terrible power of despair. We would not say either that God may not sometimes, for wise though inscrutably mysterious purposes, leave His people, without any particular fault of theirs, to fall into the hands of this enemy. Perhaps it was in Doubting Castle that the apostle Paul was when he had the thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet him. In ordinary cases, however, and as a general rule, we may remark, that the cause is to be sought for, and will be found, in some moral delinquency. It is when pilgrims go out of the way—wander into by-paths— | that they fall into the hands of Giant Despair. It is the doing of something which brings darkness into their understanding, and guilt upon their conscience -thus obscuring their evidences, and hiding from them the light of the Divine countenance, that causes them to fall into despondency. To chastise them for their sin, God sometimes permits doubts and fears so to prevail, as to create a very hell almost in their consciences. Sin naturally leads to doubting, and doubting to despair.

Still further, we are called to attend to the misery of this state of mind. It is no common misery. Trouble of body is bad, but far worse is trouble of heart. It is the worst kind of trouble. A man may sustain his infirmity, but a wounded spirit who can bear?' The saint may, as it regards his body, be going at large, the sun shining upon him, the fields smiling around him; but to him all is blank, all is dark. His soul within him sees not the light, perceives not the beauty. He feels himself a prisoner in a dungeon, where there is no water to refresh, and no fire to warm. The evening closes upon him, but it brings with it no repose. The morning dawns upon him, but it brings with it no hope. From evening to morning, and from morning to evening again, it is just one unvarying round of bitterness and woe. What self-accusation! what gloomy anticipation! His soul often chooses strangling and death, rather than life. There are differences, indeed, among Christians in the miserable feeling. There are degrees in despair. A person who is more constitutionally hopeful than another, may not sink to the same depths as others; but even those who are least miserable, are miserable indeed. May God in His mercy

keep us out of the hands of Giant Despair!

But we would remark still further, the duration of this desponding state of mind. The pilgrims are represented as remaining several days immured in the dungeon of Doubting Castle. Despondency is not usually a mere passing shadow, darkening for an hour the mind, and then vanishing away. It is more frequently of long continuance. There are instances, indeed, of saints never coming out of the dungeon at all. Poor Cowper, to whom we have already referred, only escaped by death. More commonly, however, after a season, light succeeds to darkness, and freedom to bondage and captivity. The prison doors are thrown open, and the captive is set free.

In a word, notice the remedy for this miserable state of mind.—Not a miracle. God is not described as shaking by an earthquake the foundations of Doubting Castle, and striking dead by His lightning Giant Despair. He could have done this; but this is not what He is described as doing. The remedy is placed in the saint's own hand-the cry of prayer-the key of promise. When in this state of mind the saint begins really to pray, cries out of the depths to God, he is on the eve of deliverance. The pouring out of the heart in prayer, is like the dawn before the morning, or the drops before the shower.

Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw.' But while prayer prepares the way, it is the belief of the promise that really unlocks the door. When the promises are realized and applied to the particular case, they operate upon the distressed soul like a charm. Distressed, desponding saint, you have a key in your bosom which is capable of opening every lock in your dungeon. There is a promise suited to every part of your case. Pluck the key out of your bosom then, and try. Say as David did, 'Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God; believe His word; for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.'

D. S.

MEANS OF CONVERSION. EVERY Christian may exert a powerful influence on sinners by his example. The

husband may be won by the conversion of the wife the wife by the husband-the child by the parent-the parent by the child; and others who are not related to the Christian may be drawn to Christ by his example. It operates silently and effectually, like the magnet, or the gentle dew on the tender herb, or the genial sunshine on the cold, dead, and arid earth. Besides, who may not use positive means, such as counsel, in the spirit of the gospel? A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.' What incalculable good has been done by Christian parents giving religious instruction to their children! showing forth God's lovingkindness in the morning, and His faithfulness every night; and enforcing both with a holy life. Who can estimate the number or value of the souls saved by Sabbath-school instruction? What Christian qualified for it can be more usefully employed? It is of the first importance (whether you be teaching the old or young, a school or an individual-and every one has some opportunities of doing good which a Christian will not neglect) that your instruction be scriptural, and consist of a knowledge of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. In order to convert a child or a man, he should be taught Christ, and brought to Christ; for that is the shortest, and indeed the only way to conversion as well as pardon. It is not the sinner that saves himself, but Jesus who saves him from his sins; it is not the sinner who repents of himself, but Christ who gives repentance and remission of sins. The law, indeed, may be a schoolmaster to bring him to Christ; but brought to Christ he must be, ere he will be a converted

man.

