

ARDOUR possesses a self-communicative power, and strength attracts confederacy. Those who earnestly and hopefully engage in a useful work, will receive much proffered aid, and some real assistance.

The religious and charitable institutions of the present day, have commanded the attention of the world, and won the brightest hopes of the church. Little need be said in praise of their onward progress, or in prediction of the assured and triumphant consummation. Yet, while the work divine is confessed to be perfect and all-glorious, human agency and efforts may require examination. This does

not imply the existence of great and obvious faults. Causes of foil and failure blend with apparent means of success; and the force of its own activity attracts the dust, which if neglected, may stop the movement of the most effective machine. A little attention to rectify the errors of sincere friendship, may healthfully divert the mind from vain self-gratulation, or needless broodings on the annoyances occasioned by false partizans or open foes.

It has been shrewdly remarked that the great and sure lesson of time is modesty.' This lesson however, is slow as sure. Inexperience long exposes its defects to the sun, ere it enters the humble shade which experience loves. The veteran soldier of the cross, the victor in many battles learns humility in every conquest. Like that honoured earthly warrior, the brave Gustavus Adolphus, he becomes magnanimously indulgent to others, severe only to himself. The new recruit, on the contrary, is keenly alive to every error in the movement of his comrades. He accounts all delay to be negligence; and suspects cowardice or treachery as the source of every failure. One of the wisest of the saintly

scholars of Port-royal adopted the maxim, that, a christian appearance speaks irresistibly, though silently, to those who would not listen to christian conversation.' This axiom is justified by experience and observation. The young disciple is often assuming in dictation, severe and unseasonable in reproof. Clad in rough garment, the harsh, though sincere, son of the prophet, repulses those whom his gentle sire might have won. There may be danger lest the advanced christian, silently reposing in suasive influences, forget, that the pure and pearly lamp should be lighted within by the unfailing fire of first love. Meanwhile the fresh kindled flame often spreads wide and unchecked; and consumes itself in unprofitable blaze.

The seriousness, zeal, and courage of the new convert, the ardour, enterprize and diligence of the young philanthropist, are too valuable and effective to be overlooked by the principalities and powers that rule the world of spiritual wickedness. He who for purposes of evil transforms himself into an angel of light, possesses peculiar aptitude for mingling his false radiance with the glowing dawn of

early christian life. Thus he distorts the virtues he fails to destroy, and causes the good he hates, to be evil spoken of. Unhappily for the novice, and his christian friends, the excellence thus alloyed by a subtle enemy, is, in its possessor, frequently accompanied by high self-gratulation, and troublesome misgivings concerning the state and character of others. This recoils with serious inconvenience on himself. While busily flashing his torch in the faces of those whom he deems but half awake, he perceives not that the light is not the sacred unmingled flame of love; he is unconscious that it reflects back a lurid glare on himself, and reveals his slightest error and imperfection. The modest, uncondemning spirit which shelters another from the rudely earnest gaze of even its own secret thought, unwittingly gathers around itself a veil of softening beauty. Some invisible agency, in both cases, appears to subserve the law of Providence, as ye judge, so shall ye be judged.

It is sometimes difficult to be merry and wise; it is on other occasions still more difficult to be grave and gracious. If self-righteousness mingle