Indeed, there is no place, no state, or scene of life, that hath not its proper and peculiar temptations; even solitude itself is not without them: but they are few, and faint, in comparison with those to which our appearance on the great stage of the world exposes us; and whenever they attack us in our recesses, they do, or may find us prepared, and upon our guard; we are then at leisure to encounter them, and have helps near at hand, which, if made use of, will enable us to decline or baffle them. Whereas, in public, we are merely passive to such impressions, which strike our minds so violently, and succeed each other so fast, that we have no opportunity, no strength, no inclination almost to withstand them.

The great risk which virtue runs in company, is from the neighbourhood of ill examples, which are of so contagious a nature, that, if we live much amongst them, we shall as surely be corrupted by them, as he that often breathes in ill air will at last partake of the infection. 'Tis dangerous for the most innocent person in the world to be too frequently and nearly a witness to the commission of vice and folly. Such views lessen the natural horror we have for such actions, and render the thoughts of them more familiar and less displeasing to us; especially when we are used to see ill things practised by persons whom we regard, the favourable opinion we have of the doer extends itself to the action done, and leads us insensibly from seeing to approving, and from approving to imitating. And thus, being (the very best of us) prone to do evil, and living in the midst of evil; being attacked thus from without, and betrayed from within; we are not capable of making an effectual resistance: the only refuge we have is in retreat, where we may at leisure correct the ill impressions that have been made upon us; and by disuse and distance, weaken the force of those ill influences which we could not wholly avoid.-Bishop Atterbury.

RICH AND POOR.

GOD could have ordained that all should have been rich. But He has not so ordained. Poverty, with every other evil, came in, upon man's trangression. The alteration

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which then took place in the earth rendered labour necessary. If none were poor, none would labour; and if some did not labour, none could eat.. Difference there must be in rank and order; and the rich are not of more service to the poor, than the poor to them. Equality of condition could not subsist by the constitution of nature, as the case has stood since the fall. It must be effected by a new way; by the dispensation of love and charity. The indigence of some must be helped by the superfluity of others. "The poor shall never cease out of thy land," says the God of Israel to his favoured people ; "therefore, I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thy hand wide to thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land." An opportunity of being blessed is offered to the wealthy, and they should take particular care not to let it pass them unregarded; for, "Blessed is the man that considereth the poor and needy." In the sight of God we are all poor. "He openeth his hand," and from it we receive, both for our bodies and our souls, food and raiment, medicine, liberty, and joy. Our Saviour himself, rich in the possession of all things visible and invisible, yet for our sakes become poor. He has directed us, in the persons of the poor, to behold Him, as present, and, when they solicit our charity, to bestow it accordingly. Horne.

THE FRUITS OF HUMILITY.

HUMILITY eludes and mocks the stratagems of the prince of darkness, and how God rewards and crowns it, the blessed Virgin hath told us. "He hath showed strength with his arm, He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts; He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and hath exalted the humble and meek.”

Indeed, we see how meadows and valleys are laden with fruit, and corn, and enamelled with flowers, while the higher mountains remain barren and unfruitful. O Christians did you but know what treasures lie hid in this exercise, you would be so far from counting it troublesome, that you would be ambitious of it. In this exercise consisteth the mystery of religion; the richest influences of heaven come down upon the soul, that looks upon

herself as nothing; to her the Almighty reveals Himself, and here He is ready to build tabernacles. The sweetest communications of grace are vouchsafed to him that is acquainted with this lowliness; into such a heart the joys of the Holy Ghost flow with a spring tide; and he that would understand the secrets of the Lord, this is the school where he may learn them; and if he become a great proficient here, he may promise himself a more than ordinary intercourse between God and his soul. The humble shepherds are honoured with the first news of Christ's nativity, while the lofty Pharisees at Jerusalem are kept ignorant of these glad tidings; and that which moved God to send Nathan the prophet to David, to tell him of His singular love and compassion towards him, was the voice of that great humble man, "I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own eyes."