As to means of communicating the truth of Christ-conversation, catechizing, letters, tracts, religious books, and, above all, the Bible, may be used. Union is strength, as appears from what is done by Tract, Bible, Missionary, Christian Instruction, and other societies. Our Lord sent out His disciples in pairs—a model which is too little imitated with respect to missionaries and the labours of private Christians. Rome has profited as much by adopting, as Protestants have suffered by neglecting this principle. But what I would urge especially is, that no Christian neglect to do all he can, personally and

socially, in supporting religious societies, with a due proportion of his substance, and imploring God's blessing on them. There can be no success to your efforts without God who giveth the increase; and there is as little doubt that true prayer brings down God's blessing, as that there is an inseparable connection between asking and receiving in the name and spirit of Christ. As, therefore, you desire the salvation of sinners, seek the spirit of grace and supplication, and pray in the spirit with all faith, importunity, and perseverance.-Parlane.

GRACE IN EXERCISE.

THY faithfulness, Lord, each moment we find,

Thy mercy so tender, to all the lost race:
So true to Thy word, so loving and kind;
The vilest offender may turn and find grace.
The mercy I feel, to others I show-
I set to my seal that Jesus is true:
Ye all may find favour, who come at His
call-

O come to my Saviour; His grace is for all.
To save what was lost, from heaven He came;
Come, sinners, and trust in Jesus' name!
If sin be your burden, O come unto me!'
He offers you pardon, He bids you be free!

O let me commend my Saviour to you;
The publican's Friend and Advocate too;
For you He is pleading His merits and death;
With God interceding for sinners beneath.
Then let us submit, His grace to receive;
Fall down at His feet, and gladly believe:
We all are forgiven for Jesus' sake:
Our title to heaven His merits we take.

DAVID'S FALL-ITS CONSEQUENCES.

THERE was a time when David was the happiest of men. He had his troubles, but there was no sting in them; he did not heed them. His song from day to day was a song of joy, of thankfulness for mercies past, and of the liveliest hope of mercies yet to come. But turn your eyes on 'the sweet Psalmist of Israel' now, O what a mournful change! Not a single note of happiness comes from that once cheerful harp. All is complaint, distraction, and misery. And what has wrought this change? That acoursed thing which can turn a paradise into a desert. The man has been feeding on ashes. He has for gotten on his throne the law which was so dear to him in the fields of Bethlehem

and on the mountains of Judea; sin has poisoned his happiness; it has made him a wreck. Look not at his wretched family in order to see what this tremendous evil can do. Look not at his dying babe, his injured daughter, his wicked sons, his murdered Amnon, his lost Absalom. Look not at the monarch, driven by his own child from his throne, and followed with the curses of a rebel, as he flies, weeping and barefoot, to the wilderness. Look to the ravages of sin within that man. What has it done there? It has ruined a peace which God himself had given him from above; it has put an end to a joy which was almost divine; it has darkened the hopes which once soared to heaven,—it has done more; it has made reflection a terror to him, conscience a scourge, life a burden, death dreadful. It has thrown down the once firm, spiritual, | towering mind of David, and turned it into a ruin. Where then is the mind which can open itself to sin, and not be overthrown by it? Not yours, brethren; not mine; no, not an angel's. It would be easier to bear the ravages of the plague, and not be weakened; easier to pass through the flames of a furnace, and escape unhurt. Sin never brings guilt on a Christian's conscience without bringing pollution into his mind; without in the end weakening its powers, debasing its affections, blasting its hopes, and withering its joys. Would you continue happy? Continue holy. Remember David and all his troubles.' 'Keep your hearts with all diligence.' 'Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.' 'Walk in the Spirit.' 'Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.'

