that many ministers, as well, perhaps, as others, do not live out half their useful days, and waste away under debility, and other evils arising from close application, because they will not offend ‘a weak brother,' who thinks it a crime to enjoy any amusement, to play at any game, to angle, or to strike a ball.

I am a studious man, Sir, and I do none of these things; but had I time, I am sure they would be serviceable to my health, and if I can without sin promote that, I am not acting unlike a Christian.

Riding, walking, or gardening, are not always substitutes for light amusements. I find my thoughts as deeply engaged on horseback, or in pacing the garden, or the field, as in my study; and the labours of a gardener, though but for a very short time, unfit me for all mental labour for the rest of the day.

In whatever engages us of a secular kind, and especially recreations, we should particularly let our 'moderation be known unto all men ;' and let every man be thoroughly persuaded in his own mind, as I am not to be guided by scared consciences, so I do not consider myself amenable to weak minds. I think myself an impartial judge on this point, as I rarely enjoy any kind of recreation, and I wish to regard the rule of the Apostle, Whether ye eat or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' EGOMET.

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SPECIMENS OF FRENCH PREACHERS. Translated expressly for this Work.

DAVID EUSTACHE, Minister of the Reformed Church at Montpellier, about 1659.

THE SOUL.

The soul is a spiritual substance which sur

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vives the death of the body: it is not necessary that the pilot should perish when his vessel is dashed to pieces, nor the rider when his horse is killed, nor the player of the lute, when his instrument is broken. The soul is in the body, and is not the body; it neither increases nor diminishes with the body; its knowledge even augments as the body becomes enfeebled; it is not wounded with the body, but remains entire, though the body is deprived of any member; it still lives, when the body expires. Our senses are offended by the force of objects; the sight by too strong a light, the hearing by too powerful a noise, the taste by bitterness, the smell by a piquant odour, and the touch by fire, but the more intelligible and powerful an object, the more force and satisfaction it communicates to the soul. The soul is exempt from that which destroys material substances, and even when the body begins to decay, it exhibits more force than when it had all its health. Besides, if the soul be not immortal, what will become of the mercy and justice of God? The good will then be without reward, and the wicked without punishment?

HINTS ON SCRIPTURE.-No. II.

Ps. 119. Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it.

Were we to search into the reasons why the generality of Infidels dislike the word of God, we should find them to be founded on its purity. Light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil.' The word of God does not allow of sin

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and reproves it, and smites the conscience on account of it, therefore men will not come to this word lest their deeds should be reproved.'

GOD'S WORD IS VERY PURE. This is the first assertion in the passage. It has God for its author, and he is the foundation of purity. All the parts of that word are beams emanating from the Sun of Righteousness. Hence there is in that word no falsehood, for he is a God of Truth,' no error, for his understanding is perfect.' Whatever is corrupt has a tendency to decay, but like its Autbor the Word of God abideth for ever.' While all things around us change, and the best human institutions become defective, and wax old and degenerate, and all the productions of nature through sin, tend to dissolution, the Scriptures cannot be broken.' The truths they contain, and the blessings they promise, like their great Author, continue the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.' influence of the Word of God is pure.-Where does it commend sin? Where does it recom. mend that which is impious, to the peace, and order, and liberty, and happiness of mankind? It is the best guide of youth against the snares of passion and temptation. 'Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto, according to thy word.' It draws away the thoughts from being engrossed by a corrupt and perishing world, and teaches us to follow after holiness;' and guided by its rays we are led to the state of eternal purity and joy.-Hence the word of God is very pure, for like the finest gold it will bear the strictest scrutiny. Its doctrines, its precepts, its promises, are all holy in their nature and tendency.

The

GOD'S SERVANTS LOVE HIS WORD. This is

the second assertion contained in the passage, for David was but a model of all God's servants. This love will be manifested by frequently perusing the word of God, as we naturally read what we most love. By treasuring it up in the memory. By meditating upon it, and by obedience to all its precepts. It is true the Christian discovers his daily defects, by bringing his heart and life to this just mirror, but on this account it is that he loves it more, he asks its scrutiny, wishes to be reproved by it, when he errs, and comes often to it that he may offend against it less. 'Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.'

CRITICAL REMARKS ON SCRIPTURE.

No. V.

ORIGINAL AND SELECT.

From the Interleaved Bible of a Deceased Clergyman.

Genesis, chap. 6.

2. The Sons of God, the descendants of Seth who called themselves by that name in contradistinction to those of Cain, who probably in the height of their impiety disclaimed the divine original of man-Revel. Examined with Candour, p.168.

—Wives of all which they chose: i. e. as many as they liked. Id. ibid.

3. His days shall be 120 years. From Gen. 5. 32, compared with Gen. 8. 12, the flood must happen but 100 years after these words seem to have been spoken: though if we compute not from the time when this was threatened, but from the beginning of man's apostacy, which we may suppose to have been then 20 years, there will be

no difficulty, or else the threatening, though placed after it, might be denounced 20 years before the 500th year of Noah's age. St. Jerom indeed, says, (Quest. in Gen:) the time allowed was shortened for their contumacy. JENKINS' Reasonableness of Christianity.. Vol. 2. chap. 6. p. 149.

14. Gopher wood: The LXX translated it Square Wood, and Vossius to explain this Translation, quotes Theophastrus, who mentions a tree with four angles, but 'tis probable the LXX meant only planks, sawn and cut. The vulgar has it Woods made smooth,' which differs not in sense. SIMON'S Crit. Hist.

CHAP. VII.

9. Two and two. Noah did not carry them in, but by special instinct they went in themselves, by his permission.

23. Every living substance was destroyed: The same thing is said in the two former verses, and Père Simon finds fault with the repetition. But who knows but it might be to assure us of the truth of the thing which God foresaw some men would not believe.-LORIMER'S Examination of Père Simon's Crit. Hist.

From Haydon's Description of his Great Picture
on that Subject.

The relation by St. John of this dreadful miracle the resurrection of Lazarus, is stamped with such touches of nature in character and description, that there is every evidence of its being written by an eye-witness to a fact.