who does not know that to be idle is to be vicious."

The odd moments, as they are often called, of every man's life, which are but too commonly squandered without remorse, if added together would make a larger portion of our days than we imagine. If you would redeem time as you ought, you must endeavour to improve these. "Gold

smiths and refiners are wont, all the year long, carefully to save the very sweepings of their shops, because they contain in them some filings, or dust of those richer metals, gold and silver. I see not why a Christian may not be as careful not to lose the fragments, and lesser intervals of a thing,-incomparably more precious than any metal-TIME, especially, when the improvement of them may not only redeem so many portions of our life, but turn them to pious uses, and particularly to the great advantage of devotion."

No one can imagine, unless he tries, how much may be accomplished by steady, persevering effort. A single stroke of the axe, or of the spade is, indeed, insignificant; but a succession of them has opened a channel which has united the most distant parts of the empire, or they have levelled the lofty mountain. No one can, with a single effort, ascend to the top of the highest building which the hand of man has ever reared; but a child may reach it by patiently going up step after step. The stones, which form the noblest structures of architecture, were all of them once concealed in the quarry from the

human eye.

By small quantities they were brought, and laid one at a time on each other, till at length the splendid edifice delighted and astonished every beholder.

We never, on He constantly "My meat," said

In reference to the improvement of time, as well as in all other cases, the Lord Jesus is our great and illustrious example. any occasion, find him idle. "went about doing good." he, "is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish his work." And again, on another occasion, he said, "I must work while it is called to-day; the night cometh, in which no man can work." Forget not that he has left you "an example, that you might follow his steps."

CHAPTER XV.

GUARD AGAINST THE FALSE MAXIMS WHICH ARE TO BE FOUND IN THE WORLD.

THESE are so many, that I can only notice a few of them; they may, however, serve as a specimen, and induce you to try the opinions of men by the great standard of truth, the word of God. "To the word, and to the testimony; if they give no heed to these, it is because there is no light in them.”

It is often affirmed, that to swear occasionally, and to take God's holy name in vain, is the mark of a proper and manly spirit. Be assured,

that nothing is truly becoming, that is contrary to the Divine commands; and however men may varnish over their profanity, God will not "hold them guiltless;" for these things he will certainly bring them into judgment.

"Don't have too much religion," is another maxim of the world. While you discharge the relative and social duties incumbent on you, you need never be afraid of this. Remember, God requires the soul; if you only give him the service of the lip and of the body, you do but mock him. If you have not much godliness, you will never be prepared for the duties and trials of life. You will be but "almost a Christian," and, most likely, will perish at last. You give God nothing which he will accept, if you do not give him the heart.

"That there is no occasion to be singular, and to differ from our neighbours," is another maxim we often hear. The real Christian must, in many points of view, be different from the world. The Redeemer imperatively requires his disciples to come out from the world, and take up their cross, and follow him. If we are one with the ungodly, and follow their ways, we cannot be the children of the Lord God Almighty. If we do not now differ from the world, both in principle and practice, we shall be condemned with it hereafter.

It is often intimated that "there is no occasion for any very great concern about our spiritual welfare." This sentiment is in direct opposition to the exhortation of our Lord. "Strive,❞—or,

exert every power of your minds, as the word literally means, said the Redeemer, "to enter in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there are that find it." If you are not in good earnest to reach heaven, you will never reach it.

common. +

"He will assuredly be saved, who is honest, and whose life is not blemished with habitual and gross vices," is a maxim that is exceedingly But a man may be upright in his dealings, and generally decent in his conduct, and yet have no love to God, no real penitence of heart, and no faith in the Lord Jesus; and, without an experimental acquaintance with these things, it is solemnly declared in the Scriptures that no one can ever enter into the kingdom of God.

too late for ever.

"It is time enough to think of religion many years hence," says the worldling. No, says God, it is not; "to-day, if ye will hear my voice, harden not your hearts." There is no encouragement in the Bible for a sinner to put off his salvation till to-morrow. To-morrow, it may be This is the common artifice of Satan to ruin souls. Of all that have dropped into perdition, perhaps there are very few who did not intend, like Felix, at some more convenient season, to attend to the great things which made for their peace; but before this period came, the midnight cry was heard, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him!" They were alarmed, they sprang up,-they

grasped their lamps, but there was no oil in them. And the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage,—and the door of mercy was shut for ever.

"Men are saved by their good deeds," is an assertion frequently to be found in books, and is but too often heard even from the pulpit. If this were the case, God need not have sent his Son into the world to save those who, on this principle, could have saved themselves. The Lord Jesus then need not have died on the cross. The Scripture tells us that "there is no other name given under heaven among men, whereby they can be saved, but that of the Lord Jesus," Acts iv, 12. By grace," it is said, "we are saved;" that is, solely by the free mercy of God in Christ Jesus without the merit of the creature. "Not of works," says St. Paul, "lest any man should boast." The "wages of sin is death,but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

66

Are good works then of no importance? God forbid that any one should say they are not. It is true, that faith in Christ's righteousness justifies the soul, and gives it a title to heaven; but good works evidence the genuineness of faith. Good principles will ever produce good practices. "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." Well, therefore, does St. James say, "Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."

It is the opinion of the world, that persons