ungodly, unchristian! How many transactions are there which are laughed at as good jokes, but which are entirely contrary to the godly simplicity and holiness of the Christian character! When the clever auctioneer, for instance, pretends that there is a sharp competition for the article which he is puffing off, and thanks persons in different parts of the room for their biddings, when, all the while, he is running up some unfortunate countryman, who is bidding against himself; or again, when the shrewd and cautious purchaser makes, as it were, a chance bidding, as if he cared little or nothing about it, when, all the while, he has set his whole mind on making the purchase; all these things are but instances of conduct which is incompatible with a spirit sanctified by the Holy Ghost, unworthy of a soul redeemed of the Lord. Is a man, then, it will be asked, to lose the benefit which he might have gained in making an advantageous purchase? Unquestionably he should. It would be a dear bargain indeed, however small the sum he gave, if he sacrificed the slightest portion of Christian honesty. I do not hesitate to say that a Christian must often submit to loss for the sake of principle: he must forego the clever bargain and worldly advantage, and be content to see others obtain them. And I cannot but think that there are several trades and callings, which it would be safer for the Christian, in the present state of the world, to avoid. Not but that some, which are supposed to involve a man in the necessity of having his wits about him, may be carried on respectably. There may be honest horse-dealers and honest auctioneers; yet it is also certain that there are occupations which are apt to lead men into practices and a line of conduct sadly inconsistent with Christian simplicity. If men did but use their wits to frustrate Satan, as they do to outwit and overreach each other, they would find

their account both in present and future happiness. You shall see a shrewd fellow, whom it is impossible to take in-one who is armed at all points against the world's attacks; but this man is a very fool in the hands of the devil. He knows not that Satan has snared him like a bird in the net, and is employing him as a decoy to do his work. Alas! a clever rogue is indeed a pitiable object—a fool outwitting himself, laughing inwardly as he saws away the branch on which he is sitting. Let the cleverest and most successful speculator only think, when he comes to be on his death-bed, what will be the value of all his gains, of which he can take nothing away with him ; and surely the insignificance of worldly wealth-its mischief, when gained by questionable means, will be apparent to him. And, to take the lowest ground, roguery is unnecessary, even for the object for which it is employed. "Honesty is the best policy," after all. So it certainly had proved in the instance of our Christian Citizen. By the blessing of God, Mr. Walton had obtained a handsome fortune, without resorting to one single act of a questionable nature. All his transactions were above-board, honest, and straightforward: and there are very few indeed, who, by the same course of upright, honest, and conscientious dealing, in their several stations, may not go and do likewise.

Ŏur English Citizen was a proof of the truth of the maxim, the most religious man is the best man of business. Whatever he did, he did it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto man. He discharged the calls of business with a generous industry, employing his time and attention to the utmost for the interest of those who intrusted their affairs to his hands. He held out no delusive expectations, encouraged no extravagant ventures; but, by system, good intelligence, and despatch, was enabled to calculate his

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measures well, and direct them to a successful issue. His friendly sincerity inspired confidence, and wealth flowed in without his seeking. It is true that he had talents for business-a natural shrewdness, quickened by long experience of men and things. But the spirit which carried him through all his difficulties (for, like every man of extensive business, he had had his difficulties), was, that he undertook even his mercantile and commercial negotiations as a service to God, in his appointed sphere of duty. And thus seeking his God in every work that he began, "he did it with all his heart, and prospered."

Can they who flock to Freedom's shrine
Themselves to me resign?

There lift the heaven-defying brow,
And here in meekness bow?

There to put on the soul aggrieved,

And attitude their high deserts to claim;

Here kneel, from their deserts to be relieved,

Claim nothing but the cross and their own shame?

Lyra Apostolica.

I AM not going to tell my readers whether our English citizen was a Whig, Radical, or Tory; party names are invidious. I will just mention the principles on which he acted, and the conduct which he

pursued, and then they will be able to form their own judgment.

Like most other persons at his time of life, Mr. Walton took a great deal of interest about politics. He thought the times were serious, and that it behoved all good men to know what was the real state of things, and act up to their principles.

Mr. Walton had an old friend, by name Mr. Reuben Raffles, a person of very different principles and character from himself. Mr. Reuben Raffles had retired, some years before, from a laborious business, and, having his time thrown upon his hands, had naturally taken to read newspapers. While he had been engaged in making money in his business, he had no time for politics, and troubled his head very little about them. In fact, no one very clearly knew whether he was Conservative or Liberal, for he talked and voted sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other. Unhappily for himself and for his country, when the scales were pretty evenly balanced, and his time was rather heavy on his hands, Mr. Raffles took for his guide and counsellor a certain liberal newspaper; from the pages of which he now began, morning after morning, to imbibe Liberalism as regularly as he took his tea and muffins. It was at about this time that the liberal people of the county formed the spirited scheme of setting up a journal of their own, in order, as they said, to open the eyes of their neighbours. The printing establishment was set up at Churchover; and Mr. Reuben Raffles was overpersuaded," as he has since often confessed, to be a partner in the scheme. So that now it became his interest, as well as his inclination, to uphold the side which he had espoused; the value of his property in the paper being at stake. One mode of supporting the concern, was by writing letters to the editor,

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