PUBLIC DEVOTIONS;

OR,

We adore Thee as the High and Holy One, who inhabitest the praises of eternity, and dwellest in that light which is inaccessible and full of glory. Thou art the King eternal, immortal, and invisible; the only true and wise God, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. No man hath seen or can see Thee at any time; and we only know Thee, because the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has been sent to declare Thee, or to reveal to us Thy adorable name and character.

Who is like unto Thee, O Lord, among the gods—who is like unto Thee, glorioas in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Thou doest many and great wonders both in heaven and on earth ; and who can speak aright of all Thy infinite attributes? Who can by searching find out God? who can find out the Almighty unto perfection? Thou fillest all in all; and there is no part of space in which we do not meet with some proof of Thy wisdom, some effect of Thy power, or some monument of Thy glory. Whither shall we go from Thy Spirit, O Lord, or whither shall we fly from Thy presence? If we ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if we make our bed in hell, behold Thou art there: if we take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall Thy hand lead us, and Thy right hand shall hold us.

Although we cannot comprehend the mighty plans of Providence, nor follow Thy presence through the wide extent of the universe, yet we are assured by the Gospel of grace, that we are ever placed under Thy protecting care, and that even the very hairs of our head are all numbered. We see from everything around us, that Thou art good unto all, and that Thy tender mercies are over all Thy works. We are tasting the riches of Thy bounty

AND SERVICES.

THIRD MONTH.

FORENOON PRAYER.

We are now assembled, O sovereign and supreme Lord, to lift up our voices with one accord in Thy praise, and to sing psalms to the great God, who formed and who upholds the universe, and in whom we all live and move and have our being.

Thou hast taught us to look forward to another and a better world, where Thou hast promised us mansions in the heavens, and a happiness that shall never end. Thou hast perfected, O God, Thy love to us in not withholding from us even Thine own Son; and Thou hast delivered Him unto the death for our sakes, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We thank thee, O merciful Father,

that the Son of Man was not sent into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. We thank Thee that He came to make a propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world. We thank Thee that He has wrought out a salvation sufficient for all the wants of our souls, and promised us the teaching of His holy Spirit to convince us of the evils and dangers of sin, and make us anxious to flee from the wrath that will fall upon impenitent transgressors.

When we view, on the one hand, our condition under the law, and on the other, our condition under grace, O may we feel the infinite value of Thy love; may we adore the riches of Thy mercy; may we fly to the hope set before us in the Gospel. May it be all our desire to be baptized into Christ's death, and to have the truth of our interest in Him confirmed by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. May we be willing to renounce all things for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. May we delight in the mysteries of His everlasting covenant. May we glory in being called His disciples, and esteem it our highest honour, when we are accounted worthy to suffer in His name. May we be always ready to advance His kingdom on the earth; and may our natural fear of leaving this present world be overcome by our desire to see the Lord Jesus, and to pass from a life of grace to a life of glory. Regard, O heavenly Father, we humbly beseech Thee, the prayers of this part of Thy universal Church with the kindness of Thy peculiar favour. Make the present moment a season to us of spiritual joy. We rest our exclusive dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the image of the invisible God, is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; and we humbly entreat Thee through Him to send unto us the Blessed Comforter, that He may lead us into all truth, and guide us into every right way. Enable all of Thy people now standing before Thee to worship Thy holy name with the preparation of the sanctuary, and to meditate on Thy saving word with the hearts of children rejoicing to do their Father's will. We feel that Thy pure eye will see something amiss even in our best services; but we place ourselves under the mediation of

our, Redeemer's love; and to Him, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, we now desire to ascribe with our whole hearts a sincere and solemn tribute of grateful, reverential praise. Amen.

AFTERNOON PRAYER.

WE now desire, O most holy and merci. ful Father, to present ourselves before Thee on this afternoon of another Sabbath, and to sing the praises of Thy glorious name in this sacred temple. We thank Thee that Thou hast permitted us to see another day of the Son of Man; and it is our delight to assemble in Thy courts on earth, that we may imitate the innumerable multitude in heaven, who are continually praising Thee, and saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to be praised by all the creatures Thou hast made, but more especially by us, whom Thou hast created only a little lower than the angels, redeemed with Immanuel's blood, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and exalted again to those lofty seats from which we were cast down by unbelief and disobedience. Our privileges by nature were great, but they are greater by grace. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God! Behold how He hath raised us again to life, after we were dead in trespasses and sins! Behold how He hath restored us again to His favour, after we had offended His Supreme Majesty times without number, and against the clearest light!