I will conclude this exercise with a passage out of a learned Jew. The advantages of humility, saith he, consist in six particulars, three. whereof do respect this present, and three the next life. First, it makes a man contented in all conditions: for he that is proud and arrogant, the whole world, and all that is in it, is not able to satisfy his lofty and rising thoughts, much less that which God hath appointed him for his portion; but he that is humble, lives contentedly, and is satisfied with what Providence hath allotted him. Secondly, the humble man bears adversity patiently, whereas the proud man's fear is great, and his patience inconsiderable, when troubles come upon him. Thirdly, the man is grateful and acceptable to men, and men love him and esteem him, And to this purpose, I must tell you a story of a king, that being asked how he came to be so great? answered, that he never saw any man, whom he did not esteem wiser than himself; and those that he looked upon to be wiser than himself, them he ever thought to fear God more than himself. And if he met with any that was manifestly more foolish than himself, he presently reflected, that this man would have a less account to give unto God in the last day, than himself. If he met with any that were older than himself, he humbly thought that their merits must needs be greater than his own; and if those he met with were younger than himself, he considered that their

sins must needs be fewer than his own; if he met with any of his equals, their heart, thought he, in all likeli hood is better than mine; if they were richer than himself, he considered that they did more good in the world than himself; if poorer, that then by reason of their poverty, they must needs have more humble and contrite hearts, and therefore be better than himself. Fourthly, the humble man arrives to true and solid wisdom before other men, not only because he is desirous to learn, and loves to sit at the feet of his teachers, but God also helps him to attain unto more than ordinary wisdom; whereas, the proud and haughty being loath to learn that wisdom which crosses flesh and blood, remains ignorant of the most solid wisdom. Fifthly, the humble man runs more cheerfully in the ways of God's testimonies, boggles at nothing that God commands, and expresses alacrity and readiness, at the voice of the greatest and weightiest, as well as at the least and easiest precept. Sixthly, the humble man's devotion is the only acceptable devotion to God, his sins are pardoned, his iniquities are easily forgiven, for a humble and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise-Horneck.

EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY HONOUR.

If the applause of men, and the good opinion which they have from others, be esteemed an honour, what shall be the applause of Heaven, and the good opinion not only of saints and angels, but of God Himself, whose judgment cannot err? David took it for a great honour, that the daughter of his king was judged a reward of his valour: God surpasses this, and honours so much the service of His elect, that He pays their merits with no less a reward than Himself.

Besides this, he who is most known, and is praised and celebrated for good and virtuous by the greatest multitude, is esteemed the most glorious and honourable person. But all this world is a solitude in respect of the citizens of Heaven, where innumerable angels approve and praise the virtuous actions of the just; and they likewise are nothing, and all creatures, men and angels, but as a solitary wilderness, in respect of the Creator. What man

so glorious upon earth, whose worth and valour hath been known to all ?-those who were born before him, could not know him. But the just in Heaven shall be known by all, past and to come, and by all the angels, and by the King of men and angels. Human fame is founded upon the applause of mortal men, who, besides being less than angels, may be deceived, may speak untruth, and are most part of them sinners and wicked; how far must that honour exceed it, which is conferred upon the just by the holy angels, and by those blessed and pure souls who cannot be deceived themselves, nor will deceive others! If we esteem it more to be honoured by the kings of the earth, by the great men of the world, than by some ignorant peasants of some poor village; how ought we then to value the honour which shall be bestowed upon us by the saints in Heaven, who are the kings and grandees of the court of God, and are all replenished with most perfect and divine wisdom! All the honour of men is ridiculous, and his ambition no wiser who seeks it, than if one worm should be desired to be honoured by another. All the earth is but as a village, or rather some small cottage, in respect of Heaven; let us not therefore strive for a name upon earth, but that our names may be written in Heaven.

If Saul thought the honour too much which was given to David by the damsels, when they celebrated his victory in their songs, what shall it be to be celebrated by all the angels and saints in celestial responsories? When a servant of God enters into Heaven, he shall be received with such divine music; all the blessed in Heaven often repeating those words in the Gospel, "Well done, good servant and true; because thou hast been faithful in a few things, thou shalt be placed over much; enter into thy Master's joy." Which words they shall repeat in choirs; this shall be a song of victory and honour, above all the honours of the earth; being conferred by so great, so wise, so holy, and so authentic persons. Although the honour and applause which the just receive in Heaven from the citizens of that holy city be incomparable, yet that honour and respect with which God Himself shall treat them, is far above it; it is expressed in no meaner similitude than that of the honour done by the servant unto his lord; and therefore it is said, that God Himself