Who, O God of truth and love, can celebrate aright the wondrous riches of Thy grace? When we were without strength and without hope, the Lord Christ appeared as our Deliverer, and rescued us by His mighty arm from the united power of sin, hell, aud the grave. When we were rebels against Thy throne, and aliens from Thy presence, Thou didst commend Thy love towards us by remov ing our transgressions far from us, and bringing us again near unto Thyself. We rejoice, O blessed God, that when sin abounded, grace did much more abound; and that when we could do nothing for ourselves, a Mediator appeared in our room, and wrought for us that perfect

When we think of all the great things which Thou, O Lord, hast done for us, our hearts should be deeply penetrated with the warmest emotions of gratitude and love. And yet how unmindful do we live of all Thy mercies! How often do we put away Thy name from our remembrance, and refuse the invitations of Thy Holy Spirit! How often do we slight and reject Thy rich offers of mercy, and consider Thy precious salvation as a thing of trifling value, as the least necessary of all things! We beseech Thee, O good Lord, to bestow upon us a larger measure of grace, and to draw us, as it were, by force out of the evil and perilous state, in which we are so willing to remain. Lead us, before it be too late, to view with alarm the awful dangers of sin, to fly in haste from its destructive influence, and to attend with more instant and serious care to those things which concern our everlasting peace.

We confess our manifold transgressions before Thee. We have all sinned against Thee, and there is none of us who has done righteously. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have wandered far away from Thy fold, like lost sheep. We have hewn unto ourselves broken cisterns, that can hold no water. We have fixed our affections on the things of the world, but have forgotten the Being who bestowed them. We have all aimed after glory for ourselves, but have neglected to give unto Thee the glory which is due unto Thy great name. All these things, O Lord, are against us, and even our own hearts condemn us; but we have more need to fear Thy condemnation, for Thou art greater than our hearts, and knowest all things. Oh how shall we stand before the throne of Thy righteous judgment? How shall we escape from the miseries of guilt and the penalties of disobedience? If we should call upon the mountains and the rocks to fall upon us, they cannot hide us from Thy view, because Thou art present everywhere, and seest all things. If we should go all the day mourning in sackcloth and ashes, yet the ointment of confession will not heal the diseases of the inward man, nor make us better of those spiritual wounds, which take away the

But we thank Thee, O merciful Father, that Thou hast given to us a Saviour, who possesses the power and the will to bestow upon us the pardon of our sins and the gift of eternal life. We embrace with believing joy the glad tidings of salvation which He has announced to us; and we acknowledge with adoring gratitude, that it is to Him alone we are indebted for our victory over all the powers of darkness. It is He who has reconciled us to Thee. It is He who has suffered the punishment of our iniquities. It is He who has provided for us an everlasting righteousness, and promised to send unto us the Comforter, to lead us into the way of life, and to hold us up amid all our distresses. Look down upon us, O God, in the face of Thine Anointed, and have compassion through Him on our many infirmities. We ask for the sympathy of our elder Brother, because He knows and has felt our weaknesses. We plead His merits as the foundation of our hopes. We rest upon Him alone for salvation. Thee to blot out all our offences from the book of Thy remembrance with that precious blood, which cleanseth from all sin; and we desire to go forward towards Thy heavenly kingdom, not in our own weak strength, but leaning on the mighty and outstretched arm of the Lord our Righ

teousness.

We entreat

Accompany, O gracious Lord, with Thy blessing this day the prayers of the faithful and the preaching of the Gospel. Bestow upon all Thy true disciples the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, that they may be. come wise unto salvation, and choose that good part which shall not be taken away from them. Enable us on the present occasion to meditate with interest and attention on some of the doctrines and duties of our holy faith, and to prepare ourselves, by a careful improvement of the means of grace, for the enjoyment of that eternal Sabbath of rest which remaineth for all the people of God, through Jesus Christ, our great and prevailing HighPriest, our all-wise and powerful Advocate, to whom we owe more than we shall ever be able to express, and to whom we should ever be ready to ascribe the highest and holiest praise. Amen.

8. S. S.